Conservation agreements under the EPBC Act in Australia
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A conservation agreement is an agreement between the Australian Government and another party. Its purpose is to protect and conserve Australian biodiversity. Find out what a conservation agreement covers, and view a list of current agreements.
What a conservation agreement covers
A conservation agreement is an agreement between the Commonwealth minister for the Environment (the minister) and another party to protect and conserve biodiversity in an area of land or sea. In this context, a 'party' may be:
a landowner
an organisation
a state, territory or local government.
These agreements are established under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
A conservation agreement may provide for:
activities that promote the protection and conservation of:
biodiversity
the world heritage values of declared World Heritage properties
the National Heritage values of National Heritage places
the Commonwealth Heritage values of Commonwealth Heritage places
the ecological character of a declared Ramsar wetland
the environment, in respect of the impact of a nuclear action
the environment in a Commonwealth marine area
the environment on Commonwealth land
financial, technical or other assistance from the Australian Government
monitoring compliance with the agreement.
A conservation agreement can also require the owner or manager of a place to:
carry out activities that promote the protection and conservation of biodiversity
refrain from, or control, activities that may adversely affect the species, ecological community or habitat covered by the agreement
permit access to the place by specified persons
contribute towards the costs incurred under the agreement
spend any money paid to them under the agreement in a specified manner
give back any money paid to them under the agreement if they contravene the agreement.
A conservation agreement may include a declaration that actions do not need approval under Part 9 of the EPBC Act.
A conservation agreement may deal with remediation or mitigation measures. This can occur if the minister considers that an action taken by a person contravened or may have contravened a provision of the EPBC Act.
Conservation agreements are legally binding on:
the Commonwealth
all other parties to the agreement
any parties that gain an interest in any part of the area after the agreement is entered into.
We publish a notice on this page any time the minister enters, varies or terminates a conservation agreement.
If you want to read more about these agreements, they are legislated under:
Chapter 5 Part 14 - Conservation agreements of the EPBC Act
Five Conservation Agreements with HV Operations Pty Ltd, Coal & Allied Operations Pty Ltd, and Anotero Pty Ltd that secure over 1,060 ha for the protection of the critically endangered Central Hunter Valley Eucalypt Forest and Woodland, Swift Parrot, Regent Honeyeater, and vulnerable Green and Golden Bell Frog in New South Wales – read:
Conservation agreement with the NSW Government and Parramatta City Council for the protection and conservation of the World Heritage Values and National Heritage Values of the Australian Convict Sites, Old Government House and Domain, Parramatta New South Wales - read:
Conservation agreement with landholders (B and M Blunden) for the protection of listed threatened species or ecological communities under the EPBC Act at Myrtle Creek, Bungawlbyn - read Conservation agreement with B and M Blunden (PDF 1.2 MB).
Conservation agreement with landholder (S Ryves) for the protection of listed threatened species under the EPBC Act in relation to Portion 108b - read Conservation agreement with S Ryves (PDF 1.4 MB).
Conservation agreement with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council for the protection of the Grey-headed Flying-fox in the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area - read:
Conservation agreement with landholders (S and J Singh) to remove all bananas within 2 identified riparian zones in Bingil Bay, Queensland and restore the natural ecology of those areas - read Conservation agreement with S and J Singh (PDF 1.2 MB).
Conservation agreement with Queensland Government for low-impact aquaculture activities in relation to the Great Sandy Regional marine aquaculture plan - read:
Conservation agreement with landholders (Plapp and Jones) for tourist/residential development at South Mission Beach requiring a specified area of land in County of Nares, Parish of Hull to be set aside as a reserve and ensure the ongoing protection and maintenance of this area of land to provide a suitable habitat for the Southern Cassowary - read Conservation agreement with Plapp and Jones (PDF 3.7 MB).
Conservation agreement with the Tasmanian Government for the protection and conservation of areas of State Forest separating the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from adjoining wood production coupes - read:
Conservation agreement with Roads Corporation for Growling Grass Frog conservation management plan for proposed Donnybrook-Hume Highway interchange, Kalkallo, Victoria by Biosis research - read Conservation agreement with Roads Corporation (PDF 1.6 MB).
Conservation agreement with Galaway Holdings Pty Ltd for the protection of listed threatened species under the EPBC Act in relation to the conservation management plan for grassland and wetland reserves at Lavaton - read Conservation agreement with Galaway Holdings Pty Ltd (PDF 89 KB).
Conservation agreement with Multiplex Development No. 8 Pty Ltd for the protection and conservation of the Pimelea spinescens subsp. spinescens - read Conservation agreement with Multiplex (PDF 510 KB).
Conservation agreement with Peet Southern JV Pty Ltd for the protection and conservation of the Carnaby’s Cockatoo. Peet Southern JV agrees to pay for the purchase of at least 320 hectares of land which contains Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo habitat in response to an identified contravention of Part 3 of the EPBC Act - read Conservation agreement with Peet Southern JV (PDF 1.4 MB).
Conservation agreement with Woodside Energy Ltd* regarding National Heritage Values of the Dampier Archipelago (including Burrup Peninsula) National Heritage Place - read Conservation agreement with Woodside Energy (PDF 5.1 MB).
Conservation agreement with Satterley Property Group, Dalyellup Beach Pty Ltd, The Housing Authority and Home Satterley Dalyellup Pty Ltd for research and monitoring of the Western Ringtail Possum in urban development areas of Busselton and Bunbury - read Conservation agreement with Satterley Property Group (PDF 1.1 MB).
* Parts of these conservation agreements have not been disclosed for commercial-in-confidence reasons, or because they contain culturally sensitive images.
