Hi Elizabeth,
My understanding is that conservation agreements are no longer under the NP&W Act, but are now under the Biodiversity Conservation Act. Cl 18(1)(c) of the Biodiversity Conservation (Savings and Transitional) Regulation extends legislative references to the NP&W Act to read as the Biodiversity Conservation Act.
We have recently received letters from the Biodiversity Conservation Trust when a new agreement’s been made. These give details of the area covered by the agreement, but little else. I’ve taken the position that the owner needs to provide a copy of the agreement before I process an exemption. The old agreements under the NP&W Act were in perpetuity, but the new agreements don’t have to be, and I don’t know of any other way to be sure if or when it ends.
The exemption is calculated on an area percentage basis as you have described.
Cheers
Ian
