Options to achieve an SEB
If you are required to provide an SEB offset as part of a clearance application, you can choose to do one or a combination of the following options:
- Establish a new SEB site on land you own or on land under your care and control.
- Apply to use your own SEB credit (previously approved).
- Apply to use someone else’s SEB credit
- Engage an accredited Third Party Provider to find and deliver a SEB on your behalf.
- Pay into the Native Vegetation Fund if the achievement of an on-ground SEB or use of SEB credit is not possible.
These options and the steps that follow are explained in more detail below.
Option 1. Establish a new SEB site
To establish a new SEB site on land that you own or that is under your care and control you may propose to do one or a combination of the following (details to be submitted with your clearance application):
- revegetate or encourage natural regeneration of native vegetation in an area; this usually requires the removal of threats such as grazing, weeds and pests
- protect an existing area of native vegetation by placing it under a Heritage Agreement or Management Agreement to protect it from future disturbance.
Your site must meet the eligibility requirements in the SEB Policy. To understand how much benefit is required and how much is provided by the site, follow steps 1-3.
Step 1. Assess the vegetation and management requirements
You will need to engage an accredited consultant to assess the vegetation proposed to be cleared, and the proposed SEB area. The vegetation assessment will identify whether the SEB area meets the requirements of the SEB policy and the amount of environmental benefit required to offset the clearance.
To fully inform the Native Vegetation Council whether the SEB management will achieve the required environmental benefit, a draft SEB Management Plan must be prepared.
Step 2. Seek approval
You will need to submit your SEB Management Plan with your accredited consultant data report for your clearance application. The Native Vegetation Branch will contact you to discuss your proposal prior to the application being considered by the Native Vegetation Council. We recommend that you submit an application at least ten weeks before you require a decision.
Step 3. Deliver the offset
If you receive notification that your clearance application has been approved, you will be required to commence management of your SEB area prior to any clearance taking place.
Option 2. Apply to use your own SEB credit
If you have previously established SEB credit, the approved SEB credit points will be recorded on the Native Vegetation Credit Register. You can propose to use the credit (if it meets the requirements of the SEB policy) as the method to achieve an SEB when you submit your clearance application.
Note that you can also assign (and potentially sell) SEB credit to other clearance applicants by submitting an Application to Establish SEB Area and Assign Credit.
Option 3. Apply to use someone else’s SEB credit
The Native Vegetation Credit Register lists all SEB credit available in South Australia. You can contact a credit holder that has credit that matches your offsetting requirements to negotiate a purchase of credit.
If the credit holder is willing to sell you their credit and you agree to their price, they must apply to the Native Vegetation Council to have SEB credit assigned to you, by using the Application to Establish and/or Assign SEB Credit form. This application may accompany a clearance application.
Some landholders have sites on the credit register that are potential credit sites. These are eligible sites that have not yet been fully assessed. If a potential credit site is of interest to you, the landholder will need to first apply to the Native Vegetation Council to establish the credit.
Option 4. Engage an accredited Third Party Provider
An accredited Third Party Provider may be able to locate and establish an SEB site on your behalf. Accredited Third Party Providers are individuals and organisations that have been screened and approved by the Native Vegetation Council as having the skills to establish and manage SEB sites.
Third Party Providers may also act as brokers if you want help setting up an SEB site but want to manage it yourself.
View a list of accredited Third Party Providers.
Option 5. Make a payment into the Native Vegetation Fund
The Native Vegetation Council prefers that an attempt is made to arrange your own on-ground SEB site or use suitable SEB credit, however if these options are not available, a payment into the Native Vegetation Fund may be accepted. The amount paid is determined as part of the clearance assessment process.
The Native Vegetation Council uses SEB payments to fund on-ground works (normally through grants) and offset the impacts of vegetation clearances.
