The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation may appoint authorised persons and inspectors under sections 87 and 88 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) respectively (collectively termed Authorised Officers). Persons employed by local government authorities and relevant state government agencies may apply to be appointed as an Authorised Officer.
Authorised Officers are provided authority to exercise specified regulatory powers and functions in the administration of environmental legislation which includes monitoring compliance, investigating alleged breaches and undertaking regulatory action.
Our Authorised Officer program training requirements aim to ensure that officers have an appropriate understanding of their powers and responsibilities under the legislation we administer and the fundamental skills and knowledge relevant to their appointment. See below for training resources for applicants for appointment as an Authorised Officer.
Authorised Officer powers and responsibilities: Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act Manual)
The EP Act manual provides an understanding of the appointment of an Authorised Officer, the powers and responsibilities of an Authorised Officer and the limitations of an Authorised Officer.
New applicants are requested to email Authorisations to obtain a copy of the EP Act Manual. Applicants will need to complete and submit the assessment at Appendix A to the EP Act Manual
Authorised Officers: Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (UDR Manual)
The purpose of the UDR manual is to inform Authorised Officers about the provisions of the Environmental Protection (Unauthorised Discharges) Regulations 2004 (UDRs), how they work, what discharges into the environment breach the UDR’s, how to identify the elements of the offence and what options are available for appropriate regulatory action against non-compliant discharges into the environment.
New applicants who will be investigating breaches of the UDRs are requested to email Authorisations to obtain a copy of the UDR Manual. Applicants need to complete and submit the assessment at Appendix A to the UDR Manual.
Noise Regulation training
We deliver Noise Regulation training face-to-face. The training runs over two full days and is provided at no cost to local government officers. A pre-requisite to this training is a fundamental understanding of the physics of sound course.
Persons wishing to enrol must outline the training or education they have completed covering the physics of sound, such as environmental noise training or tertiary studies, and be able to provide documentation of completion. The course must be recognised by this department. Where a potential attendee does not meet the pre-requisite, they will be directed to an appropriate, department-endorsed physics of sound course.
New applicants investigating breaches of the Environmental Protection (Noise) Regulations 1997 are requested to provide evidence of physics of sound and completion of the departments two-day Noise Regulation Training.
Please send queries about the Noise Regulation Training to: training@dwer.wa.gov.au
Steps to complete
Local government and other agency officers who are seeking authorisation under the EP Act are required to complete the following steps.
- Undertake to complete the training relevant to your requirements as specified above.
- Submit the completed assessment/s and/or evidence requirements relevant to your application for appointment.
- Download and complete the Application for appointment as an Authorised Officer form and provide a passport sized photograph (local government and other agency officer photographs require a manager signature for validation of true identity).
- Submit your completed application form, passport sized photo (jpeg) and relevant assessment/s and/or evidence requirements relevant to your application for appointment to authorisations@dwer.wa.gov.au
Training resources – available on request
Please email authorisations@dwer.wa.gov.au to request training resources for Authorised Officer Powers and Responsibilities: Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act Manual) or Unauthorised Discharges Regulations - Authorised Officers (UDR Manual).
