NSW Environmental Protection Agency NSW Government
 

South Western Cypress Region IFOA

The National Park Estate (South-Western Cypress Reservations) Act 2010 established more than 47,000 hectares of parks across western NSW while providing certainty for timber operations and timber-dependent communities. Timber harvesting was able to continue in state forests and western land leases under the South Western Cypress Region Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (SWC IFOA).

Version incorporating amendments 1 and 2 (see below for amendment 3)

The Integrated Forestry Operations Approval for South-Western Cypress Region (PDF 1.5MB) commenced on 1 July 2011 and has effect up to and including 31 December 2028. Note this is a compiled working document which incorporates amendments 1 and 2 as below and is not an official consolidation. Amendment 3 as published below extends the effect of this Approval up to and including 31 December 2028. 

Original IFOA and amendments

Original Integrated Forestry Operations Approval for South-Western Cypress – issued in 2011 as granted (PDF 1.4MB)

The following amendments have been made to the original SWC IFOA

Statement of Reasons

Amendment No. 3 to the integrated Forestry Operations approval for South-Western Cypress Region

Reasons for amendments

This instrument includes amendments to the Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) for the South-Western Cypress Region.

This amendment is to extend the IFOA from 31 December 2025 until 31 December 2028, retaining existing terms and conditions, timber volume caps and environmental protections.

Extension relates to industry certainty while the IFOA is reviewed

The amendment continues existing IFOA requirements and maintains existing timber supply for industry. During this period, a review of the Brigalow-Nandewar, South-Western Cypress and Riverina Red Gum, collectively referred to as the Western IFOAs, will be undertaken to assess whether the Western IFOAs are achieving their purpose in delivering ecologically sustainable forest management. The amendment does not reflect any Government decisions on the Forestry Industry Action Plan. If this amendment was not made, harvesting operations in the areas identified in the South-Western Cypress Region would not have been regulated by any IFOA after 31 December 2025.

The amendment continues existing IFOA requirements, which were developed to authorise forestry operations in accordance with principles of ecologically sustainable forest management. The requirements include a range of biodiversity protections and provide for management practices to improve the long-term productive capacity and health of the forests, while also providing for ongoing economic benefits for the South-Western Cypress region and timber industry.