Environmental impact studies
Environmental impact assessment (commonly referred to as Environmental impact studies) is used to ensure environmental management is considered as part of the approvals process for all development proposals that require assessment by local government or have the potential to harm the environment.
Environmental impact assessment should:
- make sure developers take responsibility for protecting the environment that may be affected by their proposals
- look at any environmental issues that my arise during the life of the proposals
- help decision makers decide whether the proposal should proceed, and any environmental management and monitoring conditions that should apply
- take into account community and stakeholder views, where the law allows, when assessing the proposal and making a decision.
The Environment impact statement process also allows a greater level of public scrutiny. At an early stage, terms of reference are developed that state what the environmental impact statement should cover. These terms of reference are made available to the public so they have an opportunity to review them and make comments.
Proposals needing assessment
Proposals that need environmental impact assessment (EIS) include:
- an environmentally relevant activity listed in Schedule 1 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994
- a mining or petroleum activity that does not comply with the relevant codes of environmental compliance. These codes contain the rules and regulations that the activity needs to comply with
- development in the coastal zone that needs to be assessed by the local government
- any activity needing authorisation under the Nature Conservation (Administration) Regulation 2006
- proposals that the have been declared as significant projects for which an EIS is required
- development that requires impact assessment under a local planning scheme (contact your local authority for information on what development is impact assessable and what scope of assessment would apply)
- any activity that would remove, destroy or damage marine plants
- any activity involving the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity (including wind).
Contact the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities for information about environmental impact assessment of proposals that have national environmental effects.
