Other Change Decision Notice - Council Meeting Decision 132005 638 04 (As Published)

Queensland Government
Natural Resources and Mines

RATIONALE:
‘The Vegetation Management Act 1999 (VMA) was enacted to regulate the clearing of vegetation
over al! tenures in both rural and urban areas, The purposes of the Act include the conservation of
remnant regional ecosystems, preventing the loss of biodiversity, maintaining ecological processes,
managing the environmental effects of clearing and the phasing out of broadecals clearing of
~~ > “remnant vegetation in Queensland by 3-Becember 2005 ne nnn

Significant challenges exist to achieve the State's vegetation management objectives whilst
recognising other goals of government that include accommodating population growth, maintaining
the quality of life for existing and future communities and providing infrastructure.

 

Vegetation offsets can assist in balancing these interests in some circumstances, as they provide a
mechanism for development to proceed, whilst at the same time ensuring long-term conservation of
remnant regional ecosystems.

The Regional Vegetation Management Codes for Ongoing Clearing Purposes set out performance
requirements that vegetation clearing applications for a relevant purpose under S.22A of the VMA
must meet. The Concurrence Agency Policy for a Material Change of Use and Reconfiguring a
Lot set out performance requirements which development applications that are for a material
change of use must meet.

A vegetation offset may be proposed by an applicant as an alternative solution to meet a number of
performance requirements, This interim policy gives guidance on what would constitute an
acceptable offset under those particular Codes and Policies.

PURPOSE/SCOPE:

This policy applies to offsets proposed to meet a performance requirement under a Regional
Vegetation Management Code for Ongoing Clearing Purposes, the Concurrence Agency Policy for
a Material Change of Use or the Concurrence Agency Policy for Reconfiguration of a Lot,

. This policy is to be used by Vegetation Management Officers and other relevant officers when
assessing a development application that proposes offsetting as en acceptable solution to 2
performance requirement.

POLICY:
A. Where an application proposes an offset to meet the following performance requirement

(or similar):-

To conserve remnant endangered regional ecosystems, remnant of concern regional ecosystems, and
remnant not of concern regional ecosystems, the current extent of remnant endangered regional
ecosystems, remmant of concern regional ecosystems and remnant not of concern regional ecosystems
and Category 1, category 2 and category 3 areas shown on a property map of assessable vegetation are
maintained’.

' Maintaining the current extent may be interpreted as maintaining the current extent, ultimately.
Policy Number; Prefix/Number/Year Version No: Last Updated: 23/09/05

Page 25 of 72

Document Set ID: 24377726
Version: 13, Version Date: 23/12/2025