2019-06-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    11 JUNE 2019


1675 Louis Bazzo Drive, Boreen Point, 3RP186809 (51.5ha)
3RP186809 (Map 4) is Council’s most recent purchase with the Environment Levy. Council has
recently entered into a contract to purchase this land for $395,000 with settlement due in June
2019. The land parcel would qualify for Nature Refuge status.




Map 4. 3RP186809 Council’s most recent purchase with the Environment Levy


3.   Conservation Land Guideline and Revolving Fund Policy
In 2018 Council adopted the Conservation Land Guideline and Revolving Fund Policy Guideline.
The Conservation Land Guideline provides a methodology for identifying land suitable for
acquisition under the Environment Levy Policy. Suitable land parcels are:
   30ha or more in size;
   Have connectivity with Core Protected Areas such as National Park; and
   Have high biodiversity value.
Under the Conservation Land Guideline there are two types of acquisition: ‘Buy and hold’ or ‘buy
and ‘on-sell’. Historically Council has used a ‘buy and hold’ approach with ongoing management
costs being borne by either Council or, if added to the National Park estate, by State
Government.
At the same time, Council adopted a Revolving Fund Policy Guideline which allows for the on-
selling of environment levy land with a protective covenant such as Nature Refuge. This would
still achieve statutory protection but on-selling would ‘free-up’ funds for more purchases. This
would be a lower level of protection than public land tenure and public access across private land
would not be guaranteed. Almost all existing land purchased under the Environment Levy to date
are 100% vegetated and are therefore not suitable for a revolving fund proposition, as clearing
would be required for a house site.



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