Case Study
Biodiversity Assessment for New Subdivision
Client
Oak Property Investments
Location
Muswellbrook, NSW
Project Date
2024-2025
Ascent Ecology was engaged to support the NSW NPWS North Coast Branch from 2022 to 2024, delivering environmental assessments across two distinct programs—flood recovery works and planned asset upgrades. These included work in ecologically sensitive high visitation locations such as Cape Byron and Broken Head. The projects highlight AE’s capability to manage complex environmental logistics while maintaining full compliance with legislative requirements.
The Challenge
We were engaged to support a residential subdivision project in Muswellbrook by preparing a comprehensive biodiversity assessment in compliance with stringent state and regulations. Our team conducted detailed surveys and analysis to assess the presence of threatened species and mapped key ecological habitats. By identifying areas of both sensitive and low biodiversity values early, we helped avoid unnecessary disturbance and preserve important flora and fauna habitat, delivering a practical, regulator-ready solution that supported timely project approval for 56 new residential homes.
Our Solution
We delivered a full-scope ecological assessment for this two-stage residential subdivision in Muswellbrook. Our team undertook comprehensive vegetation and habitat surveys, including targeted threatened species assessments. Our preliminary assessment of potential biodiversity impacts informed the proposed lot layout enabling early avoidance, minimisation of impacts on biodiversity, thereby saving costs by reducing the biodiversity credit offset obligations. Our team also prepared a complete BDAR that met all legislative requirements—supporting the client’s application with rigorous, regulator-ready documentation aligned to NSW planning frameworks and ecological best practice.
The Result
This work demonstrates our capacity to support local-scale projects through rigorous biodiversity impact assessment and reporting in compliance with the NSW planning framework. Our assessment safeguarded critical habitat and threatened species vital to the region’s biodiversity. Following comprehensive fieldwork, vegetation mapping, and impact assessment, our team determined that the development posed no significant risk to biodiversity, resulting in no biodiversity credit obligation. This outcome delivered both ecological confidence and regulatory clarity for the client and the consent authority.