| Assessment criteria | (a) it comprises a high level of biological diversity., (d) it comprises the whole or a part of, or is necessary for the maintenance of, a threatened ecological community., (e) it is significant as a remnant of native vegetation in an area that has been extensively cleared., (f) it is growing in, or in association with, an environment associated with a watercourse or wetland., (h) the clearing of the vegetation is likely to have an impact on the environmental values of any adjacent or nearby conservation area. |
| Residual impact | Loss of up to 0.17 hectares of native vegetation in good to excellent (Keighery 1994) condition that is:
- part of an occurrence of Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) - SCP08 Herb Rich Shrublands in Claypans;
- significant remnant vegetation (Beard Vegetation Association 968 of which 7% remains within the bioregion);
- vegetation growing in, or in association with, a conservation category palusplain wetland; and
- part of Bush Forever Site 360. |
| Offset conditions | 2. Offsets
If part or all of the clearing to be done is or may be at variance with one or more of the clearing principles, then the Permit Holder must implement an offset in accordance with conditions 2(a) and (b) of this Permit with respect to that clearing.
(a) Determination of offsets:
(i) in determining the offset to be implemented with respect to a particular area of native vegetation proposed to be cleared under this Permit, the Permit Holder must have regard to the offset principles contained in condition 2(b) of this Permit;
(ii) once the Permit Holder has developed an offset proposal, the Permit Holder must provide that offset proposal to the CEO for the CEO’s approval by 30 June 2012, and prior to implementing the offset;
(iii) the Permit Holder shall implement the offset proposal approved under condition 2(a)(ii); and
(iv) each offset proposal shall include a direct offset, timing for implementation of the offset proposal and may additionally include contributing offsets.
(b) For the purpose of this condition, the offset principles are as follows:
(i) direct offsets should directly counterbalance the loss of the native vegetation;
(ii) contributing offsets should complement and enhance the direct offset;
(iii) offsets are implemented only once all avenues to avoid, minimise, rectify or reduce environmental impacts have been exhausted;
(iv) the environmental values, habitat, species, ecological community, physical area, ecosystem, landscape, and hydrology of the offset should be the same as, or better than, that of the area of native vegetation being offset;
(v) a ratio greater than 1:1 should be applied to the size of the area of native vegetation that is offset to compensate for the risk that the offset may fail;
(vi) offsets must entail a robust and consistent assessment process;
(vii) in determining an appropriate offset, consideration should be given to ecosystem function, rarity and type of ecological community, vegetation condition, habitat quality and area of native vegetation cleared;
(viii) the offset should either result in no net loss of native vegetation, or lead to a net gain in native vegetation and improve the condition of the natural environment;
(ix) offsets must satisfy all statutory requirements;
(x) offsets must be clearly defined, documented and audited;
(xi) offsets must ensure a long-term (10-30 year) benefit; and
(xii) an environmental specialist must be involved in the design, assessment and monitoring of offsets. |
