You must get a permission to engage in activities that have risk of harm to human health and the environment.
We make permission decisions under the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window) and Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window).
This guidance helps you understand the biodiversity requirements you must meet if you're applying for a permission, exemption, authorisation or designation.
Applications that must include biodiversity information
You must provide biodiversity information when applying for relevant types of permissions. These include:
- authorisations to discharge or dispose of waste (repair, commissioning or decommissioning)
- new permissions, exemptions or amendments (non-administrative) – except:
- following a development licence
- following a development licence exemption
- for activities A10a, A11, A12, or
- for a registration
- permit renewals, except for permits A10a, A11, A12, L05 or L06.
Applications are only relevant if they propose a new or changed:
- discharge to air
- discharge to water
- deposit of waste to land, or
- biosecurity risk that could impact on biodiversity of native flora or fauna.
For other types of applications, do not submit biodiversity information unless requested.
Biodiversity information required
We must consider biodiversity impacts related to certain applications. We do this under a duty on public authorities under Section 4B of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988(opens in a new window).
All relevant applications must include the following information.
Flora and fauna assessment of native vegetation and biodiversity values
You should do an assessment for the activity site and surrounding areas. Include surrounding areas if the proposed activity might cause harm.
Document whether the proposed activity site is:
- within an area that is a critical habitat under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
- within an area proposed to be a critical habitat under this Act
- in an area that has a habitat conservation order.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has more information – visit Victoria's Framework for Conserving Threatened Species.(opens in a new window)
Details of threatened flora or fauna or communities that may be harmed
Provide details of threatened flora or fauna or communities that may be harmed by your proposed activity.
To see what flora and fauna are listed as threatened in Victoria, visit the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act Threatened List(opens in a new window) on the DEECA website.
Include details of any action statements(opens in a new window) (managed by DEECA) and/or management plans for each of these.
Potentially threatening processes
Outline how the proposed activity could contribute to potentially threatening processes(opens in a new window). These are listed on the DEECA website under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.
Include measures to minimise any potentially threatening processes from your proposed activity.
Human health and environment risk assessment
Provide a risk assessment for your activity that covers risk to human health and the environment. Your risk assessment should:
- address the objectives of the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act
- address the relevant environment values of the Environment Reference Standard.
You must also consider all relevant instruments under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act when choosing risk controls. This includes relevant action statements, management plans, determinations and orders.
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