The NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) has released a revised set of independent audit (IA) post approval requirements for state significant projects. The requirements introduce a more structured and prescriptive framework for how audits are planned, approved, and delivered across the project lifecycle.

The updated requirements signal a clear shift toward tighter audit governance, greater consistency, and earlier engagement with DPHI. For proponents and project teams, understanding these changes is essential to maintaining compliance and avoiding unnecessary delays, as Principal – Auditing and Compliance Elliot Holland explains.

Projects today need to meet and maintain a range of requirements to ensure they are environmentally compliant. Staying on top of complex and ever-evolving environmental regulations can be challenging, especially without the right tools and processes.

Having an appropriate environmental compliance management system in place can streamline project compliance. There are a range of off-the-shelf and customisable software options available to make compliance management a breeze, as Environmental Consultant Emma Ferguson explains.