How innovative approaches to impact assessment can unlock infrastructure’s potential
October 18, 2024
Innovative impact assessments are transforming infrastructure projects overseas. Here’s how adopting new approaches can elevate standards in Aotearoa.
We build infrastructure for communities. Why? It’s simple: to improve the places where people live, protect the environment, and create a more sustainable future for everyone.
To do this well, we need to understand what our communities want and need from infrastructure. That’s the only way we’ll produce positive outcomes while reducing the potential for negative ones.
Impact assessments help us see the full influence of a project. This way, we can plan responsibly and meet the needs of all stakeholders.
The lessons learned from social, cultural, environmental, and economic impact assessments in other parts of the world can help Aotearoa.
These assessments help us spot potential issues early and take steps to prevent them. Since social and cultural impact assessments require early and effective engagement with communities, we can make sure the right people are brought into projects from the start.
Impact assessments also allow us to push the boundaries of what infrastructure can achieve. They help us move beyond traditional methods and take a more holistic, sustainable approach. To do that, we need original thinking and ideas. These only come from bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences.
Global expertise: Taking inspiration from international infrastructure projects
Looking at global examples are valuable when it comes to social, cultural, environmental, and economic impact assessments. They can help us find creative solutions to local challenges. Every city, region, and country has its unique issues. But we can learn valuable lessons from other places that open up new possibilities for infrastructure.
In developing countries, impact assessments often focus on urgent issues. These are things like access to clean water, preventing disease, or addressing gender-based violence. The stakes in these projects are high, but they can transform communities and show us the true potential of infrastructure.
Impact assessments offer a pathway to push the limits of what infrastructure can achieve.
We worked on a project in a developing country to build a road through a jungle. Although it required clearing native forests, it meant children who used to hike for hours through dense jungle could now walk safely to school. People who were sick could reach healthcare facilities that were previously inaccessible. This road opened the way for a better future. It changed how we think about impact assessments and the power of infrastructure to transform lives.
Raising local standards: Drawing from global best practices
Another way that global expertise moves impact assessments forward is by looking at how other countries do things. We can draw on experiences in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the US. Their experience can help guide how we implement best practices here.
Take Australia, for example. Australia enforces strict weed hygiene protocols to protect its native biodiversity. This includes cleaning equipment, clothing, boots, vehicles, and machinery when people leave areas infested with invasive weeds. Movement between states follows strict protocols to prevent the spread of these weeds. On some larger projects in New Zealand, this is done well. But there is room for improvement. For example, having consistent and effective approaches to pest plant management around the country would be a good start.
Learning from Australia’s experiences and approaches helps our team to identify different steps we can take to protect our own natural assets.
Project work in Greenvale, Victoria, Australia. For projects to succeed, social and cultural impact assessments are key.
Cultural impact assessments: The power of Indigenous partnerships
We can, of course, learn from our global counterparts. But New Zealand is, in fact, a leader when it comes to social, environmental, and cultural impact assessments. This is mainly attributed to the country’s deep commitment to Indigenous partnerships.
For us, collaborating with Māori is essential. As we incorporate their knowledge and values, it greatly enhances the success of infrastructure projects in Aotearoa.
A great example is the Napier Port project. This involved both environmental and cultural impact assessments for the Six Wharf (Te Whiti) development. The project included Pania Reef, a conservation site of great cultural importance. The project needed to respect and protect the cultural and ecological integrity of the reef.
This partnership led to the largest Cultural Health Index (CHI) monitoring program in the country. The CHI, used by Māori, measures the cultural and biological health of waterways—key to water management in New Zealand.
A great example is The Napier Port project, which involved both environmental and cultural impact assessments for the Six Wharf (Te Whiti) development. The project included Pania Reef, a conservation site of great cultural importance.
We’re sharing what we’ve learned from this experience with our colleagues worldwide. We’re showing them how to involve Indigenous communities in impact assessments. This important step leads to more inclusive and forward-thinking infrastructure projects.
Unlocking infrastructure’s potential: Building a better future for New Zealand
Innovative approaches to impact assessments help us push the boundaries of what’s possible and imagine a better future for everyone. How do we do it? We’ve discussed international knowledge exchange and Indigenous partnerships. They’re both important.
We can improve the way we build infrastructure and help see that everyone reaps the benefits. To do so, we must incorporate diverse perspectives and foster collaboration.