At today’s Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Business Leaders Summit in Canberra, Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, outlined one of the most significant environmental reforms in decades, the long-awaited overhaul of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The message was clear: Australia needs environmental approvals that protect nature and enable business growth. Right now, it takes 70 weeks longer to get approvals than it did in 2000, a staggering delay for industries like surveying driving Australia’s future.

The EPBC Reform Bill will be introduced to Parliament tomorrow, with a goal to have it passed before the end of 2025. Minister Watt says the aim is “a win for the environment and business”, giving investors certainty about where and how they can develop, without years of red tape. He acknowledged that “not everyone will be happy,” but he’s targeting 80% satisfaction, a fair balance, he says, between progress and protection.

Key Features of the Reform

• Faster Approvals: Streamlining project assessments that currently take years, with new efficiency targets to reduce processing time.
• Shared Responsibility: States and Territories will be empowered to assess projects under both their own and federal laws, cutting duplication and delays.
• Certainty for Investment: Clearer environmental standards and “go” and “no-go” development zones are expected to make early project decisions faster and more predictable.
• Foundation in the Graeme Samuel Review (2020): The reforms are built on Samuel’s recommendations for:
  1. Stronger environmental protection and restoration
  2. More efficient and consistent project assessments
  3. Greater accountability and transparency

What It Means for Surveyors

For the surveying profession, this reform is both a challenge and an opportunity.

• Data and Mapping Frontline: With national environmental standards and regional planning frameworks ahead, demand for accurate spatial data and environmental baseline mapping will increase.
• Earlier Engagement: Developers will seek surveying input sooner, determining feasibility and compliance before approvals go to assessment.
• Alignment Across Jurisdictions: A more unified system means surveyors working interstate can expect more consistent rules and reporting requirements.
• Monitoring and Verification Roles: With the focus shifting from one-off approvals to long-term environmental outcomes, surveyors’ skills in change detection, offsets verification, and spatial monitoring will be highly valued.

The Bottom Line

The EPBC reforms are designed to deliver clarity, confidence, and speed. For surveyors, it’s a call to stay ahead, to understand the new frameworks, strengthen environmental capability, and position the profession as an essential partner in sustainable development.

Surveyors Australia will continue to monitor the Bill’s progress and engage with government to ensure that the voice of the surveying profession is heard as these reforms take shape.

Please share your feedback with the process as it impacts your local region to us at any time.

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