We value our native vegetation for the important role it plays across our landscape.

In Logan, we control vegetation clearing using the:

• Biodiversity Areas Overlay Code of the Logan Planning Scheme 2015 
• Waterway corridors and wetlands overlay code of the Logan Planning Scheme 2015.

The codes aim to both:

• protect and enhance environmental values, including wildlife habitat and movement, biodiversity corridors and native vegetation
• restrict vegetation clearing in protected areas.

Protected vegetation

We classify protected vegetation in two ways:

• Primary vegetation – all native vegetation. Light pink areas on the Vegetation management areas map.
• Secondary vegetation – native trees that are greater than 4m tall or with a trunk circumference of 31.5cm or greater, measured at 1.3m from the ground. Light green areaas on the Vegetation management areas map.

To find out if there is protected vegetation on your property:

1. Go to the Logan PD Hub.
2. Search for your property.
3. Click on the Interactive mapping tool.
4. On the map list to the left of the map, expand and turn on Overlays (Part 8).
5. Click on 02 Biodiversity Areas Overlay to expand this group.
6. Click on OM-02 Vegetation Management Areas.

Vegatation clearing

Queensland legislation states that:

• Clearing of vegetation means to remove, cut down, ring-bark, push over, poison or destroy vegetation in any way. This includes burning, flooding or draining. It does not include lopping a tree or damage by stock.
• Lopping a tree means cutting or pruning its branches. Lopping does not include removing its trunk and cutting or pruning its branches so severely that it is likely to die.

Can I clear vegetation?

If you want to clear protected vegetation, you may need to get approval. This is known as an Operational works – vegetation clearing approval.

You do not need to get approval to clear vegetation if the vegetation complies with the exemptions outlined in the Logan Planning Scheme 2015 (Tables of assessment for the biodiversity areas overlay). However, all native vegetation clearing within an area mapped by the Waterway Corridor and Wetland Overlay requires approval.

To find out if you need Council approval to clear vegetation, use our:

• Vegetation clearing decision tool
• Summary of exemption criteria
• Vegetation management fact sheet (PDF 372 KB)

Lodging an application for vegetation clearing

To lodge an application to clear protected vegetation, please see Development applications, forms and lodgement.

The application must:

• include the consent of the property owner or be lodged by the property owner
• state the reasons for the proposed clearing
• include a site plan with boundaries, buildings, driveways, easements and information about existing vegetation, including
  • which trees will be cleared and which will remain
  • tree species and size (height, circumference 1.3m above ground, canopy spread)
  • any trees with nests, hollows or other nesting or roosting values
• show any proposed revegetation or rehabilitation on the site.

You must submit an Operational works vegetation management checksheet (PDF 700 KB) as part of your application. It also includes information about whether you need to lodge an application.

For more information about clearing vegetation or applications to clear vegetation please contact our team.

Environmental offsets

You may need to make an environmental offset when you clear vegetation.

Find out more about environmental offsets.

State vegetation protection legislation

The Vegetation Management Act 1999 is state legislation that protects remnant and regrowth vegetation on freehold land and state land. It can also protect certain non-remnant vegetation on state land.

The Queensland Department of Resources (DOR) administers the Vegetation Management Act 1999.

To find out if you need a permit to clear state-protected remnant vegetation, please visit DOR or call them on 13 58 34.

Relevant definitions