A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is an environmental assessment undertaken to assist in meeting the requirements of a particular piece of legislation, such as Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act). An REF must be completed before a development applicant undertakes an activity, or is granted approval from the determining authority allowing an external party to undertake an activity. An REF examines the significance of likely environmental impacts of a proposal and identifies measures required to mitigate adverse impacts to the environment.

An REF is intended to assist and document the determining authority’s determination of whether an activity should be approved, taking into account to the fullest extent possible all matters affecting or likely to affect the environment. An REF also assists the determining authority’s assessment of whether the activity is likely to have a significant effect on the environment or threatened species, populations or ecological communities or their habitats. An environmental impact statement (EIS) and/or species impact statement (SIS) may need to be prepared and considered before approval is granted.

Depending on the nature of the proposed development, an REF may be need to include specialist studies such as a Noise Impact Assessment, Greenhouse Gas Assessment or an Ecological Study which are prepared by suitably qualified consultants and incorporated into an REF. At EcoQuest Environmental, we are highly experienced in the both the compilation and review of REFs.