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

           2.   Eunding for Voluntary Conservation Agreements
           a)   Funds can be expended on costs associated with the set-up of Voluntary Conservation
                Agreements:
                (i) | placement of a covenant/Nature Refuge over all or part of a property, including surveying
                      and administration/legal costs; and
                (ii) | The development and implementation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
           b)   Funds may be expended on payments to landholders or qualified contractors for the
                implementation of the Environmental Management Plan or other purposes outlined in a
                Voluntary Conservation Agreement.
           A Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program Guideline will guide the type and quantity
           of financial support available.
           3.   Environmental Grants Program
           Levy funds may be allocated for an Environment Grants program administered and disseminated by
           Council.
           Funding allocated for the purpose of environment grants will be foricollaborative community based
           projects, capacity building and initiatives that advance the purpose of the Levy.
           The amount of money allocated from the Levy to an Environment Grant Program will be determined
           during annual budget deliberations.
           4.   Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust
           A proportion of the Levy funds via may bevallocated 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:
           The Funding Deed between Noosa Council and the NBRF will guide the parameters under which
           Council may consider this funding.

           ENVIRONMENT LEVY GUIDELINES
           Specific provisions for implementing Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land and Support for
           Voluntary Conservation.Agreements will be detailed in a Conservation Land Plan and a Private
           Landholder Conservations Partnership Program Guideline.
           With regard to Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land, the Conservation Land Plan will
           include details about identification of high biodiverse value parcels, mapped biodiversity corridors,
           and preferred tenure for conservation purposes.
           With regard to Support. for Voluntary Conservation Agreements, the Guidelines will include eligibility
           criteria, minimum and maximum financial incentives based on the size and suitability of the land
           under covenant/Nature Refuge, components of the Environmental Management Plan including fire
           management planning, and processes for developing a VCA with a landholder.
           With regard to an Environmental Grants Program grant guidelines will be developed specifying grant
           eligibility, process and assessment criteria.

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