What Is An Environmental Auditor? Where Has Ours Gone?

(Did you click the link in the email and come to the wrong page? Sorry about that. Here's the ERC minutes page :)

EPA Act 1970 definitions

environmental audit means a total assessment of the nature and extent of any harm or detriment caused to, or the risk of any possible harm or detriment which may be caused to, any beneficial use made of any segment of the environment by any industrial process or activity, waste, substance (including any chemical substance) or noise.

environmental auditor means a person appointed under this Act as an environmental auditor for the purposes of this Act.

 ***

The Environmental Auditor has been appointed. His name is Mr Joe Duran and he works for the consultancy firm URS, which has been employed by Mandalay Resources for years to provide consultancy advice and to compile its reports. 

Mr Duran served as Mandalay Resources' expert witness in the VCAT hearing into Splitters Creek. 

This apparently allows the EPA to appoint Mr Duran as an "independent" Auditor.


Total assessment...

Any harm, risk or detriment...

Any possible harm or detriment...

Any segment of the environment...

Any process or activity, waste, substance (including chemical substance) or noise.

So far we've had - and detailed - issues with dust, noise and rain; with pollution in the forest, with toxic water spraying in the forest and, as we have pointed out, with a possible light pollution problem (previously unconsidered by anyone it would seem).

There are no baseline figures for any of these issues for any of the residential properties nearby.

Testing of the water in the trucks? The alkalinity of the soils? Are they hydrophobic?


We have asked on numerous occasions to receive a copy of the Environmental Auditor's Certificate that was to be presented to Council prior to construction commencing. (As per section 53ZB(2) of the EPA Act 1970 and the VCAT decision.)

We have asked on numerous occasions to receive a copy of the Emerson Dispersive tests that were supposed to have been completed and presented to Council prior to construction commencing.

We have asked on numerous occasions to receive a copy of the geotechnical testing supposed to have been completed and presented to Council prior to construction commencing.

As is usual, we have received absolutely nothing in reply that we can show you or the rest of the Costerfield Community.

Environmental Audit? Until such time as we are convinced otherwise...

TOTAL ASSESSMENT = FAIL