❓ Question on Notice regarding the monitoring and extent of bushland and native vegetation clearing in the Perth metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal Plain. The response provides data on vegetation cover and clearing permits, but lacks information on exempted clearing.
AnsweredQoN 3681Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to clearing of bushland in the Perth metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain, and ask -
(1) Does the Department use aerial photography or satellite imagery to monitor the extent of bushland remaining in the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain?
(2) If no to (1), what process does the Department use to monitor the extent of bushland in the Perth metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain?
(3) Please provide figures for the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain covered by bushland in, -
(a) 1995;
(b) 2000;
(c) 2005; and
(d) 2010?
(4) Please provide figures for the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain covered by native vegetation in, -
(a) 1990;
(b) 1995;
(c) 2000;
(d) 2005; and
(e) 2010?
(5) Please provide figures for the areas of native vegetation permitted to be cleared under the applicable Native Vegetation Clearing regulations for the periods, -
(a) 1991-1995;
(b) 1996-2000;
(c) 2001-2005; and
(d) 2006-2010?
(6) Does the Department have any means of tracking the area of native vegetation cleared under exemption from the
Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004
?
(7) If yes to (6), how much land in the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain has been cleared under exemption?
(1) Does the Department use aerial photography or satellite imagery to monitor the extent of bushland remaining in the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain?
(2) If no to (1), what process does the Department use to monitor the extent of bushland in the Perth metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain?
(3) Please provide figures for the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain covered by bushland in, -
(a) 1995;
(b) 2000;
(c) 2005; and
(d) 2010?
(4) Please provide figures for the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain covered by native vegetation in, -
(a) 1990;
(b) 1995;
(c) 2000;
(d) 2005; and
(e) 2010?
(5) Please provide figures for the areas of native vegetation permitted to be cleared under the applicable Native Vegetation Clearing regulations for the periods, -
(a) 1991-1995;
(b) 1996-2000;
(c) 2001-2005; and
(d) 2006-2010?
(6) Does the Department have any means of tracking the area of native vegetation cleared under exemption from the
Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004
?
(7) If yes to (6), how much land in the Perth Metropolitan area of the Swan Coastal plain has been cleared under exemption?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
(1-2) In respect of the regulation of native vegetation clearing under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986
, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) undertakes analysis of native vegetation change using aerial photography and Landsat satellite imagery, and conducts follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate.
(3-4) DEC has undertaken analysis of vegetation change within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area. This analysis was undertaken using satellite imagery, which estimates changes for all vegetation including non-native vegetation. The following indicative figures for vegetation cover are:
(a) in 1990, approximately 142,700 hectares;
(b) in 1995, approximately 127,200 hectares;
(c) in 2000, approximately 117,250 hectares;
(d) in 2005, approximately 105,140 hectares; and
(e) in 2010, approximately 90,990 hectares.
(5a-b) The native vegetation clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Actcame into effect on 8 July 2004. Prior to that date, clearing was regulated under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945
and
Soil and Land Conservation Regulations 1992
. Clearing in excess of one hectare that resulted in a change of land use had to be notified to the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation.
(c) Within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area, during 2004/05 and 2005/06 the total area of native vegetation for which clearing permits under the Environmental Protection Actwere granted amounted to approximately 150 hectares.
(d) Within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area, during 2006/07 to 2009/10 inclusive the total area of native vegetation for which clearing permits under the Environmental Protection Actwere granted amounted to 712.74 hectares.
Figures in answers (5)(c) and (d) do not include areas authorised under statewide purpose permits, or clearing undertaken under exemption such as clearing approved through another statutory process, for example, the relevant planning provisions.
(6) No. The Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 contain exemptions for low impact routine land management practices. The scale of clearing under these regulations is predominantly less than one hectare and minor in nature. It is often not discernible through imagery and is not generally captured through other approvals processes.
(7) Not applicable
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Environmental Protection Act 1986
, the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) undertakes analysis of native vegetation change using aerial photography and Landsat satellite imagery, and conducts follow-up inspections and investigations where appropriate.
(3-4) DEC has undertaken analysis of vegetation change within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area. This analysis was undertaken using satellite imagery, which estimates changes for all vegetation including non-native vegetation. The following indicative figures for vegetation cover are:
(a) in 1990, approximately 142,700 hectares;
(b) in 1995, approximately 127,200 hectares;
(c) in 2000, approximately 117,250 hectares;
(d) in 2005, approximately 105,140 hectares; and
(e) in 2010, approximately 90,990 hectares.
(5a-b) The native vegetation clearing provisions of the Environmental Protection Actcame into effect on 8 July 2004. Prior to that date, clearing was regulated under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945
and
Soil and Land Conservation Regulations 1992
. Clearing in excess of one hectare that resulted in a change of land use had to be notified to the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation.
(c) Within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area, during 2004/05 and 2005/06 the total area of native vegetation for which clearing permits under the Environmental Protection Actwere granted amounted to approximately 150 hectares.
(d) Within the Swan Coastal Plain portion of the Perth Metropolitan Region Scheme area, during 2006/07 to 2009/10 inclusive the total area of native vegetation for which clearing permits under the Environmental Protection Actwere granted amounted to 712.74 hectares.
Figures in answers (5)(c) and (d) do not include areas authorised under statewide purpose permits, or clearing undertaken under exemption such as clearing approved through another statutory process, for example, the relevant planning provisions.
(6) No. The Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004 contain exemptions for low impact routine land management practices. The scale of clearing under these regulations is predominantly less than one hectare and minor in nature. It is often not discernible through imagery and is not generally captured through other approvals processes.
(7) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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