Clearing native vegetation
Quicklinks
- Maps to find out where the Native Vegetation Act 1991 applies.
- Online application portal, for submitting your clearance application.
- Clearance Application Register, where you can view previous application decisions.
- Consultations, where you can submit your views about applications to clear native vegetation or proposed policy and amendments currently open for consultation.
Clearing native vegetation
Native vegetation in South Australia (except most of metropolitan Adelaide) is protected. If you want to clear native vegetation in South Australia, there are two main approval pathways.
- Clearance under the Native Vegetation Regulations 2017. This type of application requires no application fee but must achieve consent from the Native Vegetation Council and an offset..
- Clearance under the Native Vegetation Act 1991. If your proposal isn’t covered by a Regulation, it will be assessed under the Act. This type of clearance application has an application fee, requires approval by the Native Vegetation Council and an offset.
The right pathway depends on what you’re planning to do and where. For a visual guide to the clearance process, download the Clearance and Significant Environmental Benefit Process Chart.
To determine which pathway applies to your clearance activity, use the section 'Check your activity' below.
Check your activity
There are three ways to help you determine which pathway to clear applies:
- Use the Native Vegetation Clearing Decision Tool which is tailored to your specific activity.
- Want to browse by activity? Choose from common reasons for clearing.
- Want to browse by what's covered in the Act and the Regulations?
Note: For Kangaroo Island, refer to the approvals guide Protecting your assets and native vegetation.
What is clearing?
Clearing is defined in the Native Vegetation Act 1991.
Clearing includes, but is not limited to:
- the cutting down, destruction or removal of whole plants
- the removal of branches, limbs, stems or trunks (including brushcutting and woodcutting)
- burning
- poisoning
- slashing of understorey
- drainage and reclamation of wetlands
- grazing by animals (in some circumstances).
What counts as native vegetation?
The ‘Know your native vegetation' page outlines what counts as native vegetation.
Avoid and minimise impacts on native vegetation (Mitigation Hierarchy)
When clearing native vegetation, there’s a clear expectation to reduce environmental impacts as much as possible. You must plan your activity according to the Mitigation Hierarchy.
Clearance activities with a potentially high or unknown level of risk of doing irreversible damage to biodiversity must go through a risk assessment.
Links to information on the application and assessment process as well as specific information for clearance applications that are submitted along with a development application.
How to prepare and submit your clearance application online.
