Native forestry compliance update

The EPA regulates compliance of native forestry on both private and public land to protect the environment and ensure logging operations are sustainable.

The EPA regulates the compliance of Crown forestry operations with Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs) and the compliance of private forestry operations with the Private Native Forestry Codes of Practice.

This is achieved through operational inspections, audits, and investigations, and is supported by education and training.

Compliance audit reports for individual crown forestry operations are available on the EPA's public register and in the compliance audit report register. 

Audit reports summarise the EPA's findings against the relevant Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA) for a specific forestry operation. Each audit report contains

  • an audit findings table with details and explanations of compliances and non-compliances, and where the EPA could not determine compliance with audited conditions
  • the EPA risk matrix for non-compliances
  • the Forestry Corporation of NSW's submission on the EPA’s draft audit findings

To identify cases of non-compliance, the EPA conducts audits and investigations of operations carried out by Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) in regions covered by an IFOA, including coastal and western forests. 

During 2017–18, the EPA inspected compliance of 21 forestry operations. The EPA issued FCNSW with:

  • 22 advisory letters
  • 3 formal warning letters
  • 6 show cause letters
  • 7 official cautions
  • 1 clean up notice

Each compliance action may relate to a number of breaches.

The EPA also commenced two prosecutions in the Land and Environment Court for impacts from logging in Glenbog and Badja State Forests. This resulted in a fine of $8000 being imposed by the court for failing to comply with the IFOA in Glenbog State Forest. The court did not record a conviction for the alleged breach of the IFOA in Badja State Forest. 

 

During 2017-18, the EPA inspected compliance of 62 forestry operations. The EPA issued:

  • 21 advisory letters
  • 15 formal warnings
  • 9 show causes
  • 11 corrective action/remedial directions
  • 10 official cautions
  • 12 penalty notices
  • 1 stop work order
  • 1 prosecution
  • 2 PNF Plan terminations

Each compliance action may relate to a number of breaches.

 

 

The following table shows the combined data for regulatory activity taken against operations on both private and public land, between 2017-18. Over this period,83 forestry operations were assessed for compliance.

2017-2018

Public

Private

Total

Advisory letter

22

21

43

Corrective/remedial direction

0

11

11

Show cause

6

9

15

Warning letter

3

15

18

Official caution

 7

10

17

Clean up notice

1

0

1

Penalty notice

0

12

12
Approval termination  0 2 2

Prosecution

2

1

3

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