Private timber reserve (Tasmania)

Last updated

A private timber reserve is an area of privately owned land, used or intended to be used, for growing timber within the Australian state of Tasmania.

Contents

Landowners can have their land declared as a Private Timber Reserve and protect their right to use private land to grow timber. Private land or freehold land refers to land registered under Torrens title. A landowner is the person(s) and/or legal entity registered on the Torrens Title.

Private Timber Reserves are unique, with no other State in Australia, or internationally, providing the land owner with protection of their rights to use their planted land, land they intend to plant or native forests areas, to grow timber.

Growing timber is long term investment with trees often taking decades to grow to maturity. Forest and tree owners need certainty that they will be able to harvest in the future. Securing the right to use land to grow timber provides some certainty that the owner will be able to harvest in the future.

In the Australian State of New South Wales, landowners can apply to have timber plantations authorised as 'complying plantations' and have a guaranteed right to harvest. [1] This guarantee is only extended to plantation, not native forests or land intended to be planted.

Extent

There are 1,094,000 hectares of private land in Tasmania covered by forest or plantation (841,000 hectares of native forests and 253,000 hectares of plantation) [2] As June 2023, 429,094 hectares were declared as Private Timber Reserve [3] .

The estimates for the area of private land covered by native forests or plantation, and areas declared as Private Timber Reserve may include areas not covered by trees. Such areas include; rocky areas, glades, firebreaks, roads, and swamps, and are found within boundaries of the forest or plantation owned by individual land owners. All estimates of forests area, and area of land declared as Private Timber Reserve, use a number of methodologies to calculate area [4] [5] .

The State of Tasmania has 3.706 million hectares of forests (3.362 million hectares of native forests, 0.331 million hectares of plantation and 0.33 million hectares of other forest) covering 54% of the State [6] .

There are 27.1 million hectares of private forest in Australia (16% of forest area privately owned). Only 13.9% of the World's forest is privately owned [7] .

Location of Private Timber Reserves - as at November 2023 PTRs in Tasmania.png
Location of Private Timber Reserves - as at November 2023

Area of land declared as a Private Timber Reserve in Tasmania, as at 30 June 2023 PTR Chart 2023.png
Area of land declared as a Private Timber Reserve in Tasmania, as at 30 June 2023

The number of applications to declare land as a private timber reserve as declined considerably since 2012-2013. In 2011-2012, the progressive total for the area declared was 475,321 hectares. There is a continuing decline in the area of Private Timber Reserve 2011-2012 to 2022-2023 as the area revoked exceeds the area declared.

The reason for land owners to revoke the private timber reserve is reported [8] as being;

Change to pasture-agriculture67%
Harvest and no intent to replant10%
Sale of property9%
Forestry use discontinued5%
Other land-use4.5%
Conservation Covenant4%
Other reasons0.5%

The failure of forestry management investment schemes [9] resulted in collapse of trust in investments in plantation on private land. Coupled with the impacts of the global financial crisis there a major decline in the forest products markets. [10]

The continuing decline post the global financial crisis has not been studied.

Private Timber Reserve is land that has been declared as a Private Timber Reserve under Section 11 of the Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] . The Act was passed by both Houses of the Tasmanian Government in 1985, and received Royal Assent 25 May 1985, with a commencement date of 2 November 1987 for Part II – Private Timber Reserves.

Land declared as a Private Timber Reserve is "used only for establishing forests, or growing or harvesting timber in accordance with the Forest Practices Code and such other activities which the Authority considers to be compatible with establishing forests, or growing or harvesting timber" [12] . The activities considered to be compatible are; apiary sites, education and scientific purposes, grazing under well established trees, hunting, nature based recreation [13] .

The declaration of the Private Timber Reserve is registered on the land title as per Section 15 of the Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] The declaration of the Private Timber Reserve remains with the title(s), despite changes in ownership, or until an application to revoke is submitted by the landowner and approved. A landowner can make an application to revoke all or part of the area declared as a Private Timber Reserve, at any time.

A Private Timber Reserve is an area of land, used or intended to be used, for growing timber. It could be an area of native forest, plantation (exotic and native species) or land intended to be used to grow timber. The land has to be capable of growing timber. The minimum area that can be declared a Private Timber Reserve is five hectares.

Timber means trunks and branches of trees, whether standing or not, and all wood [14] . This definition includes the full range of wood products; all categories of saw logs, veneer logs, pulpwood and firewood.

Local planning schemes and private timber reserve declaration

Local planning schemes created under the Land Use Planning and Approval Act 1993 [15] can not be used to zone an area, declared as a Private Timber Reserve, to make timber growing a prohibited activity or place conditions on the activity. On land declared a Private Timber Reserve, local government authority development applications for operations, subject to an approved Forest Practices Plan, are not required [13] [16] .

Consultation is still required under the Forest Practices Code [17] with the local government authority when Forest Practices Plan are being prepared [18] .

Applications

The process to declare an area a Private Timber Reserve is set out in the Part II of the Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] .

The landowner completes an application form, and informs anyone who has an interest in the land or the trees as per Section 5 [11] of the application. Landowners can declare any part or all their land a Private Timber Reserves.

The application is in two parts, Part A to be completed by the Applicant (landowner) and Part B, completed by a person authorised by the Forests Practices Authority Board. Part B of the Application [19] requires details on vegetation cover, and on any natural or cultural values on the area. A Private Timber Reserve can only be declared over an area where forestry activity can be undertaken in accordance with the Forest Practices Code.

Private Forests Tasmania assesses the application and makes a recommendation to the Board of the Forest Practices Authority that the Private Timber Reserve be granted, or not. Private Forest Tasmania has a delegation under the Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] – Part II PRIVATE TIMBER RESERVES, from the Board of the Forest Practices Authority to accept, assess and make recommendations on applications to declare and revoke land as private timber reserve

The declaration of the land as a Private Timber Reserve is registered on the land title, and can be declared over a whole title or over part of a title [11] .

Application fees apply. Section 5 (2)(d) Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] requires that, "an application to declare land as a private timber reserve must be accompanied by a fee". Originally the cost per application was AUD$100 (prior to 1999) with a fee of AUD$350 introduced in 1999–2000. The fee increase followed an instruction from the Government that the fee should cover the costs of processing the application. [20]

The application fee is subject to annual increase under the Fee Units Act 1997 [21] . An application to declare land as a Private Timber Reserve attracts 350 fee units [22] . Currently the fee unit is AUD$1.78 for the period 2023-2024 [23] plus the cost of registering the declaration on the land title.

The Crown Solicitor charges a fee to register the Private Timber Reserve on the land title, AUD$104.50 (including GST) if a Private Timber Reserve covers only full titles, and an additional AUD$104.50 (including GST) if a Private Timber Reserve covers part of the land title listed in the application as well.

Forest practices plans

Section 18(2)b of the Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] states that a forests practices plan is to " contain, in the case of a private timber reserve, or where the owner of the land referred to in the plan wishes to restock the land with trees, specifications in connection with the restocking of the land with tree".

A forest practices plan can not be certified for an area declared as a Private Timber Reserve, unless the reforestation section of the plan contains restocking requirements [13] .

Land tax

Under the Land Tax Act 2000 [24] landowners in Tasmania are subject to annual land tax, based on land value [25] .

If the land meets the definition of Primary Production Land or PPL classification applies to land as at 1 July in any year, then the owner of that land is not required to pay land tax for that land in that financial year. Land declared as a Private Timber Reserve under section 11 of the Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] and advertised in the Tasmanian Government Gazette is eligible for PPL classification [26] and no land tax is payable.

Rationale

The 'Report of the Board of Inquiry into Private Forestry Development in Tasmania 1977' [27] recommended that; "That statutory provisions be made for a 'dedication' scheme in relation to private land based broadly on the British scheme which has operated since 1947 and that direct financial assistance be provided by the Government within the framework of the scheme."

The Report authors recognised the need, and potential return to the industry and State, if assistance was provided to private forest owners. Such assistance was proposed to be provided to owner who had dedicated their land for forestry. Like the British scheme the aim was to encourage the proper management of native forests.

The Board also discussed the illogical distinctions drawn by finance companies between moneys available for clearing of forests and agriculture and for forestry. Investment funds for forestry were difficult to obtain. In summary, the need to secure investment in private forestry was recognised and the dedication of a private timber reserve was a key element to securing that investment, either from the government or the private sector.

Forest Practices Act (1985)

When the Bill for the Forest Practices Act was introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament in April 1985, the Minister for Forests, Robin Gray, referenced the Private Forestry Council [28] recommendation to create the "concept of private timber reserve" [29] .

Part II provides for a concept of private timber reserves, a unique process to encourage private forestry. It will assist to develop an adequate private forest estate to help ensure that the forest-based industries have the necessary future resource. It provides an opportunity for a landowner to volunteer his forest for registration as a private timber reserve. This has the effect of ensuring that forestry is an approved long term land use in the event that a universal planning scheme covers the area and that he may therefore be assured of the opportunity to harvest his forest having grown it for many years. There is provision for compensation where a landowner is prevented from harvesting his timber when he intended to create a private timber reserve.

On the introduction of the Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] amendments were made to sections 756 and 759 of the now repealed [30] .

In the Local Government Act 1962 [30] Section 756, provided local government with the power to terminate certain non-conforming uses under a planning scheme. If a use was terminated a landowner had to seek approval to use their land, even if the use of the land use had not changed. The Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] amendment meant land declared as Private Timber Reserve was one land use where the power to terminate non-conforming uses did not apply. The other uses, where the power to terminate non-conforming uses does not apply, were; the site of a dwelling house or land used for agriculture, horticulture, viticulture, pasture, or similar purpose.

The 1985 amendment of Section 758 of the Local Government Act 1962, [30] provided for the land declared as Private Timber Reserve to be treated as a lawful use of land. This meant that land used for forestry had same status as land used for agriculture.

These amendments were deemed necessary because the use of the land for forestry purposes is not obvious. It is relatively simple to recognise land used for housing and agriculture, and hence continuing use, because the land contains buildings or crops or livestock. The use of an area of forest, used for forestry purposes, is infrequent and the period between any activity may span decades.

Forest Practices Act & the 1993 Land Use Planning and Approvals Act

There was a need to ensure that 'continuing use' be recognised was also addressed in the new planning Act Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 [15] introduced in 1993.

Under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 [15] on land: where use has stopped for 2 years or more periods; or which has stopped for 2 or more periods which together total 2 years in any period of 3 years; or in the case of a use which is seasonal in nature, if the use does not take place for 2 years in succession; is subject to the operation of a planning scheme or interim order.

Forestry has a pattern of land use where there is activity when planted or regenerated occurs, and then years later when thinning or harvesting occurs. It is often not apparent that in the period between planting/regeneration and any harvest, the land is being used to grow timber. The direct reference to Private Timber Reserves was necessary otherwise the pattern of use of land for forestry, could have resulted in the land being subject to planning schemes and interim orders, without the fact the land was being used for forestry, and had been for decades, being recognised.

Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 [15] requires local government authorities to create planning schemes and zone land for uses. Areas of land were zoned for forestry use as a permitted use. Other areas of land where forestry occurred, but not zoned with forestry as a permitted used, required a development permit from the local government authority. These development permits do not provide any certainty that the land owner would be able to harvest the wood grown. Permits are usually issued for native forest harvest and regeneration, or to establish a plantation, but did not explicitly create the right to harvest at a latter date.

In Section 20 (7) of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993; [15]

Nothing in any planning scheme or special planning order affects (a) forestry operations conducted on land declared as a private timber reserve under the Forest Practices Act 1985.

Section 20(7) also applies to mineral exploration, fishing and marine farming operations. Forestry, mineral exploration, fishing and marine farming are not subject to the provisions of planning schemes.

It is possible for a landowner to apply for a Private Timber Reserve, where under a local planning scheme forestry is a use permitted or where a permit is required. A Private Timber Reserves cannot be declared over an area where forestry is prohibited [31] .

Forest Practices Tribunal

Under Section 9 of the Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] an appeal can be made to the Forest Practices Tribunal against a refusal to grant, or the granting of a Private Timber Reserve. Twenty eight appeals were lodged with the Tribunal, 7 were upheld and 21 dismissed.

In two Appeals, the Appellant offered no proof to the Tribunal hearing [32] [33] . In five other appeals the decision to refuse the application was upheld by the Tribunal. This refusal provided the applicant the opportunity to seek compensation under Section 16 of the Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] . Under Section 16, where a refusal of an application for a private timber reserve by the Tribunal, on grounds referred in Section 8 (2) (d) or (e), entitles the land owner to compensation for the value of the timber crop growing on the land [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] .

The Meander Valley Council appealed to the Tribunal on nine occasions, and was successful on only one appeal (TASPFT 10 1997). The nine appeals include two appeals where no proof was provided to the Tribunal. In these two appeals the Council appealed to the Tribunal but provided no proof or submission to the Tribunal to support their appeal.

An additional three Tribunal hearings were held to consider costs. In two cases, [39] [40] the Tribunal directed each party pay their own cost and in one case costs were awarded to the Respondents [41] .

The powers of the Forest Practices Tribunal, since July 2021, are vested in the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal [42] .

List of appeals to Forests Practices Tribunal

CitationDate of decisionAppellantRespondentsUpheld / dismissedNotes
[1996] TASFPT 2 [43] .2 October 1996Break O'Day CouncilForest Practices Board and Glynd Management Pty LtdDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 0491
[1997] TASFPT 2 [44] .7 May 1997Meander Valley CouncilForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – BAR 527.
[1997] TASFPT 3 [32] .15 May 1997Meander Valley CouncilSM White and Forest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – WHI 767. No proof from the Appellant was tended.
[1997] TASFPT 4 [33] .15 May 1997Meander Valley CouncilIH Swann and Forest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – SWA 694. No proof from the Appellant was tended.
[1997] TASFPT 5 [45] .11 June 1997Break 0' Day CouncilB & S LeathamDismissedApplication reference – FOR 588.
[1997] TASFPT 6 [34] .12 August 1997RT Tuson and Rex Tuson Pty LtdForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – TUS 624. Appeal against refusal.
[1997] TASFPT 7 [35] .10 September 1997WJ ClaridgeForest Practices BoardDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 778. Appeal against refusal.
[1997] TASFPT 9 [36] ,16 October 1997Beams Bros (Holdings) Pty LtdForest Practices BoardUpheldReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 676. Appeal against refusal.
[1997] TASFPT 10 [46] ,10 November 1997Meander Valley CouncilForest Practices BoardUpheldApplication reference – AND 850.
[1998] TASFPT 2 [47] .17 July 1998PR McDonaldForest Practices BoardUpheldReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 925.
[1998] TASFPT 3 [48] .13 August 1998Glenorchy City CouncilForest Practices BoardUpheldApplication references – TAY 945a, 945b, 946a & 946b. Appeal against refusal. The decision of the Supreme Court of Tasmania dated 16 March 1998 found the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to declare a Private Timber Reserve on the land where approval to undertake forest operation was required.
[1998] TASFPT 4 [49] 1 October 1998RK & DE JohnsForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – JOH 955b. Appeal against refusal.
[1999] TASFPT 1 [50] 2 August 1999Meander Valley CouncilGM & EA Cubit, Forest Practices Board, Private Forests Tasmania and D & D SmithDismissedApplication reference – CUB 1003. Costs hearing. [51]
[1999] TASFPT 3 [37] .10 November 1999GR & RA LingerForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – LIN 943. Appeal against refusal.
[2000] TASFPT 1 [52] .19 January 2000Meander Valley CouncilForest Practices BoardDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1206. Costs hearing also held. [53]
[2000] TASFPT 4 [54] .7 September 2000Meander Valley Council, J Hayward and Mrs P FinlayForest Practices Board & Alan James AndrewsDismissedApplication reference – AND 850B.
[2000] TASFPT 5 [55] .7 September 2000Meander Valley Council and J HaywardPR MacDonaldDismissedApplication reference – MAC 1153.
[2000] TASFPT 6 [56] .24 October 2000G & T BrooksJ & K BurleyDismissedApplication reference – BUR 1212.
[2002] TASFPT 2 [57] .15 August 2002S Carse, C Marriott and P & J DolanForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – GUN 1368 & GUN 1363.
[2002] TASFPT 4 [58] .20 December 2002Armatos Pty LtdForest Practices BoardDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1419.
[2003] TASFPT 1 [59] .10 October 2003G J Louden and T D TannerForest Practices BoardDismissedApplication reference – ARN 1493.
[2004] TASFPT 1 [38] .20 December 2004C FlowersForest Practices BoardDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1530. Appeal against refusal.
[2005] TASFPT 1 [60] .2 February 2005J&L HaywardForest Practices BoardUpheldApplication reference – AND 1372.
[2006] TASFPT 1 [61] .31 January 2006S WatsonForest Practices Authority and GL MorganDismissedReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1227.
[2006] TASFPT 3 [41] .13 October 2006Meander Valley Council, J & M Hawkes, N Hoffman, P A Elkin, J Leis, J King, and The Environment Association JoinedForest Practices Authority and EE & IC PorterDismissedApplication reference – POR 1698. Costs hearing. [62]
[2007] TASFPT 1 [63] .24 October 2007DW Clement obo TB O'NeillForest Practices Authority and RB CurranUpheldReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1844.
[2009] TASFPT 1 [64] .3 April 2009A RickettsTasmanian Plantation Pty Ltd and Forest Practices AuthorityUpheldReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1893
[2009] TASFPT 2 [65] .3 April 2009DW Clement obo TB O'NeillForest Practices Authority and RB CurranUpheldReference number for declared Private Timber Reserve – PTR 1844.

Supreme Court

List of challenges to the Tasmanian Supreme Court

There have been a number of challenges to applications to declare areas as Private Timber Reserve lodged in the Tasmanian Supreme Court.

CitationAppellantRespondentJudgement byHearing datesDecision dateIssueDecision
[2003] TASSC 60 [66] HAYWARD, John & HAYWARD, LynnForest Practices Tribunal & Private Forests Tasmania Justice Slicer 4 February 16, 17 June 200322 July 2003Judicial review of decision of Forest Practices TribunalJustice found Tribunal erred in approving application for private timber reserve
[2003] TASSC 102 [67] HAYWARD, John & HAYWARD, LynnForest Practices Tribunal & Private Forests Tasmania Justice Slicer 11 September 200314 October 2003Appeal against granting PTR 1372Appeal upheld. Matter remitted to Forest Practices Tribunal.
[2004] TASSC 14 [68] HAYWARD, John & HAYWARD, LynnForest Practices Tribunal & Private Forests Tasmania Justice Slicer 18, 19 June 20079 March 2004Decision on costs in relation to [2003] TASSC 102Costs awarded to Hayward.
[2007] TASSC 64 [69] KING, John MichaelForest Practices Tribunal Justice Blow 18, 19 June 200722 August 2007Appeal against granting PTR 1698Appeal dismissed.
[2008] TASSC 1 [70] KING, John MichaelForest Practices Tribunal Chief Justice Underwood, Justice Slicer, & Justice Tennent 31 October 20072 November 2007Appeal against granting PTR 1698Appeal dismissed.
[2008] TASSC 51 [71] CURRAN, RobertForest Practices Tribunal Justice Slicer 27 August 20085 September 2008Appeal against granting PTR 1844Appeal upheld. Matter remitted to Forest Practices Tribunal.

Justice Crawford decision (1998)

An application to declare an area a Private Timber Reserve was received in June 1997, and assessed as per the requirements the Act Section 8 (d) of the Forests Practices Act 1985 [11] which sets the grounds for granting or refusing and application. The local government authority, the Meander Valley Council lodged an objection to the application as provided in the Section 7 of the Act [11] Their ground for the objection was that forestry "would not be in the public interest" as allowed under Section 8 of the Act. [11] .

The Board of the Forest Practices Authority approved the application and the Meander Valley Council appealed the decision to the Forest Practices Tribunal under Section 9 of the Act [11] .The Tribunal held a hearing on 13 October 1997, with the decision to dismiss the appeal delivered on 10 November 1997 [46] .

On 8 November 1997, the Meander Valley Planning Scheme 1995 [72] came into effect and forestry become a prohibited activity on the land covered by the application. This meant on 8 November 1997, forestry was prohibited on the land and the decision of the Tribunal of 10 November was void. Under Section 8 (2) (d) of the Act [11] refusal of an application is required if...

(d) by virtue of the operation of any Act, the owner of the land is prohibited from establishing forests, or growing or harvesting timber, on the land.

The planning scheme declaration on 8 November 1997 meant owner of the land was prohibited from establishing forests, or growing or harvesting timber, on the land.

In early February 1998, the Meander Valley Council registered an appeal against the decision of the Forest Practices Tribunal with the Tasmanian Supreme Court. The Crown did not contest the appeal as establishing forests, or growing or harvesting timber was prohibited on the land under the local planning scheme at 8 November 1997, two days before the Tribunal decision.

Justice Crawford on 16 March 1998 (M1 of 1998) concluded applications must be refused where forestry is a discretionary use and no permit has been issued, in addition to situations where forestry is prohibited use. The effect of this conclusion was that areas of land declared a Private Timber Reserve, where a permit was required to undertake forestry under a local planning scheme, "may now be held to be legally invalid" [73] [74] .

In June 1997, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust sought legal advice as to the implications of Justice Crawford's judgement. Their advice maintained that where a permit for forestry use is required under a planning scheme, and has not been obtained before the land was declared a Private Timber Reserve, the declaration of the private timber reserve was illegal.

The Board of Forest Practices Authority provided a brief statement on the issue for affected people. Private Forests Tasmania sent a letters to approximately 540 holders of Private Timber Reserves that may be affected, and all 149 current applicants (as at June 1997). All local government authorities were also informed of the position.

In July 1997, the Government announced it would pass legislation to validate private timber reserves (media release 15 July). The Opposition also expressed support for the proposal to validate private timber reserves.

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust applied to the Resource Management and Planning Appeal Tribunal on 8 September 1997, seeking to have all Private Timber Reserves declared after the introduction of the Land Use Planning and Approval Act 1993 [15] to be revoked. Parties to the application were the Forest Practices Authority and Private Forests Tasmania, as respondents. A hearing was held 18 September 1997, when it was argued, and accepted, that land owners whose land had been declared as private timber reserve, post the introduction of the Land Use Planning and Approval Act 1993, should be informed of the proceedings. Private Forests Tasmania identified the land owners who could be affected by the Tribunal's decisions. A total of 980 applications, covering some 320,000 hectares, have been accepted to date (1997); with some 540 applications, involving 383 landowners, affected by any decision to revoke Private Timber Reserves approved after the introduction of Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993. [15]

If successful, the Trust's application could have resulted in the majority of Private Timber Reserves, approved after the introduction of Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 [15] (9 November 1993) to be revoked. Some landowners may have had local government approval to undertake forestry activities prior to applying for a Private Timber Reserve, and hence would not be revoked. Of immediate concern was that Timber Harvesting Plans [75] for areas declared as Private Timber Reserves, may be invalid, and may need local government planning permission. Any harvesting underway on Private Timber Reserves at the time, without planning permission, would have in breach of the provisions of the Land Use Planning and Approval Act 1993 [15] .

Legislative response

An amendment was made to Forest Practices Act 1985 [11] whereby a requirement to obtain a permit to undertake forestry activities under the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 [15] was deemed not to be a prohibition under Section 8 2(A) of the Forest Practices Act 1985. [11] .

In June 1999, Royal assent was given to the Forest Practices (Private Timber Reserves Validation) Act 1999 [76] . This Act validated Private Timber Reserves already declared.

Forests Practices Tribunal (2006)

An appeal against the approval of a Private Timber Applications from EE & IC Porter [41] resulted in a hearing that heard evidence for 17 days [77] There were six appellants Meander Valley Council, J & M Hawkes, N Hoofman, PA Elkin, J Lies, J King; The appellants were all "prescribed persons" under the Forest Practices Act Section 7(4) [11] with three respondents; EE & IC Porter (landowners who submitted the application, and the Forests Practices Authority who approved the application. Other parties provided submissions to the appeal: Private Forests Tasmania, the Authority accepting and assessing the application; Gunns Ltd, a forestry company purchasing the wood from the landowner; The Environment Association, a local conservation group and Mr Lockhart, a local resident.

The Tribunal received 12 submissions in writing. These submissions often included expert advice and opinion from other parties. Each submission was then reviewed by all Appellants and Respondents, and submissions in reply lodged. In some cases, additional expert advice was included. During the hearing each party was then able cross examine witness, in particular expert witnesses, giving evidence. As result, in addition to the authors of the submissions from the Appellants and Respondents (12 persons), 17 persons were subject to cross examination [41] .

Findings

The Tribunal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the Forest Practices Authority to approve the application [41] .

During the hearing the appellants sought to have the decision of the Forest Practice Authority quashed because the application form for the Private Timber Reserve was not complete [41] The Tribunal found this did not invalidate the application [41] . The application process was changed by the Private Forests Tasmania, in conjunction with Forests Practices Authority, in 2006, and a two part application form was authorised [78] .

This hearing is notable due to its length, and the extensive cross examination of witnesses. The Tribunal found:

284. The hearing of these appeals extended to some 17 days. Many hundreds of pages of submission were subsequently received from the parties. The length of cross examination of witnesses by many of the appellants and their representatives was a principal cause of this situation. The Tribunal, particularly because of the requirement of section 37(9)(c) that it conduct the proceedings with a little formality and technically, and with as much expedition as a proper consideration of the matter permits, ultimately limited the representative to cross examination of 60 minutes each per witness [41] .

Appeal

An appellant, Mr King appealed the decision of the Tribunal to the Supreme Court pursuant to the Judicial Review Act 2000 [79] Justice Alan Blow concluded that "No error of law on the part of the Tribunal", and dismissed the appeal. [69] .

King then lodged an appeal with the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, where Chief Justice Underwood and Justices Slicer and Tennent unanimously dismissed his appeal [70] .

See also

Related Research Articles

Protected areas of Tasmania consist of protected areas located within Tasmania and its immediate onshore waters, including Macquarie Island. It includes areas of crown land managed by Tasmanian Government agencies as well as private reserves. As of 2016, 52% of Tasmania's land area has some form of reservation classification, the majority is managed by the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service. Marine protected areas cover about 7.9% of state waters.

The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for the management of publicly owned forests and the regulation of both public and private forestry in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tarkine</span> Region in Tasmania, Australia

The Tarkine, officially takayna / Tarkine, is an area containing the Savage River National Park in the north west Tasmania, Australia, which contains significant areas of wilderness. The Tarkine is noted for its beauty and natural values, containing the largest area of Gondwanan cool-temperate rainforest in Australia, as well as for its prominence in Tasmania's early mining history. The area's high concentration of Aboriginal sites has led to it being described by the Australian Heritage Council as "one of the world's great archaeological regions".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service</span> Government body of Tasmania, Australia

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is the government body responsible for protected areas of Tasmania on public land, such as national parks, historic sites and regional reserves. Historically it has also had responsibility for managing wildlife, including game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wielangta forest</span> Forest in Tasmania, Australia

The Wielangta forest is in south-east Tasmania, Australia. It is notable for its role in a 2006 court case that called into question the effectiveness of Australia's cooperative Commonwealth-State forest management regime known as Regional Forest Agreements.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and guide to forestry:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable Timber Tasmania</span> Government of Tasmania owned enterprise

Forestry Tasmania trades as Sustainable Timber Tasmania but is still legally called Forestry Tasmania. It is a government business enterprise wholly owned by the Government of Tasmania, Australia. It is responsible for the management of public production forest in Tasmania, which is about 800,000 hectares of crown land that is classified as 'permanent timber production zone'.

Mount Victoria Reserve is a temperate rainforest area in the North East portion of the Australian state of Tasmania. It is of acknowledged conservation significance and was identified as a high priority Recommended Area for Protection (RAP) by authorities during the 1980s and protected as part of the Comprehensive and Representative (CAR) Reserve system touted by Tasmanian State and Federal Australian Governments as securing conservation values.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quamby Bluff</span>

Quamby Bluff is a mountain in Northern Tasmania, Australia that is an outlying part of the Great Western Tiers mountain range.

David Edward Leaman was an author, structural geologist, geohydrologist and geophysicist.

Private landowner assistance program (PLAP) is a class of government assistance program available throughout the U.S. for landowners interested in maintaining, developing, improving and protecting wildlife on their property. Each state provides various programs that assist landowners in agriculture, forestry and conserving wildlife habitat. This helps landowners in the practice of good land stewardship and provides multiple benefits to the environment. Some states offer technical assistance which includes:

Forestry in Tasmania Australia has been conducted since early European settlement.

The Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement (TFIA) is an agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Tasmania. It is designed to create additional areas of forest reserves in the State of Tasmania, while ensuring ongoing wood supply for the forest industry. It was signed by Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and Tasmania's Premier, Lara Giddings, on August 7, 2011.

Private Forests Tasmania is a Tasmanian government statutory authority established in 1994 by the Tasmanian Private Forests Act 1994. The Authority was created to provide assistance and advice on private forest management in Tasmania, Australia. The objectives of the authority are to facilitate and expand the development of the private forest resource in Tasmania, in a manner that is consistent with sound forest land management practices.

The Private Forests Act 1994, established an Authority to provide assistance and advice on private forest management, to prescribe the functions and powers of that authority, to provide for related matters and to amend certain Acts. The Act created Private Forests Tasmania, a body corporate with perpetual succession, with seal and may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Department of Lands</span>

The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is a state-level government agency of Idaho that manages State Trust Lands. IDL oversees forestry practices on state lands and some regulation of mining practices, as well as administering forestry programs and providing fire protection and prevention on state lands. IDL operates under the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners and is the administrative arm of the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

The Ridge Association was a grassroots citizen's group based in Roslyn, Washington. The group was active from 1988 until 2014. RIDGE organized around issues related to sustainable forestry in Upper Kittitas County and Washington State. The group attempted to stop the development of the Suncadia Resort and reform logging practices on state-owned and privately-owned forest land.

References

  1. "Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999 No 97". NSW Legislation. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  2. "Private Forests Tasmania Annual Report 2018-2019" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  3. "PFT Annual Reports" . Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  4. "TASVEG 3.0 Metadata". TheLIST. Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  5. "Private Timber Reserves Spatial database". TheLIST. Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  6. ABARES 2014, Australia's forests at a glance 2014: with data to 2012–13, ABARES (PDF). Canberra, ACT: Commonwealth of Australia. 2014. p. 79. ISBN   978-1-74323-207-1 . Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  7. Siry, Jacek P.; Cubbage, Frederick W.; Newman, David H. Global Forest Ownership: Implications for Forest Production, Management, and Protection (PDF). XIII World Forestry Congress 18 – 23 October 2009. p. 3. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  8. "Private Forests Tasmania Annual Report 2019-2020" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  9. The Senate Economics References Committee (March 2016). Agribusiness managed investment schemes Bitter harvest. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN   978-1-76010-390-3 . Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  10. House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government (November 2009). The Global Financial Crisis and regional Australia (PDF). Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN   978-0-642-79238-9.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Forests Practices Act 1985". TheLaw. Tasmanian Parliament.
  12. "Forests Practices Act Section 12 1985". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 "Information Sheet – Private Timber Reserves" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  14. "Forests Practices Act 1985 – Section 3". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  16. Blow, Justice Alan. "Planning, Environment and Heritage Litigation and Legislation in Tasmania (Address to the Australasian Conference of Planning and Environment Courts and Tribunals by the Hon Justice Alan Blow, Chief Justice of Tasmania, on 5 March 2014)". Supreme Court of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  17. Forests Practices Code 2015 (PDF) (2015 ed.). Tasmania: Forest Practices Authority. 2015. ISBN   0 7246 3509 2 . Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  18. "The elements of the forest practices system". Forests Practices Authority. Forests Practices Authority. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  19. "Application to declare land as a private timber reserve Part B" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  20. "Private Forests Tasmania – Annual Report 1999-2000" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  21. "Fee Units Act 1997". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  22. "Forest Practices Regulations 2007 (S.R. 2007, No. 18) Schedule 1 – fees". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  23. "Tasmanain Government Gazzette March 29 2023" (PDF). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  24. "Land Tax Act 2000". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  25. "Land Tax Calculator". Department of Treasury and Finance. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  26. "Guideline – Primary Production Land" (PDF). State Revenue Office, Department of Treasury and Finance. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  27. Everett, M.G.; Gentle, S.W. (July 1997). Report of the Board of Inquiry into Private Forestry Development in Tasmania. Hobart. ISBN   0724603379.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  28. Felton, Ken. "The Companion to Tasmanian History – Forestry". The Companion to Tasmanian History: First Edition. Centre for Tasmanian Historical Studies University of Tasmania. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  29. Forests Practices Bill 1985 – Second Reading (PDF). Hobart: Parliament of Tasmania. 17 April 1985. p. 1231. Retrieved 12 September 2016.[ dead link ]
  30. 1 2 3 Local Government Act 1962 (Tas)
  31. "Forest Practices Act 1985 Section 8(2)(d)". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  32. 1 2 Meander Valley Council v SM White and Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 3 (15 May 1997)
  33. 1 2 Meander Valley Council v IH Swann and Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 4 (15 May 1997)
  34. 1 2 RT Tuson and Rex Tuson Pty Ltd v Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 6 (12 August 1997)
  35. 1 2 WJ Claridge v Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 7 (10 September 1997)
  36. 1 2 Beams Bros (Holdings) Pty Ltd v Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 9 (16 October 1997)
  37. 1 2 GR and RA Linger v Forest Practices Board [1999] TASFPT 3 (10 November 1999)
  38. 1 2 C Flowers v Forest Practices Tribunal [2004] TASFPT 1 (20 December 2004)
  39. Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Board [2000] TASFPT 3 (23 February 2000). Private Timber Reserve No 1206 – Application for Costs
  40. J and L Hayward v Forest Practices Board and A Andrews [2002] TASFPT 3 (31 October 2002). Application AND1372
  41. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Authority and EE and IC Porter [2006] TASFPT 3 (13 October 2006)
  42. Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. "Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2020".
  43. Break O'Day Council v The Forest Practices Board and Glynd Management Pty Ltd [1996] TASFPT 2 (2 October 1996)
  44. Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 2 (7 May 1997)
  45. Break O'Day Council v Forest Practices Board and B and S Leatham [1997] TASFPT 5 (11 June 1997)
  46. 1 2 Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Board [1997] TASFPT 10 (10 November 1997)
  47. Patricia Robin McDonald v Forest Practices Board [1998] TASFPT 2 (17 July 1998)
  48. Glenorchy City Council v Forest Practices Board [1998] TASFPT 3 (13 August 1998)
  49. RK and DE Johns v Forest Practices Board [1998] TASFPT 4 (1 October 1998).
  50. Meander Valley Council v GM and EA Cubit and Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania and D and D Smith [1999] TASFPT 1 (2 August 1999).
  51. "Meander Valley Council v GM and EA Cubit and Forest Practices Board and Private Forests Tasmania and D and D Smith [1999] TASFPT 2 (13 November 1999)". Austlii. Forest Practices Tribunal of Tasmania. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  52. Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Board [2000] TASFPT 1 (19 January 2000)
  53. Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Board [2000] TASFPT 3 (23 February 2000)
  54. Meander Valley Council and John Hayward and P Finlay v Forest Practices Board and Alan James Andrews [2000] TASFPT 4 (7 September 2000)
  55. Meander Valley Council and J Hayward v Forest Practices Board and PR McDonald [2000] TASFPT 5 (7 September 2000)
  56. G and T Brooks v J and K Burley [2000] TASFPT 6 (24 October 2000)
  57. S Carse, C Marriott and P and J Dolan v Forest Practices Board [2002] TASFPT 2 (15 August 2002)
  58. Armatos Pty Ltd v Forest Practices Board [2002] TASFPT 4 (20 December 2002)
  59. GJ Louden and T D Tanner v Forest Practices Board and SD and LA Arnold [2003] TASFPT 1 (10 October 2003)
  60. J and L Hayward v Forest Practices Board and A Andrews [2005] TASFPT 1 (2 February 2005)
  61. S Watson v Forest Practices Authority and GL Morgan [2006] TASFPT 1.}
  62. Meander Valley Council v Forest Practices Authority and EE and IC Porter [2008] TASFPT 1 (13 October 2006)
  63. DW Clement obo TB O'Neill v Forest Practices Authority [2006] TASFPT (24 October 2007)
  64. A Ricketts v Tasmanian Plantation Pty Ltd and Forest Practices Authority [2009] TASFPT 1 (3 April 2009).
  65. DW Clement obo TB O'Neill v Forest Practices Authority and RB Curran [2009] TASFPT 2 (3 April 2009)
  66. Hayward & Anor v Forest Practices Tribunal & Anor [2003] TASSC 60 (22 July 2003), Supreme Court (Tas,Australia).
  67. Hayward & Anor v Forest Practices Tribunal & Anor (No 2)= [2003] TASSC 102 (14 October 2003), Supreme Court (Tas,Australia).
  68. Hayward & Anor v Forest Practices Tribunal & Anor (No 3) [2004] TASSC 14 (9 March 2004), Supreme Court (Tas,Australia).
  69. 1 2 King v Forest Practices Tribunal [2007] TASSC 64 (22 August 2007), Supreme Court (Tas,Australia).
  70. 1 2 King v Forest Practices Tribunal [2008] TASSC 1 (14 January 2008), Supreme Court (Full Court) (Tas, Australia).
  71. Curran v Forest Practices Tribunal [2008] TASSC 51 (5 September 2008), Supreme Court (Tas,Australia).
  72. Meander Valley Planning Scheme 1995 (PDF). Meander Valley Council.
  73. Forest Practices Board Annual Report 1997-98 (PDF). Hobart: Forest Practices Board. p. 12. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  74. Private Forests Tasmania Annual Report 1997-1998 (PDF). Hobart: Private Forests Tasmania. 30 November 1998. p. 18.
  75. Amendments to the Forest Practices Act in July 1999, replaced Timber Harvesting Plans with Forest Practices Plans. The current Act refers to Forest Practices Plans
  76. "Forest Practices (Private Timber Reserves Validation) Act 1999". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  77. . Hearing dates – 21, 22, 23 & 24 February, 16 and 17 March; 4, 5 and 6 April; 22, 23 & 24 May and 4, 14 and 25 July
  78. "Private Forests Tasmania Annual Report 2006-2007" (PDF). Private Forests Tasmania. Private Forests Tasmania. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  79. "Judicial Review Act 2000". TheLaw. State of Tasmania. Retrieved 9 September 2016.