Amendments to the Native Vegetation Act 1991

Share your thoughts on proposed changes to the Native Vegetation Act 1991.

What's being decided?

Given its age and the history of amendments, parts of the Native Vegetation Act 1991 (Act) need updating, clarification and procedural streamlining. The amendments seek to improve and refine the administration of the Act and respond to challenges encountered by the Native Vegetation Council, the Department for Environment and Water and other stakeholders.

The drafted Bill includes changes such as:

• expand the use of the Native Vegetation Fund to support a greater range of conservation related activities,
• introduce conservation agreements to support the establishment, management, conservation, protection and enhancement of native vegetation on the land,
• provide consistent and fit-for-purpose clearance requirements,
• clarify, streamline and improve assessment and compliance processes.

The Discussion Paper and Frequently Asked Questions provide further information on current issues and will help you understand the proposed changes.

Sharing your feedback will help us identify opportunities to improve the proposed amendments.

Background

The Act and Native Vegetation Regulations 2017 are the legislative basis for the management of native vegetation on private and public land in South Australia.

The Act includes provisions which:

• establish the Native Vegetation Council and the Native Vegetation Fund,
• control clearance of native vegetation,
• provide incentives and assistance to landowners,
• enable the protection of native vegetation through landowners who enter into heritage agreements,
• provide enforcement avenues for unauthorised clearance of native vegetation.

While the Act is specifically aimed at protecting native vegetation, it also considers the habitat that it provides for native fauna and therefore effectively acts for the broader protection of nature and biodiversity.

The introduction of the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act) led to the development of an active referral mechanism which results in early consideration of impacts on native vegetation in the development application process. Proposed amendments seek to streamline the PDI Act referral process to allow the Native Vegetation Council to meet statutory timeframes, and avoid duplication of application requirements.

Get involved

Find out more:

• read the draft Native Vegetation (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2024
• read the Native Vegetation Act Discussion Paper
• take a look at our FAQs
• visit the Department for Environment and Water website for further information on native vegetation legislation and administration.

Have your say by:

• taking our survey
• emailing your comments to the Native Vegetation Branch
• posting your written submission to:
  Attn: Native Vegetation Branch - Amendments to the Native Vegetation Act
  GPO Box 1047
  ADELAIDE SA 5001

Please note: we may make your feedback publicly available unless you indicate on the submission that you wish for it to remain confidential. Any responses that are made on a confidential basis may still be subject to access under Freedom of Information laws.

What are the next steps?

We will consider submissions received and will provide a summary on this website.

If you provide a formal submission on the draft amendments, we will email you the outcomes of the consultation process.