126A responsible person may petition Minister to have a plant declared invasive alien species (1) An owner or occupier may, in the prescribed manner, petition the Minister to declare any plant to be an invasive alien species for the purposes of this Part. (2) On receipt of such a petition, the Minister shall give written notice in the Gazette and in a newspaper circulating widely in the district or portion of area of application and the notice shall— (a) set out the nature of the petition; (b) specify the relevant district or portion thereof of application; (c) call upon any persons responsible in the said district or portion of district to lodge written submissions of any objections to the petition being acceded to; (d) give not less than thirty days in which submissions may be made. (3) The Minister shall take into consideration all submissions lodged in accordance with subsection (2) and shall thereafter, make a decision within thirty working days after the period fixed for receiving objections expires, whether or not to grant or refuse the petition. (4) The Minister shall give written notice and reasons for his decision under subsection (3) and shall publish such decision in the Gazette and in a newspaper with wide circulation in the district of application. 127Alteration of Third Schedule The Minister may, in consultation with the Agency, at any time, by statutory instrument, add to or amend the Third Schedule or replace the whole or any part of that Schedule. PART XIV APPEALS 128Interpretation in Part XIV In this Part and section one hundred and thirty-three— “authority” means the Minister, the Secretary, the Agency, the Director-General, or a local authority. 129Appeal against decision of inspector (1) Subject to this section, any person who is aggrieved by any action, decision or order of an inspector may appeal against it to the Director-General. (2) An appeal in terms of subsection (1) shall be made in the form and manner prescribed and shall be lodged with the Director-General within thirty days after the appellant was notified of the action, decision or order appealed against. (3) On an appeal in terms of subsection (1), the Director-General may conduct or cause to be conducted such inquiry into the matter as he thinks appropriate and may confirm, vary or set aside the action, decision or order appealed against: Provided that the Director-General shall ensure that the appellant and the inspector are given an adequate opportunity to make representations in the matter. (4) The Director-General shall ensure that the appellant and the inspector are notified of the decision reached by him in terms of subsection (3). 57