It is argued that under the guise of integrated impact assessment, environmental capacity and quality is being eroded rather than enhanced. This proposition is examined in the context of a World Heritage Area and an integrated impact assessment process for a major energy infrastructure project in Australia known as Basslink. The case study, which charts the negotiations that took place between a proponent, environmental researchers, consultants, regulators and decision-makers for an environmental flow for the iconic Gordon River in Tasmania, describes the 'balance' that was struck in the name of sustainable development. It demonstrates that, while social and economic benefits tend to be identified as one and the same, the environment is constituted as an oppositional "good". We argue that this outcome is the rule rather than the exception and caution that integrated assessments could serve to 'fast-track' the loss of environmental capacity and quality. © 2007 Imperial College Press.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Environmental Sciences
Research Group:	Environmental management
Research Field:	Environmental assessment and monitoring
Objective Division:	Energy
Objective Group:	Renewable energy
Objective Field:	Hydro-electric energy
UTAS Author:	Duncan, RA (Dr Ronlyn Duncan)
UTAS Author:	Hay, PR (Dr Peter Hay)
ID Code:	48983
Year Published:	2007
Deposited By:	Geography and Environmental Studies
Deposited On:	2007-08-01
Last Modified:	2011-11-04
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