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The law as protection for the marine environment: considering cumulative and synergistic impacts within the Australian legal framework

Author(s): Anna Grage
Supervisor(s): Professor Chad Hewitt (Principal), Professor Marnie Campbell (Associate), Professor Warwick Gullett (University of Wollongong, external research advisor)

Field of Research: Law and Legal Studies
Research Organisation: Centre for Environmental Management

Abstract

The consideration of cumulative and synergistic impacts is often missing from regulatory instruments and can result in unintentional neglect within marine environmental assessments e.g. EIA and SEA. Due to inherent differences between cumulative and synergistic impacts, the research focuses on these impacts as separate concerns. The research identifies limitations on consideration within Australian legal frameworks; through analyses relating to the extent of requirements contained within legislation relevant to marine activities for several Australian jurisdictions, and the consistency of approach within EIA procedure. Insight for improvement is sought from approaches taken for environmental assessments of offshore wind farms within the European Union and several member countries. The research aims for recommendations to improve existing approaches to cumulative and synergistic impact consideration within Australian legal frameworks associated with the environmental assessment.

Keywords: cumulative impact, synergistic impact, marine, environment, Australian legal framework, offshore development, EIA
Timeline: December 2013

Project Contacts

Name: Professor Chad Hewitt
Contact Research Organisation: Centre for Environmental Management
Phone: +61 7 4970 7203
Email: c.hewitt@cqu.edu.au