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Delivering infrastructure, development, or industrial projects in Australia requires more than just technical expertise – it demands robust environmental planning and compliance. An Environmental Management Plans (EMP) are often required as part of environmental approvals under federal and state legislation, especially for project that have potential environmental impacts.
EMPs provide a structured approach to environmental management at the site or activity level. A well-prepared EMP helps meet legal obligations, client expectations and broader sustainability goals.
An Environmental Management Plan (EMP) outlines how potential environmental impacts will be identified, minimised, monitored, and managed throughout the lifecycle of a specific project or activity. It ensures everyone on site understands their responsibilities and provides a practical roadmap to meet regulatory requirements, client expectations, and broader sustainability goals.
In Australia, an EMP is frequently required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), as well as state and territory environmental regulations.
EMPs are commonly used for:
• Construction and civil works
• Industrial operations or maintenance activities
• Projects requiring resource consents
• Environmental effects assessments and compliance monitoring
• Tender or contract documentation
While both EMPs and EMSs aim to improve environmental performance, they serve different, but often complementary, purposes:
Many businesses begin with an EMP for an individual site or contracts and later develop EMS as their environmental responsibilities or broader commitments grow.
Developing a site-specific EMP can help you:
• Secure environmental approvals and meet compliance conditions
• Demonstrate due diligence and reduce legal risk
• Improve on-site environmental awareness and compliance
• Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and procedures
For civil contracting and construction project managers, having a robust EMP aligned with approval conditions and industry standards can be a deciding factor in winning tenders or satisfying contract conditions.
At Morphum, we tailor EMPs to specific requirements of Australian jurisdictions, industries, and sites. A compliant EMP typically includes:
• Project description and scope
• Identification of key environmental aspects and risks
• Applicable legislation, approvals, and consent requirements
• Environmental objectives and performance indicators
• Site-specific mitigation and control measures
• Roles and responsibilities
• Monitoring and reporting procedures
• Emergency response and incident management procedures
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If you’ve received a resource consent, contract condition or client request for an EMP, it’s critical to ensure your plan meets both legal and operational expectations.
1. Understand your project or site and its environment – What are your key activities and their environmental sensitivities?
2. Engage with stakeholders and consent authorities - Clarify expectations early.
3. Develop a tailored EMP – Morphum’s specialists work with you to design a site or project-specific plan that meet EPCB Act guidelines and state expectations.
4. Implement and train – Ensure your team understands the plan and their roles in environmental management.
5. Monitor, update, and review – EMPs are live documents and should evolve as project conditions or risks change.
A well-designed EMP is a practical and proactive tool to deliver better environmental outcomes on your project. Whether required for compliance or adopted as best practice, an EMP can help you stay on track and demonstrate environmental leadership at every stage.
If you're looking for support with producing Environmental Management Plans, our team is here to help.
Find out more about our EMP services here!
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