Environmental Management Plans

The purpose of an Environmental Management Plan is a site-specific document outlining how to manage potential environmental impacts during a project's construction and/or operation. It details mitigation, monitoring, and institutional measures to minimize negative environmental effects. EMPs are crucial for ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and achieving sustainable development goals.

It can consist of Fauna Management, Wetland Management, Foreshore Management. 

Objectives of an Environmental Management Plan

  • Ensure effective Flora management.
  • Ensure effective Fauna management.
  • Ensure effective Wetland management.
  • Ensure effective Foreshore management.
  • Provide low-maintenance, safe and sustainable environmental outcomes.

Fauna Management Plan

The purpose of a Fauna Management Plan is to outline how to manage and protect fauna (animals) and their habitats during development or other activities. It aims to minimize harm to wildlife, ensuring their survival and the health of the ecosystem.

Objectives of a Fauna Management Plan
  • Identify habitat values and potential threatened species usage.
  • Stage clearing to allow passive fauna movement; avoid breeding seasons where practicable.
  • Implement pre-clearing surveys and fauna spotter-catcher protocols (licensed handlers).
  • Retain and protect significant habitat trees where feasible; install habitat boxes where appropriate.
  • Specify fencing, exclusion buffers and incident-reporting/contingency measures.
  • Monitor and report on compliance during works.

Wetland Management Plan

Sets conservation and sustainable-use strategies for wetlands, addressing ecological values and potential impacts. Often required where development interfaces with or affects wetlands. (026262.010 PDF)

Objectives of a Wetland Management Plan
  • to enhance and protect the natural processes linked to wetland areas
  • to ensure that wetland plants in emergent zones are to be planted as the water levels recede at the end of winter, and sedges and rushes in permanently inundated areas should be planted in spring and summer.

Foreshore Management Plan

Guides land-use, development and environmental protection of riparian corridors to balance access and amenity with the preservation of natural and cultural values. (080313-02 PDF)

Objectives of a Foreshore Management Plan
  • To manage the WSUD interface with ESA, spillways, overflows etc.
  • To address the methods where water treatment or design features are to be modified or constructed, specifically affecting streams or riparian zones (relating to the bank of a natural watercourse)
  • To ensure water entering environmentally sensitive areas (streams and riparian zones) is managed to maintain and improve water quality
  • To protect, repair, and ensure conservation of existing foreshore areas that may be affected by drainage basins and other landscaping and engineering construction adjacent or bordering existing foreshores
  • This may require a Tree Retention Plan (EN2) and/or Revegetation Management Plan (EN3)
Related provisions from other legislation that applies: