Australian Capital Territory Numbered Regulations

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATION 2008 (NO 2 OF 2008) - REG 17

    (1)     A strategic environmental assessment must contain the following:

        (a)     a non-technical summary of the strategic environmental assessment, including a summary of the recommendations;

        (b)     an outline of—

              (i)     the content of the proposal; and

              (ii)     the main objectives of the proposal; and

              (iii)     the proposal's relationship (if any) with any relevant plans (for example, The Canberra Spatial Plan ) or planning policies;

Note     An example is part of the regulation, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).

        (c)     a description, including a description of the environmental, social and economic characteristics of—

              (i)     the area covered by the proposal; and

              (ii)     the region around the area covered by the proposal;

        (d)     a description of the environmental characteristics of any area likely to be significantly affected by the proposal, including—

              (i)     any existing environmental issues that are relevant to the proposal, including those relating to any areas of particular environmental importance; and

              (ii)     any plans to improve environmental management objectives relating to territory and national legislation and agreed policies;

Examples—policies

1     climate change policy

2     COAG climate change adaptation framework

        (e)     details of all processes and methods used in the strategic environmental assessment;

        (f)     an assessment of the likely environmental effects of the proposal, including the results and findings of the matters identified in the SEA scoping document;

Note     The SEA scoping document is prepared in stage B (see  s 13). Assessment of environmental benefits and impacts is carried out in stage C (see  s 14).

        (g)     a discussion of the alternatives for the proposal including—

              (i)     an outline of the reasons for selecting, or not selecting, the alternatives; and

              (ii)     a description of how the alternatives were assessed; and

              (iii)     details of any difficulties in assessing the alternatives;

Examples—difficulties

1     technical deficiencies

2     lack of expertise

Note     Development of alternatives is carried out in stage B (see  s 13).

        (h)     the measures proposed to avoid or manage any significant adverse environmental effects of implementing the proposal, including a description of any measures required for monitoring;

              (i)     recommendations about how conclusions of the strategic environmental assessment should be considered in future planning.

    (2)     The following documents must be attached to the strategic environmental assessment:

        (a)     the SEA scoping document;

        (b)     the consultation plan;

        (c)     the consultation report.

Note     The SEA scoping document is prepared in stage B (see  s 13). The consultation plan and consultation report are prepared in stage D (see  s 15).

Part 3.1     Exemptions from requirement for development approval