Consultation on the paper was announced by Environment Minister Stephen Dawson in November. Since then nearly 300 community members and industry representatives have participated in the eight forums and sector focus groups already held across Western Australia.
In response to demand, more forums are scheduled for Geraldton, Perth, Bruce Rock, Katanning and Albany next month.
The Native Vegetation in Western Australia issues paper proposes four initiatives aimed at providing better protection for vegetation and streamlined assessment processes. The initiatives are:
- a State Native Vegetation Policy
- better information, including mapping and monitoring
- improved regulatory processes
- a regionally-tailored approach.
The proposed initiatives would be implemented in stages. The issues paper follows last year's extensive consultation on clearing application fees and other assessment processes.
People interested in attending the new forums are encouraged to register by visiting https://dwer.wa.gov.au/consultation/nativeveg.
Consultation closes 10 February 2020 and feedback can be provided via on online survey. Consultation feedback will inform a draft policy, which is set to be released in April 2020 for further public comment. The final policy is due to be completed mid-2020.
