What is an Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA), and what approvals do i need?

Written By Joshua Riethmuller

What is an Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA)?

An Environmentally Relevant Activity (ERA) is anything listed under Schedule 2 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019. Some examples of ERA’s include:

  • Waste transfer, recycling and waste disposal

  • Sewage treatment

  • Aquaculture

  • Intensive animal industries e.g. pig keeping, poultry farming (beyond set limits)

  • Alcohol production - producing more than 200,000L in a year

This list is not exhaustive, and many more activities are covered under Schedule 2. If you suspect your activity may be an ERA, reach out to our team RiethThink Environmental to have a free consultation.

What approvals are needed for an ERA?

What approvals are required will depend on:

  • Is the ERA a resource activity or non-resource activity?

If the activity is a resource activity, the environmental approval pathway could be more complex, such as needing an Environmental Authority (EA) under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, potentially needing to be referred under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

However, if the ERA is not a resource activity, the approval pathway will generally take the shape of a Development Application (DA), which also acts as an application for an Environmental Authority.

*NOTE*

If your activity will result in significantly disturbed land, you may be required to pay the state a financial assurance.

If you need assistance preparing or reviewing an approval application, reach out to the team at RiethThink Environmental and we will be able to assist.

Joshua Riethmuller
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