The NSW biodiversity offsets policy for major projects commenced on 1 October 2014 and applies to state significant development and state significant infrastructure under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
The Biodiversity Offsets Scheme under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 commenced on 25 August 2017.
The information on this page only remains relevant for savings and transitional arrangements under former legislation and policy. Visit Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Transitional Arrangements for more information.
The policy applies to state significant development and state significant infrastructure under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, such as highways, mines and hospitals (these are called 'major projects').
The policy aims to strike an effective balance between the needs of proponents, communities and the environment by:
