Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 (Qld)

An Act to amend the Biodiscovery Act 2004, the Environmental Offsets Act 2014, the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the Forestry Act 1959, the Fossicking Act 1994, the Land Act 1994, the Land Title Act 1994, the Mineral Resources Act 1989, the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Vegetation Management Act 1999 for particular purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Nature Conservation (Special Wildlife Reserves) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2017.

Part 2 Amendment of Nature Conservation Act 1992

2 Act amended This part amends the Nature Conservation Act 1992.

3 Amendment of s 5 (How object is to be achieved) Section 5(c), first dot point— insert— (iv) conservation agreements; and (v) management programs;

4 Amendment of s 14 (Classes of protected areas to which Act applies) (1) Section 14— insert— (ga) special wildlife reserves; and (2) Section 14(ga) to (i)— renumber as section 14(h) to (j).

5 Amendment of s 15 (Management of protected areas) (1) Section 15(1)(b)— insert— (iia) a special wildlife reserve—the conservation agreement and management program for the area; or (2) Section 15(1)(b)(iia) to (iv)— renumber as section 15(1)(b)(iii) to (v).

6 Amendment of s 17 (Management principles of national parks) Section 17(4), definition ecotourism— omit.

7 Insertion of new s 21B Part 4, division 1— insert—

21B Management principles of special wildlife reserves (1) A special wildlife reserve is to be managed to— (a) permanently protect the area's exceptional natural and cultural resources and values; and (b) protect the area's exceptional scientific values; and (c) present the area's cultural and natural resources and values; and (d) ensure the only use of the area is nature-based and ecologically sustainable. (2) Also, a special wildlife reserve is to be managed to do any of the following stated in the conservation agreement for the reserve— (a) allow controlled scientific study and monitoring of the area's natural resources; (b) provide opportunities for educational and recreational activities in a way consistent with the area's natural and cultural resources and values; (c) provide opportunities for ecotourism in a way consistent with the area's natural and cultural resources and values; (d) provide for the manipulation of the area's natural and cultural resources to protect or restore the area's natural or cultural values; (e) provide for the manipulation of threatened wildlife's habitat and the control of threatening processes relating to threatened wildlife, including threatening processes caused by other wildlife.