Bushfire Legislation Could Allow Landowners to Clear Port Stephens Koala Habitat

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

New bushfire risk legislation which would allow land owners to clear up to 25 meters around their property boundaries is being criticized as a threat to the Port Stephens koala population.

Independent South Coast, MLC Justin Field says the Bushfires Legislation Amendment Bill 2020, being debated in the lower house on Wednesday would put even further pressure on koala habitat.

Analysis by the World Widlife Fund (WWF) predicts the bill would allow 1,587 hectares of forest to be cleared in Port Stephens, of which 1,278 hectares, or over 80% is koala habitat.

Justin Field says the land clearing measure was not a measure recommended by the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.

"I'm very concerned that it fails to address bushfire risk meaningfully, which is what was recommended by the inquiry, and it has huge potentially unintentional consequences on biodiversity." 

 

"We've already seen koala populations impacted by the fragmentation of habitat. This is exactly what this Bill allows to continue." 

The State Government says the Bill would "simplify rules" and allow "rural landowners to clear on their property without onerous approvals", with a code developed to prevent clearing in endangered and threatened species habitat as well as clearing for non-bushfire risk mitigation purposes.

The koala is not yet classified as an endangered or threatened species, but are considered "vulnerable" in NSW. 

Mr Field says he's concerned NSW Police Minister, David Elliot is trying to rush the legislation through. 

“When required by the Parliament to produce the advice from RFS that the Minister claims underpins this proposal, Minister Elliott failed to provide a single document (see ‘nil’ document return)."

“If this advice does not exist the Minister has misled the public about the basis for the policy and the Parliament deserves an explanation." 

 “This policy will divert critical resources away from the implementation of the 76 comprehensive recommendations of the NSW Bushfire Inquiry, potentially putting lives and homes at risk as NSW heads into another fire season."

Image: LJ Hooker

WWF Analysis
TABLE 1. Areas of forest and koala habitat placed at risk by the proposed 25m firebreak rule in four NSW LGAs