The cost of environmental offsets for the Yerriyong motorsports complex could exceed $13 million, according to an email circulation by Shoalhaven City Counci’s general manager Russ Pigg.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the email sent to councillors on Monday morning, Mr Pigg explained the figure of $10 million, on which he based a note when the initial motion calling on council to resurrect the project was debated in September, was drawn from council’s experience with a DA for the Huskisson waste depot.
The information was provided by council’s environmental staff, who wrote: “We completed a full Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR) for this project - so essentially exactly what will be required for Yerriyong. Waste Services needed to clear 9.87 ha of similar vegetation with an estimated 27 hollow-bearing trees per hectare.
“For the 9.87ha they will need to retire 719 Ecosystem Credits, 217 Squirrel Glider species credits and 197 Eastern Pygmy-possum credits.
“The Yerriyong site will have additional credit species (e.g. Cryptostylis H) and from memory will require clearing of between 6-8 times as much vegetation.”
The staffer told Mr Pigg council would likely have to buy some if not all the ecosystem credits because it did not own large areas of land with the same vegetation community on it.
“Looking at the price of credits that have been sold in the local area, vegetation similar to what is on site is costing approximately $2580 per credit. So if you were to multiply the 719 credits required for 10Ha by seven that would equal 5033.
“Times this by $2528 and you end up with $12-$13 million - just for the vegetation. The species specific credits will be additional to this figure. Animals and other plants range from $2000-$10,000 per credit depending on what is available elsewhere.”
The staff member told Mr Pigg the biodiversity offset process was market driven and credit prices would rise as demand outsripped supply.
The biodiversity offset costs would be incurred as a condition of consent, which is determined by the Joint Regional Planning Panel and subject to state and federal environmental legislation.
Mr Pigg’s email was circulated the day before council is to again debate and vote on whether to resurrect the project, abandoned by Motorcycling NSW earlier this year.
