It’s academic: The researcher who says dam is a travesty
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in Local Stress, Senate Inquiry
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10.02.2007
By CAROLYN TUCKER
CRITICISM of the Traveston Dam continues to mount ahead of moves to establish a Senate Inquiry into the controversial project later this month.
A Brisbane academic said the government’s failure to address the social impact of the project from the outset had compounded the Mary Valley community’s pain and hardship.
Griffith Business School Associate Lecturer Robert Hales reviewed the government’s consultation methods using internationally recognised social impact assessment criteria and found they fell well short of acceptable standards.
Mr Hales said the announcement of the project in April as a fait accompli without any prior attempt to limit the fallout had sent shockwaves throughout the community and compounded the social impact.
“My preliminary research shows the government didn’t implement an adequate social impact management plan at the time of the dam’s announcement, which in turn has increased the adverse impact on affected residents,” he said.
Mr Hales said the impacts of such projects could include stress, anxiety and depression, the disintegration of social networks, an inability to plan for the future, and, in some cases, suicidal tendencies.
“In my opinion, if the social impacts of the proposal are assessed at the appropriate standard the results would lend weight for a convincing case that the dam is not viable.”
Mr Hales’ review follows the release of a report commissioned by the Mary Valley Council of Mayors which suggested the Traveston Dam was not needed and would be an expensive white elephant.
The mayors’ report has been dismissed by the Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Anna Bligh as seriously flawed.
Mr Hales said he would submit his findings to the state government as part of the project’s environment impact assessment.
He said the aim of his report was to improve the consultation process and it was not intended to be a political exercise.
“The goal in releasing my results is to foster discussion on a significant public issue,” Mr Hales said. “These findings are about the people, not the politics of the project.”
stevem
Dam consultation needs to improve
10 FEB 2007
THE community consultation process used by the Queensland Government for the proposed Traveston Crossing dam is flawed, according to a Griffith University PhD researcher.
Griffith Business School Associate Lecturer Robert Hales recently completed an initial review of the consultation methods undertaken for the dam. He assessed the Government using internationally recognised Social Impact Assessment criteria.
“I used a report card method to evaluate how the processes and actions of the government affected people in the region,” he said. “My initial assessment shows weaknesses in their consultation approach.
“Based on my preliminary findings, I believe the Queensland Government has overlooked some internationally recognised principles and strategies essential in the planning, assessment and management of social impacts of such large dams.”
Mr Hales said one of the goals of social impact assessment and management is to ensure the living standards of affected people — including their well-being are improved.
“This is one area in which the Queensland Government performed badly. It seems they failed to recognise adequately the scale and depth of the social impact of the proposed dam.
“My preliminary research shows the Government didn’t implement an adequate social impact management plan at the time of the dam’s announcement, which in turn has increased the adverse impact on affected residents.”
Mr Hales said the impacts of such projects could include stress, anxiety and depression, the disintegration of social networks, an inability to plan for the future and, in some cases, suicidal tendencies.
“The report card I have developed is aimed at improving the consultation process, not criticising the Government,” he said.
“The goal in releasing my results is to foster discussion on a significant public issue. These findings are about the people, not the politics.”
Mr Hales conducted formal interviews with 30 randomly selected residents and numerous informal meetings. The full report is available at http://groundswell.squarespace.com/mary-river-issue/
Mr Hales will submit his findings to the Queensland Government for consideration as part of the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment.
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