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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.


NATURAL RESOURCES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (RURAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES) BILL 1999





                         New South Wales




Natural Resources Legislation
Amendment (Rural Environmental
Services) Bill 1999


Contents
                                                                    Page
            1 Name of Act                                             2
            2 Commencement                                            2
            3 Amendment of Acts                                       2


Schedules
            1 Amendment of Electricity Supply Act 1995 No 94          3
            2 Amendment of Forestry Act 1916 No 55                    4
            3 Amendment of Mining Act 1992 No 29                      6
I certify that this PUBLIC BILL, which originated in the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, has
finally passed the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL and the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of NEW
SOUTH WALES.

                                              Clerk of the Legislative Assembly.
                                              Legislative Assembly,
                                              Sydney,                       , 1999




                              New South Wales


Natural Resources Legislation
Amendment (Rural Environmental
Services) Bill 1999
Act No     , 1999



An Act to amend the Electricity Supply Act 1995 to recognise carbon sequestration
as a means by which electricity retailers can meet their environmental licence
conditions; to amend the Forestry Act 1916 to clarify the powers of the Forestry
Commission to provide environmental services in relation to rural and other areas;
to amend the Mining Act 1992 to encourage the afforestation of rural and other
areas that are damaged by mining; and for related purposes.




I have examined this Bill, and find it to correspond in all respects with the Bill as
finally passed by both Houses.


                            Chairman of Committees of the Legislative Assembly.
Clause 1        Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural Environmental
                Services) Bill 1999




The Legislature of New South Wales enacts:


  1      Name of Act
             This Act is the Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural
             Environmental Services) Act 1999.

  2      Commencement
             This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by
             proclamation.

  3      Amendment of Acts
             The Acts specified in Schedules 1-3 are amended as set out in those
             Schedules.




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Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural Environmental
Services) Bill 1999

Amendment of Electricity Supply Act 1995 No 94                       Schedule 1




Schedule 1          Amendment of Electricity Supply Act 1995
                    No 94
                                                                        (Section 3)


 [1]   Schedule 2 Licences

       Insert "(such as energy from plantation, sawmill and logging waste biomass
       sources that are sustainably harvested)" after "renewable energy" in clause
       6 (4) (c) (ii).

 [2]   Schedule 2, clause 6 (6) (a)

       Omit "as agreed in the National Greenhouse Response Strategy 1992 and
       the InterGovernmental Agreement on the Environment, or as determined by
       the Council of Australian Governments".
       Insert instead "as agreed in any national greenhouse policies approved by
       the Council of Australian Governments".

 [3]   Schedule 2, clause 6 (6) (b)

       Insert "and carbon sequestration levels" after "emissions".

 [4]   Schedule 2, clause 6 (6A)

       Insert after clause 6 (6):
             (6A) For the purposes of subclause (6), in calculating greenhouse
                  gas emissions from electricity supplied to customers in New
                  South Wales, net reductions in greenhouse gases resulting from
                  sources such as carbon sequestration (within the meaning of
                  section 87A of the Conveyancing Act 1919) by planted forests
                  may be taken into account in accordance with a methodology
                  approved by the Minister.




                                                                           Page 3
                  Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural Environmental
                  Services) Bill 1999

Schedule 2        Amendment of Forestry Act 1916 No 55




Schedule 2           Amendment of Forestry Act 1916 No 55
                                                                           (Section 3)


 [1]     Section 4 Definitions

         Insert in appropriate alphabetical order:
                      carbon sequestration has the same meaning as it has in section
                      87A of the Conveyancing Act 1919.
                      natural resource environmental service includes any of the
                      following:
                      (a)    the establishment, purchase, management or
                             maintenance of planted forests for the purpose of mine
                             site management, carbon sequestration, forest biomass
                             production, soil and water catchment improvement,
                             biodiversity conservation, control of feral and weed
                             species, research or for any other environmental
                             purpose,
                      (b)    the provision of any service that is necessary or
                             incidental to a matter referred to in paragraph (a)
                             including:
                             (i)     the procurement of land, the registration of
                                     interests in land and the obtaining of any
                                     necessary statutory approvals, and
                             (ii)    the accreditation or other authorisation of a
                                     plantation, and
                             (iii) the securing of contractual arrangements,
                      (c)    any other service provided in connection with the use or
                             management of planted forests that is prescribed by the
                             regulations.

 [2]     Section 8A Objects of the commission

         Insert "and land owned by the commission or otherwise under its control or
         management" after "Crown-timber lands" in section 8A (1) (a)-(c) wherever
         occurring.




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Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural Environmental
Services) Bill 1999

Amendment of Forestry Act 1916 No 55                                  Schedule 2




 [3]   Section 8A (1) (d)

       Omit "and".

 [4]   Section 8A (1) (f)

       Insert after section 8A (1) (e):
                            , and
                     (f)    to provide natural resource environmental services
                            (whether within or outside of New South Wales).

 [5]   Section 11 Powers and duties of the commission

       Omit "or" from section 11 (1) (m4).

 [6]   Section 11 (1) (m5)

       Insert after section 11 (1) (m4):
                     (m5) without limiting paragraph (m4), may, for any purpose
                          consistent with its objects, confer or grant a forestry
                          right (whether in respect of timber, carbon sequestration
                          or otherwise) over State forests or land owned by the
                          commission, or

 [7]   Section 33B Definitions

       Omit the definition of carbon sequestration.




                                                                            Page 5
                  Natural Resources Legislation Amendment (Rural Environmental
                  Services) Bill 1999

Schedule 3        Amendment of Mining Act 1992 No 29




Schedule 3           Amendment of Mining Act 1992 No 29
                                                                           (Section 3)


 [1]     Section 239 Rehabilitation etc of area damaged by mining

         Insert after section 239 (1):
              (1A) The Minister or mining registrar may, in any particular case,
                   determine that an authority or mineral claim be granted or
                   renewed subject to conditions relating to the afforestation
                   (including for carbon sequestration within the meaning of
                   section 87A of the Conveyancing Act 1919 and related
                   environmental purposes) of such part of the land over which
                   the authority or claim has effect as may have been damaged or
                   adversely affected by prospecting operations or mining
                   operations.
               (1B) However, a condition referred to in subsection (1A) may only
                    be imposed at the request of the applicant for, or holder of, the
                    authority or claim.

 [2]     Section 239 (3)

         Insert "or (1A)" after "subsection (1) (a)".




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