Opportunities for landowners
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- How BushBroker works
- Types of Native Vegetation Credits
- Expressions of interest
- Actively seeking native vegetation
- Information sheets
- Further information
How BushBroker works
Landowners have the potential to generate a new income stream and improve biodiversity by generating Native Vegetation Credits.
Generating a Native Vegetation Credit means achieving a gain in the quality or extent of native vegetation. Native Vegetation Credits must be secure and ongoing with a formal agreement that is registered on title.
Types of Native Vegetation Credits
Landowners can generate three types of Native Vegetation Credits:
1. Habitat Hectares: Protecting, maintaining and improving the management of a remnant patch of native vegetation. This could include activities such as weed control, rabbit control and/or stock exclusion. For more information refer to BushBroker Information Sheet No. 5 – Landowner Agreement.
Donating freehold land to the Crown for incorporation into Victoria’s Parks and Reserve System can also generate Habitat Hectare Credits. For more information refer to BushBroker Information Sheet No. 6 - Transferring freehold land to the Crown.
2. Large Old Trees: Protecting Large Old Scattered Trees and/or protecting Large Old Trees in a remnant patch from adverse impacts and managing the area around the tree to facilitate the regeneration of native plants. For more information refer to BushBroker Information Sheet No. 11 – Specifications for management - Scattered trees.
3. New Recruits: Revegetating an area that was previously cleared of native vegetation by using plants indigenous to the area. For more information refer to BushBroker Information Sheet No. 10 – Specifications for management – Revegetation. Landowners can then enter into agreements to receive payments for the Native Vegetation Credits they generate.
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Expression of Interest
The Department of Sustainability and Environment is seeking Expressions of Interest from landowners wanting to generate Native Vegetation Credits on their land. The Expression of Interest will record basic information about the site including area, vegetation type and bioregion.
Based on permit holders’ demand for vegetation types, the Department of Sustainability and Environment will carry out a site assessment and this information will be recorded on the BushBroker Database and the Native Vegetation Credit Register.
An Expression of Interest does not obligate the landowner to proceed further with the process. If relevant, the Department of Sustainability and Environment may send landowners information regarding incentive programs for protecting and enhancing native vegetation that are operating in their area.
Landowners can lodge an Expression of Interest by filling out the form attached below.
BushBroker - Expression of Interest form (PDF - 65 KB) Expressions of Interest can be submitted via fax (03) 9637 8451
OR
Emailed to: the.bushbroker@dse.vic.gov.au
OR
send to: BushBroker Expression of Interest
- Department of Sustainability and Environment
PO Box 500, EAST MELBOURNE VIC 8002
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Actively seeking native vegetation types
The BushBroker Database currently lists landowners' sites from over 22 bioregions across the State and almost 200 vegetation types or Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs). However, BushBroker has also receives various Offset Search Requests from permit holders for EVC’s which are not currently registered on the BushBroker Database.
To satisfy these requests, BushBroker is actively seeking Expressions of Interest from landowners with any of the EVCs listed below on their properties. However BushBroker requirements are not limited to these particular bioregions or EVCs therefore Expressions of Interest for sites of all EVCs are encouraged.
To see which Bioregion and EVC is likely to be on your property, go the the DSE Biodiversity Interactive Mapper and find your property. To view the Bioregion and EVC, turn on the EVC and Bioregion layer.
(Please note that this is indicative only and the EVC would need to be confirmed through a site assessment.)
Table 1. List of Wanted EVCs per Bioregion as at September 2009. This table will be updated regularly.
| Bioregion | Ecological Vegetation Class (EVC) |
| East Gippsland Upland | Blackthorn Scrub |
| East Gippsland Upland | Dry Valley Forest |
| East Gippsland Upland | Foothill Box Ironbark Forest |
| East Gippsland Upland | Riparian Shrubland |
| East Gippsland Upland | Riverine Escarpment Scrub |
| East Gippsland Upland | Valley Slopes Dry Forest |
| Gippsland Plain | Banksia Woodland |
| Gippsland Plain | Plains Grassy Woodland |
| Gippsland Plain | Riparian Scrub |
| Gippsland Plain | Swampy Woodland |
| Highlands Southern Fall | Damp Heathy Woodland |
| Highlands Southern Fall | Valley Grassy Forest |
| Murray Fans | Riverine Grassy Woodland |
| Murray Mallee | Woorinen Mallee |
| Otway Plain | Any revegetation site in Bioregion |
| Otway Plain | Herb-rich Foothill Forest |
| Otway Plain | Shrubby Foothill Forest |
| Victorian Riverina | Creekline Grassy Woodland |
| Victorian Riverina | Grassy Woodland |
| Victorian Riverina | Plains Woodland |
| Victorian Riverina | Plains Grassland |
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | Escarpment Shrubland |
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | Plains Grassland |
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | Plains Grassy Woodland |
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | Rocky Chenopod Woodland |
| Victorian Volcanic Plain | Stony Knoll Shrubland |
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Information Sheets
The following information sheets have been prepared to support the landowner through the BushBroker process.
BushBroker Information sheet number 1 - Introduction (PDF - 51 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 2 - Landowner Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 74 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 3 - Process for landowners (PDF - 46 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 4 - Site visit (PDF - 87 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 5 - Landowner Agreement (PDF - 109 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 6 - Transferring freehold land to the Crown (PDF - 50 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 7 - Standards for management - Rabbits (PDF - 78 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 8 - Standards for management - Weeds (PDF - 83 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 9 - Standards for management - Supplementary planting (PDF - 93 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 10 - Standards for management - Revegetation (PDF - 94 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 11 - Scattered trees (PDF - 53 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 12 - Standards for management - Fencing (PDF - 85 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 13 - Standards for management - Ecological grazing (PDF - 57 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 14 - Standards for management - Ecological burning (PDF - 51 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 15 - Standards for management - Ecological thinning of eucalypts (PDF - 76 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 16 - Over the counter (PDF - 44 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 17 - Developing a price (PDF - 47 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 18 - Annual reporting (PDF - 119 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 19 - Photopoint monitoring (PDF - 83 KB) BushBroker Information sheet number 22 - Fees and services (PDF - 112 KB) Further information
For further information on BushBroker, please contact the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email the.bushbroker@dse.vic.gov.au.
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Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.