ID: 1683
Presenting Author: Fiona Gainsford
Session: 650 - From field to boardroom: digital IA beyond initial permitting
Status: pending
The use of Estimated Development Cost in impact assessment could be a useful tool to use for discussing EIA with financiers, lenders et al
In New South Wales (NSW), Australia, the integration of the Estimated Development Cost (EDC) metric into the planning system introduces a novel opportunity to bridge environmental assessment and financial governance. This paper explores how EIA data—long used to assess biophysical and social impacts—can now play a decisive role in informing financiers, institutional investors, and boards through transparent cost disclosure mechanisms.
The EDC framework compels proponents to quantify the economic dimensions of development proposals, providing a structured, auditable foundation for integrating financial risk and environmental performance. Drawing on recent infrastructure and renewable energy assessments, EIA datasets—particularly on mitigation measures, biodiversity offsets, and adaptive management costs—can be translated into financial metrics aligned with investor due-diligence requirements.
Positioning EIA as a financial-risk communication tool enhances accountability, strengthens ESG credibility, and aligns environmental and fiscal governance. Case studies from NSW illustrate how early integration of EIA data into cost-modelling supports financiers’ understanding of project exposure, lifecycle costs, and sustainability performance. We can discuss whether the EDC framework provides a replicable mechanism for using environmental assessment outputs to inform financial decision-making, helping direct capital toward environmentally sound and socially responsible development in a workshop format
Fiona Gainsford is a leading independent environmental impact assessment practitioner and Australian Board member.