The Project
The Granite Belt Irrigation Project (GBIP) proposes the development of the Emu Swamp Dam, a 12,074 ML irrigation storage facility on the Severn River, along with associated water transmission infrastructure. The primary objective of the project is to secure reliable water resources to support and enhance agricultural productivity in the Stanthorpe region. e2m was engaged to lead the identification, assessment, and delivery of environmental offsets required under Commonwealth legislation for the GBIP. Offsets were required for six Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), including:
-
- White Box–Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Grassland (Threatened Ecological Community)
-
- Acacia pubifolia
-
- Eucalyptus mckieana
-
- Spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus)
-
- Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
-
- Granite Belt thick-tailed gecko (Uvidicolus sphyrurus)
Our Approach
e2m’s integrated team of ecologists, GIS specialists, and regulatory experts brought deep local insight and regional expertise to the project—ensuring compliance, reducing uncertainty, and delivering conservation outcomes with confidence.
Our collaborative approach between ecology and GIS teams enabled a thorough desktop analysis of regional properties, identifying several potentially suitable offset sites. These sites were then field verified to confirm their suitability for the target MNES.
Outcomes
The desktop assessments proved highly effective, with the majority of identified properties deemed suitable for offsetting the listed Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). This significantly streamlined the offset process and strengthened the project’s environmental outcomes.
By integrating expertise across these areas, the team was able to accurately identify suitable offset properties at the desktop level, reducing time and field effort while maintaining scientific rigour.
This approach demonstrated e2m’s capability to deliver end-to-end offset solutions—from early inception through to site identification, ecological assessment, and the development of Offset Area Management Plans (OAMPs) – ensuring compliance and conservation outcomes with confidence.
