How our team of 20+ BAM Accredited Assessors are supporting developers and landholders in NSW
March 25, 2026
News & Insights
As biodiversity regulation continues to evolve in New South Wales, developers are under increasing pressure to demonstrate that impacts to biodiversity are rigorously assessed, avoided and offset in order to secure planning approval for their project.
To support this growing demand, Niche now has 21 ecologists working across the state in our Ecology and Natural Capital teams who are accredited assessors under the NSW Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM), providing one of the largest concentrations of BAM‑accredited expertise.
This breadth and depth of experience means we can support complex projects across NSW with consistent, high‑quality assessments — helping proponents navigate approvals efficiently while delivering strong outcomes for nature.
Why BAM Accredited Assessors matter to your project
For many developments in NSW, a biodiversity assessment is a critical pathway to securing planning approval.
Only BAM‑accredited assessors are authorised to prepare Biodiversity Development Assessment Reports (BDARs). For developers, working with accredited assessors is not just a regulatory requirement—it is essential to managing risk, cost and timelines.
Accredited assessors bring a detailed understanding of BAM rules, survey requirements, credit calculations and regulator expectations. Early involvement by experienced assessors can help avoid common pitfalls such as inadequate survey effort, misinterpretation of BAM thresholds, or under‑estimating offset obligations. These are all issues that can lead to approval delays or costly redesigns.
With 21 accredited assessors, Niche is well positioned to resource projects at scale while maintaining continuity across large, multi‑stage developments.
Supporting developers from assessment to approval
Niche’s BAM‑accredited team works closely with developers, planners and regulators to deliver assessments that are robust and accurate, balancing environmental and project outcomes.
This includes strategic advice during early project design, detailed field surveys, impact avoidance and minimisation planning, and support through offset strategy development and post-approval monitoring.
As well as our deep ecological expertise, we have a strong understanding of the regulator’s requirements and long-standing relationships with government stakeholders, which is valuable for dealing with the complexities of BDAR submission.
By integrating BAM expertise with Niche’s broader ecology, heritage and natural capital capabilities, clients benefit from a coordinated approach that aligns biodiversity outcomes with project delivery.
On-ground experience with stewardship sites
Our BAM-accredited team are also working with landholder clients to establish biodiversity stewardship sites under the Biodiversity Offset Scheme (BOS) to generate biodiversity credits.
This requires the same rigour applied to biodiversity assessments for developers, so landholders can gain an accurate picture of the biodiversity value of their property.
Niche has more experience in biodiversity offsetting assessment and site establishment than any other consultancy in NSW.
Meet some of our BAM team
Sophia Dunn, Experienced Consultant – Ecology
“The BAM underpins the fundamentals of my work as an accredited assessor. Every decision I make must be justified by the BAM and associated guidelines to ensure my work is compliant, comprehensive, and ethical. Providing quality work and sustainable outcomes for biodiversity are important to my ecological consulting experience.“
Yogesh Nair, Principal – Ecology
“In my day‑to‑day work, I use the robust framework provided by the BAM to translate ecological assessments into clear, evidence‑based decisions that balance environmental protection with responsible development. This provides our clients with confidence and clarity — supporting defensible development approvals, managing risk, and identifying practical long‑term pathways such as Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements (BSAs) that deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes for biodiversity.”
Jennie Powell, Natural Capital Conservation Manager
“As an accredited BAM assessor, I use my extensive experience with the Biodiversity Offset Scheme to navigate the complexities of regulations, policies and methods throughout the BSA application review process. I enjoy collaborating with the BSA application approval authority to identify opportunities to achieve effective, efficient and innovative conservation outcomes for Biodiversity Stewardship Sites.”
Get in touch
If you’re planning a project in NSW and need advice on biodiversity assessment or offsets under the BAM, Niche’s accredited team can help you plan with confidence and clarity.
