Abstract | Sourcing biodiversity offsets within a market based system

The NSW Roads and Maritime Services is one of the largest infrastructure procurers of biodiversity offsets in NSW, if not Australia. This is due to the size of the infrastructure development program underway in NSW, the offsetting expectations of planning and environment regulators and policy commitments made by the Roads and Maritime to offset biodiversity impacts. The hotspots for biodiversity offsetting are in Western Sydney and the North Coast of NSW. Over the last 10 years, the practice of biodiversity offsetting has changed dramatically from voluntary, negotiated arrangements to a market based system based on formal methodologies.

This presentation sets out how a major linear infrastructure provider meets its offset obligations, the major challenges it has faced, lessons learned and the successes achieved. The presentation will focus on the recent changes to legislative framework, the challenges of working in a developing offset market, the role of offsets in reducing project impacts and the role of public land in offset delivery. It is designed to equip proponents with ideas and insights to help meet offsetting expectations at a national and state level.

Bio | Julie Ravallion

Julie Ravallion has worked in the area of biodiversity conservation for over 25 years at both operation and policy levels. Julie has qualifications in Arts and Urban and Regional Planning and experience working in Department of Planning, National Parks and Wildlife, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and now NSW Roads and Maritime Services. A major focus on Julie's work has been using the planning system to deliver positive gains for native flora and fauna with an emphasis on strategic land use planning, environmental impact assessment and biodiversity offsetting .