Australian Environmental Websites - Centres & Institutes - The University of Sydney
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Australian Environmental Websites

WebLaw

WebLaw is a subject gateway to Internet resources by law librarians from universities around Australia. “It provides lawyers, students, researchers and lay professionals with annotated links to up-to-date, quality assessed internet resources”.

The WebLaw Legal Research page by the University of NSW has a useful summary of Australian Government (Commonwealth and State) websites where legislation can be obtained.

The WebLaw Environmental Law page by the University of Adelaide has a number of useful features such as

  • a list of Commonwealth and State government environmental acts.
  • a list of environmental courts and tribunals.
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Commonwealth Government Organisations

Environment Portal (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)
The Environment Portal provides access to online services and information provided by Australian, State and Local Governments. Its content concerning national online services and information is currently being reviewed by DEWHA.
http://www.environment.gov.au/portal/

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (formerly Department of the Environment and Water Resources)
http://www.environment.gov.au/index.html
This website which is presently being reviewed provides extensive information regarding national environmental legislation and policies as well as reports such as Australia State of the Environment 2006 (SoE2006)

Information is organised by eight broad environmental themes - Atmosphere, Biodiversity, Coasts and oceans, Heritage, Land management, Parks and reserves, Human settlements and Water Resources.

There are also links to DEWHA’s divisions and to the executive agencies and the statutory authorities in the federal Environment and Heritage portfolio.
http://www.environment.gov.au/about/structure/index.html

However, the content on this website is being reviewed at present.

Department of Climate Change
“Content on the Department’s web site is being reviewed. It currently includes information about programs formerly administered by the Australian Greenhouse Office”.
http://www.climatechange.gov.au/index.html

The Australian Heritage Council
This website contains the database of the Register of the National Estate.
http://www.ahc.gov.au

Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
This site has an extensive range of online publications concerning agriculture, fisheries, forestry and food.
http://http://www.affa.gov.au

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NSW Government Organisations

NSW Government Portal
Gateway to NSW Government environmental agencies, policies and legislation:
http://www.nsw.gov.au/environment.asp

Department of Environment and Climate Change
The website provides extensive information regarding environmental legislation, reports such as State of the Environment, policies, environmental impact statements, and fact sheets.
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/index.htm

Department of Planning
The website has information on environmental planning policies such as SEPPs and REPs and action plans such as the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy.
http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.asp

The Heritage Office
The Heritage Office is a division of the Department of Planning. The website includes the NSW heritage database which is a list of all statutory-listed heritage items in NSW and also has guidelines and publications on heritage policy and management.
http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/index.html

NSW Department of Primary Industries
DPI was formed in July 2004 with the amalgamation of Mineral Resources NSW, NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries and State Forests NSW. The website provides information such as environmental legislation, reports, policies, impact statements, fact sheets and periodicals.
http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/

Department of Water and Energy
The department was created in April 2007. It "incorporates most of the functions of the former Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, water-related functions of the former Department of Natural Resources as well as the Metropolitan Water Directorate from the former NSW Cabinet Office."

A new website for the Department of Water and Energy is being developed. Until then, information on all the programs administered by the former Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability will be accessible through the latter's website. The website provides information such as reports, action plans and fact sheets.
http://www.deus.nsw.gov.au/index.asp

Australian Environmental Law Organisations

Environmental Defender's Office New South Wales Ltd
“The Environmental Defender's Office is a not-for-profit community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law”. It “is part of a national network of EDOs who help to protect the environment through law in their States.”
http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/default.php#

National Environmental Law Association (NELA)
“NELA is a multi-disciplinary organisation helping practitioners in law planning, natural resources and environmental management, environmental science and environmental impact assessment obtain and exchange information on issues relevant to environmental law and policy.”
http://www.nela.org.au

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Australian Environmental Non-profit Organisations

Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)
The webpage of this national not-for profit environmental organisation provides information on “national environmental issues such as forests, national parks, uranium mining, global warming, world heritage, rivers”
http://www.acfonline.org.au/

Australian Student Environment Network
“The Australian Student Environment Network is the national network of students active on environmental justice issues on their campuses and in their communities”. This site lists campaigns which its members and member groups are involved in plus resources for environmental activists.
http://www.asen.org.au/

Greenpeace Australia Pacific
The website of this for not-for profit environment organisation provides “environmental news, information and resources, plus info on Greenpeace Australia Pacific and [its] campaigns”.
http://www.greenpeace.org.au/

The Wilderness Society - Australia
“The Wilderness Society is a community-based environmental advocacy organisation whose mission is protecting, promoting and restoring wilderness and natural processes across Australia”
http://www.wilderness.org.au/

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Australian Environmental Business Organisations

The Australasian Emissions Trading Forum
“Australasia’s prime information service and business network dealing with domestic and international developments in greenhouse gas emissions markets.” The website provides information on the latest developments and research in emissions trading.
http://aetf.emcc.net.au/index.html

Environment Business Australia
“The peak body representing the environment and sustainability industry in Australia”. The website contains policy papers and fact sheets on business and sustainability issues.
http://www.environmentbusiness.com.au/

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