Regulations, permits, licences, etc.

Why do we need regulations for working in and collecting from public land?

There are regulations that you must follow when working in natural areas such as state and commonwealth parks and reserves.

These regulations are there to control what you can do - for example, if you're planning to collect plants, seeds or animals from the bush.

They also make you think carefully about:

• the purpose of the work
• whether the work is really necessary
• how useful the results will be
• the impact the work will have on the natural environment.

You may find that you have to apply for a permit or licence before you can begin any work.

Any application forms you fill out will provide a history of what has happened in a particular area - this is useful both for your own organisation and the appropriate agency.

Where do permits and licences come from?
You may have to make some enquiries to find out which organisation would issue the appropriate permit or licence for your work.

Permits and licences can be issued by, for example:

• state government departments such as Conservation and Land Management in Western Australia, Environment Protection in Queensland, and Natural Resources and Environment in Victoria
• the Department of the Environment and Heritage (for commonwealth reserves such as Kakadu)
• government agencies such as Main Roads or Water and Rivers (you may not have to apply for a permit, but you should always ask for permission)
• local authorities and councils (you may have to apply for a permit to collect from their parks and reserves).

Ask your supervisor, phone your local authority or check appropriate websites for more information about permits and licences.

What about private land?
You must contact the landowner and ask for permission to work on their property. The owner will need to know:

• where you will be working
• when you will be there
• what you intend to do
• what you wish to collect.

You may have to follow instructions about shutting gates, watching out for livestock, or not going into particular areas.

The owner may refuse to give you permission. In this case you should not attempt to carry out the work.

What is a code of practice?
Your organisation may have developed a code of practice that they expect you to follow when working in the bush. This is a set of rules usually based on safe work practices, environmental considerations and common sense.

One rule that your organisation will have is that you should apply for and receive the correct permits for any work you intend to do.

You can read a code of practice about safety, 'Be safe working in the bush', in the OHS section of the Clearwater website.