NSW Government
Environment and Heritage

Updates to the Biodiversity Values Map

Stay informed about Biodiversity Values Map changes, including colours, reports and removals.

 

Colours on the Biodiversity Values Map

From time to time, the Biodiversity Values Map is updated to add or remove mapped areas. Updates may be due to new information or targeted reviews.

The Biodiversity Values Map displays 2 colours:

  • Areas shown on the map longer than 90 days are light purple: The areas that are mapped as light purple have been mapped for more than 90 days and a development in these areas will exceed the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold.
  • Areas added to the Biodiversity Values Map in the last 90 days are dark purple : If a development application is submitted for land mapped as 'added to the Biodiversity Values Map in the last 90 days', the application does not exceed the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold.

For areas added in the last 90 days, the report generated by the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool states when this 90-day period expires. If you lodge a development application after this date, a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report will be required for native vegetation clearing in these areas.

As development applications are not considered formally lodged until the fees are paid, proponents with land added to the Biodiversity Values Map in the last 90 days should submit their development application to the council at least 2 weeks before the 90-day period expires to allow time for the fees to be determined and paid.

Map updates may sometimes remove land from the map

Periodic updates to the Biodiversity Values Map may sometimes involve the removal of mapping based on new information.

If you are proposing to undertake a local development on mapped land on the Biodiversity Values Map, you should regularly check if your development site is still mapped on the Biodiversity Values Map during the development application process.

Removal of mapping over the development site may mean that you can avoid or reduce costs associated with developing a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report or meeting biodiversity credit requirements.

Table of Biodiversity Values Map updates

The table below provides an overview of updates made to the Biodiversity Values Map, from the most recent updates to the release of the original statewide map on 25 August 2017.

Table of Biodiversity Values Map updates
Date updated and map version numberChanges made
14 March 2025 
(version 18)

The following changes were made:

  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. revision of mapping for one serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) threatened ecological community (TEC), Tableland Basalt Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
  3. new mapping for 2 serious and irreversible impacts threatened ecological communities
    1. Mount Gibraltar Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion
    2. Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland
  4. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping arising from Local Land Services approved reviews
  5. update of data used for removal of developed land within the Port Stephens local government area
  6. update to the erase of biocertified land for 2 new conferrals and expiry of once conferral
    1. Brimbin Biocertification modification
    2. Ginninderry Biocertification
    3. Expiry of the Wagga Wagga LEP 2010 Biocertification
  7. update of data used for removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  8. update to the currency of data for accuracy improvement erase layers for developed land
  9. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
13 September 2024
(version 17)

The following changes were made:

  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. update of serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) threatened ecological community (TEC) mapping in the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan area
  3. revision of mapping for one serious and irreversible impacts species – swift parrot
  4. new mapping for 2 serious and irreversible impacts threatened ecological communities (TECs)
    1. Western Sydney Dry Rainforest
    2. Taren Point Shorebird Community
  5. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping arising from Local Land Services approved reviews
  6. update of data used for removal of developed land
  7. removal new of biocertified land
  8. update of data used for removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  9. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
27 September 2023
(version 16)

The following changes were made:

  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for 3 species
    1. North Rothbury persoonia (Persoonia pauciflora)
    2. swift parrot
    3. regent honeyeater
  3. addition of new mapping for 2 threatened species
    1. spiny gardenia (Randia moorei)
    2. native jute (Corchorus cunninghamii)
  4. addition of new mapping for 10 threatened ecological communities in the Coffs Harbour local government area
    1. Coastal Saltmarsh in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    2. Freshwater wetlands on coastal floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    3. Littoral Rainforest in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    4. Lowland Rainforest in the NSW North Coast and Sydney Basin bioregions
    5. Lowland rainforest on floodplain in the NSW North Coast bioregion
    6. Subtropical coastal floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast bioregion
    7. Swamp oak floodplain forest of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    8. Swamp Sclerophyll Forest on Coastal Floodplains of the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    9. Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions
    10. White Gum Moist Forest in the NSW North Coast bioregion
  5. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  6. removal of new developed land
  7. removal of new biocertified land
  8. removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  9. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
16 May 2023 (Version 15)

Updates were made to the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool (BMAT) report. Changes include:

  1. functionality to calculate if the area threshold has been exceeded
  2. information on how to determine a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) is required under the Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017 (NSW)
  3. information on results for the proposed development footprint area the user identifies
  4. a new map method document and a guide to review the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool area clearing threshold results are available to assist landholders, development proponents and local government
29 March 2023 (Version 15)
 
  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for one species:
    1. Grevillea caleyi
  3. addition of revised mapping for one threatened ecological community
    1. Robertson Basalt Tall Open Forest in the Sydney Basin and South Eastern Highlands bioregions critically endangered ecological community (CEEC)
  4. addition of new mapping for 4 threatened ecological communities
    1. Robertson Rainforest in the Sydney Basin bioregion (EEC)
    2. Southern Highlands Shale Woodlands in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological community (EEC)
    3. Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological community (CEEC)
    4. Tableland Basalt Forest in the Sydney Basin and South-eastern Highlands bioregions endangered ecological community (EEC)
  5. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  6. addition of one new Ramsar Wetland
    1. Caryapundy Swamp
  7. removal of developed land
  8. removal of biocertified land under the Cumberland Plains Conservation Plan
  9. removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  10. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
26 September 2022
(Version 14)
  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for 3 species:
    1. Genoplesium insigne
    2. Thelymitra adorata
    3. regent honeyeater
  3. addition of new mapping for 5 species:
    1. Asterolasia buxifolia
    2. Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh
    3. Corunastylis sp. Charmhaven
    4. Genoplesium baueri
    5. Kardomia prominens
  4. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  5. removal of developed land
  6. removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  7. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
28 March 2022
(Version 13)
  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for 4 species:
    1. Diuris flavescens
    2. Genoplesium littorale
    3. Genoplesium plumosum
    4. swift parrot
  3. addition of new mapping for one species:
    1. Blue Mountains water skink
  4. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  5. removal of developed land
  6. removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  7. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
  8. enhancement to the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool to increase zoom from 1:2250 to 1:282
27 September 2021
(Version 12)
  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for 2 species:
    1. Prasophyllum bagoense
    2. Pomaderris delicata
    3. Pomaderris reperta
    4. plains wanderer
    5. Callistemon purpurascens
    6. Callistemon megalongensis
  3. addition of new mapping for 5 species –
    1. Prasophyllum keltonii
    2. Jalmenus eubulus
    3. Calidris ferruginea
    4. yellow spotted tree frog
    5. thick-billed grasswren
  4. addition of core koala habitat identified in the Byron Koala Plan of Management and the Tweed Koala Plan of Management
  5. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  6. removal of developed land
  7. removal of Category 1 – Exempt Land
  8. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
27 November 2020
(Version 11)
  1. changes arising from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. addition of revised mapping for 7 species:
    1. Eucalyptus sp. cattai
    2. Myriophyllum implicatum
    3. Gentiana wingecarribiensis
    4. swift parrot
    5. Pterostylis ventricosa
    6. Prasophyllum sp. Moama
    7. Pterostylis despectans
  3. addition of new mapping for 3 species:
    1. Zieria obcordata
    2. Bellinger River snapping turtle
    3. Thelymitra kangaloonica
  4. addition of revised mapping for 11 threatened ecological communities:
    1. Agnes Banks Woodland in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    2. Blue Gum High Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    3. Cumberland Plain Woodland in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    4. Elderslie Banksia Scrub Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    5. Shale Sandstone Transition Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    6. Sun Valley Cabbage Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    7. Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    8. Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological communities
    9. Blue Mountains Basalt Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological communities
    10. Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological communities
    11. Duffys Forest Ecological Community in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological communities
  5. addition of new mapping for 3 threatened ecological communities:
    1. Hygrocybeae Community of Lane Cove Bushland Park in the Sydney Basin bioregion critically endangered ecological communities
    2. Maroota Sands Swamp Forest endangered ecological communities
    3. Pittwater and Wagstaffe Spotted Gum Forest in the Sydney Basin bioregion endangered ecological communities
  6. addition of core koala habitat identified in the Campbelltown Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management
  7. addition of core koala habitat identified in 3 Individual koala plans of management for land in the Port Macquarie Hastings local government area
  8. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  9. removal of developed land
  10. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
27 May 2020
(Version 10)
  1. addition of revised mapping for the regent honeyeater
  2. addition of mapping for Calotis moorei
  3. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  4. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  5. removal of buildings and recently developed subdivisions
  6. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
  7. enhancement to the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool to increase zoom from 1:4500 to 1:2000
26 February 2020 
(Version 9)
  1. update to core koala habitat mapping
  2. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  3. changes to serious and irreversible impacts entity mapping due to the update of Native Vegetation Regulatory Map Category 1 – Exempt Land.
  4. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  5. changes to Genoplesium insigne mapping
  6. removal of biocertified land in Mount Gilead Stage 1
  7. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
27 November 2019
(Version 8)
  1. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  2. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  3. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
28 August 2019
(Version 7)
  1. updates to mapping of critically endangered orchid Pterostylis vernalis resulting from revised map method
  2. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  3. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  4. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
29 May 2019
(Version 6)
  1. updates to mapping of critically endangered orchid Pterostylis ventricosa resulting from revised map method
  2. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  3. removal of small areas of mapped land on the Biodiversity Values Map due to incorporation of updates to Category 1 – Exempt Land on the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map
  4. removal of Port Macquarie Airport lands following biocertification
  5. refinement of old growth and rainforest mapping
  6. refinement of protected riparian land
  7. colour changes associated with 90-day expiry (dark purple to light purple)
27 February 2019
(Version 5)
  1. changes arising from the amended Coastal Management SEPP coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests mapping, which commenced on 17 December 2018
  2. corrections to the Lismore comprehensive koala management plan – core koala habitat
  3. changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
  4. enhancements to the Biodiversity Values Map and Threshold Tool
    1. enable users to determine types of biodiversity values at a location
    2. include on the Tool Report the date when 90 days expires for areas added in the most recent version of the map
14 December 2018
(Version 4)		Changes resulting from landholder-initiated map reviews
9 November 2018
(Version 3)
  1. Addition of core areas of the Coastal Management State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) replacing the former SEPP 14 – Coastal Wetlands and SEPP 26 – Littoral Rainforest
  2. Removal of bio certified areas not applicable to the biodiversity offset scheme
  3. Addition of revised Port Stephens and Kempsey comprehensive koala plans of management – core koala habitat
  4. Removal of protected riparian land on urban zoned land
  5. Changes resulting from landholder initiated map reviews
  6. Refinement of threatened species and communities’ habitat mapping in the Alpine Resorts SEPP area
  7. Adjusted map colours identifying areas added to the Biodiversity Values Map in the last 90 days
  8. Removal of habitat mapping for the five-clawed worm skink
  9. Refinement of mapping displayed on the Biodiversity Values Map
13 December 2017
(Version 2)

Addition of mapping for:

  1. the little penguin declared area of outstanding biodiversity value at Manly (referred to as critical habitat under the former Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW)
  2. One threatened ecological community and 4 threatened species on land covered by the State Environmental Planning Policy (Kosciuszko National Park–Alpine Resorts) 2007
25 August 2017
(Version 1)		Release of the original statewide map

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