Landholders in the Moree region have been convicted and fined by the Land and Environment Court of NSW for the unlawful clearing of 475 hectares of native vegetation on their property.
The clearing, which took place on five separate instances occurred between February and August 2017, and was in breach of section 12 of the Native Vegetation Act 2003.
The illegal activity resulted in the loss of significant remnant native vegetation, destroying available habitat for threatened species, including the endangered or vulnerable Creeping Tick-Trefoil, Grey-Crowned Babbler, Pied Honeyeater and Yellow-Bellied Sheath-Tailed Bat.
As part of the court's sentencing, landholders have been ordered to pay a total amount of $681,000 which includes the costs of prosecution, and moiety to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) to help support the agency's conservation work.
Landholders are strongly encouraged to contact Local Land Services (LLS) for advice before they start any land management activities. LLS is there to help the community understand their land management options and obligations. Further information can be found on the Local Land Services website.
Quotes attributed to DCCEEW Biodiversity and Conservation Director North West Sarah Carr
"We welcome this outcome, particularly given one of the landholders has prior convictions for similar offenses.
"Native vegetation plays a critical role in supporting biodiversity, protecting threatened species, and maintaining ecosystem health.
"The LLS Act and the Land Management Code provide landholders with a range of options to lawfully clear their land for the purpose of land management, while also managing environmental risks."
