2019-02-18 GC Agenda Att 1 to Item 8 - Draft Environment Strategy

Continuous learning
Key to protecting and enhancing Noosa’s unique natural assets is adopting a process of continuous
learning. This includes being adaptable and open to new opportunities and developing a greater
understanding of the interrelationships between people and our environment. To achieve greater
conservation and sustainability outcomes in Noosa, planning and management needs to be based
on:
     robust scientific research, monitoring and an ongoing review process
     prioritised actions and clear targets
     strong partnerships across Council, community and industry to drive positive change
     ongoing and effective behaviour change programs.

The Environment Strategy takes an adaptive management approach that builds in targets and
regular reviews to ensure we integrate learnings and that we adapt over time.

Council delivers activities to help raise environmental awareness, such as the ‘Towards Zero Waste’
education program currently being run with schools. Through the process of developing the
Environment Strategy there is an opportunity to review current programs as well as identify additional
initiatives that would increase environmental awareness, inspire action, and help influence behaviour
change.



Responding to change
Our rapidly changing world brings both challenges and opportunities for Noosa Shire. In its latest
(2019) Global Risks Report , the World Economic Forum ranked ‘extreme weather events’; ‘failure
of climate change mitigation and adaptation’; ‘man-made environmental damage and disasters’;
‘major biodiversity and ecosystem collapse’; and ‘water crises’ amongst the top ten risks facing
society (ranked 1st, 2nd, 6th, 8th and 10th respectively).

Closer to home, changes to the local and regional climate will have an effect on all aspects life and
the environment in Noosa to some degree, as it will both amplify underlying risks and create new
ones.

Responding to these challenges requires changing the way we manage our environment, embracing
new technologies, strengthening and diversifying our local economy, and providing for informed and
resilient communities.

Every challenge to Noosa presents an opportunity for bettering our situation. Capitalising on these
opportunities involves working together and supporting all sectors in our community so each is more
knowledgeable, adaptable and readily able to respond to change and take advantage of new
opportunities. This includes adopting new technologies, enhanced building designs, better land
management practices, future-proofing Council operations and making more resource-efficient
choices.

Although Noosa Shire does not experience the same rapid growth as other areas of South-east
Queensland, it is not immune to a range of threats and challenges:
      Local developments can impact on important habitats and wildlife corridors and potentially
       increase sediment and other pollutants entering our waterways.


Noosa Shire Environment Strategy                                                              Page 10