2017-05-24 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                  24 MAY 2017


Option 4 is not without risks (eg some residents remain onsite at the time of settlement) which will
need to be carefully managed through the development of a comprehensive project and risk
mitigation plan and communication strategy.

The estimated cost of option 4 is $2.5 million (refer finance section of the report).


6.    Valuation

The market value of the property has been ascertained at $2.2 million by Warren Walker of Bugler
Francis Valuers. Refer Attachment 1 Valuation of Johns Landing by Bugler Francis.


7.    Potential Purchase of Johns Landing using Environment Levy Funds

Two of Council’s Environment Officers undertook a site inspection of Johns Landing on 15
February 2017 to confirm its environmental and biodiversity values and to ascertain whether or not
it was suitable for purchase using environment levy funds.

They concluded that the land was suitable for acquisition using monies from the Environment Levy
as the purchase would be consistent with the Environment Levy Policy and Council’s long term
strategy of acquiring environmentally sensitive land on the Noosa River and adjoining creeks in
this locality (e.g. Franz land, Riley land etc.)

If the site were purchased totally from the Levy the cleared areas of the site could be replanted for
environmental offset purposes.

If in the future however Council wished to use part of the site (around the Johns house and some
access to the river) as a campground, or for day recreation purposes a split valuation would be
required between the Environment Levy area and the campground site area to ensure value for
money consistent with the Environment Levy Policy. (Refer the Environment Levy Policy, Part 1 -
Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land states:

c)    The Levy revenue may not be used to acquire land for parks where the primary purpose is
      recreation.)

The Officers’ assessment was that if Council wished to keep open the option of a camping ground
or day recreation area in the future, the proportion of the parcel suitable for environment levy
acquisition (including regrowth and part of the foreshore) is approximately 40 ha.

Following the Officers’ inspection, the Environment Levy Working Group met on 21 February 2017
and endorsed in principle the acquisition of Lot 115 SP173075 (Johns Landing) for environmental
purposes.

The Working Group further recommended that the land purchase be funded 70% from the
Environment Levy and 30% from General Reserve with the land purchased using Environment
Levy funds to be set aside as a conservation area. See map below.




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