Collaborative sustainability assessment for significant

land use planning and development undertakings

Dr Caroline Raphael

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental ScienceMaster of Arts in Ecologically Sustainable Development

Graduate Certificate in EconomicsPhD

Presentation to the International Association for Impact Assessment

Porto, Portugal

May 2012

Overview

1. Research Process

2. Key literature review findings

3. Cases - Fremantle Harbours Policy and ING Commercial Development

3. Case study findings

4. Framework

Research Question

How could sustainability assessment and deliberation best be applied for significant land-use planning and development undertakings in Western Australia?

Research Process

1. Literature Review on Sustainability Assessment and Deliberation

2. Case study analysis

• Examine how deliberation and assessment currently takes place

• Determine what is more important for deliberation from those involved

• Examine the influence of frames on deliberation

3. Develop new theory for sustainability assessment and deliberation

Sustainability assessment

Defined as “‘new’ approaches to impact assessment that are designed to direct planning and decision-making towards sustainable development (SD)” (Hacking and Guthrie 2008)

Approaches

• Project-based sustainability assessment (EIA-based, urban sustainability assessment frameworks)

• Plan or strategy-based sustainability assessment (SEA, Sustainability Appraisal)

• Conceptual sustainability assessment frameworks (deliberative sustainability assessment, integrated sustainability assessment, sustainability assessment)

Deliberation

An advanced or elevated form of talk (Grimes 2008)

Offers more than dialogue or debate - conversations that matter (Carson 2008)

Dimensions of Deliberation

Seeking inclusivity

Searching for consensus or common ground

Granting capacity to influence decision-making processes

Fostering greater understanding of the issues and their implications

Honesty, trust and respect encouraged

Openness, goodwill, commitment and responsibility

Managing media

Facilitator

Cases

Fremantle Harbours Policy

• Proposed expansion of the Harbours to meet increasing demand for boating and alternate uses.

ING Commercial Development

• Proposed Office/Commercial/Retail development on the Port of Fremantle to meet demand for new office/retail space.

Fremantle Harbours Policy

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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

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ING Commercial Development

Key Findings

Most important dimensions for deliberation were:

• Seeking inclusivity

• Granting capacity to influence the decision-making process

• Understanding of the issues

Assessment

• Poorly done (no criteria, little transparency, no guidance, not linked with the outcomes of deliberation)

Collaborative Sustainability Assessment (CSA)

Filtering Screening

Governance Structure Oversight Committee

Purpose, option identification, scoping and baseline development Key question, goal select options and critical review their purpose scope issues set sustainability objectives, criteria, targets and establish baseline

Assessment and Selection Assess impacts and relationships select and enhance preferred option

Development of Management System and Strategies Detail impact management and mitigation measures, design implementation, change management processes, follow-up, monitoring and auditing program

Proposal Proposal developed with associated documentation

Approval Proposal submitted for approval

COLLABORATION

CSA

• Should be the decision-making process for significant land use planning and development undertakings

• Planning needs to legitimise CSA like EIA

• Objectives, targets, criteria, baselines must be sustainability-oriented and measurable (quantitatively, qualitatively)

• Implementation, follow-up and monitoring should be legally required and audited to ensure objectives, criteria etc. are being met.

CSA

• Seeking inclusivity should be focused on drawing representatives from the real profile of the community

• Capacity to influence the process should be genuine but also sensitive

• Designed for the co-creation of knowledge and knowledge-sharing through the assessment process

• Underpinned by an awareness and understanding of frames, frame-reflection, frame-bridging and reframing and their impact on the assessment process and outcomes

Key lessons !

1. Build supportive and constructive collaborative relationships with those that believe in CSA.

2. It is through relationships that issues such as honesty, trust, respect, openness, goodwill can be built and conflict addressed. No process can do this - it is about the individual in the end.

3. Frames are fundamental to how effective any form of assessment is and what the outcomes become.

Questions?Ideas?Contributions?

Contact Details

Email: caroline_raphael@yahoo.co.uk

Thesis downloadable on

http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/6080/