Submission to NSW DCCEEW on changes to the Biodiversity Assessment Method

New South Wales' Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) has proposed changes to the Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM), which underpins the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme and determines offsets for renewable energy projects. 

In our submission we welcome a number of the proposed reforms to the BAM which should reduce cost and delay while maintaining appropriate departmental oversight and make the BAM easier to apply in practice. However, we propose a number of recommendations for changes to ensure the renewable energy sector does not face unintended consequences and challenges.