ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the participation processes in Australia including why participation occurs and how it is carried out. Roads, railway lines and other items of urban infrastructure are routinely the subject of this process. Consequently, the community has the opportunity to comment on the details of the proposal and the recommendations for environmental management. The Fremantle Eastern Bypass is a controversial new section of urban freeway proposed for construction in Perth, Western Australia. Major infrastructure items such as freeways or railways generally have a specific zoning. Public participation is an expensive and time consuming process. However, in the Australian context it has demonstrated clear benefits both to the community and the developers. Public participation challenges assumptions. In the Australian context public participation programs usually speed the approval process by ensuring that the development has taken into consideration the key issues of concern to the community.
