Cash for koalas plan to pay farmers to preserve habitat
Farmers would be paid by the NSW Government to preserve koala habitat on their properties under a proposal being formulated by senior ministers.
The plan, which involves compensating farmers under the Biodiversity Conservation Trust, is being developed following the failure of the koala planning policy that split the coalition and threatened to plunge the NSW government into minority in September.
Both NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro and Liberal Environment Minister Matt Kean are working to tailor the A$350 million (NZ$374M) biodiversity trust to pay regional landowners for protecting koala habitat.
‘‘[It’s] putting in place stewardship payments to private landholders that want to give up some of their land for conservation, and in this case for koala habitat. Let’s pay them for it just like we do under the biodiversity legislation,’’ Barilaro said.
‘‘The National Party will be working to bring back a SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) to deal with koala habitat, bring back a strategy that deals with doubling its population and protecting its habitat.’’
Kean said he was confident the coalition partners would be able to reach an agreement on the divisive policy.
‘‘Just like we did on energy, the Deputy Premier and I will find a way through this issue that protects private property rights and helps preserve our most loved and iconic animal,’’ he said.
Kean has recently made changes to the biodiversity trust’s board, bringing in former deputy NSW Nationals leader Niall Blair. – Nine