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Home / Regulations / Environment Reference Standard (ERS)

Victoria Environment Reference Standard explained

Understand how Victoria uses the Environment Reference Standard in assessments, and why its benchmarks are not enforceable pollution limits.

Illustration accompanying Environment Reference Standard (ERS)
Illustrative image

Sources checked 18 September 2026. Scope: Victoria, with Australian schemes identified where relevant.

The Environment Reference Standard is a benchmark for environmental assessment and decisions. It is not permission to pollute up to a stated value. Source: EPA Victoria — Environment Reference Standard.

What applies

EPA explains that the ERS identifies environmental values and indicators for air, sound, land and water. It does not itself create specific obligations or enforceable compliance limits. It informs decisions including permission assessments and audits; applicable duties and conditions still need consideration. Source: EPA Victoria — Environment Reference Standard.

Practical checks for your business

These suggested planning steps help organise site information; they are not an exhaustive legal compliance checklist.

  1. Identify the decision: planning application, environmental audit, permission application or management review.
  2. Ask the consultant which values and assessment methods relate to that decision.
  3. Keep the assessment separate from a register of enforceable duties and conditions. Record assumptions and specialist advice.

Confirm the requirement for your site

For a disputed requirement or enforcement issue, ask the relevant authority or qualified adviser to identify the current provision and how it applies. Do not rely on an old penalty amount or general website summary.

Keep a usable decision record

Keep assessments, acceptance conditions, responsible contacts and supporting records together. Note what needs confirmation before changing the service or starting work.

Common question

Does an ERS exceedance automatically establish a breach?

Do not equate a reference objective with a site limit. Ask the authority or adviser to identify the applicable duty or permission condition.

Discuss your collection requirements

Contact Bundle Waste with the waste type, site and collection requirements. Keep specialist legal, environmental or safety assessment separate from the collection request.

Sources

Primary guidance checked 18 September 2026. Review due 18 October 2026, or sooner if requirements change.