Threatened species assessment guidelines: The assessment of significance
Threatened species impact assessment is an integral part of environmental impact assessment.
The Assessment of Significance Guidelines (tsaguide07393.pdf, 95 kb, requires Acrobat Reader) have been prepared to help applicants and/or proponents of a development or activity to interpret and apply the factors of assessment. These are the factors that need to be considered when assessing whether an action, development or activity is likely to significantly affect threatened species, populations or ecological communities, or their habitats.
The guidelines clarify the specific terminology of the relevant legislation and provide clear interpretations of the factors of assessment.
The assessment of significance is a system of assessment allowing applicants/proponents to analyse the likely impacts of a proposed development, and whether further assessment needs to be undertaken through a species impact statement. All factors must be considered and an overall conclusion must be drawn from all factors in combination. Where there is reasonable doubt regarding the likely impacts, or where detailed information is not available, a species impact statement should be prepared.
Other issues not specifically addressed by the factors of assessment should be included and discussed in the broader impact assessment process, for example, in a review of environmental factors or an environmental impact statement.
The Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water and the Minister for Primary Industries, with the concurrence of the Minister for Planning, have prepared assessment guidelines to assist in the interpretation and application of the factors of assessment.
Page last updated: 17 March 2009
