Code of practice for environmental management
Exploration licences and assessment leases for all resource types (prospecting titles) are granted with the objective of encouraging ecologically sustainable development, social responsibility and building economic wealth for the people of NSW.
Download Exploration Code of Practice: Environmental Management (PDF, 566.02 KB).
Managing environmental performance is a critical element of resource exploration as it underpins competent and effective exploration.
This Code of Practice sets out mandatory requirements and provides title holders with related guidance about ensuring that exploration manages and minimises risks to the environment.
This Code of Practice serves three purposes:
- it provides upfront information to the Industry
and the Community - it facilitates the assessment of exploration activities consistent with Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
- it sets out enforceable mandatory requirements related to environmental management. Whether or not mandatory requirements require any active compliance will depend whether the risks outlined in this Code of Practice actually occur.
The Code of Practice enables industry to:
- adopt a risk-based approach to prevent — or, where that is not possible, minimise — impacts upon the environment
- commit to measurable performance
- monitor performance and take corrective action if these outcomes are not being achieved, and
- keep and maintain relevant records of activities and/or actions.
This approach allows explorers to adopt innovative solutions and best practice techniques to meet the expected performance.