Nature Advisory has built Australia’s most experienced and largest team of ecologists and project managers to support investigations and development of wind farm sites in Australia.
At the early stages of site identification and development we are often asked for overview assessment or constraints assessments to identify the ecological issues and regulatory requirements likely to arise in the project planning and assessment process.
We can assist in initial site scoping:
- If you provide the maximum extent of work (development footprint), including the grid connection
We can:
- Review existing databases on the occurrence of species and communities of concern
- Use aerial/satellite image interpretation to identify potential habitats for species or communities of concern on and around the development footprint
- Based on current knowledge of the behaviour, scale and height of movements of the species of concern, undertake a preliminary risk assessment to systematically evaluate species for further consideration, where warranted
- Develop a short-list of species of concern that require further investigations
- Identify potential impact pathways and the consequences at a population scale of those possible impacts
At this point it can be assessed if an ecological issue is a ‘show-stopper’ for the project
- Scope bird and bat investigations to ensure adequate understanding of the risk of the project to species of concern to meet the needs of development applications;
- Liaison with relevant agencies involved in development decision-making.
Specific studies for energy facilities and power lines may include:
- Native vegetation mapping and assessment
- Bird utilisation surveys
- Bat utilisation surveys
- Targeted survey, Brolga, Parrots, Eagles, listed species
- Referrals and assessments, EPBC referrals, state assessments
Golden Plains Wind Farm case study
Contact one of our project managers for further information: Brett Lane, Bernard O’Callaghan, Inga Kulik.
