Att 4. Ecological Assessment Report - 555 Louis Bazzo Drive.pdf

5. Protected plants framework (administered by the Department of Environment,
Science and Innovation (DESI))
In Queensland, all plants that are native to Australia are protected plants under the Nature Conservation Act 1992
(NCA). The NCA regulates the clearing of protected plants 'in the wild' (see Operational policy: When a protected plant in
Queensland is considered to be 'in the wild') that are listed as critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near
threatened under the Act.

Please note that the protected plant clearing framework applies irrespective of the classification of the vegetation under
the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and any approval or exemptions given under another Act, for example, the
Vegetation Management Act 1999 or Planning Regulation 2017.

5.1 Clearing in high risk areas on the flora survey trigger map
The flora survey trigger map identifies high-risk areas for threatened and near threatened plants. These are areas where
threatened or near threatened plants are known to exist or are likely to exist based on the habitat present. The flora
survey trigger map for this property is provided in section 5.5.

If you are proposing to clear an area shown as high risk on the flora survey trigger map, a flora survey of the clearing
impact area must be undertaken by a suitably qualified person in accordance with the Flora survey guidelines. The main
objective of a flora survey is to locate any threatened or near threatened plants that may be present in the clearing
impact area.

If the flora survey identifies that threatened or near threatened plants are not present within the clearing impact area or
clearing within 100m of EVNT plants can be avoided, the clearing activity is exempt from a permit. An exempt clearing
notification form must be submitted to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, with a copy of the flora
survey report, at least one week prior to clearing.

If the flora survey identifies that threatened or near threatened plants are present in, or within 100m of, the area to be
cleared, a clearing permit is required before any clearing is undertaken. The flora survey report, as well as an impact
management report, must be submitted with the clearing permit application form.

5.2 Clearing outside high risk areas on the flora survey trigger map
In an area other than a high risk area, a clearing permit is only required where a person is, or becomes aware
that threatened or near threatened plantsare present in, or within 100m of, the area to be cleared. You must keep a copy
of the flora survey trigger map for the area subject to clearing for five years from the day the clearing starts. If you do not
clear within the 12 month period that the flora survey trigger map was printed, you need to print and check a new flora
survey trigger map.

5.3 Exemptions
Many activities are 'exempt' under the protected plant clearing framework, which means that clearing of native plants that
are in the wild can be undertaken for these activities with no need for a flora survey or a protected plant clearing permit.
The Information sheet - General exemptions for the take of protected plants provides some of these exemptions.

Some exemptions under the NCA are the same as exempt clearing work (formerly known as exemptions) under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999 (i.e. listed in Schedule 21 of the Planning Regulations 2017) while some are different.

5.4 Contact information for DESI
For further information on the protected plants framework:
Phone 1300 130 372 (and select option four)
Email [email protected]
Visit https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/plants/protected-plants




Vegetation management report, Department of Resources, 2024                                                             Page 20