Biodiversity certification

Gazettal of the assessment methodology

Following on from amendments to the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 in June 2010, the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment approved the Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology, which was gazetted on 25 February 2011.

There are three types of biodiversity certification:

• biodiversity certification of land
• biodiversity certification of environmental planning instruments (EPIs) under Schedule 7 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (TSC Act) – this scheme has now been phased out
• biodiversity certification of the native vegetation reform package.

Biodiversity certification of land

Biodiversity certification offers planning authorities a streamlined biodiversity assessment process for areas marked for development at the strategic planning stage, along with a range of secure options for offsetting impacts on biodiversity. It identifies areas of high conservation value at a landscape scale, and protects them, as well as identifying areas suitable for development.

After biodiversity certification is conferred on an area, development may proceed without the usual requirement under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for site-by-site threatened species assessment.

Only planning authorities can apply to the Minister to have biodiversity certification conferred over an area of land. Planning authorities must complete the biodiversity certification application (pdf file, 437KB), as well as a Biodiversity Certification Strategy, which details the conservation measures that will improve or maintain biodiversity values in accordance with the Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology.

The biodiversity certification application and Biodiversity Certification Strategy will be publicly exhibited.

For assistance with completing the biodiversity certification application, email info@environment.nsw.gov.au and put ‘biodiversity certification application’ in the subject line, or phone Environment Line on 131 555 (NSW only) or (02) 9995 5000.

Biodiversity values are measured as biodiversity credits. When there is a shortfall of credits for conservation measures in a biodiversity certification proposal, the biodiversity certification credit converter is used to convert the quantity of ecosystem or species credits into hectares of land and then into an amount for a financial contribution.

Legislation for biodiversity certification can be found in Part 7AA of the TSC Act.

OEH maintains a register of orders conferring biodiversity certification as required by section 126ZU of the TSC Act. The register includes orders conferring biodiversity certification on EPIs made under the former scheme.

Hard copies of the register are available without charge from the Office of Environment and Heritage Information Centre, Level 14, 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney between 8.30 am and 5 pm Monday–Friday (phone 131 555 or (02) 9995 5000).

Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology

On 9 June 2010, the Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Biodiversity Certification) Act passed through the NSW Parliament. In accordance with the requirements of the legislation, the draft Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology was placed on public exhibition for a period of 30 days. Seventeen submissions were received and a report summarising the submissions (110156biocertassmethdg.pdf, 220kb) prepared.

The Biodiversity Certification Assessment Methodology (110170biocertassessmeth.pdf, 237kb) was gazetted on 25 February 2011.