NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers

31st January 2007The NSW Farmers’ Association today welcomes the NSW Opposition’s Native Vegetation policy announcement.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
The association’s president, Jock Laurie, says, “The NSW Farmers’ Association has raised concerns about the current Native Vegetation regulations.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“The Opposition’s policy addresses those concerns.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“If implemented, it would see the system become less rigid and prescriptive.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“It would allow farmers to efficiently deliver the desired environmental outcomes, while operating sustainable businesses. NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“At the moment, a farmer is obliged to go through a complicated approval process.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“He or she must offset and manage for conservation, many hectares of land, simply so he can remove a single hollow paddock tree to install water efficient centre point irrigation.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“The farmer should be allowed to plant a new tree to replace the old one, and attach nesting boxes on other trees.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“We support the Opposition’s proposal to change the definition of clearing so that it really does apply only to ‘broadscale’ clearing.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“As it stands, the law prevents clearing of individual plants without permission.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“This is an example of the red tape we are asking be abolished.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“We are calling for a practical assessment system, administered by the Catchment Management Authorities, that support farmers in sustaining biodiversity within productive farming landscapes,” Mr Laurie said.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
The native vegetation laws, first passed in 1996, force farmers to manage parts of their land for conservation at no cost to the public purse.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“This cost shifting is having severe impacts on farm families and regional communities,” he said.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“That’s been documented in detail by ABARE and the Productivity Commission.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“ABARE in 2006 estimated the opportunity cost of the clearing laws across central NSW, at $1.1 billion.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“The association welcomes the Opposition’s call to pay farmers for conservation services.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“We would like the government to pay market rent to farmers when the law requires land to be managed to achieve public conservation outcomes,” Mr Laurie said.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“Farmers manage more than 70pc of the NSW landmass, providing vital environmental services to the general community including biodiversity conservation, and weed and feral animal control.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
“Conserving, enhancing and achieving long-term sustainability of the natural environment is at the very core of farming,” Mr Laurie said.
NSW Oppositions Native Vegetation policy positive: NSW Farmers
SOURCE: The Land, NSW’s weekly rural newspaper