Environmental offsets are measures taken to compensate for
unavoidable negative environmental actions.
Offsets are intended to ensure that there is no net loss of
biodiversity or environmental sustainability for a region. (In fact, some notable
offsets have delivered net gains of biodiversity)
The
Australian Government applies environment offsets under
the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
to
protect matters of national environmental significance where these are affected
by a development or activity.
The native vegetation removal regulations of the
Victorian Government require an offset
to compensate for biodiversity loss.
The
Baw Baw Shire Council provides a native vegetation
offset scheme that
compensates for the approved loss of native vegetation.
The offset must be permanent and ongoing, and linked to an approved clearing
site.
Environmental offset schemes are not straightforward.
Different jurisdictions have different requirements and most offset policies
are open to interpretation: ‘a permit is usually required’; ‘provisions
that apply or can apply’; and ‘the removal of native vegetation is
restricted to only what is reasonably necessary’. Such phrases can be
construed differently by different bodies such as landholders, developers,
conservationists, offset brokers (yes, there is such an industry), catchment
management authourities, planners and the general, unaware public.
Offset policies are obviously closely connected to planning
schemes and planners must ensure that where necessary, proper offsetting is carried
out by the applicant if a permit for the
unavoidable removal of native
vegetation has been issued. Again, the use of the term ‘unavoidable’ becomes an
arguable issue. One imagines for example, that the recent removal of trees in
McGlone Rd Drouin was avoidable, surely?
To further indicate some of the complications involved in
these offset schemes, here is an incomplete list of guideline topics contained
within the DELWPs offset policies on behalf of the Victorian Government: Guidelines
for the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation; Assessors advice
on applications for the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation;
Exemptions for requiring a permit for the removal, destruction or lopping of
native vegetation; A guide for planning for biodiversity; Native vegetation
removal regulations and compliance; Native vegetation credit register; How to
calculate native vegetation gains; Management standards, quality assessment,
monitoring and evaluating offsets, etc.
Remember, these are just the guidelines! Heaven knows how
involved the actual regulations must be. Any wonder a successful developer team
includes a lawyer.
A slightly deeper delving into DELWP’s designations (I do
enjoy an occasional alliteration), and some significant relevance to our
situation in Drouin is very apparent:
“The presence or absence of
large trees is used to determine the assessment pathway of an application to
remove native vegetation (section 6). Large trees are often the oldest part of
an ecological system and are difficult to replace in the short term. To address
this and to ensure the protection of large trees in the landscape, when large
trees are approved to be removed, the secured offset must include large trees
(see section 5).”
Further:
“In some areas, native
vegetation plays an important landscape function and contributes to the
character of a place. Planning schemes can identify native vegetation that is
contributing to landscape values. In these cases, the landscape values are
considered when an application to remove native vegetation is assessed.”
The opening paragraphs of the Baw Baw Shire’s Environmental
Sustainability Policy include:
“Baw Baw Shire is well known
for its green panoramic vistas that are made up of rich productive rural
landscapes, forests, rivers, mountains and unique biodiversity. The quality and
beauty of our landscapes are fundamental to our community’s quality of life,
businesses income, the food we eat and recreation we enjoy. Vision statement:
to be one of the most environmentally sustainable Shire’s in Victoria.”
Now, wouldn’t that be an acclaim to be proud of?
