3Definitions

3 Definitions (1) In this Act— S. 3(1) def. of *activity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***activity*** includes— (a) the storage or possession of waste or any other substance or thing; or (b) anything prescribed to be an activity; S. 3(1) def. of *advisory committee* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(1). ***advisory committee*** means a committee established under section 372; S. 3(1) def. of *agent of a vessel* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***agent of a vessel*** means a person or body that transacts business, in a port, on behalf of the owner or charterer of the vessel; S. 3(1) def. of *analysis* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***analysis*** includes the taking of a sample or any test, measurement, calculation or examination made for the purpose of determining— (a) the characteristics of a matter or substance; or (b) the effects of a discharge, emission or deposit of waste or pollution; S. 3(1) def. of *analyst* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***analyst*** means a person appointed as an analyst under section 245; S. 3(1) def. of *approved motor vehicle tester* inserted by No. 36/2022 s. 26(1)(a). ***approved motor vehicle tester*** means a person appointed in the prescribed role of approved motor vehicle tester; S. 3(1) def. of *associate* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***associate***, of another person, means any of the following persons— (a) a spouse, parent, brother, sister or child of the other person; (b) a domestic partner of the other person within the meaning of section 39(1) of the **Relationships Act 2008**; (c) a member of the other person's household; (d) a person who is in a partnership within the meaning of the **Partnerships Act 1958** with the other person; (e) a person participating in the management of the same unincorporated body as the other person; (f) a trustee or beneficiary of the same trust as the other person; (g) a trustee of a trust of which the other person is a beneficiary; (h) a beneficiary of a trust of which the other person is a trustee; (i) if the other person is a body corporate, an officer or member of the governing body of the body corporate; (j) a shareholder of the other person if the other person is a body corporate (other than a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange); (k) a person with whom a chain of relationships with the other person can be traced under any one or more of the above paragraphs; (l) a prescribed person; S. 3(1) def. of *associated entity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***associated entity*** has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act; S. 3(1) def. of *authorised officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***authorised officer*** means a person appointed as an authorised officer under section 242; S. 3(1) def. of *authorised to receive industrial waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***authorised to receive industrial waste***, in relation to a person or a place or premises, means any of the following— (a) authorised by a permission to receive that type of industrial waste; (b) exempt from a requirement to obtain a permission to receive that type of industrial waste; (c) authorised under section 157(1) to receive that type of industrial waste; (d) specified by operation of section 48 as not required to obtain a permission to receive that type of industrial waste; (e) authorised by the regulations, or in accordance with a process prescribed by the regulations, to receive that type of industrial waste; S. 3(1) def. of *Authority* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(2). ***Authority*** means the Environment Protection Authority continued under section 356; S. 3(1) def. of *Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *better environment plan* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***better environment plan*** means a better environment plan accepted by the Authority under section 182; S. 3(1) def. of *certificate of compliance* inserted by No. 36/2022 s. 26(1)(a). ***certificate of compliance*** means a certificate issued by an approved motor vehicle tester under regulations made under this Act; S. 3(1) def. of *Chairperson* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(3). ***Chairperson*** means the Chairperson of the Governing Board appointed under section 363; S. 3(1) def. of *chief environmental scientist* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(4). ***chief environmental scientist*** means the chief environmental scientist appointed under section 374; S. 3(1) def. of *chief executive officer* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(5). ***chief executive officer*** means the chief executive officer appointed under section 373; S. 3(1) def. of *civil penalty order* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***civil penalty order*** means an order made under Part 11.5; S. 3(1) def. of *civil penalty provision* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***civil penalty provision*** means a provision set out in the table in section 314; S. 3(1) def. of *clean up* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***clean up*** includes measures or activities— (a) to investigate and assess the nature and extent of pollution or waste, including any harm or risk of harm to human health and the environment arising from the pollution or waste; and (b) to remove, disperse, destroy, dispose of, abate, neutralise or treat pollution or waste; and (c) to restore the environment to a state as close as practicable to the state it was in immediately before the discharge or emission of pollution or the deposit of waste, or to any other state, for the purposes of Part 10.9; and (d) for the remediation of contaminated land; and (e) for the ongoing management of pollution or waste; and (f) to do anything necessary for, in connection with, or in relation to, the measures set out in paragraph (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e); S. 3(1) def. of *commence-ment day* repealed by No. 39/2018 s. 6(8). S. 3(1) def. of *commercially sensitive information* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***commercially sensitive information*** means information that relates to matters of a business, commercial or financial nature, the disclosure of which would be likely to unreasonably expose a person, an authority or an associated entity to disadvantage; S. 3(1) def. of *compliance code* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***compliance code*** means a compliance code approved under section 100(1); S. 3(1) def. of *conduct* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***conduct***, in relation to a business or undertaking, has the meaning given by subsection (4); S. 3(1) def. of *contaminated land* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***contaminated land*** has the meaning given in section 35; S. 3(1) def. of *corrupt conduct* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***corrupt conduct*** has the same meaning as in the **Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011**; S. 3(1) def. of *council* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***council*** has the same meaning as ***Council*** has in section 3(1) of the **Local Government Act 1989**; S. 3(1) def. of *council officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***council officer*** means— (a) a Chief Executive Officer within the meaning of section 3(1) of the **Local Government Act 1989**; or (b) a member of Council staff within the meaning of section 3(1) of the **Local Government Act 1989**; S. 3(1) def. of *Court* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***Court*** means the County Court, the Magistrates' Court or the Supreme Court; S. 3(1) def. of *court officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***court officer*** means a magistrate or registrar of the Magistrates' Court; S. 3(1) def. of *dangerous litter* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***dangerous litter*** has the meaning given by section 112; S. 3(1) def. of *declared region* inserted by No. 55/2021 s. 197(a). ***declared region*** has the same meaning as in the **Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021**; S. 3(1) def. of *deposit* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by Nos 27/2019 s. 11), amended by No. 36/2022 s. 26(1)(b). ***deposit***, in relation to litter and waste, means the act of parting with the possession of litter or waste and includes the disposal of litter or waste by burial or burning, and also includes burial or burning of litter or waste on land owned by or in the control or possession of the person responsible for burying or burning the litter or waste; S. 3(1) def. of *deputy Chairperson* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(6). ***deputy Chairperson*** means the deputy Chairperson of the Governing Board appointed under section 363; S. 3(1) def. of *designated place* inserted by No. 35/2023 s. 35(1). ***designated place*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; S. 3(1) def. of *development licence* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***development licence*** means a licence issued under section 69; S. 3(1) def. of *Director, Transport Safety* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 34/2023 s. 127(Sch. 1 item 4.1(a)). S. 3(1) def. of *draft Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implement-ation Plan* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), amended by No. 55/2021 s. 197(b), repealed by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(b). S. 3(1) def. of *draft State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(b). S. 3(1) def. of *economic instrument* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***economic instrument*** means a measure that provides financial incentives or disincentives for the purpose of encouraging protection of human health and the environment in economic activity, through incorporating the costs of harm and risks of harm, including but not limited to— (a) a scheme in the nature of a tradeable permit scheme; and (b) an environmental offset (however described); S. 3(1) def. of *eligible person* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***eligible person***, in relation to an application under Part 11.4, has the meaning given by section 308(1); S. 3(1) def. of *enforceable undertaking* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***enforceable undertaking*** means an undertaking accepted by the Authority under section 300; S. 3(1) def. of *entertainment venue* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***entertainment venue*** means any premises or place where music is performed or played but does not include residential premises or a place of worship; S. 3(1) def. of *environment* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environment*** means— (a) the physical factors of the surroundings of human beings including the land, waters, atmosphere, climate, sound, odours and tastes; and (b) the biological factors of animals and plants; and (c) the social factor of aesthetics; S. 3(1) def. of *environment reference standard* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environment reference standard*** means an environment reference standard made under section 93(1); S. 3(1) def. of *environmental action notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental action notice*** means an environmental action notice issued under section 274; S. 3(1) def. of *environmental audit* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental audit*** means an environmental audit conducted in accordance with section 208; S. 3(1) def. of *environmental audit report* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental audit report*** means a report prepared under section 212; S. 3(1) def. of *environmental audit statement* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental audit statement*** means an environmental audit statement prepared under section 210; S. 3(1) def. of *environmental auditor* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental auditor*** means a person appointed as an environmental auditor under Division 1 of Part 8.3; S. 3(1) def. of *environmental value* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***environmental value*** means a use, an attribute or a function of the environment; S. 3(1) def. of *financial assurance* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***financial assurance*** means a financial assurance provided to the Authority in accordance with section 219; S. 3(1) def. of *general environmental duty* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***general environmental duty*** means the duty under section 25(1); S. 3(1) def. of *Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Gippsland Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Goulburn Valley Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Goulburn Valley Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Governing Board* amended by No. 39/2018 s. 6(7). ***Governing Board*** means the Environment Protection Authority Governing Board under section 361; S. 3(1) def. of *Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Grampians Central West Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *greenhouse gas substance* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***greenhouse gas substance*** means— (a) carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide or sulphur hexafluoride, whether in a gaseous or liquid state; or (b) a hydrofluorocarbon or a perfluorocarbon, whether in a gaseous or liquid state, that is specified in regulations made under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 of the Commonwealth; S. 3(1) def. of *groundwater* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***groundwater*** means any water contained in or occurring in a geological structure or formation or an artificial landfill below the surface of land; S. 3(1) def. of *Head,* *Recycling Victoria* inserted by No. 55/2021 s. 197(a). ***Head,* *Recycling Victoria*** has the same meaning as in the **Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021**; S. 3(1) def. of *human health* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***human health*** includes psychological health; S. 3(1) def. of *IBAC* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***IBAC*** means the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission established under section 12 of the **Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011**; S. 3(1) def. of *IBAC personnel* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), amended by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 9). ***IBAC personnel*** has the same meaning as it has in the **Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011**; S. 3(1) def. of *improvement notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***improvement notice*** means a notice issued under section 271(1); S. 3(1) def. of *industrial waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***industrial waste*** means— (a) waste arising from commercial, industrial or trade activities or from laboratories; or (b) waste prescribed to be industrial waste for the purposes of this definition; S. 3(1) def. of *information gathering notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***information gathering notice*** means a notice served by the Authority under section 255; S. 3(1) def. of *issue of environmental concern* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***issue of environmental concern*** means an issue that is declared to be an issue of environmental concern under section 160; S. 3(1) def. of *land* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***land*** means any land, whether publicly or privately owned, and includes— (a) any buildings or other structures permanently affixed to the land; and (b) groundwater; S. 3(1) def. of *law enforcement agency* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***law enforcement agency*** includes— (a) a law enforcement agency within the meaning of the **Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014**; and (b) any council; S. 3(1) def. of *liable person* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***liable person*** has the meaning given by section 144; S. 3(1) def. of *licence* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***licence*** means— (a) a development licence; or (b) an operating licence; or (c) a pilot project licence; S. 3(1) def. of *licence activity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***licence activity***, in relation to a licence, means an activity specified in the licence; S. 3(1) def. of *litter* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***litter*** has the meaning given by section 112; S. 3(1) def. of *litter authority* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***litter authority*** includes— (a) the Authority; or (b) any other body created by or under an Act; or (c) a Government department; or (d) a council; or (e) the Secretary, being the body corporate established by Part 2 of the **Conservation,** **Forests and Lands Act 1987**; or (f) a body declared by Order of the Governor in Council under section 113 to be a litter authority; S. 3(1) def. of *litter enforcement officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), amended by No. 35/2023 s. 35(2). ***litter enforcement officer*** means— (a) a person appointed as a litter enforcement officer by the Authority under section 114(1); or (b) a person appointed as a litter enforcement officer by a litter authority under section 114(2); or (c) a person appointed as a litter enforcement officer by the Secretary under section 114(3); or (d) an authorised officer; or (e) a police officer; or (f) a protective services officer who is on duty at a designated place or in the vicinity of police premises; or (fa) in relation to any land or waters managed under a relevant law (within the meaning of the **Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987**), a person appointed under Part 3 of the **Game Management Authority Act 2014**; or (g) a person appointed as an authorised officer under Part 3 of the **Victorian Fisheries Authority Act 2016** for the purposes of this Act; S. 3(1) def. of *Local Government Waste Forum* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Loddon Mallee Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *management or control* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***management or control***, in relation to industrial waste or priority waste, means exercising management functions in relation to, or control over, the industrial waste or priority waste and includes the following— (a) producing or generating waste; (b) collecting, consigning, transferring or transporting waste; (c) receiving, handling or storing waste; (d) undertaking resource recovery or processing of waste; (e) undertaking waste disposal; S. 3(1) def. of *Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *motor vehicle* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***motor vehicle*** has the same meaning as in the **Road Safety Act 1986**; S. 3(1) def. of *municipal district* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***municipal district*** has the same meaning as in the **Local Government Act 1989**; S. 3(1) def. of *municipal waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***municipal waste*** means waste arising from municipal or residential activities, and includes waste collected by, or on behalf of, a council, but does not include industrial waste; S. 3(1) def. of *National Environment Protection Council* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***National Environment Protection Council*** means the National Environment Protection Council established by section 8 of the **National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995**; S. 3(1) def. of *national environment protection measure* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***national environment protection measure*** means a national environment protection measure made under section 14(1) of the **National Environment Protection Council (Victoria) Act 1995**; S. 3(1) def. of *noise* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***noise*** includes sound and vibration; S. 3(1) def. of *North East Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *North East Waste and Resource Recovery Region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c).[[1]](#endnote-1) S. 3(1) def. of *notice to investigate* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***notice to investigate*** means a notice to investigate issued under section 273; S. 3(1) def. of *notifiable contamination* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***notifiable contamination*** has the meaning given by section 37; S. 3(1) def. of *notifiable incident* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***notifiable incident*** has the meaning given by section 30; S. 3(1) def. of *officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***officer*** in relation to a body corporate means— (a) a person who is an officer (as defined by section 9 of the Corporations Act) of the body corporate; or (b) a person (other than a person referred to in paragraph (a)), by whatever name called, who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of the body corporate; S. 3(1) def. of *operating licence* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***operating licence*** means a licence issued under section 74; S. 3(1) def. of *participant* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***participant***, in a better environment plan, has the meaning given by section 179; S. 3(1) def. of *permission* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***permission*** means— (a) a development licence; or (b) an operating licence; or (c) a pilot project licence; or (d) a permit; or (e) a registration; S. 3(1) def. of *permission activity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***permission activity***, in relation to a permission, means an activity specified in the permission; S. 3(1) def. of *permit* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***permit*** means a permit issued under section 81; S. 3(1) def. of *pilot project licence* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***pilot project licence*** means a licence issued under section 78; S. 3(1) def. of *place* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***place*** includes land, waters, a location, an area or a region; S. 3(1) def. of *police officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***police officer*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; S. 3(1) def. of *police premises* inserted by No. 35/2023 s. 35(1). ***police premises*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; S. 3(1) def. of *pollution* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***pollution*** includes any emission, discharge, deposit, disturbance or escape of— (a) a solid, liquid or gas, or a combination of a solid, liquid or gas, including but not limited to smoke, dust, fumes or odour; or (b) noise; or (c) heat; or (d) a thing prescribed for the purposes of this definition— but does not include a thing prescribed not to be pollution for the purposes of this definition; S. 3(1) def. of *pollution incident* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***pollution incident*** has the meaning given by section 29; S. 3(1) def. of *position statement* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***position statement*** means a position statement published under section 105(1); S. 3(1) def. of *preliminary risk screen assessment* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***preliminary risk screen assessment*** means a preliminary risk screen assessment conducted under section 204; S. 3(1) def. of *preliminary risk screen assessment* *report* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***preliminary risk screen assessment*** ***report*** means a report prepared under section 207; S. 3(1) def. of *preliminary risk screen assessment statement* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***preliminary risk screen assessment statement*** means a preliminary risk screen assessment statement issued under section 205; S. 3(1) def. of *premises* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***premises*** includes a structure, building or vehicle; S. 3(1) def. of *prescribed role* inserted by No. 36/2022 s. 26(1)(a). ***prescribed role*** means a role prescribed under section 245(2); S. 3(1) def. of *priority waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***priority waste*** has the meaning given in section 138; S. 3(1) def. of *prohibited person* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***prohibited person*** has the meaning set out in section 88(1); S. 3(1) def. of *prohibition notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***prohibition notice*** means a notice issued under section 272(1); S. 3(1) def. of *protective services officer* inserted by No. 35/2023 s. 35(1). ***protective services officer*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**; S. 3(1) def. of *public entity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***public entity*** has the same meaning as in the **Public Administration Act 2004**; S. 3(1) def. of *Public Register* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***Public Register*** means the Public Register established and maintained under section 455; S. 3(1) def. of *public sector body* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***public sector body*** has the same meaning as in the **Public Administration Act 2004**; S. 3(1) def. of *Regional Waste and Resource Recovery Implementation Plan* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(b). S. 3(1) def. of *registered owner* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***registered owner*** means— (a) in relation to a motor vehicle—the person who is registered as the registered operator of the motor vehicle under the **Road Safety Act 1986** or a corresponding law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; and (b) in relation to a vessel—the person in whose name the vessel is registered under the **Marine Safety Act 2010** or a corresponding law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; and (c) in relation to any other vehicle—the person who owns the vehicle (whether the vehicle is registered in any way or not); S. 3(1) def. of *registration* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***registration*** means a registration granted under section 85; S. 3(1) def. of *related entity* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***related entity*** has the same meaning as in the Corporations Act; S. 3(1) def. of *reportable priority waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***reportable priority waste*** means priority waste prescribed as reportable priority waste for the purposes of section 142 or 143, or both; S. 3(1) def. of *residential noise enforcement officer* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***residential noise enforcement officer*** means a person appointed as a residential noise enforcement officer under section 171; S. 3(1) def. of *residential noise improvement notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***residential noise improvement notice*** means a notice issued under section 172(1); S. 3(1) def. of *resource recovery* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***resource recovery*** in relation to waste, means— (a) preparation for reuse of the waste; (b) recycling the waste; (c) reprocessing the waste; (d) recovering energy or other resources from the waste; (e) anything prescribed to be resource recovery in relation to waste— but does not include anything prescribed not to be resource recovery in relation to waste; S. 3(1) def. of *Restorative Project Account* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***Restorative Project Account*** means the account established and maintained under section 447; S. 3(1) def. of *reuse* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***reuse***, in relation to waste, means the use of the waste for a purpose that is the same or similar to the purpose for which it was used before it became waste; S. 3(1) def. of *Safe Transport Victoria* inserted by No. 34/2023 s. 127(Sch. 1 item 4.1(b)). ***Safe Transport Victoria*** has the same meaning as in section 3 of the **Transport Integration Act 2010**; S. 3(1) def. of *site* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***site*** means specified land or a specified parcel of land; S. 3(1) def. of *site management order* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***site management order*** means an order issued under section 275; S. 3(1) def. of *State-Wide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Plan* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(b). S. 3(1) def. of *Sustainability Victoria* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***Sustainability Victoria*** means Sustainability Victoria established by section 5 of the **Sustainability Victoria Act 2005**; S. 3(1) def. of *unreasonable noise* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), substituted by Nos 36/2022 s. 26(1)(c), 35/2023 s. 35(3). ***unreasonable noise*** means noise that is— (a) unreasonable having regard to the following— (i) its volume, intensity or duration; (ii) its character; (iii) the time, place and other circumstances in which it is emitted; (iv) how often it is emitted; (v) any prescribed factors; or (b) prescribed to be unreasonable noise— but does not include noise prescribed not to be unreasonable noise; S. 3(1) def. of *vehicle* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***vehicle*** includes— (a) a vessel or aircraft; and (b) a trailer attached to a vehicle; S. 3(1) def. of *vehicle inspection notice* inserted by No. 35/2023 s. 35(1). ***vehicle inspection notice*** means a notice under section 269A(1); S. 3(1) def. of *vessel* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***vessel*** has the same meaning as it has in the **Marine Safety Act 2010**; S. 3(1) def. of *Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan* inserted by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(a). ***Victorian Recycling Infrastructure Plan*** has the same meaning as ***VRIP*** has in the **Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021**; S. 3(1) def. of *Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure Planning Framework* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 36/2022 s. 26(2)(b). S. 3(1) def. of *waste* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***waste*** includes any of the following— (a) matter, including solid, liquid, gaseous or radioactive matter, that is deposited, discharged, emitted or disposed of into the environment in a manner that alters the environment; (b) a greenhouse gas substance emitted or discharged into the environment; (c) matter that is discarded, rejected, abandoned, unwanted or surplus, irrespective of any potential use or value; (d) matter prescribed to be waste; (e) matter or a greenhouse gas substance referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) that is intended for, or is undergoing, resource recovery; S. 3(1) def. of *waste abatement notice* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***waste abatement notice*** means a notice issued under section 121(1); S. 3(1) def. of *Waste and Resource Recovery Group* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *waste and resource recovery region* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11), repealed by No. 55/2021 s. 197(c). S. 3(1) def. of *waste disposal* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***waste disposal*** means any activity carried out in connection with the disposal of waste, but does not include resource recovery; S. 3(1) def. of *waste management facility* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***waste management facility*** includes a landfill, a transfer station, a composting facility, a facility to store or contain solid waste and a resource recovery facility; S. 3(1) def. of *waters* inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(9) (as amended by No. 27/2019 s. 11). ***waters*** includes the following— (a) a reservoir, tank or billabong; (b) an anabranch, canal, spring, swamp; (c) a natural or artificial channel, lake, lagoon, waterway or dam; (d) tidal water, coastal water or groundwater. S. 3(2) substituted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(10). (2) A reference in this Act to a person ***engaging*** in an activity includes a reference to a person who is conducting, undertaking, managing or in control of that activity. S. 3(3) inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(10). (3) A reference in this Act to ***waters*** includes a reference to— (a) the bed and subsoil lying beneath those waters; and (b) the airspace superjacent to those waters; and (c) an open, piped or underground drain— but does not include a reference to a drain that conveys waste to, or which forms part of, any works for the treatment of waste. S. 3(4) inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(10). (4) For the purposes of this Act, a person ***conducts*** a business or undertaking— (a) whether or not the business or undertaking is conducted for profit or gain; and (b) whether or not the business or undertaking is conducted by a government or public authority (however described)— but a natural person does not conduct a business or undertaking merely because the person is engaged in an activity— (c) that is primarily domestic or private and not conducted for profit or financial gain; or (d) subject to Part 11.8, solely in the person's capacity as an employee or officer of another person or on a voluntary basis. S. 3(5) inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 6(10). (5) To avoid doubt, a reference in this Act to ***under this Act*** includes a reference to under the regulations under this Act, and this subsection has a corresponding effect in relation to references to other Acts. New s. 4 inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 7 (as amended by Nos 27/2019 ss 12−30, 3/2020 ss 42–44, 47/2020 s. 26).