Biodiversity and threatened species resources for local government

Local government's role in conservation and management of biodiversity

Local government is a key player in the conservation and management of biodiversity and threatened species in NSW. As land use planners, local government is responsible for planning and regulating many activities which may impact on biodiversity and threatened species. Councils also manage large areas of public land, much of which contains important biodiversity values.

This web page and those linked to it were created to provide a resource for councils to more easily access information to assist them in understanding their obligations and functions under various Acts relating to biodiversity and threatened species, and to showcase the work of councils and OEH.

Biodiversity surveys and mapping – examples of biodiversity surveys, vegetation and habitat maps prepared by councils and OEH.

Strategic planning – examples of biodiversity strategies, corridor mapping, vegetation protection orders and the incorporation of biodiversity information into strategic planning documents.

Environmental impact assessment and compliance – examples from councils and OEH of checklists and guidelines on the assessment process, to assist in determining councils' legislative obligations. This section includes compliance and enforcement information to assist councils when a ‘harm’ or ‘pick’ of a threatened species may have occurred.

Bushland and natural area management – information to assist with the management of natural areas including council plans of management, operational guidelines, grants, best practice guidelines, protocols, projects and initiatives.

Biodiversity surveys and mapping

Consistent and accurate mapping of vegetation, communities and habitats are essential tools for planning and management purposes. Councils need reliable data and accurate maps to make balanced and defensible decisions in relation to development and planning issues, and to undertake day-to-day operations.

These resources provide a guide to the standard techniques to employ when undertaking mapping and data collection. If you are planning to undertake broad surveys in your LGA, talk to OEH during the project planning stage, to ensure consistency in data collection and so your results can be pooled into broader regional studies. Some examples are also provided of council mapping results.

Survey guidelines:

Flora and fauna survey guidelines (Lower Hunter and Central Coast Councils) vol 1 and 2
Survey guidelines for threatened species, bats and surveys by the community (OEH)
How to carry out a Bioregional Assessment (OEH)
Regional biodiversity survey and assessment guidelines (OEH)
Survey guidelines for non-vascular plants (OEH)
Sydney Harbour Foreshore and Estuarine Vegetation Mapping Guidelines (SMCMA)
Threatened species survey and assessment guidelines (draft) (OEH)
Vegetation types database (OEH)

Survey and mapping reports

LGA-wide mapping completed recently by:

Baulkham Hills
Warringah
Camden
Hornsby

Recent council mapping of bushland reserves on web:

Ryde
North Sydney
Mosman
Pittwater

Regional surveys:

Regional Environmental Management Strategy – Biodiversity (Hunter and Central Coast Councils)
Surveys of national parks and reserves in the Sydney area (OEH)
Rapid fauna habitat assessment for SMCMA area (OEH)
Threatened and pest animals of Greater Southern Sydney survey report (DECC)
List of NSW vegetation maps available

Threatened species mapping:

Threatened Species and EECs (Eurobodalla)
Fauna Survey and Mapping Project (Lower Hunter and Central Coast Councils)

Strategic planning

Consideration of biodiversity at the strategic planning stage is critical for achieving good conservation outcomes. There are usually more options available for conservation and management at the strategic planning stage. By contrast, conservation at the development assessment stage is often ad-hoc and options are often limited.

Links are provided to council biodiversity strategies, corridor mapping, vegetation protection orders and how councils have incorporated biodiversity information into strategic planning documents.

Biodiversity strategies:

Liverpool Biodiversity Management Plan 2012
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (Byron)
Biodiversity Strategy (Gosford)
Local Habitat Strategy (Warringah)
Biodiversity Strategy (Bankstown)
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (Hornsby)
Biodiversity Strategy (Goulburn Mulwaree)
Biodiversity Planning Policy and Guidelines For LEP Rezoning Proposals ( Lake Macquarie)

Incorporation of vegetation mapping into strategic planning and policy documents:

LGSA Excellence in the Environment Awards for NRM integration
Illawarra Escarpment Land Use Review Strategy
Natural Assets Policy (Camden)
Sensitive Urban Lands Report (Eurobodalla)
Biodiversity Planning Policy and Guidelines For LEP Rezoning Proposals (Lake Macquarie)
Wagga Wagga DCP (Section 5) includes actions to be taken by applicants to protect existing and establish new native vegetation.

General Guidelines for Strategic Planning for LEP reviews in Metro Sydney (OEH) (contact OEH Metro)

Practice Note for using spatial information in LEPs to protect and manage Environmentally Sensitive Lands: Murray Murrumbidgee Region (09353PNforESl.pdf, 1.54MB) (contact OEH South Branch)

A Planning Framework for Natural Ecosytems of the ACT and NSW Southern Tablelands - Final HIA report, March 2003 (FrameworkForEcosystems.pdf, 2.5MB) (contact OEH South Branch)

Vegetation Protection Orders:

DCP for NRM, Tree and Bushland Vegetation (Sutherland)
Bushland Protection Order (Blue Mountains)

Commonwealth guides on strategic planning:

Biodiversity Planning Guide for Local Government (DEWHA)
Biodiversity Toolbox for Local Government (DEWHA)

Councils that have threatened species notation on s149 Certificates:

Gosford
Bankstown
Ku-ring-gai
Warringah
Wingecarribee

Environmental impact assessment and compliance

Environmental impact assessment

Links are provided to a number of guidelines for council officers when undertaking impact assessments. It also includes guidelines for developers that some councils have released.

Council guidelines for applicants:

Ecological impact assessment sheet for developers (Pittwater)
Ecological assessment guidelines (Brisbane)
Flora and fauna guidelines for developers (Blue Mountains)
Guidelines for flora and fauna assessments for DAs (Hornsby)
Guidelines for the preparation of Vegetation Management and Restoration plans for developers (Hornsby)

Councils that have internal DA assessment checklists for council planners to ensure biodiversity is adequately assessed:

Hornsby
Shoalhaven
Wollongong

State government guidelines:

‘Is an EIS required?’ guideline (Department of Planning)
Register of development assessment guidelines (Department of Planning)
Guidelines for environmental assessment of fishing related activities (DPI)
Policy and guidelines for fish friendly waterway crossings (DPI)
Proponents guidelines for review of environmental factors for activities on NPWS estate (DECC)
Guidelines for developments adjoining DECC land (DECC)
Threatened species survey and assessment guidelines (draft) (DECC)
Assessment of significance guidelines (DECC)
OEH checklist for councils to assess the adequacy of a species impact statement – contact OEH Metro

Offset policies:

Green Offsets Code (Hornsby)
Principles for the use of biodiversity offsets (DECC)
Natural Assets Policy (Camden)
Lake Macquarie City Council (and ask for copy of draft Biodiversity Offsets Policy)

Buffers:

Subdivision DCP (Wyong)

Threatened species recovery planning documents (to be taken into account when undertaking assessment of significance)

Critical habitat register (OEH)
List of recovery plans (OEH)
List of threat abatement plans (OEH)
Priorities Action Statement (OEH)

Compliance

Councils have an important investigation and enforcement role in relation to illegal actions that impact on threatened species. Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, councils have significant powers to issue notices and orders requiring a person to do or refrain from doing certain things. Councils also have an important role in reducing the incidence of unauthorised clearing. Consent conditions should be carefully worded to minimise ambiguity around retention of native vegetation and habitats at sites. The incidence of unauthorised clearing can also be reduced by close management of contractors working on council land where threatened species occur.

The following information is provided to reduce the incidence of illegal clearing and to outline the information that OEH would require to conduct an investigation. An early notification will greatly assist OEH in the process of investigations.

Council information:

Call before you cut brochure (Penrith)
Guidelines for council staff for investigation by councils of unauthorised vegetation removal (The Hills)
Wollongong CC paper on investigation and prosecution of unauthorised vegetation clearing
Regional Environmental Compliance Projects (Hunter and Central Coast)

OEH information:

Information sheet on compliance under Native Vegetation Act 2003 (DECC)
Information about vegetation clearing (DECC)

Bushland and natural area management

Examples are provided below of plans, projects and initiatives that relate to the management of natural areas including council plans of management, operational guidelines, grants, best practice guidelines and private land incentive schemes.

LGSA Excellence in the Environment Awards for Biodiversity Management

On ground management:

Many councils have plans of management for reserves. Some examples:

Warringah
Willoughby
Hornsby

Priority rating for bushland works:

Bushland Priority Rating Tool (Ku-ring-gai)

Best practice guidelines and demonstration sites:

Best practice guidelines and demonstration sites for threatened species (OEH)
Recovering Bushland on the Cumberland Plain: best practice guidelines for the management and restoration of bushland (DECC)

Outdoor staff, contract and volunteer management:

Bush regeneration: a practical guide to contract management (AABR)
Resource guide for environmental management of council operations (DECC) (mostly in relation to management of POEO Act matters)
Volunteer Coordinators Network Manual for managing volunteer environmental programs
Ku-ring-gai outdoor staff checklist for working in natural areas to minimise unauthorised damage – contact Council

OEH licensing:

Licence required for undertaking scientific, educational or conservation work in threatened species habitat
Licence required for undertaking work in threatened species habitat that is not for scientific, educational or conservation purposes