What it does
The Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 (CALM Act) establishes a comprehensive framework for the protection, management, and sustainable use of specified public lands and waters in Western Australia, together with their associated flora, fauna, and biodiversity components. As stated in its long title (as amended by No. 28 of 2015 s. 4 and No. 24 of 2016 s. 287), the Act makes "better provision for the use, protection and management of certain public lands and waters and the flora and fauna thereof", establishes the Conservation and Parks Commission, and confers functions relating to the conservation, protection, and management of biodiversity.
At its core, the Act defines "land to which this Act applies" in s.5(1) as encompassing State forest (s.6(1)), timber reserves (s.6(2)), national parks (s.6(3)), conservation parks (s.6(4)), nature reserves (s.6(5)), marine nature reserves, marine parks, and marine management areas (s.6(6)), along with other reserved lands vested in or managed by the Commission or Executive Body. Part II sets out detailed mechanisms for reserving, vesting, and altering these categories. For instance, State forests are reserved by Governor's order under s.8, with changes subject to parliamentary disallowance procedures in s.10A. Marine reserves are reserved under s.13, subject to public notification and submissions under s.14, with specific purposes and prohibited acts detailed in ss.13A (marine nature reserves: no aquaculture, commercial or recreational fishing, or pearling), 13B (marine parks: zoned classifications with incompatible activities declared in classification notices), and 13C (marine management areas: broader permitted uses for conservation, recreation, science, and commerce, prevailing in conflicts with fisheries laws per s.13C(4) and (6)).
The Act mandates management plans for all such land under Part V. Section 54 requires responsible bodies (defined in s.53, including the Commission or joint responsible bodies) to prepare plans through the CEO (s.54(3)), with contents prescribed by s.55 (policies, operations summary, expiry date not exceeding 10 years). Plans must pursue objectives in s.56(1), such as conservation in nature reserves (s.56(1)(d)), optimum yield in exotic plantations (s.56(1)(b)), and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage without adverse effects on fauna/flora (s.56(2), prevailing in conflicts per s.56(3)). Preparation involves public notification (s.57), submissions (s.58), referrals to bodies like local governments or the Minister for Mines (s.59), and Ministerial approval (s.60), with amendments following the same process (s.61). Section 57A allows exemptions from full Aboriginal heritage assessment if delays would be unreasonable, but requires later compliance.