Vegetation Strategy

Current Controls on Clearing

See the information on the Tree Preservation Order.

The Strategy

Coffs Harbour City Council has spent the past six years preparing a Vegetation Strategy to protect native vegetation throughout the Local Government Area.

The strategy is in five parts.

 Part 1 - Vegetation Strategy (1.09MB)

 Part 2 - Draft Local Vegetation Management Plan (152KB)

 Part 3 - Draft Vegetation Conservation Development Control Plan (204KB)

 Part 4 - Preliminary Draft Regional Vegetation Management Plan (1.04MB)

 Part 5 - Advisory Notes (308KB)

Draft LEP 2000 Amendment

The Vegetation Strategy also proposes a draft amendment to the Local Environment Plan 2000. More information about Local Environment Plan Amendment No. 23 >>>

Background Information

The Value of Native Vegetation

Native vegetation plays a major role in maintaining ecological processes by providing habitat and food for native animals.  Native vegetation also provides significant services to the community, including filtering water of pollutants, reducing greenhouse effect and creating a pleasant place for us to live.

Much of the native vegetation that exists in the Coffs Harbour area is found on private property and the need to protect high and very high value vegetation has been identified.

After 6 years of research, mapping, consultation and planning the draft Vegetation Strategy provides a way of protecting this native vegetation and is another important step forward in achieving Council's and the community's Vision for Sustainability.

Without protection and conservation, our quality of life will diminish, our vision of being a Healthy City will not be possible, the diversity and well being of our natural systems will be eroded and the livability of Coffs Harbour will decline.

Our unique natural heritage is the city's ticket to the future.  With careful management, these environmental assets will continue to support our wonderful lifestyle and underwrite the city's prosperity. 

What the Vegetation Strategy Does

The strategy:

• Sets a vision for vegetation management.
  
• Defines targets for conservation of vegetation, rehabilitation and management protection, including replacement where loss is unavoidable.
  
• Introduces a development consent process to govern vegetation clearing.
  
• Protects natural heritage values in the long term, minimises habitat disturbance, enhances the long-term well being of natural ecosystems, maximises opportunities for carbon sinks, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promotes environmental capacity to cope with pollution from development.
  
• Aims to share the cost of conservation across the community rather than individual landowners.
  
• Promotes community activities through land care, and provide for environmental education programs.
  
• Provides opportunities for employment in environmental management, bush regeneration and reinforces the natural tourism industry.
  
• Seeks to maximise opportunities for funding sources.
  
• Seeks to ensure the "developer pays" principle applies to increased threat to native vegetation caused by urban development.

Who pays for Vegetation Conservation?

In urban growth areas the threat to native vegetation is clearly linked to urban development.  Consequently, it is proposed that the developer will primarily pay for native vegetation conservation through section 94 charges.

Where land needs to be purchased for conservation of native vegetation, and identified through preparation of a release area DCP, negotiations are to be undertaken with NPWS to assist in funding of land purchase. 

In rural areas, it is proposed to build on the emerging rural community desire to live in a natural setting.  The Strategy proposes the provision of education, assistance and incentives for the protection and enhancement of native vegetation.

How does the Vegetation Strategy Affect Landowners?

Clearing Controls

In the coastal area, clearing controls will be imposed through the draft Vegetation Conservation Development Control Plan.  This will require landowners to obtain consent from Council before they remove native vegetation in the following zones where the area of the lot is more than the area indicated:

• Zone 1B (Rural Living) - 1ha
• Residential zones - 2000m²
• Industrial 4A - 4000m²
• Open Space 6C - 4000m²

Regional Vegetation Management Plan and the Wentworth Group Report

In the remaining rural areas, clearing controls are currently under the Native Vegetation Conservation Act.  The Preliminary Draft Regional Vegetation Management Plan proposes strengthening these clearing controls.  The future of all draft Regional Vegetation Management Plans has been put in doubt due to the conflict between interest groups, and will be subject to the outcomes of the Wentworth Group Report.  The Report identifies the need for strengthening native vegetation regulations but also identifies the need for significant public funding to farmers to support on-ground conservation.

The Preliminary Draft Regional Vegetation Management Plan, prepared by Council, identifies the important native vegetation in the City, and proposes strengthened controls, through the tighter limitations on exempt clearing activities.  The following table summarises the proposed exemptions.

It will then be the responsibility of State and Federal governments to meet the commitment for public funding to farmers before all parties will agree to tighter limitations.

Download a copy of the Wentworth Report: "A New Model for Landscape Conservation for New South Wales" (by Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists Report to Premier Carr Feb 2003)

The Wilderness Society's views of the Wentworth Report


Suggested Property Clearing Exemptions in Rural Areas 

Coffs Harbour Vegetation Strategy - Ecological Status Map

The map below highlights areas of different vegetation value throughout the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.  More detailed maps are available on Council's LEP Website>>

 Ecological Status Map (90KB)

Further Information:

• Nigel Cotsell on (02) 6648 4673

Downloading Documents

If you have any difficulty downloading documents on this page please contact Council on (02) 66484000.