The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) has invited public comment on the draft of a new policy to manage Western Australia’s Native Vegetation.
A first for the State, the draft Policy already reflects feedback shared during extensive public consultation on the Native Vegetation in Western Australia Issues Paper last year.
That consultation involved more than 1,000 organisations and individuals from a range of sectors and locations across the State.
In a statement, the Department said it promoted a whole-of-Government approach to protect and enhance native vegetation in ways that supported the economy, regional prosperity and on-country jobs.
“The Policy drives better mapping and monitoring,” the Department said.
“It also prompts regionalised policy-making, involving local stakeholders, to take into account the great diversity of native vegetation, its threats and competing priorities,” it said.
“The Policy’s implementation will progressively improve clarity, certainty and transparency for stakeholders, providing the information base for making decisions and showing how the public, private and community sectors can work together for better native vegetation outcomes.”
The Department said submissions on the draft Policy were welcomed from all interested parties and it would collate and analyse feedback, which would inform a final Policy for consideration by the Government.
Consultation is open until 25 October.
The 21-page Consultation draft: Native vegetation policy for Western Australia (August 2021) can be accessed at this PS News link and further information at this link.
