MEDIA RELEASE
Cutting Green Tape
Thursday, 10th June 2010
The Rev Fred Nile MLC, Leader of the Christian Democratic Party, has supported the ‘Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Biodiversity Certification) Bill 2010' in the NSW parliament, stating the purpose of the Bill was to cut "green tape".
"I am pleased to support the Threatened Species Conservation Amendment (Biodiversity Certification) Bill 2010 on behalf of the Christian Democratic Party. The bill will amend the biodiversity certification provisions of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. It will address operational deficiencies within the current legislative framework for biodiversity certification. The Minister in the other place, Minister Frank Sartor, said that the bill cuts red tape. Actually it cuts green tape. That is the purpose of the bill. We could call it the ‘cutting green tape bill'", said Rev Fred Nile
In 2007 certification was granted in relation to Sydney's north-west and south-west growth areas. This was challenged in court. In order to preserve the benefit of certification, a specific bill was passed to ensure it prevailed in that case. This bill now replaces the flawed provisions, opening up benefits for other areas of the State. The central element in the bill is to provide stronger provisions for ensuring that conservation outcomes are delivered as development proceeds and a requirement for use of an objective methodology when certification decisions are made.
The bill has a number of practical benefits. If it had been passed earlier, it would have had a big impact on the North Kellyville precinct of the Sydney growth centres. It would have replaced 272 assessment reports with one assessment report; it would have saved $2.6 million in assessment costs-a saving of around $3,700 per hectare of land; and it would have improved housing affordability by an estimated $300 per dwelling. All of those costs are put on to the price of a house and land, and it is young married couples-the consumers-that have to pay those costs. They are already paying council levies and the previous heavy-handed certification system only added further expense to people hoping to establish their own home.
The bill cuts red tape. For example, the effect of biodiversity certification will be extended to include projects determined under part 3 A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. Lands that have been certified will be excluded from the operation of the Native Vegetation Act, which I regard as draconian. I strongly opposed the native vegetation legislation when it was originally introduced. I moved 40 amendments to it. Site-by-site development assessment will not be required. A sound platform for pursuing strategic assessment under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act will now be established.
The bill has practical benefits. It will clarify the process for making an application for biodiversity certification, improve enforcement and compliance, and remove the ambiguity of the term "conservation measures". The bill will list the conservation measures that may be used. These include development controls, reservation of land under the National Parks and Wildlife Act, planning agreements, conservation and biobanking agreements, plans of management and the retirement of biodiversity credits. It will also create a new type of agreement. Voluntary biodiversity certification agreements will be able to secure conservation measures when third parties may be involved, such as agreements for transfer of lands or for financial contributions to enable the future delivery of offsets. For those very practical measures, which cut a great deal of green tape, I am pleased to support the bill", Rev Nile said.