60Forest permits for non-forestry uses

60 Forest permits for non-forestry uses

60 Forest permits for non-forestry uses

(1916 Act, ss 31(1)–(2) and 32F)

(1) The land manager of a forestry area may, on payment of the fee determined by the land manager, issue a forest permit authorising the holder of the permit to use the area for—

(a) the purposes specified in the permit, including recreational, sporting or commercial activities, and

(b) if the area is used for forestry operations with trees of exotic coniferous species—the construction and operation of renewable energy infrastructure.

(1A) The land manager of a forestry area must not issue a permit under subsection (1)(b) unless the land manager is satisfied that issuing the permit—

(a) is consistent with the obligations of the land manager under a sustainable forest management certification scheme, including the following—

(i) restrictions on converting forested land to non-forest uses,

(ii) requirements to support local communities and timber processors with sustainable yield of forest products in the short, medium, and long term, and

(b) will not result in premature harvesting of timber that causes the Corporation to fail to meet a supply commitment to a local timber processor under a timber supply agreement, and

(c) will not result in more than 0.7% of forestry areas currently used for forestry operations with trees of exotic coniferous species being used for the construction and operation of renewable energy infrastructure, and

(d) will not result in a net loss of timber available for forestry operations, and

(e) will result in a net gain of land available for forestry operations, and

(1B) The land manager of a forestry area must not issue a permit under subsection (1)(b) unless land used for forestry operations in substitution for the land subject to the permit—

(a) is a similar distance from local timber processors as the land for which it is substituted, and

(b) has an area at least twice as large as the area used for the construction and operation of renewable energy infrastructure, and