Animal Breeding Places
Animal Breeding Places – What This Means for Your Project
Under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 (NCAR), an animal breeding place includes both obvious structures as bird nests, tree hollows, and arboreal dens and more cryptic habitat features used by amphibians and reptiles for breeding, sheltering, or seasonal activity. These may occur within ground‑layer vegetation, soil refuges, or moisture retaining microhabitats that support breeding cycles.
Breeding places that are currently in use by native fauna, or those that are inactive but belong to species known to return to the same site each breeding season, must be identified, protected, and appropriately managed when vegetation or habitat is impacted by development.
Where works are likely to tamper with (damage, destroy, mark, move, or dig up) a native animal breeding place, the NCAR requires that such actions occur only under an approved Species Management Program (SMP) or a Damage Mitigation Permit issued by the Queensland Government. Activities that may constitute tampering include vegetation clearing, individual tree felling or trimming, soil disturbance, excavation, dam dewatering, and similar habitat‑altering works.
Fauna Works ensures all fauna‑related activities comply with these legislative requirements, with breeding places identified, assessed, and managed in accordance with best‑practice wildlife handling standards and our Rehabilitation Permit conditions.
What We Do
Identify and assess native animal breeding places before works commence.
Locate active and inactive breeding sites used seasonally by returning species.
Survey trees, hollows, nests, burrows, soil refuges, and cryptic microhabitats.
Determine legislative triggers under the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020.
Provide clear guidance on compliance requirements for tampering or disturbance.
Prepare and implement Species Management Programs (SMPs) where required.
Support clients in obtaining Damage Mitigation Permits for regulated activities.
Manage fauna welfare during clearing, excavation, trimming, or dewatering works.
Deliver safe, ethical relocation of fauna from affected breeding places.
Document all findings and actions through professional reporting and post‑clearance summaries.
How We Address It
Animal Breeding Place Assessment
Animal Breeding Place assessments can be delivered as a standalone service or incorporated into a broader Ecological Assessment when required. These assessments identify active and inactive breeding sites and determine the regulatory obligations associated with proposed works.
For Least Concern native species (non‑colonial breeders) under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, tampering with a breeding place requires a Low‑Risk Species Management Program (SMP). The application process for a low‑risk SMP is straightforward and completed via an online submission. Fauna Works provides clear guidance and support to ensure the process is simple for clients.
For breeding places of colonial breeders or species listed as Threatened, Near Threatened, or Special Least Concern, a High‑Risk SMP is required. High‑risk SMPs involve a more detailed submission, including preparation of a Breeding Place Survey Report and a species‑specific Impact Management Plan outlining how risks will be avoided, minimised, or managed.
Once approved, the SMP must be implemented during onsite works, and an Animal Breeding Places Register must be maintained for compliance. Many components of the SMP are carried out directly by the Fauna Spotter‑Catcher during clearing, excavation, dewatering, or other habitat‑disturbing activities.
Discover More
Fauna Spotter Catcher
Fauna Works specialises in a range of wildlife management strategies ranging from on-site wildlife surveys and assessment to capture and relocation.
Fauna Works
Conservation Fund
Fauna Works Conservation Fund is for companies and individuals who wish to assist our team to support global conservation efforts to preserve biodiversity.
