This page relates to EPA’s policies and tools under the Environment Protection Act 1970. To find out about EPA’s compliance and enforcement role under the Environment Protection Act 2017, which is intended to come into effect on 1 July 2021, visit the compliance and enforcement page.
An enforceable undertaking is a constructive alternative to prosecution. It allows an alleged offender to voluntarily enter into a binding agreement to undertake tasks to settle a contravention of the law and restore the harm caused to the environment and the community.
An enforceable undertaking implements systemic change within a business or by an individual to prevent future breaches of the law.
Enforceable undertakings seek to protect the environment as well as deliver timely and cost effective responses to environmental breaches. The actions in an enforceable undertaking must deliver benefits to a business, industry sector or community that go beyond mere compliance with the law.
EPA will only accept an enforceable undertaking where:
- the person or company takes active responsibility for the offence and its impacts
- it is the most appropriate form of enforcement response and will achieve a more effective and long-term environmental outcome than prosecution.
More information about enforceable undertakings is available in EPA’s Compliance and Enforcement Policy and the Enforceable undertakings guidelines (PDF 694KB, from the Victoria Government Gazette).
Current enforceable undertakings
| Company name | Summary | Date of undertaking |
| Hepburn Shire Council (PDF 1.9MB) |
Prosecution | 12 June 2015 |
| Goulburn Valley Regional Water (PDF 2.8MB) |
Prosecution |
16 July 2014 |
| SITA Australia (PDF 445KB) |
Prosecution |
21 September 2012 |
| Western Region Water Corporation (PDF 576KB) |
Prosecution |
25 April 2011 |
| Powercor Australia Ltd (PDF 853KB) |
Prosecution |
25 April 2011 |
| Cargill Processing Ltd (PDF 381KB) |
Prosecution |
21 April 2011 |
| PZ Cussons P/L (PDF 702KB) |
Prosecution |
10 February 2011 |
| Boskalis Australia P/L (PDF 654KB) |
Prosecution |
22 July 2010 |
| South East Water Limited (PDF 649KB) |
Prosecution |
11 June 2010 |
Read next
Compliance and enforcement under the 1970 Act
Compliance and enforcement policy
Reviewed 18 August 2020
