House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Estimates Replies Native Vegetation Fund Native Vegetation Fund The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS House of Assembly Black Leader of the Opposition Native Vegetation Fund In reply to the Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (3 July 2023). (Estimates Committee A) The Hon. S.E. CLOSE House of Assembly Port Adelaide Deputy Premier Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Minister for Defence and Space Industries Minister for Climate, Environment and Water Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy Native Vegetation Fund The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water): I have been advised: The current balance of the Native Vegetation Fund at 30 June 2023 was $26,167,670. Seven projects covering 454ha have been funded in 2022-23 for a total of $2,903,595. Projects funded from the Native Vegetation Fund in 2022-23: Eyre Peninsula Biodiversity Credit Exchange; Kanmantoo Grassy Woodland Revegetation Program; Hindmarsh Valley Hotspot Restoration Project; Reconstructing poorly conserved and under-represented Allocasuarina verticillata Grassy Low Woodland on the low hills of the northern Fleurieu Peninsula; Restoration of Eucalypt Woodland at Wattle Flat; and Port Elliot Pink Gum Woodland Revegetation. The act requires that the fund must, as far as practicable, be used: (a)	to protect, establish or regenerate native vegetation on land that is within the same region of the State as the cleared land, and that has been selected by the Native Vegetation Council for that purpose; and (b)	to preserve and maintain that vegetation once established or reinstated. Accordingly, use of the fund, as far as practicable, will be applied in the regional council areas and communities where the associated clearance is approved and undertaken.