NEED TO SUBMIT A SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT?
WANT ONE POINT OF CONTACT TO HELP NAVIGATE AND LIAISE WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS?
LOOKING FOR A CONSULTANT WITH MAJOR PROJECT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN URBAN, RURAL OR REGIONAL QUEENSLAND?
Wall Planning & Environmental Consulting are experts in the preparation of Social Impact Assessments (SIA) for major projects in Queensland.
“The key to social ethics in mine closure planning is proactive sustainability. Let’s not whip the rug out from under communities – let’s leave a positive legacy.”
Renee Wall (WPE Director)
Mine Closure Planning: A Key Part of the ‘S’ in ESG
Bowen Basin Mining Club 2021 Yearbook (pp 80-83)
WHO NEEDS A SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT?
Resources Industry
Mine Closure
Renewable Energy
Major Project
WHO WE’VE WORKED WITH TO PREPARE SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS
WHEN DO YOU NEED A SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT?
Social impact assessments are a statutory requirement for resource projects within 125km of a regional community.
For non-resource projects, social impact assessments are non-mandatory but can be useful in gaining community acceptance to a project.
The SIA will address the entire project lifecycle from concept to completion and beyond. For the resource industry, this will include cradle-to-grave operations, including rehabilitation of the site back to condition.
When preparing an SIA, WPE Consulting will address the following key areas:
All Your Social Impact Assessment Needs In One Place
Are you struggling to prepare your social impact report and require some professional assistance to help smooth out the process? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Our team here at WEP is highly knowledgeable and experienced in the preparation of social impact assessments (SIAs). Operating for more than a decade, we understand just how vital impact reports are to a build, and so we make it a priority to ensure we cover all the bases. Before we get started, however, let’s go back to basics. The following article is a deep dive into all things social impact assessments, including what they are and why they are so important.
Social Impact Assessments: What Are They?
Before you get started on any project, it’s essential to understand any social influence it might have on the community, both positive and negative. So that’s where the preparation of a social impact report comes in. Essentially, these reports contain a lot of research identifying areas of potential social change or possible repercussions caused during any process of the project, whether that be before production, during, or after. The Queensland Government defines an SIA as:
‘a process for the identification, analysis, assessment, management and monitoring of the potential social impacts of a project, both positive and negative’.
These impacts affect people and their communities, either directly or indirectly.
What Is Included In A Social Impact Assessment Report?
Each SIA must address five critical matters. They are:
- Engagement, both community, and stakeholder
- Workforce management
- Accommodation and housing
- Industry procurement and local businesses
- Health and wellbeing of the community
It’s worth noting that completing an SIA is required by law (Strong and Sustainable Resource Communities Act) for large resource projects, and each report must cover all five key matters. This means for smaller, non-resource projects, SIAs are non-mandatory. However, as expert social impact assessment consultants, we have experienced first-hand the difference preparing an SIA makes on a project. As SIAs address the entire lifecycle of a project right from conception to completion, they help promote community support and acceptance while assisting with the reduction of conflict or any other potential issues.
And Why Are They Important?
Without a complete understanding of how your project could affect the community, there’s a possibility you might cause some unintended harm. Social impact reports help promote an environment that is both sustainable and equitable. As they offer comprehensive insight into several social, economic, historical, and cultural impacts of a project, SIAs are imperative in determining how the development might affect the community in question. This means you can identify any adverse effects on the community and adequately consider the requirements and conditions of those impacted by the project. Additionally, SIAs encourage community empowerment, building trust and solid social relationships.
If You Need Help Preparing A Social Impact Assessment, Contact The Specialists At Wall Planning & Environmental Consulting Today
For over 10 years, Wall Planning & Environmental Consulting has been providing quality community engagement services throughout the Central Queensland region. We’re renowned for our honesty, integrity, reliability and extensive industry knowledge. We’re proud to provide unrivalled social impact assessment solutions while refusing to compromise on quality. If you’re in the resources, property, energy, or government sector and on the lookout for a multi-disciplinary business that can help with your next property, infrastructure or community project, contact the social impact consultants at Wall Planning & Environmental Consulting today.
