National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) (Palaeontological and Geological Sites) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SA)

South Australia

National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) (Palaeontological and Geological Sites) Amendment Regulations 2023

under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972

Contents

Part 1—Preliminary

1            Short title

2            Commencement

Part 2—Amendment of National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016

3            Insertion of regulation 30A

30A        Palaeontological and geological sites

4            Substitution of regulation 41

41          Prescription of offences—section 73A

5            Amendment of regulation 42—General offence

6            Repeal of Schedule 1

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

These regulations may be cited as the National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) (Palaeontological and Geological Sites) Amendment Regulations 2023.

2—Commencement

These regulations come into operation 4 months after the day on which they are made (see Legislative Instruments Act 1978 section 10AA).

Part 2—Amendment of National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2016

3—Insertion of regulation 30A

After regulation 30 insert:

30A—Palaeontological and geological sites

(1)If, in the opinion of the relevant authority, it is necessary or desirable in order to protect a site of palaeontological or geological significance in a reserve, the relevant authority may, by notice in the Gazette, declare the site to be a site of palaeontological or geological significance.

(2)A notice under subregulation (1) may—

(a)prohibit or restrict access to the whole or part of the site; or

(b)specify other conditions relating to the use, preservation or protection of the site.

(3)A person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority, contravene or fail to comply with a prohibition, restriction or other condition in a notice under subregulation (1).

(4)A person must not, without the permission of the relevant authority or other lawful authority—

(a)destroy, damage or interfere with a palaeontological or geological site (whether directly or indirectly); or

(b)remove a fossil, fossiliferous material, soil, rock, mineral or similar material from a palaeontological or geological site.

(5)In this regulation—

palaeontological or geological site means a site that is the subject of a declaration under subregulation (1).

4—Substitution of regulation 41

Regulation 41—delete the regulation and substitute:

41—Prescription of offences—section 73A

For the purposes of the definition of prescribed offence in section 73A(1) of the Act, an offence against regulation 42 that arises from a contravention of, or failure to comply with, 1 or more of the following provisions is prescribed:

(a)regulation 6(1);

(b)regulation 7(4);

(c)regulation 10(1), (2), (3), (4), (6) or (7);

(d)regulation 11(1) or (2);

(e)regulation 14;

(f)regulation 30A(3) or (4).

5—Amendment of regulation 42—General offence

1. Regulation 42(1), penalty provision—delete the penalty provision and substitute:

   Maximum penalty:

   (a)in the case of regulation 30A(3) or (4)—$75 000;

   (b)in any other case—$1 000.

2. Regulation 42(1), expiation fee—before paragraph (a) insert:

   (a1)in the case of an alleged contravention of, or failure to comply with, regulation 30A(3) or (4)—$1 500;

6—Repeal of Schedule 1

Schedule 1—delete the Schedule

Made by the Governor

with the advice and consent of the Executive Council

on 26 May 2023

No 51 of 2023