Project Case Studies - Queensland Ecological Consulting
Our Work
Queensland Ecologists has delivered ecological consulting services for hundreds of projects across Queensland since 2014. Below are representative examples of our work, anonymised for client confidentiality.
Residential Development
Ecological Assessment Report - Brisbane Western Suburbs
A national developer engaged Queensland Ecologists to prepare an ecological assessment report for a proposed 52-lot residential subdivision on a 15-hectare site in Brisbane’s western suburbs. The site was mapped within the Biodiversity Areas Overlay under Brisbane City Plan 2014, with approximately 4 hectares of remnant Eucalyptus tereticornis woodland and evidence of koala activity. We completed detailed flora and vegetation surveys, fauna surveys including spotlighting and SAT surveys, a koala habitat assessment, and regional ecosystem verification across the site. Our deliverables included the ecological assessment report, a vegetation management plan for retained vegetation, and a koala management plan with a sequential clearing protocol. Council approved the development application with conditions, and the client proceeded to operational works within three months of our report submission.
Koala Habitat Assessment - Logan Corridor
A town planning firm referred their client to us for a koala habitat assessment on a 6.5-hectare infill development site in the Logan Koala Priority Area. The project required assessment against SDAP State Code 25 - Development in SEQ koala habitat areas, with referral to the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA). We conducted SAT (Spot Assessment Technique) surveys across the property, mapped koala habitat quality values, and prepared a detailed sequential clearing protocol. Our koala management plan addressed habitat connectivity with adjacent bushland corridors and included revegetation specifications using locally-sourced koala food trees. SARA approved the application with standard conditions, allowing the client to proceed to detailed design within the developer’s target timeframe.
Infrastructure & Civil
Fire Ant Management Plan - SEQ Civil Works
A civil contractor engaged us to prepare a fire ant management plan for a major earthworks project involving approximately 45,000 cubic metres of soil movement across two sites in Moreton Bay. Both the source and receiving sites were located within fire ant biosecurity zones under the Biosecurity Act 2014. We conducted systematic visual inspections of both sites, prepared a soil movement management plan compliant with the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program requirements, and coordinated with Biosecurity Queensland for movement approvals. Our plan included treatment protocols, inspection schedules, and record-keeping templates that the contractor’s site supervisors could implement without specialist ecological support. The project received Biosecurity Queensland clearance and earthworks proceeded on schedule without biosecurity hold-ups.
Waterway Barrier Works - Regional Queensland
A regional council in Central Queensland required ecological input for an upgrade to a road crossing over a fish-bearing waterway. The existing crossing was acting as a barrier to fish passage and needed replacement under the Fisheries Act 1994 and the accepted development requirements for waterway barrier works. We completed an aquatic habitat assessment, mapped waterway values including in-stream habitat and riparian vegetation, and provided technical input into the fish passage design to ensure compliance with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) self-assessable code. Our waterway barrier works assessment and waterway assessment confirmed the upgraded structure met accepted development requirements, allowing the council to proceed without a development permit for the waterway barrier works component.
Rural & Landowner
PMAV Application - Sunshine Coast Hinterland
A private landowner in the Sunshine Coast hinterland contacted us after discovering that the regulated vegetation mapping on their 8-hectare property was incorrect, preventing them from obtaining a building approval for a dwelling. The property was mapped as containing Category B remnant vegetation, but the area in question had been historically cleared for grazing over 40 years ago. We conducted detailed regional ecosystem ground-truthing, collected vegetation survey data including stem density, canopy height, and species composition, and documented the clearing history using historical aerial imagery dating back to 1958. Our PMAV application to the Department of Resources demonstrated that the mapped area did not meet the structural or floristic thresholds for remnant vegetation. The Department accepted our application and corrected the mapping, removing the development constraints and allowing the landowner to proceed with their building application.
Due Diligence Assessment - Gold Coast Hinterland
A property developer considering the purchase of a 22-hectare hinterland site near the Gold Coast engaged us to conduct a due diligence ecological assessment before committing to the acquisition. The purpose was to identify any ecological constraints that could affect the feasibility of a proposed rural residential subdivision. We completed a desktop ecological constraints analysis covering regulated vegetation mapping, matters of state environmental significance (MSES), EPBC Act protected matters search, koala habitat mapping, waterway and wetland triggers, and bushfire risk. This was followed by a preliminary field inspection to verify desktop findings. Our report provided a clear summary of the approvals pathway, likely assessment requirements, estimated ecological consulting costs, and identified a potential significant residual impact trigger for an endangered regional ecosystem. The client proceeded with the purchase with a realistic understanding of what would be required and budgeted accordingly.
Offsets & Compliance
Environmental Offset Management Plan - Moreton Bay
A residential developer in the Moreton Bay region was required to provide an environmental offset after our significant residual impact assessment confirmed unavoidable impacts on matters of state environmental significance (MSES), specifically an endangered regional ecosystem and koala habitat. We identified and assessed a suitable offset site on a nearby rural property, conducted baseline BioCondition assessments and habitat quality assessments to establish current ecological condition, and prepared a comprehensive offset management plan. The plan included detailed management actions, performance criteria, a five-year monitoring program with annual BioCondition re-assessments, and a financial settlement calculation. Our biodiversity offset strategy set out how the residual impact could be counterbalanced, including how the offset site could be secured through a voluntary declaration under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
Environmental Compliance Audit - Redlands Coast
We were engaged by a development company to conduct annual environmental compliance auditing for a multi-stage residential development on Redlands Coast. The development approval included 14 ecological conditions covering vegetation protection zones, rehabilitation areas, fauna management, and an offset site. Each year, we inspected vegetation protection zone fencing and signage, assessed rehabilitation progress against the approved restoration plan performance criteria, monitored the offset site using BioCondition methodology, and reviewed the developer’s compliance with weed and pest management obligations. Our condition compliance report to Redland City Council documented the status of each condition with photographic evidence and recommended corrective actions where required. This ongoing engagement has now continued through four stages of the development over three years.
Start Your Project
Every project is different. Whether you need a straightforward ecological assessment or a complex multi-disciplinary approvals strategy, we can help. Request a quote or call us on (07) 3018 7538 to discuss your project requirements.