What is required?

• Download, print and fill out Form 2 - Consultant's Sign-off Form - and attach to the inside front cover of the EIA report
• If a pre-lodgment meeting was held, a copy of Form 1a and Form 1b are to be attached to the inside front cover of the EIA
• A study including the minimum survey effort (contact Ecological Consultant's Association), and
• A report addressing the points below.

Note: the impact assessment must include all areas potentially affected by fire mitigation measures and other activities that may negatively impact on the environment.

Download the following points in Word format (Word Doc)

1. Background

Will the development result in over 500m2 of native vegetation being disturbed/removed. If over 500 m2 of an Endangered Ecological Community is being disturbed/removed then a Species Impact Statement must accompany this EIA unless a decision was made during the Pre-lodgment meeting that one was not required. 

2. Habitat classification

What is the Habitat Classification of the site (Category 1 or 2, Wildlife Corridor, other)?

• Is the classification accurate relative to the current site conditions?
• If not, describe why and show on map.

3. Corridors

Is the site within a corridor as defined on Pittwater MasterPlan?

4. State Government Legislation

• Does SEPP 19 apply to the site?
• Does SEPP 44 apply to the site?
• Is the site or adjacent land classed as Critical Habitat under Schedule 3 of Threatened Species Conservation Act?

5. Local Government Legislation

• Which Control Documents in Pittwater 21 apply to this property? See Pittwater Masterplan page ...
• Discuss briefly whether the development is located in the areas identified as having least impact (as per Pre-lodgment Meeting or Ecological Site Assessment)

Parts of points 4 and 5 can be copied from (or refer to) any recent document with this information.

6. Site Details

Describe or depict on map the location and proximity to nearby reserves

• Include location map
• Name and or show nearby reserves on map (can be printed from Bushland Reserve Location Maps)
• Approximate distance to the nearest National Parks.
• Describe current site environment - download and fill in Table 1 - Site Details (Word Doc). See the example below:

Table 1 - Site Details (Example)

7. Survey information

• Provide a list of plants/animals that were targeted on the survey (i.e. Endangered, rare, locally significant etc)

Provide a species list of native vegetation observed on site, including abundance (3 scale rating).

Abundance Rating - Plants
     * = few - observed infrequently (>5% cover)
   ** = many - observed often on the site (5 - 30% cover)
 *** = abundant - almost always seen (31 - 100% cover)

Provide a list of animals (and abundance rating) surveyed on the site. 

Where possible, include invertebrates observed (opportunistic surveys sufficient ID to family level or common name). List to be in Microsoft Excel format and submitted electronically for inclusion in the Wildlife Watch Database.

Abundance Rating - Animals
     * = few - observed infrequently (1 - 2 individuals)
   ** = many - observed often on the site (3 - 10 individuals)
 *** = abundant - almost always seen (11 - 100 individuals)

8. Site Coverage

What is the site coverage of the proposed development, include direct and indirect (e.g. fuel reduced zone).

9. Threatened Species, Communities and Populations

Table 2 summarises all information required.  The table can be included before or after the discussion of issues.  This table is provided in Word Doc format for users to download and fill in electronically if they wish.

• Table 2 - Summary Table for Threatened Species (Word Doc)
• Threatened Species, Communities and Populations
• Threatened Species - NSW National Parks and Wildlife

10. Endangered Ecological Communities

• Is there an Endangered Ecological Community(s) on the site or adjacent
  properties?
• What condition are they in (describe per strata if relevant)?
• What is the possibility for natural regeneration (if relevant)?
• If they do not occur over the entire site indicate on a Site Plan where they
  occur?
• What area will be disturbed as a result of the development (m2)
• What area will be removed as a result of the development (m2)
• Could the impact be reduced if the development was modified and how?

11. Fauna

Threatened species/populations/communities

• For Threatened Species complete 7-part test or equivalent legislative requirements.
• Discuss species that may be impacted upon (directly/indirectly), describe type of impact, possible effect and ways to reduce impact.
• Will the development result in activities / outcomes that are classed as Threatening Processes under Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.  If yes describe and recommend changes in development application and/or amelioration measures.

Habitat

• Is habitat on the site potentially or actually used by fauna listed in the Threatened Species Conservation Act. 
• If actually used show habitat areas on Plan, e.g. trees with hollows, known roosts, food trees, trees providing connection between habitat trees, areas used for day nesting (bandicoots), termite mounds for heath monitors.
• Are any habitat areas to be directly or indirectly affected by the development?
• If yes described habitat and potential effect of loss.
• Could the proposal be modified to reduce the impact?
• If so how?

Is the site located in Pittwater Council (LGA) and mapped as Key Habitat (as defined by the Threatened Species Conservation Act)?

• If yes has the appropriate survey been undertaken for that species? (see requirements on the Department of Environment and Climate Change web page).
• This species(s) must be addressed in terms of potential impacts and possible amelioration.

Do any habitat corridors, as per Pittwater Council Maps, pass through the site?

• If yes provide location site map or refer to Ecological Site Assessment.
• What condition is the corridor in?

Regionally and Locally Significant Fauna

• Is habitat on the site potentially or actually used by fauna listed as Locally or Regionally Significant (Table 2 - Summary Table for Threatened Species )?
• If yes list the species and state if the site is potentially or actually used by listed fauna.
• If actually used show habitat areas on plan, e.g. trees with hollows, known roosts, food trees, trees providing connection between habitat trees, areas used for day nesting (Bandicoots), Termite mounds for Heath Monitors.
• Are any habitat areas to be directly or indirectly affected by the development?
• If yes describe habitat and potential effect of loss including in the context of potential surrounding development.
• Could the proposal be modified to reduce the impact? If so how?

12. Flora

Threatened species/populations/communities

• For Threatened Species complete 7-part test or equivalent Threatened Species Conservation Act requirements.
• Discuss species that may be impacted upon (directly/indirectly), describe type of impact, possible affect and ways to reduce impact.
• Will the development result in activities / outcomes that are classed as Threatening Processes under Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act.  If yes describe and recommend changes in development application and or amelioration measures.

Is there Flora listed on the Threatened Species Conservation (TSC) Act on the site or is known to be on adjacent properties?

• If so which species are they and what condition are they in? (icl. in table 2)
• Where are they located (show on site plan).
• Is habitat on the site suitable for any listed species (that have not been located on the site)?
• If so list which ones and what is the likelihood of them being on the site at some time?
• What is the closest known record of these species?
• Will the proposal impact on listed Flora?
• If yes describe impact and what will/may be lost.  Include direct loss and indirect loss (e.g. weed invasion resulting from nutrient enriching from on-site waste water disposal).
• Could the proposal be modified to reduce the impact?
• If so how?

Habitat
Is habitat on the site potentially or actually suitable for plants listed on the Threatened Species Conservation Act?  If yes discuss. 

Regionally and Locally Significant Flora

• Is there Flora listed as locally or regionally significant or on ROTAP (& not covered above) on the site or adjacent properties?
• If so what species are they and what condition are they in?
• Where are they located (show on site plan).
• Is habitat on the site suitable for any of these species (that have been located on the site)?
• If so list which ones and likelihood of them being on the site at some time?
• Will the proposal impact on locally or regionally significant Flora?
• If yes describe impact and what will/may be lost.  Include direct loss and indirect loss (e.g. increased burning for fuel reduction, weed invasion resulting from nutrient enriching from on-site waste-water disposal).
• Give area (m2) being directly disturbed.
• Give area (m2) that may be indirectly disturbed (include area affected by fuel reduction/proposed frequent burning, waste-water run-off etc).
• Could the proposal be modified to reduce the impact?
• If so how?

13. Environmental Loss Summary

Tree removal and damage to trees within 5m of development

If trees are to be removed provide information about tree species, size, health and habitat features.  If there are trees to be retained within 5m of the development an arborist should comment on the likelihood of these trees surviving the proposed development.  Discuss the habitat value of these trees if the arborist report concludes that they may be damaged/modified/killed.

• Fill out Table 3 - Environmental Loss (Word Doc)

If vegetation being lost is dominated by introduced species (including lawn) describe the approximate % weeds/natives and re-generation potential.

14. Landscaping 

• Is Landscaping proposed?
• If yes does it comply with Councils Requirements? (E.g. 80% native species in Category 1 and Category 2 areas.  If the site is in an Endangered Ecological Community 80% of plantings are to be from that community see DCP 21 Natural Environment Controls.
• If landscaping does not comply state what needs updating, or that changes are covered in a Ecological Sustainability Plan?
• Indicate areas on a site plan that are proposed for retention, regeneration, replanting (refer to Ecological Sustainability Plan for details).

15. Fire Mitigation

• Are proposed fire mitigation measures confined to the site? If not can the development be modified to contain fire mitigation works on site?
• Could proposed fire mitigation measure have a negative impact on:
  a) Threatened species/populations/communities?
  b) other native species/populations/communities?
• Has the fire report presented options to achieve fire mitigation while minimising ecological impacts?
• Could the development or fire mitigation be modified to reduce actual/potential damage/loss.
• Is the recommended fire mitigation achievable-how will it be resourced?

16. Sewerage

• Is the proposed development connected or will it be connecting to the sewerage system?
• If not is the type of system proposed compliant with Councils Controls and is the system appropriate for the site?

17. Storm-water

Will the development result in changes to storm-water that may have a negative impact on native species of plants or animals?

18. Domestic Animals

• Should any domestic animals be excluded from the site (whole site or part of)?
• If yes which ones and why.
• See Standard Conditions relating to Natural Environment (check with Planning Officer).

19. Summary answering the following:

a) What is the Pittwater Council classification of the site Category 1 - Core bushland, Category 2 - Fragmented bushland etc?
b) Is the site part of a habitat corridor and what rating does it have?
c) How many listed species do, or could, occur on the site?
d) How many locally or regionally significant species occur on the site?
e) How many species have had an 7-part test applied and have any indicated a SIS is required?
f) Have all reports that may influence the conclusions of this report been taken into consideration (bush fire, waste water, landscaping etc)?
g) Is the proposed development in the location with the least environmental impact?  If not could it be modified?
h) Is the driveway, waste-water disposal area, water tanks etc in areas that result in least environmental impact?
i) Is vegetation being disturbed/modified and if yes what is the area (m2) of vegetation being directly lost (include fuel free zone, paving etc) and the area (m2) of vegetation that could be indirectly affected (waste-water areas, fuel reduction etc)?
j) Do native plants dominate in the areas being lost?
k) Are there any Endangered Ecological Communities being disturbed/modified? If yes what is the area (m2) of vegetation being directly lost (include fuel free zone, paving etc) and the area (m2) of vegetation that could be indirectly affected (waste-water areas, fuel reduction etc)?
l) Is landscaping proposed and does it conform with Council requirements. If is this being amended and where (ESP or Landscaping Plan)?
m) Are fire mitigation measure proposed and will they impact on native species?
n) Should domestic animals be excluded from the site and if so which species and where should they be excluded from?

Downloads

• Form 2 - Consultant's Sign-off Form
• Table 1 - Site Details (Word Doc)
• Table 2 - Summary Table for Threatened Species (Word Doc)
• Table 3 - Environmental Loss (Word Doc)
• Download the above points in Word format (Word Doc)