Effectiveness of non-legal EIA guidance from the perspective of consultants in Western Australia

Abstract

The provision of environmental impact assessment (EIA) guidance is generally claimed to be beneficial for improving practice through local capacity building. However, to date no studies have investigated their effectiveness. In Western Australia, EIA guidance materials are intended to allow for better environmental protection; increased certainty; enhanced consistency of advice given to Government; proposals to be designed to meet environmental objectives from the outset; and to provide a clearer basis for Government decision-making. Twenty practicing environmental consultants were interviewed about the effectiveness of guidance materials at achieving these objectives. It was found that EIA guidance influenced the practice of consultants and was perceived as effecttive in enhancing the outcomes of the EIA process overall. However, a number of shortfalls were identified. Suggestions are made for increasing the utility of future guidance materials thereby enhance the effectiveness of EIA practice itself.