Smythe:

The EIS process consists of a number of parts. The first part is a concept development of a project and the preparation of an EIS. The EIS is usually prepared as the project is designed and problems are solved and an EIS produced. The EIS is intended to provide the whole basis for the project; all of the issues, the alternatives, economic, social justification for a project. Its meant to tell the community why the project's being built, how its being built, what its for, what its going to do; what the advantages and disadvantages of the project are and what all the impacts both positive and negative are.

Zines:

Initially we would ascertain what the proponent wants to do and we would work out the legislative framework. We would then consult with, if it was a NSW matter we would consult with the Department of Planning and in other states or the Federal arena a similar sort of body, to ascertain the guidelines; what has to be studied in looking at the project.

Toon:

Essentially, the Director of the Department of Planning issues a set of concerns that have to be covered and have to be dealt with. Partly that has been built up by experience, partly by a recognition that certain kinds of activities have certain externalities or consequences so they might say that these are the particular items that have to be referred to.

Zines:

Well, the proponent quite often needs advice on the legislative and planning side of it. Whether he needs a review of environmental factors or an EIS, how much time it will take, what departments he has to consult with, what are the rules and regulations he has to meet. So the primary consultant would look to managing this documentation for him, carrying out the studies, hiring consultants, writing briefs, quality control, making sure the document is in good shape when it goes to the public.

Jones:

A lot of EIS work has to be done to a deadline. It means there is very little time available. We know that ecosystems change a good deal through time. There are seasonal phenomena, there are annual phenomena, there may be floods. There may be recruitment events. If you only have time to go and sample once then you are most unlikely to be able to pick up the sorts of range of variations, the way we talk about it, in time.

Zines:

How can we prepare an EIS in less time than it takes to gather scientific evidence and so it really...probably the answer to that is that EIS's aren't really scientific documents in the real sense. They need to be based on scientific information and I think the answer to that is that it is very important to qualify within your document exactly what the data is you have and what sources they were. And in defining that sort of data it puts some sort of validity on how far you can predict beyond there.

One has to remember that certain investments have a certain time frame, what they call a window of opportunity, whereby if you don't proceed at that stage then the economic circumstances are not as favourable at a later time.

Morrison:

Another problem with Environmental Impact Statement is that there is no requirement for them to do an environmental audit after. That is a commitment that they have made in the Environmental Impact Statement may not be adhered to and how do you tell? Now if the Environmental Impact Statement was prepared in a fashion that the impacts were quantified and could be checked at regular intervals afterwards then maybe we'd be able to take the Environmental Impact Statement with a little bit more credibility.