ArborEcological provides licensed and qualified Ecologist Services for a range of clients and projects from owner builders to large scale residential subdivisions and infrastructure projects.
We understand the legal requirements of State and Commonwealth environmental legislation, and provide expert advice on all environmental approval matters.
Ecologist assessments and reports include, but are not limited to, the following :
Environmental Impact Assessment
Our environmental impact assessment services include:
Threatened Species assessments and management plans including Koala Habitat Assessments
Tests of Significance – s.7.3 of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (previously 7 & 8-part tests, TSC Act & EP&A Act)
Matters of National Environmental Significance assessments and EPBC Act referrals
A range of Environmental Management Plans including Rehabilitation and preparation of Vegetation Management Plans (VMP)
Review of Environmental Factors (REFs)
We also provide technical input into Environmental Impact Statements and Statements of Environmental Effects SEE.
Management and rehabilitation of threatened species habitats and Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs).Flora and Fauna Survey
Flora and Fauna Survey
We use a range of survey techniques to examine types, extents and conditions of vegetation communities and habitats, including threatened species habitats and Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs). Fauna habitat assessments often focus on detecting signs of fauna site use and occupation of sites via scats, tracks, feed trees, hollow bearing trees, fallen logs, rock outcrops, leaf litter, wetlands, waterways and other site features. We work closely with fauna handling and survey experts as required for fauna surveys.
Our flora and fauna survey services include:
Flora and fauna survey and habitat assessment
Threatened species assessments
Fauna spotter catcher and pre-clearing services
Vegetation survey and mapping
Koala habitat assessment
Threatened Species Management
By their nature, threatened fauna species are often rare, cryptic and difficult to detect. We conduct thorough assessments of the suitability of threatened species habitats, the likelihood of threatened species occurring, and potential impacts to threatened species from proposed works. Report recommendations regularly include management measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate threatened species impacts.
Our threatened species services include:
Threatened species habitat assessments, targeted threatened species searches, and survey design and implementation
Threatened species & EEC Tests of Significance in line with s.7.3 of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 – previously 7-part test & 8-part tests under s.5A of the NSW EP&A Act & s.94 of the NSW TSC Act
Matters of National Environmental Significance assessments under the Commonwealth EPBC Act
Threatened species plans of management including Koala Plans of Management (KPoM) and Grey-headed Flying-fox Plans of Management
Koala Habitat Assessment
We recommend measures to avoid, minimise, mitigate and compensate impacts where developments and activities have potential to impact koalas.
Koala Habitat Protection SEPP (State Environment Planning Policy) has replaced SEPP 44 – Koala Habitat Protection and provides the basis for assessing land as Koala habitat in NSW. Land mapped as Koala Habitat is assessed to determine if suitable koala food tree cover exists and if the land is or has been actively used or occupied by koalas, i.e. Core Koala Habitat. Koala impact assessments are also regularly required under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Our Koala management services include:
Significant Koala impact assessments (State and Commonwealth) and Commonwealth referrals under the EPBC Act where necessary
Core Koala habitat assessments
Koala habitat mapping
Koala Plan of Management KPoM preparation
Environmental Monitoring
ArborEcological develops, implements, evaluates and reports on environmental monitoring programs tailored to individual projects. Our monitoring programs are designed to detect environmental changes, trends and environmental impacts. They provide an indication of the effectiveness of mitigation measures in place and the success of rehabilitation efforts.
We regularly include photo points to visually record changes to vegetation communities including survival of native plantings, weed and native plant recruitment, and vegetation community health.
Our environmental monitoring services include:
Environmental monitoring program planning, design & implementation
Flora & fauna impact monitoring, evaluation and reporting
Tree health, condition and structural stability monitoring
Review of Environmental Factors (REF)
Review of Environmental Factors REFs are often prepared to consider the potential impacts on the natural environment as a result of a development or activity.
ArborEcological has prepared REFs for consideration by local councils, e.g. Lismore, Ballina and Richmond Valley Councils; and State Government agencies, e.g. Office of Environment and Heritage OEH. Our impact assessments are guided by legislation and present the findings of site assessments and expert studies. They address relevant matters such as potential for significant impacts on threatened species and endangered ecological communities.
Details are also outlined on stakeholder consultation, environmental safeguards, mitigation measures, alternative activities and any required approvals. Assessments of significance, previously 7-part test & 8-part test of significance, are conducted as required under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016