Formal vs informal participatory EIA methods: a South Australian case study

Abstract

Directly involving the public in environmental decision-making is now a prerequisite for most government agency programs and initiatives. However, ambiguities exist about appropriate methods of engagement and how much public involvement in decision making is a good thing. Public participation is considered to be essential criteria for best practice EIA. Benefits for both the public and the proponent (or developer) have been increasingly recognised. The following paper questions the role and effectiveness of public involvement in EIA in South Australia. While public participation is recognised within the legislation and various opportunities exist within the South Australian system for the public to be involved in the process, initial analysis of EIA practice suggests that formal methods of public engagement may not influence the process as perhaps they should. A brief overview of South Australian mechanisms and practice is presented. A case study highlights how both formal and informal participatory methods were unable to influence a decision to the satisfaction of the local community. The paper concludes that a comprehensive analysis is required to determine the relative value of submissions versus informal methods of participation and how public involvement has influenced the decision making outcomes for major projects in South Australia.