2021-06-08 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                          8 JUNE 2021


Weightings for each category of values was determined through a survey of an internal stakeholder
group consisting of 16 people from Environmental Services, Strategic Planning, Development
Assessment, Park & Gardens and Civil Operations staff.
Appendix 3 in the Draft Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Management Plan 2021-2026 shows
data sources and prioritisation criteria.
2.2   Volunteer Assistance and External Investment Opportunities
Noosa’s community are passionate about the natural landscape they live in, and there are active
community groups and a volunteer networks working within Council’s bushland reserves. This effort
adds value to that invested by Council, with significant biodiversity outcomes achieved on the ground
to date.
Provided efforts are strategic and well consulted, the work undertaken by community groups,
volunteers and employment teams can achieve great results and can complement and greatly value-
add the Council’s efforts to manage a variety of reserve issues.
Usually, when external investment opportunities arise, Council are exempt from applying for funding
however community partnerships with incorporated groups assist Council. Where opportunities arise
and align with the priorities outlined in this plan, Council will seek to support and supplement these
investment opportunities.
Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 18 February 2021, Item 5, Page 12
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer and Natural Areas Technical Officer
to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 9 February 2021 and resolve to commence
public consultation on the Draft Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Management Plan 2021-2026
and Draft Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021 provided as Attachments
1 & 2 to the report.
Finance
The Bushland Reserve Strategic Management Plan 2021-2026 provides a prioritisation mechanism
for funding that is provided and will not impact on the current Environmental Services operational
budget. Any requests for further resources will form part of Council’s normal budget process, and
will be based on the strategic priorities identified in the Plan.
Risks & Opportunities
By prioritising works on reserves with the highest level of resilience, the overall ecological condition
of the reserve network will improve. Without this level or prioritisation, there is a risk that the
investment, regardless of size, does little more than maintain a status quo. Some Tier 1 reserves
are already in very good ecological condition and by removing the last remaining threats there is an
opportunity to systematically work down ‘the list’ to the reserves that require more work.
Prioritising works inevitably means that some areas identified as lower priority will not have short-
term actions applied to them. Some residents may not agree with the prioritisation methodologies,
particularly if their local reserve is identified as a low priority for management. Some of the lower
reserves may decline in ecological condition.
Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Council engaged Noosa and District Landcare to develop the first Draft Noosa Bushland Reserve
Strategic Management Plan 2021-2026 and discussions on the draft have been undertaken with
local Bushcare Groups
Broad public consultation through Your Say Noosa and Council Facebook page.




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