The Biodiversity Offset Strategy (BOS), was a compliance requirement under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) approval for the Western Basin Dredging and Disposal project. BOS was developed by GPC to provide tangible initiatives aimed at avoiding potential impacts to the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, National Heritage Place and EPBC Act listed threatened migratory species. The objective of the strategy was to provide for long-term conservation of threatened and migratory species, including their habitats, that may have been impacted by activities associated with the Western Basin Dredging and Disposal Project. 

• Biodiversity Offset Strategy — approved by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, July 2012.
  

BOS initiatives

The BOS will fund projects for the region and wider bioregion as outlined in the map, from 2012 to at least 2020, which includes the following initiatives: 

• Acquisition of high value ecological land to protect from development (Lot 3 on SP283391 Keppel Sands) 
• Coral mapping and restoration 
• Declared Fish Habitat Area (FHA) investigations in the Central Queensland region 
• Habitat enhancement and restoration activities (Curtis and Facing Island) 
• Integrated environmentally friendly mooring (EFMs) program 
• Provide funding for a proposed marine rehabilitation facility in Gladstone 
• Regional Code of Best Netting Practice, Gladstone 
• Signage and education – Big 6 
• Stormwater pollution control 
• Upper to lower catchment water quality monitoring and improvement of water quality in the Boyne or Calliope Rivers 
• Assessment of marine traffic 
• Distribution, maintenance and monitoring of Tngler bins 
• Integrated map of all protected areas and sensitive habitats in the region and the wider bioregion
• Marine Fish Habitat Offset  (partly funded by the BOS).