Clearance of Native Vegetation at Bonney's Camp

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
17 May 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to give a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Transport and Urban Planning, representing the Minister for Environment, a question in relation to native vegetation clearance at Bonney's Camp.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: In late 1999, there was a plan to clear pristine native vegetation for a new drain at Bonney's Camp. The purpose of the drain was to allow the flushing of wetlands in the Bakers Range watercourse to stop rising dry land salinity. The proposal brought strong criticism from conservation groups who called for the drain to be built through already cleared farmland rather than vegetated land that I understand was covered by the National Heritage Trust.

After the proposal was knocked back on several occasions by the Native Vegetation Council, no agreement could be reached between the council and the department and the proposal stalled. The Native Vegetation Council stated strongly its preference for the drain to be put through cleared farmland north of Bonney's Camp. In fact, the Native Vegetation Council felt that under its act it was obligated to ensure that that happened and took the same view as the conservation groups had taken. However, in December 1999 the state government introduced a regulation to the Native Vegetation Act that allowed particular areas of the state to be cleared through the approval of the minister. As I recall, a couple were on Eyre Peninsula and the other was at Bonney's Camp where a drain was to be constructed and maintained by the South-East Water Management and Drainage Board.

In response to the Native Vegetation Council (NVC) realising that it could no longer stop the drain, the NVC approved a clearance management plan, with the condition that clearance be carried out after proper approval and procedures were laid out beforehand. However, on 13 April 2000 the Naracoorte Herald reported that up to 150 hectares of vegetation had been cleared, contrary to the conditions that the Native Vegetation Council wished to apply. Reportedly, the damage caused by the clearance was such that revegetation was not possible, effectively making a drain the only option for the land.

The clearance brought an angry response from the federal Minister for Environment, who complained about National Heritage Trust vegetation being cleared. I understand that the clearance also occurred prior to parliament having a proper opportunity to consider the disallowance of the regulation. As I recall, it happened on 28 March 2000, before it came before parliament. Eventually, final approval for drain construction came through in December last year, when the state government, landholders and the body responsible for unauthorised clearing signed an agreement to construct the drain. Will the minister confirm whether the native vegetation was cleared prior to parliament having a chance to consider the regulations and, in fact, whether the clearance happened without the Native Vegetation Council conditions being applied?

The Hon. DIANA LAIDLAW (Minister for Transport and Urban Planning): I will refer the honourable member's question to the minister and bring back a reply.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: As a supplementary question, if the law has been breached why has there been no prosecution?