The Baird government is poised to scrap nature conservation laws that currently protect some of the Illawarra region\u2019s most important natural areas, including Seven Mile Beach, Saddleback Mountain rainforests and the Illawarra Escarpment, according to the Gerroa Environmental Protection Society.<\/p>\n
The government is considering its response to a\u00a0report by the Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review Panel<\/a>, which has recommended scrapping the\u00a0Native Vegetation Act<\/em>, the\u00a0Threatened Species Conservation Act<\/em>\u00a0and parts of the\u00a0National Parks and Wildlife Act<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the Baird government adopts the report recommendations it would be the most far-reaching dismantling of environmental protection laws ever proposed in this state,\u201d\u00a0GEPS secretary Howard Jones said<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Report<\/a>\u00a0acknowledges that some of its proposals could lead to loss of biodiversity and its approach is risk- based.<\/p>\n \u201cThese proposals open the door to increased clearing of native vegetation. The purpose of existing biodiversity protection laws is to reduce land clearing and protect biodiversity. This Report heralds a different purpose that aims to make it easier for economic activities like agriculture, logging, development and mining within native vegetation areas. The mechanisms they propose to achieve this is; reduced regulations, self-regulation, the \u2018broadening and deepening of biodiversity offsets\u2019 and divestment of responsibility to Local Land Services and Councils.<\/p>\n \u201cIf this approach is accepted, the native vegetation in the Illawarra would be vulnerable.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough 87% of the Kiama\u2019s original rainforest has been cleared, the areas that still stand are part of the largest area of subtropical rainforest in southeast Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cNow that the council tree preservation orders no longer apply to this vegetation, its conservation depends on strong native vegetation and threatened species legislation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fear that scrapping these Acts will make it easier for development to occur within this endangered ecological community.\u201d<\/p>\n GEPS will hold a protest at Saddleback Lookout at midday on Wednesday 25th<\/sup>\u00a0February to highlight these threats to Kiama\u2019s rainforest.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cWe also want to raise concerns about the consequences for landholders who have entered into Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs) on their lands.\u00a0Howard Jones said.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe Report<\/a>\u00a0proposes to enable Voluntary Conservation Agreements to be swapped for Biodiversity Offsetting Agreements. This would mean the values of these already conserved lands could be used to offset clearing of vegetation elsewhere, resulting in overall biodiversity losses.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we signed the Voluntary Conservation Agreement on our property, we thought its biodiversity values would be conserved forever.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are horrified to think that at some time in the future our VCA protected land in this remarkable rainforest could become a tool to enable vegetation destruction in other areas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to know whether the Baird government intends to adopt the recommendations in this report and go down the Queensland path of tearing down environmental protection.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope that candidates and media will keep them to their commitment to announce their intentions unambiguously before the coming election so voters can determine if this government seriously cares about the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n Local landowners with Voluntary Conservation Agreements and GEPS members and friends will gather at Saddleback Mountain Lookout near Kiama to express their concerns about\u00a0these changes<\/a>\u00a0at 12:00 on Wednesday 25th<\/sup>\u00a0February.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Media contact<\/strong><\/p>\n Howard H Jones (Secretary, Gerroa Environmental Protection Society)<\/p>\n Phone 42323173 mobile:<\/p>\n Email hhjones@westnet.com.au<\/p>\n Link to Department of Environment Biodiversity Review Web Page:\u00a0http:\/\/www.environment.nsw.gov.au\/biodiversitylegislation\/review.htm<\/a><\/p>\n