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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 9 November 2004 FARMERS, ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO HAVE THEIR SAY AS NEW NATIVE VEGETATION REGULATIONS GO ON EXHIBITION NSW Minister for Natural Resources, Craig Knowles today put on exhibition draft native vegetation regulations, saying that input from farmers and environmental groups would be instrumental in shaping their final form – and the future of native vegetation management in the State.
“We’ve worked with groups like the NSW Farmers Association, the Total Environment Centre, the Forest Products Association, the Local Government and Shires Association and union representatives to build these draft regulations.
“Now everyone has the chance to have their say, with regulation and supporting material on exhibition until the end of the year.
“Striking a balance between the needs of farmers to be able to manage their properties responsibly and profitably, and the needs of the environment is a considerable challenge.
“To get it right, we need to have the input of all those groups. The draft regulations are an excellent starting point and we’re certainly prepared to make changes in order to get them right before the native vegetation reforms come into effect early next year.”
Mr Knowles said a key element of the native vegetation reforms would be the introduction of voluntary – but binding – Property Vegetation Plans to ‘map out’ how and where clearing can be undertaken on individual farms.
“The introduction of PVPs will revolutionise how vegetation management is conducted.
“Farmers will be able to request staff from their local catchment management authority to come onto their property and use a new, state-of-the-art computer system to analyse and plan native vegetation management.
“If the farmer’s plans meet objective tests, they will be issued a PVP which is, effectively, a ‘pink slip’ that can last for 15 years.
“While ever the PVP is in place, the farmer doesn’t have to worry about getting piece-meal approvals for every bit of on-farm work.
“Getting a PVP will allow farmers to use agreed offsets to balance any negative impacts of proposed clearing, and the flexibility to clear unprotected regrowth and go about their normal farming activities without the need for government approval.
“It will also create the potential for the Threatened Species Conservation Act to be ‘switched off’ for farms with a PVP.
“This will slash through the red-tape and create a level of certainty which is unprecedented in this area of natural resource management.
“We’re now in negotiations to purchase high-resolution satellite images that can identify virtually every tree in the state. This will allow us to ensure that PVPs are being adhered to.
“While the draft regulations are on exhibition, we will be undertaking 100 comprehensive on-farm trials of the PVP process and the software,” said Mr Knowles.
“This is a significant point in the process of native vegetation management reform in NSW.
“It builds on what we have learnt from the Wentworth Group and the Sinclair Group and delivers on our goals to end broadscale clearing unless it maintains or improves the environment; to cut through red-tape; and to deliver funds that have previously been locked up in Sydney or Canberra back to on-ground projects.”
For information on how to comment on the native vegetation draft regulation, go to: www.dipnr.nsw.gov.au , from local Catchment Management Authorities or from regional offices of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning & Natural Resources.
© NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
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