Implementing ESD in Major Infrastructure Projects

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Implementing ESD in Major Infrastructure Projects

• Jo Moss - Senior Principal

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Evolution of ESD in Australia

• In Australia in 1992
• All levels of government signed the
  Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment
• Australia became a signatory to
• Rio Declaration
• Agenda 21
• National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable
  Development (NSESD)
• Using, conserving and enhancing the communitys
  resources so that the ecological resources, on
  which life depends, are maintained and the total
  quality of life, now and in the future can be
  increased.

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Australian ESD Requirements

• State and local governments have accepted ESD,
  Intergovernmental Agreement and NSESD principles
• No uniform approach in relation to implementation
• Primarily focused on natural resource management
  issues implemented through natural resource
  management legislation
• Example State government level in New South
  Wales
• several pieces of legislation address ESD
• Guidelines for the Consideration of
  Sustainability in EIA
• project formulation
• community consultation
• environmental impact assessment

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Infrastructure Agencies and ESD

• Examples of agencies that are progressing ESD
• Department of Planning, Infrastructure and
  Natural Resources (DIPNR)
• NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA)
• Sydney Water
• Moving towards making ESD more central to
  activities
• Environment Reports and Annual Reports
• ESD strategy policy development
• Corporate Sustainability Reports
• Evaluation of ESD principles in development

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Case Study Sydney 2000 Olympic Games

• Background
• Bid submitted in 1993
• adopted Environmental Guidelines for host cities
• known that IOC would hold Sydney to the promise
• Environment adopted by IOC as the 3rd pillar of
  Olympism
• The concept of the Green Games
• The Framework
• Homebush Bay Development Guidelines
• Environment Strategy
• Expert Advisory Panels
• Guidelines and Policies
• Environmental Management System
• Stakeholder and Community Communications

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ESD Objectives Sydney Olympic Games

• Environment Strategy
• Conservation of Resources
• Conservation of Species
• Pollution Control
• Triple Bottom Line
• Economically viable
• Environmentally sound
• Socially responsible

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ESD Legacy of the Olympic Games

• Promoted greater emphasis on environmental
  aspects for major events, public buildings and
  infrastructure
• Set a new standard in residential development
• Demonstrated water conservation recycling
• Demonstrated energy conservation alternative
  sources
• Focus on materials selection
• Focus on best practice environmental management
• Achieved conservation of threatened and
  endangered species

? Demonstrated sustainable development
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Case Study Pacific Highway Development

• Upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Sydney and
  Brisbane - a distance of approximately 1,000 kms
• 10 year program by the NSW Roads and Traffic
  Authority
• A2.2 billion program is the largest
  infrastructure project undertaken in regional
  Australia
• Involves widening, duplication and/or deviation
  to achieve dual carriageways for much of the
  length of the Highway
• The North Coast of NSW is an area of high amenity
  and environmental sensitivity
• One of the highest population growth areas in
  Australia.

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Addressing ESD in Highway Projects
STRATEGIC

• Strategic Impact Assessment

• Consistency with ESD goals, framework

• Environmental Overview
• Concept Design
• Options Report
• Economic Evaluation
• Value Management Study

• Range of options
• Values for environmental/social aspects
• Multi-criteria analysis

CONCEPT

• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Species Impact Assessment
• Detailed designs
• Decision Report

• Wide range of specialist reports
• Economic analysis completed
• Risk assessment
• Dedicated EIS section on ESD
• ESD key consideration for approval

DETAILED ASSESSMENT
COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

• Tender Environmental Specifications
• Construction EMPs

• Contractor commitment to ESD
• Mitigation measures
• Community Consultation
• Details eg life cycle analysis, materials

CONSTRUCTION

• Sustainable design
• Monitoring operational impacts
• Feedback to future projects

• Operational Management Plan
• Environmental Audits

OPERATION
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So what does all this mean?

• ESD is firmly embedded in Australian legislation
• Communities question whether projects address ESD
• Requires a whole-of-government approach
• Full assessment of a project would have to
  involve strategic planning and policy development
• Full environmental impact assessment is a
  critical tool to ensure that process has
  addressed ESD
• Policy remains the the primary means to address
  ESD
• At the project level, ESD is a goal we work
  towards
• Value of ESD is as a process of change.