PIA PLANET Online │ Environmental Impact Assessment in WA – EPA assessment and EPBC Act

The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is the peak environmental agency in WA and is responsible for carrying our environment impact assessments (EIA) of significant proposals, many of which are planning proposals or have significant planning implications: for example, the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, Kemerton Power Station, Alkimos Seawater Desalination Plant, Smiths Beach Project, Yallingup – Coastal Tourism Village, Narrogin FutureEnergy Park, and proposed urban development in Banjup and Singara.

Planners and developers have certain obligations under both the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. (EPBC Act) concerning planning proposals and scheme amendments, and so an understanding of both Acts is vital.

This one-day course is a detailed coverage of the two EIA processes, focusing on the WA process.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the WA EIA process,
• Understand how the Planning System interacts with the WA EIA process,
• Understand the key environmental issues of concern to the EPA and identify issues relevant to planning,
• Increased awareness of key EPA policies,
• Increase awareness of how the EPA assesses proposals,
• Understand the opportunities to have input into EPA assessments,
• Increased awareness of the appeals process as part of EIA in WA,
• Increased awareness of offsetting, and
• Understand the EPBC Act EIA process and its relationship to the WA EIA process

This one-day course is suitable for anyone involved in urban planning and development projects, including those who have minimal experience with, or training in, environmental legislation. Participants who would benefit from this session include – urban and regional planners; transport planners; developers; architects; local government officers; elected members; and early career planners.

Course Presenter:

Dr Garry Middle is Director of independent environmental planning consultancy, VisionEnvironment, and Chair of Great Victoria Desert Biodiversity Trust, an independent Trust fund dedicated to funding research and on-ground works in the Great Victoria Desert. Garry has over 40 years’ experience in environmental planning and policy, as a practitioner, academic, educator and policy and decision maker.

He is a former independent member of the board of the Western Australian Planning Commission and was the former head of Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University. He was previously the Appeals Convener for the Minister for the Environment.