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PDF file

• Bilateral Agreement to Deliver the Natural Heritage Trust Extension Between the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia (PDF - 596 KB)

Preamble / Recitals

1. This Agreement covers the implementation of the extension to the Natural Heritage Trust ('Trust Extension'). The Parties are committed to implementing the Trust Extension under the framework as agreed by the NRM Ministerial Council.
2. The Parties recognise there is a range of other strategies that are relevant to implementation of the Trust Extension, such as the State Planning Strategy, the National and State Water Quality Management Strategies, and the State Rangelands Policy. The State will proceed with the development of other relevant strategies, such as the State Sustainability Strategy, the State Coastal Strategy, the State Biodiversity Strategy and the State Marine Planning Strategy. These strategies will be given due regard in the implementation of the Trust Extension.
3. The Parties acknowledge the different roles and responsibilities of the Commonwealth and the State for natural resource management that arise from the Commonwealth Constitution and the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Environment, and acknowledge that the principal responsibilities lie with the State. Further, the Parties consider that decision making in relation to natural resource management should remain the primary responsibility of elected governments.
4. The Parties affirm that this Agreement is a joint investment in natural resource management and will function within the institutional and statutory frameworks that operate in Western Australia. The Parties acknowledge that the State has an effective framework of legislation, policy and regulations that provide for national requirements and is an appropriate foundation for the Agreement, but acknowledge that some parts of the legislation, policy and regulations may require amendment during the life of this Agreement.
5. The Parties recognise that while this Agreement is between the Commonwealth and the State of Western Australia, implementation of the Trust Extension will involve significant investment from a range of stakeholders. The Parties recognise the active involvement of Local Government and regional communities as fundamental to effective implementation of the Trust Extension.
6. Environmental degradation, including rising salinity levels, erosion, declining water quality and loss of biodiversity poses a significant challenge to the people of Western Australia. It affects areas of agricultural production, associated terrestrial, freshwater, marine and subterranean ecosystems and important infrastructure. Other environmental values of land and water resources such as recreation and aesthetics; industrial and drinking water are also impacted by environmental degradation. Environmental degradation affects both urban and rural landscapes and communities, including areas required to be protected under international agreements.
7. Through this Agreement, the Commonwealth and the State wish to reflect their intent to work as joint investment partners, with the community and other stakeholders, in natural resource management activities. In particular, the Commonwealth and Western Australia jointly seek to fulfil the three overarching objectives of the Trust agreed by the NRM Ministerial Council on 3 May 2002, namely:
   1. biodiversity conservation - the conservation of Australia's biodiversity through the protection and restoration of terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine and marine ecosystems and habitat for native plants and animals;
   2. sustainable use of natural resources - the sustainable use and management of Australia's land, water and marine resources to maintain and improve the productivity and profitability of resource based industries; and
   3. community capacity building and institutional change - support for individuals, landholders, communities, industry and organisations with skills, knowledge, information and institutional frameworks to increase capacity to implement biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource use and management.
8. This Agreement is made pursuant to subsection 19(2) of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 (Cth) and section 5 of the Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992 (Cth).