23/8/01

NSW Landcare group will ignore govt vegetation restrictions

After Five years of no resolution to regional vegetation agreements, the

Fiveways Landcare group (Nyngan) has set a plan in motion to ignore any NSW

government regulations and organise it`s own responsible vegetation

management.

The group will begin the process on 31st September of organising member

properties with carefully researched and mapped property plans.

The plans will ensure

(1) 15% of each property is retained as vegetation as their 'DUTY OF  CARE'

(2) ALL ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITAT REMAIN PROTECTED

(3) Vegetation areas join between properties as much as possible

(4) flexible arrangements that includes adapting best practice as it developes

Once the group breaks the current vegetation laws, the NSW Government will

have to decide to either

(a) Allow Landcare groups to manage vegetation or

(b) Begin prosecuting responsible people for getting on with the job that

government departments have been unable to sort out.

NSW Departments have tried to pressure landholders into conserving vegetation

beyond the duty of care level (15%) to levels of 70% (which is 55% "public

good" Conservation)

Landholders believe "public good" conservation should be paid for by the

public and if no public money is forthcoming, then the landholder has the

right to use 85% of the land as he seees fit.

We believe other landcare groups around Australia will follow the Fiveways

Landcare groups approach.

Contact Leon Ashby 0887 389313

(convenor of Landholders for the environment)

or Gabrielle Holmes 0268 334454

 Secretary of Fiveways Landcare Group