{"id":"country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981","name":"Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981","slug":"country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174391,"registerId":"wa-country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nCountry Areas Water Supply Act 1947\n\nCountry Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981\n\nWestern Australia\n\nCountry Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n3. Application 1\n\n4. Terms used 1\n\n5. Application for licence 1\n\n6. Form of licence 1\n\n7. Application for transfer of licence 2\n\n8. Form of compensation claim 2\n\n9. Form of memorial — unlawful clearing 2\n\n10. Form of memorial — restoration order 2\n\n11. Form of memorial — injurious affection 2\n\n13. When clearing licence is not required (section 12C) 2\n\nSchedule\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 14\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\nWestern Australia\n\nCountry Areas Water Supply Act 1947\n\nCountry Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981* 1.\n\n[**2.** Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(f).]\n\n##### 3. Application\n\nThese regulations apply to and in relation to controlled land as defined in section 12AA of the Act.\n\n[Regulation 3 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3019.]\n\n##### 4. Terms used\n\nIn these regulations unless the contrary intention appears —\n\nAct means the *Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947*;\n\n  licence means a clearing licence issued under section 12C;\n\n  section means a section of the Act.\n\n[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3019.]\n\n##### 5. Application for licence\n\nAn application for a licence shall be in the form of Form 1.\n\n##### 6. Form of licence\n\nA licence shall be in the form of Form 2.\n\n##### 7. Application for transfer of licence\n\nAn application for the transfer of a licence shall be in the form of Form 3.\n\n##### 8. Form of compensation claim\n\nA claim for compensation under section 12E shall be in the form of Form 4.\n\n##### 9. Form of memorial — unlawful clearing\n\nA memorial relating to unlawful clearing delivered pursuant to section 12BA(1) and (2) shall be in the form of Form 5.\n\n##### 10. Form of memorial — restoration order\n\nA memorial relating to a restoration order delivered pursuant to section 12BB(1) shall be in the form of Form 6.\n\n##### 11. Form of memorial — injurious affection\n\nA memorial relating to compensation paid for injurious affection delivered pursuant to section 12EA(1) shall be in the form of Form 7.\n\n[**12.** Deleted: Gazette 30 Dec 2004 p. 6999.]\n\n##### 13. When clearing licence is not required (section 12C)\n\nIn accordance with section 12C(1)(d), a clearing licence is not required —\n\n(a) where the land in question has an area of less than 0.2 hectare;\n\n(b) for the removal of suckers or regrowth less than 3 years old where the land in question was cleared of indigenous trees and vegetation as verified by Western Australian Land Information Authority photography —\n\n(i) in the case of the Wellington Dam Catchment Area and the Harris River Catchment Area, by the date of the proclamation of the *Country Areas Water Supply Act Amendment Act 1976* (i.e. 15 November 1976); or\n\n(ii) in the case of the Mundaring Weir Catchment Area, Denmark River Catchment Area, Kent River Water Reserve and Warren River Water Reserve by the date of the proclamation of the *Country Areas Water Supply Act Amendment Act 1978* (i.e. 15 December 1978),\n\nor has subsequently been cleared as a result of a licence being issued;\n\n(c) for the removal of individual trees suitable for cutting for fencing and farm materials if used for maintaining existing improvements on the holding, where —\n\n(i) those trees are cut from bush areas in random manner with not more than 2 trees removed per hectare; and\n\n(ii) no action is taken that would be deleterious to the regrowth of stumps;\n\n(d) for the removal of regrowth and suckers not more than 10 metres beyond either side of existing fencelines;\n\n(e) for the removal or destruction of poison plants included in the toxic species of the genera Gastrolobium and Oxylobium;\n\n(f) for the clearing of an area of land under a clearing permit granted under the *Environmental Protection Act 1986* if compensation has not been provided under Part IIA of the Act in respect of the area.\n\n[Regulation 13 amended: Gazette 29 Dec 1995 p. 6295; 30 Jun 2004 p. 2584; 22 Dec 2006 p. 5802.]\n\nSchedule\n\n**Form 1**\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY (CLEARING LICENCE)  \nREGULATIONS 1981*\n\nAPPLICATION FOR  \nLICENCE .......................................................... Catchment area/  \nWater Reserve.\n\nZONE ..................................\n\n| 1. Name and Address of Applicant<br> (PLEASE PRINT)<br> (Applicant to be owner/occupier or Statutory Authority —<br>Delete whichever does not apply) | SURNAME ..........................................<br>OTHER NAMES .................................<br>NAME OF STATUTORY AUTHORITY<br> (if applicable) ...................................<br> ..........................................<br>ADDRESS ..........................................<br> ..........................................<br>TELEPHONE NO. 09 ..... / .................. |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n2. Ownership, Occupancy and details of Holding\n\n(i) FULL NAME AND ADDRESS OF OWNER(S) and/or OCCUPIER(S) (IF COMPANY OR FIRM GIVE DETAILS)\n\n............................................................................................................  \n............................................................................................................  \n............................................................................................................\n\n(ii) LOCATION NUMBER(S) AND/OR LOT NUMBER(S)\n\n............................................................................................................  \n............................................................................................................\n\n(iii) CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NUMBER(S) ........................................\n\nOR\n\nLEASE NUMBER(S) .......................................................................\n\n(iv) TOTAL AREA OF HOLDING ................................... HECTARES\n\n(v) TOTAL AREA ALREADY CLEARED ..................... HECTARES\n\n(vi) AREA OF BUSH SUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE .................... ................................ HECTARES\n\n3. Land on which clearing is required (Subject Land)\n\n(i) AREA OF CLEARING PROPOSED ..................................... ............................ HECTARES\n\n(ii) POSITION OF CLEARING PROPOSED LOC/LOT ............\n\n(as shown coloured on accompanying sketch)\n\n(iii) PURPOSE FOR WHICH CLEARING IS REQUIRED.\n\n| CROP 🞏 | REGROWTH 🞏 | NEW FENCELINE 🞏 |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| PASTURE 🞏 | BUILDINGS 🞏 | OTHER .....................   .................................... 🞏 |\n\n\nPlease place ✓ where relevant.\n\n(iv) PERIOD LICENCE IS REQUIRED, FROM .........TO ..........\n\n4. General Details\n\n(i) Area of holding estimated  \nto be unable to support crop  \nor pasture because of salt  \nseeps (if any) ............................................................. hectares\n\n(ii) Additional information in support of application and extent of injurious affection if this licence is refused.\n\n..................................................................................................  \n..................................................................................................  \n..................................................................................................  \n..................................................................................................  \n..................................................................................................\n\n...........................................................\n\nSigned by Applicant*\n\nDATE ...............................................\n\n*Application to be signed by applicant personally or by applicant’s authorised attorney or agent. Any power of attorney or other authority must be forwarded with the application for sighting and return.\n\nAn application by a company must be made under the company’s common seal.\n\n[Form 1 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3020.]\n\n**Form 2**\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY (CLEARING LICENCES) REGULATIONS 1981*\n\n**LICENCE TO CLEAR**\n\n.............................. CATCHMENT AREA/WATER RESERVE, ZONE .............\n\nThis is to certify that ................................................................................. is the holder of a licence number ................................................ granted under Part IIA of the *Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947* to .................................................... ..................................................................................................... on the following land, namely ...........................................................................................................\n\n(Description of Land)\n\nto the extent of .......................................................................................................\n\n(area of land that may be cleared)\n\nas shown on the plan annexed to this licence subject to the * following conditions/* the conditions set out in the annexure of this licence.\n\n.................................................................................................................................  \n.................................................................................................................................  \n.................................................................................................................................  \n.................................................................................................................................  \n.................................................................................................................................\n\n........................................................\n\nDATED this ..................................... day of ........................................ 20.........\n\n........................................................\n\nAUTHORISED OFFICER\n\n*Delete which does not apply.\n\n[Form 2 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3020.]\n\n**Form 3**\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY (CLEARING LICENCE)  \nREGULATIONS 1981*\n\nAPPLICATION TO TRANSFER LICENCE NO. ......................................\n\nISSUED IN THE NAME OF ......................................................................\n\nFOR THE .................. CATCHMENT AREA/WATER RESERVE, ZONE .......\n\n1. I, ...................................................................................................................\n\n(Name) Please Print\n\nof .............................................................................. 09 ..... / ......................\n\n(address) (Telephone No.)\n\nbeing ............................................................................................................  \n(state the nature of interest of applicant, e.g. purchaser of land in respect of which a licence has been granted or a lessee, etc.)  \nhereby apply for the transfer of the licence issued in respect of .................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \ndescribe land by reference to location, certificate of title, lease, etc.).\n\n2. The transfer of the licence is necessary for the following reasons ..............  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................\n\n3. If the transfer of the licence is refused the land will be injuriously affected in the following manner .................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................\n\n........................................................\n\nSigned by Applicant*\n\nDATE .............................................\n\n*Application must be signed by the applicant personally or by the applicant’s authorised attorney or agent. Any power of attorney or other authority must be forwarded with the application for sighting and return.\n\nAn application by a company must be made under the company’s common seal.\n\n**Form 4**\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY (CLEARING LICENCE)  \nREGULATIONS 1981*\n\n**CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION**\n\n1. I, ..................................................................................................................\n\n(Full Name/s — Please Print)\n\nof ..................................................................................................................\n\n(address)\n\nBeing the (owner) of ....................................................................................\n\n(occupier)\n\n(owner and (give full land description of holding).\n\noccupier)\n\n(Delete whichever does not apply)\n\n...................................................................................................................... whose application to clear ..................................................... hectares or to transfer licence No. ............................ was refused/granted in part/granted subject to conditions/ under Part IIA of the *Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947* on ..................... (state date) hereby claim the sum of $.............. as compensation for injurious affection in respect of ..................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................\n\n(description of all land included in claim).\n\n2. The amount claimed is made up as follows: *\n\n(a) Area for which clearing has been refused\n\n............................ha @ ............................. per ha $ ......................\n\n(b) Any loss of value of other areas included in claim\n\n| Land....................ha @ ............................. per ha | $ ..................... |\n| --- | --- |\n| Buildings ............................................................. | $ ..................... |\n| Fencing ................................................................ | $ ..................... |\n| Water Supply ....................................................... | $ ..................... |\n| Other .................................................................... | $ ..................... |\n\n\n(c) Any additional items ........................................... $ .....................\n\n| TOTAL | $ ..................... |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n3. Nature of Interest in Lands of Claimant**\n\nState in full the nature of Interest (as for example, owner in fee simple, mortgagee, lessee, or occupier), and if the lands are leased or encumbered, or are subject to any easement, give particulars of such lease, encumbrance, or easements, etc.\n\n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................\n\n4. Where Claimant is not both the owner and occupier state the name and address of the owner or occupier (as the case may be)\n\n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................  \n......................................................................................................................\n\nDATED this ................................. day of ....................................... 20.......\n\n........................................................\n\nSigned by the Claimant.‡\n\n*Item 2 is not compulsory; complete it to the best of your ability.\n\n**If your interest in the land is not registered, you must provide documentary evidence (e.g. contract of sale, lease, partnership agreement) to support your right to claim.\n\n‡Claim must be signed by the claimant personally or by the claimant’s authorised attorney or agent. Any power of attorney or other authority must be forwarded with the claim for sighting and return.\n\nA claim by a company must be made under the company’s common seal.\n\n**Form 5**\n\nWESTERN AUSTRALIA\n\nNo.\n\nMEMORIAL\n\n|  | DEPARTMENT<br>File No. |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n**NOTICE OF UNLAWFUL CLEARING**\n\nTHE MINISTER HEREBY GIVES NOTICE THAT THE MINISTER ALLEGES THAT UNLAWFUL CLEARING HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERMENTIONED LANDS CONTRARY TO SECTION 12BA OF THE *COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947* AND THAT THE LAND MAY BECOME THE SUBJECT OF A RESTORATION ORDER UNDER SECTION 12B(2) OF THAT ACT.\n\nSCHEDULE\n\n| LAND DESCRIPTION<br>Location, Lot, Certificate of Title, Crown Lease (State whether whole or part of land in C of T or C.L.) | REGISTERED PROPRIETOR   Name, Address, Occupation |\n| --- | --- |\n|  |  |\n\n\nDated this day of 20\n\n................................ ............................................................................\n\nWitness FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER\n\n[Form 5 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3020; 29 Dec 1995 p. 6295; 23 Nov 2010 p. 5858.]\n\n**Form 6**\n\nWESTERN AUSTRALIA\n\nNo.\n\nMEMORIAL\n\n|  | DEPARTMENT<br>File No. |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n**NOTICE OF RESTORATION ORDER**\n\nTHE MINISTER HEREBY GIVES NOTICE THAT A RESTORATION ORDER HAS BEEN MADE BY THE COURT WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERMENTIONED LANDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12BB OF THE ABOVE ACT.\n\nSCHEDULE\n\n| LAND DESCRIPTION<br>Location, Lot, Certificate of Title, Crown Lease (State whether whole or part of land in C of T or C.L.) | REGISTERED PROPRIETOR<br>Name, Address, Occupation |\n| --- | --- |\n|  |  |\n\n\nDated this day of 20 .\n\n............................................ ............................................................................\n\n(Witness) FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER\n\n[Form 6 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3020; 29 Dec 1995 p. 6296; 23 Nov 2010 p. 5858.]\n\n**Form 7**\n\nWESTERN AUSTRALIA\n\nNo.\n\nMEMORIAL\n\n|  | DEPARTMENT<br>File No. |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n*COUNTRY AREAS WATER SUPPLY ACT 1947*\n\n**NOTICE OF PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION FOR INJURIOUS AFFECTION**\n\nTHE MINISTER HEREBY GIVES NOTICE THAT COMPENSATION FOR INJURIOUS AFFECTION HAS BEEN PAID ON 20 WITH RESPECT TO THE UNDERMENTIONED LANDS PURSUANT TO SECTION 12EA OF THE ABOVE ACT.\n\nSCHEDULE\n\n| LAND DESCRIPTION: Location, Lot, Certificate of Title, Crown Lease. (State whether whole or part of land in C of T or C.L.) | REGISTERED PROPRIETOR: Name, Address, Occupation | TO WHOM PAYMENT MADE AND THEIR ESTATE OR INTEREST IN THE LAND |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n|  |  |  |\n\n\nDated this day of 20 .\n\n............................................ ............................................................................\n\n(Witness) FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER\n\n[Form 7 amended: Gazette 23 Aug 1985 p. 3020; 29 Dec 1995 p. 6296; 23 Nov 2010 p. 5858.]\n\n![dline]()\n\nNotes\n\n1 This reprint is a compilation as at 9 January 2015 of the *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981* | 22 May 1981 p. 1570‑5 | 22 May 1981 |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations 1985* | 23 Aug 1985 p. 3019‑20 | 23 Aug 1985 |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations 1988* | 29 Jun 1988 p. 2110 | 29 Jun 1988 |\n| *Water Agencies (Amendment and Repeal) Regulations 1995* Pt. 2 | 29 Dec 1995 p. 6295‑302 | 1 Jan 1996 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 29 Dec 1995 p. 6291) |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981* as at 23 May 2003** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations 2004* | 30 Jun 2004 p. 2583-4 | 8 Jul 2004 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 30 Jun 2004 p. 2581) |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2004* | 30 Dec 2004 p. 6999 | 1 Jan 2005 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130) |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations 2006* | 22 Dec 2006 p. 5802 | 1 Jan 2007 (see r. 2 and *Gazette* 8 Dec 2006 p. 5369) |\n| *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Amendment Regulations 2010* | 23 Nov 2010 p. 5857-8 | r. 1 and 2: 23 Nov 2010 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 24 Nov 2010 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Country Areas Water Supply (Clearing Licence) Regulations 1981* as at 9 Jan 2015** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\nAct 4\n\nlicence 4\n\nsection 4\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations do not expand the substantive scope of the Act; they implement and operationalise the Act by prescribing forms, notices and a limited set of exemptions for controlled land (rr.3,5–11,13). Amendments recorded in the compilation table update procedural details and exemptions but, on their face, do not alter the core statutory reach established by the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947."},"complexity_factors":["Primarily procedural content: prescribed forms and templates (Forms 1–7, Schedule) which reduce statutory interpretation but increase form‑filling requirements (rr.5–11, Schedule).","Cross‑references to multiple Act provisions (eg. s.12C, s.12AA, s.12E, s.12BA, s.12BB, s.12EA) require users to read both instruments together (rr.3,13).","Quantitative, technical exemptions with fixed thresholds (0.2 hectare; regrowth <3 years; ≤2 trees/ha; 10 metres beyond fencelines) create measurable compliance boundaries (r.13(a)–(d)).","Decision and recording roles assigned to the Minister or an authorised officer (Forms 2,5–7) concentrate administrative discretion in the executive (Forms 2,5–7).","Procedures for transfer and compensation claims introduce procedural complexity for disputes and valuation (Forms 3–4; r.8).","Multiple amendments and a compilation history mean users must consult the reprint/notes to ensure they rely on current drafting (Compilation table/Notes)."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set the paperwork, procedural rules and limited exemptions for clearing “controlled land” under the Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947. They prescribe the exact application, licence, transfer, compensation and memorial forms and specify when a clearing licence is not required (for example, areas under 0.2 ha, regrowth under 3 years, limited fence‑line/tree removals, certain toxic species, or where an EPA clearing permit applies) (rr.5–11, 13).\n\nThey mainly affect landholders in designated catchments: applicants must use prescribed forms, meet quantitative limits, and may claim compensation or seek licence transfers; the Minister/authorised officer makes and records decisions. The practical trade‑offs are compliance cost, administrative discretion over approvals and recorded notices, and the availability of compensation."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed as the legislative content is entirely unavailable. No comparison between original intent and current provisions is possible."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative content was retrievable — the source page is unavailable due to a website migration or system upgrade","Only the title and administrative metadata are present, providing no basis for substantive legal analysis","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without access to the actual regulatory text"],"plain_english_summary":"These Western Australian regulations made under the Country Areas Water Supply Act set out rules for \"clearing licences\" — i.e., when and how rural landowners must get permission to clear vegetation around country water supplies and catchments. The regulation dates from 1981; its detailed provisions are currently unavailable online, so consult the WA legislation website for the full text."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: administering clearing licences in water catchment areas. While amendments have added exemptions (particularly the 2004 addition regarding Environmental Protection Act permits and the 2006 refinement of regrowth definitions), these have clarified rather than expanded the scope. The core function—providing forms and procedural rules for vegetation clearing controls—has remained consistent since 1981."},"complexity_factors":["Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (regulation 4)","Straightforward structure: citation, application, definitions, then specific forms and exemptions","Limited cross-referencing - primarily refers back to the parent Act (Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947)","Single layer of exemptions in regulation 13 (no nested exceptions)","Prescriptive form-based approach reduces ambiguity but requires compliance with specific paperwork","Some date-specific references to proclamations (1976 and 1978) that require historical knowledge","Amendments over time (1985, 1995, 2004, 2006, 2010) have added specific exemptions but not complicated the structure"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this legislation does:**\n\nThese regulations set out the paperwork and procedures for clearing native vegetation in Western Australia's water catchment areas. They operate under the *Country Areas Water Supply Act 1947*.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n- **Landowners and occupiers** in designated water catchment areas (including Wellington Dam, Harris River, Mundaring Weir, Denmark River, Kent River, and Warren River areas)\n- **Farmers** wanting to clear bush for crops, pasture, or fences\n- **Government agencies** managing water supply protection\n\n**Key things the regulations cover:**\n\n- **Forms for applications**: If you want to clear native vegetation, you must use Form 1. Licences themselves use Form 2, and transfers use Form 3.\n- **Compensation claims**: If your clearing licence is refused or restricted, you can claim compensation for \"injurious affection\" (basically, financial loss from not being able to use your land as planned) using Form 4.\n- **Official notices**: Forms 5, 6, and 7 are used by the government to record unlawful clearing, court restoration orders, and compensation payments on land titles.\n- **Exemptions**: You don't need a licence for:\n  - Small patches under 0.2 hectares\n  - Removing young regrowth (under 3 years old) from previously cleared land\n  - Cutting occasional trees for farm fences (max 2 trees per hectare)\n  - Clearing within 10 metres of existing fences\n  - Removing poison plants (*Gastrolobium* and *Oxylobium* species)\n  - Land already approved under environmental laws (if no compensation was paid under this Act)\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese rules balance farmers' need to develop land with protecting water quality. Clearing vegetation can cause salinity and erosion, which affects drinking water for Perth and regional WA. The regulations create a paper trail so authorities can track what's been cleared, penalise illegal clearing, and ensure fair compensation when restrictions limit land use."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981","history":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981/history","analysis":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/country-areas-water-supply-clearing-licence-regulations-1981/documents"}}