The strategies, the first of their kind under the strategic assessment process under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), provide an overarching strategy for the long-term protection and management of biodiversity throughout Melbourne's Growth Areas. The team at Ecology and Heritage Partners have actively contributed to the preparation of the various documents on behalf of DEPI and the Growth Areas Authority over the past 4 years. The final Strategies address all relevant matters of national environmental significance (NES) protected under the EPBC Act and matters of State significance. It will ensure the long-term protection of biodiversity in the growth areas and sets out all the conservation measures required to satisfy the commitments to the Commonwealth Government made as part of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment and to meet State requirements.

1. UDIA – Vic
3 June 2013
Aaron Organ – Director / Principal Ecologist
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Geelong
Ph. (03) 9377 0100 Mob. 0425 873 159

2. Melbourne’s Biodiversity Conservation
Strategy
 Outstanding Questions
 Actions / considerations
Reforms to Victoria’s Permitted Vegetation
Clearance Regulations
 Overview

3. 6
 The BCS removes the prescriptions (single
environmental approval)
 Avoids duplication of assessment process under
the EPBC Act and State (reduced timelines)
 Cuts down on information costs and administrative
burden
 Offset obligations and their cost are now known
upfront
 State Government administers the cost recovery
process
Benefits for the Development Industry

4. 7
 Identification of ecological values via broad scale surveys
and assessments over the past 4 years
 Protection and future management of highest quality
conservation areas (e.g. western grassland reserves)
 Early consideration and mitigation of cumulative impacts
(avoid short-sighted decisions and focusing on broader
outcomes)
 Creation of additional habitat (e.g. Growling Grass Frog)
 GSM habitat outside of the Growth Boundary to reach
80% protection
Improved Biodiversity Outcomes

5. 8
 Reduced need for further ecological assessments
and vegetation offset brokers (simple to
understand flat offset fee)
 Scrutiny by SEWPaC to ensure implementation of
the BCS is meeting Cwth conditions
 High level of scrutiny also from the Office of the
Auditor General to ensure program efficiency and
accountability
 If costs are found not to be as high as predicted
then offset costs can be reduced. Equally if costs
are insufficient they can increase
 Land transfer option for designated conservation
areas in the BCS to reduce offset liability
Cost Recovery

6. ECOLOGICAL VALUES PRICE UNIT
APPLICABLE GROWTH AREA
W NW N SE
Native vegetation $95,075 Per hectare of native vegetation removed ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Scattered Trees $13,218 Per tree considered removed ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Matted Flax-lily $11,196 Per hectare of native vegetation removed - - ✓ -
Spiny Rice-flower $7,937 Per hectare of native vegetation removed ✓ ✓ - -
Golden Sun Moth $7,914
Per hectare of non-native vegetation
removed, excluding areas identified as
Category 2 Growling Grass Frog habitat
✓ ✓ ✓ -
Growling Grass Frog $7,529
Per hectare of non-native vegetation
removed, identified as Category 2 habitat
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Southern Brown Bandicoot $4,015
Per hectare of native and non-native
vegetation removed
- - - ✓
Striped Legless Lizard $350
Per hectare of native and non-native
vegetation removed, where vegetation
has been identified as habitat for Striped
Legless Lizard (based on a site-specific
assessment by an ecologist)
✓ ✓ ✓ -
Note: W = Western growth area (Melton and Wyndham); NW = North-western growth area (Sunbury); N = Northern growth area (Hume, Whittlesea and Mitchell);
SE = South-eastern growth area (Casey and Cardinia).

7.  Habitat Compensation
◦ Are there any appeal rights associated with Work in Kind
(negotiated outcome, timely)?
◦ In what situations would areas avoided (i.e. not developed)
lead to a reduction in the offset liability?
◦ Who would be responsible for the management of retained
areas outside of the reserves proposed in the BCS (Council)?
◦ Is there any scope to reduce / negotiate a reduction in the
30% total offset obligation?
◦ Does the owner have an obligation to manage the land as a
conservation area?

8.  Golden Sun Moth offsets
◦ 7 areas where surveys were undertaken in
accordance with the prescriptions. Can either
the prescriptions or BCS be used, or only the
prescriptions?
◦ Can other landowners be exempt from the
standardised flat-fee if surveys were completed
prior to 1 March 2012? (pg. 21 of the SRSS)

9.  Growling Grass Frog offsets
◦ Is an offset required for the disturbance of
Category 1 GGF habitat if disturbance is as a
result of habitat creation?
◦ Is there flexibility regarding Works in Kind
association with GGF habitat creation?
◦ Will there be an opportunity to review and
contribute to the ‘GGF Implementation
Masterplan’ for the network of Category 1
habitat?

12.  Large Old Trees and scattered remnant
trees
◦ What are the additional incentives for the
protection of Large old trees and scattered trees
during the PSP process?
◦ Is the offset rate of $13,218/tree consistent
across all tree age classes?
◦ Council’s involvement and jurisdiction (local tree
protection policies)
◦ Other opportunities for the protection and
reservation of natural areas for conservation
(local council reserves)

14.  Submission to SEWPaC over the next 1-2 weeks
 Provide feedback to DEPI on Habitat Compensation
Document on the cost recovery process
 Review and respond to the Land Acquisition Strategy
and GGF Masterplan – when released
 Review the Deloitte Access Economics Report
 Submissions on the SBB SRSS – if possible?
 Determine Habitat Compensation liability, Staged and
Deferred Payments, and Works in Kind
 Conservation area and GGF corridor boundary
refinement during PSP process (e.g. areas 18, 27, 28,
31, 32, 33)

18. 21
Created Growling Grass Frog Habitat
Bundoora - 2003

19. 22
Created Growling Grass Frog Habitat
Bundoora - 2004

20. 23
Created Growling Grass Frog Habitat
Bundoora - 2005

21. 24
 The Government has gone a long way in understanding and
accommodating the industry’s concerns
 ‘Public Consultation Report of Findings’ – excellent transparency
 All conservation measures funded through cost-recovery and
dependent on the rate of development
 In future no further reserves required inside UGB – what are the
incentives for avoidance and protection of additional areas
 What are the likely planning permit conditions under the zoning
schedule
 How long until the Land Acquisition Strategy and Works In Kind
Agreement
 Extremely proud of the work undertaken over the past 4 years
Conclusion

22.  The four priority reforms are:
◦ Clarify and amend the objective of the permitted clearing
regulations
◦ Improve how the biodiversity value of native vegetation is
defined and measured
◦ Improve decision making
◦ Ensure offsets provide appropriate compensation for the
environment
Five supporting reforms will also be implemented:
◦ Define state and local government regulatory and planning
roles
◦ Better regulatory performance
◦ Improve offset market functionality
◦ New approaches to compliance and enforcement
◦ Continuous improvement program

23.  ‘No Net Loss’ compared with ‘Net Gain’
 Risk-based Assessment Pathways (Low, Moderate,
High)
 Online tools:
◦ Native vegetation extant
◦ Native vegetation condition
◦ Connectivity
◦ Species habitat distributions
◦ Species habitat importance models
◦ Strategic biodiversity value
 Flexibility with vegetation offsets

25. Location
Extent* Location A Location B Location C
< 0.5 hectares Low Low High
≥ 0.5 hectares and
< 1 hectare
Low Moderate High
≥ 1 hectare Moderate High High
Location
Extent* Location A Location B Location C
< 15 scattered trees Low Moderate High
≥ 15 scattered trees Moderate High High

26. Aaron Organ
Director / Principal Ecologist
0425 873 159
Adelaide - (08) 8372 7829 / Brisbane – (07) 3221 3352
Geelong – (03) 5221 8122 / Melbourne – (03) 9377 0100
www.ehpartners.com.au