Planning Compliance
Planning approvals are legal mechanism of minimising society’s impacts on the natural environment. The conditions within planning approvals primarily regulate proponent’s actions and activities to this end. Trident Environment is able to assist you to apply for, manage and comply with your planning approval during the construction and operational phases of your development in two distinct areas:
- Planning Approval Advisory
- Environmental Representative
Planning Approval Advisory
Whether your site operations or construction has an existing planning approval or if you are in the process of preparing your application to your relevant consent authority Trident Environment offers comprehensive planning support. Trident is experienced in federal (EPBC), state (NSW SSI and SSD) and Local Council approvals and are able to guide your organisation through the full approval life-cycle including initial negotiations with your consent authority, REF or EIS project management, application lodgement, modifications to the approval, compliance tracking and reporting and also general compliance with planning conditions.
A planning approval is a legal document issued under a planning law by a ‘consent authority to a ‘proponent’. The planning approval grants the proponent authorisation to undertake construction work under the planning law. This work is typically authorised subject to a set of conditions that the Consent Authority stipulates.
A planning approval is managed primarily on the basis of compliance with and fulfillment of its conditions. Some conditions may need to be fulfilled at different stages of the project. Other conditions may need the input of specialist consultants, auditors or stakeholders. These are managed by the proponent and documented in regular compliance tracking documentation submitted to the consent authority.
Environmental Representative
Some planning approvals at the NSW state level require the proponent to engage a suitably qualified and experienced Environmental Representative (ER). The ER functions as an independent inspector on behalf of the consent authority.
Trident Environment is a suitably qualified environmental consultant that. meets the experience and independence criteria set by the state planning authority and can assist your organisation in this area. Please enquire below so we may discuss your particular requirements.
Typically, larger infrastructure or development projects approved by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) may have a condition in the planning approval requiring the proponent to engage an Environmental Representative (ER) and a backup ER.
The proponent must submit an application to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) proposing two selected consultants as the project’s ER and backup ER. The application must contain the applicant’s details, their curriculum vitaes and a statement of independence for each demonstrating that the proposed consultants do not have a conflict of interest.
The Environmental Representative (ER) functions as an independent inspector on behalf of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE). The ER inspects the project regularly during construction and may also have auditing, assurance and advisory functions as well. The ER also produces a monthly report of compliance for DPIE based on their observations of the project during the reporting period.
We are Ready to Help You
For more information on how Trident may assist you with this service offering, please send us an online enquiry and we will respond within one business day.