Availabilities:

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast Session 1 Session 1
Lismore Session 1 Session 1
Online Session 1 N/A

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Former School/College

Former School of Law and Justice

Pre-requisites

(LAW00111 - Legal Process OR LAW10157 - Australian Legal System) AND 84 credit points in any SCU units

Unit aim

Encompasses environmental laws of planning and pollution control, as well as laws dealing with land and nature conservation. Provides insights into government practice and policy with respect to the environment.

Unit content

Topics to be covered during this unit will include:
 
Topic 1 The conceptual context of environmental law
Topic 2 The role of the Commonwealth
Topic 3 Planning law
Topic 4 Developmental control
Topic 5 Environmental impact assessment
Topic 6 Pollution law
Topic 7 Biodiversity
Topic 8 Heritage law
Topic 9 Environmental dispute resolution

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 apply to any given factual problem the existing legal framework, which deals with planning, development, pollution, conservation, heritage and environmental impact assessment
2 describe in discussion or in a written format the division of environmental responsibilities between the three levels of government - federal, state and local
3 describe in discussion or in a written format important concepts in environmental law, and the changing conceptual context of environmental law
4 demonstrate an understanding of the various techniques of environmental dispute resolution, and their advantages and disadvantages
5 demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmental law
6 provide legal advice on a real life problem which raises environmental legal issues.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. apply to any given factual problem the existing legal framework, which deals with planning, development, pollution, conservation, heritage and environmental impact assessment
    • GA1:
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  2. describe in discussion or in a written format the division of environmental responsibilities between the three levels of government - federal, state and local
    • GA4:
  3. describe in discussion or in a written format important concepts in environmental law, and the changing conceptual context of environmental law
    • GA3:
    • GA4:
  4. demonstrate an understanding of the various techniques of environmental dispute resolution, and their advantages and disadvantages
    • GA4:
  5. demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmental law
    • GA4:
    • GA7:
  6. provide legal advice on a real life problem which raises environmental legal issues.
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
    • GA6:

Prescribed texts

  • Bates, G, 2013, Environmental Law in Australia, 8th edn, Lexis Nexis, Sydney. ISBN: 9780409332070.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.