Industry responds to Special Wildlife Reserves proposal

The Property Council has provided a submission on the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, which seeks to create a new class of privately protected area called Special Wildlife Reserves (SWR) which will allow private landholders and conservation groups to manage land like a national park.

Proposed amendments in the Bill are substantially the same as those proposed in the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017, which lapsed when the Parliament was dissolved last year.

The Property Council has reiterated concerns raised with the previous legislation, including the lack of clear criteria and definitions on how the Minister will reach decisions, and the need to engage all affected stakeholders in the consent process.

The Parliament’s Innovation, Tourism Development and Environment Committee will deliberate on the Bill and report back to Parliament by 9 April 2018.