Native Vegetation Credit Register
Introduction
Information sheet number 1
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne, October 2013
© The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne 2013
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
ISBN 978-1-74287-518-7 (online) / Accessibility
If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format,
please telephone DEPI Customer Service Centre 136 186, email
(or relevant address), via the National
Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au This document is
also available in on the internet at www.depi.vic.gov.au
Disclaimer
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims
all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
www.depi.vic.gov.au
IntroductionIn Victoria, the removal of native vegetation is regulated by the planning system. Under clause 52.17 of the Victoria Planning Provisions (which is part of all planning schemes in Victoria), a planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation, unless an exemption applies. A permit to clear native vegetation typically requires the permit holder to provide an appropriate offset. Other approval processes, including planning scheme amendments for large projects, may also require offsets for native vegetation removal.
A native vegetation offset is works or other actions to mitigate the loss of native vegetation. There are various ways in which the permit holder can provide offsets. For example, a permit holder may plant additional vegetation or improve existing vegetation on their property. Alternatively, a permit holder can offset native vegetation loss by acquiring a native vegetation credit.
What are native vegetation credits?
Native vegetation credits are gains in the quality and/or quantity of native vegetation that are subject to a secure and ongoing agreement registered on the land title. Landholders can also generate credits by transferring freehold land to the Crown parks and reserves system.
There are three types of native vegetation credits:
· Habitat hectares
· Old trees
· New plants
Habitat hectares
Habitat hectare credits are typically generated by protecting and managing a remnant patch of native vegetation.
Old trees
Old tree credits are generated by protecting medium, large or very large old trees that are located in a remnant patch or are scattered trees. The trees must be protected from adverse impacts and the area around the tree must be managed to allow seedlings from the parent tree to grow.
New plants
New plant credits are generated by revegetating an area that was previously cleared with plants indigenous to the local area. The revegetation area requires on-going protection to generate credits.
Generating native vegetation credits
Native vegetation credits are formally recognised once they are registered on the Native Vegetation Credit Register (NVCR).
For more information about registering native vegetation credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register Information Sheet 2.
What are native vegetation credits used for?
Native vegetation credits are typically used to meet an offset requirement. Permit holders may contact a credit matcher such as BushBroker or Trust for Nature, to source a credit that matches specific offset requirements outlined in their planning permit or other development approval. For more information about trading native vegetation credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register Information Sheet 3.
If you buy a credit it is important to understand that you do not have any responsibility for managing the native vegetation generating the credit. This responsibility rests with the landholder.
A credit can only be used as an offset once. This is known as allocation. After a credit has been allocated to a particular permit or other development approval, it is no longer available for trade or allocation. For more information about allocating native vegetation credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register Information Sheet 4.
What is the Native Vegetation Credit Register?
The Native Vegetation Credit Register’s (NVCR) aim is to improve consistency in the standards for native vegetation credits and transparency in how credits are traded and used. This will provide greater certainty for credit buyers that the credits for sale are owned by the credit seller and are suitable to be used as an offset. Local councils can feel confident that credits are not used more than once to meet an offset requirement.
The role of the NVCR is to:
· set minimum standards for security and management of credit sites
· register new credits (provided they meet minimum standards)
· track the trade of credits and change of ownership records when credits have been allocated to meet an offset obligation.
To register credits on the NVCR, credits must meet defined standards. This provides certainty to prospective credit buyers and regulators that credits acquired are suitable as native vegetation offsets.
The NVCR applies statewide register and is maintained by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI).
What does the NVCR do?
The NVCR checks that the documentation submitted to record a credit registration, trade or allocation is complete and accurate.
The NVCR issues credit statements and extracts to credit owners.
The NVCR is not involved in assessing planning permits or approving other development applications. The NVCR does not confirm that offset obligations have been met. If you have any questions about your planning permit or offset obligations, it is recommended that you contact the responsible authority (typically your local council).
What are credit statements and extracts?
Credit statements show the credits that you own. They are similar to bank statements. Credits that have not been allocated may be traded to another person or company or allocated to meet an offset obligation.
Allocated credit extracts record the credits that you have allocated to meet a specific offset obligation. An allocated credit extract can be shown to the responsible authority to demonstrate that a particular offset obligation has been met.
For more information about allocating native vegetation credits please refer to Native Vegetation Credit Register Information Sheet 4.
Further information
For further information on native vegetation, please contact the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or visit the DEPI website at: www.depi.vic.gov.au/nativevegetation
Published by the Victorian Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne, October 2013© The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries Melbourne 2013
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
ISBN 978-1-74287-518-7 (online) / Accessibility
If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format,
please telephone DEPI Customer Service Centre 136 186, email
(or relevant address), via the National
Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au This document is
also available in on the internet at www.depi.vic.gov.au
Disclaimer
This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its
employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind
or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims
all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
www.depi.vic.gov.au