Protestors delivered a 10,000-signature petition to Environment Minister Mark Speakman’s office in Cronulla on Wednesday calling for stronger tree-protection laws following concerns over the new draft legislation released by the NSW Government to overhaul environmental laws which it says are ineffective and complicated.
But Stand Up For Nature Campaign Coordinator Corinne Fisher said the proposed changes for the clearing of native vegetation across state contained within the Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2016 and the Local Land Services Amendment Bill are really pragmatic changes to facilitate development across the state.
“It’s the introduction of a native vegetation management system which is based on offsets which sees developers buying credits to compensate for the impact of clearing,’’ Ms Fisher said.
‘’Biodiversity offsets in theory are supposed to help compensate for the impacts of vegetation clearing by developers by allowing them to protect other areas of like-for-like vegetations in perpetuity.
“However, the offset policy being introduced by the government will not prescribe like-for-like offsets and will allow developers to make cash payments if suitable offsets are not found.
‘’It’s a very flexible offset policy that the government is proposing.
‘’The offset will result in a huge loss of native vegetation across the state.
“With so little bushland left in Sydney, the added impacts of the Baird Government’s tree-clearing changes will be significant.
“As the Local Member for Cronulla and the Minister for the Environment, we are calling on Mark Speakman to stand up to the developer and agribusiness lobby by strengthening laws that protect our trees and our wildlife.”
But a joint statement by NSW deputy premier Troy Grant and Mr Speakman said the reforms would protect and enhance the environment with an historic investment of $240 million over five years in private land conservation, $70 million in each following year and $100 million dedicated over five years to the “Saving Our Species” program.
Mr Speakman said the new laws would take a strategic approach to conservation and would complement the Commonwealth’s biodiversity protections.
“We are delivering a simple and effective way to use and protect land that is backed by record government investment to build a network of conserved lands on private property,’’ he said.
“We have tough measures to protect endangered ecological communities supported by Commonwealth protections that will conserve our biodiversity for future generations.”
They said the reform package will:
Ensure land clearing is assessed under a single set of rules, simplifying the task of farmers in managing their land;
Conserve biodiversity at a bioregional level;
Give landholders incentives to conserve biodiversity on private land;
And reverse the historical decline of biodiversity in NSW.
Drafts of the new Biodiversity Conservation Act and amended Local Land Services Act are on public exhibition and open for submissions for the next eight weeks. Details:www.landmanagement.nsw.gov.au
