2022-09-06 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 6 SEPTEMBER 2022


4     TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFSETS

Author            Principal Environment Officer (Acting), Dave Burrows
                  Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index             ECM/ Environmental Management/ Sustainability

Attachments       1.    Six Mile Creek Bridge Replacement Offset Report –TMR (43 page
                        attachment provided separately to this agenda)


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this report is to advise that Council staff have commenced negotiations with
Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) regarding use of Council land as environmental
offset receiving sites. Environmental offsetting is required when development and construction
activities impact on environmental values listed under Commonwealth and State legislation. If
Council has suitable land it may be able to offer the land as a direct offset receiving site with a
suitable financial contribution from the proponent to develop an offset restoration plan and establish
and maintain the environmental offset to the specified standard.
Environmental Services staff have developed a draft environmental offset policy and associated
guideline which is currently undergoing internal consultation. This policy and guideline will provide
a governance and operational framework for the consistent assessment, management and delivery
of environmental offsets on council controlled lands. Environmental offsets will be delivered in
response to unavoidable and unmitigated impacts to biodiversity values from development within
Noosa Shire.
This will be reported to Council at a future date when the internal consultation process is concluded.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Acting Principal Environment Officer to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 September 2022 and request the Chief Executive Officer:
A.    Continue negotiations with Transport and Main Roads Department about opportunities for
      use of suitable land as environmental offset receiving sites and update Council on the
      outcomes; and
B.    Bring forward a report on Council’s Environment Offset Policy and associated guideline, after
      initial consultation has concluded.


REPORT
Environmental offsets compensate for unavoidable impacts on significant environmental matters
on one site, by replacing the unavoidable impacts at another site, and managing the offset land
over a period of time, to replace those significant environmental matters which were lost. The
hierarchy of control is that environmental impacts must first be avoided, if avoidance is not practical,
mitigation measures should be considered before the use of offsets for any remaining impact.
Council’s Environment Strategy 2019 includes targets for which offsets are an important
mechanism for achieving biodiversity and water quality outcomes:
     By 2030 there is no net loss of ecosystem values across the shire;
     By 2030 half of all land in Noosa Shire is managed for its environmental values;
     By 2030 populations of key threatened indicator species remain viable;
     By 2030 the Noosa River and Mary River catchments achieve an A rating for their
      environmental health;
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