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

     |     COUNCIL POLICY - ENVIRONMENT LEVY POLICY
           2.   Support for Voluntary Conservation Agreements
           The Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) program is a high level protective mechanism that
           supports private landholders wishing to conserve their property’s environmental values in perpetuity
           by registering a covenant/Nature Refuge on title over some or all of the property.

           A conservation covenant is athe legal mechanism used to permanently protect the _a portion of the
           property covered by the VCA. It is registered under the Queensland Land Title Act 1994.
           Conservation covenants place conditions on the title that run with the land and are binding on future
           owners._A Nature Refuge offers a higher level of protection under the Nature Conservations Act
           1992 and is also registered on title. The State assesses eligibility for Nature Refuges for high value
           environmentally significant land.
           The Voluntary Conservation Agreement allows for Council to provide financial incentives/support to
           private landowners in return for statutory protection over all or part of their land Fhreughts-suppert
          for /CAs_Counctmay cheese ie wer       ih tandasiders to _oreteci hiecwersii: beyond the confines
           of Sstate and Council owned land.hus-partnershins may be- generated between tandholders-and
                                                                    Council may provide incentives to VCA
           landholders for environmental works as per an agreed Environment Management Plan. —ardéer

           Similar to the Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land program, potential VCA properties will
           be assessed    on their biodiversity attributes, regional  ecosystem   attributes, connectivity,
           consolidation, species protection, and rehabilitation opportunities. VCAs that are proposed for land
           that is identified in Councils Conservation Land Plan on—Council'sPreferred Acquisition List will
           receive the highest priority. -VCAs that contribute to Strategic Biodiversity Corridors will also be
           considered favourably.
           Where land acquisition may not be an option for a particular parcel of land, the VCA program may
           be a suitable alternative for the landholder.
           Council witthas established an Environment Levy Working Group_(ELWG) to consider, review and
           determine make—annual recommendations to-Council regarding—new and ongoing support for
           individual Voluntary Conservation Agreements._A Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships
           Program Guideline will help guide the delivery of the VCA program.

           3.   Environmental Grants program Contributions      to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve     Trus
           Council may make provision of funding via an Environmental Grants Program administered by
           Council. Grants will be for initiatives, capacity building and projects that are in keeping with the
           purpose of the Levy.

          enviroament =

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