Overview
Biodiversity Australia was engaged by GHD to deliver Habitat Constraints Assessment as part of Environmental Assessment Reports (EARs) for seven Department of Defence sites as part of the General Ranges and Training Areas Redevelopment Project.
The sites included Tully Training Area (TTA), Lavarack Close Training Area (LCTA), Mt Stuart Training Area (MSTA), Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA), Wide Bay Training Area (WBTA), Beecroft Training Area (BTA), and Majura Training Area (MTA).
The objective was to assess ecological values under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and relevant state legislation, identify potential Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), and support Defence infrastructure upgrades while minimising environmental impacts.
Biodiversity Australia deployed experienced field teams to conduct desktop reviews and targeted field surveys across all sites. Surveys included flora and fauna assessments, vegetation mapping, and habitat evaluations, with a focus on identifying Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs), significant species, and suitable locations for test pits and infrastructure with minimal ecological disturbance.
Each assessment provided a detailed habitat assessment, supported by GIS mapping and field data, and was delivered within tight timeframes.
The project demonstrated Biodiversity Australia’s capacity to manage complex, multi-site environmental assessments across multiple jurisdictions, delivering high-quality, compliant reporting to support Defence planning and approvals.
Key Deliverables
Desktop assessment of ecological values using national and state biodiversity databases.
Targeted field surveys including:
- Flora and fauna assessments.
- Vegetation classification and mapping.
- Habitat evaluation and hollow-bearing tree survey.
Likelihood of occurrence assessments for:
- Threatened Ecological Communities
- Threatened flora and fauna species.
- Migratory species.
Assessment of habitat quality and potential environmental impacts.
Compliance evaluation under the EPBC Act.
Final Biodiversity Values Report including:
- Summary of findings.
- GIS mapping and field data.
- Appendices with species lists and database search results.
Recommendations for environmental management and mitigation.
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