Vegetation Management Act 1999

The purpose of this Act is to regulate the clearing of vegetation in a way that—

conserves remnant vegetation that is—

an endangered regional ecosystem; or

an of concern regional ecosystem; or

a least concern regional ecosystem; and

conserves vegetation in declared areas; and

ensures the clearing does not cause land degradation; and

prevents the loss of biodiversity; and

maintains ecological processes; and

manages the environmental effects of the clearing to achieve the matters mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e); and

reduces greenhouse gas emissions; and

allows for sustainable land use.

The purpose is achieved mainly by providing for—

the following matters—

assessment benchmarks for the Planning Act for the assessment of assessable development that is the clearing of vegetation, other than an assessment carried out by the planning chief executive;

for the Planning Act, the matters a referral agency other than the planning chief executive—

must or may assess a development application against; or

must or may assess a development application having regard to; and

the enforcement of vegetation clearing provisions; and

declared areas; and

a framework for decision making that, in achieving this Act’s purpose in relation to subsection (1)(a) to (e), applies the precautionary principle that lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing a measure to prevent degradation of the environment if there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage; and

the regulation of particular regrowth vegetation.

In this section—environment includes—

ecosystems and their constituent parts including people and communities; and

all natural and physical resources; and

those qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas, however large or small, that contribute to their biological diversity and integrity, intrinsic or attributed scientific value or interest, amenity, harmony and sense of community; and

the social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions affecting the matters in paragraphs (a) to (c) or affected by those matters.