A Debate on Environmental Management: NSW Government Policies and Laws

This essay provides a comprehensive debate on environmental management, specifically focusing on the policies and laws implemented by the New South Wales (NSW) government. The analysis begins by examining the NSW Government Resource Efficiency Policy, highlighting its goals of cost reduction and resource efficiency, while also addressing the challenges faced by government agencies in identifying and executing energy-saving projects. The essay then delves into the feasibility and enforcement of environmental laws in NSW, discussing the role of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Land and Environment Court. It also addresses the challenges of public understanding of environmental laws, the high costs associated with testing for pollutants, and the limitations in enforcing violations. The essay incorporates references to relevant government documents and academic research to support its arguments and provides a balanced overview of the complexities surrounding environmental management in the region.

Running head: DEBATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Debate on Environmental Management
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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DEBATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
Environmental management refers to the management by the organization's
environmental programs in a widespread, methodical, planned and recognized manner. It
consists of the structure of the organization, planning and resources for development, executing
and maintaining policy for protection of the environment.
Limited Costs and resources
The New South Wales Government Resource Efficiency Policy aims to reduce operating
costs of the government and guide by example in increasing the efficiency of the resources it
makes use of. This policy ensures that the NSW Government agency helps to meet the
challenges of the rising costs for energy, water, clean air and waste management
(environment.nsw.gov 2017). It shows the leadership by incorporating resource efficiency in the
process of decision-making. This policy has replaced the former NSW Government
Sustainability Policy under Waste Reduction and Purchasing Policy (WRAPP). The agencies of
the government have difficulty to identify projects that reduce the energy bills, energy
management, demand management and distributed generation. The Office of the Environment
and Heritage works with water companies to collect reliable information that is not easily
available on water use to inform about the water consumption baseline for each cluster. The
respective agencies are encouraged to recognize and execute definite measures to reduce annual
water usage (Lyster et al. 2012). The environmental management seeks to make sure that the
services in the ecosystem are protected and maintained for future human generations and
maintain the integrity of the ecosystem. Almost all the reforms that encounter resistance they
have to do with long-term budgeting practices have an impact on the whole of government. The
information is presented in an unclear manner. The ministries in a few cases are reliant on the
country and do not have the knowledge to develop performance measures or efficiently monitor

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DEBATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
performance. This may lead to the passive provision of data that has no real weight in the
decision-making process.
Feasibility and enforce
The environmental laws to be effective have to be enforced by the New South Wales
government. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, was approved in New
South Wales of Australia (Environment.nsw.gov.au 2017). The Act is to establish the system of
environmental planning and assessment for the State of New South Wales. In NSW, the
environmental law is primarily State-based. The local councils and the State Government
Departments make the decisions. The high cost of the equipment for testing for pollutants makes
is a significant challenge for the local people wanting to bring civil proceedings. The
environmental and planning laws in New South Wales can be enforced through the civil or
criminal proceedings combined with a vast range of administrative orders. The Land and
Environment Court of New South Wales is a special court, which presides over the environment
and the planning matters (Ruming and Davies 2014). The understanding of the laws in general
and environmental laws by the public is limited. This is because the environmental laws are
written using complicated language that is very difficult for the public to understand. The local
people are both polluters and victims of pollution. They are not fully aware of the consequences
of their actions. The awareness and capacity of authorities to handle violations of the law is weak
with cumbersome procedures to enforce the law. The detection of violations always does not
lead to action. When the penalties are issued the fines are often low and there is no requisite for
the defendant to take the steps to restore breach.

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DEBATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
References
environment.nsw.gov 2017. NSW Government Resource Efficiency Policy. Office of
Environment and Heritage State of NSW.
Environment.nsw.gov.au 2017. Environmental Trust | NSW Environment & Heritage. [online]
Environment.nsw.gov.au. Available at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/envtrust.htm
[Accessed 12 Aug. 2017].
Lyster, R., Lipman, Z., Franklin, N., Wiffen, G. and Pearson, L., 2012. Environmental and
planning law in New South Wales.
Ruming, K.J. and Davies, P.J., 2014. To what extent ‘an entirely new approach to how planning
is done’? Tracing planning system reform in New South Wales. Australian Planner, 51(2),
pp.122-131.