darkheart.com.au

The major service provided by this firm on behalf of clients, is the meticulous preparation of highly rigorous scientific assessments to provide precise and robustly defensible ecological assessments for Development Applications to Local Government (Councils) and the NSW State Government. These address the requirements of the following statutory obligations:

Threatened Species Conservation (Amendments) Act 2002
- Seven Part Tests.
- Species Impact Statements
- Vegetation Management Plans
- Threatened Species Management Plans
Part 3A (Major Projects) of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1978
- Part 3A Environmental Assessments (ecological assessment component)
Fisheries Management (Amendments) Act 1997
- Seven Part Tests
- General aquatic/marine survey.
- Macro-invertebrate (bio-indicator) surveys.
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Matters of National Environmental Significance.
State Environmental Planning Policy 44 - Koala Habitat Protection
- Koala Surveys/Habitat Assessments.
- Koala Plans of Management.
State Environmental Planning Policy 26 - Littoral Rainforest
- SEPP 26 Littoral Rainforest Assessments.
State Environmental Planning Policy 14 - Coastal Wetlands
- SEPP 14 Assessments.
Council Tree Preservation Order
- Seven Part Tests, hollow-bearing tree assessments, clearing supervision, etc.

In addition the above, this firm also prepares pre-purchase ecological constraints/overview assessments for clients considering acquiring land for major or even minor (eg single-dwelling) developments. With increasing significance placed on ecological constraints in regards to realising development yield or even potential, this is an essential service, especially for any proposed development in land zoned Rural (due to the significant constrains of the Native Vegetation Act 2003), or in a Local Government Area subject to a Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management, for instance. These assessments are used by clients to underlie decisions to purchase and/or locate suitable land for a specific development, or to assess viability before commencing the lengthy and expensive process of a Development Application.

These assessments generally consist of a desktop review of known information, following (at least) a one-day site inspection evaluating habitat suitability for threatened species, presence of Threatened Ecological Communities, and the feasibility of the client's proposal in view of the likely outcomes of the statutory assessment.

Maintaining its objectivity and credibility above all else, this firm conducts its professional services according to the Ecological Consultants Association of NSW - Code of Ethics (2002) available at www.ecansw.org.au.

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