Our organisation
Our vision: a better environment-protected for all South Australians
The EPA is South Australia's lead environment protection regulator and is responsible for the protection of air and water quality and the control of pollution, waste, noise and radiation. The EPA influences and regulates human activities in order to protect, enhance and restore the environment.
Corporate governance
The EPA is a statutory authority, with a Board responsible for the carriage of the Environment Protection Act 1993 (EP Act). The Board must comprise between seven and nine appointed members, whose skills, knowledge and experience collectively meet the requirements of Board membership, as defined by the EP Act. The Board delegates specified powers to others in order to achieve the objectives of the EP Act. While the EP Act is committed to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, the minister does not have the power to direct the Board in making decisions in relation to licensing and environmental authorisations or enforcement, or in making recommendations to the minister.
The EPA is also an administrative unit created under the Public Sector Act 2009, through which it performs other functions for government, including administration of the Radiation Protection and Control Act 1982 (RPC Act).
Under the EP Act, the chief executive of the administrative unit is also the chief executive of the statutory authority and a member of the EPA Board ex officio, although not entitled to vote at a meeting of the Board. The chief executive is responsible to the Board for giving effect to its policies and decisions, making the services of staff and facilities of the administrative unit available to the EPA for the performance of its functions. This is reflected in the EPA's Strategic plan 2012–15, which is linked to the South Australian Government's seven strategic priorities, providing a framework for the work of the EPA.
Reconciliation statement
The EPA acknowledges the traditional custodians on whose ancestral lands it carries out its business, and that it respects their spiritual relationship with their country. The EPA also acknowledges the deep feelings of attachment and the relationship that Aboriginal peoples have to the country.
In fulfilling its functions, the EPA is cognisant of the cultural and natural heritage of the traditional owners and strives to achieve positive outcomes wherever these matters are concerned.
The EPA has been developing its inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, to commence in 2014–15. The plan will highlight the good work to date with Aboriginal communities and will outline the EPA’s commitments to further its actions towards reconciliation.
Governance structure
