Message from the CEO
When we issued our last EPA Connect issue in June, we couldn’t have imagined that we would again be in lockdown in Greater Sydney and across regional NSW. Over the past two months we have found ourselves in a rapidly evolving situation as we come together to protect the community against the spread of COVID-19.
The EPA's CEO Tracy Mackey
We have been working closely with the Government, councils and industry as new restrictions come into place to ensure the continuity of critical waste services for the community, particularly in Greater Sydney.
While our EPA staff are working from home we are still operating, including responding to incidents, working with industry to ensure they are able to meet their obligations and conducting essential onsite inspections.
A very exciting part of our recent work has been releasing our new Strategic Plan which sets the vision for the EPA over the next three years.
The Plan outlines our vision for five focus areas where the EPA can have the biggest impact in achieving positive environmental and human health outcomes.
The five areas are ecological sustainable development, waste, water quality, legacy and emerging contaminants and climate change.
The plan conceptualises the work of the EPA in a different way. It is designed to continue the step change in the way we operate, building on our journey to become a world class regulator.
It will sit above other strategies we have developed to drive our performance as a world class regulator including our:
- Regulatory Strategy which outlines our regulatory activities and approach to achieve the best outcomes.
- Data and Digital strategies that underpin our investment in horizon scanning, intelligence and data.
- Workforce Strategy to develop, attract and retain the right staff with the right skills.
All of this important work is aimed at improving the way we operate and ensuring we are at the top of our game.
We had hoped to share our new Strategic Plan with you directly at stakeholder roadshows from August – November. We expected these to be in full swing now, allowing us to meet with community, representative organisations, local government and industry to discuss our plans. We are still hopeful that COVID restrictions will ease before the end of the year. We are considering how we might be able to be innovative to make these happen, for example, through a virtual hub.
I wish you all the best – stay safe, healthy and connected.
Tracy Mackey
Chief Executive Officer