ILLAWARRA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Are You Looking For An Environmental Consultant Or Ecologist In The Illawarra Region?
East Coast Ecology is an expert environmental consultancy that services NSW’s south-eastern coast, including/particularly the Illawarra region. We have experience working with local Councils like:
Wollongong City Council
Kiama Municipal Council
Shellharbour City Council
Our team of ecologists and environmental consultants have the knowledge and expertise to deliver environmental reports, assessments, and advice for urban development approvals.
Talk to one of our ecologists today
Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form and one of our experts will get back to you shortly.
The Illawarra region is home to at least 19 endangered ecological communities (EEC). These communities are listed under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) (BC Act) and Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act).
Three of these EECs are endemic to the Illawarra region:
Illawarra Lowlands Grassy Woodland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (listed as an Endangered Ecological Community in the BC Act, and Critically Endangered in the EPBC Act).
Illawarra Subtropical Rainforest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (listed as an Endangered Ecological Community in the BC Act, and Critically Endangered in the EPBC Act).
Melaleuca armillaris Tall Shrubland in the Sydney Basin Bioregion (listed as an Endangered Ecological Community in the BC Act).
These EECs are critical habitat for various flora and fauna of the Illawarra region, including a variety of threatened species including:
Litoria auera
Find out if your property contains a mapped Illawarra Endangered Ecological Community by contacting East Coast Ecology today. This may be a significant constraint when developing your property.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
When submitting a Development Application (DA) in the Illawarra region for the construction of a dwelling, shed, driveway, granny flat, subdivision, or landscaping, Council will assess your DA against key development standards and other relevant legislation. The two important local documents include your Council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP).
Your urban development project may require an environmental assessment to accompany the DA, particularly if it involves the clearing of vegetation. This assessment will depend on the impacts of the proposed development on the environmental and ecological components of your property. Suitably qualified Ecologists and
Environmental Consultants, such as East Coast Ecology, can help you achieve DA approval in the Wollongong, Kiama, or Shellharbour Local Government Areas.
RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION FOR WOLLONGONG
WOLLONGONG LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2009
The Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 2009 (LEP) guides Wollongong City Council’s planning decisions when assessing a Development Application. The Wollongong LEP has various environmental and ecological provisions such as Natural Resource Sensitivity — Biodiversity (Part 7.2), Riparian Lands (Part 7.4), and Illawarra Escarpment Area Conservation (Part 7.8).
NATURAL RESOURCE SENSITIVITY — BIODIVERSITY (PART 7.2)
This section of the Wollongong LEP sets out objectives and regulations to avoid, minimise, or mitigate adverse environmental impacts to native vegetation and habitat, while maintaining or improving its diversity and condition. This includes:
Protecting the biodiversity of native flora and fauna
Protecting important ecological processes
Encouraging the recovery of threatened species, communities, populations, and their habitats
Wollongong Council will not grant DA approval unless satisfied that the proposed development does not impact upon:
Native terrestrial flora and fauna and their habitats
Native aquatic flora and fauna and their habitats
The ecological role of the land
Threatened species, populations, communities, or their habitats
Fauna habitats include hollow-bearing trees, caves, crevices, nests, wetlands, streams, fruit, nectar, seeds, and any other ecological features necessary for the survival of native fauna.
Part 7.2 applies to land identified as containing ‘Natural Resource Sensitivity — Biodiversity’ within the Natural Resource Sensitivity — Biodiversity Map of the Wollongong LEP. You can access that map by clicking here.
Where Part 7.2 applies to your proposed development, an Environmental Impact Assessment will need to be prepared by a qualified environmental consultant.
RIPARIAN LANDS (PART 7.4)
This section of the Wollongong LEP sets out similar objectives and regulations pertaining to adverse environmental impacts to riparian land. Wollongong City Council will consider the impacts of your proposed development on riparian land and the watercourse before granting DA approval
Part 7.4 applies to land identified as ‘Riparian Land’ on the Riparian Land Map. You can access that map by clicking here.
An environmental assessment may be required to protect and improve riparian land during your urban development project.
ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT AREA CONSERVATION (PART 7.8)
The Illawarra Escarpment contains a wide array of native flora and fauna, including numerous threatened species. As such, Part 7.8 sets out controls to protect, conserve, and enhance the Illawarra Escarpment. Wollongong City Council will only grant development consent if satisfied that the development:
Is appropriately located to minimise adverse impacts to the natural features and the environment of the Illawarra Escarpment.
Incorporates conservation and rehabilitation measures to enhance the escarpment.
Part 7.8 applies to land shown as being within the ‘Illawarra Escarpment area’ on the Illawarra Escarpment Map. You can access that map by clicking here.
An environmental assessment may be required to protect and conserve and enhance the Illawarra Escarpment during your urban development project.
WOLLONGONG DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN 2009
The Wollongong Development Control Plan 2009 (DCP) sets out regulations and provisions for the use of land in a development. The DCP regulates matters including:
Ecologically Sustainable Development (Chapter A02)
Objectives for sustainable development in relation to climate change
Preservation & Management of Trees & Vegetation (Chapter E17)
This chapter includes the potential requirement of a Vegetation Management Plan as part of a Development Application
Threatened Species Impact Assessment (Chapter E18)
This chapter outlines environmental impact assessments in order to protect threatened flora and fauna species during urban development. Wollongong City Council requires a Flora and Fauna Assessment where the development poses potential adverse impacts (direct or indirect) on threatened species or their habitats or upon native vegetation
Riparian Land Management (Chapter E23)
This section seeks to protect, maintain, and enhance riparian land. This land includes the waterway, bank, riparian vegetation, and riparian connectivity. A Vegetation Management Plan is required for any proposed development within 40m from the top of the bank of any watercourse, lake, or estuary.
Wollongong City Council has a large number of environmental and ecological controls in place to protect the unique Illawarra environment. We can provide you with an ecological impact assessment, environmental assessment, or ecological advice to help you with your urban development. East Coast Ecology has the ecological knowledge and legislative experience to help you reach DA approval.
RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION FOR KIAMA
KIAMA LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2011
Kiama Municipal Council has similar environmental provisions within its LEP including Terrestrial Biodiversity (Part 6.4) and Riparian Land & Watercourses (Part 6.5).
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY (PART 6.4)
Part 6.4 sets out controls to avoid, minimise, or mitigate adverse environmental impacts to native vegetation and habitat, while maintaining or improving its diversity and condition. This includes:
Protecting the biodiversity of native flora and fauna
Protecting important ecological processes
Encouraging the recovery of threatened species, communities, populations, and their habitats
Kiama Municipal Council will only grant DA approval if satisfied that the proposed development does not impact upon:
Native terrestrial flora and fauna and their habitats
Native aquatic flora and fauna and their habitats
The ecological role of the land
Threatened species, populations, communities, or their habitats
Part 6.4 applies to land containing ‘Biodiversity Land’ within the Terrestrial Biodiversity Map of the Kiama LEP. You can access that map by clicking here.
An Ecological Impact Assessment may be required by Council to assess if your proposed development satisfies Part 6.4.
RIPARIAN LAND & WATERCOURSES (PART 6.5)
Part 6.5 sets out controls in relation to urban development that lies within riparian land. Council considers the impacts of proposed developments on water quality within the watercourse, bank stability, aquatic riparian habitats, and ecological processes associated with riparian land. An environmental impact assessment may be required to ensure your DA satisfies Part 6.5.
Part 6.5 applies to land:
Identified as ‘Category 1 or 2 Watercourse’ on the Riparian Land and Watercourses Map;
You can access that map by clicking here.
Land within:
40m from the top of bank of a Category 1 watercourse
20m from the top of bank of a Category 2 watercourse
10m from the top of bank of a Category 3 watercourse
Part 6.5 may be triggered where your proposed development contains a creek, or is on the bank of a river, lake, or estuary. If so, an ecological impact assessment will help ensure your development meets Kiama’s developmental controls.
KIAMA DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN 2020
The Kiama Development Control Plan (DCP) 2020 contains various developmental controls to protect the unique environment in the Illawarra region. The most important ecological controls are described in the Site Considerations Chapter (Chapter 2). This includes:
Riparian Corridor - Riparian land affected by a proposed development must be protected and improved throughout the development (potentially with the implementation of a VMP)
Terrestrial Biodiversity - If a proposed development involves the clearing of native vegetation, an ecological assessment report must be prepared.
East Coast Ecology can help your proposed development to meet all relevant environmental legislation, streamlining the development approval process.
RELEVANT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION FOR SHELLHARBOUR
SHELLHARBOUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN 2013
The Shellharbour Local Environmental Plan 2013 (LEP) contains various environmental controls to protect the unique ecology of the Illawarra region, while ensuring the advancement of urban development. Environmental objectives are outlined in the Terrestrial Biodiversity section (Part 6.5).
TERRESTRIAL BIODIVERSITY (PART 6.5)
Part 6.5 sets out controls to avoid, minimise, or mitigate adverse environmental impacts to native vegetation and habitat while maintaining or improving its diversity and condition. This includes:
Protecting the biodiversity of native flora and fauna
Protecting important ecological processes
Encouraging the recovery of threatened species, communities, populations, and their habitats
Shellharbour City Council will only grant DA approval if satisfied that the proposed development does not impact upon:
The condition, ecological value, or significance of flora and fauna
The importance of vegetation as a habitat or survival means for native fauna
Biodiversity structure, function, and composition of the land
Habitat connectivity
Part 6.5 applies to land identified as containing ‘Environmentally Sensitive Land’ within the Terrestrial Biodiversity Map of the Shellharbour LEP. You can access that map by clicking here.
An Ecological Impact Assessment may be required by Council to assess if your proposed development satisfies Part 6.5 of the Shellharbour LEP.
NOT QUITE AT THE DA STAGE BUT WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY OF YOUR PROPERTY IN ILLAWARRA FOR A DEVELOPMENT?
If you are thinking of purchasing a property in Illawarra or submitting a Development Application in the Illawarra LGA, we highly recommend an Ecological or Environmental Constraints Report, also known as a pre-construction constraints assessment.
This low-cost report can save you time and money by ensuring the development satisfies environmental constraints. This report identifies any threatened ecological communities, threatened flora, and threatened fauna species that are present on the property.
East Coast Ecology’s Ecological Constraints Assessment addresses all relevant Illawarra environmental constraints you may encounter during the DA stage. This report maximises your development potential whilst streamlining the DA approval process with Illawarra City Council.
Contact us
for a free quote
We would love to hear from you.
Give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form and one of our experts will get back to you shortly.
Dr. JACK TATLER | Principal Ecologist
+61 405 675 304
jack.tatler@ececology.com.au
ALEX GRAHAM | Principal Ecologist
+61 491 684 624
alex.graham@ececology.com.au