REVISED POLICY GUIDELINES- PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS · Revised Policy Guidelines - Private Land Conservation Partnerships - track changes

Council will provide support for new and existing Land for Wildlife members subject to available resources
consisting of:
    • An initial site visit, property assessment, report, and provision of a sign and resource material to new
        members.
    • Quarterly newsletter.
    • Delivery of Land for Wildlife events such as workshops and field days.
    • Property revisits as requested by existing members.
    • An incentives program which may consist of other initiatives consistent with the intent of the Land for
        Wildlife program such as free native tubestock, training/assistance with environmental weed
        management, equipment loans such as fauna cameras, nest boxes, resource books, and open
        property days
VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION AGREEMENT (VCA) PROGRAM
The VCA Program is a higher-level voluntary agreement between Council and eligible landowners that
permanently protects a nominated conservation area on the landowner’s property.
Delivery of the VCA program is guided by Council’s Environment Levy Policy. Operating procedures for
establishing a VCA are outlined in Appendix 7.
Eligibility
Freehold properties in Noosa Shire that are eligible for the VCA program include:
    1. Land parcels of high biodiversity values, significant size (minimum of 5 hectares) and located next to or
       within Core Protected Areas (Appendix 3); or
    2. Land parcels that occur within biodiversity corridors between Core Protected Areas; and
    3. Properties whose owners have demonstrated a commitment to achieving conservation outcomes; and
    4. Other land that has unique environmental significance such as containing an endangered ecosystem, old
       growth forest, or listed plant and animal species; and
    5. Existing Nature Refuge properties.
All applications for VCAs will be assessed and prioritised by the Environment Levy Working Group (ELWG)
according to available resources.
VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION AGREEMENT (VCA) PROGRAM
The VCA Program is a voluntary agreement between Council and eligible landholders to permanently protect a
nominated conservation area within their property. Through this agreement, Council may provide a range of
financial incentives to assist the landholder with this process.
The head of power to deliver the VCA program rests with the Environment Levy Policy. The Conservation
Land Guideline provides a mapping methodology that identifies Council strategic approach and priority land
parcels of interest.
Eligibility
Residents that are eligible for the VCA program include:
•     Landholders with land parcels of high biodiversity values, of significant size and located next to or within
      Core Protected Areas; or
•     Landholders with land parcels that occur within biodiversity corridors between Core Protected Areas (See
      Map Appendix 1); and
•     Landholders who have demonstrated a commitment to achieving conservation outcomes, and are
      confident that by partnering with Council in the VCA program they will protect and enhance the
      conservation area as guided by an Environment Management Plan.
In certain circumstances, landholders with land outside these areas and criteria may be considered for VCA if the
land has a unique environmental significance, for example the land retains the last remaining stand of an
endangered ecosystem or species.
All applications for VCAs will be assessed and prioritised by the Environment Levy Working Group according to
available resources. The Environment Levy Policy criteria, Voluntary Conservation Agreement assessment
matrix, and Conservation Land Guideline will be used to assess and prioritise applications.