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Mission Statement

Our Services

Our Team

Some development projects require additional assessment of impacts on threatened species. Our firm is highly experienced in the required field survey techniques and the preparation of Species Impact Statements (SIS).

Examples:

· SIS for proposed Industrial Unit Development at Mt Kuring-gai (Sydney) for Brian Hatch Timber Co (2004)

· SIS for SEPP5 Development, Ruttleys Rd, Wyee (2003)

· SIS for proposed private Timber Harvesting Operation near Nowendoc (1997)

Ecotone’s qualified, experienced staff are able to act as an Expert Witness/Court Appointed Expert and provide Expert Witness reports and Statements of Evidence (SOE) for the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

Examples:

· Provision of Expert Report and evidence as Court Appointed Expert regarding tree removal at Arrawarra Caravan Park (2006)

· Provision of SOE as Expert Witness for NSW DIPNR regarding fauna issues related to the alleged clearing of 40ha of land at Belford (2004)

· Provision of SOE as Expert Witness for Ronro Pty Ltd regarding a proposed residential development at Tareebin Road, Nelson Bay (2003)

Ecotone’s qualified, trained staff are experienced in nestbox installation and monitoring fauna use of nestboxes. We are currently involved in a number of long-term nestbox monitoring programs in the Hunter and Central Coast.

Examples:

· Installation and monitoring of 20 nest boxes at Halcombe Hill for the RTA

(2005-2008)

· Installation and monitoring of 20 nest boxes for Squirrel Glider habitat management at Macquarie Park for Delaware Developments Pty Ltd (2003-ongoing)

· Installation and monitoring of 150 nest boxes and two elevated rope arboreal mammal crossings at Warnervale Industrial Park (2000-2005)

We are experienced in the preparation of flora and fauna management plans (particularly for threatened species) and Ecotone has been involved in a number of short to long term flora and fauna monitoring projects throughout NSW.

Examples:

· Monitoring of Fauna Impacts (particularly Masked Owl and Squirrel Glider populations) during and post construction of the West Charlestown Bypass for the RTA (2000-2007)

· Monitoring of Flora and Fauna Impacts during the construction of the Coolongolook to Wang Wauk section of the Pacific Highway for the RTA (2000-2002)

· Millfield Bridge Bat Management Plan for Maunsell McIntyre and the RTA (2001)

Ray and Narawan Williams are both keen Wildlife Photographers and have contributed to a number of photographic reference and other publications, including:

· A Guide to Berowra Valley Regional Park (2001)

· Caring for Kangaroos and Wallabies (1999) ($15 available direct from Ecotone)

· The Mammals of Australia (1995)

· DECC magazines

· Australian Museum Photo Library

Ray Williams is recognised as an authority on microbats in NSW and holds a current licence for bat banding. All of our fauna field staff have been vaccinated against Australian Bat Lyssavirus and are experienced in bat handling and trapping techniques. Our specialised bat services include microbat call analysis, bat surveys, impact assessment, population monitoring, bat banding and radio-telemetry.

Examples:

· Review of Best Practice for Bats in Bridges for the RTA (2008)

· Bat Exclusion and Roost Relocation for the replacement of the

  wooden bridge at Millfield for the RTA (2001-2005)

· Bat Survey at Mallee Cliffs National Park for DECC (1996)

Ecotone provides Bushland Regeneration, Vegetation and Habitat Management advice for Natural or Disturbed Areas.

Examples:

· Conservation Management Plan for Charlton Christian College (2008)

· SIS and Bushland Management Plan for the proposed final stages of the Macquarie Park residential subdivision in Newcastle for Delaware Developments Pty Ltd (2003)

· Preparation of a Habitat Management Strategy for the Hunter Employment Zone Industrial Development site near Cessnock for Cessnock City Council (2002)

Ecotone Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd

ABN 67 070 127 409

Ecotone has been involved in a number of broad-scale flora, fauna and vegetation mapping projects. We operate MapInfo GIS software and are capable of working with a range of other GIS and mapping programs.

Examples:

· Threatened Fauna Surveys and Habitat Mapping using MapInfo for the Lower Hunter & Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (LHCCREMS) (2001)

· Vegetation Mapping for the Ben Halls Gap National Park for DECC (1996)

Our team has over 80 years cumulative experience in ecological and environmental studies and where the necessary expertise is not available in-house, the services of a number of recognised specialists are available. These include expertise in Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Bushfire Hazard Assessment, Herpetology, Geology, Soil Science and Indigenous Cultural Heritage.

We are experienced in conducting specialist ecological research, particularly into habitat requirements and population characteristics of threatened flora and fauna species. Our staff are licensed by DECC (NSW) to undertake live fauna trapping and threatened flora surveys. The firm holds Animal Research Authorities and licences from NSW Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Unit for a wide range of techniques. In the near future we intend to obtain similar licences throughout Australia.

Examples:

· Fauna assemblage investigations within Worimi Conservation Lands for DECC (2008).

· Balickera Tunnel Bat Colony Research for Hunter Water Corporation (1997-2001).

· Investigation into habitat characteristics, abundance and distribution of a new plant species, Persoonia pauciflora, in the North Rothbury area for DECC (1999).

We have a comprehensive array of field survey equipment, enabling field staff to successfully and comprehensively complete large-scale flora and fauna surveys, including specialist bat surveys. All field staff have considerable experience in arid and remote areas and the firm is fully equipped to support extended field work in such areas.

Examples:

· Specialist Biodiversity Studies for the preparation of Local Environment Studies at Morisset and Teralba for Lake Macquarie City Council (2007-2008)

· Flora and Fauna Surveys for the Proposed Warnervale Town Centre and Railway Interchange for RailCorp and Landcom (2005)

· Habitat Assessment and Fauna Surveys for the Yerranderie Silver Mine Rehabilitation Project for NSW Department of Mineral Resources (2005)

· Team Leadership and/or Team Member for Comprehensive Regional Assessments (CRA) of Fauna in central eastern NSW for DECC (1997-2003)

· Flora and Fauna Surveys around Lake Victoria and Threatened Species Impact Assessments for South Australian Water (1997)

· Flora Surveys of bushland remnants within the Hawkesbury LGA for the Western Sydney Biodiversity Study for the DECC (1996)

· Comprehensive Fauna Surveys, Data Analysis and Mapping for the Wingham Management Area EIS; the Gloucester-Chichester Management Area EIS; and the Morisset Management Area EIS for Forests NSW (1990’s).

· Biodiversity Surveys over four seasons of the perimeter lands around Mt Piper Power Station and Thompson’s Ck Dam for Pacific Power and Delta Electricity (1995-96)

Ecotone holds all relevant insurances and our staff are fully versed and up-to-date on the requirements of the latest environmental legislation. We have broad experience in preparing Threatened Species and Ecological Impact Assessment Reports.

Examples:

· Ecology Impact Assessment for Narrabri Coal Pty Ltd (2007)

· Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment for Wollondilly Anglican College at Tahmoor for Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation (2003-2006)

· Flora and Fauna Surveys and Ecological Impact Assessment for the EIS for the proposed Lane Cove Tunnel for SKM and the RTA (2002)

· Flora and Fauna Surveys and Ecological Impact Assessment for the EIS for the Westside Mine Southern Extension at Wakefield for Umwelt Australia and Oceanic Coal (2002)

· Ecological Constraints Analysis for nine route options for two proposed Tomago to Nelson Bay feeder lines for Energy Australia (2002)

· Flora and Fauna Impact Assessment for the proposed Olympic Roads and Transport Authority Bus and Coach Terminal at Randwick (2000)

Ecological Research

Flora, Fauna & Biodiversity Surveys

Specialised Bat Studies

Impact Assessment

Bushland/Vegetation Management Plans

Species Impact Statements

Threatened Species Monitoring and Management

Ecotone has been involved in a number of wetland studies and studies required as part of Environmental Impact Statements on land affected by SEPP No. 14 - Coastal Wetlands legislation in NSW. We also undertake basic Aquatic Habitat Assessment and Impact Assessment in accordance with the NSW Fisheries guidelines and the requirements of the NSW Fisheries Management Act, 1994.

Examples:

· Mangrove and Streambank Assessment for the Pitt Street Waterfront Precinct at Taree for SKM Pty Ltd (2008)

· Ecological Input for the Construction of Replacement Green & Golden Bell Frog Habitat at the Homebush Bay brick pit for the Olympic Coordination Authority (OCA) during 1999/2000

Wetland and Aquatic Studies

Nestbox Installation and Monitoring

Wildlife Photography

GIS/Mapping Services

Expert Witness at L&EC

© Ecotone (2010)

Phone:  (02) 4968 4901

Fax:      (02) 4968 4960

E-mail:  info@ecotoneconsultants.com.au

Careers With Us

Stefan Rose is a fully accredited BioBanking Assessor authorised to carry out assessments and biodiversity surveys under the BioBanking Scheme.

BioBanking Assessment

Ecotone is able to provide vertebrate pest management and monitoring services, including the preparation of Conservation Risk Assessments and Vertebrate Pest Management Plans. Our pest management officer, Adam Greenhalgh, has created and implemented management strategies for Cane Toads and Wild Pigs and assisted in the review of the Northern Rivers Region Pest Management Strategy.

Vertebrate Pest Management