Ag-Grow Emerald Vegetation Information Session

Ag-Grow Emerald Information Session

Energy, Environment & Agribusiness Partner Melanie Findlay will be at Ag-Grow Emerald from Thursday 7 to Saturday 9 July 2016. Sessions will be held at 10am, 12 noon and 2pm daily.

In conjunction with Ecosure, Melanie will be conducting an information session to inform graziers and landowners of the current vegetation and land clearing laws, the impacts of the SLATS data, what to do if you have illegally cleared and your property is currently under investigation and how to apply for a retrospective clearing permit (additional information is below).

There is also an opportunity to have a topic of your choosing included in this session when you RSVP.

What else would you like information on?

• Environmental/vegetation offsets
• Work place health and safety
• Wills and succession planning
• Biosecurity/weed management plans
• Vegetation law/protected plants (trigger mapping)
• Carbon farming and carbon projects

RSVP ESSENTIAL to Emma Kime on 07 4927 6333 or emmak@reesjones.com.au

Vegetation and Land Clearing Release of Qld Government Data

Earlier this year, the Queensland Government publicly released their Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) data for the 2012 – 2014 period.

The purpose of the Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) is to monitor Queensland's forests and woodlands to assess vegetation extent and clearing activities.

In conjunction with Ecosure Pty Ltd, Rees R & Sydney Jones Solicitors has conducted inquires and identified areas in Queensland where vegetation and land clearing has occurred.

We are aware that the Department of Natural Resources and Mines on behalf of the Queensland Government will now be in the process of investigating all properties located on the SLATS 2012 – 2014 maps to determine whether vegetation and land clearing was authorised or illegal.

In particular with reference to the SLATS 2012 – 2014 maps, we note that:-

• Properties covered in darker red and showing higher levels of clearing (500 + hectares) will be the listed for priority investigation by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines; and,
• Properties covered yellow and orange with less levels of clearing will be subject to investigations by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in due course.

Are you impacted by the Emerald Flood Levee Banks?

Multiple flood events have caused considerable trouble and heartache for Emerald businesses and residents.  To better protect the city and minimise flood impacts, Central Highlands Regional Council have developed the Emerald Flood Protection Scheme ("EFPS").  The EFPS consists of several separate levee banks and was considered to be the most economic option for flood mitigation.

As with any development though, Council will need land for the levees to be constructed on and home owners may face the uncertainty of if the levee will go ahead and if their property will be ones of those Council needs.  In an already volatile property market, this has already caused effects on market value and saleability of homes in the area and left a few home owners in an uncertain position.  This uncertainty for home owners has led to Council releasing the Emerald Flood Protection Scheme Acquisition Policy.  This policy allows for a team of Council representatives to negotiate directly with home owners on a one-on-one basis for a voluntary option to acquire their property in the future. 

Any acquisition option negotiated will not proceed unless, and until, the final decision to proceed with the levies has been made.   The Acquisition Policy negotiations will be open to landowners for a period from 31 August, 2015, to 30 November, 2015 and Council has agreed to meet any reasonable legal and valuation costs incurred by the property owner negotiating an acquisition option with Council.

Directly affected landowners are not required to participate in these Acquisition Policy negotiations and if the levee proposal goes ahead, resumption action may be taken by Council for those properties not already covered by a voluntary acquisition option.