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NATURE CONSERVATION ACT 2014


TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

CHAPTER 1--PRELIMINARY

   PART 1.1--INTRODUCTION

   1.      Name of Act  
   3.      Dictionary  
   4.      Notes  
   5.      Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc  
   6.      Objects of Act  

   PART 1.2--RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER LAWS

   7.      Application of Act to Emergencies Act 2004  
   8.      Relationship to environment laws  

   PART 1.3--IMPORTANT CONCEPTS

   9.      What is nature?  
   10.     What is conservation?  
   11.     What is an animal?  
   12.     What is a native animal?  
   13.     What is a plant?  
   14.     What is a native plant?  
   15.     What is a species?  
   16.     What is a native species?  
   17.     What is an ecological community?  
   18.     What is a member of a species or ecological community?  
   19.     What is biodiversity?  

CHAPTER 2--ADMINISTRATION

   PART 2.1--CONSERVATOR OF FLORA AND FAUNA

   20.     Conservator—appointment  
   21.     Conservator—functions  
   22.     Conservator—delegation  
   23.     Conservator—guidelines  
   24.     Meaning of biodiversity research and monitoring  
   25.     Biodiversity research and monitoring program—conservator to  
   26.     Biodiversity research and monitoring program—conservator to  

   PART 2.2--ACT PARKS AND CONSERVATION SERVICE

   27.     ACT parks and conservation service—establishment  

   PART 2.3--CONSERVATION OFFICERS

   28.     Conservation officers—appointment  
   29.     Conservation officers—identity cards  
   30.     Conservation officers—power not to be exercised before identity card  

   PART 2.4--SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

   31.     Scientific committee—establishment  
   32.     Scientific committee—functions  
   33.     Scientific committee—annual report  
   34.     Scientific committee—Minister's directions  
   35.     Scientific committee—membership  
   36.     Scientific committee—appointment of members  
   37.     Scientific committee—chair and deputy chair  
   38.     Scientific committee—secretary  
   39.     Scientific committee—ending appointments  
   40.     Scientific committee—disclosure of interests  
   41.     Scientific committee—meetings  
   42.     Scientific committee—presiding member at meetings  
   43.     Scientific committee—quorum at meetings  
   44.     Scientific committee—voting at meetings  
   45.     Scientific committee—conduct of meetings  

   PART 2.5--ADVISORY COMMITTEES

   46.     Advisory committees  

CHAPTER 3--NATURE CONSERVATION STRATEGY FOR THE ACT

   47.     What is the nature conservation strategy for the ACT?  
   48.     What is a draft nature conservation  
   49.     Draft nature conservation strategy—conservator to prepare  
   50.     Draft nature conservation strategy—consultation with  
   51.     Draft nature conservation strategy—public consultation  
   52.     Draft strategy—revision and submission to Minister  
   53.     Draft strategy—Minister to approve, return or reject  
   54.     Draft strategy—Minister's approval and notification  
   55.     Draft strategy—Minister's direction to revise etc  
   56.     Draft strategy—Minister's rejection  
   57.     Nature conservation strategy—minor amendments  
   58.     Nature conservation strategy—conservator to implement  
   59.     Nature conservation strategy—monitoring  
   60.     Nature conservation strategy—review  

CHAPTER 4--THREATENED NATIVE SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

   PART 4.1--THREATENED NATIVE SPECIES

   61.     What is a threatened native species?  
   62.     What is a threatened native species list?  
   63.     Threatened native species list—categories  
   64.     Threatened native species list—eligibility for national  
   64A.    Threatened native species list—eligibility for regional  
   65.     Threatened native species list—eligibility criteria  
   66.     Threatened native species list—criteria to review  

   PART 4.2--THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

   67.     What is a threatened ecological community?  
   68.     What is a threatened ecological communities list?  
   69.     Threatened ecological communities list—categories  
   70.     Threatened ecological communities list—eligibility for  
   71.     Threatened ecological communities list—eligibility criteria  
   72.     Threatened ecological communities list criteria—review  

   PART 4.3--KEY THREATENING PROCESSES

   73.     What is a threatening process?  
   74.     What is a key threatening process?  
   75.     What is a key threatening processes list?  
   76.     Key threatening processes list  
   77.     Key threatening processes list—eligibility  
   78.     Key threatening processes list—eligibility criteria  
   79.     Key threatening processes list criteria—review  

   PART 4.4--INCLUDING, TRANSFERRING AND OMITTING ITEMS IN LIST

           Division 4.4.1--Definitions—pt 4.4

   80.     Definitions—pt 4.4  

           Division 4.4.2--Including, transferring and omitting items in list—general

   81.     Nominations—public may nominate item at any time  
   82.     Nominations—scientific committee may reject nomination  
   83.     Nominations—scientific committee may nominate items itself  
   84.     Nominations—public consultation  
   85.     Nominations—scientific committee to carry out listing assessment  
   87.     Minister to decide whether to include, transfer or omit item  
   88.     Minister's decision—include item  
   89.     Minister's decision—transfer item  
   90.     Minister's decision—omit item  

           Division 4.4.3--Including or transferring certain nationally threatened items

   90A.    Minister may include or transfer nationally threatened items without  

           Division 4.4.4--Conservation advice

   90B.    Conservation advice guidelines  
   90C.    Conservation advice  
   90E.    Conservation advice—adopting advice for nationally threatened item  
   90F.    Conservation advice—scientific committee to review  

           Division 4.4.5--Final version of list and notification

   91.     Final version of list and notification  

           Division 4.4.6--Minor amendments of list

   93.     What is a minor amendment?—div 4.4.6  
   94.     Minister may make minor amendments  
   95.     Minor amendment—including similar species  
   96.     Minor amendment—omitting similar species  
   97.     Minor amendment—rediscovery of extinct species  

   PART 4.5--ACTION PLANS

   98.     Definitions—Act  
   99.     What is an action plan?—pt 4.5  
   100.    What is a draft action plan?—pt 4.5  
   100A.   Minister to decide if action plan needed  
   101.    Draft action plan—conservator to prepare  
   102.    Draft action plan—consultation with scientific committee  
   103.    Draft action plan—public consultation  
   104.    Draft action plan—revision  
   105.    Draft action plan—final version and notification  
   106.    Action plan—minor amendments  
   107.    Action plan—conservator to implement  
   108.    Action plan—monitoring and review  
   108A.   Action plan—ending action plan after review  

CHAPTER 5--PROTECTION OF NATIVE SPECIES—CONSERVATION PLANS

   PART 5.1--SPECIAL PROTECTION STATUS

   109.    What is special protection status?  

   PART 5.2--PROTECTED NATIVE SPECIES

   110.    What is a protected native species?  
   111.    Minister to make protected native species list  
   112.    Protected native species list—eligibility  
   113.    Minister to develop criteria and processes for protected native species  
   114.    Protected native species list criteria—review  

   PART 5.3--NATIVE SPECIES CONSERVATION PLANS

   115.    What is a native species conservation plan?  
   116.    What is a draft native species conservation plan?—pt  
   117.    Draft native species conservation plan—conservator to  
   118.    Draft native species conservation plan—consultation with scientific  
   119.    Draft native species conservation plan—consultation with lessee and  
   120.    Draft native species conservation plan—public consultation  
   121.    Draft native species conservation plan—revision  
   122.    Draft native species conservation plan—final version and  
   123.    Native species conservation plan—minor amendments  
   124.    Native species conservation plan—conservator etc to  
   125.    Native species conservation plan—monitoring and review  

CHAPTER 6--PROTECTION OF NATIVE SPECIES—OFFENCES

   PART 6.1--OFFENCES

           Division 6.1.1--Definitions—pt 6.1

   126.    Definitions—pt 6.1  

           Division 6.1.2--Native animals

   127.    Definitions—div 6.1.2  
   128.    Offence—interfere with nest of native animal  
   129.    Offence—interfere with nest of native animal—endanger progeny or  
   130.    Offence—kill native animal  
   131.    Offence—injure or endanger native animal  
   132.    Offence—take native animal  
   133.    Offence—keep non-exempt animal  
   134.    Offence—sell non-exempt animal  
   135.    Offence—offer to sell animal without disclosing licence  
   136.    Offence—import non-exempt animal  
   137.    Offence—export non-exempt animal  
   138.    Offence—release animal from captivity  

           Division 6.1.3--Native plants

   139.    Definitions—div 6.1.3  
   140.    Offence—take native plant—unleased land  
   141.    Offence—take and sell native plant—unleased land  
   142.    Offence—take native plant—protected native species  
   143.    Offence—take native plant—special protection status  
   144.    Offence—damage native tree—unleased land  
   145.    Offence—damage native tree—leased land  
   146.    Offence—damage or take fallen native timber  
   147.    Offence—offer to sell native plant without disclosing licence  
   148.    Offence—sell native plant—protected or special protection status  
   149.    Offence—sell native plant without plant tag—protected or special protection  
   150.    Offence—import native plant—protected or special protection status  
   151.    Offence—export native plant—protected or special protection status  
   152.    Offence—export plant without plant tag—protected or special protection  

           Division 6.1.4--Exceptions to offences

   153.    Chapter 6 exceptions  

   PART 6.2--OTHER MATTERS

   154.    What is an exempt animal?  
   155.    Declarations—exempt animals  
   156.    Interest in native animal ends with escape  

CHAPTER 7--CONTROLLED NATIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLANS

   157.    What is a controlled native species?—ch 7  
   158.    What is a controlled native species management plan?  
   159.    What is a draft controlled native species management plan?—ch  
   160.    Draft controlled native species management plan—conservator to  
   161.    Draft controlled native species management plan—consultation with lessee and  
   162.    Draft controlled native species management plan—public  
   163.    Draft controlled native species management plan—revision  
   164.    Draft controlled native species management plan—emergencies  
   165.    Draft controlled native species management plan—final version and  
   166.    Controlled native species management plan—minor amendments  
   167.    Controlled native species management plan—conservator etc to  
   168.    Controlled native species management plan—monitoring and review  

CHAPTER 7A--CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN

   168A.   Meaning of cultural resource management plan  
   168B.   Preparation of draft cultural resource management plan  
   168C.   Draft cultural resource management plan—revision and submission to  
   168D.   Draft cultural resource management plan—Minister to approve, return or  
   168E.   Draft cultural resource management plan—Minister's direction to revise  
   168F.   Cultural resource management plan—minor amendments  
   168G.   Cultural resource management plan—conservator to implement  
   168H.   Cultural resource management plan—reporting  
   168I.   Cultural resource management plan—review  

CHAPTER 8--RESERVES—MANAGEMENT PLANNING

   PART 8.1--DEFINITIONS

   169.    What is a reserve?—Act  
   170.    What is a wilderness area?—Act  

   PART 8.2--IUCN CATEGORIES FOR RESERVES

   171.    What is an IUCN category for a reserve?—pt 8.2  
   172.    Assignment of reserves to IUCN categories  
   173.    IUCN reserve management objectives  
   174.    Management of reserve assigned to IUCN category if no reserve management  

   PART 8.3--RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLANS

   175.    What is a reserve management plan?  
   176.    What is a draft reserve management plan?—pt 8.3  
   177.    Draft reserve management plan—custodian to prepare  
   179.    Draft reserve management plan—public consultation  
   180.    Draft reserve management plan—revision and submission to  
   181.    Draft reserve management plan—referral to Legislative Assembly  
   182.    Draft reserve management plan—committee to report  
   183.    Draft reserve management plan—Minister to approve, return or  
   184.    Draft reserve management plan—Minister's approval and  
   185.    Draft reserve management plan—Minister's direction to revise  
   186.    Draft reserve management plan—Minister's rejection  
   187.    Reserve management plan—minor amendments  
   188.    Reserve management plan—custodian to implement  
   189.    Reserve management plan—review  

   PART 8.4--RAMSAR WETLANDS MANAGEMENT PLANS

   190.    What is a Ramsar wetland?  
   191.    What is a Ramsar wetland management plan?  
   192.    What is a draft Ramsar wetland  
   193.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—conservator to prepare  
   194.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—consultation with Commonwealth and  
   195.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—public consultation  
   196.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—revision and submission to  
   197.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—Minister to approve, return or  
   198.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—Minister's approval and  
   199.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—Minister's direction to revise  
   200.    Draft Ramsar wetland management plan—Minister's  
   201.    Ramsar wetland management plan—minor amendments  
   202.    Ramsar wetland management plan—conservator etc to implement  
   203.    Ramsar wetland management plan—monitoring and review  

   PART 8.5--ACCESS TO BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN RESERVES

   204.    What are biological resources?—pt 8.5  
   205.    What are genetic resources?—pt 8.5  
   206.    Who is an access provider?—pt 8.5  
   207.    What is accessing biological resources?—pt 8.5  
   208.    Application—certain biological resources  
   209.    Offence—access biological resources  
   210.    Benefit-sharing agreement—licensee required to enter  
   211.    Benefit-sharing agreement—provisions  
   212.    Benefit-sharing agreement—informed consent  

CHAPTER 9--RESERVES—OFFENCES

   PART 9.1--RESERVES--OFFENCES GENERALLY

   213.    Offence—enter reserve without paying entry fee  
   214.    Offence—take animal into reserve  
   215.    Offence—feed native animal in reserve  
   216.    Offence—interfere with trap or bait in reserve  
   217.    Offence—weapons and traps in reserve  
   218.    Offence—damage native plant in reserve  
   219.    Offence—take plant or plant reproductive material into reserve  
   220.    Offence—planting a plant in a reserve  
   221.    Offence—remove soil or stone from reserve  
   222.    Offence—damage, destroy or remove things in reserve  

   PART 9.2--RESERVES--OFFENCES IN WILDERNESS AREAS

   223.    Offence—make road in wilderness area  
   224.    Offence—use motor vehicle off road in wilderness area  
   225.    Offence—excavate in wilderness area without licence  
   226.    Direction to restore excavation site  
   227.    Offence—fail to comply with restore excavation direction  
   228.    Restoration of excavation site by Territory  

   PART 9.3--RESERVES--REPAIRING DAMAGE

   229.    Directions to repair damage to reserve  
   230.    Offence—fail to comply with repair damage direction  
   231.    Repair of damage by Territory  

   PART 9.4--RESERVES--OFFENCES ABOUT CLEARING NATIVE VEGETATION

   232.    What is native vegetation?—pt 9.4  
   233.    What is a native vegetation area?—pt 9.4  
   234.    What is clearing native vegetation?—pt 9.4  
   235.    When does clearing native vegetation cause serious harm or material  
   236.    Offence—clear vegetation causing serious harm  
   237.    Offence—clear vegetation causing material harm  
   238.    Offence—clear vegetation  
   239.    Defence of appropriate diligence for offences—pt 9.4  
   240.    Alternative verdicts for offences—pt 9.4  
   241.    Order to restore cleared vegetation etc  
   242.    Order to publicise conviction or finding of  

   PART 9.5--RESERVES--OFFENCES ABOUT DAMAGING LAND

   243.    What is damage to land?—pt 9.5  
   244.    When does damage to land cause serious harm or material harm to  
   245.    Offence—damage land causing serious harm  
   246.    Offence—damage land causing material harm  
   247.    Offence—damage land causing harm  
   248.    Defence of appropriate diligence for offences—pt 9.5  
   249.    Alternative verdicts for offences—pt 9.5  
   250.    Order to rehabilitate land etc  
   251.    Order to publicise conviction or finding of  

   PART 9.6--EXCEPTIONS TO OFFENCES

   252.    Chapter 9 exceptions  

CHAPTER 10--RESERVES—PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES

   PART 10.1--RESOURCE PROTECTION AREAS

   253.    What is a resource protection area?—ch 10  
   254.    Resource protection area—declaration  
   255.    Resource protection area—review  

   PART 10.2--PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ACTIVITIES

   256.    Conservator may make activities declarations  
   257.    Offence—carry on restricted activity in reserve  
   258.    Offence—carry on prohibited activity in reserve  
   259.    Conservator may close reserve  
   260.    Offence—enter closed reserve  
   261.    Part 10.2 exceptions  

CHAPTER 11--NATURE CONSERVATION LICENCES

   PART 11.1--LICENCES--PRELIMINARY

   262.    What is a nature conservation licence?  
   262A.   Who is an influential person for a corporation?—ch  
   263.    Offence—fail to comply with condition of licence  

   PART 11.2--LICENCES--APPLICATION AND SUITABILITY

   264.    Licence—application  
   265.    Who is a suitable person to hold a  
   266.    What is suitability information about a  
   267.    Suitability of people—further information about people  
   268.    What is a suitable activity for a licence?  
   269.    What is suitability information about an activity?  
   270.    Suitability of activities—further information about activity  
   271.    Suitability of activities—risk management plan  
   272.    Suitability of activities—inspection of place  

   PART 11.3--LICENCES--DECISION

   273.    Licence—decision on application  
   274.    Licence—conditions generally  
   275.    Licence—conditions about native species conservation plans etc  
   276.    Licence—term  
   277.    Licence—form  

   PART 11.4--LICENCES--FINANCIAL ASSURANCE CONDITIONS

   278.    What is a financial assurance condition?  
   279.    Financial assurance condition—imposition  
   280.    Financial assurance condition—show cause  
   281.    Financial assurance condition—licence cancellation  
   282.    Financial assurance condition—claim or realisation  
   283.    Financial assurance condition—notice before claim or  
   284.    Financial assurance condition—recovery of extra costs  
   285.    Financial assurance condition—money held by Territory  

   PART 11.5--LICENCES--AMENDMENT, TRANSFER AND RENEWAL

   286.    Licence—amendment initiated by conservator  
   287.    Licence—application to amend licence  
   288.    Licence—decision on application to amend licence  
   289.    Licence—application to transfer licence  
   290.    Licence—decision on application to transfer licence  
   291.    Licence—application for renewal of licence  
   292.    Licence—decision on application for renewal of licence  
   293.    Licence—replacing when lost, stolen or destroyed  
   294.    Licence—surrender  
   295.    Offence—fail to notify change of name or address  
   296.    Licence—conservator to change name and address  

   PART 11.6--LICENCES--REGULATORY ACTION

   297.    Licence—grounds for regulatory action  
   298.    Licence—regulatory action  
   299.    Licence—taking regulatory action  
   300.    Licence—immediate suspension  
   301.    Licence—effect of suspension  
   302.    Offence—fail to return amended, suspended or cancelled licences  
   303.    Action by conservator in relation to amended or suspended licence  

   PART 11.7--LICENCE--REGISTER, RECORDS AND ROYALTIES

   304.    Licence register  
   305.    Licence register—correction and keeping up to date  
   306.    Offence—fail to keep records  
   307.    Royalty  

CHAPTER 12--MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS WITH UTILITY SUPPLIERS, LAND DEVELOPERS AND OTHERS

   308.    What are agencies and activities of  
   309.    What are management objectives?—ch 12  
   310.    What is a management agreement?—ch 12  
   311.    Management agreement—conservator may propose  
   312.    Management agreement—agency may enter or refuse  
   313.    Management agreement—refusal and repairing damage  
   314.    Management agreement—breach of agreement and repairing damage  

CHAPTER 13--LAND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS

   315.    Meaning of development—ch 13  
   316.    Simplified outline  
   317.    Advice about adverse environmental impacts  
   318.    Requirements for conservator's advice  

CHAPTER 13A--MINOR PUBLIC WORKS IN RESERVES

   318A.   Minor public works code  

CHAPTER 14--ENFORCEMENT

   PART 14.1--DIRECTIONS

   319.    Direction to give name and address  
   320.    Offence—fail to comply with direction to give name and address  
   321.    Direction to produce licence or records  
   322.    Offence—fail to comply with direction to produce licence or record  
   323.    Direction to provide information  
   324.    Offence—fail to comply with information direction  
   325.    Direction to leave reserve  
   326.    Offence—fail to comply with direction to leave reserve  
   327.    Direction to stop vehicle containing animal or plant  
   328.    Offence—fail to comply with stop vehicle direction  
   329.    Urgent directions  
   330.    Offence—fail to comply with urgent direction  
   331.    Conservator's directions  
   332.    Offence—fail to comply with conservator's direction  
   333.    Treatment directions  
   334.    Offence—fail to comply with treatment direction  
   335.    Treatment of animal or plant by Territory  
   336.    Injunctions to restrain contravention of urgent directions and conservator's  

   PART 14.2--ENFORCEMENT BY CONSERVATION OFFICERS

           Division 14.2.1--Definitions—pt 14.2

   337.    Definitions—pt 14.2  

           Division 14.2.2--Powers of conservation officers

   338.    Power to enter premises  
   339.    Production of identity card  
   340.    Consent to entry  
   341.    General powers on entry to premises  
   342.    Power to seize things  
   343.    Seizure and release of distressed native birds  
   344.    Release of distressed animals—court orders  

           Division 14.2.3--Search warrants

   345.    Warrants generally  
   346.    Warrants—application made other than in person  
   347.    Search warrants—announcement before entry  
   348.    Details of search warrant to be given to occupier etc  
   349.    Occupier entitled to be present during search etc  

           Division 14.2.4--Return and forfeiture of things seized

   350.    Receipt for things seized  
   351.    Moving things to another place for examination or processing under search  
   352.    Access to things seized  
   353.    Return of things seized  
   354.    Forfeiture of things seized  
   355.    Power to destroy unsafe things  
   356.    Application for order disallowing seizure  
   357.    Order for return of things seized  

           Division 14.2.5--Enforcement—damage and compensation

   358.    Damage etc to be minimised  
   359.    Compensation for exercise of enforcement powers  

CHAPTER 15--NOTIFICATION AND REVIEW OF DECISIONS

   360.    Meaning of reviewable decision—ch 15  
   361.    Reviewable decision notices  
   362.    Applications for review  

CHAPTER 16--MISCELLANEOUS

   363.    Certain information may be kept confidential  
   364.    Offences—use or divulge protected information  
   365.    Acts and omissions of representatives  
   366.    Criminal liability of executive officers  
   367.    Evidentiary certificates  
   368.    Determination of fees etc  
   370.    Regulation-making power  
   371.    Review of Act  
           SCHEDULE 1
           DICTIONARY
           ENDNOTES


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