Highlights from Presiding Member
This annual report for the 2013–14 financial year is the second that I bring to you as Presiding Member of the Board of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
During this period, former Deputy Presiding Member Stephen Hains completed his final term after more than 10 years of service on the EPA Board. We welcomed three new members: Mr Mark Withers and Dr Helen Macdonald who commenced on 8 August 2013, and Ms Roslyn DeGaris who was appointed on 23 January 2014. Together with pre-existing members Deputy Presiding Member Ms Linda Bowes, Mr Allan Holmes and Adjunct Professor Rob Fowler, our new members ensure the Board continues to possess a wealth of strategic leadership experience and broad technical expertise. I thank all Board members for their commitment and contributions in 2013–14.
On 19 September 2013, we presented the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, the Hon. Ian Hunter MLC, with the 2013 State of the Environment Report.
Produced every 5 years by the Authority, this report provided evidence that the South Australian environment is in a moderate and finely balanced state. It brought into sharp focus that South Australia’s future is dependent on the effectiveness of a range of measures taken by government, business, industry and the community to protect and improve our environment. The report underlined the importance of the work of the EPA and others in delivering robust environmental regulation that is well practiced, facilitating innovative solutions to ensure a healthy environment in which to work and live and supporting a clean, competitive economy.
In October 2013, the Board reformed its calendar of activities to elevate its strategic leadership role and emphasise the importance of stakeholder and community engagement in fulfilling the EPA’s statutory role. The Board's commitment to engaging with industry and the community has taken us on visits to the Tonsley redevelopment site and Port Adelaide for meetings and information sharing. In early 2014, the Board hosted a Boardroom lunch and discussion with senior representatives from industry and government on the agency’s strategic review into the EPA’s role in the mining and resource sector.
Over the years, the EPA Board has held round-table conferences with a number of different focuses, but often with the view of asking our stakeholders to tell us what they think of our performance and/or contemporary issues relevant to our business. This year, the Board built on this approach by hosting several significant events with key stakeholder groups.
In May 2014, the Board convened a highly successful summit with senior business and industry leaders to explore the theme: Changing Economy, Changing Environment. Delegates considered the importance of well-practiced regulation and the contribution a protected and improved environment makes to business and the state’s economy. This was followed in early June by a forum of senior representatives of community and environment groups and organisations that explored why a strong and supported EPA is vital to ensuring a smart, sustainable and successful future for South Australia.
During this reporting period, the Board continued to monitor the EPA’s significant role in relation to the Nyrstar Transformation Project in Port Pirie and also priority site contamination work undertaken in South Australia. We were pleased to note progress on reforms to regulation of the tuna industry and the release of the water quality improvement plan for Adelaide coastal waters.
The Board also provided ongoing support for the EPA’s organisational reform and change program.
Among many achievements, the delivery of the first annual EPA Compliance Plan will further strengthen the robust regulatory frameworks to protect the environment, and the introduction of a highperformance framework will help the agency to innovate and improve overall operations.
On behalf of the Board I extend sincere gratitude to former Chief Executive Prof Campbell Gemmell for his exceptional leadership of the EPA from January 2012 until May 2014. Professor Gemmell provided clear direction, demonstrated outstanding professionalism and showed unwavering commitment to a positive reform agenda. He refreshed the organisation and generated new respect for the EPA.
Having worked closely alongside Prof Campbell developing the blueprint for reforming and repositioning the EPA, incoming Chief Executive Tony Circelli is perfectly placed to continue leading the change program and building confidence in the agency. The Board welcomes Mr Circelli and looks forward to working closely with him.
In the year ahead and under the leadership of Mr Circelli I am confident that the EPA will continue to find ways of doing things better, providing consistent and robust regulation, listening to our stakeholders and building strong partnerships to ensure the protection of the environment for the people of South Australia.
Mia Handshin
Presiding Member
EPA Board