The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) is a report that assesses the environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. The SEE process is required under environmental planning laws in various Australian states and territories. It connects to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which analyses potential environmental consequences of planned activities.
The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) is a report that assesses the environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. The SEE process is required under environmental planning laws in various Australian states and territories. It connects to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which analyses potential environmental consequences of planned activities.
Key sections in a SEE report describe the proposal, existing site conditions, potential impacts during construction and operation, mitigation strategies, consultation undertaken, and conclusions on sustainability.
The two main purposes of the SEE are to determine if a development can be approved environmentally and to demonstrate environmental issues have been fully considered in decision making. This supports sustainable development goals over time.
Legislation makes the SEE compulsory for many development applications in Australia, though requirements differ between locations. The approving body is usually the local or state government planning department. Environmental specialists prepare the technical SEE document on behalf of applicants.
The Statement of Environmental Effects, is an environment report required under planning laws in Australia. It was introduced in the 1970s as part of wider environmental impact assessment processes around the world following increased awareness of human impacts on the natural world.
In Australia, the individual states and territories incorporated SEE requirements into their planning acts starting in the late 1980s. While the overall process is similar across jurisdictions, there are some differences in guidelines and submissions procedures between states. The SEE in NSW is assessed according to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
A thorough SEE report for a proposed development will contain:
The main purpose of the SEE is to protect the environment and consider human health during the development approval process.
To protect the environment, the SEE aims to:
To consider human health, the SEE seeks to:
Yes, under the NSW planning legislation, a SEE must normally be prepared and submitted where development consent is required from the local council or state planning department. Only certain predefined low-impact activities are exempt from this rule. The SEE provides information needed for valid assessment against relevant environmental planning instruments and policies.
Exempt developments in NSW may include:
Larger new developments, industrial projects, significant alterations and additions generally require a full SEE under the planning approval pathway.
Key ways the SEE safeguards the environment include:
In NSW, local councils and the Department of Planning & Environment are responsible for approving developments requiring a SEE. Councils assess most proposals under local planning powers. The Department examines major projects and infrastructure.
While governments are responsible authorities, accredited consultants prepare SEE documents. Environmental professionals have qualifications to investigate and report on environmental impacts based on specialised experience and studies.
Their background allows thorough assessments supporting approval decisions. Responsible authorities rely on consultant-prepared SEEs to make informed judgments on proposals.
Globally, fees charged by consultants for SEE preparation cover a wide range depending on factors like the size of the site, the number of environmental aspects considered, fieldwork and modelling requirements, and the overall scope of the assessment. More substantial projects generally incur greater costs for comprehensive investigation and reporting.
In Australia, the typical SEE fees charged by consultants also span a wide spectrum based on the nature of the proposal. More straightforward residential or commercial developments tend to fall on the lower end of the range, while large state infrastructure projects are on the higher end due to more detailed specialist studies being required.
Within New South Wales, standard SEEs for domestic proposals by experienced consultants can be higher costs in major urban areas like Sydney with greater overheads. Larger industrial projects or infrastructure works necessitating extensive field assessments, modelling, and investigations tend to be more expensive, but fees remain below a certain threshold for standard SEEs.
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