Vegetation management (clearing)
General information
The management of vegetation is regulated by several Acts of Parliament, including:
- Integrated Planning Act 1997
- Vegetation Management Act 1999
- Nature Conservation Act 1992
Each Act has a different function and any person proposing to clear vegetation may need approvals under one or more legislation depending upon the geographic area, tenure of the land, whether or not the ecosystem is identified as remnant ecosystem, or if the activity involves rare or threatened plants.
Any person seeking an approval to clear land should contact the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) for advice on how to apply for a clearing permit. Call the Hotline: 1800 999 367 or visit the NRW website on http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/vegetation/clearing/index.html.
If you are proposing to clear land and intend to salvage the plants for private or commercial use, you should contact the Permit and Licence Management Unit or by email palm@derm.qld.gov.au.
If your proposed activity involves the taking of rare or threatened plants in the wild, you may need a clearing permit under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
The Nature Conservation (Protected Plants) Conservation Plan 2000 and the Nature Conservation Regulation 1994 apply to the clearing of protected plants in the wild. All native plants in Queensland are protected plants.
Guidelines and policies
One of the main pressures affecting Queensland's land and soils is vegetation clearing. The department is responsible for safeguarding biodiversity values by implementing strategies aimed at protecting the many ecosystems and species under pressure. To protect these values, the department manages a number of high quality information and monitoring, modelling and assessment services in biodiversity such as mapping regional ecosystems and researching plant and wildlife ecology.
The Regional Ecosystem Description Database lists the status of regional ecosystems as gazetted under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (their Vegetation Management Status) and their Biodiversity Status as recognised by the department. Status is based on an assessment of the pre-clearing and remnant extent of a regional ecosystem.
The Biodiversity Status is defined by the department and is based on an assessment of the condition of remnant vegetation in addition to the pre-clearing and remnant extent of a regional ecosystem. The current biodiversity status is given on the Regional Ecosystem Description Database.
If you are applying for an approval to undertake clearing on your property, you can download the most current data about regional ecosystems that may be affected by the activity.
Refer to the above NRME website for additional information.
Forms and fees
Please download an application form; contact Permit and Licence Management or email palm@derm.qld.gov.au for assistance.
Application form: Clearing permit
Last updated 14 June 2011