Key Points:
The Panel's recommendations reflect a shift from
site-specific biodiversity assessments and conservation
requirements to State-wide or regionally focused
conservation.
The NSW Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel has
submitted its final report on the operation of the NSW legislative
and policy framework for biodiversity conservation.
It has recommended sweeping reforms to biodiversity law, policy
and practice in NSW, including:
- a focus on conserving biodiversity at a regional or State
scale, and a move away from focusing on site-specific
conservation;
- a new approach to managing biodiversity in agricultural land
use;
- a broader and deeper application of biodiversity offsetting, as
approved in the newly introduced NSW Biodiversity Offsetting Policy
for Major Projects, with emphasis on the establishment of a
State-wide biodiversity offsets fund and a development
contributions scheme to support it; and
