A spokesperson from the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment said a landowner had been issued a remediation order on June 13, 2019, to address "environmental harm caused by unlawful land management activities between July 2018 and February 2019".

The order, which has been viewed by the Bay Post, said the Office of Environment and Heritage investigated a report of native vegetation clearing on the property.

It found information and evidence, including a review of aerial imagery, site inspections, and responses to Notices to Provide Information and Records indicated that "clearing of native vegetation occurred on the property between December 1, 2018, and March 20, 2019".

It also found the clearing was contrary to section 60N of the Local Land Services Act, and that "none of the available defences listed in the Act and associated Regulations in relation to the offence applied".

The order states the landholder must retain vegetation within the area, and must destroy any weeds, exotic species, commercial crops, or non-native plant species by either spot application of herbicide, or removal by non-mechanised means.

Exotic species are defined as "species introduced from overseas or interstate".

The landholder must also make attempts to control any pest herbivores in the area, ensure any fallen timber and debris is retained for the purposes of habitat, and must not pick, cut, poison, remove or harm any native vegetation.

Pest herbivores are defined in the order as hares, rabbits or deer.

Section 60N of the LLS Act states the maximum penalty for an individual can be $1 million if the clearing is proved to be intentional, and caused, or was likely to cause, significant harm to the environment.