The others are going to do something about this Apathy? 'Absence of interest in or enthusiasm for things generally considered interesting or moving.' -Collins English Dictionary

REGIONAL VEG PLAN - MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS

The draft Clarence Regional Vegetation Management Plan sets out a system of controls over land clearing in the Clarence Valley. It hasn't been put on public exhibition yet, but the State Government has consulted community groups about it to get some initial feedback. The Clarence Environment Centre is generally happy with it on the basis that it's better than previous controls. Many myths and misconceptions are getting around the valley. Let's take a look at some of them.

Myth: The plan was put together by a committee loaded in favour of environmentalists.

The plan is the work of the Clarence Regional Vegetation Committee. The Committee's composition is specified under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act. It comprises representatives of state government (3), local government (1), conservation interests (2), rural interests (4), landcare (1), catchment management groups (1), Aboriginal interests (2) and scientific/ecological interests (1). Rural interests are the best represented group, with twice as many reps as conservationists.

Myth:The plan prohibits you cutting down trees.

The only activity prohibited by the draft plan is clearing on riverbank land, rainforest, wetlands, steep land, old growth forest and floodplain where:

Under some circumstances, clearing of these areas of very high environmental significance may be allowed. The draft plan requires landowneres to ask consent from the Department of Land and Water Conservation for clearing of other areas. However, there are several exemptions, where you don't need consent:

  • Minimal clearing for public utilities and emergency work,
  • Minimal clearing around existing rural structures (sheds, fences, access tracks, etc),
  • Clearing introduced woody weeds on riparian land,
  • Clearing planted native vegetation (woodlots, agroforestry etc),
  • Lopping trees by a surveyor,
  • Tree cutting at the rate of 2 tress per hectare each year (with a maximum number of trees per property per year),
  • Clearing regrowth to maintain cleared farmland (vegetation must be under a certain age - options being discussed are 5 or 10 years).
[The above points are still being discussed by the Committee, and the plan which goes to the public may vary in detail. The general thrust of the plan is likely to remain the same.]

Myth: The plan will make it illegal for farmers to slash blady grass,

Blady grass is a native grass. Slashing is likely to be covered under the last point in the previous paragraph - exempted from consent requirement if it is regrowth. Additionally, the plan only applies to native vegetation groundcover which covers more than 50% of an area to be disturbed.

Myth: The plan takes away property rights.

'Property rights' is a meaningless concept. No land is free of restrictions. You can't build a power station in Prince St or a skyscraper at Minnie Water. You can't build a feedlot in Yamba. You have to ask for consent from a council before you can build a house. No one has complete freedom or rights to do whatever they like on a piece of land.