2017-08-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   08 AUGUST 2017


     University Koala Health Mapping project promotion and contact with Land for Wildlife
       landholders
     Environmental events such as World Environment Day, The Noosa Festival of Water,
       National Tree Day and Save the Koala Month
     Koala advocacy groups efforts such as Queensland Koala Crusaders, Koala Tracker and
       Australian Koala Conservation Foundation
Action 8.2 Review fauna signage
Consultants O2 Ecology have completed an audit of fauna signage across the shire and made
recommendations in terms of maintenance, standards and preferred locations.
2.     Where to from here?
Moving forward, priority actions under the Koala Conservation Plan include:
     Continued collaboration with research partners to further consolidate our understanding of
       the distribution and health of our koalas.
     The protection and enhancement of koala habitat through the Environment Levy land
       acquisition program and the Voluntary Conservation Agreement program, with a particular
       focus on core and connecting habitat areas.
     Applying for funding through the budget review process to repair, upgrade and retrofit Koala
       Road Infrastructure, particularly along Eenie Creek Road and Noosa Drive.
     Monitoring of the effectiveness of new technologies such as audible fences to deter fauna
       from crossing roads.
     Continued wild dog control in or near koala habitat areas.
     Continued promotion of the significance of koala conservation through environment events
       and community activities.
     Investigation of including Matters of Local Environmental Significance (MLES) within the New
       Noosa Plan that may trigger environment offsets including koala habitat.
Previous Council Consideration
None
Finance & Risk
The continuation of koala research projects is subject to grant funding availability.
Funding for the repair, upgrade and retrofit of Koala Road Infrastructure, particularly at Eenie Creek
Road and Noosa Drive, will need to be costed and application made through a budget review
process.
Other forward actions can be absorbed through operational budgets.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Noosa and District Landcare
Queensland Koala Crusaders
University of Sunshine Coast
Noosa Biosphere® Reserve Foundation
SEQ Healthy Land & Water
Endeavour Ecology
O2 Ecology Consultants

Internal Consultation


                                                                                        Page 83 of 84