The Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Proposed New Library in Macquarie University - Book Report/Review Example

 A Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Proposed New Library in Macquarie University A good environmental impact assessment report should have a very concise, clear and logical structural sequence (Harvey and Clarke, 2012, 51). This is of crucial significance in ensuring that the information contained as well as captured is delivered in the most appropriate manner possible. Issues regarding environmental considerations relevant to any proposed developmental actions should always be taken with uttermost seriousness. A good environmental assessment report should detail as well as succinctly describe the baseline conditions of the site where any proposed development should take place (Bastmeijer and Koivurova, 2008, 54). Such descriptions should always take into consideration the nature as well as the geology of such a place. This should include the types of soil found in a place, the hydrology as well as the existing uses of such sites. This is of critical importance in deciding the ways in which the effects resulting from procession with such developmental projects may be averted. A good environmental assessment report should take into consideration the land use practices in a certain site where proposed development is to take place (Petts, 2009, 52). In addition, a good environmental report should thoroughly describe the slope of the environment. Other than these, the structure of the environmental assessment report should majorly touch on issues relating to the predicted impacts that the proposed developmental project may have on the environment. These impacts should be categorized into various forms. These may include the short term impacts as well as the long term impacts that such a development will have. Such impacts may be classified with regards to the nature of entities affected (Perdicoulis et al, 2012, 35). For instance, a good structure of environmental assessment report should put into consideration as well as identify some of the short term and long term effects that the proposed development will have on the surrounding environment. These may involve things like environmental degradation as well as modification. This is of critical importance in providing the best option for decision makers to effectively evaluate the project proposal before authorizing the initiation of the proposed developmental project (Lawrence, 2003, 25). The report should also describe the impacts that the proposed development will have in relation to the lives of human beings as well as animals living around the proposed developmental sites. This should incorporate both the short term impacts as well as the long term impacts that such a proposed developmental project may have on such third parties. In relevance to the above, the report should clearly detail the proposed measures that will be put in place to prevent such impacts as well as minimize them so that they do not bring harmful effects to the health of those affected. This part is so crucial since it avails the decision makers with good points of view when deciding on the authorization of the project (Elliot and Thomas, 2009, 39). A good environmental assessment report should also describe the impacts that the proposed developmental project may have on the vegetation found within the proposed site. This should describe in details the short term impacts as well as the long term impacts to such vegetations. In addition, the assessment report should detail with uttermost precision, clarity as well as logicality, the nature and strategies that will be used to minimize as well as mitigate such impacts (Elliot and Thomas, 2009, 37). Still on the structure of the environmental assessment report, the report should clearly and logically describe the scope for mitigation of the predicted environmental impacts that may arise from initiation of the proposed developmental projects (Thomas and Elliot, 2005, 58). This is crucial in ensuring that the decisions reached by the decision makers are informed by proper and logical environmental consideration mechanisms. Other than the scope of mitigation, the environmental assessment report should clearly define the agreed mitigation measures, disaster preparedness strategies as well as the crisis containment measures that may arise from the different stages of development of the proposed developmental project. it is of crucial significance to note that the environmental decision makers always depend on the credibility of the proposed project with regards to the information availed with reference to such projects. A positive response from the decision makers will follow the quality of the environmental impact assessment report on the basis of clarity, conciseness and logicality of the findings (Thomas and Elliot, 2005, 61). This will determine whether any proposed developmental project might be approved for commencement of disapproved following the technicalities that its impacts may have on the nature as well as the inadequate prevention and mitigation measure suggested. Several developments have taken place in Australia. These developments gained the approval from the key decision makers following the nature of the environmental impact assessment reports from such proposed developmental projects. One of them is the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Proposed New Library Project at Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus. This report was submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval by the university before the official commencement of development of the library. The structure of this environmental assessment report was so precise, clear as well as logical. The report described in details the proposed environmental site where the development is to take place with regards to the soil type, hydrology, climate as well as the existing land uses in the area (Muller, 2010, 37). The report clearly stated that education is the major land use activity that is currently taking place in the university. In addition, the structure of the report clearly described the need for the proposed development, as is a requirement for an adequate environmental impact assessment report. The report further detailed some of the impacts that the proposed developmental project will be associated. This includes both the long term as well as the short term impacts. This involved the impacts that the proposed developmental project will have on the soil, landscape as well as the vegetation found in the area (Muller, 2010, 31). One of the short term impacts that was clearly detailed was the issue of vegetation clearance and loss. This was described as a short term impact to the surrounding environment. The loss of vegetation was tied to the loss of aesthetic beauty of the environment. However, several mitigation strategies were put in place to counter the effects of this impact. The university proposed to plant some plants to cater for the vegetation lost at the initial stages of development of the proposed new library building. The trees will be of benefit in providing shade to students as they read. The plants were also to help in making the environment look very beautiful as well as modify the temperature of the surrounding thereby making the entire surrounding conducive for learning (Muller, 2010, 34). This follows that learning is one of the main land use activity in the proposed area. The report also detailed that the vegetation replaced will be beneficial since it will be significant in acting as a habitat for other biodiversity within the university, as well as used in some research purposes by the students. The other impact that was identified by the Macquarie University in their Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the proposed new library building is issue of noise. The university detailed in the report that noise will be majorly evident in the initial stages of construction. However, as the construction proceeds, the rate of noise production will be greatly minimized. This follows the fact that a number of machines that were used in the initial stages, involving earth moving machines, drilling as well as transportation machines will be reduced (Doelle, 2008, 47). This will reduce the rate of noise production in the site. The report detailed that the issue of noise will affect the normal processes of education and learning in the institution. However, there were several mitigation strategies that were put in place to mitigate the issue of noise production. One of the mitigation measure that the report captured was to ensure that most of the construction operations are done at night. This was so crucial in ensuring that the effect of noise to other parties is greatly minimized. This follows that at night, most people are always asleep. This means that a great number of students will not be awake to continue with their studies at the moment. Again, at night, there are hardly any lessons that may take place following the fact that even lecturers are asleep at that time. On this basis, it is of crucial significance to note that night times are always reserved for sleeping. As such, the noise emanating from the construction site would be of little impact to the students in relation to education (Doelle, 2008, 54). The issue of noise pollution is one of the short term impacts that the construction of the proposed new library may have had on the neighboring communities. Construction activities taking place at night also results to minimal disturbance to the neighboring communities. The issue of onsite environmental pollution was also covered in the environmental impact assessment report on the construction of the proposed new library at Macquarie University in Australia. The university described some of the sources of such environmental pollution including the fumes from automobiles, the wastewater from the site as well as the solid wastes from the materials used in the construction site. The solid wastes were associated with health risks to human beings majorly those providing labor necessary for the construction to take place. As a result of this, the laborers were equipped with dust masks. This was necessary in preventing the workers from inhaling harmful particles that may affect their health. This was one of the short-term mitigation strategies to the issue of pollution (Eccleston, 2011, 23). However, some of the long-term mitigation measures put in place by the Macquarie University to avert the issue of pollution involved construction of large capacity storm water management facilities. This could reduce the issue of pollution caused by storm water. A temporary landfill was also proposed in order to cater for the solid wastes until the process of construction is over. This was necessary to contain the issue of environmental pollution that may emanate during the construction process of the proposed new library in Macquarie University. Bibliography Bastmeijer, C. J., & Koivurova, T. (2008). Theory and practice of transboundary environmental impact assessment. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. Doelle, M. (2008). The federal environmental assessment process: A guide and critique. Markham, Ont: LexisNexis Canada. Eccleston, C. H. (2011). Environmental impact assessment: A guide to best professional practices. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Elliot, M., & Thomas, I. G. (2009). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice. Annandale, N.S.W: Federation Press. Harvey, N., & Clarke, B. (2012). Environmental impact assessment in practice. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. Lawrence, D. P. (2003). Environmental Impact Assessment: Practical Solutions to Recurrent Problems. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons. Müller, F. (2010). Long-term ecological research: Between theory and application. Dordrecht: Springer. Perdicoulis, A., Durning, B., & Palframan, L. (2012). Furthering environmental impact assessment: Towards a seamless connection between EIA and EMS. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Petts, J. (2009). Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2: Impact and Limitations. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Thomas, I., & Elliott, M. (2005). Environmental impact assessment in Australia: Theory and practice. Sydney, Australia: Federation Press. Read More