Tree and Hollows Offsetting Opportunity
Partnering with Transport for NSW to deliver a direct offset planting to guide future project delivery across the district
Capacity building - LP23-014
The issue
It is an unfortunate reality that the building and maintenance of infrastructure projects often comes at the cost of removing established, hollow bearing trees. It is now a requirement for Transport for NSW that any trees impacted by a project be offset by the replanting of an equivalent number of saplings based on tree size or number of tree hollows lost, which, though it does not immediately return the function of old trees to our landscapes, it ensures the removal of trees is somewhat addressed, with the necessary funding attached. So far, our region has had little to no engagement with biodiversity offsetting, with no established relations or system by which to deliver these programs. As such the offsetting money allocated to locally removed trees does not get used in our region. Now, after being approached by the Environment & Sustainability team at Transport for NSW, we are working to establish a foundation of delivering these projects locally and demonstrating that tree offsetting is achievable and worthwhile across the Snowy Monaro.
The solution
The initial consultation stage first involved finding a suitable site, preferably on public land, suited to tree planting (not grassland), accessible for machinery and water, and somewhere the community and TfNSW could continue to access as a demonstration of success into the future. It was agreed upon to use the Gegedzerick TSR as a site which is currently leased by our network. After local safety upgrades and road maintenance works took place which required tree and tree hollow removal, it was calculated that 1640 trees needed to be replanted to offset these works. Having delivered a number of large scale replanting projects across the region as part of the ‘Monaro Comeback – Tackling Dieback’ program, we found ourselves calling on established knowledge within out network to decide species selection, planting methodology and maintenance requirements. Given the harsh environment it was agreed upon to fund three years of site maintenance and up to 50% replanting if needed, to ensure project success.
The impact
The site was ripped and planted by local contractors in October 2025, planting 1640 locally sourced, native seedlings. Some months on, we are observing success even after a particularly bad summer. TfNSW hosted a field day in December 2025 to visit this site with their Environment and Sustainability Officers from across the Southern region (Wollongong, Bega, & Wagga), where we discussed project delivery, outcomes and how this trial demonstration can be used to shape future decisions. Upper Snowy Landcare now has an established and positive relationship with the project team at TfNSW, and are seeing more sites across the region being invested in with local offsetting money, keeping funds for native revegetation in the area, managed by groups with relevant expertise.
Key facts
- It is a requirement that trees impacted by road maintenance and improvement programs be equivalently offset via planting
- The Monaro Region has seen little to none of this offsetting process take place until now
- A planting at Gegedzerick TSR has helped guide decisions and inform the process undertaken by the Environment & Sustainability team at Transport for NSW, leading to offsetting money being more readily used in our local area.
- Ongoing replanting across our region contributes to our overarching dieback recovery program, Monaro Comeback