1. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Emerging Opportunities & Challenges with the EIA Process Presentation by Grant O’Dea and Prof Robert MILES 17 th May 2006 Social & Economic Impacts of mining Forum Institute for Sustainable Regional Development

2. Setting the Scene Mining and Industrial Development provide great economic contribution at local, regional, state and national levels

3. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Setting the Scene Aust coal production 717mil tonnes (2003/4), with exports of thermal coal 106 mil tonnes and metallurgical coal at 197mil tonnes (ABARE 2004). Export earnings are critical to Australia’s balance of trade, growth and prosperity.

4. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Setting the Scene All large scale operations require an EIA be undertaken and subsequent submission of an EIS The opportunity is now to look toward an integrated holistic approach to regional development

5. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Evolution of EIA Earlier focus on biophysical environment Has since adopted a TBL approach accounting for »Biophysical aspects »Economic aspects »Social aspects

6. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Evolution of the EIA Process EIA has many strengths Strong in identifying biophysical environmental impacts Generally strong in identifying economic impacts Developing strength in identifying social issues and in community consultation

7. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process While the EIS has made significant ground some potential gaps remain » Assessments constrained to project level »Lack of recognition for cumulative impacts (although this appears to be changing) »Reliance upon ABS census data as major source

8. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process »Lack of follow-up monitoring process »Not well integrated with regional planning »Tendency to focus mostly on impacts that industry is responsible for

9. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process Project level assessment does not consider cumulative impacts from multiple projects within a region Potential impacts associated with a proposed development may not appear significant, this may be misleading however if other developments are occurring simultaneously within the region

10. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process Reliance upon ABS census data as major data source »ABS census data only gathered every 5 years »presents potentially inaccurate impact predictions in where 5 year old data is used as benchmark in impact assessment in high growth areas

11. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process Need for a follow-up process Follow-up would provide »Monitoring: the collection of data and comparison with standards, predictions and expectations; »Evaluation: the appraisal of the conformance of the EIA with standards, predictions or expectations as well as the environmental performance of the activity;

12. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Potential Gaps in the EIA Process »Management: making decisions and taking appropriate action in response to issues arising from monitoring and evaluation activities; and »Communication: informing the stakeholders as well as the general public about the results of EIA follow-up.

13. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development Areas of Potential Improvement Cumulative impacts Better data Monitoring & follow-up Greater integration with planning & government responsibilities

14. Institute for Sustainable Regional Development The End Thank You for Listening