Growth and Adaptation in Environment Practice – a Personal Perspective Fiona Gainsford, FEIANZ, CEnvP Gainsford Environmental Consulting

Background (soul searching phase) Updating Curriculum vitae (= time to get some more work!) EIA practice common theme throughout 20 year career What were the reasons these projects? Have other EIA practitioners had a similar experience working on a variety of projects?

Format of presentation Review of CV (personal reflection) Identified industry or “market” sectors Considered the drivers for these projects Undertook qualitative survey: ◦25 responses from EIA practioners ◦Practitioners worked across all jurisdictions in Australia and NZ

CV- 1990s CV- 1990s Landuse planning ◦Urban development, ◦new residential estates ◦Remediation for major projects (Sydney Olympics) Transport ◦Major highway upgrades Forestry – management of State Forests Water supply – upgrade Sewerage system augmentation

Sewerage systems ◦Upgrade, augmentation ◦New residential areas Recycled water systems ◦New residential areas ◦Industrial, municipal and agricultural demand Heavy industry ◦Steel production ◦Fuel production ◦Oil refinery Facilities ◦Education ◦Emergency services CV s CV s

Dams and seawalls Waste management ◦Landfill design and expansion ◦Waste minimisation eg new technologies Facilities ◦Correctional centres (gaols) CV CV

Project strategic drivers International policy eg vehicle emission standards State of the national economy Environmental disaster (eg major pollution incident Community concern Other

1990s MarketProject PurposeStrategic Driver Forestry preservation of high value forest Community Concern Land use planning housing supply State of the National Economy Water supply (treatment) improved drinking water quality Community Concern (health - giardia) Sewerage systems augmentation for population growth, aging infrastructure Community concern (water quality) State of the National Economy Roads (highway upgrade) population growth Community concern (safety) State of the National Economy Urban development Remediation projects (eg Sydney Olympics,) scarcity of land in inner urban areas State of the National Economy

2000s MarketProject PurposeDriver Sewerage Systems Urban expansion Ageing infrastructure State of the national economy Recycled Water Urban development Alternative to potable water Environmental concern (drought) Heavy Industry Higher air quality standards Construction demand Community concern (health) International policy State of the national economy Facilities – new halls, libraries etc in schools National economic stimulus State of the national economy

2010+ MarketProject PurposeDriver Waste Management Urban expansion - landfill New technology State of the national economy Dams and Seawalls Safety - PMF Additional Water supply Environmental disaster (flooding in Qld, sea level rise) Community concern (safety) Facilities – law and order Expansion of correctional centres (gaols) Community concern (safety) Facilities – school expansion National economic stimulus State of the national economy

Survey results - Drivers Answer Options Most influence (1) 234 Least influence (5) State of the national economy Community concern International policy Environmental disaster (eg major pollution incident) Other 11237

Survey results - EIA project drivers

Wrap up Enjoyable activity reviewing CV at a strategic level - good to realise that work comes from different drivers over time Community concerns and State of the Economy have been key project drivers Project availability and State/Territory policy more likely to influence a career in EIA An EIA practitioner’s CV is a useful tool for tracking social, economic and environmental issues over time