2020-01-16 OM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Draft SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2019-2024

       2. Habitat protection


       The planned amendments will also provide that,            In particular, the KEP recommended removing,
       where a development requires clearing in a koala          or reducing the impact, upon koala habitat, of
       habitat outside a KPA, the ‘avoid, minimise and           exemptions under the Vegetation Management Act,
       offset’ hierarchy will apply. Similar exemptions to       particularly for:
       those allowed in the KPA will apply.
                                                                 • clearing for urban purposes in an urban area
       A new state code for SEQ koala habitat will be            • material change of use, or reconfiguration of a
       developed to ensure that development in the region:         lot less than 5 ha.
       • delivers no net loss of koala habitat area              The Queensland Government’s planned koala
       • maintains or improves connectivity within and           conservation reform will not change the Vegetation
         between koala habitat to ensure safe koala              Management Act, however these exemptions will
         movement                                                not be replicated for impacts upon koala habitat
       • is constructed and undertaken in such a way that        areas, in line with KEP recommendations.
         does not increase the risk of injury to, or death of,
                                                                 Some exemptions are proposed to apply, such
         koalas
                                                                 as the ability to clear a development footprint
       • avoids, minimises and mitigates environmental
                                                                 up to 500 m2, which is also allowed under the
         impacts and provides an offset for significant
                                                                 previous planning regulation. Other exemptions
         unavoidable impacts.
                                                                 will include clearing for fire breaks, maintenance
       The Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy will          and other activities that are considered reasonable
       be amended to reflect the changes to the planning         to allow landholders to live on, and manage, their
       framework. The amendments will make the                   properties, in line with existing regulation.
       Queensland Government responsible for imposing
       offset conditions for koala habitat, in SEQ. Offsets
                                                                 Consistency in the approach to
       may be delivered as either a financial settlement or
                                                                 development assessment
       as a land-based offset.
                                                                 For development involving the clearing of koala
       Financial settlement will be paid to the state’s offset   habitat outside a KPA, it is proposed that the
       account, which is managed by the Department of            development will be assessed by the state
       Environment and Science which will coordinate the         government and ‘avoid, mitigate and offset’
       on-ground delivery. However, local governments            requirements will apply. This assessment was
       will be encouraged to collaborate with the state to       previously a role of local government.
       identify suitable offset areas.
                                                                 Under the planned amendments, development that
       If a proponent chooses a land-based offset, they will     doesn’t involve clearing of koala habitat inside a
       be required, under the existing offset multiplier, to     KPA will be assessed by local government using
       conserve three new koala habitat trees for every one      new assessment benchmarks. The assessment
       non-juvenile koala habitat tree impacted. This ratio      benchmarks will help local government manage
       may be adjusted in the future, in response to further     potential risks for proposed development close to
       consultation and scientific review.                       koala habitat.
       The strategic placement of offsets will support the       Assessment benchmarks will ensure that:
       overall koala habitat protection and restoration
       targets.                                                  • development does not result in fragmentation of
                                                                   koala habitat (this may mean that the placement
       Reducing the number, scope and complexity                   of buildings, structures or works is at least 50 m
                                                                   from the edge of koala habitat)
       of exemptions
                                                                 • the condition of koala habitat is not impacted by
       The KEP made a recommendation to reduce the scope
                                                                   factors such as changes to soil condition, or the
       and complexity of exemptions, as clearing for exempt
                                                                   introduction of weeds of pests
       activities has had an impact on koala habitat.
                                                                 • the development allows safe movement of
                                                                   koalas.
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