BushBroker
BushBroker helps landowners to generate native vegetation credits by permanently protecting and managing their native vegetation and assists permit holders clearing native vegetation to find a matching third party offset site. BushBroker governs the final trade outcomes and Landowner Agreements.
This page provides key BushBroker information on:
Native vegetation credits
Offsets
Benefits from BushBroker
Native Vegetation Credits
Native vegetation credits are gains in the quality and/or quantity of native vegetation that are subject to a secure and ongoing agreement registered on the land title. Landholders can also generate credits by transferring freehold land to the Crown parks and reserves systems. Native vegetation credits are generally acquired in order to be used to meet an offset requirement.
Permit holders require different types of Native Vegetation Credits depending on their offset requirements. Native Vegetation Credits can be relied upon by the responsible authority and referral authority as an offset for the approved clearing of native vegetation. For more information on what Native Vegetation Credits are can be found on the Native vegetation – Native Vegetation Credit Register web page.
Offsets
Often the clearing of native vegetation requires planning approval which must be offset by a gain in quality and / or extent in native vegetation elsewhere.
A native vegetation offset is any works, or other actions, to make reparation for losses arising from the removal or destruction of native vegetation. Native vegetation offsets include any works or actions that improve and protect native vegetation to compensate for its removal, such as tackling weeds, controlling rabbits and fencing-out stock access. The gains achieved must be permanent and on-going, and are permanently protected. They must also be linked to a specific clearing site.
Offsets can often be generated on the permit holder’s own property (this is called a first party offset). BushBroker may be able to assist in sourcing third party offsets in situations where this is not possible. For example, where there is no suitable site on the property or the permit holder is not able to manage the native vegetation in the long-term. For more information on offsetting native vegetation can be found on the Native vegetation – Regulation and offsets web page.
Benefits from BushBroker
Landowners: an opportunity to improve biodiversity on their properties and create a potential new income stream from their native vegetation by generating Native Vegetation Credits.
Permit holders: a simple and secure process for locating third party offsets (subject to approval from the Responsible Authority (local council) or Referral Authority (Department of Environment and Primary Industries - DEPI).
Environment: a more sustainable offset arrangement with more intact areas of native vegetation and resulting in better biodiversity outcomes. BushBroker helps in avoiding the problems of managing numbers of small areas of native vegetation which are unlikely to be sustainable in the longer term.
BushBroker offers benefits to local government through reduced administrative costs.
General information
Information sheets have been prepared to explain the BushBroker process and can be located on the BushBroker publications page.
For further information on BushBroker, please contact the Department of Environment and Primary Industries Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or email the.bushbroker@dse.vic.gov.au.