2017-08-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               08 AUGUST 2017


REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE
6                        KOALA CONSERVATION PLAN 2016 REVIEW
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne
                                    Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index                               ECM/Koala Policy/Management

Attachments                         1.   Koala Conservation Plan 2016 (36 page attachment provided separately
                                         to this agenda)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 8 August 2017 regarding the progress of the Koala Conservation Plan
2016.


REPORT
Koalas are of great interest to residents and visitors and there is concern within the community that
their numbers are declining. It has been just over one year since the Koala Conservation Plan
commenced which identifies 27 actions to help with koala conservation (see attachment 1). This
report is a summary of the priority actions that have been progressed so far.

1.                       Priority Actions
Action 1.1 Noosa Planning Scheme
In October 2016 Council adopted amendments to the Noosa Planning Scheme to protect all
vegetation in the Noosa Shire. Anyone wishing to remove a tree must lodge a development
application for assessment by Council. This measure provides substantial protection to koala trees
on private land.
Action 1.4 Delivery of koala offsets
Developments in areas mapped under the SEQ Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory
Provisions (SPRP) can trigger an offset obligation under State legislation. Koala tree offsets from
the Settlers Cove development have been delivered in Girraween Nature Refuge at a cost of
$44,160 (300 koala trees including ongoing maintenance).
Action 2.1 Acquisition of koala habitat land
Just prior to the completion of the Koala Conservation Plan, Council purchased 100ha of land on
the Noosa River at 1280 McKinnon Drive, Ringtail Creek for $2.7m from the Environment Levy.
Part of the land is mapped as koala habitat. Currently the land is being allowed to naturally
regenerate and there is now substantial regrowth which will provide future habitat for koalas.
Council has also recently entered into a contract to purchase Johns Landing which contains
significant habitat for koalas.
Action 2.2 Support for private landholders
Council supports conservation efforts on private lands through the Land for Wildlife (LFW) and
Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) programs. The most popular program is the LFW
program with over 600 participants. Council currently provides financial incentives to VCA
landholders to undertake environmental works such as koala tree plantings.

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