More than $600,000 of funding from the Victorian Coalition Government, and
delivered via EPA Victoria, will go to the Victorian Automobile Chamber of
Commerce (VACC) for a new pilot program to help parts recyclers and panel
beaters improve their environmental compliance and prevent pollution.
Delivered through two phases – the funding will support the VACC to deliver a
free advisory service to 100 businesses offering free expert advice on how to
manage environmental obligations.
Following this, industry specific training packages, tools and other
educational material will be developed to support compliance.
EPA CEO John Merritt said the role of the regulator was to support industry and
business to comply with the environmental laws.
“The smaller size of many of these businesses means they tend to have limited
interaction with EPA and possibly don’t understand their environmental
obligations and the impact of their actions on the environment,” he said.
“Embracing measures to manage environmental risk is a great way for businesses
to avoid being at risk of not complying with the law and ultimately closer
scrutiny from the environmental regulator.”
The Victorian Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the
pilot program was a positive move to deliver practical information and
solutions to industry sectors to prevent pollution.
“Addressing pollution and waste management is a key part of this Government’s
Environmental Partnerships Action Plan, which includes funding initiatives that
support industry to take ownership of environmental best practice,” said Mr
Merritt.
The program will supplement EPA’s regular compliance monitoring and inspection
efforts to reach small to medium business that fall outside of EPA’s licensing
regime.