Project: Multiple offsets
Client: Origin Energy (Origin)
2016 – Ongoing
The challenge
Origin has been developing gas fields and associated gas transmission pipelines in Queensland. As part of its initial development, Origin was required to fulfil offset obligations for flora, fauna, and vegetation biodiversity values. To meet these obligations, Origin secured six offset properties across Queensland, including one acquired jointly with Santos and Shell.
Since 2015, five of these offset properties have been actively managed and monitored. Ausecology has overseen Origin’s offsetting portfolio since 2016, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and maintaining ecological integrity.
Comprehensive management
Over the past nine years, Ausecology has been responsible for the comprehensive management of Origin’s offsetting portfolio. This has included:
On-ground management actions
- Firebreak installation and maintenance.
- Conducting ecological burns.
- Weed control.
- Protected plant salvage, translocation, planting, and maintenance.
- Fauna pest management.
Monitoring and reporting
- BioCondition assessments
- Habitat assessments
- Protected plant condition monitoring
- Vegetation transects
- Targeted fauna surveys
Sourcing, surveying, and negotiating
Additionally, Ausecology has played a key role in locating and securing new offset properties for Origin. Recent efforts include conducting additional surveys on a potential offset property and assisting in the development of an Offset Area Management Plan (OAMP). Ausecology also carried out a large-scale GIS desktop assessment to identify suitable offset properties, utilising datasets such as:
- Known fauna records.
- Regulated Vegetation mapping.
- Property size and tenure.
- Proximity to the impact area.
- Future threats to offsets (e.g. exploration permits).
The outcome
Ausecology has successfully managed Origin’s offsetting portfolio, evidenced by contract extensions that have extended our initial five-year agreement into its ninth year. Our adaptive management approach has allowed us to refine strategies based on site conditions and monitoring results, ensuring successful offset outcomes. Regarding the search for additional offsets, Ausecology:
- Identified a long list of potential offset properties and prioritised those with the highest suitability.
- Successfully engaged landholders, with three properties demonstrating both suitable species habitat and landholder interest in offset agreements.
- Initiated detailed site surveys, including GTRE assessments, BioCondition assessments, and habitat quality evaluations to determine final offset suitability.