conacher environmental group

Conacher Environmental Group
offers services in the following areas.

Biodiversity planning solutions.
Flora and fauna surveys.
Integrated site management.
Threatened species reports.
Native vegetation plans.
Bushfire hazard assessment.
Tree Hollows and Urban Development

Biodiversity planning solutions

Biodiversity Management Planning is completed to minimise the ecological impact of a proposed development through the identification of potential threats and provision of ameliorative strategies. Conacher Environmental Group has staff experienced in the development of effective, relevant and site-specific management plans, and who are familiar with issues associated with the protection of threatened species, endangered populations, endangered ecological communities and other ecologically sensitive environments. Areas of expertise include:

Ecological Site Management Plans
Vegetation Management Plans
Wildlife and Habitat Management Plans
Koala Plans of Management.

Management Plans are developed based on results from ecological field surveys and supplemented by local area information. Biodiversity Management Plans have the capacity to protect and enhance the ecological values of a site in accordance with current requirements for addressing improve or maintain standards.

Conacher Environmental Group have completed a number of biodiversity management planning documents along coastal NSW to accompany rezoning and development applications for small and large scale residential, industrial and commercial areas. This includes the management planning for large native bushland and corridor areas that have provided for the long term protection and restoration of these areas.

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Ecological Monitoring

The implementation of ecological monitoring programs is becoming more common as conditions of development consent or as measures recommended in ecological assessment reports to reduce ecological impacts. Ecological monitoring can cover a diverse range of parameters depending on the species/habitat being monitored and the specific requirements of the monitoring program.

Conacher Environmental Group has prepared, and is implementing, ecological monitoring programs in a range of habitats and for a variety of species. These programs include the following types of monitoring:

Water quality testing in Wallum Froglet occupied water quality control ponds and retained habitat areas
Nest Box occupation by Squirrel Gliders
Colonisation of a stormwater treatment basin and use of enhanced habitat by frog species
Persistence of Rutodosis heterogama in a small retained habitat patches
Changes in bird species diversity in a retained urban bushland reserve
Persistence of a Squirrel Glider population in reduced bushland reserve
Edge effects within riparian corridors surrounded by recent urban development
Increasing in canopy cover and decrease in weed cover for development off-set areas
Changes in bird species occurrences in areas subject to reduced vegetation cover for a bushfire asset protection zone

Ecological monitoring programs generally involve repeated surveys on a seasonal basis over several years. The initial results of these surveys can be used to develop more appropriate development control and environmental protection measures to reduce the overall impact of a development on areas of habitat, bushland or riparian zones
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Native Vegetation Management

There are now several pieces of legislation controlling the removal and/or modification of native vegetation including the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 and the Native Vegetation Act 2003. As high quality remnant vegetation becomes scarcer, particularly in coastal metropolitan areas, the need to effectively conserve and manage native vegetation becomes more critical. This legislation recognises and aims to protect those flora species and plant communities threatened with extinction. Conacher Environmental Group has extensive experience dealing with threatened flora species and Endangered Ecological Communities throughout NSW, particularly along the east coast.

On-going management of native vegetation is now commonly a condition of consent for development applications. Vegetation management plans produced by Conacher Environmental Group are developed based on information gained in flora and fauna assessments. These plans consider in detail management issues and objectives and provide responsive and adaptive management strategies. Staff have developed vegetation management plans for projects of varying sizes and vegetation management objectives.

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Bushfire hazard assessment

Bushfire hazard assessment must be undertaken for all developments and looks at the risk and mitigation of bushfire in the development area. Hazard assessment is carried out in accordance with ‘Planning for Bushfire Protection’ (RFS 2006) and reports written in accordance with the Rural Fires Act (1997). Conacher Environmental Group has staff experienced in conducting thorough bushfire hazard assessment and producing site-specific bushfire management plans. Bushfire Management Plans take into account various factors such as; vegetation type, slope, the provision of adequate defendable space, water supply, building construction standards and other ameliorative measures such as seals, screens and building design.

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Flora and fauna surveys

Recent shifts and changes towards biodiversity planning and protection have highlighted the importance of the successful completion of suitable, high quality field surveys. Staff at Conacher Environmental Group have many years experience in flora and fauna field survey throughout New South Wales. We have extensive knowledge and experience with relevant State and Local survey guidelines thereby ensuring that surveys are completed in accordance with specific local requirements. We are also aware of the specific biodiversity values and issues of particular local government areas and complete surveys so as to satisfy relevant specific local requirements. Conacher Environmental Group is committed to the safe and successful completion of field survey programs.

With the increasing importance placed on threatened species as a biodiversity indicator by statutory authorities, the completion of field surveys to adequately address threatened species issues is vitally important to the biodiversity assessment and land development process.

Apart from the standard flora and fauna surveys types Conacher Environmental Group offer the following specialist surveys:

Threatened flora searches and counts
Seasonal flora surveys (orchids/cryptic flowering plants)
Hollow tree identification and assessment
Radio tracking of fauna
Nest box/hollow monitoring

Integrated site management

Integrated site management involves overseeing the environmental management process from start to finish. Conacher Environmental Group has staff specialised in a diverse array of management fields and draws from this skill set to provide effective integrated management solutions. This management technique allows an intimate and comprehensive understanding of the site to be developed, and ensures responsibility and accountability in regards to achieving management objectives.

Integrated site management components may include the following:

Flora and fauna surveys
Targeted threatened species searches
Ecological impact assessment
On-ground environmental works (e.g. supervision of tree felling, nest box installation)
Long term monitoring and reporting

Conacher Environmental Group has overseen the management process for a number of large and small projects varying in their environmental management requirements.
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Threatened species reports

Species Impact Statements (SIS) are required when a Flora and Fauna Assessment or a determining body ,such as local government or a government department, identifies a development as having a significant impact on a threatened species. SIS’s are comprehensive reports providing a detailed and specific assessment of impacts on those species deemed affected. They are a critical tool for enforcing threatened species legislation (TSC Act 1995 and EPBC Act 1999) aiding in the protection of threatened species. SIS’s consider in detail factors such as:

Species life cycle
Local and regional abundance and consideration of other known populations
Availability and utilisation of habitat
Local and regional conservation status
Development alternatives
Amelioration measures

Thorough Flora and Fauna Assessments are critical for ensuring any potential significant impacts to threatened species are identified. Conacher Environmental Group has staff familiar with both state and commonwealth threatened species legislation, and are highly experienced in conducting targeted threatened species searches.

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Tree Hollows and Urban Development

Most trees with hollows have developed in an environment where they are an integral part of the local ecology. The presence of retained hollow bearing trees within developing urban areas is generally not compatible with the increased human activity levels within urban areas. Retained hollow bearing trees are susceptible to increased damage and destruction by wind, lightening, changed soil moisture levels and ground disturbances as a result of urban development.

The ecological value of a retained hollow bearing tree in an urbanised area may be greatly decreased due to the other ecological changes occurring within the area, such as the removal of proximal vegetation or invasion of exotic pest species (e.g. bees, Indian Mynas).

If hollow bearing trees are to be retained careful consideration is needed in relation to how these trees will be retained and the area managed (e.g. riparian reserve, buffer zone, building line setbacks etc).

A risk assessment of hollow bearing trees by an arborist should be undertaken along with an ecological value assessment of the trees to determine the value/risk of retention or removal.

The Loss of Hollow Bearing Trees and Removal of Dead Wood and Dead Trees are listed as Key Threatening Processes within Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act. Any proposal to remove hollow bearing trees and dead trees as part of a development project needs to be assessed in relation to Section 5A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act through the completion of a 7 part assessment test.

Assessment of tree hollows is included in the Property Vegetation Plan Developer (Native Vegetation Act) and as a site attribute in the Draft Biobanking Assessment Methodology under Part 7A of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

Assessment and consideration of hollow bearing trees in relation to layout of urban development areas should be undertaken early in the project evaluation/assessment stages as the presence of hollow bearing trees could be a significant issue in determining development or offset areas.

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