ARCH 5041 ASSIGNMENT 1 SCOPING STUDY

Following screening, the next important stage of the EIA process is to Scope
the potential impacts of the proposed project or development. The aim of
scoping is to identify all social, economic and environmental impacts of the
selected project.
Assignment one uses a case study format. A case study is an analysis of a
particular event, group, policy, person etc, used to explain causes,
interactions, or principles. In this exercise, the case studies approach is a
research method i.e. How you investigate and analyse a given
problem/concern/area of interest in the real world.

Proposals
For this exercise, it is necessary to select one development proposal or
project. Details of a number of these are available on SA Government Major
Developments web site:
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/planning/home
For example:
Plympton mixed use development, Anzac Highway/ Marion Rd.

The Wakefield Waters Marina proposal

Foundry expansion, Kilburn (Bradken Resources Pty Ltd)

Jurlique Development, Mylor

Others are available, but these are recommended as a site visit is

necessary

Part One
Using the information available in currently published reports, a site visit and
formal scoping techniques, produce a scoping matrix which identifies and
ranks the key environmental concerns in relation to this proposal. Figure 1
below shows a very simple scoping matrix to demonstrate what is required.
While a simple matrix, in addition to providing a scale of one (least serious) to
three (most serious), it also shows positive as well as negative impacts, an
essential part of any matrix.
Your matrix should be more comprehensive and detailed. The Leopold matrix
can be used to help develop your matrix (available on learnonline week 3).
Your assignment must provide a brief background commentary to accompany
the matrix. This should:
provide a summary of how you developed your scoping method/matrix

a justification for why you used this method, and

a justification for the grading chosen in each instance.

 (Matrix + 750 words) (15 marks)

Part Two
This part asks you to assume that you are an environmental consultant
employed by a developer to prepare and carry out a baseline study report
(see Lecture 4) for the environmental assessment process.
Using your scoping study, provide detailed guidelines, with justifications, for
the components of the baseline study that need to be investigated more fully.
For example, your matrix may have identified and ranked a number of major
issues such as potential impacts on vegetation, fauna, traffic and water
quality, and a number of minor potential impacts e.g. employment that need
to be addressed before a decision maker can arrive at a decision.
Following preparation of the guidelines, select one aspect of the development
proposal that you believe to be major significance in the decision-making
process (i.e. the aspect that may stop the project) and describe the reasons
why you believe this is the case, and what you recommend could be done to
overcome this potential problem.
NOTE: You are NOT asked to carry out or simulate carrying out the baseline
study. Rather you should outline how this would be done i.e. the work to be
carried out.
Your document should include:
a statement of the objectives of the proposed study

the methods to be employed

an indication of the main sources of data

(1250 words) (25 marks)

Figure 1 Simple Scoping Matrix