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Getting your Development Application (DA) approved is a massive milestone. But for many developers and land managers in NSW, holding that approval is not the end of the ecological work—it is often just the beginning. If you read through your Conditions of Consent, you will likely find a requirement to engage a "Project Ecologist" before a single tree is removed or a shovel hits the ground. But what exactly is a Project Ecologist? Unlike the consultant who helped you get the D

How to Comply with the Koala SEPP (and When it Doesn't Apply) The Koala SEPP provides a specific framework for assessing Koala habitat and the triggers and assessments that are required to satisfy the SEPP. However, it is not a one-size-fits-all rule. The most important, and often misunderstood, part of this law is the 1-hectare threshold. The development assessment process under the Koala SEPP (Section 4.9) only applies to land that has an area of at least 1 hectare. Case St

A common question we get from clients is: "I'm only removing a few trees. How complex can the assessment be?" The answer, in ecology and ecological assessment in particular, is "very." When it comes to vegetation clearing approval in NSW, regulators and consent authorities are not just concerned with the number of trees, but with their function - essentially their 'ecological value'. An 80-year-old eucalypt (gum tree) is not a sapling; it's a piece of critical infrastructure

For any developer, council, or land manager in NSW, one of the first questions in the planning process is: "Do we need a BDAR?" A Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) is a significant and costly undertaking. Misunderstanding the triggers can lead to major DA delays, unexpected expenses, and serious compliance issues. As ecological consultants for NSW-wide projects, our first job is to provide a clear, commercially sound pathway to approval. This starts with a pre