The EIA concept has been accepted by the Commonwealth Government and all State and Territory Governments. The object of EIA is to provide for environmental matters to be taken into account in the making of decisions, by all interested parties. The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC), in a report on a national approach to environmental impact assessment procedures throughout Australia (to provide greater streamlining of EIA and other approvals processes), identified the objectives of EIA as:

• to ensure that decisions are taken following timely and sound environmental advice;
• to encourage and provide opportunities for public participation in environmental aspects of proposals before decisions are taken;
• to ensure that proponents of proposals take primary responsibility for protection of the environment relating to their proposals;
• to facilitate environmentally sound proposals by minimising adverse aspects and maximising benefits to the environment;
• to provide a basis for ongoing environmental management including through the results of monitoring; and
• to promote awareness and education in environmental values.

Caring for the Earth considers that EIA is most effective and constructive for new projects when potential environmental impacts are assessed at the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages. It further notes that it is important that all groups affected by the project should be provided with relevant information early enough so that they may participate in the assessment process.

As a result of the varying legislative and procedural arrangements adopted by differing governments, requirements for environmental documentation also vary.

Most, however, have the following features in common:

• provision of initial information to authorities and affected parties. This is a brief summary of matters including the nature of the proposal, the existing environment, the principal environmental impacts likely to result from the project, and any proposals for preventing or ameliorating adverse impacts. Further EIA requirements are usually determined on the basis of this information.
• the principal EIA document is known vari-ously as an Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Impact Study (EIS), or Environmental Effects Statement (EES). It addresses in some detail matters such as the need for the development, possible alternatives to the proposal, the existing environment, the environmental impacts of the proposal and its alternatives, proposals for environmental safeguards, management and monitoring etc.
• Commonwealth and some States' procedures also make provision for a less exhaustive document, known as a Public Environment Report (PER). This is utilised in those circumstances when it is desirable that the public be made aware of the environmental aspects of a proposal and measures taken to protect the environment, but where the preparation of a full EIS is not warranted. As appropriate, a PER may address only a particular feature of a proposal and its environmental implications.

Under all EIA procedures in Australia, the responsibility for preparation of the documentation rests with the proponent of the proposed action. This is a controversial issue. However unless the proponent or their agent prepares the assessment there is no direct mechanism for modifying and adapting the proposed development so that it meets the necessary standards of environmental compatibility.

Where a proposed development comes under Commonwealth, State (or Territory), or Local Government jurisdiction, it may have to meet the EIA requirements of all governmental levels.

At the time of preparation of these Environmental Principles, there are formal and informal cooperative arrangements between the Commonwealth and State governments to provide for the integration of their respective assessment requirements and procedures.

To avoid any future duplication and delays, the intergovernmental agreement on the environment between the Commonwealth, all states and territories, and local government, includes a schedule to improve the consistency of approach applied by all levels of government and avoid duplication.

In practice, both the current and proposed arrangements for environmental impact assessment, require only one document to be submitted and assessed in accordance with agreed arrangements.

Careful and thorough evaluation of the justification for a project in terms of environmental, economic and social considerations is of fundamental importance. The proponents of a project, be they politicians, government departments, ad hoc bodies, local authorities, private companies or individuals, may perceive a need which may not be shared or perceived by parts of the local, regional or national community. Proponents should seek to ensure a high standard of community awareness of a proposed project, including the environmental ramifications.

Alternative ways of achieving defined objectives should be rigorously examined. Achieving defined objectives may not always require new works. The better management of demand may allow objectives to be achieved without the need for developing new resources. The rationale behind the need for any project must be examined upfront before proceeding to other assessments.

There are fundamental questions to be asked and answered at the planning concept stages of a project to ensure that the need is evaluated on a rational basis. Engineers have an important professional and environmental responsibility to question unclear motives and logic, omissions, possible misrepresentation of need and urgency, and possible unwise use of resources. The analysis should include an attempt to understand and define the associated effects of alternatives to the proposal. Although detailed environmental statements on these associated proposals may not be possible, it is often the lack of reference to these sorts of issues that leads to criticism of proposals. It may not always be the engineer's responsibility to answer these questions but there should be a responsibility to ensure that this important project stage has been carefully addressed.

Environmental impact assessment has only been briefly summarised above. The purpose has been to demonstrate the importance of, and the important features of EIA, for the implementation of ecologically sustainable development. In due course the legislative requirements and the practice of EIA are to be the subject of a subsequent Section of the Environmental Principles.

As stated in ANZECC (1991) '...EIA in Australia is now a mature process within the overall machinery of government decision making ... A national approach to EIA is being promoted to assist in the implementation of ecological sustainable development.'

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