The NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act introduced a new statutory map layer – the Biodiversity Values (BV) Map. It displays properties or parts thereof that are known or likely habitat for Critically Endangered species and / or Critically Endangered Ecological Communities; old-growth forest; and designated riparian (stream-side) protection zones. Due in part to underfunding and a short timeframe imposed by Government, the BV Map can capture areas that should realistically not have been mapped as habitat for the threatened entities. Some of the old-growth forest mapping is outdated and is highly unreliable in some areas. The BV Map had to be very precautionary but as a result, there are instances where it identifies areas as significant when inspection shows that this is unwarranted. Government has already made some systemic amendments to the BV Map, such as removing riparian protection zones in urban areas (zoned Residential).
To date, I have successfully had the BV Map amended on several properties. One instance involved removal of an old-growth forest designation that was unsupportable. Another involved a prospective wetland habitat for a Critically Endangered herb, yet the site was just a seepage zone in a heavily grazed paddock. On a larger scale, most of the village of Tallong has been designated potential habitat for one or other Critically Endangered orchids, and I have directly or indirectly been involved in having properties removed from the BV Map after surveys determined that those properties are not suitable habitat for these species. This can be a relatively low-cost operation but may be limited to particular seasons. Removing a property from the BV Map can effect your ability to sell the property; can influence the sale price; and if you are the proponent for any activity that triggers the BC Act, it can greatly reduce the costs of ecological assessment.
