Biodiversity

Minimising the impacts on biodiversity

The Australian Government is in the process of implementing a range of measures designed to offset the impacts on biodiversity from the construction of Stage 1 of the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport at a total cost of approximately $200 million.

A majority of the airport site at Badgerys Creek consisted of introduced grassland and cleared land with smaller areas of forest and grassy woodland. While the condition of native vegetation at the site was generally poor to moderate, there were pockets of valuable biodiversity that have been either preserved on-site or will be protected as offsets in the Western Sydney region.

Construction of the airport required the removal of approximately 1,200 hectares of vegetation. Around 360 hectares (approximately 30 per cent) of the area was native vegetation.

Threatened species found on the airport site have been relocated where possible. The airport's design will seek to minimise bird and bat strikes and an environmental conservation zone along Badgerys Creek will be established to conserve riparian corridors and other features of high environmental value.

For more detailed information, see the Environmental Impact Statement and the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan.

Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan

The Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan outlines the biodiversity impacts of construction of Stage 1 of the airport and the package of measures to offset these impacts.

The Australian Government publishes reports on its implementation of the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan annually. In these reports, you can read about the specific activities the Australian Government has already undertaken or is planning to undertake as part of meeting its obligations under the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan.

For more detailed information, see the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan page.