A parliamentary question regarding the monitoring and prosecution of land clearing via stock grazing in remnant bushland, specifically referencing the Environmental Protection Act 1986 and pastoral leases. The response outlines monitoring methods, exemptions for pastoral leases, and ongoing investigations.

AnsweredQoN 398Legislative Council
Asked
7 May 2008
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

LAND CLEARING — STOCK GRAZING IN REMNANT BUSHLAND
I refer to the report in the Department of Agriculture and Food “Agricultural Memo: Northern Agricultural Region”, volume 11, of March 2007, at page 27, which states — Grazing stock in remnant bushland is considered as clearing land and therefore is governed by the Environmental Protection Act 1986 . . . (1) What monitoring is being done to ensure that pastoralist companies and individuals are not engaging in land clearing by grazing stock in remnant bushland? (2) Has action been taken or have any prosecutions been made against pastoralist companies and/or individuals who have engaged in land clearing by grazing stock in remnant bushland under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986? (3) If yes to (2), will the minister please provide the details? Hon SALLY TALBOT

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question, to which the minister has provided an answer in the following terms — (1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
(2) Has action been taken or have any prosecutions been made against pastoralist companies and/or individuals who have engaged in land clearing by grazing stock in remnant bushland under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986? (3) If yes to (2), will the minister please provide the details? Hon SALLY TALBOT replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question, to which the minister has provided an answer in the following terms — (1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
(3) If yes to (2), will the minister please provide the details? Hon SALLY TALBOT replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question, to which the minister has provided an answer in the following terms — (1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
Hon SALLY TALBOT replied: I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question, to which the minister has provided an answer in the following terms — (1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
I thank Hon Giz Watson for some notice of this question, to which the minister has provided an answer in the following terms — (1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
(1) The Department of Environment and Conservation undertakes analysis of vegetation changes using Landsat satellite imagery and conducts subsequent follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate. The department also investigates complaints reported by the community. It should be noted that an exemption from the requirement for a clearing permit exists to allow a pastoral lessee to graze stock on a pastoral lease in accordance with the Land Administration Act 1997, the terms and conditions of the pastoral lease and any relevant condition or determination by the Pastoral Lands Board. (2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
(2) None of the prosecutions undertaken to date involves clearing by grazing. A number of active investigations of grazing are underway. (3) Not applicable.
(3) Not applicable.

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