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

Environment Principles
The following principles from Council’s Environment & Sustainable Living Policy will help guide
strategic decisions, investment and prioritisation of environmental and sustainability initiatives.

Noosa Council will work with the community to:
   1. Build shared values, understanding and appreciation of Noosa’s natural environment.
   2. Build strong partnerships and whole-of-community effort to protect and enhance the
       environment and to conserve its resources.
   3. Preserve indigenous cultural heritage as part of our environment and engage with traditional
       owners about matters affecting the environment.
   4. Recognise interconnections between people, livelihoods, lifestyle, economy and the natural
       environment, and ensure this approach is included in management planning and project
       delivery.
   5. Reduce human impacts on the environment by avoiding and minimising such impacts before
       resorting to mitigation, offsets or rehabilitation.
   6. Take an integrated approach to protecting native flora and fauna as well as aquatic
       ecosystems to build on existing biodiversity and connectivity across the landscape.
   7. Increase the resilience of the community, the economy and our natural assets to
       environmental hazards and climate change.
   8. Ensure ecological sustainability is fully integrated into decision making in order to help secure
       the continued availability of natural resources for present and future generations.
   9. Use an evidence-based approach to managing the environment and adapt appropriately as
       new information arises.
   10. Apply the precautionary approach to environmental decision making where there is
       uncertainty, to avoid or minimise harm.
   11. Actively communicate with the broad community to improve awareness and build capacity
       around environmental issues.

The principles of the Environment and Sustainable Living Policy will be delivered through the
Environment Strategy, the Noosa Planning Scheme, other strategies, and supporting
environmental plans, policies and actions of Council.



Structure
The Environment Strategy commences with an overview of the planning and policy context, as well
as feedback from the community on issues and priorities. The document then outlines the ‘Big
Picture’ for our environment and sustainability in terms of:
     valuing our environment
     celebrating and building on our successes
     the need for continuous learning and adaptive management
     identifying risks and challenges.

The remainder of the Strategy is structured under 4 themes:
    Biodiversity
    Waterways, Wetlands and Coasts
    Sustainable Living
    Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience



Noosa Shire Environment Strategy                                                                 Page 5