❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks details on the Department of Agriculture's bushland covenanting scheme, including its operation, effectiveness, and resource allocation. The response provides information on the scheme's history, scope, landowner commitments, and departmental involvement.
AnsweredQoN 2280Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Department of Agriculture still operate a bushland covenanting scheme and, if yes, for what purposes is it operated?
(2) When did the scheme commence, how many properties are subject to covenants created under the scheme and what area of natural bushland/wetland has been covered by these covenants?
(3) Do the covenants require commitments from the landowners to undertake active management of the covenanted land?
(4) If yes, how is such management assessed?
(5) If no, does the Department have confidence that the long-term environmental and conservation values will be maintained and, if yes, on what basis is the Department confident of this important outcome?
(6) What is the FTE commitment by departmental staff to the operation of the covenanting scheme?
(7) Does this FTE commitment include departmental officers actively or otherwise informing landowners of the existence of and benefits from the scheme?
(8) What is the average annual estimated cost of operating the covenanting scheme?
(9) If on-going active management of the covenanted bushland or wetland is not part of the scheme, can the scheme be said to be providing ‘stewardship’ of covenanted land and, if yes, on what basis is this belief held?
(2) When did the scheme commence, how many properties are subject to covenants created under the scheme and what area of natural bushland/wetland has been covered by these covenants?
(3) Do the covenants require commitments from the landowners to undertake active management of the covenanted land?
(4) If yes, how is such management assessed?
(5) If no, does the Department have confidence that the long-term environmental and conservation values will be maintained and, if yes, on what basis is the Department confident of this important outcome?
(6) What is the FTE commitment by departmental staff to the operation of the covenanting scheme?
(7) Does this FTE commitment include departmental officers actively or otherwise informing landowners of the existence of and benefits from the scheme?
(8) What is the average annual estimated cost of operating the covenanting scheme?
(9) If on-going active management of the covenanted bushland or wetland is not part of the scheme, can the scheme be said to be providing ‘stewardship’ of covenanted land and, if yes, on what basis is this belief held?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 December 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Response time
20 days
(2) RVPS commended in 1988. At 30 June 2000, there were 1164 memorials registering conservation covenants on Certificates of Title, protecting 67183 hectares. (3) Owners agree to protect the area from livestock with fencing and manage the vegetation in such a way as to retain and promote the growth of the native vegetation. (4) Landowner management is not monitored. (5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(3) Owners agree to protect the area from livestock with fencing and manage the vegetation in such a way as to retain and promote the growth of the native vegetation. (4) Landowner management is not monitored. (5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(4) Landowner management is not monitored. (5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(3) Owners agree to protect the area from livestock with fencing and manage the vegetation in such a way as to retain and promote the growth of the native vegetation. (4) Landowner management is not monitored. (5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(4) Landowner management is not monitored. (5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(5) In aggregate yes. Department of Agriculture observations are that there is a very high level of compliance with covenants. Therefore the prevention of grazing in these areas removes one of the greatest threats. (6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(6) Approximately 0.25% of an FTE, comprising the time of a Project Officer, Drafting Officer and Admin Assistant. (7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(7) Landholders who contact the Department are provided with information on covenanting under the Soil and Land Conservation Act and are also provided with contact details of the state's other covenanting schemes, through the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the National Trust. (8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(8) Approximately $11 000 (9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
(9) No, however landowners who received grants under the Remnant Vegetation Protections Scheme are introduced to the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Land for Wildlife Program and World Wildlife Fund's Woodland Watch.
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