Public works as allowable activities
Clearing or removing native vegetation for these allowable activities does not require approval under the Local Land Services Act 2013.
Allowable activities do not allow clearing without an approval or other authority required by or under another Act. They are not an alternative approval pathway to environmental assessment requirements under Part 5 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Allowable activities on Category 2 - regulated land
The Local Land Services Act 2013 also enables public authorities, local councils and utilities to clear native vegetation on Category 2 - regulated land for the following purposes.
A public or local authority may clear native vegetation for the construction, operation or maintenance of infrastructure (including cemeteries).
The native vegetation to be cleared must not be a threatened species, the habitat of a threatened species, be a protected plant under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 or be part of a threatened ecological community (TEC).
Allows clearing of native vegetation by, or on behalf of, a local council for the construction, operation or maintenance of a gravel pit. Clearing is limited to a single area of land no more than:
- 5 hectares in the western zone
- 2 hectares in all other zones.
The cleared native vegetation must not be a threatened species, the habitat of a threatened species, be part of a TEC or be a protected plant under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
The local council must revegetate the cleared area.
Allows owners of telecommunications infrastructure, or those acting on their behalf, to clear native vegetation for the construction, operation or maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure.
Allows clearing of native vegetation for the maintenance of publicly owned power lines including:
- maintaining safety clearances under power lines and around communications sites
- minimising fuel loads under power lines
- maintaining existing roads and tracks.
Clearing under this allowable activity cannot occur for:
- the construction of new roads or tracks
- removal of groundcover
- safety clearances that exceed those listed in the following table.
| Nominal operating voltage of power line | Maximum clearing distance (metres) |
|---|---|
| Not more than 11 kV | 20 |
| Above 11 kV up to and including 33 kV | 25 |
| Above 33 kV up to and including 66 kV | 30 |
| Above 66 kV up to and including 132 kV | 45 |
| Above 132 kV up to and including 330 kV | 60 |
| Above 330 kV | 70 |
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