The New South Wales Joint Expert Report Policy - reflections of an SIA practitioner

While concerns about the likely effects of developments on human welfare are the core business of land-use planning, social impact assessments (SIAs) – the formal documentation of these inquiries – are less consistently used. SIAs are more likely to be prepared by a proponent than a consent authority, except when a refusal is appealed in court. The New South Wales Land and Environment Court's Joint Expert Report Policy imposes a structure on this somewhat lopsided practice environment. This article explores some of the consequences of that policy on SIA expert witness reports and makes recommendations to improve the process.