THE Department of Natural Resources has advised landholders who accessed mapping last week identifying contentious areas of ‘high value regrowth’ on their properties, that the maps are no longer relevant.
According to advice issued by the department this afternoon (Wednesday), there are no changes to vegetation management laws or mapping for Queensland.
The advice follows the failure of the Palaszczuk government’s draconian Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill which was introduced to Parliament on March 17 and debated on August 18.
Interestingly, the department has toned down its apparent previous support for the failed laws, referring to now redundant ‘high value regrowth’ mapping as simply ‘regrowth mapping’. After the draconian bill was introduced to parliament on March 17, the department controversially described the proposed laws on its website as ‘responsible’, raising concerns of an overtly political bias within the public service.
The timing of the release of the mapping by the department last week was also brought into question, with deputy premier Jackie Trad referring to the release of the mapping only days later in her defense of the defeated bill.
“During this time, proposed regrowth mapping was included in your property report,” the Department of Natural Resources email reads.
“Proposed amendments under this bill, including those related to vegetation mapping, were not agreed to by parliament.
“As a result, there are no changes to vegetation management laws or mapping for Queensland. The property report and associated vegetation maps have been updated to reflect this.
“To receive the most up-to-date information for your property, we recommend you submit a new request for a property report or vegetation maps before undertaking vegetation management activities on your property.”
The current maps can be requested online (click here).
Vegetation mapping can also be viewed through Queensland Globe, a Google Earth application. Alternatively, data covering all of Queensland can be downloaded via QSpatial, the Queensland Government's geospatial portal.
The email also says landholders who have submitted a notification under a self-assessable code to clear vegetation in an area that was proposed to be regulated under the Bill (‘proposed Category C’ or ‘proposed Category R’), that the notification and requirements under the code for these areas may no longer be necessary.
The email urges landholders to check the current regulated vegetation management map over their property to determine if the area that was notified to be cleared is regulated or unregulated under the current laws.
More information is available from the Department of Natural Resources’ Vegetation Hub 135 834, email vegetation@dnrm.qld.gov.au or website: www.dnrm.qld.gov.au
