However, three major sporting fields remain in limbo as council continues negotiations with the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA) to find a solution.

Huskisson Sporting Ground, Bernie Regan Sporting Complex and St Georges Basin Sports Field were identified by SRCMA as three priority sites with no solution yet reached.

Last month councillors sought advice on the legislation’s implications for future sporting facilities and Rural Fire Service buildings.

Representatives of SRCMA made a presentation to the Crown Reserve, Community and Commercial Operations Committee last week explaining the implications of the Act.

They informed the committee the projects could go ahead if a significant amount of land was offset, between five and 20 times the land to be cleared.

Offsets were actions in order to balance any negative impacts of clearing, such as planting or weed control, or agreeing not to clear regrowth, and must occur in the same area.

However the amount of land to be offset for the Huskisson Sports Ground alone was 12.62ha to compensate for the 0.63ha to be cleared.

“We’re working under strict legislation handed down by the State Government,” said SRCMA general manager Noel Kesby.

“We’ve hit an impasse and are trying with council to work a way through that. We’ve raised the issues council has with the minister.

“I feel we’ve definitely gone a way forward on some projects, but there are two or three left with significant issues.

“I have commissioned my staff to see this as a matter of urgency.”

Council’s City Services Director John Wells posed the question of council gaining offset credits for areas local Bushcare groups had already rehabilitated.

Mr Kesby said that was a possibility and, “It’s a process to go through each one case by case”.

Cr John Finkernagel believed council needed to pursue the matter further.

“We may be able to use areas already restored, but we will run out eventually. Offsets of 30 times is ridiculous,” he said.