Biodiversity is an important issue for Downer, our customers and the broader community. Biodiversity is fundamental to ensuring the survival of plant and animal species, genetic diversity, and natural ecosystems.

These natural ecosystems supply clean water and air, contribute to food security, human health and wellbeing, and also influence local livelihoods and communities.

In Australia, connection to and caring for nature and country have been fundamental to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture over thousands of years. Aotearoa New Zealand is an internationally recognised world ‘hotspot’ for biodiversity, and in Māori culture, there is a deep connection between people, the land and to the natural world. Improving environmental guardianship supports environmental broader outcomes sought by the Aotearoa New Zealand Government. 

Biodiversity is fundamental to ensuring the survival of plant and animal species, genetic diversity, and natural ecosystems. These natural ecosystems supply clean water and air, contribute to food security, human health and wellbeing, and also influence local livelihoods and communities.

Downer’s activities, products and services (for example, construction, manufacturing plants, transport infrastructure, pollution, habitat conversion) means there is potential for operational sites owned, leased or managed by Downer to negatively impact the biodiversity of an area through land use change, pollution, water quality degradation, chemical and waste contamination, noise or other disturbances.  Downer’s approach to biodiversity, conservation and land use management is to apply our 10 Environmental Principles and conduct our activities in a responsible and compliant manner that best protects biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

Downer operates in areas of high biodiversity significance, due to the isolation and diverse geography and climate in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and across the Pacific Islands, allowing unique flora and fauna to develop. It is an issue that our customers trust us to manage on their behalf with the utmost diligence. Biodiversity is the responsibility of the Executive management and reported to the Board Zero Harm Committee where necessary.

In Australia, we commit to the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, minimise, restore and offset potential or actual impacts from these activities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we commit to no more than minor adverse effects on the environment and avoid, remedy or mitigate any actual or potential adverse effects of our activities.

Prior to disturbance activities, ecological assessments are undertaken to identify key species and habitats. Downer commits to, and requires its supply chain to, avoid operational activities near sites holding biodiversity of global or national significance. For further information, please refer to Downer’s Biodiversity of National Significance Register.

Downer or our customers seek approval from the relevant regulatory authority in each country. Regardless of who receives the approvals, Downer’s management response and controls are the same and apply to all our businesses, suppliers and subcontractors. Downer has well established management procedures and standards, which address biodiversity risks, including for:

  • Biosecurity
  • Protecting flora and fauna
  • Land, air and water pollution
  • Noise and vibration
  • Land or vegetation disturbance

Downer takes flora and fauna into consideration when planning projects that could potentially affect areas with high biodiversity value. We follow all local, State and national requirements, including the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) in Australia and the Resource Management Act 1991, Conservation Act 1987, Wildlife Act 1953, and Native Plants Protection Act 1934 in Aotearoa New Zealand, which align with the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

At a site level, a threatened species management plan and a conservation plan are created for each site when an approval is triggered. These plans include preventative and mitigatory controls to protect biodiversity in affected areas. In some circumstances, offsets may be required where our operations are unable to achieve the desired net benefit to local species. 

Flora and Fauna

Downer takes flora and fauna into consideration when planning projects that could potentially impact areas with high biodiversity value. In these circumstances, Downer or our customers will seek approval from the relevant regulatory authority and commit to the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, minimise, restore and offset potential or actual impacts from these activities.  For further information, please refer to Downer’s Biodiversity of National Significance Register.

Downer takes all practicable measures to minimise any impact on flora and fauna on or next to work sites and conducts an initial risk assessment to determine the potential presence of protected and significant flora and fauna. This occurs through consultation with the landowners, regulatory authorities and use of maps and relevant tools or platforms.

At Downer, a flora and fauna survey and assessment must be conducted in conjunction with project design and methodology and must take into consideration any potential for adverse impacts on protected and significant flora and fauna. Where protected and significant species is impacted, or has the potential to be impacted, suitably qualified experts are engaged to complete an ecological assessment. The outcome of the native survey and assessment forms the basis for any actions to protect native flora and fauna.

In some circumstances, Downer may need to clear vegetation for road, transmission or water infrastructure. Downer conducts these works per relevant environmental approvals and conditions and will undertake revegetation or relocation activities as required.

Biosecurity

Downer must manage biosecurity threats consisting of noxious weeds, pathogens and animal pests including notifiable organisms in Aotearoa New Zealand. We understand that biosecurity risks (pests and pathogens) can be transported to and from our worksites – and we are conscious of the impact that could have on local ecosystem, crops and animals. This is controlled through our procedures and monitoring and inspection regime. Actions taken to ensure that biosecurity threats are effectively managed include:

  • Preventing their spread in transit to and from fixed and mobile sites
  • Preventing their spread while on sites
  • Maximising the chances of eradication of those threats on all Downer sites
  • Ensuring a first self-assessment is conducted to determine the potential presence of noxious weeds, pathogens or pests prior to project commencement. This can be achieved through:
  • Consultation with the landowner and local regulatory authorities
  • By reviewing project specific environmental planning and approval documentation
  • By considering the potential for importing noxious weeds, pathogens or pests into the country or onto the project as part of the activities (e.g. importing equipment).