6Biodiversity

6 Biodiversity

6.1 Biodiversity

(1) The objectives of this clause are to protect, maintain or improve the diversity of the native vegetation, including—

(a) protecting biological diversity of native flora and fauna, and

(b) protecting the ecological processes necessary for their continued existence, and

(c) encouraging the recovery of threatened species, communities or populations and their habitats.

(2) This clause applies to development on land that is identified as a “Sensitive Area” on the Natural Resources Sensitivity—Biodiversity Map.

(3) Development consent must not be granted to development on land to which this clause applies unless the consent authority has considered the following matters—

(a) identification of any adverse impact of the proposed development on any of the following—

(i) a native vegetation community,

(ii) the habitat of any threatened species, population or ecological community,

(iii) a regionally significant species of plant, animal or habitat,

(iv) a habitat corridor,

(v) a wetland,

(vi) the biodiversity values within a reserve, including a road reserve or a stock route, and

(b) a description of any proposed measures to be undertaken to ameliorate any such adverse impact.

(4) Development consent must not be granted to development on land to which this clause applies unless the consent authority is satisfied that the development is consistent with the objectives of this clause and—

(a) the development is designed, sited and managed to avoid adverse environmental impact, or

(b) if an adverse environmental impact cannot be avoided, the development—

(i) is designed and sited so as to have minimum adverse impact, and

(ii) incorporates effective measures so as to have minimal adverse impact, and