Environmental management of fauna and flora

Standards
Compliance requirements for open space design
Note:
- Where Australian Standards or part thereof have been adopted by legislation, they are a legal requirement.
- This list may not be exhaustive. Please refer to the relevant authority websites for updated information and current document distribution dates. These documents are subject to amendments from time to time.
Legislation
Refer Legislation for guidance.
Australian Standards/industry guidelines
Safety in design (SiD)
Include Safety in Design (SiD) principles to eliminate, or if not reasonably practical, minimise risks to health and safety throughout the design, construction and life of the embellishment.
See Legislation – Work Health and Safety Act 2011 for additional safety guidance.
Designing for access and inclusion
- AS 1428 (Set) – Design for access and mobility. Design requirements for new building work to provide access for people with disabilities. This Standard is referenced in legislation.
Designing for safety (CPTED)
- Queensland Government – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) – Guidelines for Queensland, 2021. Provides guidelines about designing a safe environment to assist in the prevention of the opportunity for crime.
Erosion and sediment control
- Best Practice Erosion and Sediment Control (BPESC) documents - IECA Australasia. Erosion and sediment control documents by the International Erosion Control Association (IECA).
- Queensland Acid Sulfate Soil Technical Manual: Soil Management Guidelines. Technical and procedural advice to avoid environmental harm and to assist in achieving best practice environmental management (BPEM).
- Procedural guide (Environmental Protection Act 1994) - Releases to waters. Best practice guide to achieve water quality objectives and management goals:
- from building sites and small construction sites less than 2500 m2
- from land development sites and construction sites greater than 2500 m2.
Designing for fauna
- Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (June 2024) - Fauna Sensitive Road Design Manual Version 5.1. Provides guidelines for preferred practices to mitigate the impact of road infrastructure on fauna.
- Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) - South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2020-2025. Identifies threats to koala populations and responses to these threats
- Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland Marine Turtle Conservation Strategy. Overarching strategy for marine turtle species management, incorporating monitoring; data management; communication and education; research; partnerships; threat abatement and regulation; and habitat management.
- Council, Environmental Operations Branch - Marine Turtle Conservation Plan 2023-2033.
- Council, Environmental Operations Branch - Regional Flying-Fox Management Plan. This management plan has been developed to address public concerns about flying-fox roosts in urban areas.
Trees
- AS 4970:2025 – Protection of trees on development sites. Provides guidance on the principles for protecting trees on land subject to development.
- AS 2303:2018 – Tree stock for landscape use. Specifies the criteria for the assessment of above-ground and below-ground characteristics of tree stock that are to be supplied for landscape use.
- AS 4373:2007 – Pruning of amenity trees. Specifies methods for pruning trees and gives guidance on correct and uniform practices.
Approvals/authorised person
General
Professional practices should conform to the following legislated requirements:
- Only suitably qualified or licensed professionals should undertake practices such as:
- fauna spotting
- fauna catching
- fauna relocation
- fauna research, monitoring, reporting.
Coastal management district
- Ensure appropriate environmental approvals are obtained and the conditions observed where any building work is proposed in the Coastal Management District.
- Consult with Queensland Government Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP) – State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for application forms, guidelines and information sheets.
Other
- Ensure all relevant approvals are obtained from the appropriate governing bodies and all conditions are observed.
- Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) approval is required for works near state controlled roads. This applies to any part of the road reserve including pathways, kerb and channelling, nature strip and traffic island.
Council additional requirements
Corporate documents
- Refer Overview of corporate documents for guidance.
Corporate liaison
Developer delivered assets
- Council (Development Services) – all works associated with any development application.
Council delivered assets
- Council (Parks and Gardens) – recreation parks, amenity reserves, linear parks, landscape corridors, sports grounds and recreation trails enquiries relating to asset management, business planning and direction.
- Council (Environmental Operations) – recreation trails, foreshore infrastructure, environment reserves, constructed waterbodies and wetlands.
- Council (Environmental Operations - Natural Areas) - Conservation Officer (Wildlife) for information regarding specific fauna.
- Council (Healthy Places) - environmental health, feral animal education and control, vector and pest plant education and control, biosecurity advice.
- Council (Design and Placemaking Services) – recreation parks, amenity reserves, linear parks, landscape corridors, sports grounds, specific purpose (sports), recreation trails and streetscape/centres enquiries relating to design.
- Council (Transport Network Management) – technical and design solutions to facilitate ongoing management and safe operations of road and assets. Water management and drainage solutions. Plus street lighting and electrical infrastructure.
- Council (Sport and Community Venues) – sports ground planning and asset management.
- Council (Waste and Resource Management) – services to both council and community in the area of waste management. Engage for bin location and approvals.
This component is currently in development