Vegetation Management Act 1999
Queensland Vegetation
Management Act
1999 Current as at [Not applicable]
Indicative reprint note This is an
unofficial version of a
reprint of this Act that incorporates all proposed
amendments to the Act included in the Vegetation Management
and
Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018. This indicative
reprint has been prepared for information
only— it is not an authorised reprint of
the Act . Amendments
to this Act
are also included
in the Nature
Conservation (Special Wildlife
Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018.
These
proposed amendments are not included in this indicative
reprint. The point-in-time date for this indicative
reprint is the introduction date for the Vegetation
Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018—
8
March 2018. Detailed information about
indicative reprints
is available on
the Information page of the
Queensland legislation website.
©
State of Queensland 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Not
authorised —indicative only
Queensland Vegetation
Management Act 1999 Contents Part 1
1 3 4
5 6 7
Part
2 Division 1 8
9 Division 2 10
Division 4 Subdivision
1 16 17 18
19 Subdivision 2 19E 19F
19G 19I 19J
19K 19L Page
Preliminary Short title . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 11 Purpose of Act . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11 Advancing the Act’s purpose . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Definitions . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 13 Act binds all persons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Application of
Act .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
Vegetation management Key
concepts What is vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
What
is vegetation management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
State policy for
vegetation management State policy
for vegetation management
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Declaration
of particular
areas Declarations
by Governor
in Council
or Minister Preparing
declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16
Making
declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
Interim declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17
Criteria for
declarations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Declarations
by chief
executive Request for
declaration .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Making declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Particular criteria for declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Amendment of
management plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
When management plan
stops having
effect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Recording of declared areas
and management plans
. . . . . . . . . 22
Ending declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents Division
4A 19N Division 4B 19O
19P 19Q 19R
19S Division 5AA 20A
20AA 20AB 20AC
20AH 20AI 20AJ
20AK 20AKA 20AL
20AM 20AN 20ANA
20AO 20B 20BA
20C 20CA 20D
20F 20H 20HA
20HB Clearing vegetation for special
indigenous purpose Draft matters for assessing development
application for clearing of vegetation for
special indigenous purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 24 Accepted development
Accepted development vegetation clearing
code . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
When
accepted development vegetation clearing code takes effect
26 When code compliant clearing and
conduct of native forest practices are accepted
development, assessable development or
prohibited development for
Planning Act
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Register of
accepted development notices given
under code
. . . 27
When
notice given under code ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Vegetation management maps What is the regulated vegetation
management map . . . . . . . . . . 28
What is the vegetation management
wetlands map . . . . . . . . . . 28
What
is the vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28 What is the essential habitat map . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Deciding to show particular areas as
category B areas . . . . . . . 29
Deciding to show particular areas as
category C areas . . . . . . . 31
Application to make PMAV before amending
regulated vegetation management map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
What
is a property map of assessable vegetation (or PMAV) . . .
33 What is a vegetation category area . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
What
is a category A area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 33 What is a category B area . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
What is a category C area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
What
is a category R area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
What
is a category X area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
When
chief executive may make PMAV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
Chief executive may make decision about
category A
area . . . .
37
When
owner may apply for PMAV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
37
Process before making PMAV
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
When
PMAV may be
replaced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
Copies of PMAV given to owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
PMAV
boundaries prevail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
Certifying vegetation management map
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
Amending vegetation management map
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Page
2
Not
authorised
—indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents 20HC
Division 5B Subdivision
1 21 21A Subdivision
2 21B
21C 21D Subdivision
3 21E
Division 6 22A
22B Division 7A 22LA
22LB 22LC Part 3
Division 1 Subdivision
1 24
25 26 27
28 29 Subdivision
2 30
30A Subdivision 3 31
32 33 When vegetation
management map takes effect . . . . . . . .
. . . . 44 Area management plans
Preliminary Definitions for
division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 44 What is restricted (fodder harvesting)
land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44 Plans made by chief executive Chief executive may
make area
management plans . . . . . . . . .
45
Plan period for area management
plan .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Mandatory conditions for area management plan
. . . . . . . . . . . .
46
Keeping plans Register of area management plans
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
Relationship with
Planning Act When development is for a relevant purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
Requirements for
vegetation clearing application
for managing
thickened vegetation . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 48 Classes of regional ecosystems
Endangered regional ecosystems . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Of
concern regional ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 49 Least concern regional
ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 50 Enforcement, investigations and
offences Enforcement and
investigations Authorised
officers Appointment
and qualifications of
authorised officers . . . . . . . . .
50
Functions and powers of authorised officers
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
51
Conditions of appointment of
authorised officers . . . . . . . . . . . .
51
Authorised
officer’s identity card
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Failure to return
identity card
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Production or display of identity card
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Power to enter places Power to enter places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Power to enter place on reasonable belief
of vegetation
clearing offence 54 Procedure for
entry Entry with consent . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Application for warrant . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Issue of warrant . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Page 3
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents 34
35 Subdivision 4 36
37 38 Subdivision
5 39
40 41 42
43 44 45
46 47 48
Subdivision 6 49 50
51 52 53
54 Subdivision 7 54A 54B
54C 55 55A
Subdivision 8 55AA 55AB
55AC 55AD 55AE
Page
4 Special warrants . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warrants—procedure before entry
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Powers after
entering a place General powers after entering places . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Failure to help
authorised officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Failure to give information .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power to seize evidence Seizing evidence .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Securing seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tampering with seized things
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Powers to support seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Receipts
for seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forfeiture by authorised officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forfeiture on conviction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dealing with forfeited things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Return of seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access to seized things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power to obtain information Power to require
name and
address .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Failure to give name or address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power to require information .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power to require production of
documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Failure to
certify copy of document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Failure to produce document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Power to require compliance Stop work
notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restoration notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contravention of stop work notices and restoration
notices . . . .
Transfer of land the subject of restoration
notice . . . . . . . . . . . .
Record of
restoration notice in land registry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Restoration plans Application of sdiv 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparing restoration plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Approving restoration plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chief executive may amend approved restoration
plan . . . . . . . Steps
after, and
taking effect
of, decision
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
57 58 59
61 61
61
62
63
63
64
64
65
65
65
66
66
67
67
68
68
69
69
70
71
71
72
73
73
74
75
76
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents Not
authorised
—indicative only
55AF Division 2 Subdivision
1 55B 55C 55D
Subdivision 2 56 57
Division 3 58
59 59A 60
60A 61 Part 4
Division 1 62
63 63A Division
1A 63B Division 2 64
65 66 66A
66B 67 Division 3
68 68A 68B
68C Division 4 Failure to
comply with restoration notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 76 Other enforcement provisions
Obtaining criminal history reports
Purpose of sdiv 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Chief executive’s power to obtain criminal
history report . . . . . . 77
Criminal history is confidential
document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
Notice of damage
and compensation Notice of
damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Compensation .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
General offences False or
misleading statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
80
False or misleading documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Impersonation of
authorised officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
81
Obstructing an
authorised officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Executive
officers must ensure corporation
complies with
Act . .
81
Ability to prosecute under other Acts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Reviews and legal
proceedings Internal reviews
by chief
executive Internal review
process before external
review .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
How
to apply for internal review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
Review decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
External reviews by QCAT
Who may apply
for external
review .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
Evidence Application
of div
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Appointments and
authority .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
Signatures
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
Instruments, equipment and
installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
Certificate or
report about
remotely sensed image . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Evidentiary aids
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
87
Proceedings Summary
proceedings for offences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
87
Particulars to be
stated for
complaint for
vegetation clearing offence 88
Representation of
departmental officer in court . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
Recovery of costs
of investigation .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Restrictions
on legal
proceedings Page 5
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents Not
authorised —indicative
only 68CA 68CB
Division 5 68CC
68CD 68CE 68CF
68CG 68CH 68CI
Part
5 68D 69 70
70AA 70AB 70A
70B 70C 71
72 Part 6 Division 1
73 74 Division 2
79 Division 3 81
82 Division 4 Page 6
Definitions for div 4 . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90 Limitation of review and appeal . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Enforceable undertakings Chief executive
may accept enforceable undertakings . . . . . . . .
91 Effect of enforceable
undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 92 Withdrawal or variation of enforceable
undertaking . . . . . . . . . .
92
Amending enforceable undertaking—with
agreement . . . . . . . .
92
Amending
enforceable undertaking—clerical or formal errors
. . 92
Amending or suspending enforceable undertaking—after
show cause process . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 93 Contravention of enforceable
undertaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
95 Miscellaneous Approved forms .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 95 Advisory committees . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96 Regional
vegetation management committees
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
Copies of vegetation management maps
to be
available for
inspection and purchase . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 96 Copies of documents to be available
for inspection and purchase 97
Application of development approvals and
exemptions for Forestry Act 98
Record of particular matters in land registry
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Particular vegetation not natural resource owned
by person
as improvement on
leasehold land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
100
Protecting officials from civil liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
101
Regulation-making power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Transitional and declaratory
provisions Transitional provisions for Act No. 90 of
1999 Existing
development approvals and
applications for development approvals under
the repealed Integrated Planning Act 1997 . . .
102 Existing development control plans and
special facilities zones . 102 Transitional
provisions for Vegetation Management and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2004
When the Land
Act 1994
continues to apply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
104
Transitional provisions for
Vegetation Management and
Other Legislation Amendment Act
2005 Effect on
existing riverine protection permits
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
105
Validation of
particular clearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Transitional provision for Land and Other
Legislation Amendment
Not
authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents 84
Division 5 85
Division 7 Subdivision
1 88
89 Subdivision 2 96
97 98 99
100 101 102
103 Subdivision 3 107
Division 8 109
Division 9 110
111 112 113
114 115 116
117 Act 2007 Existing appeals
under s 22C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 106 Declaratory and transitional
provisions for Vegetation Management Amendment Act
2008 Declaration about types of regional
ecosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Transitional provisions for Vegetation
Management and Other Legislation Amendment Act
2009 Preliminary Definitions for div
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
References to unamended Act
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Transitional provisions for amendments of
Vegetation Management Act
1999 Existing compliance notices
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
109 Tree clearing provisions under
unamended Land Act . . . . . . . . . 109
Existing development approvals and
development applications . 110 References to
not of concern regional ecosystems . . . . . . . .
. . 110 Clearing
of regulated regrowth
vegetation in retrospective
period not
an offence . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 111 Application of s 19Q
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 111 Not giving notice in retrospective
period not an offence . . . . . . . 111
Delayed applications to QCAT
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Transitional provisions for repeal of
Vegetation Management (Regrowth Clearing Moratorium) Act
2009 Existing show
cause notices and compliance notices . . . . . . . . .
112 Transitional provision for Land, Water
and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2013
Validation for reliance on
particular maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Transitional
provisions for Vegetation
Management Framework Amendment Act
2013 Definitions for
div 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
114
Change to
category C areas on freehold land
or indigenous land 115
Particular PMAV applications
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
115 Revocation of particular PMAVs over
wild river high preservation areas 116 Vegetation category areas on existing
PMAVs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Information on register of clearing
notifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Particular notices . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Compliance with codes . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Page 7
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents Not
authorised —indicative
only 118 119
120 121 Division
10 122 Division 11 124
Division 12 125
126 127 Division
13 128 129 130
131 132 133
134 135 136
137 138 139
140 141 142
Page
8 Existing development approvals
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Reference to particular maps
. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
118 Reference to relevant codes . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Applying guide for deciding penalty . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Transitional provisions for Environmental
Offsets Act 2014 Continued effect of particular
agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Transitional provision for
Water Reform And Other Legislation Amendment Act
2014 References to regrowth watercourse area and
vegetation management watercourse map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
119
Transitional
provisions for Planning
(Consequential) and
Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2016
Existing
self-assessable vegetation clearing
code continues in
force 120 Existing vegetation clearing application or
existing concurrence agency application .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. 120 Declarations prepared under
former s
16 or
made under
former s
17 121 Transitional provisions for
Vegetation Management and
Other Legislation Amendment Act
2018 Definitions for
division .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
121
Applications
under s
20C made
but not
decided before 8 March 2018
122 Applications under
s 20C
made during
the interim
period .
. .
. .
. 122 Proposed
regulated vegetation management map . . . . . . . . . . 123
How
definition high value regrowth vegetation and codes apply
during and after interim period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
How
definition regrowth watercourse and
drainage feature area
applies during and after the interim period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
124
Restoration and
other requirements after
unlawful clearing . . . .
125
No
compensation payable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
125
Area
management plans that are to remain in force for 2 years .
125
Area
management plans that are to remain in force until the end of
the plan period for
the plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Amendment of area management plans . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Revocation of particular area management
plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Applications under pt 2, div 5B, sdiv 2 made
during the interim period 127 Proposed map
showing essential habitat
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
127
Provision about essential habitat . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
143 144 Schedule
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Contents Application of
particular instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Transitional provision for ss 20AH, 20AI and
20CA . . . . . . . . . . Dictionary . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 128 129 130
Not authorised —indicative only
Page
9
Not authorised— indicative
only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
1 Preliminary [s 1] Vegetation
Management Act 1999 An Act about the management of
vegetation Not authorised —indicative only
Part
1 Preliminary 1
Short
title This Act
may be cited
as the Vegetation Management Act
1999 .
3 Purpose of Act (1)
The purpose of
this Act
is to regulate
the clearing of
vegetation in a way that—
(a) conserves remnant vegetation that
is— (i) an endangered regional ecosystem;
or (ii) an of concern
regional ecosystem; or (iii) a least concern
regional ecosystem; and (b) conserves
vegetation in declared areas; and (c)
ensures the
clearing does
not cause land
degradation; and
(d) prevents the loss of biodiversity;
and (e) maintains ecological processes;
and (f) manages the
environmental effects
of the clearing
to achieve the matters mentioned in
paragraphs (a) to (e); and (g)
reduces greenhouse gas emissions; and
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
11
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 1
Preliminary [s 3] Not authorised
—indicative only
(h) allows for sustainable land
use. (2) The purpose is achieved mainly by
providing for— (a) the following matters—
(i) assessment benchmarks for
the Planning Act
for the assessment of
assessable development that
is the clearing of vegetation, other than
an assessment carried out by the planning chief
executive; (ii) for the Planning
Act, the matters a referral agency other than the
planning chief executive— (A) must
or may assess
a development application
against; or (B) must or
may assess a
development application
having regard to; and (b) the enforcement
of vegetation clearing provisions; and (c)
declared areas; and (d)
a
framework for decision making that, in achieving this
Act’s purpose
in relation to
subsection (1)(a) to
(e), applies
the precautionary principle
that lack
of full scientific certainty
should not
be used as
a reason for
postponing a
measure to
prevent degradation of
the environment if there are threats of
serious or irreversible environmental damage; and
(e) the regulation of particular regrowth
vegetation. (3) In this section— environment includes—
(a) ecosystems and their constituent parts
including people and communities; and (b)
all
natural and physical resources; and (c)
those qualities
and characteristics of
locations, places
and areas, however
large or
small, that
contribute to
their biological diversity
and integrity, intrinsic
or attributed scientific value or
interest, amenity, harmony and sense of community; and
Page
12 Current as at [Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
1 Preliminary [s 4] (d)
the social, economic,
aesthetic and
cultural conditions affecting the
matters in paragraphs (a) to (c) or affected by those
matters. Not authorised —indicative only
4 Advancing the Act’s purpose
If, under this
Act, a
function or
power is
conferred on
an entity, the
entity must
perform the
function or
exercise the
power in a way that advances the purpose of
this Act. 5 Definitions The dictionary
in the schedule defines particular words used in this
Act. 6 Act binds all persons
This
Act binds all persons, including the State, and, so far as
the legislative power
of the Parliament permits,
the Commonwealth and the other
States. 7 Application of Act (1)
This Act
applies to
all clearing of
vegetation other
than vegetation
on— (a) a forest
reserve under
the Nature Conservation Act
1992 ; or
(b) any of the following protected areas
under the Nature Conservation Act
1992 — (i) a national park
(scientific); (ii) a national
park; (iii) a national park
(Aboriginal land); (iv) a national park
(Torres Strait Islander land); (v)
a
national park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal land);
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
13
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 8] (vi)
a
conservation park; (vii) a resources reserve; or
(c) an area declared as a State forest or
timber reserve under the Forestry Act
1959 ; or (d)
a
forest entitlement area under the Land Act
1994 . (2) This
Act does not
prevent a
local law
from imposing
requirements on
the clearing of
vegetation in
its local government
area. (3) The requirements mentioned in
subsection (2) are unaffected by the
Local Government Act 2009
,
section 27. (4) The Local
Government Act
2009 ,
section 27 is
subject to
subsection (3). (5)
This
Act does not prevent a local planning instrument under
the
Planning Act from imposing requirements on the clearing
of
vegetation in its local government area. Part 2
Vegetation management Division 1
Key
concepts 8 What is vegetation Vegetation is a native tree
or plant other than the following— (a)
grass or non-woody herbage;
(b) a plant within a grassland regional
ecosystem prescribed under a regulation;
(c) a mangrove. 9
What
is vegetation management (1) Vegetation
management is the management of vegetation in a
way
that achieves the purpose of this Act. Page 14
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 10] (2)
For subsection (1), the
management of
vegetation may
include, for example, the following—
(a) the retention or maintenance of
vegetation to— (i) avoid land degradation; or
(ii) maintain or
increase biodiversity; or (iii) maintain
ecological processes; (b) the retention of
riparian vegetation; (c) the retention of
vegetation clumps or corridors. Division 2
State policy for vegetation
management 10
State
policy for vegetation management (1)
The Minister must
prepare a
policy for
vegetation management for
the State. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the
policy must state— (a) outcomes for
vegetation management and
actions proposed to
achieve the outcomes; and (b) special
considerations for
significant community
projects. (3)
The
Governor in Council, by gazette notice, may approve the
policy. (4)
The
policy is not subordinate legislation. (5)
In
this section— significant community
projects means
projects the
chief executive
considers have an aesthetic, conservation, cultural
or
economic benefit to a local or regional community or the
State, including— (a)
a
project that serves an essential need of the community;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
15
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 16] Examples—
essential infrastructure, school
(b) a project
that significantly improves
the community’s access to
services. Examples— hospital, State
or local government library or museum Division 4
Declaration of particular areas
Subdivision 1 Declarations by
Governor in Council or Minister 16
Preparing declaration (1)
The
Minister may prepare a declaration that a stated area is—
(a) an area of high nature conservation
value; or (b) an area vulnerable to land
degradation. (2) Also, a
person may
request the
Minister to
prepare a
declaration mentioned in subsection
(1). (3) The proposed declaration must
include— (a) proposed assessment benchmarks for the
assessment of development that
is the clearing
of vegetation in
the stated area; and (b)
proposed matters
that a
referral agency
must or
may assess a
development application against,
or having regard
to. (4) The Minister
must consult
with the
following entities
in preparing the declaration—
(a) an advisory
committee established to
advise the
Minister about vegetation management;
(b) each local
government whose
area is
affected by
the declaration. Page 16
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 17] (5)
The
Minister must give each owner of land that is in the stated
area
a written notice inviting the owner to make a submission
about the proposed declaration.
(6) The Minister
must also
give notice
of the proposed
declaration. (7)
The
notice must— (a) be published
in a newspaper
the Minister considers
appropriate; and (b)
state the
places where
copies of
the proposed declaration may
be inspected; and (c) invite submissions on the proposed
declaration; and (d) state a day by which submissions may
be made on the proposed declaration. 17
Making declaration (1)
The
Governor in Council, by gazette notice, may declare—
(a) an area mentioned in section 16(1)(a)
to be an area of high nature conservation value; or
(b) an area
mentioned in
section 16(1)(b) to
be an area
vulnerable to land degradation.
(2) The declaration must not include the
matters proposed under section 16(3)(a) and (b).
(3) The declaration is not subordinate
legislation. 18 Interim declaration
(1) The Minister,
by gazette notice,
may make an
interim declaration that
a stated area is— (a) an area of high nature conservation
value; or (b) an area vulnerable to land
degradation. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
17
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 19] (2)
The Minister may
make the
interim declaration only
if the Minister
considers that urgent action is needed to protect the
area. (3)
The
interim declaration must state it is an interim declaration
and the date,
not more than
3 months after
it is made,
on which it expires. (4)
The
interim declaration is not subordinate legislation.
(5) If an area is declared under
subsection (1), a person must not clear vegetation
in the area while the declaration has effect. Maximum
penalty—1665 penalty units. 19 Criteria for
declarations (1) The Minister may make an interim
declaration of, or prepare a declaration of,
an area to
be an area
of high nature
conservation value only if the Minister
considers the area is 1 or more of the following—
(a) a wildlife refugium;
(b) a centre of endemism;
(c) an area containing a vegetation clump
or corridor that contributes to the maintenance of
biodiversity; (d) an area
that makes
a significant contribution to
the conservation of biodiversity;
(e) an area that contributes to the
conservation value of a wetland, lake or spring stated in the
notice. (2) The Minister may make an interim
declaration of, or prepare a declaration of,
an area to
be an area
vulnerable to
land degradation only
if the Minister considers the area is subject to 1 or more of
the following— (a) soil erosion; (b)
rising water tables; (c)
the
expression of salinity, whether inside or outside the
area; Page 18
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 19E] (d)
mass
movement by gravity of soil or rock; (e)
stream bank instability; (f)
a
process that results in declining water quality.
(3) An area declared under subsection (1)
or (2) may include an area of regrowth vegetation.
Subdivision 2 Declarations by
chief executive 19E Request for declaration
(1) The owner
of land (the
proponent )
may, by
written notice
given to the chief executive, ask the chief
executive to declare that a stated area of the land
is— (a) an area of high nature conservation
value; or (b) an area vulnerable to land
degradation. (2) The notice must be accompanied by a
management plan for the stated area. (3)
The
management plan must— (a) be signed by the
proponent; and (b) include enough information to allow
the chief executive to map the boundary of the stated area;
and (c) state the
proponent’s management intent,
and management outcomes proposed by the
proponent, for the conservation of the high nature
conservation value of the area
or the prevention of
land degradation in
the area; and (d)
state the activities the proponent intends
to carry out, or refrain from
carrying out,
to achieve the
management outcomes
mentioned in paragraph (c); and (e)
state the restrictions, if any, to be
imposed on the use of, or access
to, the area
by other persons
to achieve the
management outcomes mentioned in paragraph
(c). Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
19
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 19F] (4)
Subsection (3) does
not limit the
matters the
management plan may
contain. 19F Making declaration (1)
The chief executive
may, by
written notice
given to
the proponent, declare that the stated
area is— (a) an area of high nature conservation
value; or (b) an area vulnerable to land
degradation. (2) If a person other than the proponent
has a registered interest in the
stated area
the chief executive
must not
make the
declaration without the person’s written
consent. (3) Without limiting
subsection (1),
the chief executive
may decide not to make a declaration for
the stated area if the chief executive
considers the making of the declaration is not in the
interests of the State, having regard to the
public interest. (4) In this section— registered means registered
under the Land Act 1994 or
Land Title Act
1994 . 19G Particular
criteria for declaration (1) The chief
executive may declare an area to be an area of high
nature conservation value
only if
the chief executive
considers— (a)
implementation of
the management plan
for the area
will
help to conserve its high nature conservation value;
and (b) the area is 1 or
more of the following— (i) a wildlife
refugium; (ii) a centre of
endemism; (iii) an area
containing a vegetation clump or corridor that contributes
to the maintenance of biodiversity; Page 20
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 19I] (iv)
an
area that makes a significant contribution to the
conservation of biodiversity;
(v) an area that contributes to the
conservation value of a wetland,
lake or
spring stated
in the notice
mentioned in section 19F(1) for the
declaration; (vi) another area
that contributes to the conservation of the
environment. (2) The chief
executive may
declare an
area to
be an area
vulnerable to
land degradation only
if the chief
executive considers— (a)
implementation of
the management plan
for the area
will
help to prevent or minimise land degradation in the
area; and (b)
the
area is subject to 1 or more of the following— (i)
soil
erosion; (ii) rising water
tables; (iii) the expression
of salinity, whether inside or outside the area;
(iv) mass movement by
gravity of soil or rock; (v) stream bank
instability; (vi) a process that
results in declining water quality. (3)
An
area declared under this subdivision may include an area
of
regrowth vegetation. 19I Amendment of management plan
The
chief executive may, with the agreement of the owner of
the
land the subject of a management plan, amend the plan.
19J When management plan stops having
effect A management plan
for a declared
area has
effect until
the earlier of the following
happens— Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
21
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 19K] (a)
the
plan ends under its terms; (b) the declaration
of the area as a declared area ends under section
19L. Not authorised —indicative
only 19K Recording of
declared areas and management plans (1)
As
soon as practicable after declaring an area to be a declared
area, the
chief executive
must give
the registrar of
titles written notice
of— (a) the declaration; and
(b) the management plan for the declared
area. (2) The notice must include particulars of
the land the subject of the declaration. (3)
The
registrar must keep records that— (a)
show
the land is a declared area; and (b)
state the
places where
particulars of
the management plan may be
inspected. (4) The registrar must keep the records in
a way that a search of the register kept by the registrar
under any Act relating to title to the land will
show— (a) the declaration has been made;
and (b) the existence of the management
plan. (5) As soon
as practicable after
a declaration ends
or a management plan
for the land
the subject of
a declaration stops having
effect— (a) the chief executive must give the
registrar written notice of the fact; and (b)
the registrar must
remove the
particulars of
the declaration or
management plan
from the
registrar’s records.
(6) While a
management plan
has effect for
the land and
is recorded by the registrar under this
section, the plan is binding on—
Page
22 Current as at [Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 19L] (a)
each
person who is from time to time the owner of the
land, whether or not the person signed the
plan or agreed to any amendment of the plan; and
(b) each person who has an interest in the
land. Not authorised —indicative only
19L Ending declaration (1)
The
chief executive may, by written notice given to the owner
of
the land the subject of a declaration under this
subdivision, end the declaration if the chief executive
considers— (a) the declaration is not in the
interests of the State, having regard to the
public interest; or (b) the management outcomes
mentioned in
section 19E(3)(c) for the management plan
relevant to the declaration have been achieved.
(2) Also, the chief executive may, by
notice given to the owner of land declared as
an area of high conservation value, end the declaration
if— (a) the area
is, on or
after the
commencement of
this subsection, a
legally secured offset area; and (b)
a
prescribed activity is, under an authority under another
Act,
to be carried out in or on the area; and (c)
the holder of
the authority has
entered into
an agreed delivery
arrangement in
relation to
an environmental offset for
impacts to the area. (3) In this
section— agreed delivery arrangement
see
the Environmental Offsets
Act
2014 , schedule 2. authority
,
under another Act, see the Environmental Offsets
Act
2014 , schedule 2. environmental
offset see the Environmental
Offsets Act 2014 , schedule 2. legally secured
offset area see the Environmental
Offsets Act 2014 , schedule
2. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
23
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 19N] prescribed activity
see the Environmental Offsets
Act 2014 ,
schedule 2. Division
4A Clearing vegetation for special
indigenous purpose 19N
Draft
matters for assessing development application for
clearing of vegetation for special
indigenous purpose (1) The Minister
may prepare a
document stating
draft assessment
matters for development that— (a)
involves, or relates to, the clearing of
vegetation; and (b) the Minister
is satisfied is
for a special
indigenous purpose under
the CYPH Act. (2) In preparing the document, the
Minister— (a) must consult with— (i)
the
relevant landholders; and (ii) the
Cape York
Peninsula Regional
Advisory Committee;
and (b) may, for
example, consider
any matter stated
in the CYPH Act,
section 18 or 19 the Minister considers is relevant to the
clearing of vegetation for development. (3)
In
preparing assessment matters under the Planning Act, the
document may be considered, but otherwise
does not affect the preparation or
making of
assessment matters
under that
Act. (4)
In
this section— assessment matters means—
(a) assessment benchmarks for
assessing development under the
Planning Act; and (b) the matters
a referral agency
must or
may assess a
development application against, or having
regard to. Page 24 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 19O] Cape York
Peninsula Region means the Cape York Peninsula
Region under the CYPH Act.
Cape
York Peninsula Regional Advisory Committee means
the Cape York
Peninsula Regional
Advisory Committee
established under the CYPH Act.
DOGIT land means DOGIT land
under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991.
relevant landholders means—
(a) the land trusts for Aboriginal land,
under the Aboriginal Land
Act 1991 ,
that is
in the Cape
York Peninsula
Region; and (b)
the
Aurukun Shire Council; and (c) the trustees,
under the Land Act 1994 , of DOGIT land
in the Cape York Peninsula Region.
Division 4B Accepted
development 19O Accepted development vegetation
clearing code (1) The Minister
may make a
code (an
accepted development vegetation
clearing code ) for— (a)
clearing of vegetation, including for the
following— (i) an extractive industry;
(ii) relevant
infrastructure activities; (iii) environmental activities, including
necessary environmental
clearing; (iv) sustainable land
use, including fodder harvesting; or
(b) conducting a native forest
practice. (2) Also, the
Minister may
make a
code (also
an accepted development
vegetation clearing code ) for any other matter
about clearing vegetation the Minister
considers is necessary or desirable for achieving the purpose
of this Act. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
25
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 19P] (3)
An accepted development vegetation clearing
code may
provide for all or any of the
following— (a) clearing for
1 or more
relevant purposes
under section
22A; (b) clearing that is subject to another
code under this Act; (c) clearing a
particular area; (d) clearing a particular type of
vegetation; (e) required outcomes
and practices, and
voluntary best
practices, for clearing vegetation;
(f) restrictions on
clearing commercial timber
on State land;
(g) the protection of habitat for
protected wildlife; (h) the circumstance in
which an
exchange area
must be
provided; (i)
giving notice
to the chief
executive of
the intended clearing or
native forest practice to be conducted under the code.
(4) An accepted development vegetation
clearing code must not be inconsistent with this Act or the
State policy. 19P When accepted development vegetation
clearing code takes effect An accepted
development vegetation clearing code does not take effect
until it has been approved under a regulation. 19Q
When
code compliant clearing and conduct of native forest practices
are accepted development, assessable development or
prohibited development for Planning Act (1)
This section
applies if
an accepted development vegetation clearing
code applies
to the clearing
of vegetation or
the conduct of a native forest practice
(the activity ).
(2) For the Planning Act, the activity
is— Page 26 Current as at
[Not applicable]
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Part
2 Vegetation management [s 19R] (a)
accepted development to the extent the
activity complies with the code; or (b)
assessable development to the extent—
(i) the activity does not comply with the
code; and (ii) the
development the
subject of
a vegetation clearing
application for the activity would be for a relevant purpose
under section 22A; or (c) prohibited
development under that Act to the extent— (i)
the
activity does not comply with the code; and (ii)
the development the
subject of
a vegetation clearing
application for the activity would not be for a relevant
purpose under section 22A. Note— For an offence
relating to carrying out assessable development without
a
development permit under the Planning Act and an exemption
from the offence, see chapter 5, part 2 of that
Act. 19R Register of accepted development
notices given under code (1)
The
chief executive must keep a register of notices required to
be
given to the chief executive under an accepted development
vegetation clearing code.
(2) The register
must include
details of
each notice
the chief executive
considers appropriate. (3) The publicly
available part of the register must not contain the
name
of the person giving the notice. (4)
The
chief executive must publish the real property description
of the land
the subject of
the notification in
the publicly available part
of the register on the department’s website. 19S
When
notice given under code ends (1)
This section
applies if
the Minister revokes
or replaces an
accepted development vegetation clearing
code. Current as at [Not applicable]
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27
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Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20A] (2)
For
this Act and the Planning Act— (a)
a notice for
the intended clearing
of vegetation or
the conduct of
a native forest
practice (the
activity )
given under
the code ceases
to have effect
when the
code is
revoked or replaced; and (b)
the
activity can not continue to be carried out under that
code
or, if that code is replaced, the replacement code.
Division 5AA Vegetation
management maps 20A What is the regulated
vegetation management map The regulated
vegetation management map
is the map
certified by
the chief executive
as the regulated
vegetation management map
for a part
of the State
and showing the
vegetation category areas for the
part. Note— The chief
executive may decide under section 20AH or 20AI to show
an
area on the map as a category B or a category C area even though
the vegetation is not remnant vegetation or high
value regrowth vegetation. 20AA What is
the vegetation management wetlands map
The vegetation management wetlands
map is the
map certified by the chief executive as
the vegetation management wetlands map showing particular
wetlands for the State. 20AB What is
the vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature map The
vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature
map is the map certified by the chief executive
as the vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature map showing particular watercourses and
drainage features for the State. Note—
The
map consists of the following documents— Page 28
Current as at [Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20AC] •
the document called
‘Vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature map (1:25 000)’
• the document
called ‘Vegetation management watercourse and
drainage feature map (1:100 000 and 1:250
000)’. Not authorised —indicative only
20AC What is the essential
habitat map (1) The essential
habitat map
is a map
certified by
the chief executive
as the essential
habitat map
for the State
and showing, for the State, areas the
chief executive reasonably believes are areas of essential
habitat for protected wildlife. (2)
Essential habitat , for protected
wildlife, is a category A area, a category B
area or category C area shown on the regulated vegetation
management map— (a) that has
at least 3
essential habitat
factors for
the protected wildlife that must include
any essential habitat factors that
are stated as
mandatory for
the protected wildlife in the
essential habitat database; or (b)
in
which the protected wildlife, at any stage of its life
cycle, is located. (3)
Essential habitat
database is
a database, listing
essential habitat
factors for
protected wildlife,
certified by
the chief executive as an
essential habitat database. (4)
An essential habitat
factor ,
for protected wildlife,
is a component of the
wildlife’s habitat, including, for example, a landform,
pollinator, regional ecosystem, soil and water, that
is necessary or
desirable for
the wildlife at
any stage of
its lifecycle. 20AH
Deciding to show particular areas as
category B areas In certifying the regulated vegetation
management map, the chief executive may decide to show an area
on the map as a category B area if— (a)
a development approval
for the area
has been given
for— Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 29
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20AH] Not
authorised —indicative
only Page 30 (i)
fodder harvesting; or (ii)
managing thickened vegetation; or
(iii) clearing of
encroachment; or (iv) control of
non-native plants or declared pests; or (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(b) the area is a declared area, offset
area or exchange area; or (c)
the
area has been subject to clearing of vegetation under
an
accepted development vegetation clearing code on a
category B area for 1 or more of the
following— (i) conducting a native forest
practice; (ii) fodder
harvesting; (iii) clearing of
encroachment; (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(d) the area contains forest products
under the Forestry Act 1959
and— (i)
has
been defined by agreement with the FA chief executive
as an area
in which the
State has
an interest in commercial timber;
or (ii) is
an area in
which the
State has
carried out
harvesting of commercial timber; or
(iii) has been cleared
under section 70A; or (e) the chief
executive has made a PMAV for the area under section
20B(1)(e), (g) or (h); or (f) the area has
been unlawfully cleared; or (g)
the area has
been cleared
of native vegetation and
in relation to the clearing a person has
been found guilty by a court,
whether or
not a conviction has
been recorded, of a
clearing offence; or (h) the area is a
regional ecosystem that— Current as at [Not
applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20AI] (i)
has a predominant canopy
not dominated by
woody vegetation; and (ii)
has
not been cultivated for 15 years; and (iii)
contains native
species normally
found in
the regional ecosystem; and
(iv) is not dominated
by non-native perennial species; or
(i) the area has been subject to clearing
of vegetation under an area management plan on a category B area
for 1 or more of the following— (i)
fodder harvesting; (ii)
managing thickened vegetation;
(iii) clearing of
encroachment; (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(j) the area has been subject to a native
forest practice on a category B area. 20AI
Deciding to show particular areas as
category C areas In certifying the regulated vegetation
management map, the chief executive may decide to show an area
on the map as a category C area if— (a)
the
area has been subject to clearing of vegetation under
an
accepted development vegetation clearing code on a
category C area for 1 or more of the
following— (i) conducting a native forest
practice; (ii) fodder
harvesting; (iii) clearing of
encroachment; (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(b) the area is an exchange area;
or Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
31
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20AJ] (c)
the
area contains forest products under the Forestry
Act 1959 that are
regulated regrowth vegetation and— (i)
has
been defined by agreement with the FA chief executive
as an area
in which the
State has
an interest in commercial timber;
or (ii) is
an area in
which the
State has
carried out
harvesting of commercial timber; or
(iii) has been cleared
under section 70A; or (d) the chief
executive has made a PMAV for the area under section
20B(1)(e), (g) or (h); or (e) the area has
been unlawfully cleared; or (f)
the area has
been cleared
of native vegetation and
in relation to the clearing a person has
been found guilty by a court,
whether or
not a conviction has
been recorded, of a
clearing offence; or (g) the area has
been subject to clearing of vegetation under an area
management plan on a category C area for 1 or more of the
following— (i) fodder harvesting; (ii)
managing thickened vegetation;
(iii) clearing of
encroachment; (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; (v)
necessary environmental clearing.
20AJ Application to make PMAV before
amending regulated vegetation management map
If
an owner of land in an area wants the chief executive to
amend the regulated vegetation management
map, the owner must apply to the chief executive under
section 20C to make a PMAV for the area. Note—
See
section 20H for the effect of an inconsistency between a PMAV
and the regulated vegetation management
map. Page 32 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20AK] 20AK
What
is a property map of assessable vegetation
(or PMAV )
(1) A property map of
assessable vegetation (or PMAV
) is
a map certified by the chief executive as a PMAV
for an area and showing the vegetation category area for the
area. (2) The map
may also show
for the area
the location of
the boundaries of, and the regional
ecosystem number for, each regional ecosystem in the area.
20AKA
What is a vegetation category area A
vegetation category area is a category A
area, category B area, category C area, category R area or
category X area. Note— The effect of
sections 20AL to 20AO, 20BA and 20CA is that there is
no
overlap of the boundaries of the vegetation category areas.
20AL What is a category A
area A category A area is an area,
other than a category B area, category C area,
category R area or category X area, shown on the
regulated vegetation management map
as a category
A area that— (a)
is
any of the following— (i) a declared
area; (ii) an offset
area; (iii) an exchange
area; or (b) has been unlawfully cleared; or
(c) is, or has been, subject to—
(i) a restoration notice; or
(ii) an
enforcement notice
under the
Planning Act
containing conditions about
restoration of
vegetation; or Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 33
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20AM] (d)
has
been cleared of native vegetation and in relation to
the
clearing a person has been found guilty by a court,
whether or
not a conviction has
been recorded,
of a clearing
offence; or (e) the chief
executive decides
under section
20BA is a category A area;
or (f) is a category A area by agreement
under section 20C(3) if, immediately before the agreement
is entered into, the area was
a category X
area on
a PMAV containing remnant
vegetation or high value regrowth. 20AM
What
is a category B area A
category B area is an area,
other than a category A area, category C area,
category R area or category X area, shown on the
regulated vegetation management map
as a category
B area that— (a)
contains remnant vegetation; or
(b) the chief
executive decides
to show on
the regulated vegetation
management map as a category B area; or Note—
The
chief executive may decide under section 20AH to show an
area
on the regulated vegetation management map as a category
B
area even though the vegetation is not remnant vegetation.
(c) if section 20AN does not apply to the
area— (i) is a
Land Act
tenure to
be converted under
the Land Act 1994 to another form
of tenure; and (ii) contains—
(A) an endangered regional ecosystem;
or (B) an of concern regional ecosystem;
or (C) a least concern regional
ecosystem. Page 34 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20AN] 20AN
What
is a category C area A
category C area is an area,
other than a category A area, category B area,
category R area or category X area, shown on the
regulated vegetation management map
as a category
C area that— (a)
contains high value regrowth vegetation;
or (b) the chief
executive decides
to show on
the regulated vegetation
management map as a category C area. Note—
The
chief executive may decide under section 20AI to show an
area
on the regulated vegetation management map as a category
C
area even though the vegetation is not high value regrowth
vegetation. 20ANA What is
a category R area A
category R area is an area,
other than a category A area, category B area,
category C area or category X area, shown on the
regulated vegetation management map
as a category
R area that is a regrowth watercourse
and drainage feature area. 20AO What is a
category X area (1)
A category X area is an area,
other than a category A area, category B area,
category C area or category R area (in which the
clearing of
vegetation has
happened), shown
on the regulated
vegetation management map as a category X area. (2)
However, an
area is
not a category
X area if
the chief executive
decides under
section 20CA the
area is
not a category X
area. 20B When chief executive may make
PMAV (1) The chief executive may make a PMAV
for an area if— (a) the area becomes a declared area;
or (b) the area becomes an offset area;
or Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
35
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20B] (c)
the
area becomes an exchange area; or (d)
the
area has been unlawfully cleared; or (e)
the
area is subject to— (i) a restoration notice; or
(ii) an
enforcement notice
under the
Planning Act
containing conditions about
restoration of
vegetation; or (f)
the area has
been cleared
of native vegetation and
in relation to the clearing a person has
been found guilty by a court,
whether or
not a conviction has
been recorded, of a
clearing offence; or (g) the chief
executive reasonably believes— (i)
a person has
committed a
vegetation clearing
offence in relation to the area, whether
before or after the
commencement of
this section,
or a vegetation
clearing offence is being committed in relation to the
area; or (ii) the area was
cleared of vegetation in contravention of
a tree clearing
provision under
the Land Act
1994 as in force
before the commencement of the Vegetation Management and
Other Legislation Amendment Act
2004 , section 3; or (iii)
prohibited development under
the repealed Moratorium Act,
part 5 was carried out in relation to the area;
or (h) the area
is a Land
Act tenure that
is to be
converted under the
Land
Act 1994 to another form of tenure; or
(i) the chief executive reasonably
believes there is an error in the part of the regulated
vegetation management map for the area. (2)
The chief executive
must give
each owner
of land to
be included in
the PMAV an
information notice
about the
decision to make the PMAV.
Page
36 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20BA] (3)
Nothing prevents the chief executive making
a PMAV for 2 or more of the circumstances mentioned in
subsection (1)(a) to (i) over the same or different
areas. 20BA Chief executive may make decision
about category A area The chief
executive may make an area a category A area on a
PMAV
if the chief executive reasonably believes— (a)
a vegetation clearing
offence is
being, or
has been, committed in
relation to the area; or (b) the area was
cleared of vegetation in contravention of a tree
clearing provision
under the
Land Act
1994 as
in force before
the commencement of
the Vegetation Management and
Other Legislation Amendment
Act 2004 , section 3;
or (c) prohibited development under the
repealed Moratorium Act, part 5 was carried out in relation to
the area. 20C When owner may apply for PMAV
(1) An owner
of land may
apply to
the chief executive
for the making of a PMAV
for the land or part of the land. (2)
The
application must— (a) be in the approved form; and
(b) state the information prescribed under
a regulation; and (c) be accompanied by
the fee prescribed under
a regulation. (3)
If
the owner of the land and the chief executive agree to the
making of
the PMAV, the
chief executive
must make
the PMAV. (4)
The chief executive
may waive the
prescribed fee
for the making of a PMAV
if it is in the interests of the State and the owner.
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
37
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20CA] (5)
If
the chief executive refuses to make a PMAV for the area,
the
chief executive must give the owner an information notice
about the decision. 20CA
Process before making PMAV
(1) This section applies if—
(a) an owner
of land applies
under section
20C for the making of a PMAV
for the land or part of the land; and (b)
the
owner proposes that the land or part of the land (the
relevant area ) be a category
X area on the PMAV. (2) The chief executive can not make the
relevant area a category X area on the PMAV if any of the
circumstances mentioned in section 20AH or 20AI for the area have
happened unless the area has later been cleared and—
(a) the clearing
was carried out
under a
moratorium exemption;
or (b) the clearing
was carried out
under a
development approval other
than a development approval for— (i)
fodder harvesting; or (ii)
managing thickened vegetation; or
(iii) clearing of
encroachment; or (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; or (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(c) the clearing
was carried out
under an
accepted development
vegetation clearing code other than for— (i)
conducting a native forest practice;
or (ii) fodder
harvesting; or (iii) clearing of
encroachment; or (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; or (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
Page
38 Current as at [Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20CA] Not
authorised —indicative only
(d) the clearing was carried out under an
area management plan other than for— (i)
fodder harvesting; or (ii)
managing thickened vegetation; or
(iii) clearing of
encroachment; or (iv) controlling
non-native plants or declared pests; or (v)
necessary environmental clearing; or
(e) the clearing
was not carried
out under an
accepted development vegetation clearing
code or
an area management plan
and, when
the clearing was
carried out, the
clearing did not require a development permit under the
Planning Act. (3) Also, the
chief executive
can not make
the relevant area
a category X area on the PMAV if—
(a) the vegetation in
the relevant area
is not remnant
vegetation or high value regrowth vegetation
because of clearing that happened because of burning,
flooding or natural causes; or (b)
the
chief executive is satisfied the clearing of vegetation
for
the relevant area after 29 November 2013 was not
lawfully carried out. (3A)
However, subsection (3) does not prevent the
chief executive making the relevant area a category X area
on the PMAV if clearing in the area was carried out under
subsection (2)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) after the clearing
mentioned in subsection (3)(a) or (b). (4)
If
the chief executive considers the relevant area can not be
made
a category X area because of subsection (2) or (3), the
chief executive
must, before
making the
PMAV, give
the owner of the land a notice inviting
the owner to show why the relevant area should be a category X
area. (5) The notice must state the
following— (a) the grounds for the proposed decision
that the relevant area is not a category X area;
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
39
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only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20CA] (b)
the facts and
circumstances forming
the basis for
the grounds; (c)
the proposed boundaries of
the vegetation category
areas for the PMAV; (d)
that the
owner may
make submissions about
the proposed decision; (e)
how
to make a properly made submission; (f)
where the submission may be made or
sent; (g) a period within which the submission
must be made. (6) The stated period must be at least 15
business days after the notice is given. (7)
If, after considering any
properly made
submission by
the owner, the chief executive still
considers the relevant area is not
a category X
area, the
chief executive
may make the
relevant area other than a category X area
on the PMAV. (8) The chief executive must give the
owner an information notice about
the decision to
make the
relevant area
other than
a category X area. (9)
In
this section— lawfully carried out , for the
clearing of vegetation, means the clearing
was, at
the time of
the clearing, authorised or
permitted under this Act or under any of the
following— (a) the Planning Act; (b)
the
repealed Integrated Planning Act 1997; (c)
the
repealed Sustainable Planning Act 2009; (d)
the
State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971;
(e) the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act
2007. properly made submission means a
submission that— (a) is written; and Page 40
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20D] (b)
is signed by
each person
(a signatory )
who made the
submission; and (c)
states the name and address of each
signatory; and (d) states the grounds of the submission
and the facts and circumstances relied on in support of the
grounds; and (e) is made
to the person
stated in
the notice inviting
the submission; and (f)
is
received on or before the last day for the making of
the
submission. 20D When PMAV may be replaced
(1) The chief
executive may
replace a
PMAV for
an area (the
previous area ) with 1 or more
PMAVs (each a new PMAV ).
(2) A new PMAV may apply to—
(a) part or all of the previous area;
or (b) part or all of the previous area and
another area. (3) Subsection (1) applies only—
(a) if a matter mentioned in section 20B
occurs in relation to an area mentioned in subsection (2);
or (b) to reflect
a change to
an endangered, of
concern or
a least concern regional ecosystem in an
area mentioned in subsection (2); or Editor’s
note— A change may
only be
made by
amending the
Vegetation Management
Regulation 2012. (c) to change
a category A
area mentioned
in section 20AL(f)
to a category
B area, category
C area or
category X area, if each of the affected
owners agrees to the replacement; or (d)
for
a matter other than a matter mentioned in paragraph
(a),
(b) or (c), if each of the affected owners agrees to
the
replacement. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
41
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20D] Not
authorised —indicative
only (3A) Despite
subsection (3), the
chief executive
may replace a
PMAV
for an area if— (a) for a
PMAV made
under section
20B(1)(a) for a declared
area under
division 4,
subdivision 2—the
declaration for the area ends; or
(b) for a PMAV made under section
20B(1)(b)—the offset in relation to the offset area ends;
or (c) for a
PMAV made
under section
20B(1)(c)—the exchange area
is no longer an
exchange area
required under
an accepted development vegetation clearing
code; or (d)
for
a PMAV made under section 20B(1)(d), (e), (f) or
(g)— (i)
the
area contains remnant vegetation; or (ii)
the person the
subject of
a restoration notice,
an enforcement notice
under the
Planning Act
or a court order has
complied with the conditions of the restoration
notice or enforcement notice or order; or
(e) for a PMAV made under section
20B(1)(h)—the Land Act tenure over the area is not converted to
another form of tenure; or (f)
for a PMAV
made under
section 20B(1)(i)—the regulated
vegetation management map
is amended to
correct the error. (4)
A
reference to a PMAV
made under
section 20B or
20C is taken to include
its replacement under this section. (5)
In
this section— affected owner
means an
owner of
land proposed
to be included in a
new PMAV if any of the following apply— (a)
the
owner applied under section 20C for the making of
the
new PMAV; (b) there was not a PMAV for the land or
part of the land; Page 42 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 20F] (c)
the
land, or part of the land, will be affected by a change
to
the boundary of a vegetation category area in the new
PMAV. 20F
Copies of PMAV given to owners
(1) If a PMAV is made or replaced, a copy
must be given, free of charge, to each affected owner of land
that is included in the PMAV. (2)
However, if there are 2 or more affected
owners who reside at the same
address, a
copy of
the PMAV may
be sent to
the owners jointly. (3)
In
this section— affected owner , of land
included in a PMAV, means an owner of the land if
all, or a part of, the land will be affected by a
change to the boundary of a vegetation
category area in the PMAV. 20H
PMAV
boundaries prevail (1) This section
applies if
there is
an inconsistency between
a boundary of a vegetation category area
shown on a PMAV and the boundary of the area shown on the
regulated vegetation management map. (2)
The
boundary shown on the PMAV prevails to the extent of
the
inconsistency. 20HA Certifying vegetation management
map The chief executive
may certify a
vegetation management map by
certifying— (a) a hard copy of the map; or
(b) a digital electronic form of the
map. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
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Part 2
Vegetation management [s 20HB] 20HB
Amending vegetation management map
If
the chief executive certifies or amends a PMAV the chief
executive must amend the regulated
vegetation management map in a way that reflects the
certification or amendment. 20HC When vegetation
management map takes effect A
vegetation management map
or a map
replacing a
vegetation management map does not take
effect until the map is certified by the chief
executive. Division 5B Area management
plans Subdivision 1 Preliminary 21
Definitions for division In this
division— area management plan
means an
area management plan
made
by the chief executive under subdivision 2. plan area
,
for an area management plan, means the area to which the plan
relates. restricted (fodder harvesting) land
see
section 21A. 21A What is restricted (fodder harvesting)
land (1) Restricted (fodder harvesting)
land is— (a) a
State-controlled road
under the
Transport Infrastructure
Act 1994; or (b) a road controlled by a local
government under the Local Government Act 2009; or
(c) trust land under the Land Act
1994. Page 44 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
2 Vegetation management [s 21B] (2)
However, restricted (fodder harvesting) land
does not include indigenous land. Not
authorised —indicative only
Subdivision 2 Plans made by
chief executive 21B Chief executive may make area
management plans (1) The chief executive may make an area
management plan for an area that provides for any matter about
clearing vegetation the chief executive
considers necessary
or desirable for
achieving the purpose of this Act.
(2) An area management plan must—
(a) include enough information to allow
the chief executive to map the boundary of— (i)
the
plan area; and (ii) if
the conditions for
clearing vegetation relate
to different zones
within the
plan area—each
of the zones;
and (b) state— (i)
the
management intent and management outcomes for vegetation
management in the plan area; and (ii)
the
conditions for clearing, or restricting clearing
of, vegetation in
the area to
achieve the
management intent
and management outcomes;
and (c) provide
for, or
allow, clearing
of vegetation for
1 or more of the
following— (i) controlling non-native plants or
declared pests; (ii) ensuring public
safety; (iii) relevant
infrastructure activities; (iv) clearing of
encroachment; (v) managing thickened vegetation;
Current as at [Not applicable]
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Vegetation management [s 21C] (vi)
fodder harvesting, other than on a part of
the area that is restricted (fodder harvesting)
land; (vii) necessary
environmental clearing; and (d)
not
be inconsistent with the State policy. (3)
An
area management plan is not subordinate legislation.
21C Plan period for area management
plan An area management plan must state the
period, of no longer than 10
years, for
which it
will be
in force, and
remains in
force until the end of the period.
21D Mandatory conditions for area
management plan (1) An area management plan is subject to
the conditions under subsections (2) and (3).
(2) If the plan provides for, or allows,
clearing of vegetation for relevant infrastructure activities, the
condition is
that the
clearing can not reasonably be avoided or
minimised. (3) If the plan area includes restricted
(fodder harvesting) land, the condition is that vegetation on
the land can not be cleared for fodder
harvesting. Subdivision 3 Keeping
plans 21E Register of area management
plans (1) The chief executive must—
(a) give each
area management plan
a unique identifying number;
and (b) keep a register of area management
plans. (2) The register
must include
details of
each notice
the chief executive
considers appropriate. Page 46 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Division 6 Vegetation
Management Act 1999 Part 2 Vegetation management
[s
22A] Relationship with Planning Act
Not authorised —indicative only
22A When development is for a relevant
purpose (1) This section provides for when
development the subject of a vegetation
clearing application is for a relevant purpose. (2)
Development is for a relevant purpose under
this section if the chief executive is satisfied the development
is— (a) a project declared to be a coordinated
project under the State Development and Public Works
Organisation Act 1971 , section 26;
or (b) necessary to control non-native plants
or declared pests; or (c) to ensure public
safety; or (d) for relevant infrastructure activities
and clearing for the development can
not reasonably be
avoided or
minimised; or (e)
a
natural and ordinary consequence of other assessable
development for
which a
development approval
was given under the repealed
Integrated Planning Act 1997
, or a development application was made
under that Act, before 16 May 2003; or (f)
for
fodder harvesting; or (g) for managing
thickened vegetation; or (h) for clearing of
encroachment; or (i) for an extractive industry; or
(j) for necessary environmental
clearing. (2AA) Also,
development the
subject of
a vegetation clearing
application is
for a relevant
purpose under
this section
if, under the CYPH Act, the Minister is
satisfied the development is for a special indigenous
purpose. (2B) However,
development is not for a relevant purpose under this
section if the development is—
Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
47
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 2
Vegetation management [s 22B] (a)
clearing in a category C area if the land on
which the development is carried out is freehold land,
indigenous land or the subject of a lease issued under
the Land Act 1994 for
agriculture or
grazing purposes
or an occupation
licence under that Act; or (b) clearing in a
category R area if the land on which the development is
carried out is freehold land, indigenous land or the
subject of a lease issued under the Land Act 1994 for
agriculture or grazing purposes; or (c)
mentioned in subsection (2)(e), (f) or (i)
or (2AA) and the land the subject of the application is
an area declared to be a declared area under division 4,
subdivision 2. 22B Requirements for vegetation clearing
application for managing thickened vegetation
(1) This section applies if a vegetation
clearing application is for managing
thickened vegetation. (2) The application
must demonstrate how the proposed clearing will restore the
regional ecosystem subject to the clearing to the floristic
composition and densities typical of the regional
ecosystem in the bioregion and include the
following— (a) the location and extent of the
proposed clearing; (b) the selective clearing methods
proposed to be used; (c) evidence
that the
clearing will
be limited to
the prescribed regional ecosystems and
restrictions; (d) evidence that
the regional ecosystem
has thickened in
comparison to
the same regional
ecosystem in
the bioregion. (3)
In
this section— prescribed regional
ecosystems and
restrictions means
regional ecosystems and restrictions
prescribed by regulation under the
Planning Act,
section 55(2)
to be a
regional ecosystem or
restriction for managing thickened vegetation. Page 48
Current as at [Not applicable]
Division 7A Vegetation
Management Act 1999 Part 2 Vegetation management
[s
22LA] Classes of regional ecosystems
Not authorised —indicative only
22LA Endangered regional ecosystems
(1) A regulation may declare a stated
regional ecosystem to be an endangered
regional ecosystem. (2) The Minister must not recommend to the
Governor in Council the making of
a regulation under
subsection (1) unless
the Minister is satisfied—
(a) the area
of remnant vegetation for
the regional ecosystem is
less than 10% of the pre-clearing extent of the regional
ecosystem; or (b) the area
of remnant vegetation for
the regional ecosystem
is— (i) 10% to
30% of the
pre-clearing extent
of the regional
ecosystem; and (ii) less than
10,000ha. (3) However, failure to comply with
subsection (2) in relation to a regulation does
not affect the regulation’s validity. 22LB
Of
concern regional ecosystems (1)
A
regulation may declare a stated regional ecosystem to be an
of
concern regional ecosystem. (2)
The
Minister must not recommend to the Governor in Council
the making of
a regulation under
subsection (1) unless
the Minister is satisfied—
(a) the area
of remnant vegetation for
the regional ecosystem is 10%
to 30% of the pre-clearing extent of the regional
ecosystem; or (b) the area
of remnant vegetation for
the regional ecosystem
is— (i) more than
30% of the
pre-clearing extent
of the regional
ecosystem; and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
49
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 3
Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 22LC]
(ii) less than
10,000ha. (3) However, failure to comply with
subsection (2) in relation to a regulation does
not affect the regulation’s validity. Not
authorised —indicative
only 22LC Least concern
regional ecosystems (1) A regulation may declare a stated
regional ecosystem to be a least concern regional
ecosystem. (2) The Minister must not recommend to the
Governor in Council the making of
a regulation under
subsection (1) unless
the Minister is
satisfied the
area of
remnant vegetation for
the regional ecosystem is—
(a) more than 30% of the pre-clearing
extent of the regional ecosystem; and (b)
more
than 10,000ha. (3) However, failure to comply with
subsection (2) in relation to a regulation does
not affect the regulation’s validity. Part 3
Enforcement, investigations
and
offences Division 1 Enforcement and
investigations Subdivision 1 Authorised
officers 24 Appointment and qualifications of
authorised officers (1) The chief
executive may
appoint a
person as
an authorised officer.
(2) The chief
executive may
appoint a
person as
an authorised officer only if
the chief executive is satisfied the person has the
necessary expertise
or experience to
be an authorised officer.
Page
50 Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
3 Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 25]
25 Functions and powers of authorised
officers (1) An authorised officer has the
functions of— (a) conducting investigations and
inspections to
monitor and enforce
compliance with— (i) this Act; and (ii)
a
vegetation clearing provision; and (b)
giving stop work notices and restoration
notices. (2) An authorised officer
has the powers
given under
this or
another Act. (3)
An
authorised officer is subject to the directions of the chief
executive in exercising the powers.
(4) The powers of an authorised officer
may be limited— (a) under a regulation; or
(b) under a condition of appointment;
or (c) by notice of the chief executive given
to the authorised officer. 26
Conditions of appointment of authorised
officers (1) An authorised officer holds office on
the conditions stated in the officer’s instrument of
appointment. (2) An authorised officer—
(a) if the appointment provides for a term
of appointment— ceases to hold office at the end of the
term; and (b) may resign by signed notice of
resignation given to the chief executive. 27
Authorised officer’s identity card
(1) The chief
executive must
give each
authorised officer
an identity card. (2)
The
identity card must— Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
51
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 3
Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 28]
(a) contain a
recent photograph of
the authorised officer;
and (b) be signed by the
authorised officer; and (c) identify
the person as
an authorised officer
under this
Act. (3)
This
section does not prevent the giving of a single identity
card
to a person for this Act and other Acts. 28
Failure to return identity card
A
person who ceases to be an authorised officer must return
the person’s identity
card to
the chief executive
as soon as
practicable, but within 15 business days,
after ceasing to be an authorised officer, unless the person
has a reasonable excuse for not returning it.
Maximum penalty—50 penalty units.
29 Production or display of identity
card (1) An authorised officer may exercise a
power under this Act in relation to someone else only if the
authorised officer— (a) first produces his or her identity
card for the person’s inspection; or (b)
has
the identity card displayed so it is clearly visible to
the
person. (2) If it
is not practicable to
comply with
subsection (1), the
authorised officer
must produce
the identity card
for the person’s
inspection at the first reasonable opportunity. Subdivision
2 Power to enter places 30
Power
to enter places (1) An authorised officer may enter a
place if— Page 52 Current as at
[Not applicable]
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
3 Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 30]
Not authorised —indicative only
(a) an occupier of the place consents to
the entry; or (b) it is a public place and the entry is
made when it is open to the public; or (c)
the
place is— (i) the subject of— (A)
a
development approval; or (B) a lease, licence
or permit under the Land Act 1994
;
or (C) a stop work notice or restoration
notice; or (D) an enforcement notice
under the
Planning Act
relating to
the contravention of
a vegetation clearing provision;
or (E) an activity, being carried out at the
time of entry, to
which an
enforceable undertaking relates;
or (F) a notification of
an intention to
clear vegetation given
under an
accepted development
vegetation clearing code or an area management
plan; and (ii) entered during
daylight hours; or (d) the entry is for the purpose of giving
an occupier a stop work notice requiring the occupier to
immediately stop committing a vegetation clearing offence;
or (e) the entry
is under section
30A or is
authorised by
a warrant. (2)
For
the purpose of asking the occupier of a place for consent
to enter, an
authorised officer
may, without
the occupier’s consent or a
warrant— (a) enter land around premises at the
place to an extent that is reasonable to contact the occupier;
or (b) enter part of the place the authorised
officer reasonably considers members of the public ordinarily
are allowed to enter when they wish to contact the
occupier. Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
53
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 3
Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 30A]
(3) Subsection (1)(c) does not apply to a
part of a place where a person resides. Not
authorised —indicative
only 30A Power to enter
place on reasonable belief of vegetation clearing
offence (1) This section
applies if
an authorised officer
believes on
reasonable grounds
that a
vegetation clearing
offence is
happening, or has happened, at a
place. (2) The authorised officer
may enter and
re-enter the
place without
the occupier’s consent
or a warrant
to investigate whether
a vegetation clearing
offence is
happening, or
has happened, at the place.
(3) The authorised officer may exercise
powers under subsection (2), at
the time, with
the help, and
using the
force, that
is necessary and reasonable in the
circumstances. (4) However, before first entering the
place, the authorised officer must
give at
least 24
hours written
notice of
the proposed entry to an
occupier of the place. (5) Notice
of the proposed
entry must
include the
following information— (a)
that the
authorised officer
believes on
reasonable grounds that a
vegetation clearing offence is happening, or has happened,
at the place; (b) the reasons for the authorised
officer’s belief; (c) that the authorised officer intends to
enter the place and may re-enter the place; (d)
the
purpose of the proposed entry; (e)
the
dates and times of entry and re-entry. (6)
In
exercising a power under this section, an authorised officer
must
take all reasonable steps to ensure the officer causes as
little inconvenience, and
does as
little damage,
as is practicable in
the circumstances. (7) This section
does not
apply to
a part of
a place where
a person resides. Page 54
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Subdivision 3 Vegetation
Management Act 1999 Part 3 Enforcement, investigations and
offences [s 31] Procedure for
entry 31 Entry with consent (1)
This
section applies if an authorised officer intends to ask an
occupier of
a place to
consent to
the authorised officer
or another authorised officer
entering the
place under
section 30(1)(a). (2)
Before asking for the consent, the
authorised officer must tell the
occupier— (a) the purpose of the entry; and
(b) that the occupier is not required to
consent. (3) If the
consent is
given, the
authorised officer
may ask the
occupier to sign an acknowledgement of the
consent. (4) The acknowledgement must state—
(a) the occupier has been told—
(i) the purpose of the entry; and
(ii) that the
occupier is not required to consent; and (b)
the
purpose of the entry; and (c) the occupier
gives the authorised officer consent to enter the place and
exercise powers under this division; and (d)
the
time and date the consent was given. (5)
If the occupier
signs the
acknowledgement, the
authorised officer must
immediately give a copy to the occupier. (6)
A
court must find the occupier of a place did not consent to
an authorised officer entering the place under
this division if— (a) an issue arises in a proceeding before
the court whether the occupier of the place consented to the
entry under section 30(1)(a); and (b)
an
acknowledgement mentioned in subsection (4) is not
produced in evidence for the entry;
and Current as at [Not applicable]
Page
55
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part 3
Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 32]
(c) it is not proved by the person relying
on the lawfulness of the entry that the occupier consented to
the entry. Not authorised —indicative
only 32 Application for
warrant (1) An authorised officer may apply to a
magistrate for a warrant for a place. (2)
The
application must be sworn and state the grounds on which
the
warrant is sought. (3) The magistrate may refuse to consider
the application until the authorised officer gives the
magistrate all the information the magistrate requires
about the
application in
the way the
magistrate requires. Example—
The magistrate may
require additional information supporting the
application to be given by statutory
declaration. 33 Issue of warrant (1)
The
magistrate may issue a warrant only if the magistrate is
satisfied there are reasonable grounds for
suspecting— (a) there is a particular thing or
activity (the evidence ) that
may
provide evidence of a vegetation clearing offence;
and (b) the evidence is
at the place, or, within the next 7 days, may be at the
place. (2) The warrant must state—
(a) that any
authorised officer
or stated authorised officer
may,
with necessary and reasonable help and force— (i)
enter the place and any other place
necessary for the entry; and (ii)
exercise the authorised officer’s powers
under this division; and (b)
the
offence for which the warrant is sought; and Page 56
Current as at [Not applicable]
Not authorised —indicative only
Vegetation Management Act 1999
Part
3 Enforcement, investigations and offences [s 34]
(c) the evidence that may be seized under
the warrant; and (d) the hours
of the day
or night when
the place may
be entered; and (e)
the date, within
14 days after
the warrant’s issue,
the warrant ends. (3)
The
warrant may, as well as authorising entry of the place,
authorise re-entry by stating it on the
warrant. (4) A provision of this part applying to
entry authorised under a warrant is taken also to apply to any
re-entry authorised under the warrant. 34
Special warrants (1)
An authorised officer
may apply for
a warrant (a
special warrant
) by phone,
fax, radio
or another form
of communication if the authorised
officer considers it necessary because
of— (a) urgent circumstances; or
(b) other special circumstances,
including, for example, the authorised
officer’s remote location. (2) Before applying
for the special warrant, the authorised officer must prepare an
application stating the grounds on which the warrant is
sought. (3) The authorised officer
may apply for
the special warrant
before the application is sworn.
(4) After issuing
the special warrant,
the magistrate must
promptly fax a copy (a facsimile
warrant ) to the authorised officer if it is
reasonably practicable to fax the copy. (5)
If it is
not reasonably practicable to
fax a copy
to the authorised
officer— (a) the magistrate must tell the
authorised officer— (i) what the terms of the special warrant
are; and (ii) the date and
time the special warrant is issued; and Current as at
[Not applicable] Page 57
Not authorised —indicative
only Vegetation Management Act 1999