Environmental Impact Assessment

In NSW, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 is the principal law overseeing the assessment and determination of development proposals. Proposals are considered under different parts of the Act including: Part 3A, Part 4 and Part 5.

To assist in determining which development assessment process applies to your development, please follow this link to the NSW Department of Planning website.

Companies and individuals are required to demonstrate that environmental impacts of their activities can be appropriately managed as part of the regulatory and development application approvals process.

ecobiological has extensive experience in preparing the following types of reports to accompany client Development Applications. We can also assist in negotiating with regulatory authorities and meeting Conditions of Consent.

Flora, Fauna and Threatened Species Assessment (7-Part Test)

State Government environmental legislation requires Local Councils to consider the impact of a development proposal on the natural environment, including flora, fauna and their habitat.

Schedules 1 and 2 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) contain lists of flora and fauna species and communities, which have been determined by the NSW Scientific Committee as being under threat of serious decline that could ultimately lead to extinction.

Schedule 3 of the TSC Act contains a list of 'key threatening processes' deemed to be processes that have a negative impact on threatened species, populations or communities.

The TSC Act provides for a 7-part test of significance and impact to be applied to any of these listed species or communities that are found in an area subject to proposed development.

Our staff are highly skilled in conducting Flora and Fauna surveys and all reports incorporate a 7-part test of significance and impact for threatened flora and fauna likely to occur in the type of habitat present on a subject site.

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au for more information.

Environmental Assessment (Part 3A)

Environmental Assessment (EA), formally known as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is an integral part of securing planning approval for major projects. The purpose of the EA process is to:

• Assess the impacts of a proposed activity on the environment before making the decision on whether to carry it out.
• To develop and assess measures to avoid or minimise those impacts if it is decided to carry out the activity.

ecobiological considers that a properly researched EA should aid regulatory agencies in their decision making whilst also providing a valuable planning tool to bring savings in capital and operational costs throughout the life of the development.

We have experience coordinating several EA's and have a valuable network of recognised experts in various fields that can be called upon where necessary.

BioBanking Assessment

The BioBanking Scheme commenced in July 2008. The framework for the scheme was established under Part 7A of the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.

BioBanking is a market-based scheme that provides a streamlined biodiversity assessment process for development, a rigorous and credible offsetting scheme as well as an opportunity for rural landowners to generate income by managing land for conservation.

In applying for biobanking agreements and biobanking statements, landowners and developers will have to engage an accredited BioBanking Assessor to undertake biodiversity credit calculations for submission with the application. This accreditation is issued after successful completion of the BioBanking Assessors Course.

Adam Blundell and David Paull of ecobiological have completed the course, satisfying the accreditation criteria and are now able to undertake biodiversity credit calculations.

Developers can obtain a biobanking statement from the Director General which confirms the number and class of credits and any on-site measures required for the development to improve or maintain biodiversity values.

A biobanking statement can be obtained at any time before the development consent or approval is issued, however, it is to the developer's advantage to get a statement early on in the process to avoid the usual threatened species assessment processes.

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au to discuss your needs.

Species Impact Assessment

During a Review of Environmental Factors or Flora, Fauna and Threatened Species Assessment ecobiological may detect a threatened flora or fauna species on a client site.

In this instance, ecobiological may recommend further investigation or preparation of a supplementary report on a threatened species for submission with a Development Application. This pre-empts the preparation of a formal Species Impact Statement and uncovers the potential constraints that the presence of a threatened species may cause to a development.

ecobiological has worked with several clients to redesign or provide conservation reserves to protect threatened species habitat on a site.

For example, ecobiological recently completed a Species Impact Assessment for the Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis temporalis) occurring on the proposed site of an 11-lot residential development at Singleton.

Consideration and protection of existing threatened species and their habitat on a site can greatly increase the chances of a successful Development Application outcome for clients.

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au for more information.

Species Impact Statement

Species Impact Statements (SIS) are formal reports, which are prepared at the request of the Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW).

An SIS provides a detailed analysis of the potential impact of a development on threatened species identified in an area.

Scientifically sound investigation and analysis and detailed knowledge of the ecology of the flora and fauna at a specific site can frequently allow practical, simple measures to be incorporated into a development to ensure that it is undertaken with minimal impact on the habitat of threatened flora and/or fauna.

Review of Environmental Factors

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is a document that identifies and evaluates the impacts of an activity (undertaken under Part 5 of the EPA Act) to decide if the impacts are likely to significantly affect the environment.

If the environmental impacts are not considered to be significant, then an Environmental Assessment (EA) is not required and the project would not require third-party approval.

A REF report describes the geographic, vegetative, floristic and faunal attributes of a site and assesses their significance in relation to the provisions of Commonwealth, State and Local legislation.

ecobiological can prepare this brief document for clients to highlight likely environmental constraints before purchase of land or after purchase to enable a project to be designed around the opportunities and constraints present on a site. Being aware of development constraints or impacts before purchase or design of a site layout can save a considerable amount of time and money.

Servicing the following areas:

• Sydney & Surrounds, including the NSW Central Coast
• Central West NSW, including Lithgow, Mudgee and Bathurst
• North West NSW, including Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri
• South East QLD, including Brisbane, Sunshine and Gold Coasts
• Central QLD, including the Bowen and Surat Basin regions
• NT, including Darwin, Katherine and Nhulunbuy
• Plus many other regions throughout Australia

Contact ecobiological now on 1300 881 869 or admin@ecobiological.com.au for more information.