The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA) has set up a work group to develop a submission to the EPA VIC Independent Inquiry.
Members decided to table a submission at the AORA Victorian Branch Spring Meeting, which it held on 23 October at the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group office.
During the event, the Deputy Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Independent Inquiry into EPA Victoria, Jane Brockington, provided a briefing on the consultation and inquiry.
The Inquiry discussion paper – Examining the future task of Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority – provides full details about its focus, which covers three main areas of the EPA’s role: responding to community concerns; improving regulatory efficiency and effectiveness; and combining environmental protection with economic viability.
Peter McLean told Waste Management Review: “The session prompted lively discussions between delegates and was productive in evaluating the performance of EPA VIC and its future role and methods.
“Key outputs were that members were looking for consistency from the EPA and there was concern that expertise had slowly drained from it with poor succession planning and retention of experienced staff.”
As a result of these discussions, AORA has set up a members workshop to develop a submission from the association ahead of the consultation closing on 31 October.
During the meeting, AORA members also received an update on the new Victorian Organic Resource Recovery Strategy from Jenny Pickles of Sustainability Victoria. Kim Whiteoak from RM Consulting presented on the value-adding process and use of compost. AORA’s State Director – Victoria, Michael Wood, concluded proceedings with an update on he association’s latest developments.