2. The role of consultants
• Native vegetation is proposed to be cleared
• Ecological investigations are required under Commonwealth and
State legislation, and Government policy
• Examples
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Road
Rail
Pipelines
Urban development
Mining and exploration
• Consultants on the frontline
3. Federal Legislation
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999
• Site assessment – is a listed species likely to occur?
• Undertake surveys
• If detected, submit a referral to Department of the Environment
• “Action Unacceptable”
• “Controlled Action”
• Grant approval with conditions (avoid, minimise, offset)
• “Not Controlled Action”
4. Regional Rail Link
Sunshine Diuris
• $5b project building 90 km of new track
• Last population of Sunshine Diuris Diuris fragrantissima
• Listed as Endangered under EPBC Act
• Referred for proximity of works
• Permit approved with conditions
• Avoid and protect site with land-title agreement
• Implement Management Plans
5. Victorian Legislation
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Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
Planning and Environment Act 1987
Environmental Effects Act 1978
Mineral Resource (Sustainable Development) Act 1990
6. Victoria
• Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
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Flora, fauna and ecological communities
Protects all native orchids (+ other genera)
Public land only
Apply to DEPI for a permit
Road and rail projects, airfields, National Parks?
7. Glenelg Highway
Emerald-lip Greenhood
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Overtaking lanes on Glenelg Highway
Emerald-lip Greenhood Pterostylis smaragdyna in roadside
Rare in Victoria
Protected under FFG Act DEPI required translocation
5 plants translocated – 3 survived
8. Victoria
• Planning and Environment Act 1987
• Planning Permit required from Council for native vegetation
removal – Section 52.17
• Permit issued subject to compliance with Victoria’s Native
Vegetation Framework
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Vegetation mapping
Threatened species surveys
Avoid + Minimise
Offsets
9. Shaw River Power Station
Basalt Leek-orchid
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Pipeline for power station water intake
Basalt Leek-orchid Prasophyllum viretum, endangered in Vic
Private land – i.e. FFG Act doesn’t apply
Pipeline re-aligned to avoid Basalt Leek-orchid
10. Victoria
• Permitted Clearing Regulations
• Low Risk = <1 ha Location A (blue); <0.5 ha Location B (purple)
• Assessment information reduced
• No consideration of threatened species
• DEPI / Council cannot refuse permit if offset is secured
11. Victoria
• Permitted Clearing Regulations
• Moderate Risk = > 1 ha Location A (blue), 0.5 – 1 ha Location B
(purple)
• High Risk = >1 ha Location B (purple), any Location C (red)
12. Offset opportunities
• Removal of like-for-like offset requirements
• Focus on “strategic” offset sites with higher biodiversity values
Cobra Greenhood Pterostylis grandiflora at Pakenham
13. Key Issues
• Surveys
• Short timeframes
• If a species isn’t found, it’s not there
• Consultants often don’t have detailed knowledge of the area
• Offsets
• Focus on offsets rather than avoid and minimise
14. Victorian Biodiversity Atlas
• Used to inform habitat importance maps and modelling under
Permitted Clearing Regulations.
