Bill passed to modernise private forestry regulations in Tasmania

Posted 02 October 2024

New amendments reduce red tape, ensure fairer financial arrangements, and update outdated provisions to support sustainable private forestry.

The Forestry (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2024 successfully passed both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament in September and has been gazetted, helping modernise the state's private forestry regulations.

The Bill introduces 11 key amendments aimed at reducing red tape, ensuring fairer financial arrangements, and updating decades-old provisions.

These changes come after a thorough internal review by Private Forests Tasmania's Board of Directors and extensive consultations with private forest stakeholders.

PFT Policy and Data Analyst Murray Root said the legislative reform project addressed several issues that had accumulated over the years.

"Since private forestry regulations hadn't seen substantial updates for 20 years, the need for modernisation was clear," Mr Root said.

"The new amendments tackle inefficiencies in the private timber reserve (PTR) application process, adjust the private forest service levy to make it fairer, and update outdated legislative references and provisions.

"With reduced red tape, fairer levy structures, and a range of updated legislative provisions, private forest stakeholders can now operate in a more supportive and equitable environment.

"The reforms underscore Tasmania's commitment to sustainable forestry practices while supporting private landowners in their forestry endeavours."

Key amendment objectives include:

Streamlining private timber reserve application process

The changes reduce red tape and improve the efficiency of the PTR application process. For instance, one amendment introduces a simplified process for minor boundary extensions for existing PTR’s. This removes the requirement for public notification, as long as the expansion is minor (no more than 10% or up to 40 hectares) and does not encroach within 50 meters of neighbouring properties. This is expected to speed up application processing times and reduce administrative burdens for both landowners and PFT. Also, previously the Governor’s involvement was required to declare a PTR. However, this responsibility has now been transferred to the Forest Practices Authority Board, reducing the time it takes to finalise applications.

Fairer private forest service levy

A key change is the removal of the levy on first rotation plantings on previously cleared land, incentivising new plantation establishment in these circumstances, encouraging more farm foresters to plant trees. The bill also gives the PFT Board the power to waive levies under special circumstances, such as during natural disasters or personal hardships, making the system more flexible and equitable.

Modernising and clarifying legislation

Several amendments focus on modernising the language and functions of PFT in the Private Forests Act 1994. These updates reflect current operating realities. This includes clearer roles in supporting competitive markets, assisting with infrastructure development, and contributing to national reporting.

Forestry rights recognition

The bill clarifies the definition of forestry rights, ensuring that holders of rights under the Forestry Rights Registration Act 1990 are recognised similarly to those under the Forest Management Act 2013. This resolves inconsistencies in how these rights holders are recognised in the forest practices system.

More information on the Bill and the full changes can be found HERE.