How Environmental Impact Assessments Work
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An environmental impact assessment systematically evaluates the likely effects of a proposed project, from a new development through to a major piece of infrastructure, on the surrounding environment before that project actually receives approval to proceed, covering matters ranging from air and water quality to habitat and threatened species.
The process typically requires the project proponent to identify potential impacts, propose measures to avoid or reduce them, and outline how any remaining, unavoidable impacts will be managed or offset, with this information then made available for public and regulatory scrutiny before a final approval decision is actually made.
Because the assessment happens before construction begins, it aims to catch and address serious environmental problems while a project can still genuinely be modified, avoiding the far more difficult and costly situation of trying to fix environmental damage after a project has already been fully built and is fully operational on site.