Land clearing applications and permits

For information on land clearing, how to apply, current applications and approvals, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Purpose of land clearing approval process

The NT Government is committed to the long-term management of our valuable natural resources while encouraging continued sustainable development. Proposals to clear native vegetation are assessed during the application process to ensure they demonstrate good land management principles, particularly in relation to protecting soil, water and biodiversity values.

The Territory has to date avoided much of the poor land clearing practices that have degraded the southern environments, in some instances irreversibly.

Inappropriate and uncontrolled clearing of land can destroy and fragment the habitat of native plants and animals, lead to soil erosion, salinity and sedimentation in our creeks and rivers, as well as destroying farmlands, lowering productivity and damaging water supplies.

The degradation caused by indiscriminate clearing can be very costly, not only for the environment, but also economically for the community and for landholders who are forced to rehabilitate degraded sites and fight weed infestations.

Land clearing is subject to the provisions under the Planning Act 1999. The Planning Act 1999 has maximum penalties of 500 penalty units. Read about penalty units on the Attorney-General's Department website.

Regular monitoring, including aerial photography and satellite image analysis and on ground inspections ensures compliance with the controls.

Read details on auditing programs monitoring land clearing on the Northern Territory Government website.