Landclearing

Landclearing rates in the Northern Territory have dramatically increased over the last seven years particularly in the Litchfield Shire. By May 2001 ten thousand hectares (the equivalent of 6,666 football fields) had been cleared in the Litchfield Shire alone (Brock, 2001). There are no signs of this trend easing.

Elsewhere in the Northern Territory there are plans for agricultural expansion, such as proposed land releases for mixed agriculture (stock, crops, horticulture) in the Katherine Daly region.

There are many direct, indirect and cumulative impacts from landclearing including habitat loss, soil erosion and poor water quality.

There are no mechanisms to protect important habitat such as river vegetation and rainforests (apart from on pastoral land). Inappropriate landclearing splits up habitats creating islands of bush too small to support animal and plant populations which are highly susceptible to impacts from fire, weeds and feral animals.

Some of the values intact ecosystems provide, include:

We need to ensure the long-term maintenance of the Territory's existing native bushland which is vital to the survival of its native animals and ecosystems. The first step toward achieving this is to develop landclearing controls that apply to all land whether it is a Crown lease, freehold, pastoral lease etc.

In November last year two Berry Springs landholders were fined $8,500 for clearing a population of Grevillea longicuspis (a rare plant with bright red flowers) in breach of their clearing permit conditions.

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Current Controls on Clearing

Landclearing controls in the Northern Territory are limited to the Litchfield Shire and on pastoral leases.

Current controls on clearing landclearing controls in the Northern Territory are limited to the Litchfield Shire and on pastoral leases. In Litchfield Shire a landholder can clear up to 50% of their block, regardless of the size, without a permit. Under this system sensitive habitat types and neighbourhood amenity are poorly protected. A permit is required to clear the remaining 50%.

In Litchfield Shire a landholder can clear up to 50% of their block, regardless of the size, without a permit. Under this system sensitive habitat types and neighbourhood amenity are poorly protected. A permit is required to clear the remaining 50%.

On pastoral leases landholders must get a permit to clear land from the Pastoral Lands Board, unless clearing for infrastructure, such as roads or fences. There are guidelines that pastoralists are expected to comply with when undertaking any clearing activities.

Contact the Department for Infrastructure, Planning and Environment or the Pastoral Land Board for further information about these processes (details at end of flier).

Territory-wide voluntary guidelines have recently been released. However, these only assist landholders to minimise environmental impacts when clearing their land, they do not control landclearing (eg. how much occurs and where).

Guidelines available at: www.lpe.nt.gov.au

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Future plans...

The NT Government is planning to release a landclearing policy in the near future. The policy will outline a new approach to the management of landclearing. A set of controls will be required to implement the policy, however at this stage it is unclear what these controls will be and how they will be developed.

The Environment Centre of the NT (ECNT) is very keen to be involved in this process and is encouraging the entire community to contribute.

The Government will be heavily influenced by public opinion. This is your opportunity to have a say and make a difference.

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Be Informed and Get Involved

Everyone needs to think about how clearing affects them and the world they live in. You can:

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Watchdog on Duty

We are collecting information on clearing. To help us out we need to know:

Remember trespassing is illegal

Contacts

Environment Centre NT
Charles Roche - Freshwater Campaigner
Phone: 08 8941 7439
ecntdaly@iinet.net.au
www.ecnt.org

Land For Wildlife
Sally Jacka - Coordinator
Phone: (08) 8983 1912
sally.jacka@lsc.nt.gov.au

Minister for Environment - Marion Scrymgour
Phone: 08 8901 4132
minister.scrymgour@nt.gov.au
GPO Box 3146
Darwin NT 0801

Dept of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment
Land and Water Advisory Services
Natural Resources Division
4th Floor Goyder Building Palmerston NT
Phone: 08 8999 4449
Development Assessment Services
Gr Floor 38 Cavenagh Street
Phone: 08 8999 6807
www.lpe.nt.gov.au

Pastoral Land Board
Phone: (08) 8999-4667
PO Box 30
Palmerston NT 0831

MORE INFORMATION

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