Suspending an environmental authority by the holder

As the holder of an environmental authority you may apply to suspend your environmental authority voluntarily (e.g. if you intend to suspend an activity for 1-3 years). However, Council may refuse to process your application if you have any fees outstanding.

If your activity operates intermittently, you may be able to suspend your environmental authority (and fee payments) while the activity is not operating. For example, a larger farming operation may want to suspend feedlot activities for a number of years due to unfavourable market conditions.

You cannot suspend your environmental authority if it contains a rehabilitation condition

To suspend your environmental authority you must submit an Application to Suspend an Environmental Authority to Council. Your application will need to specify the proposed suspension period, which must be between 1 and 3 years. Please contact the Environment and Public Health Unit of Council for a copy of the relevant form.  

Council will consider a number of issues when deciding you application including:

• The degree the degree of risk of environmental harm that has already been caused by the relevant activity, or that might reasonably be expected to be caused during the suspension of the relevant activity,
• The likelihood of action being required to rehabilitate or restore and protect the environment because of environmental harm being caused during the suspension of the relevant activity,
• Your environmental record.

As the holder of an environmental authority that has been suspended by the holder you may give notice to Council to terminate the suspension of the environmental authority.  You may give notice before the suspension takes effect or during the suspension period.  The notice must be accompanied by the pro-rata annual fee until the next anniversary date.