Coastal IFOA

The NSW Government has remade the IFOAs for the Upper North East, Lower North East, Southern and Eden regions into one Coastal IFOA, which is efficient, effective and enforceable, and reflects modern best-practice regulation. The Coastal IFOA commenced on 16 November 2018.

Explanatory note

The explanatory note (PDF 136KB) outlines the purpose and structure of the Coastal IFOA, the areas to which the Coastal IFOA applies and the role of the EPA in enforcing the Coastal IFOA.

Annual return

The Forestry Corporation of NSW is required to submit coastal IFOA annual returns to the EPA.

Structure of the Coastal IFOA

The Coastal IFOA introduces a new structure and outcomes-based regulatory approach, with a clear hierarchy of outcomes and conditions and protocols. The documents should be used and read in this way.

Coastal IFOA conditions

The Coastal IFOA conditions (PDF 9.75MB) can only be amended by the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Agriculture.

The Coastal IFOA conditions set mandatory actions and controls for protecting threatened plants, animals, habitats, soils and water.

Each condition is linked to an outcome statement. Whilst not an enforceable element of the Coastal IFOA, the outcome statements explain the intent of what the conditions are to achieve.

Coastal IFOA protocols

The Coastal IFOA protocols (PDF 20MB) have been adopted by the Coastal IFOA. They set out additional enforceable actions and controls to support the effective implementation of the Coastal IFOA conditions.

The Coastal IFOA protocols are amended from time to time by the EPA (instead of the Ministers). This ensures that the Coastal IFOA can be adaptively managed to ensure it continues to deliver its intended outcomes and reflect best practice.

Best practice guidance material is being prepared to provide further support to the interpretation and implementation of the Coastal IFOA. This guidance material will be published on the EPA's website from time to time.

Coastal IFOA guidance

These guidance documents may assist decision making or interpretation of the Coastal IFOA conditions and protocols.

Currently guidance is available regarding

Site-specific operating conditions

For historical information on site-specific approvals for forestry operations to occur in bushfire affected forests following the 2019-20 bushfires, see Bushfire-affected forestry operations.

Transitional arrangements

The Coastal IFOA includes arrangements to transition forestry operations from old to new IFOA conditions, to ensure forestry operations underway or already planned are not disrupted. Transitional arrangements are provided in Protocol 40.

Forestry operations that have been planned or approved under the relevant Upper North East, Lower North East, Southern and Eden IFOAs will continue to operate and be enforced in accordance with the conditions of the relevant IFOA. Alternatively, FCNSW can elect to undertake the forestry operation in accordance with the Coastal IFOA.

Table 2 of Protocol 40 lists the operations that are authorised to be carried out under the relevant IFOAs.

On 13 December 2019, the EPA approved the following 23 operational plans to be undertaken under the relevant IFOAs, in accordance with Protocol 40 condition 40.6(1)(b):

IFOA Sub Region	State Forest	Compartments
Lower North East	Ballengarra	7, 8, 9
Lower North East	Ballengarra	83, 84, 85, 86, 87
Lower North East	Barrington Tops	63, 64, 65
Southern	Benandarah	114, 116
Lower North East	Bulga	90, 94, 95, 96
Lower North East	Chichester	19
Lower North East	Chichester	26, 27
Southern	Clyde	206, 467
Lower North East	Comboyne	139, 144, 145
Lower North East	Gladstone	194, 211, 212, 213, 214
Lower North East	Gladstone	228, 231, 232, 233
Lower North East	Kerewong/Upsalls Creek	138, 140, 141, 142, 143, 260
Eden	Nadgee	59, 60, 63
Lower North East	Olney	66
Lower North East	Olney	80, 81 & 82
Lower North East	Ourimbah	141 & 142
Lower North East	Riamukka	81, 96
Upper North East	Richmond Range Profit a Prendre	Lots 101,104 DP 751077
Lower North East	Styx River	540, 541, 542, 552
Southern	Tallaganda	2451, 2455
Lower North East	Wang Wauk/Bulahdelah	138, 139, 145
Eden	Yambulla	362, 363, 365
Eden	Yambulla	415, 418, 423, 483, 484, 506, 507, 508

Amendments to Coastal IFOA protocols

The following amendments have been made to Coastal IFOA Protocols. All current Protocols can be found in Coastal IFOA protocols (PDF 19MB);

Protocol 8: Local landscape areas

Amended on 15 November 2019 to address inefficiencies in the administrative approval process for making local landscape areas.

Protocol 23: Tree retention

Amended on 15 November to correct a drafting error relating to koala browse tree prescriptions.

Protocol 40: Transitional arrangements

Amended on 15 November 2019 to permit FCNSW to continue operating under former IFOAs in approved areas in response to extensive fires occurring northern NSW. This amendment improves the clarity and enforceability of these arrangements, whilst identifying the specific operational plans that can continue operating under the former IFOAs for the next 12-months.
Amended on 16 March 2020 to clarify the meaning of ‘koala intermediate use areas’ for application during the transition period. This amendment also updates the list of forestry operations which can continue to operate under the former IFOAs.

Coastal intregrated forestry operations approvals