Land Clearing Audit reveals maladministration

Monday, 21 October 2002 10:00

In a damming report, The NSW Auditor-General has found such grave instances of inadequate administration of land clearing laws, that it amounts to a case of environmental vandalism, Total Environment Centre said today.

"Land clearing regulation is a basket case in NSW. They don't know how much bushland and what types there are; they don't know what is being cleared; they can't audit consents and prosecute breaches; there is a conflict of interest with the D-G also being in charge of State Forests; regional staff are not consistent in clearing judgements; and the lack of conservation targets means there is no program to protect threatened bushland communities," said Jeff Angel, Director of the Centre.

"The worst fears of the environment movement have been realised. As each day passes more land is cleared in what is essentially a policy and regulatory vacumn. Frankly the cleaners should be put through the Department of Land and Water Conservation."

"Land clearing will be a key State Election issue and unless there is a genuine attempt by the government to curb land clearing, for example by urgently adopting conservation targets, then it will stand condemned."

"The Audit report contains a 'response' from the Department but this is largely window dressing. It solves nothing," Mr Angel said.