Plantation Management
Regulation and Planning
The three levels of Government in Australia; Australian, State/Territory and Local, have specific interests in, and responsibilities for the management and regulation of plantation development.
Responsibility for forest management and land allocation rests predominantly with the States and Territories, however in many cases Local Government plays a significant role in the planning of plantation development, particularly where this is classified as a land use change.
While the Australian Government does not have a direct role in forest management, it has an interest in achieving efficient and effective management of the nation’s resources.
Australian Government influence
The Australian Government influences forest use and management through legislative powers associated with foreign affairs (particularly treaties and international agreements), export licensing, taxation and Corporations law and regional issues that transcend State and Territory boundaries. The Australian Government also has responsibility for coordinating a national approach to environmental and industry-development matters, and is responsible for ensuring that Australia’s international obligations are met, and provisions of Australian legislation are satisfied.
State and Territory Government responsibilities
State and Territory Governments have primary responsibility for forest management, in recognition of their constitutional responsibility for land-use decisions and their ownership of large areas of forest. The States and the Territories have enacted legislation that allocates forest land tenures, and specifies the administrative and operational framework and policies within which public and private forests are managed. All State and Territory governments have developed ‘Codes of forest practice’ or ‘guidelines’ that set out principles (often with standards) that specify minimum acceptable practices and goals in forest management operations, including plantations. These Codes of Forest practice may be enshrined in legislation or considered as voluntary guidelines, and are the subject of regular review.
Local Government responsibilities
Local governments have responsibilities for local land-use planning and rating systems within a regional context, which affect public and private forest management, including leasehold lands.
This section outlines the regulations, legislation and plantation planning mechanisms that are enacted in each State and Territory.
