Offsets
When a proposal’s impacts on biodiversity and/or ecological function cannot be fully mitigated, an offset package could be considered to support developments that are ecologically sustainable. Environmental offsets or environmentally beneficial activities are determined in conjunction with proactive mechanisms such as use of best practice environmental management to ensure impact avoidance is the primary consideration. Offsets should also be developed in accordance with State and Federal policies.
Offsets vary depending on the type of project, the environment being impacted and the significance of the impact on the environment, such as conservation significant species, communities and critical assets. These may include:
- clearing impacts on flora - Declared Rare Flora (DRF), Federally protected flora and Priority Flora
- vegetation complexes - Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs) and Priority Ecological Communities (PECs)
- clearing impacts on Specially Protected (State or Federal level) fauna, Priority Fauna and their habitats
- impacts on biodiversity and ecological function e.g. increased access and boundary effects
- wetlands of conservation significance (e.g. Ramsar, Conservation Category Wetlands, Resource Enhancement Wetlands, lakes subject to specific Environmental Protection Policies)
- Bush Forever Sites, reserves, parks, corridors and buffers.
360 Environmental supports Clients to deliver an environmentally responsible project with a minimum standard of no net environmental loss or alternatively a project with a net conservation benefit, consistent with State and Federal legislation, policies, discussion papers and guidance, such as:
- Environmental Protection Authority, Environmental Protection Bulletin No1 - Environmental Offsets – Biodiversity
- Environmental Protection Authority, Guidance Statement No. 19 - Environmental Offsets
- Environmental Protection Authority, Biodiversity Position Statement No. 9 - Environmental Offsets
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Policy Statement and Discussion Paper - Use of Environmental Offsets Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
360 Environmental and Offsets
Offsets are developed to meet a proponent’s environmental approval requirements and to be aligned with corporate environmental management objectives. Offsets can aim to protect, reduce impacts on, or enhance environmental assets through a variety of means. The following is a typical example of how an Offset Strategy could be determined:
- Offsets considered - the details of proposed offset options are included in the environmental scoping document and subsequently detailed in the environmental review documents (if required) and are centred around the residual impacts that cannot be fully avoided or mitigated.
- Offset strategy developed - comprising direct and contributing
offsets:
- Direct offsets are environmentally beneficial activities undertaken to counterbalance an adverse environmental impact or harm such as ecosystem restoration offset, rehabilitation offset or land acquisition for conservation.
- Contributing offsets on the other hand are environmentally beneficial activities undertaken that add to the environmental knowledge, research, management and protection that leads to improved environmental outcomes.
- Methodologies described:
- Offsets described in the context of residual impacts, approval documentation, stakeholder input, industry practice, State and Federal Guidance and Polices.
- Criteria for identifying environmental values are defined and agreed. Considerations may include like-for-like areas, vegetation complex(es), size, conservation status, priority natural assets and condition, ability of land to be protected in the long-term (buffer impacts), community benefit.
- Graphical representation of data is an effective method of communicating large volumes of information and has been the preferred method for identifying potential offset properties in some cases. Data used may include planning data, zoning, cadastral boundaries, land tenure and relevant spatial data (Geographic Information System [GIS], digital and non-digital data, thematic maps). GIS analysis/manipulations and mapping can be performed using the ESRI suite of software (primarily ArcGIS) with support from other software such as ERDAS ER Mapper.
- Ground truthing and survey of suitable assets.
- Offsets secured e.g. land purchased (tenure and management secured) and/or rehabilitation established (monitoring and management agreed with relevant regulator and other stakeholders).
An Offset Strategy can be used to engage with stakeholders and to seek feedback as to the appropriateness of the offsets proposed.
Experience
360 Environmental staff have demonstrated experience in both the authoring of offset packages, the identification of suitable offset properties and activities and the implementation of offset plans.
Project Profile
360 Environmental has developed and implemented several offset strategies on behalf of Clients. Offset examples include:
- Tropicana Joint Venture, Tropicana Gold Project Environmental Offsets Strategy (State and Federal)
- Main Roads Western Australia - delineating suitable offset sites for inclusion within the conservation estate within the Swan Coastal Plain (State and Federal)
- Water Corporation – Perth Seawater Desalination Plant A Class Reserve rehabilitation and Stirling Harvey Redevelopment Scheme rehabilitation (State)
- Mirvac - Jane Brook Land Development identification of offsets (Federal)
Contact
We would be please to discuss our skills and expertise in this area. Please contact:
Email: admin@360environmental.com.au
Telephone: +61 8 9321 0420