A Collarenebri-based landholder is facing consequences for unlawful land clearing, and will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars as part of the price. 

The landholder has entered into an ‘enforceable undertaking’ with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, after unlawfully clearing 543 hectares of native vegetation on their property. 

“It's an offence to clear native vegetation on regulated rural land unless landholders have the appropriate approvals under the Local Land Services Act 2013,” Biodiversity and Conservation North West Director Sarah Carr said. 

“Had the landholder sought and been granted these approvals, they could have targeted the clearing to achieve their primary production goals while minimising impacts on native vegetation, and regulatory action could have been avoided.” 

As well as paying $300,000 towards conservation and $50,000 towards legal costs, the landholder must enter into an in-perpetuity conservation agreement with the NSW Biosecurity Conservation Trust for 654 of land, meaning they must protect the biodiversity and native vegetation on that land.

Specifically, it will protect the endangered Coolibah-Black Box Woodland from clearing on that site in perpetuity. 

The landholder must also commit to restoring the cleared areas and engage with an accredited ecologist to monitor the land on an ongoing basis. 

“Native vegetation is vital for the health of our environment. It provides habitat for native animals, protects the quality of soils and water and supports agricultural productivity.” Ms Carr said. 

“The long-term conservation of this endangered ecological community will deliver a range of benefits to local wildlife, providing habitat, refuge and perching sites, as well as a bountiful source of food for native mammals and birds.” 

Enforceable undertakings are one of a number of tools the department can use to achieve environmental compliance and are enforceable by the Land and Environment Court.