Environmental compliance monitoring and regulatory responses

Authorisations and permits

Sydney Water Authorisation

The Sydney Airport Environment Officer (AEO) has completed an assessment and granted authorisation with conditions to Sydney Water Corporation under Part 4 of The Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 2026 [Part 5 of the 1997 Regulations] to periodically discharge sewage from the overflow point at Discharge Bay, Mill Pond at Sydney Airport until 31 March 2027.

The AEO will work closely with Sydney Water and Sydney Airport Corporation to monitor compliance with the authorisation and conditions listed within.

The authorisation was issued on 7 June 2024 and is available below.

•  01/2024 Sydney Water Authorisation (173.22 KB).

Sydney Water Authorisation Variations

Variations made to the Sydney Water Authorisation (01/2024) are as follows:

1. The AEO varied condition 2(a) to require Sydney Water to submit the Annual Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Compliance Report to the AEO by 28 February 2025, rather than the original due date of 31 January 2025.
2. The AEO varied condition 9 for the 2025 reporting year only, approving the community EMP update deadline to be moved to 28 February 2025, to align with the date for Sydney Water to submit the Annual EMP Compliance Report.
3. The AEO varied condition 2(b) to change the due date for Sydney Water to submit its EMP compliance report to 28 February 2026 (covering the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025), instead of 31 January 2026. 

Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Authorisation

The Hobart Airport Environment Officer (AEO) has completed an assessment and granted an authorisation with conditions to Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Corporation Pty Ltd under Part 5 of the Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 1997, to periodically discharge treated and partially treated effluent during bypass events, from the discharge point located at Sinclair’s Creek, Hobart Airport, until 30 September 2028.

The AEO will work closely with Tasmanian Water and Hobart International Airport Pty to monitor compliance with the authorisation and conditions listed within.

The authorisation was issued on 28 August 2026 and is available below.

• Document

  01/2026 Tasmanian Water and Sewerage Authorisation (269.44 KB)

Agreement for the Emission of Dark Smoke between Airservices Australia and the department

The Airports (Environment Protection) Regulations 2026 (Regulations) promote the improvement of environmental management practices at airports regulated by the Airports Act 1996 (the Act). These Regulations set standards and impose environmental duties on individuals and corporations undertaking activities that generate pollution or offensive noise on or adjacent to leased federal airports.

Airservices Australia (Airservices) is a provider of Rescue and Fire Fighting Services at Airports, including those regulated by the Act (schedule 1). Airservices is required to train their employed firefighters at regulated Airports and must undertake activities that emit Dark Smoke to provide suitable training.

Section 21 of the Regulations [reg 4.02(2) of the 1997 Regulations] states that the provider of a Rescue and Fire Fighting Service for an Airport is not required to comply with certain thresholds for the emission of Dark Smoke in Schedule 1 of the Regulations. This is given that the provider complies with an agreement with the Secretary of the department that satisfies certain provisions. These include requirements to notify parties in advance of dark smoke emissions, limitations on using dark smoke in unsuitable weather conditions, and mandatory dark smoke emissions reporting.

The Deed of Agreement between Airservices and the department (signed on 17 May 2024) can be accessed through the link below:

• Deed of Agreement for the Emission of Dark Smoke