Vegetation management workshops hit the Far North

Far North Queensland landholders are invited to learn more about landmark reforms that allow them to manage vegetation on their properties more quickly and easily than before.

The significant benefits of the Newman Government’s vegetation management reforms will be discussed at workshops to be held in Cooktown, Laura and Coen this week.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said the new self-assessable codes delivered on the Newman Government’s strong plan for Queensland’s agriculture industry and would deliver a brighter future for rural and regional Queensland.

“We committed at the 2012 election to support and grow our agriculture industry as one of Queensland’s four economic pillars,” Mr Cripps said.

“These new self-assessable codes provide landholders with the ability to undertake routine property management activities such as controlling weeds and harvesting fodder for stock, without being required to fill out complicated applications forms.

“With many landholders continuing their recovery following Cyclone Ita, these sessions provide a timely opportunity to discuss the new clearing revisions and how they relate to clean-ups after severe weather events.”

Mr Cripps said there had been a strong uptake in use of the codes since their introduction in December 2013.

“We have seen 590 notifications from 340 landholders submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Mines since the codes came in affect,” he said.

“In the past, our industry was tied up in red tape and regulation with landholders needing to wait for a development approval, which could take up to two months.

“This processing time would have cost the department and landholders more than 98 years in effort, time and opportunity under the unnecessary and restrictive framework imposed by the former Labor Government.”

Mr Cripps said landholders were also no longer limited to the previous five year permit life, with the new self-assessable notifications lasting as long as the landholder owned the land.

“With a cost of $650 per landholder for each five year period, our reforms have saved landholders more than $220,000,” he said.

“These are common sense changes that strike a balance between economic growth and protecting the environment.”

The three information sessions will be held at:

Cooktown Tuesday, 27 May 2014, 10am | Cooktown PCYC, 3 May Street

Laura Wednesday, 28 May 2014, 1pm | Laura Shire Hall, Deighton Road

Coen Thursday 29 May 2014, 1pm | Coen Health Clinic, 2 Armburst Street.

Landholders interested in attending an information session need to register by calling 4048 4730 or emailing northvegetation@dnrm.qld.gov.au.

More information on the codes is available at www.dnrm.qld.gov.au/land/vegetation-management or by phoning 13 QGOV (13 74 68) and asking to speak with a natural resource management officer.

[ENDS] 26 May 2014

Media contact: Eleisha Rogers 3719 7370