Niche Environment and Heritage Pty Ltd (Niche) are continuing to progress the Biodiversity Consultancy Services component of the NSW Wild Dog Fence Extension Project, with measures put in place to ensure the safety of local landholders, community members and staff.
The project, which was a key 2019 election commitment by the NSW Government, will see the NSW Border Wild Dog Fence (commonly known as the dog fence) extended by 742 km, which the NSW Government will fund at a cost of $37.5 million. The fence is currently 583 km in length and erected along parts of the NSW and Queensland/South Australian borders.
“Niche’s BAM accredited biodiversity team members are very pleased to be supporting the NSW Government delivering this complex assessment.”
Niche was awarded the project in early 2020, and their role is to assess the potential impacts on native fauna and flora by considering the direct impacts of the fence construction, as well as the potential indirect impacts to connectivity and population dynamics. Niche recently undertook field assessments along the NSW and South Australia proposed alignment and will be undertaking field assessments along the NSW and Queensland proposed alignment once mapping of the proposed alignment is completed.
Niche’s NSW Regional Manager, Mr. Lawrence Smith said, “The team, led by Dr. Radika Michniewicz and Aiden Campbell really wanted to win this project. Ultimately the Department selected Niche for award of the biodiversity assessment services over all seven (7) of the project assessment zones, traversing the NSW/QLD and NSW/SA borders.”
Lawrence, further stated, “Niche’s BAM accredited biodiversity team members are very pleased to be supporting the NSW Government delivering this complex assessment. It’s not only very rewarding for the team to be successful in securing this contract, but also to be delivering another very complex large project in regional NSW.”
The Wild Dog Fence Extension Project
Further information is available at the NSW Local Land Services website. https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/what-we-do/our-major-projects/nsw-wild-dog-fence-extension-project
ISEPP amendment – Wild Dog Fence: streamlining extension and maintenance
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, has developed a proposed amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 to clarify and streamline the planning assessment for the extension and maintenance of the Wild Dog Fence. The proposed amendment includes:
- Extension: amend Clause 132 to allow an extension of the fence to be considered as State Significant Infrastructure (subject to a detailed assessment) replacing the need to seek multiple government approvals for different parts of the fence.
- Maintenance: include provisions under Clause 132 that permit routine maintenance of the fence to be carried out as exempt development.
You can have your say by 30 August 2020: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/isepp-wild-dog-fence
About Niche
Niche is a leading multidisciplinary consultancy specialising in ecology and biodiversity, heritage management, environmental management and approvals, and environmental offsetting. Our team includes ecologists, botanists, archaeologists, environmental scientists and heritage consultants, located across NSW and Queensland.
Niche’s 60-strong team includes specialist ecologists who are highly experienced in developing successful offsetting strategies and are accredited by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in applying the Biodiversity Assessment Methodology (BAM), in compliance with the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
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