BushBroker - A native vegetation credit registration and trading scheme
What is BushBroker | Who benefits from BushBroker | Opportunities for landowners | Expressions of Interest | Assistance for developers | How will BushBroker operate | Next steps
| Introducing BushBroker The Victorian Government has adopted a new ‘whole-of-landscape’ approach to protect and restore native vegetation to ensure better biodiversity outcomes and achieve greater certainty and economic efficiency. BushBroker, Victoria’s native vegetation credit registration and trading system will facilitate the new approach. In most cases the clearing of any native vegetation that requires planning approval must be offset by a gain elsewhere. Offsets are permanently protected and linked to a particular clearing site. Offsets can often be generated on the permit applicant’s own property. But there are situations where this is not possible. For example, where there is no suitable site on the property or the applicant is not able to manage the native vegetation in the long-term. Publications
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What is BushBroker?
BushBroker represents a new direction for native vegetation management. It provides a system where offsets can be located on a different property to where the native vegetation is being cleared through the purchase of native vegetation credits (a gain in the quantity and/or quality of native vegetation that is subject to a secure and ongoing agreement).
Native vegetation credits are listed on the BushBroker register and these can be bought by another party and subsequently used as an offset for the approved clearing of native vegetation.
Who benefits from BushBroker?
The trading of native vegetation credits provides benefits for landowners, developers and other land managers, the economy and the environment.
landowners are offered an opportunity to improve biodiversity on their property as well as a potentially new income stream.
Developers and land managers are provided with a convenient and cost-effective option to secure offsets.
For the environment, BushBroker will lead to more sustainable offset arrangements with larger, more intact, areas of native vegetation and better biodiversity outcomes. It will help avoid the problems of managing numbers of small areas of native vegetation which are unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term.
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Opportunities for landowners
landowners have the potential to generate a new income stream and improve biodiversity by establishing native vegetation credits.
Establishing a native vegetation credit is as simple as achieving a gain in the quality or extent of native vegetation by:
- Improving the management of an existing patch of native grassland, bush or scattered trees (eg through weed or rabbit control or fencing);
- Revegetating cleared land using locally indigenous plants; or
- Protecting old native trees.
Gains for credits need to be subject to a secure and ongoing agreement that is registered on title.
Native vegetation credits can be established in a number of ways.
- The landowner provides their own funds to establish the native vegetation credits and enters into an agreement with a public agency
- Through a credit auction, similar to BushTender, where landowners nominate a price for the establishment of credits. Credits are subsequently sold to permit applicants.
- A permit applicant locates and funds a landowner to establish native vegetation credits
- Private land is contributed to the public conservation reserve system.
Next steps:
- For further information refer to the BushBroker Information Paper.
- Submit an Expression of Interest form to the Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Expressions of Interest
The Department of Sustainability and Environment is seeking expressions of interest from landowners wanting to establish native vegetation credits on their land. The Expression of Interest (EOI) register will record basic information about the site including area, vegetation type and bioregion. In some cases, the Department of Sustainability and Environment will carry out a site assessment and this information will also be available on the Expressions of Interest register.
An Expression of Interest does not obligate the landowner to proceed further with the process.
An Expression of Interest can be lodged at any time. landowners will be able to register their interest at various stages of the credit establishment process.
If relevant, the Department of Sustainability and Environment may send Expression of Interest landowners information regarding incentive programs for protecting and enhancing native vegetation that are operating in the area.
landowners can lodge an Expression of Interest by filling out the form attached to the brochure and submitting to the Department of Sustainablity and Environment. A confirmation of receipt will be sent as well as further information about BushBroker.
To make an Expression of Interest please contact our Customer Service Centre on 136 186.
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Assistance for developers - finding offsets
BushBroker provides a system where offsets can be more easily located.
Under BushBroker, landowners have the opportunity to establish native vegetation credits, and list those credits on the BushBroker register.
Most native vegetation clearance works approved under a planning permit must have an appropriate offset. BushBroker offers permit applicants a convenient and cost-effective way to locate offsets if they are unable to create offsets on their own property.
Landowners' native vegetation credits will be listed on the BushBroker statewide register. A potential buyer of native vegetation credits can search for credits which match their requirements and buy the credit as an offset.
For more details refer to the BushBroker information paper.
You can register your interest in purchasing native vegetation credits by completing the inquiry form appropriate to the type of offset sought:
- DSE referred permit application for removal of a remnant patch
BushBroker inquiry form - DSE referred remnant patch (PDF - 187 Kb)
BushBroker inquiry form - DSE referred remnant patch (DOC - 138 Kb)
- DSE referred permit application for removal of scattered trees
BushBroker inquiry form - DSE referred scattered trees (PDF - 187 Kb)
BushBroker inquiry form - DSE referred scattered trees (DOC - 138 Kb)
- Council considered permit application for removal of native vegetation
BushBroker inquiry form - Council considered removal (PDF - 182 Kb)
BushBroker inquiry form - Council considered removal (DOC - 125 Kb)
Please return the completed form to the BushBroker by email (The.BushBroker@dse.vic.gov.au); fax (03 9637 8451) or mail to:
BushBroker
Department of Sustainability and Environment
PO Box 500
East Melbourne 3002
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How will BushBroker operate?
The Government will establish and operate BushBroker. This will involve overseeing the registration, listing, extinguishing, and quality control of native vegetation credits. The buying and selling of native vegetation credits, including matching credits to specific requirements such as offsetting, will be undertaken by the owners and buyers of credits or their agents.
The registration of native vegetation credits is subject to specific conditions including a secure and on-going agreement between the landowner and a public agency. Agreements to establish native vegetation credits require a management plan outlining the establishment and ongoing maintenance of the native vegetation credits. The agreements will be registered on land titles.
The listing of native vegetation credits through BushBroker will establish a statewide database of native vegetation credits. Potential buyers of credits will be able to search the database for credits that match the characteristics they require.
A credit can only be used as an offset once. After a credit is accepted as an offset, it is extinguished from the BushBroker register.
Next steps
The rollout of BushBroker is a two-stage process:
Stage One:
- Expressions of Interest will be collated on a statewide register.
- The procedure trading rules and standards for registration and trading will be developed.
Stage Two:
- Registration and trading of credits begins.
- Expressions of Interest continue to be received.
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.