LCV defines a ‘covenant’ as a formal document – to covenant means restricting the use and development of land in perpetuity with the purpose to protect and improve the condition of native vegetation and other environmental values of the land under the:

a) Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972, or

b) Section 69 of the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1970 or,

c) Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987

Trust for Nature is the primary vehicle through which landowners place legally binding and perpetuating covenants on their land, in accordance with the Victorian Conservation Trust Act 1972. Trust for Nature provides a definition of a covenant HERE.

Other conservation covenants (b) are also possible under the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1970, administered by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

Some covenants (c) are also entered into with local government authorities under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Landholders also work with a broad range of organisations, including Land for Wildlife, local councils, catchment management authorities and private companies seeking environmental services in maintaining and protecting the land.

LCV collaborates with and draws knowledge from many of these organisations, with the aim of providing a valued service to our members and connecting all covenantors together to share this knowledge.