The Environment Protection Authority is Tasmania’s independent environmental assessment and regulatory body. The EPA was established on 1 December 2021 as a standalone independent State Authority, after its structural and organisational separation from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.
The 2022‑23 Budget provides the first full year estimates for the newly created EPA. Further information on the restructure is included in the Output Group Restructure section of this chapter and in chapter 1 of this Budget Paper.
The purpose of the EPA is to assess and regulate developments and activities that may impact on environmental quality and to promote best practice and sustainable environmental management. Its goals are clean air, clean water, clean land, acceptable noise levels and sustainable use of resources.
The EPA operates under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994 and is an integral part of Tasmania’s Resource Management and Planning System.
The assessment work of the EPA is overseen by a Board, the regulatory functions are delivered by the Director, Environment Protection Authority, and the Agency is led by the Chief Executive Officer. The CEO also holds the statutory position of Director.
Specialist staff support the Board and Director/CEO to make well informed environmental assessment decisions, through an efficient integrated assessment process. The EPA regulators ensure that major industrial, municipal and community activities employ best practice environmental management.
The EPA also promotes and facilitates the adoption of sustainability and best practice environmental management, to provide the community with information about the quality of the environment and to improve ambient environmental quality, including the remediation of historical environmental damage.
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Hon Roger Jaensch MP, has responsibility for the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act under which the EPA operates.
This chapter provides the EPA’s financial information for 2022‑23 and the Forward Estimates (2023‑24 to 2025‑26). Further information on the Authority is provided at www.epa.tas.gov.au.
Table 14.1 provides a summary of the Budget and Forward Estimates allocations for key deliverables being undertaken by the Authority.
|
|
2022‑23
Budget |
2023‑24 Forward Estimate |
2024‑25 Forward Estimate |
2025‑26 Forward Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional Resources for EPA Tasmania |
2 000 |
2 000 |
2 000 |
2 000 |
|
Rent for New EPA Premises in Hobart |
500 |
500 |
500 |
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
This initiative provides ongoing funding for additional resources to increase the rigour and integrity of environmental assessments as part of the EPA’s establishment as a standalone independent State Authority in December 2021.
This initiative provides ongoing funding to support new accommodation in Hobart for EPA staff.
On 1 December 2021, various administrative instruments, including the State Service (Restructuring) Order (No. 2) 2021 and the State Service (Agencies and Heads of Agencies) Order (No. 2) 2021 were made for the purpose of making the EPA a separate agency and amalgamating parts of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania with the EPA.
The 2021‑22 Budget for the newly created EPA was based on the Department’s original 2021‑22 Budget estimates for Output 7.1 Environmental Management and Pollution Control that related to EPA Tasmania activities and functions for the period 1 December 2021 to 30 June 2022. This included the transfer of the balance of the 2021‑22 appropriation and funding from the Department’s Financial Management Account (Specific Purpose Account), which includes the balance of the Environmental Protection Fund.
Outputs of the EPA are provided under the following Output Group:
· Output Group 1 ‑ Environment Protection Authority.
Table 14.2 provides an Output Group Expense Summary for the EPA.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minister for Environment and Climate Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Output Group 1 ‑ Environment Protection Authority1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1 Environmental Regulation |
6 304 |
11 012 |
11 253 |
11 511 |
11 811 |
|
1.2 Environmental Assessment |
1 820 |
4 497 |
4 630 |
4 737 |
4 865 |
|
1.3 Finfish Regulation2 |
286 |
1 557 |
1 579 |
1 599 |
1 620 |
|
|
8 410 |
17 066 |
17 462 |
17 847 |
18 296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
8 410 |
17 066 |
17 462 |
17 847 |
18 296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The increase in expenses in 2022‑23 across the Output Group primarily reflects the first full year Budget allocation for the EPA and funding for 2022‑23 Budget initiatives. The operational support costs for the EPA are allocated to Environmental Regulation.
2. The increase in Finfish Regulation in 2022‑23 reflects a transfer within the Output Group of expenditure in relation to the Salmon Environmental Levy.
This Output undertakes activities to develop high quality, contemporary policies and strategies for the protection of the environment; ensure development proposals meet appropriate guidelines and standards; regulate, via a risk‑based approach, environmental impacts of large industrial and municipal activities; and monitor environmental performance.
This Output is responsible for assessing the potential environmental impacts of certain activities under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act. The environmental impact assessment process focuses on minimising environmental harm, nuisance and pollution relating to noise, air quality, water quality and natural values. The assessment process includes the preparation of environmental impact statements by proponents and the opportunity for public representations on development proposals.
This Output implements the policy and regulatory framework for the identification and assessment of risks to the receiving environment from marine and freshwater finfish farming activity, and applies regulatory responses that protect and enhance environmental values.
|
Performance Measure |
Unit of Measure |
2019‑20 Actual |
2020‑21 Actual |
2021‑22 Target |
2022‑23 Target |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Air quality1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hobart ‑ exceeds PM2.5 standard |
No. of days |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hobart ‑ exceeds PM10 standard |
No. of days |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Launceston ‑ exceeds PM2.5 standard |
No. of days |
4 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
|
Launceston ‑ exceeds PM10 standard |
No. of days |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Devonport ‑ exceeds PM2.5 standard |
No. of days |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Devonport ‑ exceeds PM10 standard |
No. of days |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assessment and Regulation of Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Environment Protection Notices, Environmental Licences, Environmental Approvals, Registration Certificates and Contaminated Sites Notices issued2 |
Number |
204 |
166 |
200 |
200 |
|
Percentage of assessments undertaken within statutory timeframe3 |
% |
100 |
93.34 |
100 |
100 |
|
Percentage of planned audits of premises undertaken within scheduled timeframe4 |
% |
49 |
82 |
100 |
100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The ambient air quality measure is calculated on a calendar year basis. For example, 2019‑20 in the above table refers to performance against the standard during the 2019 calendar year.
2. This measure identifies the number of key notices, approvals, licences (excluding renewals) and registrations issued (including variations) under the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act. These legal instruments are issued as required, and the target figure therefore represents an expected number based on current practice rather than a desirable target.
3. This measure indicates activity performance against section 27H of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act, which sets timeframes for the completion of the assessments. Timeframes in sections 27C, 27D and 27FA are not included in these totals.
4. This measure addresses planned audits only.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriation revenue ‑ operating1 |
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
Grants |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
|
Sales of goods and services2 |
113 |
116 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Fees and fines3 |
94 |
844 |
844 |
844 |
844 |
|
Interest |
126 |
126 |
126 |
126 |
126 |
|
Total revenue |
7 571 |
17 013 |
17 293 |
17 678 |
18 127 |
|
Total income |
7 571 |
17 013 |
17 293 |
17 678 |
18 127 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits4 |
4 174 |
12 568 |
12 886 |
13 587 |
14 052 |
|
Depreciation and amortisation |
433 |
376 |
376 |
376 |
376 |
|
Supplies and consumables5 |
1 295 |
3 031 |
3 188 |
3 341 |
3 454 |
|
Grants and subsidies6 |
2 485 |
1 044 |
947 |
476 |
346 |
|
Other expenses |
23 |
47 |
65 |
67 |
68 |
|
Total expenses |
8 410 |
17 066 |
17 462 |
17 847 |
18 296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net result |
(839) |
(53) |
(169) |
(169) |
(169) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other movements taken directly to equity7 |
3 937 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Total other comprehensive income |
3 937 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive result |
3 098 |
(53) |
(169) |
(169) |
(169) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The increase in Appropriation revenue ‑ operating in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year Budget allocation for the EPA and funding for 2022‑23 Budget initiatives.
2. The decrease in Sales of goods and services in 2023‑24 reflects the anticipated revenue profile for the EPA.
3. The 2021‑22 Budget for revenue from the Salmon Environmental Levy was included within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. The increase in Fees and fines from 2022‑23 reflects that the estimates for the collection of this Levy are now included in the EPA’s 2022‑23 Budget and Forward Estimates.
4. The increase in Employee benefits in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year Budget allocation for the EPA and funding for the Additional Resources for EPA Tasmania initiative.
5. The increase in Supplies and consumables in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year Budget allocation for the EPA and funding for the Rent for New EPA Premises in Hobart initiative.
6. The decrease in Grants and subsidies in 2022‑23 and over the Forward Estimates reflects the anticipated expenditure profile for the EPA.
7. The 2021-22 Budget for Other movements taken directly to equity reflects the transfer of net assets from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to the EPA.
8.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administered revenue and other income |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees and fines1 |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
Total administered revenue |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
Total administered income |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administered expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers to the Public Account |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
Total administered expenses |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administered net result |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Administered comprehensive result |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
1. The increase in Fees and fines in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year estimate for the collection of Environment Fees.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minister for Environment and Climate Change |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Output Group 1 ‑ Environment Protection Authority1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1 Environmental Regulation |
5 107 |
10 598 |
10 839 |
11 097 |
11 397 |
|
1.2 Environmental Assessment |
1 820 |
4 497 |
4 630 |
4 737 |
4 865 |
|
1.3 Finfish Regulation |
286 |
807 |
829 |
849 |
870 |
|
|
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Environment Protection Authority |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Operating Services |
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Revenue from Appropriation |
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Controlled Revenue from Appropriation |
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
1. The increase across
this Output Group reflects revenue from appropriation for the first full year Budget
allocation for the EPA and funding for 2022‑23 Budget initiatives.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue Collected on Behalf of the Public Account |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Environment Fees1 |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Administered Revenue |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
1. The increase in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year estimate for the collection of Environment Fees.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers to the Public Account1 |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Administered Expenses |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note:
1. The increase in 2022‑23 primarily reflects the first full year estimate for the transfer of Environment Fees to the Public Account.
|
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits |
16 208 |
16 716 |
16 923 |
17 130 |
17 337 |
|
Receivables |
1 285 |
1 278 |
1 278 |
1 278 |
1 278 |
|
|
17 493 |
17 994 |
18 201 |
18 408 |
18 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non‑financial assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment1 |
1 285 |
1 285 |
942 |
599 |
256 |
|
Infrastructure |
34 |
34 |
31 |
28 |
25 |
|
Intangibles |
90 |
90 |
60 |
30 |
.... |
|
Other assets |
57 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
1 466 |
1 409 |
1 033 |
657 |
281 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
18 959 |
19 403 |
19 234 |
19 065 |
18 896 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest bearing liabilities |
25 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Provisions |
7 800 |
7 800 |
7 800 |
7 800 |
7 800 |
|
Employee benefits |
2 951 |
2 951 |
2 951 |
2 951 |
2 951 |
|
Other liabilities |
5 085 |
5 085 |
5 085 |
5 085 |
5 085 |
|
Total liabilities |
15 861 |
15 836 |
15 836 |
15 836 |
15 836 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets (liabilities) |
3 098 |
3 567 |
3 398 |
3 229 |
3 060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contributed capital2 |
3 937 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Accumulated funds2 |
(839) |
3 567 |
3 398 |
3 229 |
3 060 |
|
Total equity |
3 098 |
3 567 |
3 398 |
3 229 |
3 060 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The decrease in Property, plant and equipment in 2024 and across the Forward Estimates reflects depreciation of fixed assets.
2. The change in Contributed capital and Accumulated funds primarily reflects the transfer of net assets from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to the EPA.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash inflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriation receipts ‑ operating |
7 213 |
15 902 |
16 298 |
16 683 |
17 132 |
|
Grants |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
25 |
|
Sales of goods and services |
113 |
116 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Fees and fines |
94 |
844 |
844 |
844 |
844 |
|
GST receipts1 |
1 448 |
724 |
724 |
724 |
724 |
|
Interest received |
126 |
126 |
126 |
126 |
126 |
|
Total cash inflows |
9 019 |
17 737 |
18 017 |
18 402 |
18 851 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash outflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee benefits |
(3 684) |
(11 404) |
(11 327) |
(11 905) |
(12 262) |
|
Superannuation |
(490) |
(1 164) |
(1 559) |
(1 682) |
(1 790) |
|
GST payments1 |
(1 448) |
(724) |
(724) |
(724) |
(724) |
|
Grants and subsidies |
(2 485) |
(1 044) |
(947) |
(476) |
(346) |
|
Supplies and consumables |
(1 295) |
(3 031) |
(3 188) |
(3 341) |
(3 454) |
|
Other cash payments |
(23) |
(47) |
(65) |
(67) |
(68) |
|
Total cash outflows |
(9 425) |
(17 414) |
(17 810) |
(18 195) |
(18 644) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash from (used by) operating activities |
(406) |
323 |
207 |
207 |
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity injections and cash flows from restructuring2 |
16 785 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Net cash from (used by) investing activities |
16 785 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net borrowings |
(171) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Net cash from (used by) financing activities |
(171) |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held |
16 208 |
323 |
207 |
207 |
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period |
.... |
16 393 |
16 716 |
16 923 |
17 130 |
|
Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period |
16 208 |
16 716 |
16 923 |
17 130 |
17 337 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
1. The 2022-23 Budget for GST receipts and GST payments has been revised to better reflect the anticipated business activity of the EPA.
2. The 2021-22 Budget for Equity injections and cash flows from restructuring reflects the transfer of funds from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania to the EPA upon restructuring, which includes the balance of the Environmental Protection Fund.
|
|
2021‑22 |
2022‑23 |
2023‑24 |
2024‑25 |
2025‑26 |
|
|
|
|
Forward |
Forward |
Forward |
|
|
Budget |
Budget |
Estimate |
Estimate |
Estimate |
|
|
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
$'000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash inflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees and fines |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
Total cash inflows |
2 439 |
4 286 |
4 393 |
4 503 |
4 615 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash outflows |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers to the Public Account |
(2 439) |
(4 286) |
(4 393) |
(4 503) |
(4 615) |
|
Total cash outflows |
(2 439) |
(4 286) |
(4 393) |
(4 503) |
(4 615) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
.... |
|
|
|
|
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|