New South Wales: Forestry Act 2012 (NSW)

Forestry Act 2012 No 96 An Act to provide for the dedication, management and use of State forests and other Crown-timber land for forestry and other purposes; to constitute the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales as a statutory State owned corporation and to specify its objectives and functions; to repeal the Forestry Act 1916 and the Timber Marketing Act 1977 and to amend certain other legislation; and for related purposes. Part 1 Preliminary 1 Name of Act This Act is the Forestry Act 2012. 2 Commencement This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation. 3 Definitions (1) In this Act— authorised officer means a person appointed as an authorised officer under section 70. board means the board of directors of the Corporation. carbon sequestration right has the same meaning as in section 87A of the Conveyancing Act 1919. chief executive officer means the chief executive officer of the Corporation. clearing licence means a clearing licence issued under Division 2 of Part 4. Corporation means the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales constituted under Part 2. Crown land and Crown Land Acts have the same meanings as in the Crown Land Management Act 2016. Crown-timber land means any of the following— (a) land within a State forest or flora reserve, (b) Crown land (whether or not held under a lease or licence from the Crown and whether or not included in a timber reserve), (c) land affected by a profit à prendre, but does not include— (d) any Crown land the subject of a prescribed Crown tenure if the subject land has an area of 2 hectares or less, or (e) any Crown land the subject of a tenure from the Crown that is not a prescribed Crown tenure. flora reserve means land dedicated or set apart under this Act or the former Act as a flora reserve. forest agreement means a forest agreement referred to in Part 5A that is in force. Note— Part 5A is transferred to this Act on the commencement of Schedule 4.11[16]. forest lease means a lease granted under section 62. forest materials means rock, stone, clay, shells, earth, sand, gravel or any like material. forest materials licence means a forest materials licence issued under Division 2 of Part 4. forest permit means a permit issued under section 60. forest products means the products of trees and other vegetation (other than timber) that are of economic value. forest products licence means a forest products licence issued under Division 2 of Part 4. forestry area means a State forest, timber reserve or flora reserve and includes any part of a State forest, timber reserve or flora reserve. Forestry Commission means the corporation constituted under the former Act. forestry operations means— (a) logging operations, namely, the cutting and removal of timber from land for the purpose of timber production, or (b) the harvesting of forest products, or (c) ongoing forest management operations, namely, activities relating to the management of land for timber production such as thinning, burning and other silvicultural activities and bush fire hazard reduction, or (d) ancillary activities to enable or assist in the above operations such as the provision of roads, snig tracks, waterway crossings and temporary timber storage facilities. forestry right means a forestry right within the meaning of Division 4 of Part 6 of the Conveyancing Act 1919. former Act means the Forestry Act 1916 as in force immediately before its repeal by this Act. function includes a power, authority or duty, and exercise a function includes perform a duty. government agency means any of the following— (a) a government sector agency within the meaning of the Government Sector Employment Act 2013 or the head (within the meaning of that Act) of any such agency, (b) a NSW Government agency, (c) any other public authority that is constituted by or under an Act or that exercises public functions (other than a State owned corporation). integrated forestry operations approval means an approval referred to in Part 5B that is in force. Note— Part 5B is transferred to this Act on the commencement of Schedule 4.11[16]. land exchange agreement means an agreement under section 31. land manager of a forestry area means the land manager for the area as provided by section 57. lease under the Crown Lands Acts includes a promise of lease under those Acts and lessee means the holder of such lease, and includes the holder of any such promise. licence means a licence issued by the Corporation under this Act. management plan means a management plan under section 21. plantation—see section 4. prescribed Crown tenure means a tenure from the Crown specified in the First Schedule to the former Act. profit à prendre means a profit à prendre reserved to the Crown under clause 5(1) of Schedule 1. renewable energy infrastructure means infrastructure for the generation and storage of energy from renewable sources, and includes associated transmission and distribution infrastructure. resource acquisition fee means a fee payable under Division 3 of Part 4. small quantity authorisation means an authorisation under section 45. SOC Act means the State Owned Corporations Act 1989. special management zone means any area of State forest declared to be a special management zone under section 18. State forest means land dedicated under this Act, the former Act or the former Forestry Act 1909 as State forest, being a dedication that is in force. timber includes trees of any age or description, whether growing or dead. timber licence means a timber licence issued under Division 2 of Part 4. timber reserve means land temporarily reserved under the former Act for forestry purposes, being a reservation in force immediately before the repeal of the former Act. tree means a tree of any description and includes a shrub and a sapling or seedling of a tree. use, in relation to a forestry area, includes occupy the area or engage in or conduct an activity in the area. voting shareholders of the Corporation means the voting shareholders within the meaning of the SOC Act. working plan means a working plan under section 25. Note— The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act. (2) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act. 4 Meaning of "plantation" (1) For the purposes of this Act, a plantation is, subject to this section, an area of Crown-timber land (other than a flora reserve), or an area of land owned by the Corporation, on which the predominant number of trees forming, or expected to form, the canopy are trees that have been planted (whether by sowing seed or otherwise)— (a) for the purpose of timber production, or (b) for the protection of the environment (including for the purpose of reducing the salinity of the land or otherwise repairing or improving the land, for the purpose of biodiversity conservation or for the purpose of acquiring or trading in carbon sequestration rights), or (c) for any other purpose, but not principally for the purpose of the production of food or any other produce other than timber. (2) To avoid doubt, a natural forest is not a plantation for the purposes of this Act. However, an area of land is not a natural forest merely because it contains some native trees that have not been planted. (3) The Minister may, after carrying out an assessment of an area of land, by order published in the Gazette make a determination as to whether or not the area comprises or is part of a plantation for the purposes of this Act. Any such determination has effect according to its tenor. Part 2 Forestry Corporation Division 1 Constitution and management of Forestry Corporation 5 Establishment of Forestry Corporation There is constituted by this Act a corporation with the corporate name of the Forestry Corporation of New South Wales. Note— Schedule 4 to this Act amends the SOC Act to make the Forestry Corporation a statutory State owned corporation. The SOC Act contains a number of provisions that will apply to the Corporation as a statutory SOC. In particular— (a) Part 3 contains provisions relating to the status of the Corporation, the application of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth, the issue of shares to the Treasurer and another Minister, the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the employment of staff, the giving of directions by the portfolio Minister (including directions for the performance of non-commercial activities or the carrying out of public sector policies), the constitution of the Corporation, dividends and tax-equivalent payments, government guarantees, the sale or disposal of assets and the legal capacity and general powers of the Corporation, and (b) Part 4 deals with the accountability of the Corporation (including statements of corporate intent, annual reports and accounts), and (c) Part 5 deals with miscellaneous matters (including the duties and liabilities of directors and the application of public sector legislation). 6 Board of directors (1) The Corporation is to have a board of directors. (2) The board is to consist of no fewer than 3 and not more than 7 directors appointed by the voting shareholders. (3) One of the directors is, in and by the director's instrument of appointment or in and by another instrument executed by the voting shareholders, to be appointed as chairperson of the board. (4) The chief executive officer may be appointed as a director. (5) The board is accountable to the voting shareholders in the manner set out in Part 4 of the SOC Act and in the constitution of the Corporation. (6) The voting shareholders may remove a director, or the chairperson, from office at any time for any or no reason and without notice (but only at a duly convened meeting of the voting shareholders) and, in that event, the office of the director or chairperson is taken to have become vacant for the purposes of Schedule 8 to the SOC Act. (7) Subject to subsections (8) and (9), Schedule 8 to the SOC Act has effect with respect to the constitution and procedure of the board. (8) The provisions of section 20J of the SOC Act, and of clauses 2(1) and (2) and 7(1)(d) and (2) of Schedule 8 to the SOC Act, do not apply to the Corporation or to the chairperson. (9) The provisions of clause 6 of Schedule 8 to the SOC Act do not apply to the chief executive officer if appointed as a director, and the chief executive officer is not entitled to remuneration under that clause in his or her capacity as a director. 7 Chief executive officer (1) The chief executive officer of the Corporation is to be appointed by the board but only with the approval of the voting shareholders. (2) Subject to this section, the chief executive officer holds office for such term not exceeding 5 years as may be specified in the instrument of appointment, but is eligible (if otherwise qualified) for re-appointment. (3) The voting shareholders may remove a person from office as chief executive officer, at any time, for any or no reason and without notice. (4) The chief executive officer is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the board may determine with the approval of the voting shareholders. (5) The board may, with the approval of the voting shareholders, fix the conditions of employment of the chief executive officer in so far as they are not fixed by or under any other Act or law. (6) The board may require the chief executive officer to enter into performance agreements. (7) The chief executive officer may delegate any functions of the chief executive officer to an employee of the Corporation, but this power is subject to any directions of the board. (8) The Government Sector Employment Act 2013 (Part 6 included) does not apply to the chief executive officer. (9) The provisions of section 20K of the SOC Act, and of Schedule 9 to that Act, do not apply to the chief executive officer. 8 Acting chief executive officer (1) The board may, from time to time, appoint a person to act in the office of chief executive officer during the illness or absence of the chief executive officer. (2) The board may remove a person from office as acting chief executive officer, at any time, for any or no reason and without notice. (3) A person, while acting in the office of chief executive officer— (a) has all the functions of the chief executive officer and is taken to be the chief executive officer, and (b) is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the board may determine with the approval of the voting shareholders. (4) For the purposes of this section, a vacancy in the office of a chief executive officer is regarded as an absence from office. (5) Clause 5 of Schedule 9 to the SOC Act does not apply to an acting chief executive officer of the Corporation. 9 Application of SOC Act The provisions of this Part are in addition to and do not (except to the extent to which this Part provides) derogate from the provisions of the SOC Act. Division 2 Objectives and functions of Forestry Corporation 10 Objectives of Forestry Corporation (1) The principal objectives of the Corporation are as follows— (a) to be a successful business and, to this end— (i) to operate at least as efficiently as any comparable businesses, and (ii) to maximise the net worth of the State's investment in the Corporation, (b) to have regard to the interests of the community in which it operates, (c) where its activities affect the environment, to conduct its operations in compliance with the principles of ecologically sustainable development contained in section 6(2) of the Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991, (d) to contribute towards regional development and decentralisation, (e) to be an efficient and environmentally sustainable supplier of timber from Crown-timber land and land owned by it or otherwise under its control or management. (2) Each of the principal objectives of the Corporation is of equal importance. (3) The Corporation also has, in exercising its functions as the land manager of a forestry area, the objectives of a land manager under Part 5. (4) The provisions of section 20E of the SOC Act do not apply to the Corporation. 11 Functions of Forestry Corporation (1916 Act, ss 11 and 11AA) (1) The principal functions of the Corporation are as follows— (a) to carry out or authorise the carrying out of forestry operations in accordance with good forestry practice on Crown-timber land or land owned by the Corporation, (b) to take or authorise the taking of forest materials from State forests or land owned by the Corporation, (c) to sell, supply or process timber, forest products or forest materials taken or harvested under paragraph (a) or (b), (d) to establish and maintain plantations, (e) to control and manage, subject to Part 5, forestry areas, (f) subject to the Rural Fires Act 1997, to carry out measures on Crown-timber land for the protection from fire of timber and forest products on that land, (g) to grant forestry rights in respect of State forests, timber reserves or land owned by it, including any such right that is for the benefit of the Corporation, (h) to acquire, hold, sell or otherwise deal with or trade in carbon sequestration rights (including for the benefit of other persons). (2) The Corporation may— (a) provide facilities or services, or undertake activities, that are ancillary or incidental to its principal functions, and (b) conduct any business or provide any service (whether or not related to its principal functions) that it considers will further its objectives. (3) The Corporation has such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act or law. (4) Despite any other provision of this Act, the Corporation is not authorised to take or authorise any other person to take any timber, forest products or forest materials from any Crown-timber land that is the subject of a forestry right unless the forestry right is held or granted by the Corporation. 12 Ownership of trees in State forest plantations (1) The Corporation is the owner of the trees in any plantation that is or is part of a State forest. (2) Subsection (1)— (a) has effect even though State forests are vested in the Crown, and (b) operates to extinguish any existing rights in any such trees before the commencement of this section. (3) The provisions of this section have effect despite anything contained in section 42 of the Real Property Act 1900. (4) Compensation (including damages or any other form of monetary compensation) is not payable to any person or body because of the enactment or operation of this section or for the consequences of that enactment or operation. Part 3 State forests and flora reserves Division 1 Dedication of Crown land 13 Classification of Crown land for State forest purposes (1916 Act, s 17) (1) The Minister may classify Crown land for the purpose of selecting land that is suitable and desirable in the public interest to be dedicated as State forest. (2) In classifying Crown land for any such purpose, the Minister is to ensure, to such extent as the Minister considers appropriate, that the selection of land to be dedicated as State forest will result in— (a) the promotion of effective and economic control, utilisation and management of the land for timber production and the facilitation of the economic marketing of timber and forest products, and (b) the establishment, maintenance or expansion of industry for the processing and treatment of timber and forest products, and (c) the growth and harvesting of trees for timber and forest products, and (d) the continuing protection of necessary tree cover in the public interest. (3) The Minister is to also take into account— (a) the potential for economic timber production of any land that is of an inferior character for the purposes of agriculture or grazing but which, by appropriate treatment of the soil, would be capable of sustaining the growth of suitable commercial species of trees in plantations, and (b) such other factors as the Minister considers relevant to the establishment and proper management of State forests. (4) Crown land need not be classified under this section in order for it to be dedicated as State forest. 14 Dedication of land as State forest (1916 Act, s 18) (1) The Governor may, by notice published in the Gazette, dedicate as State forest any Crown land that is not the subject of a tenure from the Crown. (2) Any such dedication of land may be limited so as to exclude any land lying below the surface of the land at a depth greater than a depth specified in the notice dedicating the land. (3) Land dedicated under this section may not be dealt with otherwise than as provided by this Act and any such dedication may not be revoked or altered except under this Act. (4) The Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, constitute 2 or more State forests, or any parts of 2 or more State forests, as one State forest for the purposes of this Act. (5) Subsection (4) does not affect— (a) the declaration of any land as a special management zone, or (b) the setting apart of any land as a flora reserve, or (c) any rights or obligations conferred or imposed by or under this or any other Act. (6) Despite subsection (1), Crown land that is the subject of a prescribed Crown tenure and that has an area of more than 2 hectares may be dedicated as State forest in accordance with this section. 15 Revocation of dedication of land as State forest (1916 Act, s 19) (1) Subject to this Act, the dedication of land as State forest may only be revoked or altered in whole or in part in the following manner— (a) a proposal for the revocation or alteration is to be tabled in each House of Parliament, (b) after the proposal has been tabled, the Governor may, on a resolution being passed by both Houses that the proposal be carried out, by notice published in the Gazette, revoke or alter the dedication. (2) On any such revocation, the land becomes Crown land to be dealt with under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 and until so dealt with is to be reserved from sale or lease under any Act. 16 Flora reserves (1916 Act, s 25A(1)–(4)) (1) The Governor may, by notice published in the Gazette— (a) dedicate, with the concurrence of the Minister administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016, any Crown land that is not the subject of a tenure from the Crown, or (b) set apart the whole or part of a State forest, as a flora reserve for the preservation of native flora. (2) Any such dedication of land may be limited so as to exclude any land lying below the surface of the land at a depth greater than a depth specified in the notice dedicating the land. (3) The setting apart of the whole or a part of a State forest as a flora reserve under this section does not affect the dedication as a State forest of the area so set apart. (4) Subject to this Act, a notice under this section is not to be revoked wholly or in part otherwise than by Act of Parliament. (5) Despite subsection (1)(a), Crown land that is the subject of a prescribed Crown tenure and that has an area of more than 2 hectares may be dedicated as a flora reserve in accordance with this section. 17 Review of dedicated State forests (1916 Act, s 17A) The Minister is, on a continuing basis, to review dedicated State forests for the purposes of determining whether or not any State forest, or part of any State forest, should continue to be dedicated as such. Division 2 Special management zones 18 Declaration of special management zones (1916 Act, s 21A(1), (1A), (3) and (7)) (1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare any area of State forest (other than a flora reserve) to be a special management zone if the Minister is satisfied that the area has special conservation value. (2) The object of the declaration of a special management zone and the prohibition of forestry operations in the zone is to protect its special conservation value. (3) The Minister is to ensure that the public is given an opportunity to make representations about any proposed notice of the Minister under this section to declare a special management zone. The Minister must— (a) fix a time within which the public may make representations about the proposal, and (b) make copies of the proposed notice available for public inspection before that time on such website as the Minister thinks appropriate, and (c) make available for public inspection before that time on that website a statement outlining the activities that the Minister proposes to prohibit in the zone, and (d) take any representation on the proposal received by the Minister within that time into account before making a decision on the matter. (4) Except as provided by this Act, a notice under this section is not to be revoked wholly or in part otherwise than by Act of Parliament. 19 Prohibition of forestry operations in special management zones (1916 Act, s 21A(2), (2A), (4)–(6) and (8)) (1) The Minister may, by notice in writing to the Corporation— (a) prohibit particular kinds of forestry operations in a special management zone, or (b) prohibit forestry operations in the zone unless particular conditions are complied with. (2) The carrying out of general purpose logging is prohibited in a special management zone. (3) The Corporation must ensure that any forestry operations carried out in a special management zone comply with any prohibition imposed by or under this section. (4) An integrated forestry operations approval does not authorise the carrying out of any forestry operations in a special management zone that are prohibited by or under this section. (5) The Minister may vary or revoke a notice under this section by a further notice. (6) The Minister is to ensure that any notice under this section is made available for public inspection on such website as the Minister thinks appropriate. 20 Revocation of special management zones (1916 Act, s 21A(1B) and (1C)) (1) The Governor may, by notice published in the Gazette, revoke the declaration of any land as or as part of a special management zone and by that notice set apart the land as or as part of a flora reserve. (2) The Governor may, by a notice under Division 1 of Part 4 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 that reserves land under that Act— (a) revoke the declaration of the land, or any part of the land, as a special management zone, and (b) revoke the dedication of the land, or any part of the land, to which the declaration as a special management zone applies, as State forest. Division 3 Management plans and working plans 21 Management plans for State forests (1) The Corporation is to prepare and adopt plans for its management of State forests. (2) A management plan may relate to one or more State forests. (3) A management plan must contain such information or other matter as may be prescribed by the regulations. (4) A management plan may be amended in accordance with the procedures and requirements of this Division relating to the preparation and adoption of a management plan. 22 Management plans to be consistent with integrated forestry operations approvals (2009 Reg, cl 6) (1) The Corporation is not to adopt a management plan for a State forest that is wholly or partly located in the area to which an integrated forestry operations approval applies unless it is in accordance with the terms of the integrated forestry operations approval for the area. (2) To the extent that a management plan for a State forest that is wholly or partly located in the area to which an integrated forestry operations approval applies is not consistent with the terms of the integrated forestry operations approval for the area, the terms of the approval prevail. (3) The requirements of this section are in addition to the other requirements of this Division in relation to management plans. 23 Procedures for preparing and adopting management plans (2009 Reg, cl 5) (1) Before adopting a draft management plan, the Corporation is to ensure that the draft plan is publicly advertised in a notice that— (a) is published on the website of the Corporation, and (b) includes a brief description of the draft plan, and (c) includes a statement indicating a location at which members of the public may examine a copy of the draft plan, and (d) indicates a closing date on or before which written submissions may be made to the Corporation concerning the draft plan, being a date that is not less than 30 days after the date on which the notice is first published. (2) The Corporation is, before adopting the draft plan, to consider any submissions made to it on or before the closing date for submissions specified in the notice. 24 Review of management plans A management plan for a State forest is to be reviewed— (a) after any review and amendment of any integrated forestry operations approval that applies to the area of the plan to ensure the plan is consistent with that amended approval, and (b) at such other times as the Corporation considers appropriate. 25 Working plans for flora reserves (1916 Act, s 25A(5)) (1) The Corporation is, in respect of each flora reserve, to prepare a detailed written scheme of the operations to be carried out on or in relation to the flora reserve. (2) The object of any such scheme is to be the preservation of native flora on the flora reserve. (3) The Corporation is to submit the scheme for a flora reserve to the Minister for approval and, if approved by the Minister, the scheme becomes the working plan for the flora reserve. (4) Operations may not be carried out on or in relation to a flora reserve unless such operations are in accordance with the working plan for the reserve. (5) The working plan for a flora reserve may, with the approval of the Minister, be amended or altered from time to time. (6) A working plan may contain provisions authorising a local council in whose area a flora reserve is situated to participate to the extent specified in the working plan in the management of the reserve or in carrying out any of the operations authorised by the working plan on or in relation to the reserve. In any such case, the council concerned may expend out of its consolidated fund any money necessary to meet the costs and expenses of exercising the authority conferred on it by the working plan. (7) A working plan may also contain provisions authorising the representative or representatives of any local committee or public body or organisation to participate, to the extent specified in the working plan, in the management of the flora reserve or in carrying out any of the operations authorised by the working plan. Division 4 Acquisition and sale of land 26 Acquisition of land for State forest purposes (1916 Act, s 15(1) and (2)) (1) The Minister may, for the purpose of a State forest, for the purpose of providing access to a State forest or for any purpose necessary for or incidental to the management or control of a State forest, acquire land (including an interest in land) by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. (2) On acquisition, the land is vested in the Crown. 27 Acquisition of land dedicated as State forest (1916 Act, s 15(3) and (4)) (1) The Minister may, for the purpose of giving effect to a land exchange agreement, acquire land dedicated as State forest by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. (2) Despite any other provision of this Act, the publication in the Gazette of an acquisition notice under section 19 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 for the purposes of this section operates to revoke any dedication as State forest, declaration as special management zone or any dedication or setting apart as flora reserve of the land referred to in the acquisition notice. 28 Acquisition of land for future lease grant or dealing (1916 Act, s 15(4A)–(4E)) (1) The Minister may, on behalf of the Crown, acquire land (including an interest in land) for the purposes of a future lease grant or dealing by agreement or by compulsory process in accordance with the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. (2) An acquisition for a future lease grant or dealing is an acquisition— (a) to enable the reservation, dedication or setting apart of land under this Act and the exercise of functions conferred or imposed by or under this Act in relation to land, or (b) to enable the exercise of functions conferred or imposed by or under this Act in relation to land already reserved, dedicated or set apart under this Act. (3) The publication in the Gazette of an acquisition notice under section 19 of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 for a purpose that is described as a future lease grant or dealing does not— (a) to the extent to which the land referred to in the acquisition notice was Crown land immediately before the publication of the acquisition notice, affect the status of the land as Crown land, or (b) operate to revoke a dedication as State forest, declaration as special management zone or dedication or setting apart as a flora reserve or reservation as a timber reserve of the land referred to in the acquisition notice. (4) This section does not limit the purposes for which land may be acquired under any other provision of this Act. 29 Sale of certain land (1916 Act, s 15(6)) The Minister may sell any land acquired to provide access to a State forest or for any purpose necessary for or incidental to the control or management of a State forest if that land— (a) has not been dedicated as a State forest, or (b) is not required for the purposes of a State forest or to provide access to a State forest or for any purpose necessary for or incidental to the control or management of a State forest. 30 Application of Public Works Act 1912 (1916 Act, s 15(5)) For the purposes of the Public Works Act 1912, any acquisition of land under this Division is taken to be for an authorised work and the Minister is, in relation to that authorised work, taken to be the Constructing Authority. Division 5 Miscellaneous 31 Exchange of land dedicated as State forest (1916 Act, s 16A) (1) The Minister may enter into an agreement for the sale or other disposal of land dedicated as State forest subject to the sale of other land, or of an interest in other land, to the Crown for the purpose of a State forest or for access to a State forest (a land exchange agreement). (2) A land exchange agreement may contain such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks fit. (3) The Minister may not enter into a land exchange agreement unless— (a) the Minister has consulted the Corporation about the proposed agreement, and (b) the Minister administering the provisions of an Act (other than this Act) relating to dealings with land vested in the Crown has approved the proposed agreement in so far as it relates to the grant of or other dealing with land that, under the agreement, is to be held subject to those provisions and in so far as it relates to the terms and conditions on which it is to be so held, and (c) a copy of the proposed agreement has, where it provides for the sale or other disposal of dedicated land that exceeds 20 hectares in area, been laid before both Houses of Parliament, and (d) if compliance with paragraph (c) is required— (i) notice has not been given, in either House of Parliament within 15 sitting days after a copy of the proposed agreement has been laid before it, of a motion that the agreement not be entered into, or (ii) if any such notice is given, that the motion pursuant to the notice has been withdrawn or defeated. (4) Subsection (3) does not operate to prevent the Minister from entering into an agreement by reason only that the parties to the agreement differ from those specified in a proposed agreement, relating to the same land, that the Minister is authorised to enter into. (5) An interested party is not required to inquire— (a) whether subsection (3) has been complied with in relation to an agreement purporting to have been made under this section, or (b) whether the Minister is authorised to give effect to the agreement by an assurance of land vested in the Minister as the Constructing Authority under the Public Works Act 1912. (6) For the purposes of subsection (5), an interested party is any of the following— (a) a party to a land exchange agreement, (b) a person claiming an estate or interest in any land the subject of a land exchange agreement, (c) the Registrar-General or other person registering or certifying title to land the subject of a land exchange agreement. (7) If a land exchange agreement provides for the doing or execution of any act, matter or thing under an Act other than this Act and the doing or execution of the act, matter or thing would not, but for this subsection, be authorised by that other Act, the doing or execution of that act, matter or thing is taken to be so authorised, and any other act, matter or thing for which the agreement provides may be done or executed without any further authority than this Act. (8) A failure to comply with subsection (3) in respect of a land exchange agreement does not invalidate the agreement or anything done under it. 32 Revocation of dedication of land as State forest in certain circumstances (1916 Act, s 19B) (1) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, revoke the dedication as State forest of an area of land not exceeding 20 hectares if the Minister is of the opinion that the land should be made available for a public work, or an authorised work, within the meaning of the Public Works Act 1912, or for a public purpose within the meaning of any other Act, that is specified in the notice. (2) Any such notice also operates to revoke any declaration of the affected land as a special management zone. (3) This section has effect despite any other provision of this Act. 33 Leases within State forests and flora reserves (1916 Act, s 20) A lease to occupy land within a State forest or flora reserve may not be granted except under this Act. 34 Easements and rights of way (1916 Act, s 20A) (1) The Minister may, on such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks fit, grant an easement or right of way through or over land within a State forest or flora reserve. (2) The Minister may accept a surrender of any easement or right of way through or over land within a State forest or flora reserve. 35 Land subject to mining law (1916 Act, s 21) (1) Land within a State forest or flora reserve is, for the purposes of the definition of exempted area in the Mining Act 1992 or in section 70 of the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991, land dedicated for public purposes. (2) The exercise of any right under the Mining Act 1992 or the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 on land within a State forest or flora reserve is subject to such conditions and restrictions relating to forestry or the purposes of the flora reserve as may be prescribed by the regulations. (3) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the Minister administering the Mining Act 1992, by order published in the Gazette exempt any part of a State forest or flora reserve from the operation of the Mining Act 1992 or the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991. 36 Effect of dedication etc on existing leases and licences (1916 Act, s 25) (1) The dedication of land as State forest, the declaration of land as a special management zone or the dedication or setting apart of land as a flora reserve does not, except as provided by this Act, affect any lease or licence from the Crown that is in force immediately before the dedication, declaration or reservation (an existing lease or licence). (2) An existing lease or licence may not be renewed or extended. However, an existing lease or licence over land in the Western Division (within the meaning of Schedule 3 to the Crown Land Management Act 2016) may be renewed or extended with the approval of the Minister and subject to such conditions as the Minister thinks fit to impose. (3) The administration of matters relating to existing leases or licences is the responsibility of the Minister or, with the approval of the Minister, the Corporation. For that purpose, the Minister and the Corporation (as the case requires) have the powers of the Minister administering the Crown Land Management Act 2016. (4) However, subsection (3) does not apply in relation to land in the Western Division unless the Minister otherwise declares by notice published in the Gazette. (5) An existing lease or licence in respect of land within a State forest may be surrendered in whole or in part to the Crown and a forest lease under this Act may be granted instead. (6) Money payable as rent under an existing lease or licence is to be received by the Corporation. 37 Declaration of access roads (1916 Act, s 33A) (1) The Minister may, by order published in the Gazette, declare any road— (a) constructed on land— (i) dedicated as State forest (whether or not the land is declared to be a special management zone or set apart as a flora reserve), or (ii) dedicated as a flora reserve, and (b) described in the order in such manner as the Minister thinks fit, to be a road of access to land purchased or held under a lease or licence under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 or other Crown Land Acts. (2) Any such order has effect according to its tenor. (3) The declaration and use of any such access road does not affect the status, as State forest, special management zone or flora reserve, of the land on which it is constructed. Part 4 Taking of timber, forest products and forest materials Division 1 General offence 38 Unlawful taking of timber etc (1916 Act, s 27) (1) A person must not— (a) on any Crown-timber land— (i) cut, strip, obtain, remove, destroy or damage any timber, or (ii) dig for, extract, obtain, remove, destroy or damage any forest products, or (iii) cause or allow any of those things to be done, or (b) on any State forest or flora reserve—quarry, dig for, extract, obtain, remove, destroy or damage any forest materials or cause or allow any of those things to be done. Maximum penalty—50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both, and $10 for each tree destroyed or damaged in the commission of the offence. (2) Subsection (1) applies in relation to Crown-timber land despite the provisions of this or any other Act or any terms or conditions subject to which any tenure of the Crown-timber land is held. If any such terms or conditions require the taking or destruction of any timber or forest products, those terms and conditions are to be construed as imposing that requirement subject to the holder of the tenure obtaining a timber licence, forest products licence or clearing licence. (3) A person does not commit an offence under subsection (1)— (a) if the act in question is authorised by or under any of the following— (i) a licence or small quantity authorisation, (ii) Part 5A of (or Schedule 5A to) the Local Land Services Act 2013 (including any instrument under that Part or Schedule), (iii) the Mining Act 1992 or any mineral claim or mining lease under that Act, (iv) the Petroleum (Onshore) Act 1991 or any petroleum title under that Act, (v) a forestry right or any restriction on use or covenant imposed under Division 4 of Part 6 of the Conveyancing Act 1919 in connection with the forestry right, (vi) Division 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Crown Land Management Act 2016, (vii) a condition of a Western lands lease (within the meaning of Schedule 3 to the Crown Land Management Act 2016) to the effect that a lessee may take from land under the lease such timber and other material for building and other purposes on the land or on any contiguous land held in the same interest as may reasonably be required by the lessee, or (b) if the act in question is done or authorised by the land manager of the forestry area in accordance with this Act, or (c) in the course of carrying out duties as an authorised officer, or (d) in the circumstances referred to in clause 5(7) of Schedule 1. (4) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to— (a) forestry operations carried out by or on behalf of the Corporation, or (b) forest products or forest materials taken by the Corporation, or (c) any tree on Crown-timber land (not being land referred to in paragraph (a) or (c) of the definition of Crown-timber land) or on land the subject of a forest lease if— (i) the Corporation has certified in writing that the tree has been planted or established and has been maintained by careful tending and improvement as part of a woodlot or forest or for the purpose of tree-farming, or (ii) the tree is or was situated on an authorised plantation within the meaning of the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999, or (d) any tree on land affected by a profit à prendre if the Corporation has certified in writing that the tree is not subject to the profit à prendre, or (e) any timber removed, felled or destroyed in accordance with section 66 of the Local Land Services Act 2013. Division 2 Licensing scheme 39 General provisions relating to licences (1) The following types of licences may be issued by the Corporation— (a) timber licences, (b) forest products licences, (c) forest materials licences, (d) clearing licences. (2) A licence is subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Corporation or as are prescribed by the regulations. (3) The authority conferred by a licence is subject to the regulations. (4) A licence may not be transferred except with the consent of the Corporation. (5) Subject to the regulations, a licence does not authorise the taking of timber or forest products on or from land that is identified in an integrated forestry operations approval as an environmentally significant area. 40 Timber licences (1916 Act, s 27A) (1) A timber licence authorises the holder to take timber, or such class or description of timber as is specified in the licence, on Crown-timber land. (2) The term of a timber licence is the term specified in the licence, but the term— (a) must not exceed 5 years without the prior written approval of the Minister, and (b) must not, in any event, exceed 20 years. 41 Forest products licences (1916 Act, s 27B) (1) A forest products licence authorises the holder to take forest products, or such class or description of forest products as is specified in the licence, on Crown-timber land. (2) The term of a forest products licence is such term, not exceeding 5 years, as is specified in the licence. 42 Forest materials licences (1916 Act, s 27C) (1) A forest materials licence authorises the holder to take forest materials, or such class or description of forest materials as is specified in the licence, from a State forest. (2) The term of a forest materials licence is the term specified in the licence, but the term— (a) must not exceed 5 years without the prior written approval of the Minister, and (b) must not, in any event, exceed 20 years. 43 Clearing licences (1916 Act, s 27G) (1) A clearing licence authorises— (a) the holder, and (b) a successor in title to the land in respect of which the clearing licence is issued, to ringbark or otherwise kill or destroy trees, or such class or description of trees as is specified in the licence, on such Crown-timber land as is specified in the licence. (2) Subsection (1) has effect despite any other Act or any terms or conditions subject to which any tenure of the Crown-timber land is held. (3) The term of a clearing licence is the term specified in the licence. 44 Restrictions on issuing licences (1916 Act, ss 27D–27F and 27H) (1) Licences in respect of flora reserves A timber licence, forest products licence or forest materials licence in respect of a flora reserve may not be issued unless— (a) the conditions of the licence are in accordance with the working plan for the flora reserve, and (b) the issue of the licence is approved by the Minister. (2) Clearing licences A clearing licence may not be issued— (a) in respect of land within a State forest that is not the subject of a forest lease or any other lease from the Crown, or (b) in respect of land within a flora reserve, or (c) in respect of Crown-timber land that is the subject of a Western lands lease within the meaning of Schedule 3 to the Crown Land Management Act 2016 and is not within a State forest or timber reserve, or (d) if the Crown-timber land is— (i) held subject to a prescribed Crown tenure—except to the holder of that tenure, or (ii) purchase-tenure land within the meaning of Schedule 1—except to the owner (within the meaning of that Schedule) of that land, or (iii) held under a forest lease—except to the lessee, or (e) in respect of land in which the Biodiversity Conservation Trust holds an interest, or (f) in respect of land that is subject to a private land conservation agreement under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, or (g) in respect of land that is category 2-vulnerable regulated land under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013, or (h) to clear native vegetation within the meaning of Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013, or (i) to ringbark or otherwise kill or destroy trees having economic value. (3) Consent of lessees or trustees A timber licence or forest products licence may not be issued— (a) in the case of land held under a conditional purchase lease under the Crown Land Acts—unless the lessee of that land consents to the issue of the licence, or (b) in the case of land in respect of which trustees have been appointed for a public purpose—unless those trustees consent to the issue of the licence. (4) Trees planted etc for certain purposes A timber licence or forest products licence may not be issued in respect of Crown-timber land (not being a State forest or flora reserve) if, in the opinion of the Corporation— (a) trees have been planted or established on the land and have been maintained by careful tending and improvement as a woodlot or forest or for the purpose of tree-farming, or have been planted or established as a windbreak or for the beautification of the land, or (b) the land is the subject of a forestry right, or (c) the land has been substantially improved for farming purposes and the trees on the land are necessary for shade or shelter or for the purpose of the farming, improvement or protection of the land, unless the licence is subject to a condition preventing the holder of the licence from taking from the land to which the licence relates any such trees as are designated or described in the condition. (5) The requirement to impose a condition in respect of land referred to in subsection (4)(c) extends only to trees designated or described in the condition and having a total timber content not exceeding 150 cubic metres as determined by the Corporation. (6) Subsection (4) does not, in the case of Crown-timber land that is subject to a prescribed Crown tenure, apply to the issue of a timber licence or forest products licence to the holder of that tenure or, with the consent of that holder, to any other person. (7) Protected plants and threatened species of plants A licence may not be issued under this Act for the removal from any State forest, flora reserve or other Crown-timber land of any protected plant (or any plant of, or part of, a threatened species or threatened ecological community) within the meaning of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. A licence is not operative to the extent that it relates to any such plant. (8) However, the Corporation may, in accordance with this Act, issue a licence that authorises the removal from any State forest, flora reserve or other Crown-timber land of any such plant if— (a) the authorisation is subject to a condition that the removal is to be undertaken in accordance with any relevant plant plan of management in force under the regulations made under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, or (b) the Corporation is of the opinion that the plant would be damaged or destroyed in the taking of timber, forest products or forest materials under, or in the carrying out of any activity authorised by, this Act. 45 Small quantity authorisations (1916 Act, s 30I) (1) The Corporation may, otherwise than by the issue of a timber licence, forest products licence or forest materials licence, authorise a person— (a) to take timber, forest products or forest materials having a value of not more than $1,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the regulations) on or from land within a State forest, other than land set apart as a flora reserve, or (b) to take timber or forest products having a value of not more than $1,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the regulations) on or from Crown land. (2) A small quantity authorisation is subject to such conditions as may be imposed by the Corporation or by the regulations. (3) The authority conferred by a small quantity authorisation is subject to the regulations. (4) A small quantity authorisation may not be issued in respect of— (a) land held under a conditional purchase lease, closer settlement lease, group purchase lease, settlement purchase lease or returned soldiers' special holding unless the lessee of that land consents to the issue of the authorisation, or (b) land in respect of which trustees have been appointed for a public purpose unless those trustees consent to the issue of the authorisation. (5) Subject to the regulations, a small quantity authorisation does not authorise the taking of timber or forest products on or from land that is identified in an integrated forestry operations approval as an environmentally significant area. 46 Suspension and revocation of licences and small quantity authorisations (1916 Act, s 35) The Corporation— (a) may suspend a licence or small quantity authorisation if it is of the opinion that the holder of the licence or authorisation has failed to comply with any of the terms or conditions of the licence or authorisation, and (b) may, after giving the holder of the licence or authorisation an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter, revoke the licence or authorisation. 47 Delegation of certain functions (1916 Act, s 10A and 2009 Reg, cl 68) The Corporation may delegate to a person or body, or a person or body of a class, prescribed by the regulations any of its functions under this Division that relate to clearing licences (except in respect of State forests and timber reserves) or small quantity authorisations. Division 3 Payment of resource acquisition fee 48 Definitions (1916 Act, s 30) In this Division— landholder, in relation to prescribed land, means— (a) in the case of land held under a prescribed lease (not being a special purpose lease within the meaning of the Crown Land Management Act 2016)—the lessee of the land, or (b) in the case of purchase-tenure land—the owner of the land, or (c) in the case of land under the care, control and management of Local Land Services—Local Land Services. lessee means the holder or owner of a lease, but does not include a mortgagee of land the subject of a lease. owner, in relation to purchase-tenure land, has the same meaning as in Schedule 1. prescribed land means— (a) land held by a lessee under a prescribed lease, or (b) purchase-tenure land, or (c) a controlled travelling stock reserve within the meaning of the Local Land Services Act 2013. prescribed lease means a lease specified in the Second Schedule to the former Act. purchase-tenure land has the same meaning as in Schedule 1. 49 Resource acquisition fee for taking timber, forest products or forest materials (1916 Act, s 30A) (1) The holder of a timber licence, forest products licence or forest materials licence must, in accordance with this Division, pay a resource acquisition fee in respect of the timber, forest products or forest materials taken under the authority of the licence. (2) Any such resource acquisition fee is payable to and recoverable by the Corporation. (3) Subsection (1) does not require the payment of a resource acquisition fee in respect of timber taken under the authority of a timber licence from land the subject of a Crown tenure if the timber is derived from trees which, in the opinion of the Corporation— (a) have been planted or established and have been maintained by careful tending and improvement as a woodlot or forest or for the purpose of tree-farming, or (b) have been planted or established as a windbreak or for the beautification of the land. 50 Limitation on resource acquisition fee (1916 Act, s 30AA) The Corporation is not entitled to a resource acquisition fee in respect of any timber or forest products— (a) derived from trees that have been established on land that is the subject of a forestry right, and (b) taken in accordance with the forestry right and any restriction on use or covenant imposed in connection with the forestry right, unless the forestry right is granted by the Corporation. 51 Amount of resource acquisition fee (1916 Act, s 30B) (1) The Corporation may determine the amount of a resource acquisition fee either generally or in a particular case or class of cases. (2) The amount of any such resource acquisition fee is subject to any maximum amount prescribed by the regulations. Any such regulation may only be made with the concurrence of the Treasurer. 52 Payments to certain timber organisations (1916 Act, s 30D) The Corporation may determine, either generally or in a particular case or class of cases, to pay such part of a resource acquisition fee as is specified in its determination to such organisation established for the promotion or improvement of the use or marketing of timber or forest products produced in New South Wales as is so specified. 53 Apportionment of resource acquisition fee—prescribed land (1916 Act, s 30E) (1) This section applies to a resource acquisition fee payable in respect of timber, forest products or forest materials taken on or from prescribed land. (2) If a resource acquisition fee to which this section applies is paid to the Corporation, the Corporation is required to pay to the landholder concerned (other than Local Land Services) one-third of the balance of the resource acquisition fee remaining after deduction of the following amounts— (a) any part of the resource acquisition fee that is payable under section 52, (b) any costs incurred by the Corporation in connection with the establishment, planting, maintenance, improvement and protection of the timber, forest products or forest materials, (c) any costs incurred by the Corporation in connection with the facilitation of the taking of the timber, forest products or forest materials, including the costs of construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, gates, ramps and incidental works. (3) The costs that are deductible under subsection (2)(b) and (c) are to be as determined by the Corporation. (4) A share of the resource acquisition fee payable by the Corporation to a landholder under this section must be paid before the expiration of one month after the end of the financial year of the Corporation that is current when the resource acquisition fee concerned is paid to the Corporation. (5) This Division does not entitle a landholder to be paid an amount of a resource acquisition fee in respect of the taking of timber, forest products or forest materials under a licence held by the landholder. 54 Resource acquisition fee payments by Forestry Corporation (1916 Act, s 30F) If the Corporation takes timber or forest products from prescribed land, the Corporation is required— (a) to pay to an organisation specified in a determination under section 52 the amount that would have been payable under the determination, and (b) to pay to the landholder concerned (other than Local Land Services) the amount that would have been payable to the landholder under section 53, if the timber or forest products had been taken under a timber licence or forest products licence and a resource acquisition fee had been paid to the Corporation in respect of the timber or forest products in accordance with this Division. 55 Liability for resource acquisition fee if timber etc taken without licence (1916 Act, s 30H) (1) If— (a) a person takes, destroys or damages, or causes or allows the taking, destroying or damaging of, any timber, forest products or forest materials without lawful authority (whether or not by doing so the person is guilty of an offence under this Act), and (b) the Corporation would, if the timber, forest products or forest materials had been taken under the authority conferred by a licence, have been entitled to determine a resource acquisition fee in respect of the timber, forest products or forest materials so taken, the Corporation may certify in writing the amount that it determines would have been payable by way of a resource acquisition fee if the timber, forest products or forest materials had been taken under a licence. (2) The Corporation may recover any such amount from the person as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction. (3) Section 53 applies in respect of an amount recovered by the Corporation under this section as if the amount were a resource acquisition fee paid to the Corporation under section 49. (4) Subsection (3) does not require the Corporation, in respect of an amount recovered by it under this section, to make a payment out of the amount to the person from whom the amount is recovered. 56 Deductions for construction of works (1916 Act, s 11(4)) (1) The Corporation may enter into an agreement with the holder of a timber licence, forest products licence or forest materials licence— (a) for the construction by the licence holder of any works that, in the opinion of the Corporation, are necessary to enable timber, forest products or forest materials to be taken from the land in respect of which the licence is issued, and (b) for the cost of the works, as specified in the agreement, to be deducted, in such manner as may be specified in the agreement, by the licence holder from any resource acquisition fee which, but for the deductions, the holder would be liable to pay. (2) In this section, works include any road, bridge, gate or ramp. Part 5 Use of forestry areas for non-forestry purposes Division 1 Land managers 57 Land manager of forestry areas (1) The Corporation is the land manager of forestry areas except as provided by this section. (2) The land manager of a forestry area has, subject to any order under this section, the functions conferred or imposed on the land manager by or under this or any other Act in relation to the forestry area. (3) The Minister may, with the concurrence of the voting shareholders of the Corporation, by order published in the Gazette appoint a government a