About

It is essential to consider the environmental risks and impacts when planning any development project. An Environmental Effects Assessment (AEE) also known as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) allows you to analyse and manage the intended and unintended consequences.  An AEE is a requirement for a resource consent application and a useful tool for the planning stages of a project that has implications for the environment.

Our new 2-day training course will show you practical techniques and methods required to plan and manage others to prepare a comprehensive AEE and to know the basics for putting together an AEE for smaller projects.  Through extensive use of discussion, group work examples and case studies, you will be shown all the steps and options for developing a successful AEE which meets all technical, practical and legal requirements.

New Skills You Will Gain

• Understand all steps involved in the Environmental Effects Assessment process
• The risks, impacts, practical and legal requirements which must be met when developing your AEE
• Be able to successfully manage others to develop a comprehensive AEE
• Successfully navigate the consultation phase
• Successfully navigate the Council assessment and resource consent phase



Outline

How AEEs fit into the bigger picture
• The elements of an AEE and EIA
• Role of AEE and EIA in the formulation of the development project
• AEE in the consent assessment and decision making process

Legal framework and case law
• Understand the legal framework (RMA legislation) for AEE’s
• Council requirements for AEEs
• Distinguish between expert evidence and submissions by an applicant
• Know how the AEE fits in the context of evidence before council
• Learning from case law: Topical and significant environmental law cases

Getting started
• Scoping preliminary issues and effects to determine resources and inputs
• Knowing what you can do yourself and understanding the risks

Matters to be considered when preparing an AEE
• Identifying the range and types of effects, and the likely environmental risks associated with the project
• Scale and probability
• Positive/negative effects, temporary/permanent effects, cumulative effects and reverse sensitivity effects

Understanding how to identify potential and actual effects
• Technical assessments of effects
• Gathering baseline data and establishing the existing environment
• Quantifying change
• Role of the environmental specialist

Briefing the expert
• Who to use and when
• Formulating the AEE scope of works

Consultation
• Legal requirements for consultation
• Differences between consultation, communication and written approvals
• Steps in the consultation process
• Best practice in consultation with local communities, special interest groups and iwi

Case Study: A success story and what to avoid

Identification of affected persons
• Legal requirements for resource consents
• Understanding the council decision making process for affected persons
• Affected persons and their impacts on project timeframes and outcomes

Case Study: When notification is the better course of action

Risk management and mitigation
• Risk management procedures to use when preparing an AEE
• Identifying ways to avoid, mitigate or remedy effects
• Modifications to the project  and consideration of alternatives

Preparing the AEE for a resource consent application
• Best practice techniques for putting together your application
• Preparing comprehensive supporting documentation

Council assessments and hearings
• Know council processes and legal timeframes
• Requests for further information
• The purpose of a hearing
• Preparation of evidence to support the original AEE
• The role of expert evidence
• How the council decision impacts on the project
• Implications from the gap between the  mitigation offered  and the conditions imposed


Facilitator

Tania Richmond

 Tania is a director of Richmond Planning Limited and has over 20 years experience in planning and resource management, working for central government, local government and private practice. Tania’s experience includes preparing environmental effects assessments for clients; reporting on resource consent applications for councils; local government policy formulation, and professional development. 

Tania has previously delivered training courses on implementation of the Resource Management Act 1991 for the New Zealand Planning Institute, Ministry for the Environment, and territorial and regional councils. 

In-house Training