The Minister of Environment; Donna Faragher established the Environmental Stakeholder Advisory Group (ESAG) in June 2009 to provide advice on the Environmental Impact Assessment process in WA, in particular on how the process could be improved in terms of effectiveness, timely and coordinated assessment and decision making for new developments and with better environmental outcomes. A specific topic of consideration was the role and structure of the EPA.

Following the advice received from ESAG and consideration of the Minister, the EPA will be reformed to create the Office of Environmental Protection from December 2009. The new Office will be entirely independent with its own staff, budget, management and administrative capability. Its role will involve assessing new proposals, setting environmental conditions and monitoring compliance with those conditions. The DEC will maintain its function as conservation and environmental regulation, natural resource management and Part V administration of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.

The full ESAG report on the Role and Structure of the EPA can be viewed at the link below: