CQUniversity Unit Profile
EVST19007 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
All details in this unit profile for EVST19007 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Human activity and development impact the natural environment. To what extent then, can the associated issues be reviewed and mitigated? The answers to such questions are often evaluated in Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). In this unit, you will become familiar with the enabling concepts behind EIAs. You will evaluate an industry Environmental Impact Study by assessing current practice in the field.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2023

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Portfolio
Weighting: 20%
2. Portfolio
Weighting: 30%
3. Case Study
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback

Feedback

Unit learning content needs some re-organisation.

Recommendation

The unit coordinator will re-organise the weekly learning content for EVST19007.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the concepts that underpin an environmental impact assessment
  2. Apply environmental policy, legislation and current procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment
  3. Assess an industry Environmental Impact Statement against current and emerging environmental impact assessment concepts and practices.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Portfolio - 20%
2 - Portfolio - 30%
3 - Case Study - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Portfolio - 20%
2 - Portfolio - 30%
3 - Case Study - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Michael Hewson Unit Coordinator
m.hewson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): a Definition and Context.

Chapter

There is no prescribed textbook. The Moodle site contains readings, videos, activities, and exercises for each week of the term.

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

EIA: Various Assessment Types.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

EIA: in Australian Government Legislation.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Jul 2023

Module/Topic

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Contents 1.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio #1 Due: Week 4 Monday (31 July 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

EIS: Contents 2.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

EIS: Contents 3.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Aug 2023

Module/Topic

Social Impact Assessment (SIA): a Focus.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Walking Country – Australian Indigenous Peoples Cultural Heritage.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Portfolio #2 Due: Week 8 Monday (4 Sept 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 11 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Public Consultation – When?

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Case Study 1.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 Sep 2023

Module/Topic

Case Study 2.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Case Study 3.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Study: Critique an Environmental Impact Statement Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Oct 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Portfolio #1

Task Description

Portfolio #1 is a consolidated submission of one Microsoft Word file containing written answers to questions from the learning activities of weeks 1 and 2 of EVST19007 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIS/SIA). The portfolio is to be submitted as a single MS-Word file by the due date.

The unit Moodle website contains a detailed exercise explanation in the relevant week:

Portfolio #1 Week 1 – EIA: a Definition and Context. 10 marks.

Portfolio #1 Week 2 – EIA: Various Assessment Types. 10 marks.


Assessment Due Date

Week 4 Monday (31 July 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

6 weeks prior to term Friday (2 June 2023)

By 10 days from submission.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

EVST19007 portfolio marking criteria – the degree to which:

· the submission demonstrates mastery of the unit learning material;

· each written answer or drawn diagram is complete, engaging and insightful;

· answer paragraph/sentence construction presents logical argument progression; and

· the learning material (or external sources) informs an answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via the EVST19007 Moodle site (Turnitin)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the concepts that underpin an environmental impact assessment


Graduate Attributes
  • Information Literacy
  • Social Innovation

2 Portfolio

Assessment Title
Portfolio #2

Task Description

Portfolio #2 is a consolidated submission of one Microsoft Word file containing written answers to questions from the learning activities of weeks 3, 4, 5 and 6 of EVST19007 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIS/SIA). The portfolio is to be submitted as a single MS-Word file by the due date.

The unit Moodle website contains a detailed exercise explanation in the relevant week:

Portfolio #2 Week 3 – EIA: in Australian Government Legislation. 10 marks.

Portfolio #2 Weeks 4-6 – EIS: Contents 1,2 and 3. 20 marks.


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (4 Sept 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (22 Sept 2023)

By 10 days from submission.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

EVST19007 portfolio marking criteria – the degree to which:

· the submission demonstrates mastery of the unit learning material;

· each written answer or drawn diagram is complete, engaging and insightful;

· answer paragraph/sentence construction presents logical argument progression; and

· the learning material (or external sources) informs an answer.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via the EVST19007 Moodle site (Turnitin)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply environmental policy, legislation and current procedures for conducting an environmental impact assessment


Graduate Attributes
  • Critical Thinking
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Social Innovation

3 Case Study

Assessment Title
Case Study: Critique an Environmental Impact Statement

Task Description

Write a case study report which critically evaluates a contemporary Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concerning the learning resources of this unit and relevant research literature in the field of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA/SIA).

In week four, you will be sent an email containing instructions to download a set of folders containing Government and Proponent EIS documents around the approval of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a commercial development project.

You will not necessarily read every word of the EIS - given the document size in some cases. You will become very familiar with one section of the EIS from both a Draft and a Revised Draft EIS.

In the case study, you will assess if the EIS accords with theory generally – both the learning material and scholarly sources you will locate. Further, you will select one detailed EIS section to compare the content with further reading that you will undertake from academic sources. You will choose one focus section from:

- Flora and fauna (and biodiversity);

- Land rehabilitation;

- Water resources quality and rehabilitation;

- Social values and economics (thus Social Impact Assessment); or

- Cultural Heritage.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (16 Oct 2023)

By 10 days from submission.


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

The assessment marking standards are contained in a rubric that further details the degree to which the submitted Case Study:

- ranges across the unit EIA/SIA learning material and scholarly sources;

- discusses one EIS section in detail comparing learning material and scholarly sources;

- discusses the final EIS for draft EIS deficiencies comparing learning material and scholarly sources;

- is engaging, clearly structured and advances discussion from the introduction to the conclusion in a logical manner; and

- accords with written communication conventions; use scholarly sources and cites references correctly.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Submit via the EVST19007 Moodle site (Turnitin)

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Assess an industry Environmental Impact Statement against current and emerging environmental impact assessment concepts and practices.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?