guide 1 - exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation

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 A GUIDE T O THE EXEMPTIONS AND REGULATIONS FOR CLEARI NG NA TIVE VEGET A TION UNDER P ART V OF THE ENVIRONMENT AL PROTECTION ACT 1986 DER2013025

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  • A GUIDE TO THE EXEMPTIONS AND REGULATIONS FOR CLEARING NATIVE VEGETATIONUNDER PART V OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1986

    DER2013025

  • 2A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 20142

    Department of Environment Regulation 168 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000

    Phone: +61 8 6467 5000 Fax: +61 8 6467 5562

    www.der.wa.gov.au

    State of Western Australia 2014

    April 2014

    All material is the copyright of Department Environment Regulation. No part of the contents of the publication may be reproduced without consent of this agency.

    Questions regarding this report should be directed to:

    Department of Environment Regulation Locked Bag 33 Cloisters Square 6850

    Phone: +61 8 6467 5020

    Email: [email protected]

    This document is available in alternative formats on request to: [email protected] ph: +61 8 6467 5173

    Cover photos by Department of Environment Regulation

  • 3April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 3

    Contents

    Overview 4

    How to use this guide 4

    Index of themes 5

    Section 1 Schedule 6 exemptions 7

    Section 2 Regulations 13

    Regulations 1, 2 and 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

    Regulation 4 - Intentionally sown, planted or propagated vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

    Plantations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Other Intentionally Planted Vegetation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

    Regulation 5 - Prescribed clearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

    Five hectares limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Environmentally sensitive areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

  • 4A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 20144

    How to use this guide

    The first section of this guide explains how the Schedule 6 exemptions work. The second section of the guide explains how the exemptions under the Regulations work.

    If you are looking for a particular clearing activity or topic that might be exempt, you can refer to the Index on pages five and six, which lists items by their topic (e.g. clearing for roads, clearing for fence lines etc.).

    Further information

    If you have any questions about this guide or are not sure if you can clear under an exemption, you should phone DER on 6467 5020. For exemptions relating to mineral and petroleum activites contact Department of Mines and Petroleums Native Vegetation Assessment Branch on 9222 3333.

    More general information about clearing native vegetation can be found at www.der.wa.gov.au/nvp.

    Please note The information provided in this document is current as at November 2013 and outlines some of the laws for regulating clearing native vegetation introduced under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. Persons who intend to undertake activities that may involve clearing are advised to consult the actual legislation and seek advice, including legal advice, where necessary.

    Overview

    In 2004, amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) introduced provisions for regulating the clearing of native vegetation.

    If you intend to clear native vegetation, you will need to apply for a permit from either the Department of Environment Regulation (DER) or the Department of Mines and Petroleum, or otherwise an exemption must apply. It is an offence to clear native vegetation without the authority of a permit or an exemption.

    Exempt clearing does not require a permit. There are two types of exemptions.

    The first type is found in Schedule 6 of the EP Act. These exemptions may be referred to as the Schedule 6 exemptions.

    The second type is found in the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 (Regulations). These may be referred to as exemptions under Regulations.

    The exemptions under Regulations do not apply in environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) declared under section 51B of the EP Act.

    This guide explains what the exemptions are, the circumstances in which they apply and what is defined as intentionally planted vegetation.

    Please note that while your clearing might be exempt from the requirement for a clearing permit under the EP Act, requirements contained in other legislation could apply.

  • 5April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 5

    Inde

    x of

    them

    es

    Them

    eCl

    ause

    / Re

    gula

    tion

    no.

    Page

    no.

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    dent

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    to re

    duce

    dan

    ger (

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    ring

    resu

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    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    216

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    Fire

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    t 195

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    11

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    417

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    egul

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    115

    Coun

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    em 2

    1A28

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    n 5,

    Item

    821

    Dep

    artm

    ent o

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    ks a

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    lear

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    Sch

    edul

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    Cla

    use

    39

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    ting

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    t cor

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    s (C

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    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 2

    229

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    e lin

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    ulat

    ion

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    em 1

    122

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    ing

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    mat

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    rovi

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    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 6

    19

    Fire

    Brig

    ades

    Act

    194

    2 (C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r the

    )S

    ched

    ule

    6, C

    laus

    e 11

    12

    Fire

    haz

    ard

    redu

    ctio

    n (C

    lear

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    for)

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    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 3

    17

    Fire

    pre

    vent

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    ontr

    ol o

    n Cr

    own

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    arin

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    6, C

    laus

    e 12

    12

    Fire

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    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 5

    18

    Fish

    Res

    ourc

    es M

    anag

    emen

    t Act

    199

    4 (C

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    r the

    )S

    ched

    ule

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    laus

    e 14

    12

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    st P

    rodu

    cts

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    000

    (Cle

    arin

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    he)

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    edul

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    Cla

    use

    811

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    rodu

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    mis

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    and

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    and

    11

    Form

    al a

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    Envi

    ronm

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    tect

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    Auth

    ority

    Sch

    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    28

    Infr

    astr

    uctu

    re m

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    sulti

    ng fr

    om)

    NO

    W E

    XPIR

    EDR

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    23

    29

  • 6A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 20146Is

    olat

    ed tr

    ees

    (Cle

    arin

    g of

    )R

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    19

    27

    Land

    Adm

    inis

    trat

    ion

    Act 1

    997

    (Cle

    arin

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    he)

    Sch

    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    1312

    Lice

    nsed

    sur

    veyo

    rs (C

    lear

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    by)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 9

    21

    Low

    impa

    ct o

    r oth

    er m

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    al o

    r pet

    role

    um a

    ctiv

    ities

    (Cle

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    g re

    sulti

    ng fr

    om)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 2

    027

    Mai

    ntai

    n ex

    istin

    g cl

    eare

    d ar

    eas

    arou

    nd in

    fras

    truc

    ture

    (Cle

    arin

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    )R

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    15

    25

    Mai

    ntai

    n ex

    istin

    g cl

    eare

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    eas

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    astu

    re, c

    ultiv

    atio

    n or

    fore

    stry

    (Cle

    arin

    g to

    )R

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    14

    24

    Min

    ing

    Act 1

    978

    (Cle

    arin

    g un

    der t

    he)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 2

    530

    Not

    ice

    of In

    tent

    ion

    unde

    r the

    Soi

    l and

    Lan

    d Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Re

    gula

    tions

    199

    2

    NO

    W E

    XPIR

    EDR

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    26

    30

    Petr

    oleu

    m a

    nd G

    eoth

    erm

    al E

    nerg

    y Re

    sour

    ces

    Act 1

    967,

    Pet

    role

    um P

    ipel

    ines

    Act

    196

    9 or

    the

    Petr

    oleu

    m

    (Sub

    mer

    ged

    Land

    s) A

    ct 1

    982

    (Cle

    arin

    g un

    der t

    he)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 2

    429

    Plan

    ning

    and

    Dev

    elop

    men

    t Act

    200

    5 (C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r the

    )S

    ched

    ule

    6, C

    laus

    e 9

    11

    Righ

    ts in

    Wat

    er a

    nd Ir

    rigat

    ion

    Act 1

    914

    (Cle

    arin

    g un

    der t

    he)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 1

    626

    Sand

    alw

    ood

    Act 1

    929

    (Cle

    arin

    g un

    der t

    he)

    Sch

    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    410

    Swan

    Riv

    er T

    rust

    Act

    198

    8 (C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r the

    )R

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    18

    26

    Tem

    pora

    ry b

    ypas

    s ro

    ad (C

    lear

    ing

    for)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 2

    128

    Vehi

    cula

    r tra

    cks

    (Cle

    arin

    g fo

    r)R

    egul

    atio

    n 5,

    Item

    12

    23

    Wal

    king

    trac

    ks (C

    lear

    ing

    for)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 1

    324

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950,

    sec

    tion

    23C

    (Tak

    ing

    flora

    und

    er)

    Sch

    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    510

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950,

    sec

    tion

    23D

    (Tak

    ing

    flora

    und

    er)

    Sch

    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    610

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950,

    sec

    tion

    23F

    (Tak

    ing

    rare

    flor

    a un

    der)

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    edul

    e 6,

    Cla

    use

    510

    Woo

    dwor

    k (C

    lear

    ing

    for)

    Reg

    ulat

    ion

    5, It

    em 7

    20

  • 7April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 7

    Sect

    ion

    1

    Sche

    dule

    6 e

    xem

    ptio

    nsTh

    is ta

    ble

    lists

    the

    exem

    ptio

    ns th

    at c

    an b

    e fo

    und

    in S

    ched

    ule

    6 of

    the

    EP A

    ct. T

    hese

    exe

    mpt

    ions

    mai

    nly

    refe

    r to

    clea

    ring

    that

    is re

    quire

    d un

    der o

    ther

    law

    s.

    Th

    e fir

    st c

    olum

    n re

    fers

    to th

    e cl

    ause

    in th

    e Ac

    t.

    The

    seco

    nd c

    olum

    n sh

    ows

    the

    lega

    l wor

    ding

    of t

    he e

    xem

    ptio

    n.

    The

    third

    col

    umn

    uses

    sim

    pler

    lang

    uage

    to e

    xpla

    in h

    ow th

    e ex

    empt

    ion

    wor

    ks.

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    1. C

    lear

    ing

    that

    is

    requ

    ired

    unde

    r ot

    her l

    aws

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    in o

    rder

    to g

    ive

    effec

    t to

    a re

    quire

    men

    t to

    clea

    r und

    er a

    writ

    ten

    law

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    that

    is a

    dut

    y or

    obl

    igat

    ion

    unde

    r ano

    ther

    law

    . Thi

    s ex

    empt

    ion

    does

    not

    allo

    w c

    lear

    ing

    that

    is m

    erel

    y pe

    rmitt

    ed o

    r app

    rove

    d bu

    t ref

    ers

    to

    clea

    ring

    that

    is a

    ctua

    lly re

    quire

    d by

    a w

    ritte

    n la

    w.

    It is

    nec

    essa

    ry th

    at th

    e re

    quire

    men

    t un

    der t

    he w

    ritte

    n la

    w c

    an b

    e ch

    arac

    teris

    ed a

    s a

    requ

    irem

    ent t

    o cl

    ear,

    not

    just

    a

    requ

    irem

    ent f

    or w

    hich

    cle

    arin

    g m

    ay b

    e in

    cide

    ntal

    ly c

    onne

    cted

    .

    Exam

    ple

    1

    Sect

    ion

    54 o

    f the

    Ene

    rgy

    Ope

    rato

    rs (P

    ower

    s) A

    ct 1

    979

    It is

    the

    duty

    of t

    he o

    ccup

    ier o

    f any

    land

    ove

    r whi

    ch v

    eget

    atio

    n is

    gro

    win

    g to

    cle

    ar

    as m

    uch

    of th

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    as is

    nec

    essa

    ry to

    pre

    vent

    it in

    terf

    erin

    g or

    obs

    truc

    ting

    the

    cons

    truc

    tion,

    mai

    nten

    ance

    or s

    afe

    use

    of a

    ny s

    uppl

    y sy

    stem

    . Whe

    re th

    is is

    not

    car

    ried

    out,

    the

    ener

    gy o

    pera

    tor m

    ay e

    nter

    upo

    n th

    e la

    nd w

    ithou

    t not

    ice

    to c

    lear

    the

    vege

    tatio

    n.

    Exam

    ple

    2

    Sect

    ion

    33 o

    f the

    Bus

    h Fi

    res

    Act 1

    954

    A lo

    cal g

    over

    nmen

    t at a

    ny ti

    me

    may

    requ

    ire a

    n ow

    ner o

    r occ

    upie

    r of l

    and

    in it

    s bo

    unda

    ries

    to c

    lear

    fire

    -bre

    aks

    in s

    uch

    a m

    anne

    r a

    s th

    e lo

    cal g

    over

    nmen

    t may

    de

    term

    ine

    and

    to m

    aint

    ain

    the

    fire-

    brea

    ks c

    lear

    of i

    nflam

    mab

    le m

    atte

    r.

    Exam

    ple

    3

    Land

    Adm

    inis

    trat

    ion

    Act 1

    997

    Clea

    ring

    to m

    aint

    ain

    or re

    cons

    truc

    t exi

    stin

    g fe

    nces

    (and

    oth

    er p

    asto

    ral i

    mpr

    ovem

    ents

    ) is

    a re

    quire

    men

    t of s

    ectio

    n 10

    7(3)

    . (c

    ontd

    )

  • 8A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 20148

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    Oth

    er c

    lear

    ing

    to m

    anag

    e an

    d w

    ork

    the

    land

    und

    er th

    e le

    ase

    to it

    s be

    st a

    dvan

    tage

    as

    a pa

    stor

    al p

    rope

    rty

    as

    requ

    ired

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    108(

    1) w

    ould

    sim

    ilarly

    be

    a re

    quire

    men

    t.

    Und

    er s

    ectio

    n 10

    8(1)

    , the

    man

    agem

    ent a

    nd w

    ork

    wou

    ld g

    ener

    ally

    nee

    d to

    be

    com

    plet

    ed

    to th

    e sa

    tisfa

    ctio

    n of

    the

    Past

    oral

    Lan

    ds B

    oard

    and

    so

    the

    Boar

    ds

    polic

    ies

    and

    dire

    ctiv

    es

    may

    be

    deci

    sive

    in d

    eter

    min

    ing

    wha

    t con

    stitu

    tes

    exem

    pt a

    ctiv

    ity.

    In a

    dditi

    on, l

    esse

    es a

    re re

    quire

    d un

    der s

    ectio

    n 10

    8(2)

    to a

    dopt

    bes

    t pas

    tora

    l and

    en

    viro

    nmen

    tal m

    anag

    emen

    t pra

    ctic

    es a

    nd a

    re re

    quire

    d un

    der s

    ectio

    n 10

    8(4)

    to m

    aint

    ain

    indi

    geno

    us p

    astu

    re a

    nd v

    eget

    atio

    n to

    the

    satis

    fact

    ion

    of th

    e Bo

    ard.

    The

    Past

    oral

    Lan

    ds B

    oard

    is th

    e ju

    dge

    of s

    atis

    fact

    ory

    com

    plia

    nce

    with

    sec

    tion

    108.

    Thi

    s is

    su

    bjec

    t to

    a re

    quire

    men

    t to

    adop

    t bes

    t pas

    tora

    l and

    env

    ironm

    enta

    l man

    agem

    ent p

    ract

    ices

    an

    d to

    the

    mai

    nten

    ance

    of i

    ndig

    enou

    s pa

    stur

    e an

    d ve

    geta

    tion.

    For m

    ore

    info

    rmat

    ion,

    con

    tact

    the

    Past

    oral

    Lan

    ds B

    oard

    .

    Und

    er s

    ectio

    n 10

    7 (1

    ) and

    (2),

    whe

    re th

    e Pa

    stor

    al L

    ands

    Boa

    rd b

    elie

    ves

    that

    an

    impr

    ovem

    ent i

    s ne

    cess

    ary,

    it m

    ay re

    quire

    a p

    asto

    ral l

    esse

    e to

    pre

    pare

    a d

    evel

    opm

    ent p

    lan

    deta

    iling

    the

    achi

    evem

    ent o

    f the

    impr

    ovem

    ent t

    o a

    spec

    ified

    tim

    etab

    le. C

    ompl

    ianc

    e w

    ith

    the

    deve

    lopm

    ent p

    lan

    is a

    requ

    irem

    ent a

    nd is

    ther

    efor

    e al

    so e

    xem

    pt.

    2. A

    sses

    smen

    t by

    the

    Envi

    ronm

    enta

    l Pr

    otec

    tion

    Auth

    ority

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    (a

    ) in

    the

    impl

    emen

    tatio

    n of

    a p

    ropo

    sal

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    n im

    plem

    enta

    tion

    agre

    emen

    t or d

    ecis

    ion;

    (b)

    in th

    e ca

    se o

    f a p

    ropo

    sal t

    hat

    (i)

    was

    mad

    e un

    der a

    n as

    sess

    ed s

    chem

    e; a

    nd(ii

    ) be

    caus

    e of

    sec

    tion

    48I(2

    ), w

    as n

    ot re

    ferr

    ed to

    th

    e Au

    thor

    ity,

    in th

    e im

    plem

    enta

    tion

    of th

    e pr

    opos

    al in

    ac

    cord

    ance

    with

    a s

    ubdi

    visi

    on a

    ppro

    val,

    a de

    velo

    pmen

    t app

    rova

    l or a

    pla

    nnin

    g ap

    prov

    al g

    iven

    by

    the

    resp

    onsi

    ble

    auth

    ority

    ; (co

    ntd

    )

    (a)

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    appl

    ies

    to c

    lear

    ing

    asse

    ssed

    und

    er s

    ectio

    n 40

    as

    part

    of a

    pro

    posa

    l re

    ferr

    ed u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    38 o

    f Par

    t IV

    of th

    e EP

    Act

    . The

    cle

    arin

    g m

    ust b

    e in

    ac

    cord

    ance

    with

    the

    impl

    emen

    tatio

    n ag

    reem

    ent o

    r dec

    isio

    n. I

    mpl

    emen

    tatio

    n ag

    reem

    ent o

    r dec

    isio

    n is

    defi

    ned

    in s

    ectio

    n 3

    of th

    e EP

    Act

    . Th

    is e

    xem

    ptio

    n do

    es n

    ot a

    pply

    to p

    ropo

    sals

    whi

    ch th

    e En

    viro

    nmen

    tal P

    rote

    ctio

    n Au

    thor

    ity h

    as d

    ecid

    ed n

    ot to

    form

    ally

    ass

    ess,

    whe

    ther

    or n

    ot th

    e En

    viro

    nmen

    tal

    Prot

    ectio

    n Au

    thor

    ity p

    rovi

    des

    advi

    ce to

    the

    prop

    onen

    t or d

    ecis

    ion

    mak

    ing

    auth

    oriti

    es. I

    t als

    o do

    es n

    ot a

    pply

    to e

    xpan

    sion

    s or

    wor

    ks n

    ot c

    over

    ed b

    y th

    e co

    nditi

    ons

    of th

    e or

    igin

    al p

    ropo

    sal u

    nles

    s do

    ne in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    the

    impl

    emen

    tatio

    n ag

    reem

    ent o

    r dec

    isio

    n.(b

    ) Th

    is e

    xem

    ptio

    n ap

    plie

    s to

    ass

    esse

    d sc

    hem

    es im

    plem

    ente

    d in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    a

    subd

    ivis

    ion

    appr

    oval

    , dev

    elop

    men

    t app

    rova

    l or p

    lann

    ing

    appr

    oval

    whe

    re th

    e cl

    earin

    g of

    nat

    ive

    vege

    tatio

    n w

    as a

    sses

    sed.

    Ass

    esse

    d sc

    hem

    e is

    defi

    ned

    in s

    ectio

    n 3

    of th

    e EP

    Act

    . If

    a de

    cisi

    on-m

    akin

    g au

    thor

    ity is

    unc

    erta

    in w

    heth

    er c

    lear

    ing

    of n

    ativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    has

    been

    con

    side

    red

    as p

    art o

    f an

    asse

    ssed

    sch

    eme,

    the

    Envi

    ronm

    enta

    l Pro

    tect

    ion

    Auth

    ority

    sho

    uld

    be c

    onta

    cted

    for a

    dvic

    e. (c

    ontd

    )

  • 9April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 9

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    (c)

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith

    (i)

    a pr

    escr

    ibed

    sta

    ndar

    d;(ii

    ) a

    wor

    ks a

    ppro

    val;

    (iii)

    a lic

    ence

    ;(iv

    ) a

    requ

    irem

    ent c

    onta

    ined

    in a

    clo

    sure

    not

    ice,

    an

    env

    ironm

    enta

    l pro

    tect

    ion

    notic

    e or

    a

    prev

    entio

    n no

    tice;

    (v)

    an a

    ppro

    ved

    polic

    y;

    (vi)

    a de

    clar

    atio

    n un

    der s

    ectio

    n 6;

    (vii)

    an

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    75; o

    r(v

    iii)

    a lic

    ence

    , per

    mit,

    app

    rova

    l or e

    xem

    ptio

    n gr

    ante

    d, is

    sued

    or g

    iven

    und

    er th

    e re

    gula

    tions

    ; or

    (d)

    in th

    e ex

    erci

    se o

    f any

    pow

    er c

    onfe

    rred

    und

    er

    this

    Act

    .

    (c)

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith th

    e ite

    ms

    liste

    d.

    In

    acco

    rdan

    ce w

    ith m

    eans

    as

    dict

    ated

    by

    the

    wor

    ks a

    ppro

    val,

    licen

    ce o

    r oth

    er

    inst

    rum

    ent.

    Clea

    ring

    nativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    is n

    ot u

    sual

    ly a

    sses

    sed

    as p

    art o

    f an

    appl

    icat

    ion

    for a

    w

    orks

    app

    rova

    l or l

    icen

    ce. T

    his

    mea

    ns a

    cle

    arin

    g pe

    rmit

    is s

    till r

    equi

    red

    unle

    ss a

    w

    orks

    app

    rova

    l or l

    icen

    ce is

    issu

    ed w

    ith s

    peci

    fic a

    ppro

    vals

    rela

    ting

    to c

    lear

    ing

    nativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion.

    (d)

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    in th

    e ex

    erci

    se o

    f any

    pow

    er g

    iven

    un

    der t

    he E

    P Ac

    t.

    3. C

    lear

    ing

    carr

    ied

    out b

    y th

    e D

    epar

    tmen

    t of P

    arks

    an

    d W

    ildlif

    e

    Clea

    ring

    by th

    e D

    epar

    tmen

    t, w

    ithin

    the

    mea

    ning

    of

    the

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    and

    Land

    Man

    agem

    ent A

    ct 1

    984,

    in

    the

    perf

    orm

    ance

    of i

    ts fu

    nctio

    n un

    der s

    ectio

    n 33

    (1)(a

    ) of t

    hat A

    ct o

    f man

    agin

    g la

    nd, b

    ut, i

    n th

    e ca

    se o

    f lan

    d re

    ferr

    ed to

    in s

    ectio

    n 33

    (1)(a

    )(i),

    only

    if

    the

    man

    agem

    ent i

    s ca

    rrie

    d ou

    t in

    acco

    rdan

    ce w

    ith

    sect

    ion

    33(3

    ).

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    refe

    rs to

    cle

    arin

    g do

    ne b

    y th

    e D

    epar

    tmen

    t of P

    arks

    and

    Wild

    life

    as p

    art o

    f its

    role

    as

    the

    man

    ager

    of l

    ands

    .

    Land

    s in

    clud

    e St

    ate

    fore

    st; t

    imbe

    r res

    erve

    s; n

    atio

    nal p

    arks

    ; con

    serv

    atio

    n pa

    rks;

    nat

    ure

    rese

    rves

    ; mar

    ine

    natu

    re re

    serv

    es; m

    arin

    e pa

    rks;

    mar

    ine

    man

    agem

    ent a

    reas

    and

    oth

    er

    land

    s an

    d w

    ater

    s ve

    sted

    or m

    anag

    ed b

    y th

    e Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Co

    mm

    issi

    on o

    r the

    Mar

    ine

    Park

    s an

    d Re

    serv

    es A

    utho

    rity.

    The

    clea

    ring

    mus

    t:1)

    be

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    man

    agem

    ent p

    lan

    whe

    re th

    ere

    is a

    man

    agem

    ent p

    lan;

    2)

    whe

    re th

    ere

    is n

    o su

    ch p

    lan

    (i)

    in

    the

    case

    of n

    atur

    e re

    serv

    es a

    nd m

    arin

    e na

    ture

    rese

    rves

    , onl

    y op

    erat

    ions

    ne

    cess

    ary

    for t

    he p

    rese

    rvat

    ion

    or p

    rote

    ctio

    n of

    per

    sons

    , pro

    pert

    y, la

    nd, w

    ater

    s, flo

    ra o

    r fau

    na, o

    r for

    the

    prep

    arat

    ion

    of a

    man

    agem

    ent p

    lan;

    or

    (ii)

    in th

    e ca

    se o

    f nat

    iona

    l par

    ks, c

    onse

    rvat

    ion

    park

    s, m

    arin

    e pa

    rks

    and

    mar

    ine

    man

    agem

    ent a

    reas

    , eith

    er n

    eces

    sary

    ope

    ratio

    ns a

    s fo

    r (i)

    or c

    ompa

    tible

    ope

    ratio

    ns

    appr

    oved

    by

    the

    Min

    iste

    r as

    bein

    g co

    mpa

    tible

    with

    the

    purp

    oses

    of t

    he p

    ark

    or

    man

    agem

    ent a

    rea;

    (iii)

    in th

    e ca

    se o

    f oth

    er la

    nd to

    ach

    ieve

    the

    purp

    ose

    for w

    hich

    the

    land

    was

    ves

    ted

    or

    man

    aged

    (as

    desc

    ribed

    in s

    ectio

    n 56

    of t

    he C

    onse

    rvat

    ion

    and

    Land

    Man

    agem

    ent

    Act 1

    984)

    .

  • 10

    A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 201410

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    4. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r th

    e Sa

    ndal

    woo

    d Ac

    t 19

    29

    Clea

    ring

    auth

    oris

    ed u

    nder

    a li

    cenc

    e

    (a) r

    efer

    red

    to in

    par

    agra

    ph (a

    ); or

    (b) g

    rant

    ed u

    nder

    par

    agra

    ph (b

    ),

    of s

    ectio

    n 3(

    1) o

    f the

    San

    dalw

    ood

    Act 1

    929.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    a pe

    rson

    lice

    nsed

    und

    er th

    e Sa

    ndal

    woo

    d Ac

    t 192

    9 to

    take

    sa

    ndal

    woo

    d in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    the

    term

    s an

    d co

    nditi

    ons

    of th

    e lic

    ence

    .

    5. T

    akin

    g flo

    ra

    unde

    r the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act

    1950

    Clea

    ring

    cons

    istin

    g of

    the

    taki

    ng o

    f flor

    a

    (a)

    as a

    utho

    rised

    und

    er a

    lice

    nce

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    23C

    of th

    e W

    ildlif

    e Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Ac

    t 195

    0;

    or(b

    ) as

    con

    sent

    ed to

    und

    er s

    ectio

    n 23

    F of

    the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950

    by th

    e M

    inis

    ter a

    dmin

    iste

    ring

    that

    Act

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    a pe

    rson

    hol

    ding

    a c

    omm

    erci

    al p

    urpo

    ses

    licen

    ce u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    23C

    of th

    e W

    ildlif

    e Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Ac

    t 195

    0 to

    take

    pro

    tect

    ed fl

    ora

    for s

    ale

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith

    the

    term

    s an

    d co

    nditi

    ons

    of th

    e lic

    ence

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    also

    allo

    ws

    a pe

    rson

    who

    has

    obt

    aine

    d th

    e co

    nsen

    t of t

    he M

    inis

    ter u

    nder

    se

    ctio

    n 23

    F of

    the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950

    to ta

    ke fl

    ora

    decl

    ared

    as

    rare

    .

    6. T

    akin

    g flo

    ra

    unde

    r the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act

    1950

    Clea

    ring

    cons

    istin

    g of

    the

    taki

    ng o

    f flor

    a by

    a

    pers

    on a

    utho

    rised

    (a

    ) by

    sub

    sect

    ion

    (1)(a

    ); or

    (b)

    unde

    r sub

    sect

    ion

    (1)(b

    ),

    of s

    ectio

    n 23

    D o

    f the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act

    1950

    for t

    he p

    urpo

    ses

    of s

    ale

    unde

    r a li

    cenc

    e is

    sued

    un

    der t

    hat s

    ectio

    n.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    a pe

    rson

    hol

    ding

    a C

    omm

    erci

    al P

    rodu

    cers

    lice

    nce

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    23D

    of t

    he W

    ildlif

    e Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Ac

    t 195

    0 to

    take

    pro

    tect

    ed fl

    ora

    for s

    ale

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith th

    e te

    rms

    and

    cond

    ition

    s of

    the

    licen

    ce.

    Not

    e th

    at s

    ectio

    n 23

    D o

    f the

    Wild

    life

    Cons

    erva

    tion

    Act 1

    950,

    requ

    ires

    the

    Min

    iste

    r to

    cons

    ider

    the

    clea

    ring

    prin

    cipl

    es s

    et o

    ut in

    Sch

    edul

    e 5

    of th

    e EP

    . Act

    The

    Min

    iste

    r sha

    ll no

    t is

    sue

    a lic

    ence

    und

    er th

    e W

    ildlif

    e Co

    nser

    vatio

    n Ac

    t 195

    0 if

    the

    taki

    ng o

    f pro

    tect

    ed fl

    ora

    wou

    ld b

    e se

    rious

    ly a

    t var

    ianc

    e w

    ith th

    ose

    prin

    cipl

    es.

    7. C

    lear

    ing

    by th

    e Fo

    rest

    Pro

    duct

    s Co

    mm

    issi

    on

    Clea

    ring

    unde

    r the

    For

    est P

    rodu

    cts

    Act 2

    000,

    of

    veg

    etat

    ion

    mai

    ntai

    ned,

    or e

    stab

    lishe

    d an

    d m

    aint

    aine

    d, u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    10(1

    )(g) o

    f tha

    t Act

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    by th

    e Fo

    rest

    Pro

    duct

    s Co

    mm

    issi

    on o

    f for

    est p

    rodu

    cts

    in

    plan

    tatio

    ns, p

    lant

    nur

    serie

    s, or

    see

    d or

    pro

    paga

    tion

    orch

    ards

    whi

    ch a

    re m

    aint

    aine

    d, o

    r es

    tabl

    ishe

    d an

    d m

    aint

    aine

    d, b

    y th

    e Fo

    rest

    Pro

    duct

    s Co

    mm

    issi

    on.

    Fore

    st p

    rodu

    cts

    mea

    ns tr

    ees

    or p

    arts

    of t

    rees

    : tim

    ber,

    saw

    dust

    or c

    hips

    , cha

    rcoa

    l, gu

    m,

    kino

    , res

    in o

    r sap

    , and

    fire

    woo

    d lo

    cate

    d on

    pub

    lic la

    nd o

    r sha

    re-fa

    rmed

    land

    .

  • 11

    April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 11

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    8. S

    peci

    fic c

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r the

    For

    est

    Prod

    ucts

    Act

    200

    0

    Clea

    ring

    unde

    r a p

    rodu

    ctio

    n co

    ntra

    ct o

    r roa

    d co

    ntra

    ct e

    nter

    ed in

    to a

    nd h

    avin

    g eff

    ect u

    nder

    the

    Fore

    st P

    rodu

    cts

    Act 2

    000.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    of fo

    rest

    pro

    duct

    s by

    the

    Fore

    st P

    rodu

    cts

    Com

    mis

    sion

    or

    its c

    ontr

    acto

    rs in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    a p

    rodu

    ctio

    n co

    ntra

    ct p

    rovi

    ded

    that

    :

    the

    quan

    titie

    s an

    d ki

    nds

    of fo

    rest

    pro

    duct

    s an

    d th

    e lo

    catio

    n of

    the

    fore

    st p

    rodu

    cts

    to b

    e m

    anag

    ed, h

    arve

    sted

    , or s

    old

    are

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e th

    e re

    leva

    nt m

    anag

    emen

    t pl

    an.

    A p

    rodu

    ctio

    n co

    ntra

    ct h

    as n

    o eff

    ect a

    fter

    the

    rele

    vant

    man

    agem

    ent p

    lan

    has

    expi

    red.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    for c

    lear

    ing

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    road

    con

    trac

    t for

    the

    cons

    truc

    tion

    or m

    aint

    enan

    ce o

    f roa

    ds fo

    r the

    pur

    pose

    s of

    man

    agin

    g or

    har

    vest

    ing

    fore

    st p

    rodu

    cts.

    Prod

    uctio

    n an

    d ro

    ad c

    ontr

    acts

    may

    onl

    y be

    mad

    e in

    rela

    tion

    to la

    nd m

    anag

    ed b

    y th

    e D

    epar

    tmen

    t of P

    arks

    and

    Wild

    life

    if th

    e m

    anag

    emen

    t pla

    n al

    low

    s fo

    r the

    man

    agem

    ent o

    r ha

    rves

    ting

    of fo

    rest

    pro

    duct

    s.

    9. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r th

    e Pl

    anni

    ng a

    nd

    Dev

    elop

    men

    t Act

    20

    05

    Clea

    ring

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    sub

    divi

    sion

    app

    rova

    l gi

    ven

    by th

    e re

    spon

    sibl

    e au

    thor

    ity u

    nder

    the

    Plan

    ning

    and

    Dev

    elop

    men

    t Act

    200

    5, in

    clud

    ing

    (a

    ) cl

    earin

    g fo

    r the

    pur

    pose

    s of

    any

    dev

    elop

    men

    t th

    at is

    dee

    med

    by

    sect

    ion

    157

    of th

    at A

    ct

    to h

    ave

    been

    app

    rove

    d by

    the

    resp

    onsi

    ble

    auth

    ority

    ; and

    (b)

    clea

    ring

    in a

    ny b

    uild

    ing

    enve

    lope

    des

    crib

    ed

    in th

    e ap

    prov

    ed p

    lan

    or d

    iagr

    am

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    sub

    divi

    sion

    dee

    med

    app

    rove

    d by

    the

    resp

    onsi

    ble

    auth

    ority

    und

    er th

    e Pl

    anni

    ng a

    nd D

    evel

    opm

    ent A

    ct 2

    005.

    This

    may

    incl

    ude

    clea

    ring

    nativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    for t

    he p

    urpo

    ses

    of:

    co

    nstr

    uctin

    g ro

    ads

    to p

    rovi

    de a

    cces

    s to

    or w

    ithin

    the

    subd

    ivis

    ion;

    pr

    ovid

    ing

    wat

    er s

    ervi

    ces

    to th

    e sa

    tisfa

    ctio

    n of

    the

    Wat

    er C

    orpo

    ratio

    n;

    fillin

    g or

    dra

    inin

    g th

    e la

    nd in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    the

    spec

    ifica

    tions

    of t

    he a

    ppro

    val;

    and

    cl

    earin

    g w

    ithin

    any

    bui

    ldin

    g en

    velo

    pe d

    escr

    ibed

    in th

    e ap

    prov

    ed p

    lan

    or d

    iagr

    am.

    Mos

    t sub

    divi

    sion

    app

    rova

    ls d

    o no

    t exp

    licitl

    y au

    thor

    ise

    the

    clea

    ring

    of n

    ativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    othe

    r tha

    n fo

    r the

    pur

    pose

    s ou

    tline

    d ab

    ove.

    10. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r th

    e Bu

    sh F

    ires

    Act

    1954

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    (a

    ) as

    per

    mitt

    ed u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    17(5

    ); or

    (b)

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    per

    mit

    obta

    ined

    und

    er

    sect

    ion

    18; o

    r(c

    ) in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    per

    mis

    sion

    gra

    nted

    und

    er

    sect

    ion

    22(c

    ); or

    (d)

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    22(2

    ), 23

    , 26A

    , 39(

    1)(d

    ) or

    44(1

    )(c);

    or(e

    ) as

    aut

    horis

    ed b

    y a

    proc

    lam

    atio

    n un

    der

    sect

    ion

    26,

    of th

    e Bu

    sh F

    ires

    Act 1

    954.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    unde

    r the

    Bus

    h Fi

    res

    Act 1

    954

    for:

    bu

    rnin

    g du

    ring

    a re

    stric

    ted

    time

    if a

    perm

    it is

    obt

    aine

    d fr

    om a

    bus

    h fir

    e co

    ntro

    l offi

    cer;

    bu

    rnin

    g if

    the

    Min

    iste

    r for

    Fire

    and

    Em

    erge

    ncy

    Serv

    ices

    or a

    per

    son

    actin

    g on

    th

    e M

    inis

    ters

    aut

    horit

    y gr

    ants

    per

    mis

    sion

    dur

    ing

    a de

    clar

    ed b

    ush

    fire

    emer

    genc

    y pe

    riod;

    bu

    rnin

    g du

    ring

    proh

    ibite

    d tim

    es if

    a b

    urni

    ng p

    erm

    it is

    obt

    aine

    d fr

    om a

    bus

    h fir

    e co

    ntro

    l offi

    cer t

    o bu

    rn b

    ush

    on la

    nd to

    pro

    tect

    a d

    wel

    ling,

    bui

    ldin

    g, h

    ayst

    ack

    or

    crop

    , or t

    o co

    ntro

    l cer

    tain

    wee

    ds; o

    r

    clea

    ring

    by a

    bus

    h fir

    e co

    ntro

    l offi

    cer t

    o co

    nstr

    uct fi

    re b

    reak

    s or

    cle

    ar la

    nd to

    co

    ntro

    l or p

    reve

    nt th

    e sp

    read

    ing

    of a

    fire

    .

    Bush

    fire

    con

    trol

    offi

    cers

    are

    app

    oint

    ed u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    38 o

    f the

    Bus

    h Fi

    res

    Act 1

    954.

  • 12

    A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 201412

    Clau

    se n

    o.W

    ordi

    ng o

    f exe

    mpt

    ion

    Com

    men

    t / e

    xpla

    natio

    n

    11. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r th

    e Fi

    re B

    rigad

    es A

    ct

    1942

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    34(a

    ), (c

    ) or (

    h)

    of th

    e Fi

    re B

    rigad

    es A

    ct 1

    942.

    Und

    er th

    e Fi

    re B

    rigad

    es A

    ct 1

    942

    the

    Dire

    ctor

    of O

    pera

    tions

    or t

    he o

    ffice

    r or m

    embe

    r of

    the

    brig

    ade

    in c

    harg

    e at

    a fi

    re m

    ay ta

    ke a

    nd d

    irect

    any

    cle

    arin

    g w

    hich

    app

    ears

    nec

    essa

    ry

    to p

    rote

    ct li

    fe a

    nd p

    rope

    rty,

    or t

    o co

    ntro

    l and

    ext

    ingu

    ish

    the

    fire.

    12. C

    lear

    ing

    for

    fire

    prev

    entio

    n or

    co

    ntro

    l on

    Crow

    n la

    nd

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is d

    one

    for fi

    re p

    reve

    ntio

    n or

    co

    ntro

    l pur

    pose

    s or

    oth

    er fi

    re m

    anag

    emen

    t w

    orks

    on

    Crow

    n la

    nd, w

    ithin

    the

    mea

    ning

    of t

    he

    Land

    Adm

    inis

    trat

    ion

    Act 1

    997,

    by

    the

    Fire

    and

    Em

    erge

    ncy

    Serv

    ices

    Aut

    horit

    y of

    Wes

    tern

    Aus

    tral

    ia

    esta

    blis

    hed

    unde

    r the

    Fire

    and

    Em

    erge

    ncy

    Serv

    ices

    Au

    thor

    ity o

    f Wes

    tern

    Aus

    tral

    ia A

    ct 1

    998.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    clea

    ring

    by th

    e D

    epar

    tmen

    t of F

    ire a

    nd E

    mer

    genc

    y Se

    rvic

    es fo

    r fire

    pr

    even

    tion

    or c

    ontr

    ol p

    urpo

    ses

    or fo

    r oth

    er fi

    re m

    anag

    emen

    t wor

    ks o

    n Cr

    own

    land

    .

    13. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r the

    Lan

    d Ad

    min

    istr

    atio

    n Ac

    t 19

    97

    Clea

    ring

    caus

    ed b

    y th

    e gr

    azin

    g of

    sto

    ck o

    n la

    nd

    unde

    r a p

    asto

    ral l

    ease

    with

    in th

    e m

    eani

    ng o

    f the

    La

    nd A

    dmin

    istr

    atio

    n Ac

    t 199

    7 as

    long

    as

    that

    gr

    azin

    g is

    not

    in b

    reac

    h of

    (a

    ) th

    at A

    ct;

    (b)

    the

    past

    oral

    leas

    e; o

    r(c

    ) an

    y re

    leva

    nt c

    ondi

    tion

    set o

    r det

    erm

    inat

    ion

    mad

    e by

    the

    Past

    oral

    Boa

    rd u

    nder

    Par

    t 7 o

    f th

    at A

    ct.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    a pa

    stor

    al le

    ssee

    to g

    raze

    sto

    ck o

    n a

    past

    oral

    leas

    e in

    acc

    orda

    nce

    with

    the

    Land

    Adm

    inis

    trat

    ion

    Act 1

    997,

    the

    term

    s an

    d co

    nditi

    ons

    of th

    e pa

    stor

    al le

    ase

    and

    any

    rele

    vant

    con

    ditio

    n or

    det

    erm

    inat

    ion

    by th

    e Pa

    stor

    al L

    ands

    Boa

    rd.

    14. C

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r th

    e Fi

    sh R

    esou

    rces

    M

    anag

    emen

    t Act

    19

    94

    Clea

    ring

    of a

    quat

    ic v

    eget

    atio

    n th

    at o

    ccur

    s un

    der

    the

    auth

    ority

    of a

    lice

    nce

    or p

    erm

    it w

    ithin

    the

    mea

    ning

    of t

    he F

    ish

    Reso

    urce

    s M

    anag

    emen

    t Act

    19

    94.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    the

    clea

    ring

    of a

    quat

    ic v

    eget

    atio

    n th

    at is

    aut

    horis

    ed b

    y a

    licen

    ce o

    r pe

    rmit

    issu

    ed u

    nder

    the

    Fish

    Res

    ourc

    es M

    anag

    emen

    t Act

    199

    4.

    For e

    xam

    ple,

    this

    may

    incl

    ude

    the

    inci

    dent

    al c

    lear

    ing

    caus

    ed b

    y th

    e or

    dina

    ry a

    nd

    othe

    rwis

    e la

    wfu

    l use

    of r

    ock

    lobs

    ter p

    ots

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    lice

    nce

    to ta

    ke ro

    ck lo

    bste

    r.

  • 13

    April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 13

    Section 2 Regulations

    The Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 address a number of matters related to clearing of native vegetation, such as:

    When intentionally planted vegetation is defined as native vegetation and therefore the rules for clearing of native vegetation will apply.

    Fees to lodge an application to clear native vegetation.

    The information that DER must keep about applications to clear.

    The information that DER must publish about applications to clear and decisions on clearing of native vegetation.

    Clearing activities that do not require a permit if carried out outside of an environmentally sensitive area declared under section 51B of the EP Act.

    Please note that the following section is not the official version of the Regulations, but a guide that explains to you how the exemptions under the Regulations work. The explanations do not address Regulations 7 (fees) and 8 (records to be kept by the CEO). For information on these exemptions, refer to the official version of the Regulations.

    The official version can be obtained by contacting the State Law Publisher (08) 6552 6000 or visit www.slp.wa.gov.au.

    Regulations 1, 2 and 3

    Regulation 1 states the official name of these Regulations, which is the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.

    Regulation 2 states the day the Regulations came into operation. This was 8 July 2004.

    Regulation 3 lists some definitions of particular terms used in the Regulations. In this guide, these definitions have been included with the exemption to which they relate.

    Regulation 4 Intentionally sown, planted or propagated vegetation

    Plantations

    The clearing laws only apply to native vegetation. The definition of native vegetation in the EP Act does not include native species in a plantation. A plantation is defined in section 3 of the EP Act as one or more groups of trees, shrubs or plants intentionally sown, planted or propagated with a view to commercial exploitation.

    Other intentionally planted vegetation

    Under section 51A of the EP Act native vegetation does not include vegetation that is intentionally sown, planted or propagated unless:

    the vegetation was sown, planted or propagated as required under the EP Act or another written law; or

    it is declared to be native vegetation under the regulations.

    Vegetation that is required to be sown, planted or propagated under a written law will often be as a result of conditions of an authorisation or lease.

    Intentionally planted vegetation that is declared to be native vegetation

    Regulation 4 prescribes the kinds of intentionally planted indigenous vegetation that are native vegetation and which therefore require a clearing permit or exemption to clear and includes:

    (a) Planting that was funded (wholly or partly):(i) by a person who was not the owner of the

    land; and(ii) for the purpose of biodiversity conservation or

    land conservation.OR(b) Intentionally planted vegetation that has one

    of the following:(i) a conservation covenant or agreement to

  • 14

    A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 201414

    reserve under section 30B of the Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945;

    (ii) a covenant to conserve under section 21A of the National Trust of Australia (WA) Act 1964;

    (iii) a restrictive covenant to conserve under section 129B of the Transfer of Land Act 1983;

    (iv) some other form of binding undertaking to establish and maintain, or maintain, the vegetation.

    For the purposes of Regulation 4, biodiversity conservation includes conservation of species diversity, genetic diversity or ecosystem diversity and land conservation includes management of salinity, erosion, soil acidity or waterlogging. Planting includes to sow and to propagate.

    Regulation 5 Prescribed clearing

    This Regulation includes a table of exemptions, referred to as items. Each exemption listed in the table only applies if the clearing is either done by the person specified in the table, or with that persons prior authority.

    If you clear using one of the exemptions in the table below, you must make sure you clear in a way that limits damage to neighbouring vegetation.

    Clearing under exemptions set out in Regulation 5 must also fit within the description set out in the Table to Regulation 5.

    Five-hectare limit

    Certain items under the Regulations only exempt clearing to the extent that the total combined clearing under any of these exemptions does not exceed five hectares in any financial year.

    This means that if you clear under one or more of the following items, the total area cleared for all of these purposes may not add up to more than five hectares in a financial year.

    Clearing to construct a building (Regulation 5, Item 1)

    Clearing to collect firewood (Regulation 5,

    Item 5) Clearing to obtain fencing or farming

    materials (Regulation 5, Item 6) Clearing for woodwork (Regulation 5, Item 7) Clearing for fence lines (Regulation 5, Item

    10) Clearing for vehicular tracks (Regulation 5,

    Item 12) Clearing for walking tracks (Regulation 5,

    Item 13) Clearing isolated trees (Regulation 5, Item 19)

    Environmentally sensitive areas

    There are a number of areas where the exemptions under the Regulations do not apply. These areas are environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) declared by the Minister under section 51B of the EP Act. If you want to clear native vegetation in an environmentally sensitive area for one of the purposes in the Table, you will need to apply for a clearing permit.

    The current ESAs are contained in the Environmental Protection (Environmentally Sensitive Areas) Notice 2005 published in the Western Australian Government Gazette, Friday 8 April 2005, No. 55. For a copy of the Gazette, contact the State Law Publisher on (08) 6552 6000 or visit www.slp.wa.gov.au.

    A web viewer can assist you in locating some of the environmentally sensitive areas. Users are advised that the map is not the legal list. To use the viewer visit the DER website at www.der.wa.gov.au/nvp.

  • 15

    April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 15Th

    is ta

    ble

    lists

    the

    exem

    ptio

    ns th

    at c

    an b

    e fo

    und

    in R

    egul

    atio

    n 5

    of th

    e En

    viro

    nmen

    tal P

    rote

    ctio

    n (C

    lear

    ing

    of N

    ativ

    e Ve

    geta

    tion)

    Reg

    ulat

    ions

    200

    4.

    Th

    e fir

    st c

    olum

    n re

    fers

    to th

    e Ite

    m n

    umbe

    r in

    Regu

    latio

    n 5.

    Th

    e se

    cond

    col

    umn

    show

    s th

    e le

    gal w

    ordi

    ng o

    f the

    exe

    mpt

    ion.

    Th

    e th

    ird c

    olum

    n us

    es s

    impl

    er la

    ngua

    ge to

    exp

    lain

    how

    the

    exem

    ptio

    n w

    orks

    .

    Item

    no.

    Wor

    ding

    of e

    xem

    ptio

    nCo

    mm

    ent /

    exp

    lana

    tion

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    1

    Clea

    ring

    to c

    onst

    ruct

    a

    build

    ing

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e pr

    ior

    auth

    ority

    of:

    The

    owne

    r of t

    he p

    rope

    rty

    on w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    is to

    ta

    ke p

    lace

    .

    Clea

    ring

    of a

    site

    for t

    he la

    wfu

    l co

    nstr

    uctio

    n of

    a b

    uild

    ing

    or o

    ther

    str

    uctu

    re

    on a

    pro

    pert

    y, b

    eing

    cle

    arin

    g w

    hich

    doe

    s no

    t, to

    geth

    er w

    ith a

    ll ot

    her l

    imite

    d cl

    earin

    g on

    the

    prop

    erty

    in th

    e fin

    anci

    al y

    ear i

    n w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    take

    s pl

    ace,

    exc

    eed

    five

    hect

    ares

    , if

    (a)

    the

    clea

    ring

    is to

    the

    exte

    nt

    nece

    ssar

    y; a

    nd(b

    ) th

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    is n

    ot ri

    paria

    n ve

    geta

    tion.

    Clea

    ring

    of n

    ativ

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    for t

    he la

    wfu

    l con

    stru

    ctio

    n of

    a b

    uild

    ing

    or o

    ther

    str

    uctu

    re

    is e

    xem

    pt a

    s lo

    ng a

    s ot

    her r

    elev

    ant a

    ppro

    vals

    hav

    e be

    en o

    btai

    ned,

    incl

    udin

    g an

    y pl

    anni

    ng

    appr

    oval

    s an

    d bu

    ildin

    g lic

    ence

    .

    Bui

    ldin

    g m

    eans

    a ro

    ofed

    bui

    ldin

    g or

    oth

    er ro

    ofed

    str

    uctu

    re th

    at is

    per

    man

    ently

    fixe

    d to

    th

    e gr

    ound

    , and

    incl

    udes

    a tr

    ansp

    orta

    ble

    build

    ing

    that

    is:

    (a)

    conn

    ecte

    d to

    a s

    ewer

    age

    syst

    em o

    r sep

    tic ta

    nk; o

    r(b

    ) in

    tend

    ed to

    be

    used

    as

    a pe

    rman

    ent b

    uild

    ing.

    Clea

    ring

    may

    als

    o be

    car

    ried

    out f

    or th

    e co

    nstr

    uctio

    n of

    oth

    er s

    truc

    ture

    s.

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t onl

    y be

    to th

    e ex

    tent

    nec

    essa

    ry fo

    r the

    bui

    ldin

    g or

    oth

    er s

    truc

    ture

    . For

    ex

    ampl

    e, th

    is e

    xem

    ptio

    n do

    es n

    ot a

    llow

    you

    to c

    lear

    a la

    rge

    area

    to s

    impl

    y in

    stal

    l a 2

    m x

    3m

    gar

    den

    shed

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    does

    not

    allo

    w c

    lear

    ing

    of ri

    paria

    n ve

    geta

    tion.

    Rip

    aria

    n ve

    geta

    tion

    mea

    ns th

    e di

    stin

    ctiv

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    asso

    ciat

    ed w

    ith a

    wet

    land

    or

    wat

    erco

    urse

    .

    Pro

    pert

    y m

    eans

    an

    area

    of l

    and

    that

    is m

    anag

    ed a

    s a

    sing

    le p

    rope

    rty

    whe

    ther

    or n

    ot it

    is

    mad

    e up

    of a

    num

    ber o

    f pro

    pert

    ies

    held

    und

    er s

    epar

    ate

    title

    s.

    Und

    er th

    is it

    em y

    ou s

    houl

    d no

    te th

    at c

    lear

    ing

    for a

    bui

    ldin

    g, c

    ombi

    ned

    with

    oth

    er e

    xem

    pt

    clea

    ring

    activ

    ities

    on

    the

    prop

    erty

    , mus

    t not

    exc

    eed

    five

    hect

    ares

    in a

    fina

    ncia

    l yea

    r.

    This

    mea

    ns th

    at if

    you

    cle

    ar fo

    r any

    of t

    he fo

    llow

    ing

    purp

    oses

    , the

    cle

    arin

    g m

    ay n

    ot a

    dd u

    p to

    mor

    e th

    an fi

    ve h

    ecta

    res

    in a

    fina

    ncia

    l yea

    r.

    (co

    ntd

    )

  • 16

    A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 201416

    Item

    no.

    Wor

    ding

    of e

    xem

    ptio

    nCo

    mm

    ent /

    exp

    lana

    tion

    Cl

    earin

    g to

    con

    stru

    ct a

    bui

    ldin

    g (It

    em 1

    )

    Clea

    ring

    to c

    olle

    ct fi

    rew

    ood

    (Item

    5)

    Cl

    earin

    g to

    obt

    ain

    fenc

    ing

    or fa

    rmin

    g m

    ater

    ials

    (Ite

    m 6

    )

    Clea

    ring

    for w

    oodw

    ork

    (Item

    7)

    Cl

    earin

    g fo

    r fen

    ce li

    nes

    (Item

    10)

    Cl

    earin

    g fo

    r veh

    icul

    ar tr

    acks

    (Ite

    m 1

    2)

    Clea

    ring

    for w

    alki

    ng tr

    acks

    (Ite

    m 1

    3)

    Clea

    ring

    isol

    ated

    tree

    s (It

    em 1

    9)

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    does

    not

    app

    ly in

    an

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    lly s

    ensi

    tive

    area

    .

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    2

    Clea

    ring

    resu

    lting

    from

    ac

    cide

    nts

    or to

    redu

    ce

    dang

    er

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e pr

    ior

    auth

    ority

    of:

    The

    owne

    r of t

    he la

    nd o

    n w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    is to

    ta

    ke p

    lace

    ; or

    A p

    erso

    n re

    spon

    sibl

    e fo

    r the

    saf

    ety

    or w

    elfa

    re

    of th

    e pe

    rson

    s w

    ho a

    re

    likel

    y to

    be

    in d

    ange

    r or

    for t

    he p

    ortio

    n of

    the

    envi

    ronm

    ent.

    .

    Clea

    ring

    (a

    ) fo

    r the

    pur

    pose

    s of

    pre

    vent

    ing

    imm

    inen

    t dan

    ger t

    o hu

    man

    life

    or

    hea

    lth o

    r irr

    ever

    sibl

    e da

    mag

    e to

    a s

    igni

    fican

    t por

    tion

    of th

    e en

    viro

    nmen

    t; or

    (b)

    as a

    resu

    lt of

    an

    acci

    dent

    cau

    sed

    othe

    rwis

    e th

    an b

    y th

    e ne

    glig

    ence

    of

    the

    pers

    on c

    lear

    ing

    or th

    e pe

    rson

    w

    ho a

    utho

    rised

    the

    clea

    ring.

    In re

    gard

    to c

    lear

    ing

    unde

    r thi

    s ex

    empt

    ion:

    (a)

    The

    dang

    er o

    r ris

    k to

    the

    envi

    ronm

    ent m

    ust b

    e pr

    esen

    t, im

    med

    iate

    or i

    mm

    inen

    t, an

    d no

    t rem

    ote

    eith

    er a

    s to

    like

    lihoo

    d or

    as

    to ti

    me

    of o

    ccur

    renc

    e.

    (b)

    An

    acci

    dent

    is a

    n ev

    ent t

    hat i

    s ne

    ither

    inte

    nded

    nor

    fore

    seen

    and

    whe

    re a

    per

    son

    can

    dem

    onst

    rate

    that

    the

    even

    t did

    not

    resu

    lt fr

    om a

    ny c

    ondu

    ct o

    f the

    per

    son

    whi

    ch

    was

    car

    eles

    s, ne

    glig

    ent o

    r rec

    kles

    s.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    does

    not

    app

    ly in

    an

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    lly s

    ensi

    tive

    area

    .

  • 17

    April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 17

    Item

    no.

    Wor

    ding

    of e

    xem

    ptio

    nCo

    mm

    ent /

    exp

    lana

    tion

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    3

    Clea

    ring

    for fi

    re h

    azar

    d re

    duct

    ion

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e au

    thor

    ity

    of:

    The

    owne

    r of t

    he la

    nd o

    n w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    is to

    ta

    ke p

    lace

    .

    Clea

    ring

    that

    is fi

    re h

    azar

    d re

    duct

    ion

    burn

    ing

    if th

    e cl

    earin

    g is

    (a

    ) to

    occ

    ur o

    utsi

    de th

    e pr

    ohib

    ited

    or

    rest

    ricte

    d bu

    rnin

    g tim

    es d

    ecla

    red

    unde

    r the

    Bus

    h Fi

    res

    Act 1

    954

    for

    the

    zone

    in w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    is to

    ta

    ke p

    lace

    ; and

    (b)

    done

    in s

    uch

    a w

    ay a

    s to

    m

    inim

    ise

    long

    term

    dam

    age

    to

    the

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    l val

    ues

    of th

    e ve

    geta

    tion.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    for fi

    re h

    azar

    d re

    duct

    ion

    burn

    ing

    outs

    ide

    of th

    e pr

    ohib

    ited

    or

    rest

    ricte

    d pe

    riods

    .

    Fire

    haz

    ard

    redu

    ctio

    n bu

    rnin

    g m

    eans

    bur

    ning

    or p

    artia

    l bur

    ning

    of v

    eget

    atio

    n to

    re

    duce

    the

    risk

    of in

    jury

    or d

    amag

    e to

    per

    sons

    and

    pro

    pert

    y fr

    om a

    n un

    cont

    rolle

    d fir

    e in

    ve

    geta

    tion.

    The

    clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    in a

    way

    that

    min

    imis

    es lo

    ng-t

    erm

    dam

    age

    to th

    e en

    viro

    nmen

    tal

    valu

    es o

    f the

    veg

    etat

    ion.

    Env

    ironm

    enta

    l val

    ue is

    defi

    ned

    in s

    ectio

    n 3

    of th

    e EP

    Act

    and

    m

    eans

    a b

    enefi

    cial

    use

    ; or a

    n ec

    osys

    tem

    hea

    lth c

    ondi

    tion.

    Bot

    h be

    nefic

    ial u

    se a

    nd

    ecos

    yste

    m h

    ealth

    con

    ditio

    n ar

    e al

    so d

    efine

    d in

    sec

    tion

    3.

    Whi

    lst h

    avin

    g re

    gard

    to s

    afet

    y is

    sues

    , car

    e sh

    ould

    be

    take

    n no

    t to

    carr

    y ou

    t fire

    haz

    ard

    redu

    ctio

    n bu

    rnin

    g so

    freq

    uent

    ly th

    at it

    will

    redu

    ce o

    r pre

    vent

    the

    abili

    ty o

    f the

    veg

    etat

    ion

    to re

    cove

    r. Ca

    re s

    houl

    d al

    so b

    e ta

    ken,

    for e

    xam

    ple,

    to p

    reve

    nt b

    urni

    ng fr

    om s

    prea

    ding

    to

    a n

    eigh

    bour

    ing

    prop

    erty

    . D

    ER h

    as p

    repa

    red

    a gu

    idel

    ine

    to a

    ssis

    t in

    unde

    rsta

    ndin

    g re

    quire

    men

    ts to

    pre

    vent

    long

    term

    dam

    age

    to v

    eget

    atio

    n w

    hich

    is a

    vaila

    ble

    at D

    ERs

    web

    site

    (htt

    p://

    ww

    w.d

    er.w

    a.go

    v.au

    ).

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    does

    not

    app

    ly in

    an

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    lly s

    ensi

    tive

    area

    .

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    4

    Clea

    ring

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    cod

    e of

    pra

    ctic

    e

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e pr

    ior

    auth

    ority

    of:

    A p

    erso

    n to

    who

    m th

    e co

    de a

    pplie

    s.

    Clea

    ring

    in a

    ccor

    danc

    e w

    ith a

    cod

    e of

    pr

    actic

    e is

    sued

    by

    the

    CEO

    und

    er s

    ectio

    n 12

    2A o

    f the

    Act

    .

    In it

    s cu

    rren

    t for

    m, t

    his

    item

    doe

    s no

    t pro

    vide

    for a

    ny e

    xem

    ptio

    ns a

    s it

    does

    not

    ado

    pt a

    co

    de o

    f pra

    ctic

    e m

    ade

    unde

    r sec

    tion

    122A

    . Tha

    t is

    beca

    use

    Item

    4 re

    fers

    to a

    ll co

    des

    of

    prac

    tice

    mad

    e un

    der s

    ectio

    n 12

    2A, r

    athe

    r tha

    n a

    spec

    ific

    code

    or c

    odes

    . The

    pow

    er o

    f th

    e G

    over

    nor t

    o m

    ake

    regu

    latio

    ns u

    nder

    sec

    tion

    123

    to a

    dopt

    ei

    ther

    spe

    cific

    ally

    or b

    y re

    fere

    nce,

    any

    co

    des

    is c

    onfin

    ed to

    cod

    es th

    at a

    re c

    apab

    le o

    f bei

    ng s

    peci

    fical

    ly id

    entifi

    ed

    in th

    e re

    gula

    tion.

  • 18

    A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation April 201418

    Item

    no.

    Wor

    ding

    of e

    xem

    ptio

    nCo

    mm

    ent /

    exp

    lana

    tion

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    5

    Clea

    ring

    for fi

    rew

    ood

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e pr

    ior

    auth

    ority

    of:

    The

    owne

    r or o

    ccup

    ier.

    Clea

    ring

    to p

    rovi

    de fi

    rew

    ood

    use

    by th

    e ow

    ner o

    r occ

    upie

    r of t

    he p

    rope

    rty

    on w

    hich

    th

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    is lo

    cate

    d fo

    r dom

    estic

    he

    atin

    g or

    coo

    king

    , bei

    ng c

    lear

    ing

    whi

    ch

    (a)

    does

    not

    kill

    any

    live

    veg

    etat

    ion

    and

    does

    not

    pre

    vent

    regr

    owth

    of t

    he

    vege

    tatio

    n;(b

    ) is

    car

    ried

    out t

    o pr

    ovid

    e fir

    ewoo

    d to

    th

    e ex

    tent

    to w

    hich

    fire

    woo

    d co

    uld

    not b

    e ob

    tain

    ed fr

    om v

    eget

    atio

    n al

    read

    y cl

    eare

    d fo

    r ano

    ther

    pur

    pose

    ; an

    d(c

    ) do

    es n

    ot, t

    oget

    her w

    ith a

    ll ot

    her

    limite

    d cl

    earin

    g on

    the

    prop

    erty

    in

    the

    finan

    cial

    yea

    r in

    whi

    ch th

    e cl

    earin

    g ta

    kes

    plac

    e, e

    xcee

    d fiv

    e he

    ctar

    es.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    allo

    ws

    the

    owne

    r or o

    ccup

    ier o

    f the

    land

    to c

    lear

    nat

    ive

    vege

    tatio

    n fo

    r fir

    ewoo

    d fo

    r dom

    estic

    use

    onl

    y.

    Vege

    tatio

    n cl

    eare

    d un

    der t

    his

    exem

    ptio

    n ca

    nnot

    be

    sold

    but

    may

    be

    give

    n aw

    ay. A

    dvic

    e sh

    ould

    be

    obta

    ined

    from

    the

    Dep

    artm

    ent o

    f Par

    ks a

    nd W

    ildlif

    e (M

    anag

    er, S

    peci

    es a

    nd

    Com

    mun

    ities

    Bra

    nch)

    on

    wha

    t se

    ll m

    eans

    , as

    it m

    ay in

    clud

    e su

    ch th

    ings

    as

    raffl

    ing

    or

    bart

    erin

    g.

    Fire

    woo

    d m

    ust fi

    rst b

    e co

    llect

    ed fr

    om c

    lear

    ing

    unde

    rtak

    en fo

    r ano

    ther

    pur

    pose

    . If n

    o su

    ch

    clea

    red

    vege

    tatio

    n ex

    ists

    , it m

    ay e

    ither

    be

    of d

    ead

    vege

    tatio

    n, o

    r if f

    rom

    live

    tree

    s su

    ch th

    at

    it do

    es n

    ot k

    ill th

    e tr

    ee o

    r pre

    vent

    its

    regr

    owth

    . Thi

    s w

    ould

    allo

    w ta

    king

    of b

    ranc

    hes,

    or o

    f re

    spro

    utin

    g sp

    ecie

    s su

    ch a

    s m

    alle

    es.

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    ther

    efor

    e al

    low

    s a

    land

    hold

    er to

    con

    tinue

    with

    trad

    ition

    al p

    ract

    ices

    of

    gath

    erin

    g fir

    ewoo

    d fr

    om v

    eget

    atio

    n on

    the

    prop

    erty

    , whi

    le p

    laci

    ng s

    ome

    reas

    onab

    le li

    mits

    on

    thos

    e pr

    actic

    es.

    Pro

    pert

    y m

    eans

    an

    area

    of l

    and

    that

    is m

    anag

    ed a

    s a

    sing

    le p

    rope

    rty

    whe

    ther

    or n

    ot it

    is

    mad

    e up

    of a

    num

    ber o

    f pro

    pert

    ies

    held

    und

    er s

    epar

    ate

    title

    s.

    Und

    er th

    is it

    em y

    ou s

    houl

    d no

    te th

    at c

    lear

    ing

    for fi

    rew

    ood,

    com

    bine

    d w

    ith o

    ther

    exe

    mpt

    cl

    earin

    g ac

    tiviti

    es o

    n th

    e pr

    oper

    ty, m

    ay n

    ot e

    xcee

    d fiv

    e he

    ctar

    es in

    a fi

    nanc

    ial y

    ear.

    This

    mea

    ns th

    at if

    you

    cle

    ar fo

    r any

    of t

    he fo

    llow

    ing

    purp

    oses

    , the

    cle

    arin

    g m

    ust n

    ot a

    dd

    up to

    mor

    e th

    an fi

    ve h

    ecta

    res

    in a

    fina

    ncia

    l yea

    r.

    Clea

    ring

    to c

    onst

    ruct

    a b

    uild

    ing

    (Item

    1)

    Cl

    earin

    g to

    col

    lect

    fire

    woo

    d (It

    em 5

    )

    Clea

    ring

    to o

    btai

    n fe

    ncin

    g or

    farm

    ing

    mat

    eria

    ls (I

    tem

    6)

    Cl

    earin

    g fo

    r woo

    dwor

    k (It

    em 7

    )

    Clea

    ring

    for f

    ence

    line

    s (It

    em 1

    0)

    Clea

    ring

    for v

    ehic

    ular

    trac

    ks (I

    tem

    12)

    Cl

    earin

    g fo

    r wal

    king

    trac

    ks (I

    tem

    13)

    Cl

    earin

    g is

    olat

    ed tr

    ees

    (Item

    19)

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    does

    not

    app

    ly in

    an

    envi

    ronm

    enta

    lly s

    ensi

    tive

    area

    .

  • 19

    April 2014 A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation 19

    Item

    no.

    Wor

    ding

    of e

    xem

    ptio

    nCo

    mm

    ent /

    exp

    lana

    tion

    Regu

    latio

    n 5,

    Item

    6

    Clea

    ring

    to p

    rovi

    de fe

    ncin

    g an

    d fa

    rm m

    ater

    ials

    Clea

    ring

    mus

    t be

    done

    by

    or w

    ith th

    e pr

    ior

    auth

    ority

    of:

    The

    owne

    r or o

    ccup

    ier.

    Clea

    ring

    to p

    rovi

    de m

    ater

    ial f

    or u

    se b

    y th

    e ow

    ner o

    r occ

    upie

    r of t

    he p

    rope

    rty

    on w

    hich

    th

    e ve

    geta

    tion

    is lo

    cate

    d fo

    r con

    stru

    ctin

    g an

    d m

    aint

    aini

    ng fe

    nces

    , bui

    ldin

    gs a

    nd

    othe

    r str

    uctu

    res

    on la

    nd in

    the

    poss

    essi

    on

    of th

    e ow

    ner o

    r occ

    upie

    r, be

    ing

    clea

    ring

    whi

    ch

    (a)

    does

    not

    kill

    any

    live

    veg

    etat

    ion

    and

    does

    not

    pre

    vent

    regr

    owth

    of t

    he

    vege

    tatio

    n;(b

    ) is

    car

    ried

    out t

    o pr

    ovid

    e m

    ater

    ial

    to th

    e ex

    tent

    to w

    hich

    the

    mat

    eria

    l co

    uld

    not b

    e ob

    tain

    ed fr

    om

    vege

    tatio

    n al

    read

    y cl

    eare

    d fo

    r an

    othe

    r pur

    pose

    ; and

    (c)

    does

    not

    , tog

    ethe

    r with

    all

    othe

    r lim

    ited

    clea

    ring

    on th

    e pr

    oper

    ty

    in th

    e fin

    anci

    al y

    ear i

    n w

    hich

    the

    clea

    ring

    take

    s pl

    ace,

    exc

    eed

    five

    hect

    ares

    .

    Both

    par

    ts o

    f thi

    s ex

    empt

    ion

    mus

    t be

    satis

    fied

    befo

    re it

    app

    lies.

    It al

    low

    s th

    e ow

    ner o

    r oc

    cupi

    er o

    f the

    land

    to c

    lear

    nat

    ive

    vege

    tatio

    n fo

    r fen

    ce p

    osts

    and

    oth

    er m

    ater

    ials

    for t

    he

    owne

    r or o

    ccup

    iers

    per

    sona

    l use

    on

    the

    land

    in q

    uest

    ion.

    Veg

    etat

    ion

    clea

    red

    unde

    r thi

    s ex

    empt

    ion

    cann

    ot b

    e so

    ld, g

    iven

    aw

    ay o

    r use

    d off

    site

    .

    Fenc

    ing

    and

    farm

    mat

    eria

    ls m

    ust fi

    rst b

    e co

    llect

    ed fr

    om c

    lear

    ing

    unde

    rtak

    en fo

    r ano

    ther

    pu

    rpos

    e. If

    no

    such

    cle

    ared

    veg

    etat

    ion

    exis

    ts, i

    t may

    eith

    er b

    e of

    dea

    d ve

    geta

    tion,

    or i

    f of

    live

    tree

    s su

    ch th

    at it

    doe

    s no

    t kill

    the

    tree

    or p

    reve

    nt it

    s re

    grow

    th. T

    his

    wou

    ld a

    llow

    taki

    ng

    of b

    ranc

    hes,

    or o

    f res

    prou

    ting

    spec

    ies

    such

    as

    mal

    lees

    .

    This

    exe

    mpt

    ion

    ther

    efor

    e al

    low

    s a

    land

    hold

    er to

    con

    tinue

    with

    trad

    ition