Do I need an offset?
You will need a vegetation or biodiversity offset if you need to clear certain vegetation or disturb environmental habitats in Queensland protected under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 or the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
However, clearing vegetation in local government areas that are not protected under legislation can still trigger the need for a vegetation offset where no net vegetation loss policies are in place or where vegetation is subject to a local government vegetation protection order.
The best way to find out if your business or project requires a vegetation or biodiversity offset is to contact us.
You can also contact your local council or relevant state environment department, with suggestions listed below.
Queensland:
New South Wales:
Victoria:
Western Australia:
South Australia:
When should I plan for an offset?
Depending on the size of your project, you may be required to develop an offset strategy during the planning / environmental assessment phase of your project. This is generally at least six to twelve months before construction commences.
Small projects that require vegetation offsets will still need to plan ahead to avoid project delays; ideally during the planning phase to progress the offset process as quickly as possible.