Download PDF - Stockland

Our natural environment
Biodiversity
In our endeavour to create sustainable
developments we continue to examine
how we impact the land we develop.
Improving our knowledge of the plants,
animals and ecosystems that are part
of, or adjacent to, our sites enables us
to retain and improve the biodiversity
value of the land within our projects.
Adequately assessing the biodiversity
value of the sites we own and acquire also
reduces the risk of planning delays. These
delays may arise from environmental
conservation legislation at state and
federal levels of government, or from
community concerns. In cases where we
are developing a greenfield site, or the site
has ecological or conservation value, we
are required to produce an Environmental
Impact Assessment.
Development typically impacts
biodiversity through the removal of
native vegetation. As a result threatened
species and their habitats, or corridors
through which species migrate and
forage, may be impacted.
Examples of our approach to preserving
and remediating environmentally significant
landholdings include the Carnaby’s Black
Cockatoo case study, relocating heathland
at our Brightwater project in Queensland
and remediating ground contamination
at our Glenrose shopping centre.
Our Residential sustainability policy
includes a requirement for each project to
conduct an ecological and/or biodiversity
assessment to identify and preserve
areas of prime significance. These
assessments will contribute to building
an understanding of our net biodiversity
impacts and opportunities.
Biodiversity management plans
Biodiversity assessments have shown
that several of our landholdings serve as
habitat for threatened species. In FY10
we reviewed our Residential Communities
and Apartment projects – 33 per cent
of these have threatened species
or communities located on, or near,
the projects.
A quarter of the projects reviewed have
biodiversity plans in place. Some approval
authorities have required biodiversity
management plans regardless of whether
there are threatened species or impacted
flora and fauna communities.
Register of threatened species
In the past year we have refined our
register of threatened species and
communities so that we can better
understand our biodiversity holdings.
Our register includes:
• The area of our land that provides
habitat for threatened species, and
the entire area of local land that forms
the habitat of threatened species.
In each case, the relevant regulatory
authority reviews our proposal. The
outcome of this review process is that
the habitat will usually be conserved
on site or offset.
• The area of land that provides habitat
for threatened species that has
been or is to be cleared. Species
habitat may either be maintained
within the development or cleared
to accommodate development
construction. We expect up to about
170 hectares may be cleared in the
projects reported this year, out of
a total of 850 hectares serving as
habitat to threatened species. Some
of these projects remain in planning
stages. This number may change
as a result of further planning and
approval processes. The remaining
680 hectares of habitat to threatened
species on our sites will likely be
secured for ongoing conservation.
• The area of land that has been
regenerated or improved to provide
habitat for threatened species. At this
stage, about 55 hectares of land is
under restoration nationally, including
revegetation and weed removal.
In FY11 we will use the knowledge gained
through the use of our species register
and management plans to review our
biodiversity approach. We will develop
best practice case studies of biodiversity
management which will enable us to
improve the capability of our development
managers and their project teams.
Biodiversity project updates
Brightwater heath translocation
process
In 2008 we reported on our $5 million
heath translocation project at
Brightwater on Queensland’s Sunshine
Coast. The project was a success, with
the relocated heath taking well. Ongoing
monitoring of the translocation is being
undertaken by an approved independent
arborist. The monitoring has confirmed
that the performance requirements
for the health of the heath-land,
post-translocation, are being met or
are progressing as expected. A further
18 months of monitoring is required
in accordance with the approvals, but
we are confident that the translocation
will remain a success throughout and
beyond this monitoring period.
Glenrose contamination
As part of our demolition, remediation
and proposed redevelopment
works, we continue to monitor and
manage the ground contamination
we inherited when we acquired the
Stockland Glenrose shopping centre
in Northern Sydney. Indoor air-quality
testing began in February 2010 in
the operating parts of the centre
and centre management office. A
specialist consultant conducted a risk
assessment for retailers, management
and visitors and indicated that there is
no adverse impact on human health. In
March 2010, a six-month groundwater
remediation pilot trial commenced
as part of a Remediation Action Plan
using a ‘biostimulation’ strategy.
Further testing will continue to mid-2010
in order to make a definitive assessment
of the trial.
Stockland Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Report June 2010
83