Major Native Vegetation Management Reforms For Territory.
Environment Minister Alison Anderson announced on 12 December 2008 a series of major reforms in native vegetation management in the Territory, including the Daly Region.
Minister Anderson said the reforms will provide certainty and clarity for landowners while protecting the Territory's biodiversity for generations to come.
On the Daly Moratorium, Minister Anderson said it was time to start carefully implementing the enormous amount of scientific and land management research that has been done on the Daly.
"It is time to take some small, very careful steps to implement the process that has been unanimously recommended to me by DRMAC", ( Daly River Management Advisory Committee) she said.
Minister Anderson said the reforms include:
- A 'world's best' Native Vegetation Management Act for the Territory.
- Amendments to Interim Development Control Order 17 (commonly known as the 'Daly Moratorium').
- An immediate tightening of land clearing procedures across the Territory.
Protecting the Daly 2007-2010
In December 2007 the Northern Territory Government’s Chief Minister, Paul Henderson and Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage, Len Kiely announced that the land clearing moratorium in the Daly River Catchment has been extended to March 2010 for further scientific research to be finalised.
The moratorium only applies to the Daly Region Focus Area within the catchment and an outline of the moratorium boundary can be viewed on the Daly River Catchment map.
This scientific research will ensure that the Daly River catchment is protected and further development is based on the best available science so past examples that have had devastating consequences on river systems in Australia and around the world are not repeated.
The Daly River Management Advisory Committee, established in 2006, will continue its work with the community and Government agencies to develop options for the sustainable use and conservation of natural resources in the Daly River Catchment. The Committee will also focus on the Tindal and Oolloo aquifers to ensure an alignment between water allocation and native vegetation clearing is achieved for the best possible outcome.
For more information on native vegetation and clearing go to our Native Vegetation page.
Daly Land Clearing Moratorium 2003-2007
The moratorium in the Daly River Catchment has been in place since November 2003. A Daly Region Community Reference Group was later established. This Group identified four key risks in the region, which all related to land clearing. The Northern Territory Government then established the Daly River Management Advisory Committee in 2006 to promote the highest standards of management of land, water and other resources in the region so that the important values people associate with the Daly are protected.
