Review of Environmental Factors (REF) NSW

What is the process for preparing a Review of Environmental Factors in NSW?

Preparing a Review of Environmental Factors report starts with a consultation with an experienced team of Sydney ecologists, like East Coast Ecology. Our expert assistance will help you with the following actions for the preparation of a Review of Environmental Factors: 

• Providing assistance in reviewing the legislative requirements for the proposed works in order to determine if they can be carried out on a ‘without consent’ basis. 

• Performing a preliminary review of the proposal to outline the required supporting technical reports for the assessment of environmental or other impacts.

• Conducting the necessary field testing and analysis in accordance with the NPWS’ guidelines for a REF. 

• Putting together a summary and key considerations for the potential impact of the proposed activity on the environment and other related factors.  

• Inclusion of alternatives, safeguards, or mitigation measures to ensure that the estimated impact on the environment and surrounding development area is kept to a minimum.

• Delivery of the prepared REF to the public authority for internal discussion and determination of the proposed activity’s effect on the environment.

What is included in a Review of Environmental Factors?

Our Reviews of Environmental Factors (REF) are strategically designed to be easy to read and easy to interpret by you, and your stakeholders. Our REFs are prepared in accordance with the latest edition of the NPWS Guidelines for preparing a Review of Environmental Factors.

East Coast Ecology will provide the following information in a Review of Environmental Factors (REF):

• The proposed activity, including a description of the proposed activity, reasons for the activity and consideration of alternatives

• Site suitability and permissibility, and

• The existing environment.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL IMPACTS

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is required to address physical and chemical impacts. An REF NSW considers the following issues:

• Is the proposal likely to impact on soil quality or land stability?

• Is the activity likely to affect a waterbody, watercourse, wetland or natural drainage system?

• Is the activity likely to change flood or tidal regimes, or be affected by flooding? 

• Is the activity likely to affect coastal processes and coastal hazards, including those under projected climate change conditions?

• Does the proposal involve the use, storage or transport of hazardous substances, or the use or generation of chemicals that may build up environmental residues?

• Does the activity involve the generation or disposal or gaseous, liquid or solid wastes or emissions?

• Will the activity involve the emission of dust, odours, noise, vibration or radiation?

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS

The objective of the environmental assessment of impacts on biodiversity is to enable decision-makers to ensure that developments deliver the following environmental outcomes:

• Maintenance or improvement of biodiversity values (i.e. there is no net impact on endangered species or native vegetation)

• Conservation of biodiversity and promotion of ecologically sustainable development 

• Environmental protection of areas of high conservation value, and

• Environmental protection of the long-term viability of local populations of a species, population or ecological community and prevent their local extinction (extirpation).

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is required to address biodiversity impacts. REF reports consider the following biodiversity issues:

• Is the proposed activity likely to affect any declared area of outstanding biodiversity value, critical habitat, or environmental asset of intergenerational significance?

• Is any vegetation likely to be cleared or modified, including ecological communities and plant community types of conservation significance?

• Does the activity have the potential to endanger, displace or disturb fauna (including fauna of conservation significance) or create a barrier to their movement?

• Is the activity likely to result in removing protected flora, plants, or fungi of conservation significance?

• Is the activity likely to contribute to a key threatening process to biodiversity or ecological integrity?

• Is the activity likely to introduce pests (including weeds, pathogens and feral animals) or genetically modified organisms into an area?

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE IMPACTS

The key purpose of the REF NSW for Aboriginal cultural heritage values is to identify and mitigate any potential impacts on the Aboriginal cultural significance of the site and study area. A key part of this process is consultation with relevant Aboriginal community members.

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is required to address Aboriginal Heritage impacts. Relevant considerations include:

• Will the activity disturb the ground surface or any modified trees?

• Does the activity affect or occur close to known Aboriginal objects or Aboriginal places or an Aboriginal cultural asset of intergenerational significance?

• Is the activity located in areas where landscape features indicate a high likelihood of Aboriginal objections being present?

• Can the disturbance of objects or landscape features be avoided?

• Does the activity affect wild resources or access to these resources, which are used or valued by the Aboriginal community?

• Does the activity affect Aboriginal peoples’ access to culturally important places?

NON-ABORIGINAL HERITAGE IMPACTS

A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is required to address non-Aboriginal Heritage impacts. Questions include:

• What is the impact on places, buildings or landscapes of heritage significance?

• What is the impact on relics, moveable heritage items, or an area with a high likelihood of containing relics?

• Is any vegetation of cultural value likely to be affected?

CONCLUSION

When considering the likely environmental significance of the impacts associated with the proposed activity, proponents should consider these questions:

• How extensive are the impacts?

• How adverse are these impacts on environmentally sensitive areas?

• How acceptable are these impacts considering the nature of these impacts?

To finalise an REF, a decision must be made as to whether:

• There is likely to be a significant impact on the environment (if so, an Environmental Impact Statement is required)

• There is likely to be a significant impact on threatened species, populations, ecological system or their habitats (if so, a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report [BDAR] is required); and

• There is likely to be a significant impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES).