TCG worked with HBRC staff to draft an internal-facing operational strategy that coordinated Council biodiversity activities and facilitated improved process and practice for delivery of Council’s national and regional obligations. A series of semi-structured in-person interviews and discussions were held with key staff involved in a) any aspect of biodiversity activities or b) Council’s core business (e.g., flood protection) that could have an impact on biodiversity outcomes.  We then conducted a high-level evaluation of Council’s biodiversity activities against requirements under the newly-released National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity and existing requirements under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management as they apply to indigenous biodiversity (e.g., inland natural wetlands).

We drafted an operational strategy built upon a suite of operating principles; described the fundamental policy and operational elements needed for successful delivery of their indigenous biodiversity operations; and identified cross-activity responses that could deliver catchment-level indigenous biodiversity outcomes - including policy and planning, hazard management and climate adaptation, whole farm planning, and landscape-scale considerations. We also suggested what actions were needed to make sure the fundamental elements of the strategy could be carried out.