2021-08-10 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Climate Change Response Plan

                                                           Noosa Climate Change Response Plan




Theme 5: Healthy and resilient natural
systems and carbon sequestration
Why this is important
Climate change will impact biodiversity, water resources and natural systems in many ways.
Restoring ecosystems also present huge opportunities to remove greenhouse gases from
the atmosphere, create jobs, support tourism, increase resilience of our native ecosystems,
improve health and wellbeing through recreation and connection with nature, and improve
heat-related impacts in our urban areas.
Changing temperature and rainfall trends and increasing risks of extreme weather events are
creating significant impacts for Noosa’s biodiversity and natural systems that will exacerbate
existing threats. These changes are already being observed in the natural environment.
Bushfires made worse by dry conditions across parts of Noosa Shire in the 2019/20 summer
had devastating consequences for local ecosystems and highlighted the vulnerability of these
natural assets.
Vegetation, soil and oceans are vital ‘sinks’ for absorbing greenhouse gases from the
atmosphere and storing them long term. Establishing restoration plantings to offset corporate
carbon emissions or to compensate for vegetated cleared elsewhere has broad ranging
benefits for the environment and for businesses and community groups that may partner in the
restoration efforts.


How we’ll achieve this
The Noosa Environment Strategy addresses many of the threats and impacts to biodiversity
and natural systems arising from the Climate Emergency. A range of initiatives are underway to
increase habitat, landscape connectivity, riparian buffers and ecosystem health.
Council will continue to build on this and improve vegetation and bushfire management
practices to address climate risks, as well as take-up opportunities for maximising carbon
drawdown through tree planting and ‘blue carbon’ restoration initiatives. This includes
increasing revegetation and ecosystems restoration around waterways and along connecting
habitat areas. Enhancing tree canopy cover in urban areas will be important for reducing urban
heat stress, increasing carbon drawdown, and reducing energy needed to keep internal and
external building spaces cool. A further initiative includes converting gardens to more drought
tolerant native gardens to reduce plant loss, and irrigation needs, increase habitat and food
for local wildlife. The development of a Coastal Foreshore Management Plan will provide
for a dedicated program of foredune restoration and management in partnership with local
bushcare groups. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in partnership with Noosa Council continue
to investigate opportunities for seagrass restoration in the Noosa River.




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