Local Government Act 1993

This section applies to community land that is the subject of a resolution by the council that declares that the land, being the site of—

a known natural, geological, geomorphological, scenic or other feature that is considered by the council to warrant protection or special management considerations, or

a wildlife corridor,

A plan of management adopted in respect of an area of community land, all or part of which is land to which this section applies, is to apply to that area only, and not to other areas of land.

A plan of management to be adopted for an area of community land, all or part of which is land to which this section applies—

must state that the land, or the relevant part, is land to which this section applies, and the reason why, and

must, in complying with section 36(3)(a), categorise the land, or the relevant part, as a natural area, and

must, in complying with section 36(3)(b), (c) and (d), identify objectives, performance targets and other matters that—

are designed to protect the area, and

take account of the existence of the features of the site identified by the council’s resolution, and

incorporate the core objectives prescribed under section 36 in respect of community land categorised as a natural area.

If, after the adoption of a plan of management applying to just one area of community land, all or part of that area becomes the subject of a resolution of the kind described in subsection (1)—

the plan of management is taken to be amended, as from the date the declaration took effect, to categorise the land or the relevant part as a natural area, and

the council must amend the plan of management (and in doing so, the provisions of subsection (3)(a) and (c) apply to the amendment of the plan of management in the same way as they apply to the adoption of a plan of management), and

until the plan of management has been amended as required by paragraph (b)—

the use of the land must not be varied, except to the extent necessary to protect the features of the site identified in the council’s resolution or in order to give effect to the core objectives prescribed under section 36 in respect of community land categorised as a natural area, or to terminate the use, and

no lease, licence or other estate may be granted in respect of the land.

If, after the adoption of a plan of management applying to several areas of community land, all or part of one of those areas becomes the subject of a resolution of the kind described in subsection (1)—

the plan of management ceases, as from the date the declaration took effect, to apply to that area, and

a plan of management must be prepared and adopted by the council for that area, and

the plan of management so prepared and adopted must comply with subsection (3).