Community Agreements
Mt Oak operates on a basis of consensus and that co-operation has resulted in various community agreements
Long-standing ecological agreements are written into the constitution and inform all human activity on the land
2010 Voluntary Conservation Agreement
The Free Land Association and the Mt Oak Community Association and the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, in December 2010, signed a perpetual Voluntary Conservation Agreement covering 895 hectares (82%) of the land. This covenant was 6 years in the negotiation process and further protects the natural values of the land. This process has formalised the long-standing and far-sighted community ecological agreements formulated over 30 years ago
The Free Land Association and the Mt Oak Community Association and the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, in December 2010, signed a perpetual Voluntary Conservation Agreement covering 895 hectares (82%) of the land. This covenant was 6 years in the negotiation process and further protects the natural values of the land. This process has formalised the long-standing and far-sighted community ecological agreements formulated over 30 years ago
Mt. Oak Community Ecological Agreements
People occupying free land must respect the needs of that land, particularly its needs for sustenance, vitality and protection, and must act to ensure:
- That the stability and vitality of the soil be maintained and improved
- That the water, the waters and their catchments remain pure; and its use be wisely.
- That the air shall not be polluted; and that measures be taken to buffer, channel and utilise its forces.
- That fire shall be kept under control until extinguished; and that adequate measures be taken to prevent its accidental outbreak.
- That the biomass shall not, by human or other agency, suffer destruction or depletion.
- That the indigenous species and their lifecycles not be under threat and that foreign species be kept under control.
- That no activities of the occupiers cause consequences to the detriment of any aspect of the biosphere.
- That nobody shall hinder or impede the occupiers in their duty to ensure the rehabilitation and protection of the environment.
- That profit from the use of the land be used to improve the land according to its needs.
- That the power acquired due to any relations with the land shall only be used in the interests of the land.
