Ports safety and environment management plans

Since 2005 the Port Safety and Environment Management Plans (SEMPs) have been an important component in promoting best practice safety and environmental performance across all aspects of Victoria's port activities.
The purpose of the Guidelines is to assist individual port managers in developing detailed plans for their particular ports.

The management plans will clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved and will assist port managers to identify, assess and respond to hazards and risks in a coordinated, effective and practical way.

Ministerial guidelines: Port Safety and Environment Management Plans (PDF, 352 KB, 31 pp.)

Review of SEMP Arrangements

In November 2009, GHD was engaged to conduct a Review of SEMP Arrangements. The review investigated all aspects of the SEMP system, including the certification and audit processes and the effectiveness of the Ministerial Guidelines.

The review found that while certain targeted improvements can be made to the SEMP system, overall SEMPs were serving the purpose for which they were intended – to integrate environmental and safety management on a whole of port basis.

A key theme of the review was that SEMPs could be adding more value, and that there is a need for more focus to be given to the outcomes of SEMPs, rather than only the processes through which they are managed.

The Department of Transport has subsequently conducted further consultation on the findings and recommendations of the review and sought detailed comments from port managers across the state.

This consultation has led to the development of the Government Response to the Review. The response includes 12 actions responding to the issues identified in the review.

Review of SEMP Arrangements - Government response (PDF, 350 KB, 17 pp.)

A summary of the review recommendations and the government's response can be found at the end of the document.