2018-07-10 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 10 JULY 2018


Draft Conservation Land Plan
The Draft Conservation Land Plan provides the strategic direction for the Environment Levy Land
Acquisition Program and the Voluntary Conservation Agreement Program. Landholders with
environmentally significant land may be interested in selling their land to Council or becoming
part of the Voluntary Conservation Agreement Program. The Draft Conservation Land Plan
provides the eligibility criteria for prioritising land for conservation purposes.
The amended Environment Levy Policy makes reference to the new Conservation Land Plan as
a key document to assist Council prioritisation and decision making.
Draft Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships Guideline
Council has developed a Draft Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships Guideline to help
guide and implement the Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) program and Land for
Wildlife (LfW) Program. The guideline includes:
     A framework for delivery of the VCA and LfW programs
     Eligibility criteria
     Levels of support and incentives available for private landholders
   Administrative and legal requirements
The amended Environment Levy Policy makes reference to the new guideline.
Environment Levy Working Group (ELWG)
With changes to Council’s organisational structure and staffing it is proposed to include the
Manager Environmental Services (replaces Natural Areas Operations Coordinator) and
Community Partnerships Officer on the Environment Levy Working Group. In addition, it is
recommended that following positions remain on the ELWG:
   Principal Environment Officer (Environment Services)
   Senior Environment Officer (Planning)
   Property Advisor (Corporate Services)
   Principal Strategic Planner (Land Use)
   Coordinator Financial Services ( as required)
   One Councillor appointed by Council
These changes are supported by the current ELWG.

Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes,16 June 2016, Item 4, Page 5
That Council note the report by the Manager Planning and Environment to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 7 June 2016 and adopt the amended Environment Levy
Policy as set out in Attachment 1 to the report.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 15 January 2015, Item 6, Page 18
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the General Committee
Meeting dated 12 January 2015 and
A.   Adopt the Noosa Environment Levy Policy as set out in Attachment 1;
B.   Endorse the development of an Environment Levy Guideline to guide the implementation of
     the Environment Levy Policy;
C.   Endorse the development of Strategic Biodiversity Corridor maps to assist with the
     implementation of the Environmental Levy; and
D.   Endorse the formation of an Environment Levy Working Group consisting of the Council
     staff identified in the report minus the Coordinator Financial Services but including
     Councillor Wellington.


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