Information on How to Apply for a Clearing Permit

The clearing permit application must consist of:

• A completed application form signed by an authorised person. Please note the application form will need to be downloaded and saved, so it can be attached to the submissions page.
• The prescribed fee - fees are payable for Purpose Permits, Area Permits, Amendment Clearing Permits & Surrender Applications which are paid through our submissions page.
• A scaled map of the area proposed to clear. See Mapping Information below for complete requirements.
• ESRI shapefile of the proposed clearing area. See Mapping Information below for complete requirements.

The application may also require one or more of the following:

• A cover letter and supporting documentation addressing the 10 clearing principles
• If applicable, an IBSA data package needs to be submitted to DWER. IBSA submissions online portal - https://ibsasubmissions.dwer.wa.gov.au
  Please see below for further information in regards to your submission and IBSA numbers that are required to be supplied.
• If applicable, a letter of authority, is required if a person is signing the application on behalf of a company or incorporated body (Section 51E of Environmental Protection Act 1986). Please download from the submission page.
• If applicable, a letter of authorisation on letter head from the tenement/title holder granting you permission to apply on their behalf for a clearing permit to conduct clearing on their tenement/title, (if the clearing is to be done on a tenement/title other than your own).
• You may also be required to supply additional information such as ASIC company searches, company details, subsidiary structures and any relevant information in regards to the applicant, signatory and/or the tenement/title holder.

Please ensure you provide all the relevant information to ensure there are no delays in processing your application.

For further information please see below

Download application forms and apply now

Under section 51E(3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, DEMIRS may decline to deal with an application to clear native vegetation, if the application is incomplete. Use the Clearing Permit Application checklist above before submitting your application.

For further enquiries please contact:

Telephone: +61 8 9222 3535

Email: nvab@demirs.wa.gov.au

To assist with the assessment of your Clearing Permit Application in an expeditious manner, it is highly recommended that detailed information is submitted with the Clearing Permit Application. DEMIRS is required to assess applications for clearing permits against the 10 clearing principles, as defined in Schedule 5 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The clearing principles broadly relate to the potential impacts of clearing on biodiversity, land degradation, and ground and surface water quality. The level of information required will be determined by the complexity of the application to be assessed, in conjunction with the risk to the receiving environment associated with the proposed activity.

Factors include:

• The size of the area to be assessed.
• The techniques used to clear.
• Whether the area is of high biodiversity.
• The purpose for which the application is intended such as exploration, mining, development and infrastructure.

Standard information recommended for the assessment of the application includes:

• Aerial photographs and site photographs of the area proposed to be cleared.
• A Flora and Vegetation Survey. Detail should include:
  • Mapping of vegetation types / associations / communities, their condition, and their representation in a regional context. Photographs of each vegetation type to be cleared are also recommended.
  • Declared rare and priority flora species present or likely to be present. Details should include the location/s and size of the population/s; the impact of the proposed clearing on the population/s and the likely impact of the proposed clearing on the continued existence of the species.
• A fauna assessment. Detail should include:
  • The fauna present or likely to be present, and their conservation significance.
  • An assessment of the significance of the vegetation and landform to be cleared, as a habitat for fauna; including mapping of any significant fauna habitats.
• A site overview, with a brief description of topography, landforms, soils and hydrology.
• A summary and/or map of the proposed developments on the site.
• A hydrological summary, which includes discussion of the likelihood of impact from the clearing on riparian vegetation, wetlands, watercourses, surface water or groundwater.
• A vegetation degradation summary, which includes discussion of the likelihood of the spread of dieback disease and/or weeds.
• A land degradation summary, which includes discussion of the likelihood of land degradation, including waterlogging, acidification, salinization, deep subsoil compaction and erosion.
• An outline of environmental management measures and rehabilitation practices that will be undertaken during and subsequent to the completion of the project. Existing Management Plans and Mining Proposals should be submitted, if they are relevant to the clearing proposal.
• Copies of any correspondence with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) or other government agencies regarding the proposal.
• A statement against each of the 10 clearing principles.

Important Notes:

• Flora, vegetation and fauna surveys should be conducted at the appropriate time of the year and in accordance with the relevant EPA guidance documents, available from the EPA website.
• Vegetation condition should be described using a recognised rating scale, e.g. Keighery (1994).
• Determination of the likelihood of declared rare flora or priority fauna occurring within the area proposed to be cleared should be based on current knowledge of those taxa and the existing physical environment, known records and past history.
• Before conducting surveys, contact DBCA regional offices for advice.

Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA) checklist
An Index of Biodiversity Surveys for Assessments (IBSA) data package consists of:

• The survey report in pdf and txt format.
• A metadata and licensing statement (generated online).
• Spatially referenced data derived from the survey.

IBSA data packages should be submitted through the IBSA Submissions online portal – https://ibsasubmissions.dwer.wa.gov.au.

• To assist proponents in preparing IBSA data packages, instructions and templates are available on the Environmental Protection Authority’s website.
• For further information about IBSA and IBSA Submissions visit the DWER website.
• Additional information, as appropriate (see Assessment Information required).

Please provide the IBSA number(s) (or submission number(s) if IBSA number has not yet been issued.
Note that a submission number is not conformation of acceptance of a biodiversity survey and is not the same as an IBSA number. IBSA numbers are only issued once a survey has been accepted. Once an IBSA number is issued, please notify DWER / DEMIRS (as applicable).

Please note the assessment timeframes for your application will be suspended until the IBSA number(s) is provided to DWER / DEMIRS (as applicable).

Mapping and shapefile information required
Preferred DEMIRS format is with digital spatial data and the following properties:

• Format - ESRI shapefile
• Geometry type - Polygon
• Coordinate system - GCS GDA1994 (geographic)
• Datum - Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994.
  
  If you are unable to provide an ESRI shapefile, please contact DEMIRS to discuss other options that may be available to you.
  Note: Not providing a shapefile may delay the processing of your application.
   

Mapping and Shape file information for Purpose Permits
The supplied shapefile should contain a polygon/s that represents the outer extent of the area/s in which the proposed clearing is to take place. If indicative locations of clearing within this outer extent can be determined, they should be provided in a separate map, but not as a shapefile.

Mapping and shapefile information for Area Permits
The supplied polygon shapefile should contain only the extent of the area/s to be cleared.

Maps

An aerial photograph OR scaled map of the area proposed to clear (clearly identifying all tenements boundaries and a north facing indication, scale bar, key or labelling of site features and clearly marking the areas you wish to clear).

Useful Reference Material

• EPA (2016) Technical Guidance. Flora and Vegetation Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment
• CALM 2002. A Biodiversity Audit of Western Australia’s 53 Biogeographical Subregions in 2002.
• Environmental Protection Act 1986
• Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004

Keighery, B.J. 1994. Bushland Plant Survey: A Guide to Plant Community Survey for the Community. Wildflower Society of WA (Inc.), Nedlands, Western Australia.