Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has welcomed 15 new Authorised Officers to the organisation, strengthening its ability to protect the environment for the Victorian community.
The officers graduated last month following six months of training and will be based at EPA’s offices across the state – in Wangaratta, Geelong, Dandenong, Melbourne, Bendigo and Gippsland.
The training sessions involved attending environmental workshops, spending time in the field shadowing authorised officers, water and soil sampling training and odour investigations.
EPA Chief Executive Officer Nial Finegan said the officers now had the power to conduct compliance inspections, issue penalties and enforce remediation of environmental risks.
“The Authorised Officers will help to ensure that businesses, government and individuals comply with environmental laws,” he said.
“They will provide guidance to businesses and individuals on how to meet environmental obligations to improve compliance and encourage higher performance, and will work with local communities on environmental issues affecting them.”
“Given the importance of the functions of authorised officers, EPA maintains rigorous processes for appointing and managing authorisations and delegations of specific powers.”
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the community that helped to successfully deliver EPA’s Authorised Officer Induction Program, which includes a number of presenters and facilitators, mentors, assessors and various units across the EPA.”
EPA’s new Authorised Officers:
- Heidi Beecher- Dandenong
- Claire Curry – Melbourne
- Zac Dornom – Gippsland
- Katie Doyle - Wangaratta
- Lucy Gentile – Melbourne
- Jason Hannon – Melbourne
- Mark Herman - Bendigo
- Alysha Holland – Melbourne
- Melanie Karistianos – Melbourne
- Mallory Neumann – Dandenong
- Brenton Peake – Gippsland
- Kathy Reynolds – Geelong
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Corrado Rizza – Melbourne
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Danielle Ryan – Melbourne
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Nick Tuohey – Bendigo
PHOTO: EPA Chair Cheryl Batagol and Chief Executive Officer, Nial Finegan congratulate EPA’s newest authorised officers.