New arrangements in Queensland
for Regulated Regrowth Vegetation
The moratorium on clearing high value regrowth
ended on the 7th of October this year. On the 8th
of October, new arrangements were put in place to
regulate the clearing of Regrowth Vegetation.
This article attempts to summarise the new
arrangements and is based on the fact sheets,
guides etc from the Department of Environment
and Resource Management website.
Regrowth Vegetation has a separate code, “The
Regrowth Vegetation Code” and a separate map,
“Regrowth Vegetation Map”.
Note that that the Regrowth Vegetation Map is
additional to the existing Regional Ecosystem (RE)
maps which show the remnant vegetation.
Regrowth vegetation maps are not a substitute.
What regrowth is affected?
High-value regrowth vegetation and regrowth
watercourses are now regulated under the
vegetation management framework and the areas
are shown on the regrowth vegetation map.
What is on the Regrowth Vegetation
Map?
Regrowth is presented as either “Essential
regrowth habitat”, “High value regrowth” or
“regrowth watercourses”.
What do the colours mean?
Essential regrowth habitat is shown as blue
hatched areas. These areas potentially contain
habitat factors for threatened species. When you
get your map, if there are blue hatched areas, they
will have blue numeric labels which can be used in
conjunction with the “essential regrowth habitat
database” to determine which habitat factors might
exist for a particular species. You need both the
code and the database (see the “Information on
Regrowth” Text box below) to determine if this
applies to your plot, as the restrictions only apply if
three or more habitat factors exist for the particular
species.
High value regrowth is further classified as:
High-value regrowth vegetation containing
endangered regional ecosystems is shown on
the regrowth map as pink areas. These regional
ecosystems have the highest level of protection in
the code. These areas may also contain of concern
and least concern regional ecosystems.
High-value regrowth vegetation containing of
concern regional ecosystems is shown on the
regrowth map as orange areas. These areas may
also contain least concern regional ecosystems.
High-value regrowth containing least concern
regional ecosystems is shown on the regrowth
map as green areas. These regional ecosystems
have the lowest level of protection in the code as
they are the least threatened of the mapped
regrowth regional ecosystems.
What about Remnant vegetation
Areas of remnant vegetation are shown on the
regrowth vegetation map as grey areas. These
areas are where existing tree clearing rules apply.
Regional ecosystem maps showing the detail of
the grey areas are available on the same website
as for the regrowth vegetation maps (on select
map type: choose 2003 Regional Ecosystem Map).
Regrowth watercourses
Regrowth watercourses within the priority reef
catchments of the Burdekin, Mackay Whitsunday
and Wet Tropics are shown on the map as maroon
lines.
Other watercourses
The regrowth map shows watercourses outside of
priority reef catchments as thin blue lines.
My property already has a PMAV.
How does this affect me?
Areas marked Category X are able to be cleared.
Areas which were Category 4 (brown areas) are
now Category C and any clearing in these areas
needs to comply with the new code, unless other
exemptions apply.
What clearing is exempt from the
regrowth management code?
Clearing for things such as fire management and
fence lines no wider than 10 metres and
infrastructure like yards and buildings less than two
hectares is exempt.
Burning vegetation to reduce hazardous fuel loads
is also exempt.
For more info on exemptions see the “Information
on Regrowth” text box.
Do I need to notify DERM?
Yes, you need to notify DERM of any PROPOSED
clearing. You do not need a permit, if you are
clearing in accordance with the code. Once you
send in the notification you can commence
clearing.
Forms are available from DERM
What clearing is permitted?
This table is for Freehold and Indigenous land. See the Code for tables on Leasehold,
High-value regrowth on freehold and Indigenous land
Clearing activity
Endangered
Of concern
regional ecosystem regional ecosystem
Colour on map
Pink
Orange
Clearing for any purpose.
✗
✓
except within
restricted area*
Least concern
regional ecosystem
Green
✓
except within
restricted area.*
Clearing where the vegetation is
in isolated patches
that are:
 less than 4ha (coastal areas)
 less than 8ha (western areas)
 more than 500 metres from
other isolated areas.
✓
except within
restricted area*.
Must provide an
exchange area.
✓
except within
restricted area*
✓
except within
restricted area*
Clearing:
 to establish necessary fence,
fi rebreak, road or vehicular
track, construct necessary
built infrastructure
(consistent with Schedule 2)
 the extent necessary for
extractive industry
(consistent with Schedule 6).
✓
must provide
exchange area
✓
except within
restricted area*
✓
except within
restricted area*
✓
if inside restricted
area* must provide
exchange area
✓
if inside restricted
area* must provide
exchange area
Clearing:
✓
✓
✓
 to ensure public safety
(consistent with Schedule 2)
 for encroachment (see
Schedule 3)
 for thinning (see Schedule 4)
 to control non-native plants
or declared pests (see
Schedule 5).
Restricted areas are:
 essential regrowth habitat (blue hatched areas on map)
 stream protection zones (maroon Great Barrier reef catchments)
 within wetland protection areas (see Sect 6.3; p21 of the Landholders Guide)
 on slopes greater than 12% (NOTE: this restriction applies to all categories of regrowth)
Exchange Areas: What are they?
In some situations clearing is permitted if the
landholder undertakes to provide an exchange
area.
The exchange area needs to be selected to
ensure that an improved property or
environmental outcome will follow.
Exchange areas must meet three
requirements:
1. In general, exchange areas can only come
from areas which are either:
Regrowth areas which are “of
concern” or “of least concern”
Or: non regulated regrowth (white
patches) which is either 2 metres high or has
not been cleared for at least ten years
2.The area exchanged needs to be at least
twice the size of the area cleared
3.The exchange area must be at least 50
metres wide and a minimum size of 1 hectare
What is shown on the regrowth
vegetation map?
The regrowth vegetation map identifies areas
of regrowth that are subject to the new
regrowth vegetation laws. This includes
endangered, of concern and least concern
regional ecosystems that have not been
cleared since 31 December 1989, which are
now shown as high-value regrowth vegetation
on the map.
The map also includes watercourses in the
Burdekin Mackay Whitsunday and Wet Tropics
catchments, referred to as regrowth
watercourses.
It is important to note the satellite images that
were used to create these maps may have
been taken of areas that have since been
legitimately cleared. This means that in some
cases, areas may not contain a regional
ecosystem.
The maps must not be read in isolation and
should be considered with the legislation and
what is on the ground. It is recommended that
you read the “Landholders Guide” carefully
(see the text box “Information of Regrowth
Vegetation)
Note that landholders can apply for a PMAV if
they want to clarify what is on the ground.
There is no fee for a PMAV to correct map
errors.
Definition:
High-value regrowth vegetation is mature
native vegetation that hasn’t been cleared
since 31 December 1989.
Regrowth not shown on the regrowth map is
exempt and is unaffected.
All native vegetation within 50 metres of a
regrowth watercourse is regulated in priority
Great Barrier Reef catchments (Burdekin,
Mackay Whitsunday and the Wet Tropics).
In conclusion:
Like any new operation, be it farming or
regulatory, landholders need to be familiar with
the framework if they are to be sure of
operating within the law.
If you are considering any clearing, you will
first need to get a regrowth vegetation map.
If the area is not covered by the map, go
ahead.
If not, download the Landholders Guide and
Exemptions.
Need help? Contact Stanthorpe Landcare
(or 0427 500 192) for basic info or DERM for
something a bit tricky.
Disclaimer: Remember, if anything goes pear
shaped, it’s not my fault!
Information on Regrowth Vegetation
available from the DERM website:
Fact Sheets:
Managing regulated regrowth vegetation
Interpreting the regrowth vegetation map
Guides:
Guide to exemptions under the vegetation
management framework
Landholders’ guide to the regrowth vegetation
code (includes the code)
Frequently asked questions
Forms:
regrowth vegetation code clearing notification
form
(They are at the bottom of the page):
http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/vegetation/regro
wth_vegetation_regulations.html
For info on matters relating to
Vegetation Management
go to:
http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/vegetation/index.
html
How do I get a Regrowth Vegetation
Map?
Go to:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservat
ion/biodiversity/regional_ecosystems/introdu
ction_and_status/regional_ecosystem_maps/
#lot
Note: select map type “Regrowth Vegetation
Map”.
Enter Lot and plan no, fill in your email
address and the map will be emailed to you
shortly.