ANSTO has endorsed new plans from PPK Environment and Infrastructure Pty Ltd to expand EIS community consultation activities for the replacement research reactor at Lucas Heights.
It has also appointed an external organisation, Twyford Consulting, to review PPK's community consultation strategy and report its findings to Sutherland Shire Council.
"More community consultation plus the appointment of Twyford Consulting is consistent with ANSTO's requirements for a rigorous and open environmental assessment and consultation process," confirmed ANSTO Chief Executive, Professor Helen Garnett.
"Consultation is by nature a two-way exchange of information and ANSTO is more than happy to respond to any reasonable requests for additional consultation activities," she added. Sutherland Shire Council in April called upon ANSTO to have an independent evaluation of PPK's community consultation and for PPK to expand its EIS community consultation program.
Mark Keogh, Project Director for the reactor EIS said PPK's community consultation to date had provided valuable input into the environmental assessment process.
Mobile public displays and a community information day had occurred in Menai and Engadine as well as newsletters distributed and small group meetings held. He said community interest in the proposal should increase when the Draft EIS is exhibited.
"We are about to letterbox 40,000 local houses with another newsletter of information on upcoming EIS activities including an information day on June 14 at Como Markets and a mobile display outside Jewel Shopping Centre, Sutherland, on June 27. PPK welcomes any suggestions from Twyford said Mr Keogh.
Twyford Consulting has practiced community consultation for eight years with State Government departments, local Councils and corporate clients. It has developed an evaluation methodology that establishes a number of core standards against which consultation programs can be evaluated.
Twyford Consulting's Managing Director, Vivien Twyford, said PPK's strategy would be evaluated against standards from organisations in a number of countries as well as those developed by the International Association of Public Participation. It would then make recommendations for improvement where appropriate.
A report by Twyford Consulting should be presented to Sutherland Shire Council by mid July.