Environmental Consulting Services
28 South Environmental provides environmental consulting services across Queensland and New South Wales, helping clients navigate environmental planning, ecology, approvals and complex regulatory requirements.
Our multidisciplinary team combines strategic planning, technical expertise and practical project experience to identify environmental constraints early, develop effective approval pathways and support projects from due diligence through to delivery.
From EPBC Act referrals and State and Local Government approvals to ecological surveys, environmental impact assessment, biodiversity offsets and management planning, we provide clear, commercially focused advice that helps clients manage risk and progress projects with confidence.
EPBC Act referrals, assessment & approvals
28 South Environmental provides strategic advice across the full Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) approval pathway, from early due diligence and referral strategy through to assessment, approval conditions and offsets.
Our team has extensive experience identifying Matters of National Environmental Significance, preparing EPBC Act referrals and supporting projects through Commonwealth assessment and approval processes. We work closely with clients to understand project risk early and develop practical strategies that can reduce delays, avoid unnecessary assessment and achieve commercially workable outcomes.
Importantly, we also understand when an EPBC Act referral may not be required. Early advice can help determine whether impacts can be avoided or reduced through project design, potentially providing greater certainty before significant time and cost are committed.
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State & local government approvals & permits
28 South Environmental supports projects through State and Local Government environmental planning and approval processes across Queensland and New South Wales, with additional experience in Victoria.
We help clients identify applicable approval pathways, environmental constraints and regulatory requirements early, then develop practical strategies to keep projects moving.
Our team has extensive experience working on projects in environmentally sensitive areas, projects with complex approval pathways and developments subject to significant community or stakeholder interest. We work closely with project teams and regulators to resolve issues early and achieve clear, practical approval outcomes.
Early engagement can often reduce approval risk, avoid unnecessary delays and provide greater certainty for project design and delivery.
Environmental impact assessments
28 South Environmental manages and coordinates environmental impact assessments for complex projects across Queensland and New South Wales.
Our team can lead multidisciplinary assessments from early scoping through to preparation of environmental documentation, bringing together technical specialists and ensuring environmental risks, approval requirements and project constraints are clearly understood.
In Queensland, our experience includes assessment processes under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, Planning Act 2016, State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and the EPBC Act.
In New South Wales, we support environmental assessment processes including Reviews of Environmental Factors (REFs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) and the technical studies required for Part 4 and Part 5 developments.
By coordinating environmental inputs early, we help project teams identify key issues, manage assessment requirements efficiently and develop practical strategies that support both approval and project delivery.
Expert witness (QLD & NSW)
28 South Environmental provides experienced environmental expert witness services for matters before the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, Queensland Land Court and NSW Land and Environment Court.
Our team has provided expert advice across residential and industrial development, tourism and ecotourism, recreation, rural development, quarrying, infrastructure and land-clearing matters.
We combine strong technical expertise with a clear understanding of planning and environmental legislation, helping clients, legal teams and decision-makers understand complex environmental issues and their implications.
Our experts have advised on more than 80 matters, providing independent, evidence-based opinions supported by practical industry experience.
Biodiversity offsets
Biodiversity offset requirements can have a significant impact on project viability, so understanding potential liabilities early is critical.
28 South Environmental provides strategic advice on biodiversity offset requirements at Commonwealth, State and Local Government levels, helping clients understand likely obligations during due diligence, project design and approvals.
Our team can develop and coordinate practical offset strategies that balance regulatory requirements with project cost, programme and long-term management considerations. Where required, we can also support the identification of suitable offset opportunities and coordinate on-ground delivery.
In New South Wales, our Biodiversity Assessment Method (BAM) accredited assessors have experience working with the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme (BOS) and calculating ecosystem and species credit obligations for development projects.
We work closely with clients to identify offset risks early, explore feasible options and develop commercially practical strategies that support both project delivery and meaningful conservation outcomes.
Ecological surveys & assessments
28 South Environmental provides ecological surveys and assessments to support project planning, due diligence, environmental approvals and on-ground delivery.
Our ecologists work across a wide range of environments and project types, undertaking targeted and general flora and fauna surveys, habitat assessments, threatened species investigations and ecological constraint mapping.
We help clients understand ecological values and potential project risks early, so those issues can be considered in site selection, design and approval strategy before they become more difficult or costly to resolve.
Our team can support projects from preliminary desktop assessment through to detailed field surveys, impact assessment, mitigation measures and post-approval ecological requirements.
Where projects involve sensitive species, wetlands or other significant ecological values, we work closely with project teams to develop practical strategies that protect environmental values while supporting achievable project outcomes.
Related insights:
Protecting Sensitive Species Starts Long Before Construction Begins
A Mapped Wetland Does Not Always Mean 50 Metres of Your Site Is Untouchable
Strategic planning & development
28 South Environmental provides strategic environmental planning and policy advice to support land use planning, infrastructure delivery and long-term development outcomes.
Our team works with government, developers and project teams to identify environmental constraints and opportunities early, helping shape planning strategies that are practical, defensible and aligned with regulatory requirements.
We can support strategic planning processes through environmental constraints analysis, policy review, planning scheme input, development of environmental strategies and advice on how ecological and approval considerations can be incorporated into broader land use planning.
By bringing environmental expertise into the planning process early, we help reduce downstream approval risk, improve project certainty and support better-informed decision-making.
Due Diligence Advice
28 South Environmental provides environmental due diligence and auditing services to help clients understand environmental risks, obligations and potential liabilities before key project or investment decisions are made.
Our team can review sites, projects and portfolios to identify environmental constraints, approval requirements, compliance issues and other matters that may affect development potential, acquisition, financing or delivery.
We support clients through desktop reviews, site inspections, approval and compliance checks, environmental risk assessments and technical review of existing documentation.
Where issues are identified, we provide clear, practical advice on their significance and the steps available to manage or resolve them.
Early environmental due diligence can help avoid unexpected costs, programme delays and approval risks, giving clients greater confidence before committing to a site, transaction or project pathway.
Management plans
28 South Environmental prepares practical, project-specific environmental management plans to support construction, operation and ongoing compliance requirements.
Our team develops management plans that translate approval conditions, legislative obligations and environmental commitments into clear actions that can be implemented on site.
Depending on the project, this may include measures for erosion and sediment control, water quality, flora and fauna protection, biosecurity, noise, dust, waste, rehabilitation and incident response.
We work closely with project managers, contractors and technical specialists to make sure environmental requirements are practical, clearly assigned and integrated into day-to-day project delivery.
Where required, we can also support implementation through environmental inspections, monitoring, compliance reviews and updates to management measures as projects progress.
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