Development by Design in Western Australia: Overcoming Offset Obstacles
Abstract
:1. Introduction
Australian Government: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Environmental Offsets Policy | Western Australian Environmental Offsets Policy | Consolidated Principles Used in This Paper; Adapted from Australian and Western Australian Principles |
---|---|---|
1. Suitable offsets must deliver an overall conservation outcome that improves or maintains the viability of the protected matter. | 1. Environmental offsets will only be considered after avoidance and mitigation options have been pursued. | 1. Environmental offsets may not be appropriate for all projects and will only be considered after avoidance and mitigation options have been pursued. |
2. Suitable offsets must be built around direct offsets but may include other compensatory measures. | 2. Environmental offsets are not appropriate for all projects. | 2. Environmental offsets will be based on sound environmental information and knowledge. |
3. Suitable offsets must be in proportion to the level of statutory protection that applies to the protected matter. | 3. Environmental offsets will be cost-effective, as well as relevant and proportionate to the significance of the environmental value being impacted. | 3. Establishing goals for offsets requires an estimate of expected direct and indirect impacts. |
4. Suitable offsets must be of a size and scale proportionate to the residual impacts on the protected matter. | 4. Environmental offsets will be based on sound environmental information and knowledge. | 4. Environmental offsets will be focused on longer term strategic outcomes. |
5. Suitable offsets must effectively account for and manage the risks of the offset not succeeding. | 5. Environmental offsets will be applied within a framework of adaptive management. | 5. Environmental offsets will be cost-effective, as well as relevant and proportionate to the significance of the environmental value being impacted. |
6. Suitable offsets must be additional to what is already required, determined by law or planning regulations, or agreed to under other schemes or programs. | 6. Environmental offsets will be focused on longer term strategic outcomes. | |
7. Suitable offsets must be efficient, effective, timely, transparent, scientifically robust and reasonable. | ||
8. Suitable offsets must have transparent governance arrangements including being able to be readily measured, monitored, audited and enforced. |
2. Study Area
3. Applying Offset Principles to the Great Western Woodlands
3.1. Principle 1. Environmental Offsets may not be Appropriate for all Projects and will only be Considered after Avoidance and Mitigation Options Have Been Pursued
3.2. Principle 2. Environmental Offsets will be Based on Sound Environmental Information and Knowledge
3.3. Principle 3. Establishing Goals for Offsets Requires an Estimate of Expected Direct and Indirect Impacts
Feature | Area (ha) | Mapping Method | Source Data | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | Tenements | |||||
100% Owned and Managed by Barrick | Barrick Joint Venture Managed by Barrick | Barrick Joint Venture not Managed by Barrick | ||||
Mine Site | ||||||
Pits & tailings | 1,294 | 1,234 | 60 | Selected features occurring within Barrick mining tenements | GEODATA TOPO 1:250 k (Geoscience Australia) | |
1 km buffer | 8,124 | 6,685 | 1,425 | 13 | Mapped 1 km buffer around mine site | |
Transport | ||||||
Connecting roads and 1 km buffer | 20,992 | 17,061 | 2,545 | 1,386 | Selected roads connecting mine sites and occurring within Barrick mining tenements, mapped 1 km buffer. | GEODATA TOPO 1:250 k (Geoscience Australia) |
Tenement (remaining area) | 47,820 | 17,650 | 10,979 | 19,190 | Tenements classified by management | Tenement boundaries: WA Department of Mines & Petroleum; Barrick |
Total area of impact | 78,230 | 42,630 | 15,010 | 20,589 |
3.4. Principle 4. Environmental Offsets will be Focused on Longer Term Strategic Outcomes
3.5. Principle 5. Environmental Offsets will be Cost-Effective, as well as Relevant and Proportionate to the Significance of the Environmental Value Being Impacted
4. Potential Offset Actions
Actions | High 158,447 ha | Medium 142,331 ha | Old Growth Woodland 46,998 ha |
---|---|---|---|
Protect old growth through fire management | ● | ● | ● |
De-stocking pastoral leases | ● | ● | ● |
Removing artificial water sources (number*) | ● (35) | ● (64) | ● (18) |
Road closures or track closures | ● | ● | ● |
Recapping drill holes | ● | ● | ● |
Control of invasive species (e.g., goats, donkeys, camels) | ● as needed | ||
Control of invasive species (plants) | ● as needed | ||
Non-native predator control | ● as needed | ||
Supplementary faunal habitat | ● as needed | ||
Active restoration (e.g., re-seeding) | ● as needed |
5. Challenges and Solutions
5.1. Limitations of Data
5.2. Legal and Institutional Barriers to Implementing Offsets
6. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
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Fitzsimons, J.; Heiner, M.; McKenney, B.; Sochi, K.; Kiesecker, J. Development by Design in Western Australia: Overcoming Offset Obstacles. Land 2014, 3, 167-187. https://doi.org/10.3390/land3010167
Fitzsimons J, Heiner M, McKenney B, Sochi K, Kiesecker J. Development by Design in Western Australia: Overcoming Offset Obstacles. Land. 2014; 3(1):167-187. https://doi.org/10.3390/land3010167
Chicago/Turabian StyleFitzsimons, James, Michael Heiner, Bruce McKenney, Kei Sochi, and Joseph Kiesecker. 2014. "Development by Design in Western Australia: Overcoming Offset Obstacles" Land 3, no. 1: 167-187. https://doi.org/10.3390/land3010167
APA StyleFitzsimons, J., Heiner, M., McKenney, B., Sochi, K., & Kiesecker, J. (2014). Development by Design in Western Australia: Overcoming Offset Obstacles. Land, 3(1), 167-187. https://doi.org/10.3390/land3010167