2018-07-10 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   10 JULY 2018




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PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   10 JULY 2018

                                                                                        ATTACHMENT 1
     |     | @         NOOSA                             Council Policy(tracked changes)
            mm         Keone                           ENVIRONMENT LEVY POLICY

            Corporate Plan Reference:                 Leeking—atter_communityassetsOur_ environment _is
                                                     protected, enhanced and valued by the community
     |      Endorsed by Council:                      46June2046 19July 2018
            Policy Author:                            Director Planning—é&CafrastructureEnvironment_and
                                                      Sustainable Development

           POLICY PURPOSE
           The purpose of the Environment Levy (“the Levy”) is to raise funds to conserve and/or improve
           ecosystem health and biodiversity in the Noosa Shire_and to support initiatives in partnership with
           the community that protect, enhance and increase the resilience of Noosa’s natural environment.
           This policy outlines the environmental and administrative principles that will provide direction for the
           allocation of Environment Levy funds by Council.
           The head of power for the Levy comes from Section 94 of the Local Government Act 2009 that gives
           Council the ability to impose a separate charge on all rateable land in the shire. In doing so, Council
           can only use funds raised via a separate charge for the specific purpose identified in the revenue
           statement adopted each year as part of Council’s annual budget process.
           In that context, this policy provides guidance and further details about how the Council will manage
           the Levy and its implementation.
           Key aims of the Levy are to:
          e Protect environmentally significant land through acquisition;
           eo
              Support the_private_landholder_ Voluntary Conservations Agreement_      Private Landholder
              Conservation Partnership Program VoluntaryConservation Agreement program—where such
              involvement adds to the protection/enhancement of biodiversity in the Noosa Shire and/or
     |        promotes or enhances biodiversity and wildlife habitats and corridors; and
           e—Allow for the provision of funding through Environmental Grants program tethe- Noosa Biesphere
              Reserve_Trust-_so_that Neosa Biosphere Reserve Foundaton_Ltd_may_initiatives that_build
              community capacity +wdertake projects thatand are in keeping with the purpose of the Levy.

           POLICY SCOPE
           This policy applies to all programs, activities or incentives that are directly or indirectly funded or
           supported, wholly or partly, by the Levy.
           Council will review the amount of the Levy each year as part of the preparation of the annual budget
           and adoption of the annual revenue statement.

           POLICY STATEMENT

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