Our Approach:

SEIA is the process of understanding and managing the social and economic impact of projects and programs on people and communities. Projects can impact people in many ways, positively and negatively, with impacts that are both actual and perceived, temporary, or permanent. Social Atlas developed the SEIA for Light Rail Stage 2B which provides an assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of constructing and operating the Project, both with and without the application of mitigation and management measures. 

A best practice approach was adopted that considered the International Association for Impact Assessment’s Social Impact Assessment: Guidance for assessing and managing the social impacts of projects (2015) as well as other industry leading frameworks, including the NSW Social Impact Assessment Guideline (NSW Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure, 2023). In addition, by overlaying the ACT’s wellbeing framework, we were able to make the assessment region specific.

The team began by establishing a comprehensive understanding of the existing social environment and baseline within the Project area, laying the groundwork for the SEIA. In consultation with Infrastructure Canberra, we defined the social locality boundary and utilised primary and secondary data sources to gather information on demographic profiles, socioeconomic indicators, and community values. We then identified gaps in the existing data provisions and developed a plan for additional research to fill those gaps, ensuring the completeness and accuracy of the social baseline.

For the development of the economic baseline, we worked to gain an understanding of businesses located throughout the alignment corridor quantifying the economic value of these businesses based on an estimation of current employment and economic output. The analysis of existing economic capacity and activity helped to establish the baseline necessary to then review potential impacts throughout the construction period and on completion.

To support the EIS for the Project, a significant program of engagement was undertaken by Infrastructure Canberra, targeting individuals, organisations and groups along the Project alignment who would be potentially impacted by the Project’s construction and operation, as well as stakeholders with a high level of interest or influence over the Project outcomes. Social Atlas completed an extensive review of the engagement outcomes from these activities, as well as conducting a targeted business door knock program and survey to further support the SEIA.

The social and economic impact assessments were undertaken using distinct but complementary assessment methods. This approach allowed the economic impact assessment to focus on workforce and business information while the social impact assessment explored a broader range of demographic factors. By examining these indicators from different perspectives, the combined assessments then provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the likely impacts on the community.

Once the baseline was complete, we then moved to the analysis stage to provide a thorough and evidence-based understanding of the social implications of the proposed Project. We distinguished between impacts experienced broadly at a corridor-wide level, and those experienced more locally within individual precincts, and proposed arrangements and strategies to manage and mitigate identified negative social impacts while enhancing positive impacts. Mitigation measures were also tailored as relevant to regional and precinct issues.