Biodiversity Assessment Report
A Biodiversity Assessment Report (commonly a Biodiversity Development Assessment Report, or BDAR) assesses your development's impact on native vegetation and threatened species habitat against the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method. It is triggered where a site exceeds the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold - based on land area, vegetation clearing extent, or proximity to mapped biodiversity values - and where triggered, it can require biodiversity credits to offset unavoidable impact. We check whether your site actually triggers the scheme before you pay for a full assessment.
Free consultation
- 3–6 weeks
- Quoted per site - typically from $3,500 + GST
- Quoted fixed after a free scope check
Why an early threshold check saves the most money
The single biggest cost driver on a biodiversity-triggered project is the offset requirement, not the assessment itself. Where a design change can keep clearing below threshold, that is almost always cheaper than proceeding to a full assessment and credit purchase.
Source: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW); Biodiversity Assessment Method 2020.
How it works
Threshold check
2–3 days
Confirm whether the site's area, vegetation clearing extent, or mapped biodiversity values trigger the scheme.
Assessment
2–4 weeks
Accredited assessor surveys vegetation and species habitat using the Biodiversity Assessment Method.
Report and offset strategy
3–6 weeks total
Report issued with avoidance, minimisation and, if required, biodiversity credit offset requirements.
What we take off your hands
What EHUP handles
- Checking whether your site triggers the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold at all
- Coordinating an accredited assessor for the Biodiversity Assessment Method
- Advising on avoidance and minimisation before offsetting is even considered
- Managing the biodiversity credit process where offsetting is unavoidable
What you don't have to deal with
- Commissioning a full BDAR when the site does not actually trigger the scheme
- A design that clears more native vegetation than the project actually requires
Frequently asked questions
Does every development on a bushy block need this?
No - it depends on whether the site triggers the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme threshold under the Biodiversity Conservation Act, which considers lot size, clearing extent and mapped biodiversity values. Many suburban lots with some native vegetation do not trigger it at all.
What happens if my site does trigger the scheme?
A full Biodiversity Development Assessment Report is required, and where impact cannot be avoided or minimised, biodiversity credits must be retired to offset the loss - which can add meaningful cost and time, so an early check is worth having before design commits.
Can I avoid triggering the scheme by changing my design?
Sometimes - reducing the clearing footprint or working around higher-value vegetation can keep a project under threshold. This is exactly the kind of trade-off worth exploring before lodging, not after a BDAR is already underway.
Related services
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment
An Aboriginal Cultural Heritage assessment checks whether a site is likely to contain Aboriginal objects or places of significance, following the due diligence process set out under the National Parks and Wildlife Act.
Specialist Reports
Most applications of any size need reports from specialists outside town planning.
Commercial & Industrial Approval
Commercial and light industrial projects span a wide range - from a cafe fitout that can be certified in two to three weeks, to a warehouse development where the capital at risk makes feasibility the first priority, not documentation.
Why clients choose EHUP
- 10+
- 250+
- 14
- 1
Not sure which approval you need?
Tell us the address and what you want to do. We'll help identify the appropriate planning pathway, whether it is exempt development, complying development or a full DA. Your first conversation is free.