Questions over fast-track funding regime

The Environmental Protection Authority has effectively signalled that the fast-track regime isn’t stacking up financially for the Crown entity.

The EPA was granted a $10million Crown loan for the upfront cost of establishing the systems and processes needed to implement the new fast-track process. The loan term is for five years.

The EPA has said that the loan had allowed it to set up a new business system to support the fast-track applications and decision-making mechanisms.

The funding model relied on around 50 applications a year to repay a $10 million Crown loan, but costs are now “well in excess” of expectations - pointing to both underestimation and likely lower-than-expected uptake.