2025 was a year of transition for environmental consulting in Australia – one that reshaped how proponents approach major projects.

Once a project secures its approvals, it can feel like the hard work is done. But in reality, this is where the real test begins. Post-approvals environmental management plans (EMPs) are the bridge between what a project proposes on paper and what it delivers on the ground. They take commitments, conditions and predicted impacts and turn them into day-to-day operational instructions that keep environmental risks in check and stakeholders confident.