5.3.1 Administration
The Category 2 state laws are administered by state organizations or authorities
which in some jurisdictions also administer the specialist soil conservation law. In
this regard, there is a wide variety of administrative bodies that have a role in the
implementation of the Category 2 laws, including state councils, regional boards,
catchment management authorities, commissions, corporations, specialist authorities, advisory boards, advisory committees, environmental trusts, and technical
working groups.
70 The powers, duties and authorities of these administrative bodies
carry a wide range of functions relevant for soil conservation including policymaking, approving pastoral and water licenses, granting permission to undertake
resource management activities within prescribed limits, decision-making and issuing directions for soil utilisation.
5.3.2 Soil Conservation Benefits
This group of legislation has a role in developing natural resource standards, limits
and conditions of use, which include many soil conservation measures. New South
Wales has a sophisticated approach by virtue of the Natural Resources Commission
Act of 2003. This law establishes an independent body with broad investigating and
reporting functions. Its purpose is to establish a sound ecological basis for the
management of natural resources in the social, economic and environmental interests
of the State, with the adoption of State-wide standards and targets for natural
resource management issues.
71
70 E.g. the functions of Local Services Boards formed under Section 26 of the New South Wales
Local Land Services Act 2013, is ‘to determine the general policies and strategic direction of Local
Land Services’ (Section 4). Under Section 4(1) ‘local land services’, means programs and advisory
services associated with agricultural production, biosecurity, natural resource management and
emergency management, including programs and advisory services associated with the following:
(a) agricultural production, (b) biosecurity, including animal pest and disease and plant pest and
disease prevention, management, control and eradication, (c) preparedness, response and recovery
for animal pest and disease and plant pest and disease emergencies and other emergencies impacting
on primary production or animal health and safety, (d) animal welfare, (e) chemical residue
prevention, management and control, (f) natural resource management and planning,
(g) travelling stock reserves and stock watering places, (h) control and movement of stock,
(i) related services and programs.
71 Section 3; under Section 5, “natural resource management” extends to the following matters
relating to the management of natural resources: (a) water, (b) native vegetation, (c) salinity, (d) soil,
(e) biodiversity.
Soil Legislation in Australia
203
The Category 2 state laws are administered by state organizations or authorities
which in some jurisdictions also administer the specialist soil conservation law. In
this regard, there is a wide variety of administrative bodies that have a role in the
implementation of the Category 2 laws, including state councils, regional boards,
catchment management authorities, commissions, corporations, specialist authorities, advisory boards, advisory committees, environmental trusts, and technical
working groups.
70 The powers, duties and authorities of these administrative bodies
carry a wide range of functions relevant for soil conservation including policymaking, approving pastoral and water licenses, granting permission to undertake
resource management activities within prescribed limits, decision-making and issuing directions for soil utilisation.
5.3.2 Soil Conservation Benefits
This group of legislation has a role in developing natural resource standards, limits
and conditions of use, which include many soil conservation measures. New South
Wales has a sophisticated approach by virtue of the Natural Resources Commission
Act of 2003. This law establishes an independent body with broad investigating and
reporting functions. Its purpose is to establish a sound ecological basis for the
management of natural resources in the social, economic and environmental interests
of the State, with the adoption of State-wide standards and targets for natural
resource management issues.
71
70 E.g. the functions of Local Services Boards formed under Section 26 of the New South Wales
Local Land Services Act 2013, is ‘to determine the general policies and strategic direction of Local
Land Services’ (Section 4). Under Section 4(1) ‘local land services’, means programs and advisory
services associated with agricultural production, biosecurity, natural resource management and
emergency management, including programs and advisory services associated with the following:
(a) agricultural production, (b) biosecurity, including animal pest and disease and plant pest and
disease prevention, management, control and eradication, (c) preparedness, response and recovery
for animal pest and disease and plant pest and disease emergencies and other emergencies impacting
on primary production or animal health and safety, (d) animal welfare, (e) chemical residue
prevention, management and control, (f) natural resource management and planning,
(g) travelling stock reserves and stock watering places, (h) control and movement of stock,
(i) related services and programs.
71 Section 3; under Section 5, “natural resource management” extends to the following matters
relating to the management of natural resources: (a) water, (b) native vegetation, (c) salinity, (d) soil,
(e) biodiversity.
Soil Legislation in Australia
203