Glossary of terms

Commonly used terms in Environmental Impact Assessment:

Advisory body	Any Commonwealth, State or local Government entity; corporation, statutory authority, local body or private organisation which has expertise or legislative responsibility in relation to a development proposal.
All stages of the proposal	Construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning stages.
Coordinator-General	The corporation sole constituted under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1938 and preserved, continued in existence and constituted under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.
Description/discussion	To be taken to include both quantitative and qualitative materials as practicable and meaningful. Similarly, adverse and beneficial effects should be presented in quantitative and/or qualitative terms as appropriate.
Development	The use of land or water within the State or over which the State claims jurisdiction and includes the construction, undertaking, carrying out, establishment, maintenance, operation, management and control of any works or private works on or in land or water.
EIA	Environmental impact assessment is the process in which environmental management is integrated into planning for development proposals. A more detailed definition from the International Association of Impact Assessment (1999) serves equally as well "the process of identifying, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made".
Environment	Environment as defined in Section 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 1994 includes: (a) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and (b) all natural and physical resources; and (c) the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas, however large or small, that contribute to their biological diversity and integrity, intrinsic or attributed scientific value or interest, amenity, harmony and sense of community; and (d) the social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions that affect, or are affected by, things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).
Environmental effects	The beneficial as well as the detrimental effects of any development on the physical, biological, or social systems within which such development occurs.
Environmental values	The definition in the EP Act (section 9) is: (a) a quality or physical characteristic of the environment that is conducive to ecological health or public amenity or safety; or (b) another quality of the environment identified and declared to be an environmental value under an environmental protection policy or regulation.
ESD	To protect Queensland's environment while allowing for development that improves the total quality of life, both now and in the future in a way that maintains the ecological processes on which life depends (ecologically sustainable development - ESD).
Properly made submission	A properly made submission for an EIS is one that: is made to the government EIA process manager in writing; is received on or before the last day of the submission period; is signed by each person who made the submission; states the name and address of each person who made the submission; and states the grounds of the submission and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the grounds.
Proposal	Any project, development, policy, or plan that may affect the environment.
Stakeholders	Stakeholders may include the following: government agencies; conservation groups; relevant business groups; relevant industry groups; local/ regional Chambers of Commerce; Aboriginal groups/ Land Councils/ Councils of Elders; residents/ businesses within hearing, sight or smell of project or project related activities; potential competitors; community groups; and· politicians/ elected representatives.

Last updated: 11 January 2007

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