26Starting state assessment and site assessment report

26 Starting state assessment and site assessment report

Starting state assessment (1) The project proponent must make an assessment, in accordance with this Division, of the project area as it stands when application for registration is made (the starting state assessment or SSA). Site assessment report (2) The project proponent must prepare a report in accordance with section 35 (the site assessment report) that demonstrates that the starting state assessment complied with this Division. Field survey (3) The SSA must include a field survey undertaken at, or as close as practicable to, the time of optimal plant growth for the relevant Natural Resource Management region, in order to maximise potential to identify species. (4) The field survey must cover: (a) each activity area; and (b) where possible, a buffer area of at least 500 metres in width around the perimeter of each activity area. Involvement of suitably qualified persons (5) The field survey, and the ecosystem assessment process described in section 30, must be undertaken by a suitably qualified person. (6) The remainder of the SSA, and the preparation of the site assessment report, must be either undertaken by a suitably qualified person, or certified by a suitably qualified person.