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  2. Environmental Impact Assessment [SCM3203]

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Environmental Impact Assessment

  • Unit Code

    SCM3203

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit examines the role of environmental impact assessment (EIA) as part of the decision-making process in land use planning, resource management and development projects. Legislation, administrative processes and practice are assessed and practical experience is gained in the conduct of environmental impact assessment.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 2 units from SCI1185, SCI1193

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Communicate the results of an environmental impact assessment.
  2. Critically evaluate a formal Environmental Review Document submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia.
  3. Identify and apply the principles, legislation and procedures used in environmental impact assessment and monitoring.
  4. Identify key stakeholders in the EIA process.
  5. Identify potential environmental, social and health impacts that may arises from both planning and development projects.
  6. Participate in, and contribute to an environmental impact assessment on a planning scheme amendment or development proposal.
  7. Produce an EIA in a team.

Unit Content

  1. Community and stakeholder involvement..
  2. Development of environmental management plans.
  3. Historical and philosophical basis for environmental impact assessment.
  4. Methods and procedures to identify potential environmental impacts associated with planning scheme amendments and development proposals.
  5. Monitoring, auditing, management and mitigation of impacts.
  6. Prediction of environmental impacts including social and health impacts.
  7. The legislative basis for environmental impact assessment in Australia and internationally.
  8. The role of environmental impact assessment in contributing to ecologically sustainable development.
  9. Western Australian legislation and procedures; agreements, acts and assessment of major projects; the referral process; the Environmental Protection Authority and formal and informal environmental reviews.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials, E-Learning material and support and project work with authentic assessment.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentCritique of an Environmental Review Document25%
ReportEnvironmental Impact Assessment Project55%
PresentationOral Presentation10%
TestMid Semester Test10%

Text References

  • ^ Elliott, M., & Thomas, I. (2009). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: The Federation Press.
  • Harvey, N., & Clarke, B. (2012). Environmental impact assessment in practice (1st ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Oxford University Press.

Journal References

  • Environmental Impact Assessment Review
  • Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
  • Australian Journal of Environmental Management

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCM3203|3|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Natural Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Environmental Impact Assessment

  • Unit Code

    SCM3203

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    3

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit examines the role of environmental impact assessment (EIA) as part of the decision-making process in land use planning, resource management and development projects. Legislation, administrative processes and practice are assessed and practical experience is gained in the conduct of environmental impact assessment.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass 2 units from SCI1185, SCI1193

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Communicate the results of an environmental impact assessment.
  2. Critically evaluate a formal Environmental Review Document submitted to the Environmental Protection Authority of Western Australia.
  3. Identify and apply the principles, legislation and procedures used in environmental impact assessment and monitoring.
  4. Identify key stakeholders in the EIA process.
  5. Identify potential environmental, social and health impacts that may arises from both planning and development projects.
  6. Participate in, and contribute to an environmental impact assessment on a planning scheme amendment or development proposal.
  7. Produce an EIA in a team.

Unit Content

  1. Community and stakeholder involvement..
  2. Development of environmental management plans.
  3. Historical and philosophical basis for environmental impact assessment.
  4. Methods and procedures to identify potential environmental impacts associated with planning scheme amendments and development proposals.
  5. Monitoring, auditing, management and mitigation of impacts.
  6. Prediction of environmental impacts including social and health impacts.
  7. The legislative basis for environmental impact assessment in Australia and internationally.
  8. The role of environmental impact assessment in contributing to ecologically sustainable development.
  9. Western Australian legislation and procedures; agreements, acts and assessment of major projects; the referral process; the Environmental Protection Authority and formal and informal environmental reviews.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, tutorials, E-Learning material and support and project work with authentic assessment.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentCritique of an Environmental Review Document25%
ReportEnvironmental Impact Assessment Project55%
PresentationOral Presentation10%
TestMid Semester Test10%

Text References

  • ^ Elliott, M., & Thomas, I. (2009). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice (5th ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: The Federation Press.
  • Harvey, N., & Clarke, B. (2012). Environmental impact assessment in practice (1st ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Oxford University Press.

Journal References

  • Environmental Impact Assessment Review
  • Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
  • Australian Journal of Environmental Management

Website References

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCM3203|3|2