Spotlight on Offsets

During the 2019-2020 period, Healthy Land and Water delivered strong results with our new environmental offsets initiative.

By the end of the year, environmental offsets and associated projects had made a significant contribution to Healthy Land and Water's 'Community Natural Asset Investment Reserve' and had made a significant contribution to the environmental health of South East Queensland.

To date, the environmental offsets team has secured nine contracts. Six are for professional services and three are for on-ground works, including:

  • Cedar Grove WWTP nutrient offset on the Logan River
  • Bellemere nutrient offset on the Caboolture River
  • Urban Utilities Laidley Creek site maintenance

Cedar Grove was a large-scale project that despite significant challenges, Healthy Land and Water was pleased to deliver a great outcome that will assist in meeting regulatory requirements and stabilise a significant section of the Logan River. This was achieved in a compressed timeframe due to the client's regulatory deadlines, with the additional challenge of the work being undertaken during the heat and drought of late 2019, followed by a significant flow event that covered the project site.

 

"Professional services work has continued throughout the year, primarily focused on developing and applying a Nutrient Offset portfolio development process which enables clients to meet assurance that future projects are in the best location and represent value for money"

- Scott Jose, General Manager - Environmental Offsets

This process integrates Healthy Land and Water’s unique GIS capabilities, unmatched on-ground local catchment knowledge, robust project development processes and client needs by way of a custom multifaceted portfolio evaluation matrix.

Next year will see a focus on diversification, with works having commenced in the field to support use of wetlands for nutrient offsets and consideration of land management practice change for consideration in nutrient abatement.

Healthy Land and Water is also aiming to progress leadership and action on pollutant loads across South East Queensland with our Integrated Nutrient Management methodology, in conjunction with our utility, local and state government partners.  This methodology is based on scenario planning to answer the questions of why, how and what in forward planning for South East Queensland's impacts and needs.