Biosis facilitates an approach that enables multidisciplinary project teams to negotiate complex issues around development, active management and monitoring of significant cultural and ecological sites.
Biosis consulted on the rezoning and drafting of the Aurora Development Plan at a time when Victoria’s previous ‘Net Gain’ offset policy came into play. As such, the then Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE, now DELWP) considered the development a case study for implementing its Net Gain policy. Biosis continues to assist Aurora to meet their ongoing offset obligations.

Aurora is home to four nationally significant species for which Biosis undertakes targeted surveys – Golden Sun Moth (GSM), Growling Grass Frog (GGF), Matted Flax-lily (MFL) and there is habitat for Striped Legless Lizard (SLL). Aurora also includes extensive Aboriginal camp sites and the archaeological remains of several German and Irish bluestone houses dating from the 1850s.

Biosis consulted on the successful approval submission required under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) before the Aurora development was granted approval. Biosis continues to assist Aurora in meeting their ongoing EPBC Act obligations.

Together with Development Victoria, Biosis is responsible for the creation and protection of 14 conservation reserves at Aurora. These reserves cover over 140 hectares and are habitat for important animal and plant species. Biosis has monitored the well-being of these reserves for over 10 years.

With the leading expertise of Biosis and our integrated assessments of ecology and heritage, we were also able to include many of the Aboriginal camp sites in the Aurora conservation reserves.These sites have been protected with landscape architects creating interpretative schemes that celebrate our Aboriginal heritage and add value to the development for future property owners.

The improved habitat for threatened species within the reserves is monitored continuously by Biosis and provides great insights that are of benefit to other projects across the spectrum. The below link provides a case study of the translocation of Growling Grass Frog at Aurora: https://biosis.webdesignerdirectory.com.au/translocation-of-growling-grass-frog/

There are now about a dozen preserved aboriginal sites and several historic archaeological sites which are retained, conserved and interpreted within a modern integrated planned residential community.

Biosis can assist you to design and manage your projects and developments to balance biodiversity, cultural heritage and daily use; habitat for plants and animals, links to our cultural past and life and work for people.

Today and tomorrow, know where you stand with Biosis.