The Biodiversity Conservation Act was introduced in 2016, but Port Stephens and other Hunter councils were granted an exemption from the full effects of these reforms for development applications until 24 November 2018.

Steve Peart, Council’s Strategy & Environment Manager says it’s a new era for biodiversity assessment in Port Stephens.

“Protecting our natural environment is vitally important to our community and the introduction of a standardised and consistent approach to biodiversity assessment will support good planning outcomes,” Mr Peart said.

“Just like ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’, these reforms are based on the principal of avoiding, minimizing and — as a last resort — offsetting biodiversity loss.

“If you’re planning to lodge a development application, there are new requirements for the assessment of biodiversity impacts for sensitive environmental areas, or where a significant amount of vegetation is proposed to be cleared.

“Whilst these are very much State government reforms, Council has a critical role to play. We will work with the community and applicants to achieve both environmental and development outcomes,” said Mr Peart.

A number of tools are being developed by the NSW Government and Port Stephens Council to assist applicants and the community to navigate these changes.

For more information, visit www.portstephens.nsw.gov.au or www.environment.nsw.gov.au/biodiversity