Environment Protection and Heritage Council
About the EPHC
The Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) is an intergovernmental council of environment ministers. It aims to ensure that governments work together with communities to achieve and enhance a healthy natural and cultural environment in harmony with social and economic goals.
The objective of the EPHC is to protect the environment and heritage of Australia and New Zealand. More about the EPHC
How was the EPHC created?
The EPHC was created in 2001 by incorporating:
- the National Environment Protection Council (NEPC), a statutory Ministerial Council with power to make National Environment Protection Measures (NEPMs)
- the environment protection responsibilities previously managed by the Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council (ANZECC)
- the Heritage Ministers’ Meetings.
Role of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
The Department promotes strong cooperative relationships with other Australian Government agencies, states and territories and local government. It supports the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts in his role as chair of the EPHC.
To promote EPHC priorities the Department:
- Improves air quality
- Improves waste management
- Improves water quality by
- Working with the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) to develop national approaches to water quality standards, improving water quality and the conservation of Australia's urban water resources
- Improves eco-efficiency and sustainability by
- Pursuing eco-efficiency and conservation of natural resources, including energy and water use, through national approaches to sustainable consumption and production
- Developing innovative approaches to business sustainability
- Develops sound chemicals policy
- Supports Indigenous people's participation
- Develops an integrated National Heritage Policy
- Develops an integrated approach to heritage and environment protection
EPHC meetings
Secretariat support, including management of agenda papers and distribution of the minutes and draft action items, is provided by the NEPC Service Corporation.
EPHC publications
Contacts
For information about the EPHC:
Chief Executive Officer
NEPC Service Corporation
Level 5, 81 Flinders Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 8419 1200
Fax: (08) 8224 0912
Email: exec@ephc.gov.au
www.ephc.gov.au
For information about Australian Government involvement in the EPHC contact:
Sue Ludwig
Government Partnership Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: (02) 6274 1868
Fax: (02) 6274 1172
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