Establishing the EPA
In 2005, the Northern Territory Government appointed an interim EPA Board to provide recommendations on the final form and function of a Territory EPA. The EPA Board consisted of Professor Gordon Duff (Chair), Professor Donna Craig and Ms Judith King.
In 2006 the EPA Board conducted community consultation community across the Northern Territory aimed at informing the Board’s recommendations to Government. The community consultation in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Borroloola and Nhulunbuy were preceded by information sessions which outlined the role of the EPA Board in providing Government with recommendations on the form and function of an EPA.
Following the consultation the EPA Board handed its recommendations to the Northern Territory Government in a report, Towards an Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for the Northern Territory.
In 2007 legislation reflecting EPA the Board’s recommendations was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 11 October 2007. The EPA Board’s recommendations included the EPA working with Government, business and the community to:
- develop guidelines and standards for environmental practice and monitoring
- evaluate and review regimes for the Territory’s environment protection
- recommend legislative and policy frameworks
- scrutinise Government agency operations and systems
- provide high level advice to Government about protecting the environment.
The Minister for Natural Resources, Enviroment and Heritage gave an undertaking the Environment Protection Authority would be operating by early 2008.
