The NSW Department of Environment and Conservation’s (DEC) Environment Protection and Regulatory Division (EPRD) is currently engaged in a process to implement a biodiversity offset scheme – termed “Biodiversity Banking” -- that seeks to address the impacts of “our expanding urban footprint on biodiversity values” by creating “new opportunities for private sector conservation management of land”. The scheme forms part of the Government’s recent Threatened Species Amendment package and is set to be trialled in the Lower Hunter. These amendments, introduced late 2004, opened the way for a carrot and stick approach to threatened species protection in NSW. The first biobanking working paper currently exhibited by DEC cited the destruction of Ravensworth State Forest to make way for Mt Owen and trade-off on Wallarah Peninsula as successful examples... and the more recent working paper cited the HEZ scandal in which an existing National Park was drawn into the boundaries of the development area and claimed as an offset... hmmm Biobanking is being set up to fulfil the notorious new “maintain or improve” clause that all Biodiversity Certified planning instruments have to meet. Once so certified, developments consistent with an LEP or other planning insutrment (including the infamous Native Vegetation package) will be exempt from the eight part test of significance. These tests have been criticised by developers for being overly complex, and the government appears to have listened. While it must be conceded that command and control biodiversity protection in NSW has not been effective to date, the new approach has conservationists concerned that existing protective mechanisms have become mere guidelines, and scant protective mechanisms so far in place will be watered down by allowing developers to avoid preparing Environmental Impact Statements. While HCEC acknowledges that the old system didn't work very well (after ten years of the Threatened Species Conservation Act, only two developments had been knocked back because of their impact on threatened species) we are very concerned about the heavy influence of the property industry in the development of the scheme. Watch this space for further updates.