The Environment Protection Authority can issue a range of notices — requiring work to be done, stopping an activity, or imposing conditions on a site. Under the Environment Protection Act 2017 they are backed by the general environmental duty, and the consequences of not complying are considerably more serious than the notice itself. There is usually a review path, and it does not stay open long.
Part of our EPA & council defence practice.
Notices are often broader than they first read. We identify precisely what must be done, by when, and what is merely recommended.
Review periods are short. We diarise them immediately so the option stays live while we look at the substance.
Sometimes the right answer is to comply and negotiate the timeframe. Sometimes the notice is wrong or unreasonable. We tell you which, plainly.
Non-compliance is treated seriously and can lead to prosecution, with penalties well beyond the cost of doing the work. It also removes most of the negotiating room you had at the start.
Generally yes — there is a review process, and the window is short. Whether review is the right course depends on the notice and the facts, which is the first thing to assess.
Duties under the Act can reach officers of a company as well as the company itself. Get advice on your own position, not just the business’s.
General information only — for advice about your situation, book a consult or call us.
Speak with a lawyer who acts in EPA and council matters across Victoria — book online, or call us.
