We've guided 180+ wind farm projects through Australia's ecological approval process - more than any other ecological consultancy. From birds and bats to Brolga habitat, our specialist team of wind farm consultants provide knowledge and regulatory relationships that move complex wind developments forward.
180+
Wind Farm Projects
50%
of Victorian Wind Farms
Brolga
Buffer Methodology Adopted by VIC Government
25+
Years Regulatory Relationships
In-House
Dog Team for Operational Monitoring
Onshore Wind Energy Project Lifecycle
1
Initial Site Scoping
What we do
Desktop analysis and rapid site surveys to identify vegetation, fauna habitat constraints, and bird/bat collision risk before major survey investment.
Deliverables
Ecological overview assessment, including site constraints and survey scope recommendations
2
Assessment & Planning
What we do
Species-specific targeted surveys over 2-year seasonal baseline bird and bat surveys, detailed vegetation assessments and species-specific targeted surveys. Early findings inform turbine layout before design is locked, minimising ecological impacts.
Deliverables
Flora and Fauna Assessment Report, community consultation support, regulator presentations, expert witness testimony if required.
3
Construction & Pre-Approval
What we do
Bird and bat adaptive management plans, environmental management plans (weed, native vegetation, etc), compliance auditing, and regulatory/community presentations.
Deliverables
Management plans, compliance auditing.
4
Operational Management
What we do
Bird Utilisation Surveys, Bat Acoustic Surveys, and Operational Monitoring with an in-house dog team. These may trigger investigations and adaptive management in response to triggers.
Deliverables
Annual monitoring reports, triggered investigation reports, and BBAMP compliance reporting.
The species that shape your approvals
Brolgas (Victoria)
Southern Bent-Wing Bats
Wedge-Tailed Eagles
Orange-Bellied Parrots (Tasmania)
Superb Parrot
Brolgas (Victoria)
A species of Western Victoria's threatened wetland habitat. Our buffer methodology, now adopted by the Victorian Government, helps projects avoid critical breeding sites while providing guidance on viable layouts.
Listed as threatened in Tasmania, present across mainland states. Our raptor specialists design monitoring programs that satisfy regulatory requirements and advise on sensible mitigation measures.
Critically endangered species requiring specialist survey methods and expert evidence. We've successfully guided projects through panel hearings involving this species.
Listed as Vulnerable both federally and in NSW and Endangered in Victoria, we often assess this woodland specialist for wind farm projects in the drier parts of south-eastern Australia.
Specialised assessment of avian and bat collision risk, activity patterns, and habitat use, critical for wind farm developments and infrastructure where turbine strike or linear impacts are a concern. Early risk assessment identifies species of concern, evaluates collision risk factors, and helps improve turbine layout.
Mapping and assessment of site-specific ecological constraints that will affect development design, layout, and approval pathway. We assess native vegetation, threatened species habitat, buffer requirements, and regulatory triggers, then overlay your development footprint to identify conflicts, avoidance opportunities, and offset obligations before you lodge applications.
Comprehensive species and community inventory that documents ecological values at your site, forming the foundation for impact assessment and regulatory approval. You'll need this for statutory approvals, EPBC referrals, offset calculations, and any project requiring detailed biodiversity baseline data.
Detailed assessment of vegetation communities, condition, and conservation significance under state planning schemes and EPBC Act, including habitat hectare assessments using DEECA-approved methodology. Essential for land development, infrastructure, and any project affecting native vegetation - determines offset requirements and informs regulatory approvals.
Activity and distribution surveys that assess how birds and bats use your site seasonally and spatially. Mandatory for wind farms and renewable energy projects, and increasingly required for other infrastructure with potential avian/bat impacts.
Formal documentation submitted to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water to determine if your project requires Commonwealth environmental assessment. Essential when you need certainty about Commonwealth requirements before proceeding, or when impacts to listed species/communities are likely.
Federal offsets required when your project impacts Matters of National Environmental Significance, such as threatened species, ecological communities, or Ramsar wetlands listed under the EPBC Act. We assess offset requirements using the Commonwealth offset calculator, identify sites that deliver the required conservation outcomes, and prepare offset strategies for EPBC approval.
Operational monitoring frameworks for wind farms that track bird and bat fatalities, establish trigger thresholds, and define adaptive management responses. Required under approval conditions for operational wind farms, BBAMPs specify monitoring protocols, trigger investigation procedures, and mitigation measures if impacts are higher than predicted.
Our Projects
Golden Plains Wind Farm
Nature Advisory delivered targeted ecological surveys, modelling and regulatory strategy to support biodiversity approvals for the Golden Plains Wind Farm, reducing native vegetation removal by over 60% while enabling project approval.
Brolga Habitat | Native Vegetation Management | Victoria | Wind Energy
