Councils or developers proposing to rezone land need to present their case to a government minister or their proxies for approval. As part of this process the approving authority reviews an environmental assessment of the site. Practical Ecology compiles expert environmental assessments that satisfy the authority’s need for ecological information.
Councils, developers and other bodies such as the Growth Area Authority may want to rezone land for a more intensive use, such as from rural to residential. For their proposal to be considered, a planning panel – as well as the relevant ministers – need to assess whether the legislative requirement to ‘avoid, minimise and offset’ any native vegetation loss has been met (as required by Victoria’s Planning and Environment Act). Assessing environmental impact at the planning stage creates certainty for future developments and avoids the expense of having to modify a proposal at a later date. Because Practical Ecology has the experience and expertise to compile comprehensive reports, we avoid costly delays caused by the panel or minister requiring further information.
Practical Ecology’s zoologists and ecologists make an initial assessment of the site’s flora and fauna. By assessing the site’s plants and animals against the Department of Sustainability and Environment’s (DSE) ‘Native Vegetation Management Framework’ we propose methods to achieve the desired land use while minimising the environmental impact. Where native vegetation will be affected, we apply DSE’s net gain principles to develop a plan that balances these losses with increased environmental protection elsewhere. By clearly detailing and costing these proposed ‘offsets’ our reports have the substance needed to withstand the intense scrutiny planning amendments attract.
Practical Ecology prides itself on successfully balancing planning objectives and development goals with environmental protection.
The Greater Dandenong City Council sought a planning scheme amendment for a 1000 hectare industrial area. Practical Ecology were engaged to assess the ecological values of the area and prepare a Native Vegetation Precinct Plan to support the proposed amendment, incorporating an assessment of planning law, environmental legislation and infrastructure layout.
Practical Ecology recorded the site’s flora and fauna and completed a habitat hectare assessment to determine the vegetation quality. The site was found to contain endangered Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassy Wetland, vegetation communities that have a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ conservation significance. Our report detailed how legislative requirements to ‘avoid, minimise and offset’ environmental damage could be met, including supporting calculations and maps. While Practical Ecology’s plan avoided the need to clear the most important areas of vegetation, some areas would still be impacted. Where these impacts were unavoidable, the report specified how to offset these losses with a detailed schedule of fencing, weed control, revegetation, permanent protection and ongoing assessment.
In collaboration with the council, DSE and a government steering committee, Practical Ecology successfully produced a plan that balanced land use against environmental protection. Lincoln Kern, Practical Ecology’s Managing Director, subsequently appeared as an Expert Witness before Planning Panels Victoria where he explained the plan’s methodology and how it satisfied legislative requirements. The plan was subsequently approved by the council and government.
The GAA, an independent statutory body, is charged with the creation of Precinct Structure Plans – rezoning blueprints for the future development of housing, infrastructure and conservation areas in Melbourne’s urban growth areas.
Practical Ecology were engaged by the GAA to undertake flora and fauna assessments on a hundred properties in Melbourne’s southeast - a study area of more than 3200 hectares. Flora studies included habitat hectare assessments to determine vegetation quality and Ecological Vegetation Class mapping, which identified endangered habitats such as Swamp Scrub, Plains Grassy Woodland and Sedge Wetland. Fauna assessments included trapping, active searching, and surveys for amphibians and fish. Several threatened animals were recorded, including the southern toadlet, swamp skink and southern brown bandicoot.
Practical Ecology had the experience and planning-ability to successfully complete the project. Our detailed reports clearly identified conservation priorities, giving the GAA the information it needed to create Precinct Structure Plans that satisfied legislative requirements.
Photo: Cormorant overlooking housing development, Cranbourne
Our office will close on Friday Dec 23rd, 2011 and re-open Tuesday January...
The Practical Ecology GIS department baked a special cake to celebrate...
Staff at Practical Ecology celebrated Ride to Work Day on 12th October 2011...
Still a core and ongoing aspect of PE is our planning and advice service...
PE has recently undertaken several large-scale ecological connectivity...
Practical Ecology has been busy with many fire related projects over the...
