GEORGE URGES FARMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON THE DRAFT NATIVE VEGETATION REGULATION 2012

The Nationals Member for Lismore Thomas George has encouraged farmers and stakeholders to place a submission and/or attend a public consultation on the draft Native Vegetation Regulation 2012 that has been released by the NSW Government.

Mr George said the draft Native Vegetation Regulation 2012 offers a new streamlined approach for farmers to manage their farms sustainably.

"The draft regulation cuts red tape and ensures landholders have access to the information they need to manage their native vegetation appropriately. It also improves the way the farmers do business with Government.

"There is no change to the environmental protection standard provided by the Native Vegetation Act 2003," Mr George said.

The draft Native Vegetation Regulation 2012 cuts red tape and reduces burden on farmers by:

• Allowing farmers to undertake a greater range of routine agricultural management activities without having to get approval from Catchment Management Authorities,
• Letting farmers clear invasive native species using low impact clearing methods without obtaining a property vegetation plan,
• Establishing a faster and more streamlined assessment process for certain categories of clearing,
• Removing the need to obtain dual consents under both the Native Vegetation Act and planning legislation when constructing sheds, permanent boundary fences and certain type of dwellings; and
• Making landscape scale planning easier through amendments to the Environmental Assessment Outcomes Methodology.

The Draft Native Vegetation Regulation, Draft EOAM, Draft PNF Code of Practice, and example Ministerial Orders as well as support material to help explain the proposed changes can be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/ReviewofNVRegulations.htm

Interested individuals are encouraged to attend an information session in Casino on Thursday 5 July.

Anyone wanting to have a say on the proposed changes should put their comments in writing and forward them to the Office of Environment and Heritage:

Email: native.vegetation@environment.nsw.gov.au
Post: Native Vegetation Regulation Review
Level 12, PO Box A290
SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1232
Fax: 9995 6791 (attn: Native Vegetation Regulation Review)

Closing date for submissions is 24 August 2012.