Promises and PitfallsA Case Study of Biodiversity Offsetting in Queensland,

Australia

Presentation Overview

Overview of legislative framework for biodiversity offsetting in QLD

Australian Government Environmental Offsets Policy

Queensland Government Offset Policies

Offset triggers

Challenges and opportunities

Offset metric vs. proposed UK formula for biodiversity units

Scale-ability

Incorporating offset assessments into project approvals process

Stakeholder engagement

Managing and protecting offsets

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Australian Government

Environmental Offsets Policy

EPBC Act Environmental Offsets Policy was updated in October 2012

Applies to projects that impact on matters of national environmental significance

Broad offset principles:

like for like

improve condition of vegetation or habitat

reduce risk of loss (weeds, feral animals, fire)

be of a size and scale proportionate to the level of impact (determined through a calculator tool)

account for and manage risks

legally secure offset for at least duration of impact

be readily measured, monitored, audited and enforced

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Federal Offset Triggers

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Federal triggers

World Heritage Areas

National Heritage Places

Great Barrier Reef

Threatened flora and fauna

Threatened ecological

communities

Migratory species

Queensland Offset Policies

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Marine FishHabitat

Koala Habitat VegetationManagement

Biodiversity

Issue-Specific Offset Policies

Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy

Incorporating offsets assessment into project

approvals process – typical approach

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Incorporating offsets assessment into project

approvals process – preferred approach

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Add in calculator spreadsheet

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Australian Government Offset Metric

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Australian Government Offset Metric

Challenges - Scale

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The scale of impacts can vary significantly.

Small scale (<2ha) up to large scale (>1,000ha)

Can an offset policy effectively deal with large offsets as opposed to

small offsets?

A complex assessment process may cost a similar amount to assess a

small project vs a large million dollar project.

For large scale projects challenges include the size of offsets needed

may be significant, and they are also likely to have multiple values

needing to be assessed.

Are there suitable offsets available?

Case Study – Surat Gas Project

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Case study – coal seam gas project

Covers an area of 6,100 km2

Proposed to install 6,500 wells

Includes numerous pipelines between wells and gas processing stations

Each well clearing area is 10m by 5m

Covers a wide range of landscapes from cropping to grazing and large

tracts of forest.

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Challenges - Complexity

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Stakeholder Engagement

In delivering a biodiversity offset there are a range of stakeholders:

1. Env Professionals

Assess biodiversity impacts

Identify avoidance and mitigation measures

2. Offset Brokers

Identify suitable offset delivery options

Apply metrics

Liaise with landholders

Facilitate agreements between parties

Prepare offset management plans

3. Landholder

Provide the offset

May also undertake management actions

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Stakeholder Engagement

4. Community/Catchment Groups

Participate in locating offset sites

Undertake management actions

5. Government

Set the policy

Provide support to applicants in applying the policy requirements

Approve the offset documentation

Audit and check compliance the offset requirements are being met.

Developers

Understand the policy and why they are offsetting

What are the options and costs?

Fund the offset

Bring about positive environmental gains

Support local communities

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Management and Protection of

Offsets

Offsets need to be actively managed.

Offset benefits need to be protected from future

threats.

The offset should be legally protected and

binding on current and future landowners.

Qld has range of options that may include:

Voluntary declaration

Nature refuge agreement

Covenant

Protected area estate.

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Positive Outcomes from Biodiversity

Offsetting

Diversifying income for rural landholders

Encouraging sustainable land management practices

Community-driven conservation outcomes backed by science

Landscape-scale conservation benefits

Offsets are encouraging avoidance. Developers are starting to consider the cost of offsets up-front in project planning

More certainty for developers and landholders providing offsets when there is a clear offset framework

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Questions?