2016-06-07 - Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

Page 53 of 65

COUNCIL POLICY — ENVIRONMENT LEVY POLICY

Through its support for VCAs, Council may choose to work with landholders to protect biodiversity
beyond the confines of state and Council owned land. Thus partnerships may be generated
between landholders and Council to conserve natural values on privately owned land. Council will
provide incentives to VCA landholders for environmental works as per an agreed Environment
Management Plan and/or imposition of an environmental covenant on the land title. It is noted that
VCAs, by significantly expanding the overall conservation estate, can represent excellent value for
dollar spend.
Similar to the Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land program, potential VCA properties
will be assessed on their biodiversity attributes, regional ecosystem attributes, connectivity,
consolidation, species protection, and rehabilitation opportunities. VCAs that are proposed for land
that is identified on Council’s Preferred Acquisition List will receive the highest priority. VCAs that
contribute to Strategic Biodiversity Corridors will also be considered favourably.
Where land acquisition may not be an option for a particular parcel of land, the VCA program may
be a suitable alternative for the landholder.
Council will establish an Environment Levy Working Group to make annual recommendations to
Council regarding new and ongoing support for individual Voluntary Conservation Agreements.

3.    Contributions to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust
The principal purposes contained in the Trust Deed for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust are:
(i) advancing the protection and enhancement of a significant aspect of the natural environment,
    being the natural ecosystems and biodiversity of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve; and
(ii) advancing research, education and information about a significant aspect of the natural
    environment, being the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
As Trustee of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust, the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd
may utilise funds held in the Trust to achieve the purposes of the Trust.
The purposes of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust are in keeping with the overarching purposes
of this policy. Council may thus choose to allocate a proportion of the Levy funds to Noosa
Biosphere Reserve Trust to fund projects that are directed towards protecting and advancing the
natural environment.
The Levy amount to be contributed to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust will be determined by
Council as part of the annual budget process.
It is expected that projects approved by Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd that utilise Levy
contributions will be for projects that conserve and/or improve biodiversity in the Noosa Shire and
which have tangible and measurable outcomes.

USE OF REVENUE
e   The apportionment of Environment Levy funds across the three programs of Acquisition of
    Environmentally Significant Land, Support for Voluntary Conservation Agreements and
    Contributions to Noosa Biosphere Trust will be subject to Council’s annual budget review and
    program priorities.
e   All revenue including any revenue raised through approved Levy business activities is to be
    accounted for separately from Council’s general revenue and shall not at any time be available
    for expenditure as general revenue.
e   The Levy can be used for leveraging grants and partnership opportunities from the state and
    federal governments and other agencies, provided there is no impediment to achieving the
    agreed outcomes of Levy funding.
e   Financial management of Levy revenue must be in accordance with relevant legislation and
    Council policies.

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