Environmental Policy, Planning & NRM

Urbaqua is a strong and responsible advocate of innovative and environmentally sensitive development, and has in turn developed a comprehensive and extensive project history in its broad core service area of environmental and sustainability policy, management, planning and natural resource management (NRM). This reflects our high and diverse level of expertise in this field, which includes:

  • State of the Environment reporting
  • Local Government Environmental Strategies
  • Environmental management plans
  • Sustainability strategies, plans and initiatives (including development of performance measures, benchmarks and criteria)
  • Environmental policies (development of objectives and policy measures, delivery framework and mechanisms – responsibilities, costing and timing, linkages to regulatory or other statutory requirements, SWOT analysis, and application of State, National and Internationally used policies to specific local circumstances)
  • Environmental Reviews to support planning decision-making (including opportunities and constraints assessments)
  • PER, SEA and ER Environmental impact assessment documentation, negotiation and approvals
  • EPBC Act referrals, assessment documentation and negotiation
  • Bushfire risk assessments (including Bushfire Attack Level (BAL), fuel load and hazard assessments)
  • Subdivision and Development Fire Management Plans (including bushfire protection measured and environmental management plans with fire management considerations)
  • Foreshore management plans
  • Wetland management plans and reclassification reporting
  • Mosquito and midge management plans
  • Land use capability assessments
  • Biodiversity conservation incentives strategies

Urbaqua makes every effort to undertake best practice research to deliver optimal outcomes for our clients.

Urbaqua also provides planning support services in this core area including:

  • Due diligence investigations
  • Stakeholder engagement (see Workshop Facilitation, Community Engagement & Training for further details)
  • Implementation planning and guidance
  • Integrated water management strategies and feasibility
  • Climate appropriate urban form and landscapes planning and integration
  • Water service planning
  • Water efficiency and conservation optimisation
  • Non-drinking water approvals process guidance and management

Example projects:

  • State of the Environment Report 2013: Pilbara
  • Environmental report for Golden Gateway Local Structure Plan
  • Bushfire Management Plan: Doley Rd, Byford
  • Bushfire & Environmental Planning Services for Forrestfield Shopping Centre Master Plan
  • Environmental report: Doley Rd, Byford
  • Environmental Report: Viveash Stage 2
  • Report on Environment for Forrestfield/Wattle Grove Foothills Area
  • City of Perth Environment Strategy and Policy
  • Toodyay Environmental Management Strategy
  • Shire of Broome Environmental Management Strategy
  • City of Greater Geraldton Local Planning Strategy and Local Planning Scheme
  • City of Canning Local Environmental Management Strategy
  • City of Karratha Environmental Strategy
  • Lancelin Tourist Park, Environmental investigations
  • Land Development in Groundwater Constrained Environments Working Group
  • Biodiversity Conservation Incentives Strategy for Private Landholders in Greater Geraldton