Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan

The Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan (BODP) outlines measures for offsetting significant impacts on threatened and endangered ecosystems and species that were present on the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) site prior to the commencement of construction activities.

The BODP was prepared as a condition of the Airport Plan and approved by the former Department of the Environment and Energy (now Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) on 24 August 2018.

The BODP was developed in consultation with a Biodiversity Experts Group, which included representatives from the former NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) (now NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment), NSW Government Local Land Services, local councils in the vicinity of the project, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, other Western Sydney Aboriginal stakeholder groups, a university and conservation groups.

The BODP is built upon the biodiversity assessment and offset strategy which formed part of the 2016 Western Sydney Airport Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), specified sections of the environmental management framework in the EIS and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Environmental Offsets Policy October 2012.

Central components of the BODP include:

  • Restoration and management of at least 900 hectares of native vegetation, including Cumberland Plain Woodland, at the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills
  • Purchase of BioBanking credits through the NSW Biodiversity Offsets Scheme
  • A contribution to the Greening Australia Cumberland Seed Hub program to develop a reliable source of native seed
  • Acquisition of suitable parcels of land to be managed by local conservation groups
  • A range of other compensatory measures.

Download the Biodiversity Offset Delivery Plan (PDF: 2.5 MB)

BODP Implementation Report

Following the approval of the BODP by the former Department of Environment and Energy (Environment Department), the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Department) is required to report on the implementation of the BODP to the Environment Department every 12 months until all biodiversity offsets under the BODP have been secured or implemented. The Department must publish these BODP Implementation Reports on its website (see condition 47(3) of the Airport Plan).

The 2019 BODP Implementation Report demonstrates the progress the Department has made implementing the approved BODP for the 12-month period August 2018 to August 2019.

Download the 2019 BODP Implementation Report (PDF: 43 MB)

The 2020 BODP Implementation Report demonstrates the progress the Department has made implementing the approved BODP for the 12-month period August 2019 to August 2020.

Download the 2020 BODP Implementation Report (PDF: 8.4 MB)

The 2021 BODP Implementation Report demonstrates the progress the Department has made implementing the approved BODP for the 12-month period August 2020 to August 2021.

Download the 2021 BODP Implementation Report (PDF: 2.4 MB)

The 2022 BODP Implementation Report demonstrates the progress the Department has made implementing the approved BODP for the 12-month period August 2021 to August 2022.

Download the 2022 BODP Implementation Report (PDF: 2MB) 

The 2023 BODP Implementation Report demonstrates the progress the Department has made implementing the approved BODP for the 12-month period August 2022 to August 2023.

Download the 2023 BODP Implementation Report (PDF: 2.5MB)

The Department continues to make progress in securing its remaining offset obligations.

Threatened Flora Propagation Program

The Department and the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (ABGMA) have achieved an important set of milestones under the Threatened Flora Propagation Program (TFPP). Stage 1 of the TFPP has been completed along with a substantial component of Stage 2. The TFPP is a requirement under Condition 33 of the Airport Plan.

Stage 1 involved the salvage and propagation of three threatened plant species from the Airport Site: Pimelea spicata, Marsdenia viridiflora and Pultenaea parviflora. The propagated plants will be used in conservation work across Western Sydney and in further propagation trials.

Stage 2 is focusing on a genetic analysis of the endangered Pimelea spicata population from the Airport Site as compared with other populations across the region. The work has allowed ABGMA to develop a genetically diverse potted collection of Pimelea spicata to be used for future conservation work.

Both Stage 1 and Stage 2 reports can be found on the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney website.

Defence Establishment Orchard Hills Offset Plan

As part of the BODP for WSI, the Department has committed to long-term, fully funded restoration and improvement of the 979-hectare offset site at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills (DEOH).

The DEOH site has similar flora to the Western Sydney Airport site, in particular Cumberland Plain Woodland.  The prescribed restoration activities outlined in the Orchard Hills Offset Area Offset Plan will result in significant improvements to the site and make a large contribution towards the Department’s biodiversity offset obligations set out in the BODP.

Download the Defence Orchard Hills Offset Area Offset Plan (PDF: 7 MB)