Pre-Conference Workshop

Monday 23 August 12:30pm-5:00pm

SYNOPSIS OF WORKSHOP:

Has your project ever been delayed at the government review period? Are you all too familiar with the term: 'Stop the Clock'? Perhaps the root cause of these delays is misaligned expectations between the government and the proponent (or the consultant acting on behalf of the proponent) on what level of information is required in the environmental assessment documentation.

This workshop aims to provide detailed guidance to better align government and proponent expectations.

Workshop participants will be divided into 2 groups, 'government' and 'environmental consultants' (with proponents able to select whichever group they prefer to join). For the first third of the workshop, both groups will discuss and identify their expectations on pre-prepared aspects of an EIS (e.g. you will be provided with a list of targeted questions in the areas of impact versus risk assessment and how far to go on each, what are the expectations around the main EIS report and technical appendices, how much field work is enough, when should approval conditions be discussed and how are these developed, etc). After the groups have considered these questions, both groups will then present their findings in an informal and consultative manner.

The last session of the workshop will then compile a guideline on how to prepare the perfect EIS based on aligned expectations between government and proponents or the consultants acting on their behalf.

About your workshop leader:
Led by: Dr. Michael Ryan, Gamut Consulting

Dr. Ryan is an ecologist that turned his attention to the project management of large multi-disciplinary projects over 14 years ago. He has spent that last four years coordinating the inputs of more than 300 technical specialists, from 75 consulting firms, to deliver the Environmental Impact Statement for BHP Billiton’s proposed expansion of the Olympic Dam mining and processing operation in central South Australia.

Prior to being selected by BHP Billiton to project manage their EIS, Michael was the Principal Environmental Advisor for the Gateway Motorway Duplication EIS, Environmental Manager on behalf of HLAEnvirosciences (now Aecom) for the Enertrade North Queensland Gas Pipeline EIS and the Principal Environmental Advisor for the Queensland Department of Main Roads.

Michael has extensive experience with projects of state significance and controlled actions under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. He has been an invited speaker and panel expert on the Act with the Australian Government Department of Environment Water Heritage and the Arts, and for the Queensland Environmental Law Association, Queensland Environmental Protection Agency and the Queensland Resources Council.