| Home | Services | EcoRamblings | Technology |
Services primarily focus on identifying the indigenous flora, fauna and ecological communities occurring on your property, what legislation maybe triggered, and what you can do to address these issues. The EcoCheck Series of products have been specifically designed to address these needs and you are referred to the EcoCheck page for further details about these products.
Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd however, provides a wide variety of other services for different client groups within the Natural Resource Management Industry and further details have been provided below broken up by client group and activity.
Before you read any further it is worth reviewing the legal requirements for clearing native vegetation in Victoria. The Department of Sustainability and Environment has a useful overview that has a variety of links to the Planning Provisions, Land Victoria, background maps, etc.
AND EVEN before you get immersed in the legalities of the Planning and Environment Act 1997 it is worth reviewing the new exemptions to clearance of native vegetation in Victoria, which came into force on the 15 September 2008, to see if you need a planning permit at all! Below are links to the key documents.
- Amendment VC49 (PDF - 188 KB)
- New exemptions for native vegetation removal in planning schemes, September 2008 (PDF - 371 KB) - this document is an easy to read overview
- VPP amended Clauses for VC49 (PDF - 2.54 MB) - refer to sections 42.02, 52.16 and 52.17 about exemptions to the clearance of native vegetation. This document is the final word on the matter and will be what VCAT refers to in any debate about an issue.
- Native Vegetation Exemptions Fact Sheet - September 2008 update (PDF - 468 KB)
The folowing new or updated Planning Practice Notes and Advisory Notes have been published incorporating the above changes...
If no exemptions exist and you definitely need a permit to clear native vegetation, read on to find out how we can help you.
- Buildings and native vegetation removal, December 2008 - PDF 405 KB
- Farming and native vegetation removal, December 2008 - PDF 409 KB
A permit is required to clear any native vegetation (grasses, herbs, shrubs or trees) within Victoria. What can you do then
when you have native plants on your property? Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd can assess your property and clarify exactly what
ecological issues are relevant to your property and what constraints apply. These assessments do not cost very much and are
completely confidential (EcoCheck®Walkabout)
If you have remnant vegetation on your property then one of the Native Vegetation Trading Schemes like
BushBroker,
BushTender or
EcoTender
maybe appropriate. These schemes provide an additional revenue stream for landowners and contribute to current efforts to help abate the
ongoing loss of vegetation in the state.
If however, you require to change the landuse of your property - say for example when you intend to subdivide - Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd can evaluate your options and help you meet you obligations under the various State and Commonwealth legislation (EcoCheck®Intermediate, EcoCheck®Advanced).
Looking for land? Make sure you are aware of what environmental issues are relevant to the property you're buying. Don't get bogged down in VCAT trying to get permission to develop land you only just found out is covered in native vegetation. Numerous flora and fauna surveys, finding offset sites, 10-year management plans, 173 Agreements - if only you had bought the block down the road.
EcoCheck®Walkabout provides a cost effective solution to this problem. Check out the property you are looking to buy before you buy it, and where possible avoid those properties that contain significant flora, fauna or vegetation.
As mentioned above, BushBroker can provide an additional revenue stream for landowners. There is a growing group of entrepreneurs that are buying land to manage as offset sites so they can barter the gains achieved with developers. Although only a fledgling EcoMarket, these enterprises have the potential to generate significant revenue especially if costs associated with ongoing management can be controlled.
Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd can assist 'Offset Site Speculators' with selection of appropriate properties, documenting potential gains and outlining ongoing management of the site. We also conduct modelling to help substantiate higher than normal levels of gain. What does this mean? Putting it bluntly more money for each dollar spent.
Subdividing? You will almost certainly need an ecological survey to accompany your planning application, even if all it says is there is nothing of significance remaining.
The key to a successful planning application, when it involves the clearance of native vegetation, is well documented transparent scientific advice throughout your project. One important area that is regularly overlooked by developers is site selection. To often ecological consultants are only brought in once the land is bought, plans drawn up and stakes are on the ground. Obviously the location of any environmental issues at this time leaves no scope to buy elsewhere or avoid the vegetation. EcoCheck®Walkabout was originally developed with this in mind.
Once the land is purchased and initial scoping has occurred then a full flora and fauna survey is required. EcoCheck®Intermediate provides details of all the ecological issues relevant to a site and your obligations under State and Commonwealth Legislation. Legislation we specifically address are the Environmental Protection & Conservation Act 1999, Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, Planning & Environment Act 1987 and the Catchment & Land Protection Act 1994. This product includes detailed mapping of vegetation, significant flora, significant fauna or habitat using recognised GIS software.
Ideally, once the base survey and background check is done, your planning consultants can develop some options to avoid or at least minimize the loss of native vegetation. It is always a good time to have a preapplication meeting with the local council and DSE (if appropriate) to gain tacit agreement for your proposal.
Once a tacit agreement is made with the referral authority, vegetation losses (if any) and any required offsets (as specified in Appendix 4 of the Framework) are calculated.
The EcoCheck®Advanced Product -- which includes the background review, site survey, maps and net gain accounting data for the impact zone and any proposed onsite offset sites -- is designed to accompany a planning application that includes the clearance of native vegetation.
Once your planning permit has approval, Botanicus Australia can help prepare an application for the purchase of offsets from BushBroker or in the prepartion of the 10-year management plan required for your offset site.
Most developers are unaware that they have obligations under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth Legislation) to identify whether they are going to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance. If their development does, then they are required to make a referral of the proposed action to the Minister for Environment, Water, Heritage and Arts with details of how they intend to mitigate these impacts.
All our core products are designed to flag when the EPBC Act 1999 is triggered. In the event that your development triggers the Act, Botanicus Australia Pty Ltd can assist in the preparation of referrals for your development and/or provide any support needed if your development is deemed to be a controlled action.We are the only company that thoroughly documents all the steps from data collection to analysis, through to interpretation. Consequently a reviewer is able to trace each and every step presented in our reports, so there is rarely, if ever, a debate regarding our conclusions. Why do we do this?
JUSTIFIABILITY !
If our conclusions are justified by sound scientific evidence, then your planning application passes the referral authority or VCAT without the need to revisit issues saving you both time and money.
Simon Cropper B.Sc., a trained ecologist with 20+ years of experience, is doing the work.
Pricing is transparent and all inclusive. Unlike other companies that quote on stages, each themselves unable to support a planning application, we provide a once off price for a standard flora and fauna survey suitable to accompany an application to clear native vegetation. Therefore you know from the outset exactly how much the work is going to cost.
Page Last Updated: 16 April 2010