Frequently asked questions

A species management program is an approved document that outlines how impacts to the breeding places of protected animals will be managed. These programs ensure that any impacts are addressed in accordance with section 335 of the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.

You need a species management program if your planned activities will tamper with an animal breeding place.

If you are unsure whether an animal breeding place is present, a pre-survey by a suitably qualified and experienced person is recommended to determine whether a species management program is required.

An animal breeding place is defined as "a bower, burrow, cave, hollow, nest, or other thing that is commonly used by the animal to incubate or rear its offspring."

Examples include:

• bird nests in trees, shrubs, or on man-made structures (e.g., telecommunication towers)
• tree hollows used by possums, gliders, or parrots
• burrows used by birds, wombats, echidnas, or platypus
• mud nests built by colonial breeding birds (e.g., fairy martins or welcome swallows)
• caves, culverts, or cavities in man-made infrastructure used by microbats for breeding.

Tamper means to "damage, destroy, mark, move, or dig up an animal breeding place." Examples include:

• clearing vegetation containing bird nests or tree hollows
• excavating or filling in burrows
• removing or relocating mud nests from structures
• disturbing caves or cavities used by micro bats during construction or maintenance activities.

Important clarification

A species management program is only required where a physical animal breeding place is present and will be tampered with.

The presence of a protected species alone — including critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near-threatened or special least concern species — does not automatically require a species management program if no animal breeding place is present.

Some protected species, such as koalas and many reptiles, do not typically use a discrete or identifiable breeding place. In these circumstances, a species management program is not required unless an animal breeding place as defined above is identified.

Flying-fox roosts are managed under an authorised flying-fox roost management permit in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and are not managed through a species management program.

If your activities involve any of these actions and an animal breeding place is present, you must obtain an approved species management program before works can proceed. For further guidance, consult the information sheet or contact Wildlife Permits at wildlife@detsi.qld.gov.au

No, an approved species management program is not required if no active breeding place is found during pre-surveys.

However, in some circumstances, an applicant may choose to apply for a species management program as a precautionary measure, particularly for large or complex projects where stopping work to obtain approvals later would be impractical.

Where this approach is taken, the impact management plan must manage impacts as though an animal breeding place has been identified, including implementing all relevant avoidance and mitigation measures in accordance with Table 1 of the information sheet.

If an active breeding place is discovered during works and no species management program is in place, you must stop work immediately and apply for a species management program. The program must be approved before works can continue.

Animal breeding place surveys usually commence with a desktop audit of the species likely to occur in the area. This is followed by an on-ground survey by a suitably qualified and experienced person, with the survey effort tailored to the results of the desktop audit.

Ensure your pre-survey findings are documented, including any evidence of any inactive breeding places where relevant.

Low risk species management programs apply to least concern species (non-colonial breeding).

High risk species management programs apply to critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, threatened, near-threatened, special least concern, or colonial breeders.

Under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, a species is considered special least concern if it is:

• an echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus); or
• a platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus); or
• a species listed under one or more international agreements to which Australia is a party, including agreements relating to migratory birds.

If a species is listed under any of these international agreements, it must be treated as a special least concern species for the purposes of a species management program.

Many migratory birds that are listed as least concern under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 may still be considered special least concern because of these agreements.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to review the relevant species lists and determine whether any species included in their application are listed under these agreements.

Where a species is special least concern, it must be included and managed as a high risk species in the species management program.

If applicants are unsure whether a species is listed under an international agreement, they should seek advice from a suitably qualified ecologist or contact Wildlife Permits for clarification before submitting an application.

A colonial breeder is a species that breeds in groups or colonies, where animals of the same kind co-exist in close association for breeding purposes, with multiple breeding places occurring in close proximity and used at the same time. Colonial breeders will usually hatch and rear young concurrently.

Despite many colonial breeding species being prescribed as least concern species, tampering with the breeding places of colonial breeders can have a significant impact on local and regional populations. As a result, the tampering must be managed accordingly.

For the purposes of a species management program, whether a species is treated as a colonial breeder depends on the nature and context of the breeding place at the site, not just the species’ general breeding behaviour.

For example:

• a large aggregation of nests in a single location, used concurrently, is likely to be considered a colonial breeding place
• a single isolated nest, or a small number of nests that are not used at the same time, may not constitute a colonial breeding place, even for a species that is known to breed colonially elsewhere
• in these circumstances, and where the species is otherwise least concern, the activity may be appropriately managed under a low risk species management program.

Applicants must assess and clearly describe:

• the number, density, and spatial arrangement of breeding places at the site
• whether breeding places are used simultaneously
• the ecological significance of the breeding place in the local context.

Important clarification – congregating species

Some species may gather in large numbers at breeding sites because suitable habitat or resources are limited at that time. This type of congregation does not, on its own, constitute colonial breeding as defined in the application form and information sheet.

For example, frogs may breed in close proximity at ponds or wetlands due to resource availability. This congregation may be driven by environmental conditions rather than animals co-existing in close association for colonial breeding purposes, and frogs are therefore not considered colonial breeders for the purposes of a species management program.

Some species may exhibit both colonial and solitary breeding behaviour, depending on location, habitat, and environmental conditions.

Where breeding places meet the characteristics of a colonial breeding place, the species must be treated as a high risk species for the purposes of the species management program.

If you identify a species as a colonial breeder in your application, you must clearly explain how the breeding place at the project site meets the definition of a colonial breeding place.

This information should be included in the ecological profile and supporting documentation and must be specific to the activity and location being applied for.

In particular, applicants must describe:

• how the species breeds in colonies, including the typical breeding behaviour relevant to the species
• the number, density, and spatial arrangement of breeding places at the site
• whether breeding places are used at the same time
• how the breeding place at the site represents a colonial breeding place, rather than animals congregating due to shared or limited resources.

General statements about a species’ breeding behaviour elsewhere, or reliance on internet searches alone, are not sufficient unless they are clearly linked to the conditions at the project site.

Where this information is not clearly provided, the department may request further information or reassess whether the species has been correctly classified as a colonial breeder for the purposes of the species management program.

Yes. A high risk species management program may also include least concern (non-colonial breeding) animals, provided that all actions comply with Table 1 of the approved High risk species management program for tampering with animal breeding places application form.

When completing the application form, the applicant must indicate this under the “applicable species” section by including wording such as:

“Least concern animals which will be managed in accordance with Table 1”

The supporting species management program document must also include a statement such as:

“This high risk species management program also applies to least concern species which will be managed in accordance with Table 1 of the signed application form “High risk species management program for tampering with animal breeding places’, which forms part of this approval.

Important note for combined programs

Where least concern species are included in a high risk species management program, applicants must not include additional impact management measures for those least concern species in the impact management plan.

Least concern species are authorised to be managed solely in accordance with Table 1 of the approved application form. The department will not assess or approve additional or surplus impact management measures for least concern species beyond those requirements.

Accordingly, least concern species should not be referenced or addressed separately in the impact management plan.

Low risk species management program:

• a map or plan of the proposed impact area.

High risk species management program:

• animal breeding place survey report
• impact management plan
• map of the proposed impact area.

Refer to the information sheet for detailed requirements.

Yes. Your application must include a map that clearly identifies:

• the proposed impact area
• the date and title of the map
• the scale and legend explaining symbols and colours.

For broad-scale projects, such as road networks or large infrastructure developments, include maps at multiple scales to provide both an overview and detailed views of specific impact areas.

Yes. These documents can be combined, provided all required information as specified in Table 1 of the information sheet is included and follows the heading structure in Table 1. This will assist with processing the application.

If documents contain large volumes of irrelevant information or are not clearly structured to address Table 1, assessment may be deemed invalid, delayed or further information may be requested.

No. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) cannot be used as a substitute for an animal breeding place report and impact management plan.

While an EIS may contain information relevant to Table 1 of the information sheet, it typically includes additional information that is not required for species management program assessment. Applicants must submit a separate survey report and impact management plan the clearly address Table 1 requirements.

The maximum approval period of a species management program is three (3) years.

Approval periods may be set as:

• three (3) years from the date of approval; or
• a nominated end date that is within three (3) years from the date the application form was signed; or
• for amendment applications, the existing expiry date of the original approval, unless the amendment seeks to extend the approval period up to the original three-year maximum.

A species management program cannot be extended beyond three (3) years from the original date of approval.

If activities need to continue beyond this period, a new species management program application must be submitted.

Yes. Amendments may be required if there are changes in methodology, geographic extent, species impacted, the person in charge, or other factors.

Applications for amendments must be made using the approved application form.

Low risk programs:

• submit an animal breeding place register (the register) annually; and
• submit the register within 10 business days after expiry.

High risk programs:

• submit the register every 6 months; and
• submit the register within 10 business days after expiry.

Yes. All strategies outlined in Table 1 of the information sheet must be considered. If a strategy cannot be implemented, you must justify why it is not feasible.

You must avoid breeding seasons wherever possible. If avoidance is not feasible, you must explain why and describe how impacts to the active breeding places will be minimised.

The "nature of impact" section must describe how the proposed activities will affect animal breeding places. This information helps the department understand the scale, type, and significance of the impacts being proposed.

The following details must be included:

1. Species information
   • specify the species affected, including their scientific name (for example, Petauroides volans for the greater glider)
   • state the conservation status of each species (for example, vulnerable or endangered)
   • identify the total area impacted (in hectares)
   • identify the number of breeding places affected (for example, five tree hollows or two burrows).
2. Population dynamics and ecology
   • provide details about the local population, breeding ecology, and habitat preferences
   • describe the species’ ecological range, such as whether it is migratory or resident, and its distribution across the region.
3. Direct and indirect impacts
   • direct impacts: activities that directly affect breeding places, such as clearing vegetation containing nests or burrows
   • indirect impacts: effects such as noise, vibration, or light that may disturb breeding behaviour or displace animals.

Tips for presenting information:

• include a map showing the project location and the types and locations of breeding places (for example, tree hollows, burrows, or nests)
• use tables to present information clearly and consistently.

By clearly addressing these points, applicants can help ensure their impact management plan meets the requirements for assessment and avoid delays.

Yes. You can group species with similar breeding place requirements in your impact management plan. This approach can simplify impact management while still ensuring the ecological needs of each species are appropriate addressed.

Examples of grouping by breeding place includes:

• tree hollows (for example, gliders, parrots, owls, tree martins, microbats using tree hollows or loose bark)
• mud nests (for example, welcome swallow or fairy martin nesting under bridges, culverts, tunnels, or building eaves)
• earth-burrowing mammals (echidnas, platypus)
• earth bank or tunnel-nesting birds (for example, rainbow bee-eater, pardalotes)
• ground-nesting species (for example squatter pigeon, black-breasted button-quail)
• amphibians (for example, tusked frog, wallum froglet, giant barred frog, breeding in still or flowing water)
• colonial breeders (for example microbats, gliders, and some birds such as ibis, cormorants, fairy martins, swallows, bee-eaters, pardalote).

Grouping by breeding place type can support efficient mitigation design, such as installing nest boxes, retaining hollow-bearing trees, maintaining aquatic breeding habitats or avoiding disturbance of roosts, while still allowing for species-specific implementation where needed.

Note: Some species may use more than one type of breeding place depending on their breeding behaviour and nesting structure. In these cases, impact management strategies may need to be separated or further refined.

No. A fauna spotter catcher cannot be used as a substitute for managing impacts to breeding places.

While a fauna spotter catcher may assist during clearing activities to safely relocate animals, a species management program focuses on managing impacts to breeding places, not relocating animals.

Your impact management plan must:

• prioritise avoiding or minimising impacts to breeding places
• include specific strategies to manage impacts, such as replacing or translocating breeding places or enhancing or preserving breeding places outside the impact area
• avoid vague or non-committal language, such as "if feasible" or "where possible".

No. Although both fauna spotter catchers and wildlife carers operate under rehabilitation permits, they are authorised to undertake different activities and functions under those permits.

A fauna spotter catcher may transfer an animal to a wildlife carer only if the animal is sick, orphaned, or injured and requires rehabilitation in accordance with the rehabilitation code of practice.

The inability to locate suitable relocation habitat does not authorise the transfer of animals to a wildlife carer.

Under a species management program, relocation strategies must focus on relocating animals to suitable adjacent habitat where they can continue natural behaviours.

Animals must not be routinely transferred to wildlife carers as an alternative to habitat-based relocation.

Construction refers to building or creating new infrastructure or modifying existing infrastructure. This includes activities such as:

• initial construction works (for example, field investigations, relocation of services, and surveys)
• improvements to infrastructure standards
• realignment, widening, or extension of infrastructure and associated assets beyond that of the original works footprint.

Maintenance refers to the upkeep, repair, or servicing of existing infrastructure to maintain its current function. This includes activities such as:

• rehabilitation, replacement, repair, recurrent servicing, and preventative and remedial actions
• removal, alteration, and maintenance of systems and services associated with transport infrastructure or other infrastructure.

The definitions of construction and maintenance are also provided in the ‘key definitions’ section of the species management program application form and should be used when determining the appropriate type of species management program.

Construction activities:

• high risk species management program application is generally required per project
• surveys must be conducted before works to identify animal breeding places
• if breeding places are identified, actions in Table 1 must be followed.

Maintenance activities:

• a region-wide species management program may be granted
• impact management strategies should prioritise avoidance measures, such as scheduling works outside breeding seasons
• assessments are not required unless surveys identify an animal breeding place.

In some cases, the department may agree to a combine construction and maintenance species management program where:

• construction transitions directly into maintenance within the same project footprint
• Impact management measures can be clearly distinguished for each activity type.

To be accepted, the combined species management program must include:

• mapping of the proposed construction footprint and breeding places
• a timeline showing the transition to maintenance
• clear separation of impact management measures.

Applicants should discuss the suitability of a combined species management program with the department during the pre-lodgement stage.