Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Course aim

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is widely applied throughout the world to assess and predict potential adverse social and environmental impacts and to develop suitable mitigation measures for major development projects. At a broader level, strategic EISA can be used by governments to plan where and what sort of developments might be best located in different places. The course aims to provide an overview of these and a detailed examination of the processes involved in ESIA and how these can be used effectively in environmental management. The course will also examine key environmental management legislation in South Australia and at the Commonwealth level, with an overall aim of producing critically aware practitioners who are able to manage ESIA at a strategic or project level.

Course content

The history of development of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) techniques in an international perspective, including the role of State and Commonwealth governments and international organisations. Strategic Environmental Assessment. Project level environmental impact assessment including: screening, scoping, impact identification, baseline studies, magnitude and significance of impacts, risk assessment. The Mitigation Hierarchy, offsetting policy and effectiveness. Social Impact Assessment, engaging with stakeholders and social conflict. ESIA project management through assessment, review and approval processes. Science, uncertainty and adaptive management in ESIA. Cumulative impact assessment. Critical appraisal of the value of ESIA approaches to environmental problems.

Textbook(s)

Nil

Prerequisite(s)

Nil

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Contribution, Critical analysis, Presentation, Problem solving exercise, Report

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
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* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.