Clearing before and after a natural disaster

To assist with the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in North Queensland, the Queensland Government is providing tree clearing exemptions to support clean up and recovery. This will apply for 1 year following the disaster declaration made on 24 January 2024.

If you live in any area where a disaster declaration has been made you won't need to get approval or notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:

• loss of human life
• property loss or damage
• damage to the environment.

On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:

• to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
• to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).

Vegetation along and within watercourses in Great Barrier Reef catchments is generally regulated under the vegetation management framework and plays an important role in the protection of the health of the reef.  The extent of any works or clearing in or near a watercourse should be minimised or avoided where practical. We recommend you contact us before commencing any works in or near a watercourse.

For any works or clearing within a watercourse, lake or spring, you should also check the Riverine Protection Permit exemption requirements.

If you have any questions about clearing, please contact Veg Hub on 135 VEG (13 58 34) or email vegetation@resources.qld.gov.au.

Further information on other requirements in your local area may also be available from:

• your local council
• Wet Tropics Management Authority
• your local NRM group
  • NQ Dry Tropics (Townsville and Burdekin areas)
  • Reef Catchments (Mackay and Proserpine areas)

Following severe storm events across South East Queensland in December 2023 and January 2024, the Queensland Government is reminding landholders of the tree clearing exemption to support clean up and recovery. Under this exemption, you are able to clear vegetation and fallen trees on your property without notifying or seeking an approval, provided you meet the following criteria:

• clearing is necessary to remove or reduce the imminent risk that vegetation poses to serious personal injury
• clearing is necessary to remove or reduce damage and imminent risk to infrastructure.

On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:

• to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
• to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).

Your local council may also have vegetation management rules that apply. Check with your local council before undertaking any tree clearing on your property.

If you have any questions about clearing, contact the Veg Hub on 135 VEG (13 58 34) or email vegetation@resources.qld.gov.au.

To assist with the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper on the Far North Queensland area, the Queensland Government is providing tree clearing exemptions to support clean up and recovery. This will apply for 1 year following the disaster declaration made on 22 December 2023.

If you live in any area where a disaster declaration has been made you won't need to get approval or notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:

• loss of human life
• property loss or damage
• damage  to the environment.

On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:

• to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
• to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).

Vegetation along and within watercourses in Great Barrier Reef catchments is generally regulated under the vegetation management framework and plays an important role in the protection of the health of the reef.  The extent of any works or clearing in or near a watercourse should be minimised or avoided where practical. We recommend you contact us before commencing any works in or near a watercourse.

For any works or clearing within a watercourse, lake or spring, you should also check the Riverine Protection Permit exemption requirements.

If you have any questions about clearing, please contact Veg Hub on 135 VEG (13 58 34) or email vegetation@resources.qld.gov.au.

Further information on other requirements in your local area may also be available from:

• your local council
• Wet Tropics Management Authority
• your local NRM group
  • Terrain NRM: Natural Resource Management in the Wet Tropics
  • Cape York Natural Resource Management
  • Gulf Savannah NRM: Welcome to the Gulf Savannah.