❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses land clearing practices, government commitments, and enforcement of soil conservation regulations, seeking detailed information on notices, appeals, and illegal clearing incidents.
AnsweredQoN 106Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) When will the Government implement its election commitment to introduce a moratorium on clearing until the relevant catchment management plans are in place?
(2) Will the Minister provide a list of all Soil Conservation Notices served from 1998 to June 2001 including the reasons why each Notice was served?
(3) Will the Minister list the Soil Conservation Notices that are currently under appeal?
(4) Will the Minister list the decisions made by the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation with respect to Notifications of Intention to Clear that are currently under appeal?
(5) Would the Minister list all incidents of illegal clearing of which Agriculture WA is aware (including clearing that has occurred contrary to decisions of the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation, clearing where the landowner has failed to submit a Notification of Intent to Clear, or otherwise has not followed the required process under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act
).
(6) For each of these cases of illegal clearing will the Minister list what action has been taken by the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation in response?
(2) Will the Minister provide a list of all Soil Conservation Notices served from 1998 to June 2001 including the reasons why each Notice was served?
(3) Will the Minister list the Soil Conservation Notices that are currently under appeal?
(4) Will the Minister list the decisions made by the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation with respect to Notifications of Intention to Clear that are currently under appeal?
(5) Would the Minister list all incidents of illegal clearing of which Agriculture WA is aware (including clearing that has occurred contrary to decisions of the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation, clearing where the landowner has failed to submit a Notification of Intent to Clear, or otherwise has not followed the required process under the
Soil and Land Conservation Act
).
(6) For each of these cases of illegal clearing will the Minister list what action has been taken by the Commissioner for Soil and Land Conversation in response?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 July 2001
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture
Response time
33 days
A moratorium on land clearing in the agricultural areas may serve little purpose since in 1999 - 2000 for example, only 366 hectares of clearing did not meet with an objection from the Commissioner. The majority of this was for high value land uses such as infrastructure, horticulture, and gravel, sand and limestone extraction. 2. 56 Soil Conservation Notices have been issued since January 1998. 9 related to soil erosion and drainage matters. 22 were to formalise the Commissioner's objection to notified clearing 8 were to govern the manner in which notified clearing was conducted, including rehabilitation or compensatory planting. 17 were a result of illegal clearing (list attached). See Paper No. 3. There are 3 Soil Conservation Notices currently under appeal. 4. For the three cases under appeal, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation has objected to clearing and formalised his objection in a Soil Conservation Notice. The proponents are exercising their right of appeal to the Minister. 5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
2. 56 Soil Conservation Notices have been issued since January 1998. 9 related to soil erosion and drainage matters. 22 were to formalise the Commissioner's objection to notified clearing 8 were to govern the manner in which notified clearing was conducted, including rehabilitation or compensatory planting. 17 were a result of illegal clearing (list attached). See Paper No. 3. There are 3 Soil Conservation Notices currently under appeal. 4. For the three cases under appeal, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation has objected to clearing and formalised his objection in a Soil Conservation Notice. The proponents are exercising their right of appeal to the Minister. 5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
4. For the three cases under appeal, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation has objected to clearing and formalised his objection in a Soil Conservation Notice. The proponents are exercising their right of appeal to the Minister. 5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
2. 56 Soil Conservation Notices have been issued since January 1998. 9 related to soil erosion and drainage matters. 22 were to formalise the Commissioner's objection to notified clearing 8 were to govern the manner in which notified clearing was conducted, including rehabilitation or compensatory planting. 17 were a result of illegal clearing (list attached). See Paper No. 3. There are 3 Soil Conservation Notices currently under appeal. 4. For the three cases under appeal, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation has objected to clearing and formalised his objection in a Soil Conservation Notice. The proponents are exercising their right of appeal to the Minister. 5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
4. For the three cases under appeal, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation has objected to clearing and formalised his objection in a Soil Conservation Notice. The proponents are exercising their right of appeal to the Minister. 5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
5. 219 reports of land clearing have been investiagted since January 1998. 6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
6. Of the 219 cases investigated: 151 cases proved not to be breaches of the clearing regulation In 19 cases the owners agreed to allow the vegetation to regenerate 22 cases were urban sites covered by legislation other than the Soil Conservation Act 17 cases lead to Soil Conservation Notices Prosecutions have been sought in 10 cases, 7 of which are in progress
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