From wildlife management to large-scale environmental rehabilitation — licensed, experienced, and trusted across South East Queensland.
In Queensland, clearing near protected fauna without a licensed spotter catcher isn't just risky — it's illegal. Most developers only find out when work has already stopped.
Under Queensland law, clearing near protected fauna without a licensed spotter catcher can result in fines exceeding $100,000. One koala in the wrong tree on the wrong morning — and your whole crew stands idle.
DES requires specific relocation reports, species logs, and compliance documentation before project approval. Wrong paperwork — even with perfect on-site work — means delays at the final hurdle.
Most environmental consultants can't mobilise fast. Many can't handle the civil work either. So you're managing two contractors, chasing two timelines, hoping they talk to each other.
GoNative is the team that shows up — same day if needed. Licensed, fully documented, and capable of handling both the wildlife and the ground work under one contract.
See How We Fix ThisFrom a licensed spotter catcher on site tomorrow morning to a full 6-month revegetation program — one team, one point of contact, zero compliance headaches. Here's exactly what we deliver.
Licensed QLD spotter catchers for clearing and construction sites. Safe identification, capture, and relocation of protected native wildlife.
Get a Quote →Pre-clearing surveys, fauna assessments, nest hollow identification, and ongoing monitoring programs for development projects.
Get a Quote →Large-scale native planting using locally sourced species. Expert knowledge of South East Queensland ecosystems ensures high survival rates.
Get a Quote →Artificial creek construction, waterway rehabilitation, and riparian zone restoration. Proven outcomes across Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Get a Quote →Soil stabilisation, rock armouring, retaining walls, and landslip remediation using eco-friendly materials and proven techniques.
Get a Quote →Design and construction of treatment wetlands, macrophyte planting, inlet structures, and meandering waterway channels.
Get a Quote →Full fauna relocation reports, species lists, monitoring logs, and all regulatory submissions — everything for project sign-off.
Get a Quote →Environmentally sensitive pipeline installation and civil works. Construction capability combined with ecological expertise for minimal habitat impact.
Get a Quote →Not just another contractor. We're on-the-ground ecologists and construction specialists who understand both the wildlife and the work.
Most environmental consultants can't swing a shovel. Most construction crews don't know a glider from a gecko. We do both — fluently. This means your project moves faster with fewer subcontractors and zero handoff delays.
Our founder spent decades with Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service, including extensive work on K'gari (Fraser Island). We know QLD fauna, flora, and legislation — not from textbooks, but from decades in the field.
Councils, state agencies, and major developers trust us on sensitive projects. We're on preferred supplier lists across South East Queensland because we deliver compliant outcomes, on time, every time.
Need one spotter catcher for a morning clearing? Done. Need a 6-month revegetation program across 10 hectares? Also done. We scale to your project without the overhead of a large firm or the limits of a one-man operation.
In our entire operating history, we have never had a compliance failure or wildlife incident on a managed site. That record is not luck — it's rigorous protocols, proper licensing, and a genuine commitment to ecological outcomes.
All revegetation work uses locally provenant native species — plants grown from seed collected in your exact area. This maximises survival rates and ecological value, separating genuine restoration from green window dressing.
From first contact to final report, here's exactly what working with GoNative looks like.
We visit your site and complete a thorough ecological survey — identifying fauna habitats, hollow-bearing trees, movement corridors, and any species of concern. You get a clear scope and timeline, not a vague estimate.
Our licensed team is present throughout clearing and construction activities. We proactively manage wildlife interaction, minimise habitat disturbance, and keep your project moving without regulatory stoppages.
All captured fauna are handled by licensed professionals, assessed for health, and relocated to pre-approved habitat sites. We follow strict DES protocols — your wildlife, your reputation, and your project are all protected.
You receive complete documentation: fauna relocation reports, species lists, site monitoring logs, and all required regulatory submissions. Everything your project needs for sign-off, delivered promptly.
Real projects. Real outcomes. A sample of what we've delivered across South East Queensland.
Major creek stabilisation project incorporating rock retaining walls, native plantings, and long-term erosion management strategies.
Comprehensive revegetation of degraded land with over 15,000 native species planted across multiple hectares.
Combined civil construction and environmental rehabilitation project integrating earthworks with ecological restoration.
Rock armouring and bank stabilisation works along creek systems to prevent erosion and protect surrounding infrastructure.
Heavy civil works including pipeline installation with excavator operations in environmentally sensitive bushland areas.
Waterway feature construction and rehabilitation incorporating natural rock formations and native vegetation restoration.
Installation of erosion control matting and sediment management systems on residential and commercial development sites.
Natural rock retaining walls and stepped access construction for slope stabilisation in bushland settings.
Excavation and reshaping of dam edges and waterway banks to improve water flow and prevent further land degradation.
Construction of concrete block retaining walls with mulch stabilisation to manage slopes and protect surrounding vegetation.
Site restoration with turf laying and rock stabilisation to rehabilitate disturbed land and prevent erosion on residential properties.
Installation of rock-lined drainage channels with geotextile fabric to manage stormwater runoff and reduce sediment movement.
Every quote below comes from a developer, council, or landowner who had a specific problem — and got a specific outcome. No generic praise.
"We had a complex 18-month subdivision with high koala activity — I'd been let down by slow environmental contractors before and couldn't afford a single regulatory stoppage. GoNative were on site whenever we needed them, turned documentation around fast, and we finished the entire project with zero compliance issues. For a development this size, that track record is everything."
"We found an unexpected fauna issue during active clearing at 6am on a Monday — work had to stop immediately and I had no licensed spotter on site. I called GoNative and they were there by 7am. They identified two species our own ecologist had missed in the pre-clearing survey. One call saved us a full day's downtime and a potential six-figure fine."
"Our previous contractor used generic nursery stock — close to 40% of it died within six months and we had to budget for replanting. GoNative used locally provenant native species and the difference is remarkable. Two years on, the park is thriving and we've had zero replanting costs. Their knowledge of local flora is genuinely second to none."
"I'd paid other contractors for 'environmental' work that was really just box-ticking — plants thrown in to satisfy a condition, dead within a year. GoNative explained their species selection, planting methodology, and expected survival rates before they even started. A year on, the habitat corridor on my property actually functions the way it should. That's what I was paying for."
GoNative Environmental Services was founded by a practitioner with decades of hands-on experience — including substantial time with Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and management of K'gari (Fraser Island), one of Australia's most ecologically significant landscapes.
What started as a specialist fauna spotter catching service has grown into a comprehensive environmental solutions business, combining the ecological knowledge of trained wildlife professionals with the practical capability to deliver civil and landscaping outcomes that genuinely restore habitat.
We operate across Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and broader South East Queensland — bringing the same standard of care to a small residential job as to a major council contract.
Everything you need to know before getting in touch.
In Queensland, if your clearing works could affect protected fauna — including koalas, gliders, native birds, reptiles, and frogs — you are legally required to have a licensed fauna spotter catcher present. This applies to residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Failing to comply can result in significant penalties and project delays. Call us if you're unsure about your specific project.
For planned works, we prefer at least 48 hours notice. For urgent situations — unexpected fauna encounters during active works — we maintain an emergency response capability and can often be on site the same day. Call 0416 138 688 for urgent matters.
We primarily operate across South East Queensland including the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Logan, Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast, and Moreton Bay regions. For larger projects, we can mobilise further afield. Contact us to discuss your project location.
Yes — and this is one of our key advantages. Many projects require both ecological management and civil works (revegetation, creek stabilisation, retaining walls, etc.). Rather than managing two separate contractors, GoNative can deliver both under a single contract, reducing coordination overhead and ensuring the environmental and construction work is always aligned.
Our licensed spotter catchers walk ahead of machinery during clearing, identifying and removing any fauna from the clearing path. They check hollow logs, tree hollows, dense vegetation, and ground cover. Any fauna encountered is safely captured, assessed for health, and transported to a pre-approved release site. We document every encounter for your compliance records.
Pricing varies by project scope, duration, species complexity, and required documentation. A single-day spotter catcher service starts from a few hundred dollars. Large-scale revegetation or multi-month monitoring programs are quoted on scope. We provide free, no-obligation quotes — contact us with your project details for an accurate estimate.
Whether it's a quick compliance question or a detailed project scope, we're responsive, straightforward, and easy to work with.
