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

                                                             DRAFT South East Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy 2019–2024




A new code in the State Development Assessment             mapping on their property to ensure developed areas
Provisions will be introduced to provide the criteria      and water courses are excluded from the final map.
for assessing clearing of koala habitat areas that
                                                           A map amendment process will be provided to enable
are:
                                                           landholders to apply to have the map amended where
• outside of KPA                                           anomalies exist. Unlike the previous process where
• for an extractive industry in a key resource area        map amendments can only occur in conjunction with a
  in a KPA.                                                development application, map amendments can occur
                                                           at any time.
Updating the mapping and amending errors
                                                           The new koala habitat model provides for robust an
The new koala habitat model uses regional
                                                           repeatable analysis, allowing mapping to be updated on
ecosystem and high-value regrowth mapping
                                                           an annual basis. This will translate into more frequent
provided by the Queensland Herbarium.
                                                           updates of the koala conservation map.
Although the new koala habitat mapping is based
                                                           Locally refined koala habitat areas will be included
on the best available data, there may be some
                                                           in the new koala habitat map for a transitional period
circumstances where the mapping incorrectly
                                                           of two years, during which time the Queensland
identifies koala habitat. The Queensland
                                                           Government will work with local governments to
Government is encouraging landholders to validate
                                                           consider local biodiversity protections.

Proposed planning framework for areas mapped as a KPA:
      Changes to:                      Existing provisions                            Proposed provisions
Types of controls for     Koala assessable development areas/         Koala priority areas
koala habitat             priority koala assessable development areas
Affect                    Contain planning controls (some SEQ local        Contain planning controls (only
                          governments have PKADA/KADAs)                    Toowoomba has no KPA)
What’s prohibited         Urban activity in non-urban area (open           Clearing koala habitat
                          space, conservation zones, etc.)
What’s assessable         Clearing koala habitat                           Development that would not result in
                                                                           clearing of koala habitat areas
Assessment                Local governments conduct development            Local governments conduct development
                          assessment, in line with state and local         assessment in line with new benchmarks
                          planning regulation                              within the Planning Regulation (develop-
                                                                           ment not resulting in clearing only)
Offset recipient          Local government                                 Not applicable; clearing of koala habitat
                                                                           areas prohibited

Proposed planning framework for areas outside of a KPA:
      Changes to:                           Until 2019                                Commencing in 2019
Types of controls for     No specific koala habitat protection; general Specific controls for clearing koala
koala habitat             controls for clearing habitat regardless of   habitat
                          species
Assessment                Local governments conduct development            The state government conducts
                          assessment, the state considers impacts on       development assessment in line with
                          Matters of State Environmental Significance      updated State Development Assessment
                          only                                             Provisions
Assessment framework Local government: avoid, minimise                     Avoid, minimise, offset
                     state: avoid, minimise, offset

Where the land is not a koala habitat area, no koala conservation controls are proposed to apply.
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