2015-06-23 Planning & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       23 JUNE 2015


Section 5 of Offsets for Net Gain of Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy require:
    The koala offset site must be within the same local government area as the
      development impacting on koala habitat values,
    Where an area of high value or medium value suitable for rehabilitation habitat is not
      available within the area required by provisions below, koala offset sites should be
      located within low value suitable for rehabilitation habitat, or where appropriate, within
      bushland habitat to enhance the quality of bushland within the local government area.
    Koala offset sites should form part of, or contribute to, strategic koala habitat networks
      within the local government area or the South East Queensland region (as
      appropriate).
The provision of offsets within the Gympie local government contravenes these requirements
as the receiving site is not in South East Queensland and not within the local government
area of impact.
Future clearing of vegetation within the shire for the provision of community infrastructure
such as power line corridors, communication infrastructure and other utilities is likely to result
in the provision of environmental offsets within the shire.

5.    PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
Strategic Offset Investment Corridors
The EO Act allows for the identification of Strategic Offset Investment Corridors. These are
areas which are pre-identified to contain Matters of National Environmental Significance
and/or Matters of State Environmental Significance, connect conservation areas and are
subject to low development pressure. Landholder involvement is voluntary. The identification
of Strategic Offset Investment Corridors is designed to make offset delivery more cost
effective and easier to find. Proponents are expected to seek offset opportunities within
these corridors where possible.
There is opportunity for Council to identify Strategic Offset Investment Corridors in its local
government area that identify state and national interests as well as including Matters of
Local Environmental Significance. The development of the new planning scheme will identify
potential Strategic Offset Investment Corridors for public consultation. Landholder
involvement is voluntary in Strategic Offset Investment Corridors; however there is an
opportunity for landholders to register their interest in participating in Strategic Offset
Investment Corridors in order to facilitate the timely delivery of offsets.
Advanced offsets
An advanced offset is an area of land that has been identified and registered under section
14 of the Environmental Offsets Regulation 2014 as an advanced offset. Advanced offsets
may be used as an offset to compensate for a future significant residual impact on one or
more prescribed environmental matters. Advanced offsets are promoted as providing a
means to better manage the risks associated with the time delay in finding a suitable offset
site and realising the conservation outcome for the prescribed environmental matters on that
site. Advanced offsets within a Strategic Offset Investment Corridor are also encouraged
because they will provide a landscape outcome for the prescribed environmental matter.
Advanced offsets may be used to create connectivity between core habitat areas.
There is an opportunity for Council to also consider advanced offsets, this may be achieved
by purchasing land in strategic offset investment corridors, establishing, managing and
securing vegetation plantings and promoting the advanced offsets to potential clients. This
investigation would be undertaken by the Environment Services staff.




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