A plain English explanation of this ACT planning and property term.
For the purposes of the Planning Act 2023, an environmental impact is significant if:• the environmental function, system, value or entity that might be adversely impacted by a proposed development is significant; or• the cumulative or incremental effect of a proposed development might contribute to a substantial adverse impact on an environmental function, system, value or entity.
A significant environmental impact is one that could seriously harm an important part of the environment, such as plants, animals, habitats, water, or ecosystems. It also includes situations where a development may not cause major harm on its own, but when combined with other developments, it contributes to a substantial negative impact on the environment.