Cooran - Development Application

In Queensland, all plants that are native to Australia are protected plants under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA),
with clearing of protected plants in the wild regulated by the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006.
These requirements apply irrespective of the classification of the vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

Prior to clearing, if the plants proposed to be cleared are in the wild (see Operational policy: When a protected plant in
Queensland is considered to be 'in the wild') and the exemptions under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management)
Regulation 2006 are not applicable to the proposed clearing, you must check the flora survey trigger map to determine if any
part of the area to be cleared is within a high risk area. The trigger map for this property is provided in section 5.5. The
exemptions relate to:
        • imminent risk of death or serious injury (refer s261A)
        • imminent risk of serious damage to a building or other structure on land, or to personal property (refer s261B)
        • Fire and Emergency Service Act 1990 (refer 261C)
        • previously cleared areas (refer s261ZB)
        • maintenance activities (refer s261ZC)
        • firebreak or fire management line (refer s261ZD)
        • accepted development vegetation clearing code (refer s261ZE)
        • conservation purposes (refer s261ZG)
        • authorised in particular circumstances (refer s385).

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

If the proposed area to be cleared is shown as blue (i.e. high risk) on the flora survey trigger map, a flora survey of the
clearing impact area must be undertaken in accordance with the flora survey guidelines. The main objective of a flora survey
is to locate any endangered, vulnerable or near threatened plants (EVNT plants) that may be present in the clearing impact
area.

If a flora survey identifies that EVNT 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 and Science, with a copy of the flora survey report, at least one week prior to clearing. The
clearing must be conducted within two years after the flora survey report was submitted.

If a flora survey identifies that EVNT 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 application form clearing permit.

In an area other than a high risk area, a clearing permit is only required where a person is, or becomes aware that EVNT
plants are 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.

Further information on protected plants is available at
http://www.ehp.qld.gov.au/licences-permits/plants-animals/protected-plants/

For assistance on the protected plants flora survey trigger map for this property, please contact the Department of
Environment and Science at [email protected] Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF)
The ERF is an Australian Government scheme which offers incentives for businesses and communities across the economy
to reduce emissions.

Under the ERF, landholders can earn money from activities such as planting (and keeping) trees, managing regrowth
vegetation and adopting more sustainable agricultural practices.

The purpose of a project is to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Each project will provide new economic
opportunities for farmers, forest growers and land managers.

Further information on ERF is available at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/state/use/carbon-rights/.



4. Contact information for DNRME

Vegetation management report, Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, 2018                                 Page 11