Social and Environmental Impact Assessment
One of our principle areas of work is social and environmental impact assessment. We have conducted social impact assessments throughout New Zealand, in the Cook Islands, and in the Solomon Islands. We are skilled at working with stakeholders to identify the potential impacts of proposed developments and policies. We have extensive networks with specialists in the environmental sciences who can provide input to EIA reports.
Managing Director Dianne Buchan has been involved in the development and practice of social impact assessment in New Zealand since the 1970s. She was a member of the Social Impact Working Group, a national organisation of social impact practitioners and academics set up to develop the theory and practice of social assessment in NZ.
As well as designing and implementing impact assessment processes, we offer advice on how to undertake them. See the page on Staff Training.
All staff are members of the NZ Association for Impact Assessment and the International Association for Impact Assessment.
Examples
Social and Economic Benefits of Community Care Programmes
2007: A review of the social and economic benefits of two St John community care programmes: Friends of the Emergency Department and Caring Caller. The review was based on qualitative information gained from a series of in-depth interviews undertaken in four locations in New Zealand where both programmes are operating. Interviews were held with a range of people involved in the programme and benefiting from the programme, including St John staff, volunteers and clients, hospital staff, and representatives from social service agencies. Findings from the review are contained in a report entitled "More Than Friendship: the social and economic benefits of community care programmes".
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
2007: An assessment of the social and economic benefits of community-led conservation projects based on a literature review and three in-depth case studies of environmental projects funded by Habitat Protection Fund. This project was undertaken for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The report was formally launched at the opening of Conservation Week 2007 under the title "Not Just Trees in the Ground: The social and economic benefits of community-led conservation projects".
Review of Hutt City Council Halls
2007: A review of community halls owned by the Hutt City Council. This review was undertaken in response to Hutt City Council's concern that their aging halls were no longer meeting the needs of their local communities. The review takes six halls as a sample and after an in-depth analysis of each, concludes that locally-based community halls play an important role in strengthening communities. The report outlines a range of options for governance, funding and structural changes for each of the six halls and recommends changes to the way Hutt City currently manages and supports these facilities.
Impact Assessment of Proposed Policies on Rural Communities
2005: Report for the UK-based Countryside Agency on the extent to which the New Zealand policy making process seeks information on the impacts of proposed policies on rural commuinities. This was one of the 18 reports from different countries commissioned by the Agency as part of developing best practice.
Transmission Gully and its Roading Alternatives
2004: An assessment of the social and environmental effects of (1) Construction of the Transmission Gully Motorway; (2) upgrading the coastal route; and (3) the do-minimum option. This was based on a review of past research with reference to current trends, and sought to identify information gaps relative to the requirements of the new Land Transport Management Act.
Project Aqua
2003: Section 42a Audit of the Community Effects Assessment and Technical Report prepared by Meridian Energy for Project Aqua - the hydro-development proposal on the Waitaki River. This review, which identified significant gaps in the information provided and in the impact analysis, was undertaken for the Waitaki and Waimate District Councils.
Forest Stewardship Council Forest Audits
Social impact assessment of the operations of a series of commercial forests throughout New Zealand, as part of the evaluation process for Forest Stewardship Council certification.
Social and Economic Impacts of Conservation Initiatives
Assessing the social effects of conservation on neighbouring communities: Guidelines for Department of Conservation staff By C. Cosslett, D. Buchan, and J. Smith Department of Conservation Technical Series 29. 68 p.
What's it about?
Social impact assessment is the process of analysing, monitoring, and managing the social consequences of change. Applying this process to its work can help the Department of Conservation foster positive relationships with local communities and improve the effectiveness of its operations by tapping into local knowledge. This document presents a brief overview of the theory of social impact assessment. It then guides the reader through a systematic process of identifying, monitoring, and responding to the effects of conservation projects on those who live and work in neighbouring communities. Social and economic effects are defined and illustrated with examples from New Zealand and elsewhere. The document presents a Social Effects Management Framework-a checklist of potential effects which may result from particular actions or changes instigated by the Department. Possible measures to mitigate negative effects and enhance positive effects are suggested, along with possible indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of mitigation and enhancement strategies.
The above new DOC science publication is now in press and mounted on DOC's public website (pdf, 338k)
Hardcopy will be available soon (order from science.publications@doc.govt.nz: free of charge while stocks last).
Developing guidelines to help Department of Conservation staff identify and manage the potential social (including economic) effects of their work on neighbouring communities. The guidelines are designed to help staff to identify and enhance potential benefits to neighbouring communities, while mitigating potential negative impacts. This involved a literature review and six case studies of past conservation initiatives throughout New Zealand, as well as workshops with staff to trial the application of the guidelines.
National Survey of Opinion on the Marlborough Sounds
This involved conducting a nation-wide telephone survey (a specialist survey company was sub-contracted to conduct the interviews) to identify people's perceptions and patterns of use of the Marlborough Sounds. The survey focussed particularly on the attributes of the Sounds environment which people valued, and on the possible adverse effects of various human activities on those qualities. The survey results will be used by the Marlborough District Council to help make decisions on future applications for marine farms and other activities in the Sounds.
Fast Ferries in the Marlborough Sounds
Social and economic impact assessment of fast ferry operations in the Marlborough Sounds. The study explored, among other things:
- the types and severity of impacts experienced by residential property owners;
- whether those impacts had led to modifications in behaviour, the ways in which behaviour had been modified, and the extent to which people's use and enjoyment of the Sounds had been affected; and
- the types and severity of impacts experienced by recreational boat operators.The results of this work, together with analyses by other environmental experts, were used by the Marlborough District Council to support its case for limiting the speed of fast ferries in Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound. Corydon Consultants Ltd have since conducted a follow-up study to identify the changes in terms of damage to property, threats to safety, and people's behaviour that have resulted from the slowing of the fast ferries in the Sounds.
Auckland Retail Development
Social impact assessment of a proposed major retail development in Auckland. This study focused primarily on the likely impacts of the development on adjoining retail centres and their constituent communities, and the linkage between the location of retail centres and community services and facilities.
Tuapeka Hydro-dam Proposal
Community Liaison Co-ordinator for the Tuapeka hydro-dam project. For a period of six months General Manager Dianne Buchan was based full-time in the affected community. Her job was to work with the community to identify the social impacts of the proposed hydro-development and to develop mitigation measures acceptable to the community.