World's First Corporate Environmental Licence

7 December 2007

In November 2007 EPA Victoria and Goulburn Valley Water signed Australia’s and the world’s first Corporate Environmental Licence, which will cut red tape, deliver savings and help protect the environment. 

The historic event took place at Goulburn Valley Water’s regional office in Shepparton and was attended by the Minister for the Environment, The Hon. Gavin Jennings MP and the Chairman of EPA, Mick Bourke.

Goulburn Valley Water’s Managing Director, Mr Laurie Gleeson said that the driver for this licensing reform from Goulburn Valley Water’s perspective was the need to rationalise the Corporation’s 26 EPA licences for its 26 wastewater management facilities.  “All the licences had been issued many years ago under a different institutional structure and all with different conditions and management protocols,” he said. “Working collaboratively with EPA over the past 12-15 months, the concept of a Corporate Licence has come to fruition with this signing of the new Corporate Licence for Goulburn Valley Water.”

“The plain English, eight page licence replaces more than 226 pages of licence conditions etc. under the previous arrangements.”

Mr Gleeson said that administration will be simplified and all 26 wastewater management facilities will now be operated under uniform licence conditions; there will no longer be duplication in reporting requirements.  “This will allow our staff to focus more fully on the main gain of continuous environmental improvement, driven by the Corporation’s Environmental Management System.”.

“It is a great compliment to Goulburn Valley Water that the Chairman of EPA, Mick Bourke, and his management team chose Goulburn Valley Water, as the first business to negotiate a Corporate Licence with and it speaks volumes for the successful strategic partnership which has been developed over recent years between the Corporation and EPA.”

At the launch the Minister for the Environment, The Hon. Gavin Jennings said that EPA is taking licensing in a new direction, cutting red tape for industry while maintaining the existing level of strict environmental standards and monitoring. 

Laurie Gleeson Managing Director -  Goulburn Valley Water, Kaye Darveniza -  Member for Northern Victoria, The Hon. Gavin Jennings MP – Minister for the Environment, Mick Bourke Chairman – EPA Victoria, Don Cummins Chairman – Goulburn Valley Water