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On behalf of the Department of Natural Resources welcome to the information session regarding
the Queensland Vegetation Reforms of 2013. Firstly I'd like to state that on the 2nd
December 2013 a range of reforms to the Queensland Vegetation Management Laws took effect, reducing
unnecessary red tape, regulatory burden, stream lining of the processes whilst maintaining
our key environmental protections. A general overview of the reforms for the
VMA, that we have 3 new clearing purposes, there are new exemptions, there are regrowth
reforms, self-assessable codes, we have reviewed the mapping, we also explain how you can clear
vegetation, there are new auditing and monitoring processes and there are new state development
assessment provisions known as SDAP module 8 that take in the vegetation clearing provisions.
The Sustainable Planning Act Regulation has been amended to reflect the new exemptions.
The 3 new clearing purposes within the legislation are for High Value Agriculture, Irrigated
High Value Agriculture and Necessary Environmental Clearing. We suggest that prior to lodging
an application under these that pre-lodgement is encouraged with the department.
Firstly we will talk about High Value Agriculture, this includes clearing carried out to establish,
cultivate and harvest crops which includes, annual and perennial horticulture and broadacre
cropping. This does not include grazing or plantation forestry.
Part of this we have also got Irrigated high value agriculture. This includes clearing
carried out to establish, cultivate and harvest crops or pasture that will be supplied with
water by artificial means. It does not include plantation forestry. Application and assessment
requirements same as for high value agriculture clearing but also must demonstrate access
to enough water to carry out the activity.
Following on from the High value agriculture and Irrigated high value agriculture, we have
Self-assessable codes for improving operational efficiency, third party ‘suitably qualified
person' role for application and assessment, this means this could be an agronomist or
someone with the expertise to give you the information necessary. We have also introduced
the new Queensland Globe and DNRM online maps to provide mapping support when an application
is required. Two guides are being prepared, brief landholder guide and application form
and more details guide for ‘suitably qualified persons'/assessment staff.
The other third clearing provision that is being introduced is for Environment clearing.
This allows for restoration of the ecological and environmental condition of the land, diverting
natural channels in a way that replicates the original form prior to any erosion event
and to prepare for likely natural disasters and to remove contaminants from land.
We also go onto under environmental clearing, it's a separate part under the SDAP, it's
incorporated into the Self Assessable Codes within categories R and C vegetation. The
guideline outlines four components and assessment requirements. We have ‘rehabilitation' in
accordance with an ‘environmental clearing management plan' is also required in most
cases. Offsets will be available for channel diversion and contaminant removal.
Through this we have a list of exemptions and these exemptions are broadened across
land tenures in least concern regional ecosystems. Clearing of Category X, essential and routine
management apply across all tenures, not road reserves. New exemptions for Geotechnical
works and land survey works. We also have response to natural disaster events, remediation
of contaminated land and rehabilitation of abandoned mines and community infrastructure.
The New Exemptions for community infrastructure applies to certain tenures and regional ecosystems.
It applies to clearing for any purpose “mentioned in” Schedule 2 of the Sustainable Planning
Regulation. It does not need to be designated as community infrastructure for the exemption
to apply.
Under the Regrowth Reforms the changes have been that all mapped high-value regrowth or
HVR, as it was known, on Freehold Land has been removed and also on indigenous land.
It is now non-assessable and is shown as Category 8 on the new regulated assessment maps, Category
X sorry on the new regulated assessment maps. Regrowth on leasehold land is regulated via
Self Assessable Code for Category C and will also have regrowth watercourse vegetation
regulated via Self Assessable Code for Category R vegetation.
The Self Assessable Codes that are available now are Weeds and Pests, Fodder Harvesting,
Thinning (Mulga Lands), Encroachment, Property Infrastructure on rural lands, High Value
Ag and Irrigated High Value Ag only to improve the operational efficiency of your current
enterprise, Regrowth Cat C, Regrowth Cat R and Native Forest Practise. In 2014 there
are going to be more codes developed after consultation with stakeholders.
With the new mapping products that are available, we've got the Regulated Vegetation Management
Map, we have a Vegetation Management Wetland Map, a Vegetation Management Watercourse Map
and an Essential Habitat Map along with Essential Habitat factors database. These were available
prior to on our updated website, we have given you the opportunity to select which map that
you wish to want. These maps are available on our Webpage or through Queensland Google
Globe.
With the mapping Regulated Vegetation Management Map is an overarching ‘trigger map', it
is the map, it is the one that we as a department will now use for our assessment. Vegetation
Management Supporting Map, which what we know as the old regional ecosystem map, contains
remnant regrowth conservation status wetlands, watercourse and essential habitats. All Category
X has been ‘locked in' upon the commencement of the new Regulated Vegetation Management
Map. Version 8 regional ecosystem mapping is what has been used to build the supporting
map.
The Regulated Vegetation Management Map shows you five categories, these are Categories
A which are overarch offsets, voluntary declarations, compliance. We have Category B which is what
we know now is all our remnant vegetation as per the supporting map. Category C is regrowth
on leasehold land. Category R is reef watercourse vegetation in the Great Barrier Reef catchment
area and Category X is non-assessable vegetation.
This is just a guide to what the map would look like when you order it, you'll get your
different colours which means your different categories and what you do you use the appendix
or legend in association with your map.
This is the supporting map that you get as a secondary map when you order the regulated
assessment map. This is the old regional ecosystem map that we were using under the previous
legislation.
Some simple questions most land owners ask, how can I clear vegetation? Is the proposed
clearing assessable vegetation, so we suggest the first thing you need to do is to go and
check the regulated vegetation map and that's your trigger map. Are there any exemptions
that may meet my needs? Yes go and check the Sustainable Planning Regulations and Vegetation
Supporting Map for types of exemptions that may apply. If I want to clear more than exemptions,
do the Self Assessable Vegetation Clearing Codes or known as SAVCC meet my needs? So
what we suggest is have a look, there is a list of Self-Assessment Codes on our website,
have a look at them and see if there's one there that meets your particular needs. As
I was saying before, there are some self-assessment codes that haven't been formulated yet, these
will come in due time. If I want to clear more than what the self-assessment clearing
codes allow, is there an Area Management Plan that I can use? Currently there have been
AMPs developed for specific purposes, however, you can still apply for an additional AMP
where appropriate. If an Area Management Plan does not meet my needs, what can I do? Well
that's where we decide we suggest that you just ring us, discuss your request and your
requirements. If an application is required we need to contact DSDIP to organise a pre-lodgement
meeting in order to make an application declared assessable vegetation.
Following all these processes we had to comply with legislation we had to develop an auditing
and monitoring role. Under the current reforms we are seeing compliance differently; we are
recognising and appreciating the custodianship and land management knowledge of the landowners
out there in the landscape. We are moving to auditing and monitoring with landowners.
Options to self-assess against new codes and demonstrating responsible custodianship. In
other words the onus of proof has been put back on to the department and we've given
more flexibility to yourselves to use the self-assessable codes to self-audit.
We have other things we need to do as a department. Any of our officers need to seek consent and
negotiate property access before seeking court authority to enter. The onus of proof, as
I said, is back on the department not the landowner. We've removed the Penalty Guide
in courts to determining outcomes on merit. And also we are recognising of Criminal Code
defences for proceedings.
The auditing will be done by trained authorised officers remaining in all regional, that remain
in all regional areas. We still carry out satellite surveillance of natural resources.
We do look at minor clearing offences and we may issue fines, restoration notices or
negotiate any other outcome and for serious offences we'll do a major investigation, possible
prosecute or seek restoration of those areas.
Moving on to the SDAP Module 8 that looks at the clearing of vegetation, we've got one
state-wide code for vegetation assessment under the VMA now. We've got previous vegetation
codes that are replaced by one single code and that's the Module 8. It includes all public
safety, relevant infrastructure and coordinated projects are all combined. We've got extractive
industry, high value and irrigated high value agriculture, we have environmental clearing,
weeds and pests, thinning, encroachment and fodder.
We have under the SDAP, we have allows for most activities to offset most vegetation
values. We have watercourse buffers and connectivity thresholds based on coastal and non-coastal
areas as per the map to our right here, we've given that guidance. We've got Acceptable
Outcomes known as AOs, limits based on the density of the RE and an allow for an erosion
and sediment control plan under the Acceptable Outcomes.
Under SDAP it is possible to offset areas to meet the preferred outcome and these are
offsets on Acceptable Outcomes from most values. DEHP are developing a whole of government
environmental offsets framework that will be introduced later in the year. We've got
sustainable planning regulation updates this where it's been amended to include the Material
Change of Use and the Reconfiguration of a Lot trigger change, its changed from 2 hectares
to 5 hectares and there are new fees for new clearing purposes.
As you can see for more information you can go to our website or you can contact the South
Region Vegetation Management hotline on that number or that email address.
On behalf of the Department of Natural Resources and Mines I'd like to thank you for listening
to the presentation on the reforms to the Vegetation Management Act 2013.