NSW: Compliance regime brought in for illegal land clearing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2006
NSW: Compliance regime brought in for illegal land clearing

SYDNEY, April 4 AAP - The NSW government plans to to crack down on illegal land clearing
and improper use of water resources.

The Department of Natural Resources compliance policy, announced today, aims to give
strict protection to native vegetation and water resources.

"A small number of rogues abuse the system at the expense of the rest of the community,
and to the endangerment of our precious land and water resources," Natural Resources Minister
Ian Macdonald said.

"Good honest farmers are paying the costs of the irresponsible actions of the few and
it's time to stop."

Mr Macdonald said the department would diligently monitor and enforce the laws for
land and water use and would take action if farmers continued to break the law.

However, he insisted the compliance regime was not focussed on penalising farmers.

AAP nr/hn/evt/sd

KEYWORD: VEGETATION

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