Natural Resources Management (Commercial Forests) Amendment Act
The Natural Resources Management (Commercial Forests) Amendment Act 2011 was assented to in November 2011, providing two tools for managing the impacts of commercial forestry:
- forest water licensing system
- more flexible permit system.
These tools were deemed necessary to implement the statewide policy framework Managing the Water Resource Impacts of Plantation Forests, which assists those involved in water planning by guiding their decision-making processes. The Landscape South Australia Act 2019 incorporates principles for managing the water impacts of commercial forestry.
Water for commercial forestry
The Landscape South Australia Act 2019 defines a commercial forest as a forest plantation where the forest vegetation is grown or maintained so that it can be harvested or used for commercial purposes, including through the commercial exploitation of the carbon absorption capacity of the forest vegetation.
Commercial forests provide significant economic and social benefits to South Australia, but they can have a substantial impact on water resources.
Managing the Water Resource Impacts of Plantation Forests is a guide for water planning in South Australia in areas where commercial forestry is a key land use. The framework provides management options such as permits or forest water licences, for areas where commercial forests have or could have a significant impact on water resources. In these areas, new commercial plantations and farm forestry are permitted provided there is sufficient water available to offset the impacts of new plantings. The framework meets the requirements of the National Water Initiative.
On 7 July 2023, the Australian Government announced that new tree plantings applying to register under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme with a start date after 1 June 2024 will no longer be subject to water interception conditions (known as the CFI Rule).
However, all ACCU projects must still follow relevant state or territory government rules and regulations. In South Australia, the planting of a commercial forest (including for carbon credits) requires a permit or a licence.
Policy for managing the water impacts of commercial forests in South Australia
Forest water licensing and permitting in South Australia
A number of Landscape Regions have developed policy for managing the water impacts of commercial forests.
Certain types of commercial forestry such as farm forestry (small-scale commercial forests located on a farm) and biodiversity plantings are exempt from requiring a licence or a permit in some regions of South Australia.
A number of Landscape Regions have developed policy for managing the water impacts of commercial forests. These include the Lower Limestone Coast Landscape Region, the Kangaroo Island Landscape Region, the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Region and the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Region.
Commercial forestry in the Limestone Coast Landscape Region
Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area
The Lower Limestone Coast Prescribed Wells Area in its entirety has been declared a declared forestry area and a licensing system is in place for commercial forests within the area (see the 2013 Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan).
Division 6 (sections 164 – 174) of the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 provides the rules regarding the declaration of forestry areas, the issuance of forest water licences, the allocation of water, and the variance, transfer, conditions, and surrender or cancellation of such licences.
The provisions in the 2013 Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan provide a forest water licensing system for existing and new commercial forests designed to closely mirror the general water licence system. This enables the two systems to be integrated to allow water to be traded between industry sectors, subject to conditions that protect water availability and the long-term integrity and security of issued water rights.
Padthaway, Tatiara and Tintinara-Coonalpyn Prescribed Wells Areas
A permit system for new commercial forests is in place for the Padthaway, Tatiara and Tintinara-Coonalpyn Prescribed Wells Areas. These areas have not been declared as declared forestry areas and a forest water licence is not required. Instead, permits for new forests will only be issued if an offsetting allocation is quarantined for the life of the plantation. Further information on the permit system can be found in the Limestone Coast Landscape Region’s Water Affecting Activity Control Policies.
Commercial forests that meet the definition of farm forestry are exempt from requiring a forest water licence or a permit in the Limestone Coast.
Commercial forestry in the Kangaroo Island Landscape Region
A permit system for new commercial forests is in place for Kangaroo Island. Permits for new forests can only be issued if there is sufficient water available to offset the impacts of the plantation. Further information on the permit system can be found in the Kangaroo Island Landscape Region’s Water Affecting Activity Control Policies.
Commercial forests that meet the definition of farm forestry are exempt from requiring a forest water licence or a permit on Kangaroo Island.
Commercial forestry in the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Region
Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges
A permit system for all new or expanded commercial forests is in place in the water allocation plan for the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges area.
Under the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan permits for new forests can only be issued if there is sufficient water available to offset the impacts of the plantation. No exemption is made for farm forestry.
Revegetation with the purpose of minimising the potential for waterlogging of irrigated land within the Angas Bremer Irrigation Management Zone is also exempt from requiring a permit (see the Angas Bremer Irrigation Region Revegetation Booklet in Appendix D of the Plan).
Western Mount Lofty Ranges
A permit system for all new or expanded commercial forests is in place in the Western Mount Lofty Ranges area.
Under the Western Mount Lofty Ranges Water Allocation Plan permits for new forests can only be issued if there is sufficient water available to offset the impacts of the plantation. No exemption is made for farm forestry.
Under the plan, a commercial forest should not be planted in a particular groundwater or surface water management zone if the excess water available for allocation has been reserved by the Minister. A Notice of Reservation of all unallocated water was put into place in 2013 in the Western Mount Lofty Ranges; this currently prevents the planting of new areas of commercial forestry or the expansion of existing areas.
A permit is not required, however, for new and subsequent plantings of commercial forests provided they have a planted density of less than 250 trees per hectare (the Notice of Reservation does not apply to this type of planting).
Commercial forestry in the Eyre Peninsula Landscape Region
A permit is required for all new commercial forest or expansion of an existing forest located within a priority catchment under the Eyre Peninsula Water Affecting Activity Control Policy.
Permits for new forests can only be issued if there is sufficient water available to offset the impacts of the plantation.
Planting of local native seed or tube stock to revegetate a local vegetation community is exempt from requiring a permit, even if carbon credits will be derived from the planting.
Farm forestry
Farm forestry is small-scale commercial forestry located on a farm.
The Lower Limestone Coast Water Allocation Plan and Kangaroo Island Landscape Region’s Water Affecting Activity Control Policies define farm forestry as a ‘commercial forest where the net planted area does not exceed or will not exceed 10% of the total area of the land described in a Certificate of Title or Crown Lease, or 20 hectares per Certificate of Title or Crown Lease, whichever is greater and is situated on a farm’.
Commercial forests that meets the definition of farm forestry are exempt from requiring a permit or a water licence in the Kangaroo Island and Lower Limestone Coast Landscape Regions.
No exemption is made for commercial forestry on farms in the Eastern and Western Mount Lofty Ranges water allocation plans and the Eyre Peninsula Water Allocation Plan.
A series of information initiatives aimed at advising potential farmers and landowners interested in the on-farm forest plantation sector is now available as part of Trees on Farm initiative. Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub has more information including a toolkit, research reports, videos and an interactive map.
