From liability to opportunity: An institutional approach towards value-based land remediation

Plant, R; Boydell, S; Prior, J; Chong, J; Lederwasch, A

From liability to opportunity: An institutional approach towards value-based land remediation

Plant, R

Boydell, S Prior, J

Chong, J Lederwasch, A

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 2017, 35 (2), pp. 197 - 220
Issue Date:: 2017-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Plant, R https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3006-741X	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Boydell, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Prior, J https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6145-5207	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chong, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lederwasch, A	en_US
dc.date.available	2016-04-06	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 2017, 35 (2), pp. 197 - 220	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0263-774X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43916
dc.description.abstract	© The Author(s) 2016. The remediation of contaminated sites impacts on stakeholders in potentially beneficial ways, yet stakeholder dialogue has historically been focussed on costs, risk, liability, stigma, and other negatives. Shedding light on stakeholders’ remediation values can help reform remediation policy towards more positive outcomes of site clean-up. We adopt institutional theory to elicit plural motivations and cognitive assumptions as embedded in stakeholders’ expressions of remediation values, objectives, and outcomes. We explore in four case studies with varying size, complexity, cultural diversity, and geographical location (three in Australia, one in Fiji) how remediation values operate within remediation decisions. Our findings suggest that more than economic costs, liability, and risks are at play in decision-making on contaminated land. Our research confirmed that different socio-ethical, environmental and sustainability values are evaluated differently by different types of actors (site owners, regulators, auditors, residents, local government, consultants). We found that remediation values often shift in the course of a remediation decision-making process, suggesting learning and improved understanding. Remediation policy that better facilitates and aligns stakeholders’ articulations of initial and emergent outcomes sought from site clean-up is likely to enhance both economic and social value outcomes of remediation. Further research is needed on how remediation policy could better incorporate remediation value dynamics in stakeholder consultation and engagement.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1177/0263774X16646772	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Urban & Regional Planning	en_US
dc.title	From liability to opportunity: An institutional approach towards value-based land remediation	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	35	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/Institute For Sustainable Futures
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/e-Press
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CCDP - Contemporary Design Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - ISF - Institute for Sustainable Futures
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	35	en_US

Abstract:

© The Author(s) 2016. The remediation of contaminated sites impacts on stakeholders in potentially beneficial ways, yet stakeholder dialogue has historically been focussed on costs, risk, liability, stigma, and other negatives. Shedding light on stakeholders’ remediation values can help reform remediation policy towards more positive outcomes of site clean-up. We adopt institutional theory to elicit plural motivations and cognitive assumptions as embedded in stakeholders’ expressions of remediation values, objectives, and outcomes. We explore in four case studies with varying size, complexity, cultural diversity, and geographical location (three in Australia, one in Fiji) how remediation values operate within remediation decisions. Our findings suggest that more than economic costs, liability, and risks are at play in decision-making on contaminated land. Our research confirmed that different socio-ethical, environmental and sustainability values are evaluated differently by different types of actors (site owners, regulators, auditors, residents, local government, consultants). We found that remediation values often shift in the course of a remediation decision-making process, suggesting learning and improved understanding. Remediation policy that better facilitates and aligns stakeholders’ articulations of initial and emergent outcomes sought from site clean-up is likely to enhance both economic and social value outcomes of remediation. Further research is needed on how remediation policy could better incorporate remediation value dynamics in stakeholder consultation and engagement.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/43916