Clearing and development
The clearing of native vegetation in Queensland is regulated by the Vegetation Management Act 1999. The Act sets down the rules and regulations that guide what clearing can be done, and how it must be done to meet the requirements of the law.
It regulates clearing of remnant vegetation on a regional ecosystem and remnant map on freehold and indigenous land and state tenures. Regulated regrowth vegetation on freehold and Indigenous land and leasehold land for agricultural and grazing is also protected. On some other state tenures native woody regrowth may also be protected.
Clearing for some activities are exempt. These include most routine activities like fence lines, yards, firebreaks and burning off.
Clearing remnant vegetation on a regional ecosystem or remnant map, if not exempt can only be done under a permit. Landholders wanting a permit must apply to the department. The department assesses applications against regional vegetation management codes. These codes are also used to assess applications to clear native woody regrowth on state tenures other than leasehold land for agriculture and grazing.
No permit is required to clear regulated regrowth. However, landholders need to notify the department that they intend to clear and any clearing must comply with the regrowth vegetation code (PDF, 1.6M)*.
On freehold and Indigenous land, clearing can also occur for for a native forest practice, if clearing complies with the Code applying to a Native forest practice on freehold land (PDF, 809K)* and the department is notified.
If you would like further information on what clearing can or cannot be done on your property, view the fact sheet 'What to consider before clearing vegetation (PDF, 91K)*'.
Vegetation clearing where permits are required
Clearing that will require a permit can only occur for certain 'relevant purposes'.
Clearing is considered 'for a relevant purpose' if it is:
- a project declared to be a significant project under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 section 26
- necessary to control non-native plants or declared pests
- to ensure public safety
- for establishing a necessary fence, firebreak, road or vehicular track, or for constructing necessary built infrastructure (each relevant infrastructure), and the clearing for the relevant infrastructure can not reasonably be avoided or minimised
- a natural and ordinary consequence of other assessable development for which a development approval as defined under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 was given, or a development application as defined under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 was made, before 16 May 2003
- for fodder harvesting
- for thinning
- for clearing of encroachment
- for an extractive industry
- for clearing regrowth on freehold land, or Indigenous land, in a wild river high preservation area
Vegetation clearing guides
The following guides are designed to help landholders and developers apply for permits to clear native vegetation and ensure that they meet legal requirements for clearing.
These guides constitute modules in the OnePlan framework that provides Queensland landholders with a consistent way of preparing property-level plans—a requirement in applications to clear native vegetation.
If you have already documented any of the information requested in another OnePlan module, you can use it in your application.
The Landholders’ guide to vegetation clearing applications (PDF)* (PDF, 2,520 kB)* explains:
- when you require a permit to clear vegetation
- what clearing can be done under an exemption
- how to read regional ecosystem (RE) maps
- how to apply to clear vegetation
- how DERM will assess your application
- what you can expect from DERM.
Fodder harvesting is a legitimate purpose for which you can apply to 'clear' native vegetation. However, to do so, you require a development permit. The Landholders' guide to fodder harvesting applications (PDF)* (PDF, 837kB) and the Fodder harvesting application worksheet (PDF)* (PDF, 135kB) have been developed to help landholders apply for a development permit.
Download a copy of the guide and the worksheet at the above links, otherwise please contact a departmental business centre for more information.
Application forms
All applications must be made on 'Part A' and 'Part J' of the Development Application Form.
Records of applications to clear
DERM maintains a database of records of current applications to clear native vegetation. The information does not indicate if applications have been approved. Copies of active applications are available for inspection or purchase from your local departmental business centre.
Environmental offsets
Environmental offsets are positive measures that can be taken to counterbalance certain unavoidable negative environmental impacts of development.
Offsets can be applied to:
- greenhouse gas emissions
- waste management
- emissions to water and air
- vegetation management
- other environmental management issues (such as loss of habitat and biodiversity).
For example, under certain circumstances, the clearing of vegetation for a development may be offset by the management and protection of another area of ecologically equivalent vegetation.
DERM has an operational framework for vegetation management offsets. This framework has a vegetation management offset policy that landholders can compy with as a means of meeting requirements in the regional vegetation management code.
DERM has also produced a Queensland Government Environmental Offsets Policy.
Clearing regulated regrowth vegetation for a native forest practice
Clearing regulated regrowth vegetation or for a native forest practice does not require a permit, but must comply with the relevant code.
Landholders wanting to clear regulated regrowth, if not exempt, only need to notify the department and comply with the regrowth vegetation code. Clearing for a native forest practice can also occur if the landholder notifies the department and clears in accordance with the Code applying to a Native Forest Practice on freehold land (PDF, 809K)*.
Guide to clearing regulated regrowth vegetation
A Landholders’ guide to the regrowth vegetation code (PDF, 1.6M)* has been developed to help landholders understand and implement new regrowth regulations. Landholders should refer to this guide before undertaking any clearing activities in areas of regulated regrowth to ensure they comply with the code.
The guide has been developed to help landholders understand and implement the new regrowth regulations.
Forest practice guide
A The Field guide: code for conducting a forest practice on freehold land (PDF, 809K)* has also been developed to assist landholders in complying with the forest practice code. The guide includes:
- colour photos and diagrams for easy reference in the field
- a summary of the code in operational order
- procedures for notifying DERM of a native forest practice
- additional information that is not a requirement of the code.
Contact information
If you have problems downloading any of these documents, or would like a copy mailed to you, please contact:
Central West Region
- Rockhampton, phone: 4938 4615
North Region
- Townsville, phone: 4799 7126
South East Region
- Bundaberg, phone: 4131 5754
- Gympie, phone: 5480 5333
- Ipswich, phone: 3884 5328
South West Region
- Toowoomba, phone 4688 1098
Contact a See departmental business centres for a map depicting the boundaries of each region.
For further information, please email VM Enquiries or phone 13 13 04.
* Requires Acrobat Reader
Last updated: 07 October 2009