Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Roadside Vegetation ROADSIDE VEGETATION The Hon. M. PARNELL Legislative Council ROADSIDE VEGETATION In reply to the Hon. M. PARNELL (5 April 2011). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling ROADSIDE VEGETATION The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling): The Minister for Environment and Conservation has been advised: 1.	Clearance for public safety under Regulation 5(1)(lb) of the Native Vegetation Regulations 2003 does not require a Significant Environmental Benefit in the same way as clearance for the protection of life and property from bushfire. The 'Interim Framework for the Application of Regulation 5(1)(lb) for Clearance Along Roads, Intersections and at Rail Crossings for Public Safety Purposes' outlines the circumstances in which Public Safety Regulation 5(1)(lb) will apply. The framework requires road authorities proposing to use the Regulation to outline (where applicable) if other safety improvement measures suited to reducing the public safety risk have been considered to avoid or reduce the need for clearance. The Framework only applies to native vegetation with a stem diameter greater than 100mm. The specified distances for clearance reflect the Austroad Guidelines which establish safety standards for Australian Roads. 2.	Road authorities must complete the 'Clearance Approval Form' in the Framework which quantifies, among other things, the amount of vegetation proposed for clearance. 3.	Clearance for public safety under Regulation 5(1)(lb) does not require a Significant Environmental Benefit payment into the Fund. This is consistent with other safety related Native Vegetation Regulations in South Australia.