Canberra Environmental Firm Cuts EPBC Referral Prep 55%
A 4-lawyer Canberra environmental law firm uses Quillio for EPBC Act referrals and assessment responses, ACT Planning Act development applications, climate disclosure advice under the Treasury Laws Amendment (Financial Market Infrastructure and Other Measures) Act 2024 mandatory reporting regime, and contaminated land advice. EPBC referral preparation has dropped by around 55%.
What they were trying to solve
EPBC Act 1999 (Cth) referrals require carefully structured "significant impact" analysis against each matter of national environmental significance (MNES) — listed threatened species, migratory species, Ramsar wetlands, world heritage areas, and more. The firm's partners were doing the MNES-by-MNES analysis manually, with a senior consultant providing ecological input. Clients were being quoted 3-4 weeks for EPBC referral preparation, which was losing work to national consultancies.
Why Quillio
Quillio reads the project description, the ecological survey data, and the environmental impact statement, and drafts a structured first-pass referral against each potentially relevant MNES. It applies the Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1, flags referral triggers, and produces the controlled action assessment argument. Also used for mandatory climate disclosure advice under AASB S2.
Implementation
Tested on 6 historical EPBC referrals over 5 weeks, benchmarked against the firm's lodged versions, and rolled out to live matters. Climate disclosure and ACT planning workflows added in month 2.
Measurable outcomes
Per referral under the EPBC Act 1999 (Cth) with full MNES analysis
Firm now competitive on turnaround with national environmental consultancies
Mandatory climate disclosure advice for in-scope Group 1-3 reporters under AASB S2
Development applications under the Planning Act 2023 (ACT) and Territory Plan
Firm now accepts matters across EPBC, climate, and contaminated land concurrently
"EPBC referrals are a structured analysis — you work through each MNES, apply the Significant Impact Guidelines, and reach a view. The structure is what Quillio handles beautifully; the ecological judgement stays with our senior consultant and the partners. We're not losing referrals to the big consultancies on timing anymore."
How it works in practice
EPBC Act 1999 referrals and assessment responses, ACT Planning Act 2023 development applications, mandatory climate-related financial disclosure advice under AASB S2, contaminated land advice under the Environment Protection Act 1997 (ACT), and EPBC Act compliance for infrastructure projects.
What they avoided
Losing EPBC referral work to national environmental consultancies on turnaround, or forgoing the new mandatory climate disclosure advisory pipeline because the firm could not scale into it.
Case study FAQs
Does Quillio cover EPBC Act matters?
Yes — Quillio is trained on the EPBC Act 1999 (Cth), the EPBC Regulations, Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1, and each MNES category. It handles referral, controlled action assessment, and approval condition review.
What about the new nature repair regime?
Quillio is tracking the Nature Repair Act 2023 and the Nature Positive reforms to EPBC Act assessment, including the forthcoming Environment Protection Australia regulator where applicable.
Does it handle climate disclosure?
Yes — Quillio advises on mandatory climate-related financial disclosure under AASB S2 for Group 1 (commenced FY25), Group 2 (FY27), and Group 3 (FY28) reporters, and on greenwashing risk under s1041H Corporations Act and the ACL.
What about ACT Territory Plan matters?
Yes — Quillio covers the ACT Planning Act 2023, the Territory Plan, and ACAT merits reviews of planning decisions.
Can it handle contaminated land?
Yes — Quillio advises under the Environment Protection Act 1997 (ACT) and equivalent NSW/VIC contaminated land regimes, including due diligence for site transfers and voluntary remediation agreements.
Run the same pilot.
Environmental law firms should trial Quillio on the next EPBC referral and compare MNES analysis time end-to-end. Start a free trial.
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