We achieve our vision through combining our ecological expertise with our detailed understanding of environmental and planning regulations. We use this knowledge to consistently add value and deliver high quality outcomes for our clients.

The best results need more than just the right expertise. We believe that exceptional outcomes are realised by a skilled and cohesive team with a shared vision.

We recognise that environmental considerations are just one aspect of a project, and we understand the importance of an integrated approach. We are committed to collaborating with our clients and project partners to create solutions, identify opportunities, and deliver outstanding results.

Client Focus

We care about our clients and their success. We are good listeners and we take the time to understand our clients’ needs. We work closely with our clients to help them achieve their project goals. We understand the importance of being accessible and responsive, and we aim to deliver a service that exceeds expectations.

Technical Excellence

We pursue excellence in everything that we do and our past experience has built a strong foundation for achieving high-quality results. Maintaining a reputation for excellence is very important to us, and we work tirelessly to deliver exceptional results and superior value on every project.

Integrity

Honesty, trust and ethical practices are fundamental to our business. We earn our clients’ and project partners’ trust by acting with integrity and consistently delivering on our commitments. We want our clients to know that they can rely on our products, services and advice every time.

Safety

We are committed to maintaining a safe work culture, incident-free workplace, and a healthy work environment. All of our projects follow our independently certified work health and safety management system to ensure that safety is a key consideration.

Our broad range of experience and depth of knowledge enable us to see the bigger picture. This gives us the edge when it comes to providing our clients with the best solutions for their individual needs.

Clients engage us for our expertise and keep coming back because of our ability to deliver on every project.

Samantha Ward – Principal

Samantha is an environmental professional with more than 13 years of experience in ecology and environmental planning. During her career she has worked in both the public and private sectors. Her experience includes senior technical and management positions in multidisciplinary consultancies and 5 years in local government undertaking development assessment and conservation planning.

Samantha is a specialist in securing environmental approvals at the local, State and Federal government levels. She works closely with clients and multidisciplinary project teams to identify ecological project solutions and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. She is experienced and adept in providing strategy, advice and outcomes for projects of varying sizes and levels of complexity across a range of industries including urban development, resources, infrastructure and government.

Samantha’s core areas of expertise include due diligence and ecological constraints analysis, flora and fauna management, environmental offsets, threatened species management, conservation planning, rehabilitation planning, coastal impacts and management, and environmental open space planning.

Long-term relationships

Our success is built on our ability to develop and maintain long-term relationships. We also believe that the best project outcomes are realised through a collaborative approach with our clients and project partners. This philosophy is fundamental to how we operate.

Achieving client goals

We deliver services and outcomes that are practical, commercially viable and responsive to the goals of our clients. We blend a commitment to robust science and technical excellence with a comprehensive understanding of the legislative and regulatory environment.

Senior staff with a hands-on approach

Our clients can have peace of mind in knowing that an experienced senior professional is working on their project at all times. Throughout all stages of every project, we add value with our expertise, collaborate with our clients and project partners, and integrate seamlessly into multi-disciplinary project teams.

We understand the key drivers that influence project viability. By integrating our comprehensive understanding of legislation, our ability to anticipate ecological issues, and our appreciation of costs throughout the entire project lifecycle, we provide our clients with advice and insights they can rely on. This results in well-informed planning that gives our clients confidence and peace of mind.

Element Ecology offers a variety of due diligence and feasibility assessment services. We undertake rapid and comprehensive assessments, and deliver trustworthy advice to enable our clients to make informed and considered decisions. Our services in this area include:

• Constraints analysis (desktop and field-based)
• Due diligence assessments
• Preliminary design advice

We specialise in managing ecological risks and identifying ecological opportunities throughout the project lifecycle. We work closely with our clients, project partners and government assessment officers to help our clients realise their project visions and goals.

Our in-depth understanding of regulatory frameworks and assessment processes, and our positive reputation with government assessment agencies, enable us to accelerate approval outcomes and reduce the risk of costly delays and legal complications.

Element Ecology offers a wide range of customised planning, strategy and approval services, including:

• Approvals strategy
• Assessment agency liaison and negotiation
• Planning Scheme code responses
• State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP) code responses
• Preparation, lodgment and coordination of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 referrals
• Preparation, lodgment and coordination of operational works applications

Our staff are highly regarded for their technical skills, and have extensive experience in undertaking surveys that comply with local, State and Federal guidelines and industry standards.

Element Ecology offers a comprehensive suite of survey and assessment services that include the following:

• Ecological assessment reports
• Baseline flora and fauna assessments
• Threatened flora surveys
• Tree surveys
• Property map of assessable vegetation (PMAV) assessments
• Waterway and watercourse assessments
• Riparian habitat and condition assessments
• Coastal values and marine plant assessments
• Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) assessments
• Environmental impact assessments
• Pre-clearance surveys
• Environmental monitoring

We have a strong track record for developing customised plans and solutions that deliver high-quality and commercially feasible outcomes. We work closely with our clients to understand their needs, and develop innovative and effective solutions for their unique project challenges.

Element Ecology offers a wide range of environmental management solutions help our clients to achieve their project goals. These include:

• Vegetation management plans
• Tree clearing and retention plans
• Fauna management plans
• Rehabilitation management plans
• Covenant management plans
• Open space and maintenance management plans
• Property vegetation management plans (PVMP)
• Environmental management plans

We use our comprehensive understanding of planning, environmental regulation and ecology to develop creative solutions to find the best value offset outcomes for our clients. Our staff have played a key role in the successful delivery of a number of environmental offset projects to fulfil requirements of local, State and Federal government statutory requirements.

Element Ecology provides a range of planning and assessment services to satisfy environmental offset requirements under local, State and Federal government frameworks, including:

• Environmental offset strategy
• Significant residual impact assessments
• Terrestrial habitat quality assessments
• Offset delivery plans
• Offset area management plans
• Environmental offset monitoring