23Determination of critical habitats

### 23 Determination of critical habitats > > (1)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (1) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpa@EN) Where the Secretary, after consultation with SAC, is satisfied that the whole or any part of the habitat of any listed taxon of native flora or fauna is critical to the survival of that taxon, the Secretary must determine the whole or the part of that habitat to be a critical habitat. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (2) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpb@EN) Subject to this section, the Secretary must– > > > > > > (a) give public notification of the area determined as a critical habitat by reference to a map registered in the central plan office under the [Survey Co-ordination Act 1944](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1944-086) showing the boundaries, extent and details of the area and, in particular, identifying the area by reference to rectangular grid co-ordinates on the Australian Map Grid or Map Grid Australia; and > > > > > > > (b) notify any landholder or other person who is likely to be affected by the determination; and > > > > > > > (c) notify CRC of the determination. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (3) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpc@EN) On making a determination of a critical habitat, the Secretary must give notice of the determination to the Recorder of Titles and the determination is of no effect until the Secretary does so. > > > (4)  A notice under [subsection (3)](#GS23@Gs3@EN) – > > > > > > (a) is to be in a form approved by the Recorder of Titles; and > > > > > > > (b) is to identify, as provided by [subsection (2)](#GS23@Gs2@EN) [(a)](#GS23@Gs2@Hpa@EN) , the land that is subject to the determination of a critical habitat; and > > > > > > > (c) is taken to be a dealing within the meaning of the [Land Titles Act 1980](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1980-019) . > > > (5)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (5) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpd@EN) The Secretary must, within 30 days after making a determination but subject to [subsections (6)](#GS23@Gs6@EN) and [(7)](#GS23@Gs7@EN) , publish notice of the determination in the *Gazette*. > > > (6)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (6) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpe@EN) The Secretary need not comply with [subsection (2)](#GS23@Gs2@EN) [(a)](#GS23@Gs2@Hpa@EN) or [(5)](#GS23@Gs5@EN) if the Minister is of the opinion that disclosure of the location of the habitat would result in any harm being done to it or to the flora or fauna which it supports. > > > (7)  [*\[Section 23 Subsection (7) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja19@GC9@Hpf@EN) The Secretary may not advertise a determination of a critical habitat that is on private land unless the landholder agrees.