What We Do
Briggs & Mortar was integrally involved in developing a Draft Social Impact Assessment code and policy for Gold Coast City Council, and then subsequently involved in the preparation of the Draft Social and Health Impact Assessment (SHIA) policy. Likewise she was on a team which prepared the Health and Social Impact Assessment (HSIA) Draft Policy for Brisbane City Council.
Sharyn Briggs is an expert in social impact assessment. She sat on the Social Impacts Advisory Committee of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. She jointly reviewed the Commonwealth Social Impact Assessment legislation for the Environmental Protection Authority. She has undertaken Social Impact Assessments for a range of development types including roads, transport corridors and freeways (e.g. City Valley Bypass, Brisbane Urban Corridor, Widening of Western Highway Blue Mountains, Eastern Corridor (Brisbane to Gold Coast), M5, Eastern Distributor, South East Transit Study etc), tourism developments (e.g. Club Med, Byron Bay), dams (e.g. Darling Mills Creek Flood Mitigation Strategy), Correctional Centres and Juvenile Detention Centres (e.g. Gatton Correctional Precinct, Lithgow Correctional Centre, Parklea Prison, etc), as well as car parks (Opera House Car Park), marinas, bridges (e.g. Gateway Bridge duplication), hotels (Intercontinental and ANA Hotels Sydney), hospitals, shipping terminals (Overseas Terminal Sydney), aged housing developments, rural residential estates and a casino in Noumea under French and US legislation.
Examples of Projects
Social Impact Assessments
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Gatton Correctional Precinct Social Assessment and Social Impact Management Plan (joint)
Client: Queensland Department of Communities
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Social Impact Assessment and Social Impact Management Plan, Gateway Arterial Widening and Bridge Duplication
Client: Queensland Transport
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Social Impact Assessment of the City Valley Bypass
Client: BBC Consulting Planners for Brisbane City Council
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Social Impact Assessment, Brisbane Urban Corridor
Client: BBC Consulting Planners for Queensland Transport
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Social Impact Assessment Policy (joint)
Client: Gold Coast City Council
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Social and Health Impact Assessment Draft Policy (joint)
Client: Gold Coast City Council
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Review of Community Impact Assessment Policy (joint)
Client: Brisbane City Council
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Health and Social Impact Assessment Policy (joint)
Client: Brisbane City Council
Social Assessments
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Social Assessment, Mooloolaba Integrated Land Use and Transport Study
Client: Maroochy Shire Council
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Social Assessment, Mooloolaba Spit Futures Study
Client: Maroochy Shire Council
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Social Assessment, Coolum Integrated Land Use and Transport Study
Client: Maroochy Shire Council
Some Key Project Descriptions
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
Gatton Correctional Precinct Social Assessment and Social Impact Management Plan |
In December 2006, the Queensland State Government announced that Gatton Shire had been identified as a preferred location for a new $2 billion Correctional Precinct for SEQ, to assist in accommodating the forecast increase in prisoner numbers (90% in Queensland by 2015). A team led by Briggs & Mortar Pty Ltd was selected to undertake the Social Impact Assessment of the proposal.
The assessment identified that there would be significant impacts arising from the projected growth that will occur in the Sub-region over the next 20 years. The proposed Gatton Correctional Precinct would contribute in a minor manner to this population growth; but would have some particular impacts, both positive and negative, on the community. A Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) proposed possible strategies to address any adverse social impacts which were considered likely to arise from the development of the Correctional Precinct, as well as strategies to enhance any positive social impacts. The Correctional Centre has now been constructed. |
Social Impact Assessment and Social Impact Management Plan, Gateway Arterial Widening and Bridge Duplication |
This Social Impact Assessment was part of a major Impact Assessment Study undertaken by Connell Wagner for the duplication of the Gateway Bridge in Brisbane, and associated major traffic works.
Potential social impacts included the disruption of residents and local businesses during construction, effects on the Royal Queensland Golf Course, effects on recreational fishing and shipping and the disruption of a sheltered workshop in an adjoining industrial area. These impacts had to be weighed against the need for additional bridge capacity, improved airport access and improvement of a poor section of major freeway. A Social Impact Management Plan to address impacts was subsequently developed in association with Briggs & Mortar. |
Gold Coast City Council Social and Health Impact Assessment Policy |
Gold Coast City Council engaged a team including Briggs & Mortar Pty Ltd as the social planners to initially review and then to finalise their Social and Health Impact Assessment Planning Scheme (SHIA) Policy.
An initial draft Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Policy and background Resource Guide prepared by Council was firstly reviewed. The findings of the review suggested that Council’s draft policy was thorough and in-line with best practice nationally and generally internationally; however that changes were appropriate in line with the experience of other local governments who had developed and were implementing SIA policies. Changes were also required to make the document more user friendly and useful for those involved in preparing SIAs. The experience of consultants such as Briggs & Mortar actively undertaking SIAs was considered invaluable in this regard. A draft policy was prepared and placed on trial. The trial identified the need to resolve key policy issues such as the triggers for assessment, and the scope and process for Social Impact Assessment. These were reviewed, and a draft Planning Scheme Policy (PSP) was subsequently prepared by the team. |
Review of Community Impact Assessment Policy and Health and Social Impact Assessment Draft Policy |
Brisbane City Council engaged a small team of consultants including Briggs & Mortar Pty Ltd to review and revise its social impact assessment policy. The existing Community Impact Assessment (CIA) Planning Scheme Policy was not an effective tool to assess development applications and their possible community and social impacts. In particular its academic nature made it a less than useful document for users. Consequently amendments were needed to increase its effectiveness.
However, at a broader level, Council officers also recognised that the CIA Planning Scheme Policy was not well integrated into the Planning Scheme, and the need for more effective tools within the Planning Scheme to assess social impacts. Accordingly an assessment was undertaken as to why the CIA Planning Scheme Policy was not working well, and what improvements could be made to the operation of the Planning Scheme Policy to assist community impact assessment. In addition, direction from the SEQ Regional Plan recognised that broader health matters could be introduced into Social Impact Assessment and the review addressed these issues. A Health and Social Impact Assessment (HSIA) Draft Policy was subsequently prepared. |
Social Infrastructure Planning |
Social Impact Assessment |
Social Sustainability |
Housing Studies |
Community Engagement |
Professional Editing |