Source: https://www.newground.com.au/author/new-ground/
Timestamp: 2018-12-10 08:50:22
Document Index: 356773920

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5']

New Ground, Author at NewGround Pty Ltd
Mulga country graziers struggle to understand new land clearing laws
Graziers in south-west Queensland are scrambling to understand changes to tree and land clearing laws before they are passed through Parliament.
Rock band Pearl Jam is voluntarily offsetting the carbon emissions of its current tour in Brazil.
The band has partnered with Conservation International (CI) in purchasing carbon offsets for the estimated 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions that will be generated by its Brazilian tour dates taking place this month.
Queensland’s vegetation management legislation is changing again – what you need to know – 16 March 2018
ueensland’s Labor government this month tabled a bill to tighten the regulation of land clearing. Queensland is by far the worst offender in this area, following a litany of reversals of vegetation protection.
NSW government reinstates land clearing laws ruled invalid
The Berejiklian government has reinstated land clearing laws hours after they were ruled invalid, in what environmental advocates have described as “callous indifference to nature”.
The Land and Environment Court on Friday declared the code was invalid because Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair did not follow due process.
The Ballina upgrade of the Pacific Highway through core koala habitat has been listed as one of many reasons the iconic species appears doomed if the NSW Government fails to deliver its long-awaited Koala Strategy.
Dr Rebecca Johnson, wildlife forensic scientist and director of the Australian Museum Research Institute
The woman pioneering conservation research, genetic and forensic science and the stamping out of illegal trafficking of wildlife.
As one of the 2017 ‘Superstars of STEM’ (a Science and Technology Australia initiative to break down gender assumptions among the science, technology, engineering and mathematics research industries, by celebrating dynamic female minds), Dr Rebecca Johnson is one of our most important wildlife forensic scientists.
Last week, the Queensland government tabled a highly anticipated bill seeking to implement its promise to “end broadscale clearing in Queensland”.
Queensland is responsible for more tree clearing than the rest of the country combined, so making good on that promise would go a long way to halting Australia’s growing land clearing crisis.
Plans to convert a defence site into a freight hub in Sydney’s south-west can proceed, provided developers implement strict conditions to protect a rare flowering plant, the Land and Environment Court has decided.
Port of Cairns upgrade given environmental approval
The $120 million Port of Cairns upgrade is closer to completion following the Queensland Government’s approval of the Environmental Impact Statement.
Indian mynas are on the move – to Ballarat
AN UNWELCOME IMMIGRANT
Small, brown birds with a black head and a bright yellow beak, legs and eye patch; notoriously aggressive and quarrelsome; thought to compete with native species of birds and mammals for food and nesting space.
Maules Creek offsets still not secured, five years after land clearing approved
Five years after the controversial Maules Creek coalmine in north-east New South Wales was given approval to clear critically endangered native ecosystems, Whitehaven Coal has still not secured the biodiversity offsets demanded by the federal government, receiving a second extension in February.
New Vegetation Management Regulation for Queensland
The Vegetation Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 was introduced to the Queensland Parliament yesterday (8 March 2018) and sets out to amend the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the Planning Act 2016, the Planning Regulation 2017 and Water Act 2000 for the purposes of strengthening vegetation clearing regulation in Queensland.
The Bill is now undergoing parliamentary committee review (including a submissions process) prior to becoming law. In the meantime, we are in the ‘interim period’ prior to the Bill becoming law. The following regulations became effective during the interim period (from 8 March 2018):
Category C (High Value Regrowth vegetation) is now regulated under an accepted development vegetation clearing code on freehold, leasehold, indigenous lands as well as under occupational licences.
Category R is High Value Regrowth vegetation that is within 50 m of watercourses in Burnett-Mary, Eastern Cape York and Fitzroy Great Barrier Reef Catchments. Clearing of this vegetation is now regulated under an accepted development vegetation clearing code.
Essential Habitat for Endangered, Vulnerable and now Near Threatened species listed under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994 with Category C and R areas is also subject to provisions of an accepted development vegetation clearing code.
A few points on the above as follows:
Regulated Vegetation Management and Essential Habitat mapping has been updated to present the now-regulated high value regrowth vegetation. You can request a map for your property at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/vegetation/map-request.
For the purposes of the Interim Period, the Bill (Part 2, Section 37, Clause 131-133) defines Category C and Category R vegetation as that presented as such by Regulated Vegetation Management mapping dated 8 March 2018. Essential Habitat is presented by Essential Habitat mapping of 8 March 2018 (Part 2, Section 37, Clause 141).
Looking beyond the Interim Period, Part 2, Section 38, Clause 38 of the Bill defines High Value Regrowth vegetation as regional ecosystem vegetation that has not been cleared for at least 15 years. Notwithstanding, we anticipate that Regulated Vegetation Management mapping designations will continue to be used as the default definition for High Value.
Areas mapped as Category X on a Property Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) are exempt from the mapping changes. Further, the Bill (Part 2, Section 37, Clause 129-130) prescribes PMAV applications to show an area as Category X that were lodged prior to 8 March will not be subject to the reforms.
The Bill (Part 2, Section 38, Clause 143) introduces near threatened species habitat (in the context of regulated vegetation regulation) as a matter subject to the provisions of the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014.
Part 3, Section 45 of the Bill provides for property planning applications made (and not decided) prior to 8 March 2018 to be considered under the Planning Act as it was prior to 8 March 2018. Clause 331 protects current development approvals from the changes sought by the Bill.
Part 4, Section 47, Clause 48 of the Bill is of particular importance to urban development in urban areas. In that it exempts urban area/urban purpose development activities from the requirement to seek a permit under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 with respect to High Value Regrowth Vegetation. Notwithstanding, the above mentioned interim period controls do apply to urban areas.
Part 5, Section 49 of the Bill foreshadows the re-introduction of the requirement for a Riverine Protection Permit under the Water Act 2000 where assessable vegetation (including High Value Regrowth) associated with a watercourse, spring or lake is proposed to be cleared.
We will continue to follow the passage of the Bill and will provide an overview of the broader range of provisions carried by the Bill following the parliamentary committee review process. Since the range of changes foreshadowed by the Bill will have a different impact on any given development/land management sector, I am doing a ‘travelling road show’ presenting to our clients and project partners on the potential ramifications of these reforms to their businesses and how to prepare for them. Please get in touch (nwills@newground.com.au) should you be interested in having me drop by your office to discuss over a coffee or present to your team.
This blog is intended as a general overview and opinion at the time of writing and should not be construed as project or situation-specific advice.
‘World’s ugliest animal’ found off Australia
IT’S one of the most inaccessible and unexplored places on the planet. Now Australian researchers have managed to haul in creatures from the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean, rarely seen by humans.
Second stage of second crossing edges closer
WORKS are about to start on the second stage of the $280 million Echuca-Moama bridge project, closing Warren St from early March 2018 to mid 2019.
‘‘We need to close Warren St between the Murray Valley Hwy roundabout and the Campaspe River bridge,’’ a project spokesperson said.
Invest in science for the full picture
Since 1988, the Queensland Government has been using satellite imagery to analyze reductions in woody vegetation and report their findings via the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS).
More science needed on vegetation management says AgForce
FARMERS are calling on the Palaszczuk Government to equip scientists with the resources they need to examine how much vegetation is growing in Queensland, not just how much is being cleared.
Australia’s strategy for nature 2018-2030 – Open for Feedback
Environmental officials from all jurisdictions in Australian Government who make up the Biodiversity Working Group, reviewed Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy: 2010 – 2030 back in November 2017. A revised strategy has been developed with the intention to improve its ability to drive change in biodiversity management priorities and better support Australia’s international biodiversity commitments.
The revised draft has three goals, which are supported by a total of 12 objectives:
Goal 1: Connect all Australians with nature
Goal 2: Care for nature in all its diversity
Goal 3: Build and share knowledge
While the draft strategy is high level by nature, the final version of this may ultimately be reflected in Federal Government policy, strategy and guidelines.
Australia’s Strategy for Nature 2018-2030: Australia’s Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Action Inventory is open now for public comment until 16 March 2018.
Follow the link below to find out how you can make your submission:
Farmers: Time to end divisive debate on vegetation laws
FARMERS say land management plans with defined environmental and agricultural production outcomes agreed to by both farmers and the Queensland Government will help end the divisive debate over vegetation laws.
Chevron LNG project facing emissions row
The WA Opposition claims the state government is risking investors’ dollars with an environmental review into greenhouse gas emissions from the multi-billion dollar Wheatstone natural gas project.