Bush Broker Project

A more flexible system of Native Vegetation Management

In March the Bush Broker scheme was launched as a market driven system to register and trade native vegetation credits.

FLEXIBLE OFFSET ARRANGEMENTS

Bush Broker, Victoria’s native vegetation credit registration and trading system, will facilitate the new approach to native vegetation management.

In most cases the clearing of any native vegetation that requires planning approval must be offset by a gain elsewhere. Offsets are permanently protected and linked to a particular clearing site.

Credits will be listed on the Bush Broker register and will be able to be purchased by another party and used as an offset for approved clearing of native vegetation.

The scheme will benefit earth resource industries in that it will enable access to ‘off-the-shelf’ offsets in circumstances where there are no opportunities to provide offsets on or near development sites.

The Government will oversee the registration, listing, extinguishing, and quality control of credits.

The buying and selling of native vegetation credits, including matching credits to specific requirements such as offsetting, will be undertaken by the owners and buyers of credits or their agents.

These agreements must include a management plan outlining the actions for establishment and ongoing maintenance of credits. The agreements will be registered on land titles by the agency.

Price of Native Vegetation Credits

The price of credits will be determined by supply and demand. As some vegetation types are more scarce than others, prices will vary.

Establishing credits

Landholders can establish native vegetation credits by:

• Improving the management of an existing patch of bush or scattered trees. This could include weed control, rabbit destruction and stock removal;
• Re-vegetating previously cleared land using native plants indigenous to the area; and/or
• Protecting old trees.

Next Steps

The rollout of Bush Broker is a two stage process:

Stage One:

• Expressions of interest will be collated on a state wide register.
• The procedures and standards for registration and trading will be developed.

Stage Two:

• Registration and trading of credits begins.
• Expressions of interest continue to be received.

A New Strategic ‘Whole of Landscape’ Approach

The ‘whole-of-landscape’ approach focuses on the need to restore the health of the environment while at the same time building a sustainable and competitive economy.

Strategic and Regional Planning

High value native vegetation will be identified early in the planning process and, where possible, avoided when designating future urban growth areas.

Precinct Plans

Precinct Plans can be developed to manage the conservation of native vegetation in a larger, predetermined area, rather than on an ad hoc site by site basis. To preserve the most valuable vegetation, Precinct Plans will specify what can be removed and what must be retained based on conservation significance.

Property Vegetation Plans

Landholders can develop a property vegetation plan which sets out the future management of native vegetation for a property or farm.

The plan identifies any native vegetation that may be removed and offset arrangements over 10 years.

Works Programs

Works Programs can identify how native vegetation will be managed in major capital works projects such as the construction or maintenance of roads, railways or public services.

Regional Native Vegetation Plans

They can identify particular natural assets that may be a priority for native vegetation in the region.

OTHER ARRANGEMENTS

BushTender

Following a successful trial period, the Government is currently expanding the BushTender program.

Under BushTender, landholders can receive payment for entering agreements that improve the quality and/or quantity of native vegetation on their land.

CarbonTender

A CarbonTender program is being conducted on a trial basis in parts of Victoria.

CarbonTender involves purchasing management contracts from private landholders, for the permanent revegetation of land for carbon sequestration and biodiversity gains.

www.dse.vic.gov.au

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