Environmental Impact Assessment in NSW

This assignment delves into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in New South Wales (NSW), particularly focusing on its application to water projects. It examines the existing regulatory framework, approved programs, and potential modifications to streamline approvals. The assignment also aims to develop a comprehensive EIA for a developmental cause related to safeguarding water projects, providing a practical example of how this assessment tool can be utilized effectively.

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Sustainable Systems

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Environmental Issues faced by Australians...............................................................................3
Means of tackling environmental issues....................................................................................4
Energy as an environmental issue..............................................................................................5
Steps required for a project approval requiring EIA in NSW....................................................6
Changing steps in the approval procedure.................................................................................7
Mode of overcoming the pitfalls of EIA....................................................................................7
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Protecting Environment.....................................8
Conclusions..............................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
The report focuses on understanding the different types of environmental issues faced by
Australians with the different types of strategies undertaken by the Australian government to
counter its impacts. It would further focus on understanding the manner in which the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is generated for a specific program that is approved
by the New South Wales (NSW) government. The report would subsequently highlight on the
different changes that can be rendered to the existing process concerning EIA with also the
development of an EIA for a specific development program.
Environmental Issues faced by Australians
The key environmental issues that are being faced by the future generations of Australia are
highlighted as under.
-Allocation of Freshwater and also Storage of water resources in dry areas have become as a
potential environmental issue faced by Australians. Competition in demands regarding that of
irrigation activities and also in generation of hydroelectricity has further fuelled the conflict.
The Australians are deeply impacted by a period of continuous drought from 1990s to 2010.
Further, climate change activity reflects the generation of further scarcity in water resources
along both South and the South Western regions of Australia.
-Catching of marine fishes in Australia has invited potential conflicts and tends to affect
future Australians. The conflict owes to the fact that catching of marine fishes has potentially
affected the habitat concerning other bycatch species like dolphins, seals, turtles and even
seabirds. An effective quota is generated by the Australian government regarding marine
fishing which in turn is taken to affect the seafood industry in the region (Byrne et al., 2014).
-Similarly, increased growth of mining, drilling for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and also
mining for Coal Seam Gas (CSG) have generated needed environmental impacts in the
Australian region. Coal and CSG mining activity being targeted at farming areas and also in
the vicinity of towns and cities create further problem. The same has contributed in creating
conflicts between farmers and environmentalist groups with that of commercial mining
agencies.

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-Continual change in the political scenario both along the regional and national framework in
Australia is observed to have affected the implementation of the climate change policies that
were identified by one government. The same has affected the mitigation efforts in the region
regarding countering of environmental impacts (Hobday & McDonald, 2014).
Means of tackling environmental issues
-The issue concerning the failure in allocation and storage of water resources in Australia are
focused on being tackled through the introduction of desalination technology that is linked to
generation of a borehole. The same would help in extracting fresh water from brackish water
resources in Australia amounting to the generation of around 113,000 cubic metres of fresh
water for irrigation and other purposes (Municipal , 2016).

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(Municipal , 2016)
-Development of effective ecosystems is identified as an effective solution undertaken by the
Australian government for protecting the fisheries in the region. Effective harvesting
strategies concerning fisheries are being shared by the government with the fisheries for
aiding in effective catches. Application of the ecosystem model pertaining to Atlantis marine
and rated by the United Nations is observed as a key approach for protecting the fisheries.
Creating innovative plans for rearing of species like bluefin tuna that would help in
rebuilding the stock (CSIRO, 2017).

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-Different types of government legislations are being put in force for effectively countering
the impacts generated from mining of CSG and LNG gases in Australia. The CSG operating
companies are prohibited from using different types of petroleum compounds like benzene
and xylene as hydraulic fluids such that the same accounts to generation of toxicity. Further,
the CSG operators are required to evaluate the quality and quantity of water in the bores
before the operation and are required to monitor the impacts and generate adequate
compensation thereof (Business Queensland , 2017).
-Different types of climate change policies like the development of fund for monitoring and
reducing the level of carbon emissions, restoration of native forests and effective
biodiversities, generation and enhanced use of renewable energy systems and also plying for
international support regarding the implementation of the climate change policies are
identified as key steps taken by the regional and national governments in Australia
(Australian Government , 2017).
Energy as an environmental issue
It was estimated during 2012 that around 95 percent of the primary energy needs in Australia
are generated through the use of fossil fuels. Potential problems faced by Australians
concerning energy uses firstly owe to the fear of unavailability of needed energy resources
for meeting the demands of diverse households and commercial sectors. Further, the
Australian economy tends to be adversely affected by changes in oil prices and availability.
Again, potential targets undertaken in reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases in the
region are required to be rightly monitored for generating needed benefits. The Australian
government focusing on meeting the objectives of Kyoto Protocol is required to continually
focus on the development of renewable energy resources for protecting its natural resources
and also in reducing greenhouse gas emissions (The Australian Collaboration , 2012).
Steps required for a project approval requiring EIA in NSW
The steps required for approval of a mining project in New South Wales concerning
exploration of coal and CSG are generated as follows.
-Need for ministerial consent for conducting exploration of coal and other minerals and
thereby gaining of a license.

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-Lodging and processing of the licensing application concerning petroleum and other like
minerals.
-Grant of exploration license from government agencies.
-Development of consultation from community and landholders
-Written agreements with landowners before starting with exploration activities.
-Feasibility investigations concerning exploration and its impacts on environment
-Presentation of the map for conceptual project development and implementation plan to the
respective ministry in NW (NSW Planning and Environment , 2017).
-Notification of the resources and energy in principle support for conducting of exploration
activity.
-Generation of a Gateway Certificate for assessment requirements concerning impact on
environment
-Issuance of the statement concerning Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
-Draft submission of Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for testing of its adequacy.
-Exhibition of EIS by public and also from government and non-government agencies.
-Application is evaluated and approved by the Minister of Planning
-Approvals and licenses generated by NSW Government based agencies.
-Final commencement of Mining Operations concerning coal and CSG (NSW Planning and
Environment , 2017).
Changing steps in the approval procedure
Looking at the above prolonged and detailed steps concerning the approval of mining
projects requiring EIA by the NSW Government the current government authority is thus
focusing on passing a legislation that would support only a two-stage process. The 15 stage
process is focused on being reduced only to two main stages that would involve community
involvement for identification of potential issues concerning the approval and implementation
of mining and other mineral exploration projects and subsequently the carrying out of needed
enquiry by body like the Independent Planning Commission before making the needed

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determination (Martin & Kennedy, 2015). The members of the Independent Planning
Commission needed for making the enquiry are required to have needed qualifications
concerning mining and exploration and also of statutes and legislations associated to such.
The two stage process in respect of the fifteen stage process enumerated above is identified as
having needed potential such that it focuses on the involvement of potential communities in
taking of effective decisions concerning approval of mining projects. It would thus help in
gaining of effective feedbacks from different communities that are identified to be affected
through the conducting of the mining and exploration operations (McCarthy, 2017).
Mode of overcoming the pitfalls of EIA
Two major pitfalls concerning the effective implementation of the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) are identified as the failure in establishment of effective communication
channels and also the decentralisation of the diverse set of responsibilities concerning the
implementation of the EIA.
Lack of effective communication structures regards to EIA implementation with also the lack
of needed potential and also needed coordination between the parties involved in the
execution of the EIA are identified to create potential problems. The above stated pitfall can
be potentially overcome through the incorporation of effective human resources possessing
required knowledge that would contribute in rightful implementation of the EIA. Further,
effective training are required to be generated to the personnel for enhancing their knowledge
potential and expertise for potentially communicating the project plan and guidelines and also
in rightly executing the project. Effective communication would also entail in communicating
the benefits of the EIA to different stakeholders (Glucker et al., 2013).
Another major pitfall concerning the execution of the EIA was identified owing to the
existence of larger regions where projects involving EIA are needed to be implemented. The
effective implementation of the EIA in a decentralised fashion requires the identification of
personnel, delegation of roles and thereby monitoring their tasks and conducts for
contributing in the rightful execution of the project. Incorporation of experts are required to
be carried out in the above regard such that potential coordination between the different
experts would potentially contribute in the implementation of the project. Further, support
provided by international agencies is encouraged in the above behalf for helping in the

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cultivation of needed awareness among the local communities for helping in the execution of
the project activity (Khaliq et al., 2014).
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Protecting Environment
The designing of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a developmental cause like
safeguarding the natural water resources in the Australian region is effectively generated
through the development of the Preliminary Environment Assessment or PEA program. The
same is reflected as follows.
Starting of the Project
Investigation and design
of the project activity

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No Impacts Identified
The above illustration reflects an integrated environmental assessment approach undertaken
by an organisation for helping in the development of safe and protected water resources from
the harmful environmental and toxic hazards. It reflects on the different stages that are
required to be followed right from the inception of the project plan to its effective execution
and also the incorporation of Preliminary Environment Assessment (PEA) guidelines thereof
for monitoring and evaluation.
Assessment of EIA
through generation of
PEA
Development of the
Environmental Contract
Preparing of
specifications for the
contract
Impacts identified and
designed recommended
thereof
Briefing of contractors on
plan objectives for rightful
monitoring and execution
Selection of the right contractor
for conducting the activity
Conducting and completing the
project
Reviewing the final
project on
guidelines based on
PEA

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Conclusions
The report reflects on the different types of environmental issues that are being faced by the
Australians in the current context. It also reflects and evaluates on the different strategies and
tactics that are being undertaken by the Australian government for tackling potential
environmental issues like growing scarcity of fresh water resources, problems faced by the
marine fisheries, growth of coal and Coal Seam Gas (CSG) exploration and also drilling for
LNG and finally the problem concerning the effective execution of different environmental
and greenhouse gas policies owing to continual changes in the national governments. Further,
it focuses on reflecting on the different stages concerning the development of an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process for a specific program that is approved by
the New South Wales (NSW) government. Changes that can be brought about in the existing
process are also identified with finally the development of an EIA for a developmental cause
like safeguarding of water projects.

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References
Australian Government , 2017. The Australian Government's action on climate change.
[Online] Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/publications/fact-
sheet-australian-governments-action-climate-change [Accessed 28 August 2017].
Business Queensland , 2017. CSG-LNG legislation. [Online] Available at:
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/mining-energy-water/resources/land-
environment/regulatory-framework/legislation [Accessed 28 August 2017].
Byrne, J., Sipe, N. & Dodson, J., 2014. Australian Environmental Planning: Challenges and
Future Prospects. New York : Routledge.
CSIRO, 2017. Sustaining Australian fisheries. [Online] Available at:
https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/OandA/Areas/Marine-resources-and-industries/Sustaining-
Australian-fisheries [Accessed 28 August 2017].
Glucker, A.N., Driessen, P.P.J. & Kolhoff, A., 2013. Public participation in environmental
impact assessment: why, who and how? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 43,
pp.104-11.
Hobday, A.J. & McDonald, J., 2014. Environmental Issues in Australia. Annual Review of
Environment and Resource, 39, pp.1-28.
Khaliq, A., Rhamdhani, M.A. & Brooks, G., 2014. Metal Extraction Processes for Electronic
Waste and Existing Industrial Routes: A Review and Australian Perspective. Reource , 3(1),
pp.152-79.
Martin, P. & Kennedy, A., 2015. Implementing Environmental Law. United Kingdom :
Edward Elgar Publishing.
McCarthy, J., 2017. Hunter mine approvals will be quicker under proposed planning law
changes. [Online] Available at: http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4393414/planning-
proposals-offer-faster-mine-approvals/ [Accessed 28 August 2017].
Municipal , 2016. Creation of ‘New Water’ from saline aquifer. [Online] Available at:
https://www.waterscarcitysolutions.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/A-Creation-of-New
%20Water-from-saline-aquifers.pdf [Accessed 28 August 2017].

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NSW Planning and Environment , 2017. NSW Major Mining Project Development
Assessment and Approval Process. [Online] Available at:
http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/miners-and-explorers/applications-and-
approvals/mining-and-exploration-in-nsw/project-approvals/mining-project-development
[Accessed 28 August 2017].
The Australian Collaboration , 2012. Energy issues in Australia. [Online] Available at:
http://www.australiancollaboration.com.au/pdf/FactSheets/Energy-issues-FactSheet.pdf
[Accessed 28 August 2017].