Submission on Special Wildlife Reserves 

The Property Council has provided a submission on the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017.

The Bill aims 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 similar to a national park.  The responsible Minister and landholders must agree that the declaration of the area as an SWR should occur, agree to the terms of a conservation agreement, and there must be an approved management program.

Concerns raised by the Property Council include 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 Agriculture and Environment Committee is due to report on the Bill by Friday 11 August 2017.