An interim report on the independent evaluation of community consultation for the environmental impact statement (EIS) associated with the proposed replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights was released today.
The report's key findings confirm that community consultation was sound and acceptable for stage one of the EIS.
The report was prepared by Twyford Consulting. It was retained by ANSTO to conduct an independent review of the community consultation by EIS consultants, PPK Environment & Infrastructure. From the outset, ANSTO's Chief Executive, Professor Helen Garnett, has reinforced the need for an open and rigorous EIS.
Stage one of the EIS started late January and ended mid August when the Draft EIS, comprising two published volumes, went on public display for 12 weeks.
The Twyford report suggests an even greater opportunity for community consultation exists in the public exhibition phase of the Draft EIS.
It makes seven recommendations based on information obtained from the community. ANSTO intends to adopt all seven recommendations and it has commissioned Keys Young to implement them. Keys Young worked with ANSTO and community organisations to conduct a community attitudes survey on ANSTO-related issued in 1996-97.
Published: 09/09/1998