Control and encouragement urgently needed to stop land clearing - 16 February 2006

The State Government’s approach to land clearing will pave the way for devastation of both farming communities and the land that supports them unless incentives are offered to farmers and prosecution of breaches is taken seriously, according to Greens MLC Ian Cohen.

“The Government is not sending a clear message on land clearing. The window dressing of native vegetation legislation has tried to please environmentalists and farmers but has let down both because it fails to provide workable solutions,” said Mr Cohen.

“The Government’s piecemeal approach to poor practices such as over-extraction of water results in farmers located downstream from large irrigators not getting the flows they require. This limits the options open to those farmers, many of whom are pressured to engage in more environmentally damaging practices, compounding rather than solving the problem.

“There needs to be a cultural shift within both Government and some sections of the farming community. The negative environmental effects of land clearing are well documented and in the long term farmers will suffer most. The Government needs to ease the short-term financial burden on farmers by offering appropriate compensation. They also need to encourage and reward landholders that move towards more sustainable farming methods.

“The Government must also get tough on those that are engaging in large scale illegal clearing. The prevailing culture within the Department of Natural Resources is to turn a blind eye to this irresponsible and illegal behaviour. This is unfair to the majority of farmers that attempt to use the land responsibly. It is also condoning activity that contributes significantly to a myriad of environmental problems, including increased salinity and greenhouse gas emissions.” Mr Cohen said.