The Project
To support early-stage planning and environmental approvals, e2m were engaged to undertake preliminary ecological surveys for a proposed wind farm and associated infrastructure near the Queensland–New South Wales border.
These surveys represented a critical first step in meeting Commonwealth and State regulatory requirements for terrestrial ecology, laying the groundwork for informed decision-making and future environmental assessments.
Our Approach
The team began with a desktop analysis to identify likely Commonwealth and Queensland Prescribed Environmental Matters (PEMs) and assess the potential suitability of nearby areas for environmental offsets.
Following this, our ecologists undertook field surveys across challenging terrain during the summer months, aligning with seasonal requirements to ensure regulatory compliance. These surveys assessed vegetation and habitat condition across the site, enabling us to extrapolate ecological values across the broader project area.
Our baseline assessment identified several threatened species and ecological communities, including: spotted-tail quoll, koala, border thick-tailed gecko, white box–yellow box–blakely’s red gum grassy woodland.
To overcome access limitations and ensure complete site coverage, e2m employed a suite of GIS-based tools and remote sensing technologies. This insight-driven approach enabled the collection of high-resolution ecological data, even in remote or difficult-to-reach areas.
Outcomes
The client received a comprehensive ecological survey using desktop, field site, data analysis and mapping.
This work provides a robust ecological baseline to support future environmental evaluations, approvals, and land management decisions.
