The Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has moved its application process for industry licences and works approvals to a new digital system. Effective immediately, agritourism and other business operators must use the Environment Online portal for these submissions, a change intended to increase efficiency and clarity in regulatory compliance.

Impact on Compliance and Project Timelines

For businesses planning expansions, new constructions, or activities requiring environmental clearance, the new system is designed to reduce administrative friction and shorten assessment timelines. The platform’s guided digital forms aim to decrease common application errors and minimise the need for follow-up correspondence from DWER, a frequent source of project delays that can impact capital expenditure and revenue forecasting.

The integration of fees and payments directly into the submission process streamlines the application from a cash flow perspective, consolidating all related tasks into a single transaction.

Key System Enhancements for Operators

The Environment Online portal centralises several critical functions into a single interface, providing operators with a clearer view of their regulatory obligations. Key features of the updated system include:

• Digital application forms for all Industry Regulation submissions.
• The ability to save and reuse core business information across multiple related applications, reducing data entry.
• A centralised dashboard for tracking application status, fees, official correspondence, and ongoing compliance obligations.

This shift to a mandatory digital platform is part of a multi-year departmental effort to modernise its regulatory processes. Operators should ensure they are familiar with the new portal for all future environmental approval requirements.

The WAAA News Team