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

           e    Seeking expressions of interest from owners interested in selling their land.
           Determining which properties might be purchased shall be guided by a Conservation Land Plan
           which identifies significant properties of interest and criteria by which they will be assessed. Council
           has established an Environment Levy Working Group (ELWG) to develop and review the plan,
           undertake assessment of properties for purchase and provide recommendations to Council on the
           purchase for environmental purposes.
           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 a legal mechanism used to permanently protect 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 theinland beyond the confines
           of State and Council owned land. Council may provide incentives to.VCA landholders for
           environmental works as per an agreed Environment Management Plan.
           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 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 has established an. Environment Levy Working Group (ELWG) to consider, review and
           determine 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
           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.
           The Levy amount to be allocated to an Environment Grants program will be determined by Council
           as part of the annual budget process.
           It is expected that projects and initiatives awarded grant funding will be for projects that conserve
           and/or improve biodiversity in the Noosa Shire and/or improve ecosystem values, catchment
           management and health of wetland and waterways and/or towards protecting and advancing the
           natural environment. All initiatives funded via Environment Grants will have tangible and measurable
           outcomes.
          4.      Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust
           Council may choose to allocate a proportion of the Levy funds to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust
           to support the management and administrative arrangements and fund projects that are directed
           towards protecting and advancing the natural environment.

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