Native Vegetation Regulatory Map 2019 Annual Update: Public Consultation
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has completed an annual update of the Transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory Map.
The proposed Revised Transitional NVR Map was open for submissions from landholders and other interested parties from 9 September to 8 October 2019. Submissions have now closed.
The exhibition map viewer will remain available for use until the updated map is published in early November 2019. Following publication, the exhibition map will become the new ‘in force’ Transitional NVR map.
The transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory (NVR) Map is an essential part of the Local Land Services Act 2013 (LLS Act) and guides the application of the land management codes and allowable activities.
A summary of the categories used in the transitional NVR Map is shown below.
Transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory Map now in force
The transitional NVR Map 'steep or highly erodible land, protected riparian land or special category land' (category 2 – vulnerable regulated land) and category 2 - sensitive land categories were released and came into full regulatory effect on 25 August 2017. These categories are now available on the NVR Map Viewer.
Transitional arrangements are in place until the comprehensive NVR Map with all the land categories is published. During the ‘transitional period’, landholders are responsible for determining the categorisation of their land in accordance with section 60F of the LLS Act – land not categorised on the transitional NVR Map viewer is still bound by provisions of the legislation. If you require assistance with determining which categories are applicable to your landholding, contact the Local Land Services office in your area.
Regular review and updates of all transitional NVR Map categories will occur as required. Landholders should regularly check the NVR Map Viewer for the status of categories to ensure they have the latest available release information applicable to their landholding.
Future publication of a draft comprehensive NVR Map showing proposed mapping of the additional categories is under consideration.
When released, the draft comprehensive NVR Map categories will be available to landholders and approval authorities for information, review and consultation. When the government ends the transitional period by publishing the comprehensive NVR Map, all map categories on that map will be enforceable. Map reviews will continue to be available to landholders after the transitional period. See 'About the different versions of the map' on the More information page to find out more about land categories for future release.
Understanding the transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory Map
The transitional NVR Map is prepared using a peer-reviewed scientific method. This method uses the best available aerial photo and satellite imagery to provide a map that shows which land category applies to vegetation across New South Wales.
The map method identifies land cleared as at January 1990, or lawfully cleared between 1 January 1990 and commencement of Part 5A of the LLS Act. It also explains how other data layers are used to categorise the land.
Using multiple lines of evidence rather than a single ‘snapshot’ interpretation of imagery, provides high level spatial and visually accurate data. The map is designed to be a dynamic product that can be updated as required to reflect changes in vegetation across the landscape. Detailed information about how the map was made is available in the NVR Map: Method Statement (PDF 3.1MB).
Digital Cadastral Database
The Digital Cadastral Database (DCDB) is a digital representation of the cadastre of New South Wales and is only displayed with the transitional NVR Map to assist land owners using lot and DP numbers to search for and identify their landholdings. It is important to understand that the DCDB is not a survey-accurate representation of cadastre and property boundaries and when viewing the transitional NVR Map, the background image of your landholding may not always align correctly with the DCDB boundaries. For more information about the cadastral layer on the NVR Map, go to 'Why is the cadastral boundary and my property boundary misaligned?' on the More information page.
The transitional NVR map can be viewed online using the NVR Map Viewer. Click on the 'I want to' button to search for your landholding on the map.
Updates
The transitional NVR Map will be updated regularly including:
- annual updates following application of new or improved data
- more frequent updates capturing changes such as new or ending code certification recategorisation and set-aside sites
- Landholder Initiated Map Review (Map Review) changes.
Due to ongoing refinements and updates to the transitional NVR Map you should always check if the map has changed before undertaking any management activities on your property. The Map Viewer will allow you to print a date stamped version of the map. It is recommended that you print a copy of the map for your records before undertaking any vegetation clearing works.
Map categories
Each category is developed using a combination of rigorous scientific assessment by experienced scientists and the integration of particular data required by the legislation. Publicly released NVR Map categories are available via the NVR Map Viewer.
The transitional NVR Map 'steep or highly erodible land, protected riparian land or special category land' (category 2 – vulnerable regulated land), category 2 - sensitive regulated land categories and excluded land categories were published and came into full regulatory effect on 25 August 2017. These categories are now available on the NVR Map Viewer.
Transitional Native Vegetation Regulatory Map – Land categories and map colour
| Colour |
Category |
Definition |
|
Orange
|
Category 2 - vulnerable regulated |
Under section 60F(2)(c) of the LLS Act, land designated as 'steep or highly erodible lands, protected riparian land or special category land' on the map is category 2 – vulnerable regulated land. Native vegetation on this land includes dead and non-native plants (s 60B(3)). |
| Pink |
Category 2 -sensitive regulated
|
The LLS Regulation sections 108, 111 and 113 set out what land is to be designated as sensitive regulated land. It includes land that the Environment Agency Head reasonably believes includes certain coastal wetlands, certain rainforests, core koala habitat, certain high conservation grasslands, certain critically endangered entities, land subject to private land conservation agreements or certain incentive agreements or covenants, or land that meets other environmental criteria listed in the legislation. |
| Grey |
Excluded land |
Section 60A of the LLS Act defines parts of the state where land is excluded from the operation of Part 5A of the LLS Act. These areas include state forests, national park estates, Lord Howe Island and certain conservation areas across the state.
Urban areas of the state to which State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) 2017 applies are also excluded from Part 5A of the LLS Act. These areas include a range of metropolitan local government areas as well as a number of land zones contained within Local Environmental Plans such as residential, commercial, industrial, recreation and environmental zones.
|
| Land that is not yet categorised on the NVR Map |
Land on the NVR Map not depicted as one of the categories shown above is still bound by provisions of the legislation. Landholders seeking to use the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code or otherwise remove native vegetation on these areas must refer to the legislation to determine what category of land the native vegetation is on and what authorisation may be required.
For information about determining land categories not yet displayed on the NVR Map, contact your Local Land Services.
|
More information
Information about Category Explanation Reports and Landholder Initiated Map Reviews is available from the Native Vegetation Regulatory Map review webpage, or by contacting the Map Review Team: 02 6360 9000 or map.review@environment.nsw.gov.au
More information about the NSW biodiversity conservation reforms and the NSW Native Vegetation Regulation Map can be found on the NSW Land Management website.
