Reference Document Ecological Assessment Report - Urban Catalyst 3 18 July 2025

2. Vegetation management framework (administered by the Department of
Resources)
The Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA), the Vegetation Management Regulation 2012, the Planning Act 2016 and
the Planning Regulation 2017, in conjunction with associated policies and codes, form the Vegetation Management
Framework.

The VMA does not apply to all land tenures or vegetation types. State forests, national parks, forest reserves and some
tenures under the Forestry Act 1959 and Nature Conservation Act 1992 are not regulated by the VMA. Managing or
clearing vegetation on these tenures may require approvals under these laws.

The following native vegetation is not regulated under the VMA but may require permit(s) under other laws:

     • grass or non-woody herbage;
     • a plant within a grassland regional ecosystem identified in the Vegetation Management Regional Ecosystem
       Description Database (VM REDD) as having a grassland structure; and
     • a mangrove.


2.1 Exempt clearing work
Exempt clearing work is an activity for which you do not need to notify the Department of Resources or obtain an
approval under the vegetation management framework. Exempt clearing work was previously known as exemptions.

In areas that are mapped as Category X (white in colour) on the regulated vegetation management map (see section
4.1), and where the land tenure is freehold, indigenous land and leasehold land for agriculture and grazing purposes, the
clearing of vegetation is considered exempt clearing work and does not require notification or development approval
under the vegetation management framework. For all other land tenures, contact the Department of Resources before
commencing clearing to ensure that the proposed activity is exempt clearing work.

A range of routine property management activities are considered exempt clearing work. A list of exempt clearing work is
available at

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/clearing-approvals/exemptions/.

Exempt clearing work may be affected if the proposed clearing area is subject to development approval conditions, a
covenant, an environmental offset, an exchange area, a restoration notice, or an area mapped as Category A. Exempt
clearing work may require approval under other Commonwealth, State or Local Government laws, or local government
planning schemes. Contact the Department of Resources prior to clearing in any of these areas.


2.2 Accepted development vegetation clearing codes
Some clearing activities can be undertaken under an accepted development vegetation clearing code. The codes can be
downloaded at

https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/clearing-approvals/codes/

If you intend to clear vegetation under an accepted development vegetation clearing code, you must notify the
Department of Resources before commencing. The information in this report will assist you to complete the online
notification form.

You can complete the online form at
https://vegetation-apps.dnrm.qld.gov.au




Vegetation management report, Department of Resources, 2024                                                        Page 7