Multiple and sequential land use: A national policy for Australia?

Abstract

The closest the Australian Government has come to a national land use policy was for multiple and sequential use that was proposed in 1992 as one pathway to sustainable development of land in Australia over space and time. Under this national strategy governments in Australia’s federalist system would undertake several actions but it was never resourced. In 2013 the Multiple Land Use Framework (MLUF) was developed but still has little promotion by governments and has not noticeably reduced disputes on land use developments. Trial programs that support multiple uses, especially nature conservation, on privately operated land have been moderately successful but limited in scope. Sequential land use, largely applicable to post-mining recovery, appears limited so far, but may succeed in facilitating alternative land uses as the mining industry moves to life-of-mine planning. Some possible reasons for this lack of government response are discussed.