Eco Logical Australia: Environmental Consultants

DECCW

Desktop Biodiversity Certification Assessment of Warnervale Town Centre and WEZ

A desktop assessment of both study areas was conducted using the draft methodology, and intended development footprints supplied by Wyong Shire Council. The desktop nature of the project lead to several assumptions being made, however the outcomes of the assessment provided a valuable trial of the draft methodology.

ELA completed the following tasks for the project:

Conversion of vegetation types mapped on site to the Biometric Vegetation Types required by the methodology

Identification of red flagged vegetation types and threatened species within the development footprints

Allocation of site value scores to each polygon on site through desktop interpretation of condition

Calculation of the number of credits required by development, and the number of credits generated by the retained (offset) areas

The overall credit status of each site

Estimation of credit costs where credit purchase may be required off site

Assessment of potential credit availability surrounding the site

The results of the project were presented to DECCW and Council, with DECCW using the results of the project to inform stakeholders on the application of Biodiversity Certification. In addition, findings of the project helped refine aspects of the draft Biocertification methodology.