2016-12-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                               12 DECEMBER 2016


   Koala Conservation Plan/Policy (complete and being implemented)
   Climate Change Adaptation Plan
   Bushfire Management Plan
   Flood Management Plan (complete)
   Coastal Management Plan (not commenced)
   Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan (complete and being implemented)
   Emissions Reduction Policy/Plan (policy complete).

Scoping of the Environment Strategy has commenced and development of the strategy will occur
in the first 3 months of 2017.

Key elements of the strategy will include:
 Context and key issues for the Noosa environment;
 Relationship to Council’s Sustainability Principles and local, state and federal policy
   frameworks;
 Council’s role in environmental management, conservation and community partnerships;
 Environment ‘principles’ that this Council stands for and that are consistent with broader
   community views about the way Noosa’s environment should be managed and conserved;
 Key themes relevant to the environment such as Building Knowledge, Working Together,
   Being Innovative, and Building Resilience;
 Key directions for biodiversity conservation, waterways management, climate change
   adaptation, emissions and waste reduction, natural hazards management and coastal
   management;
 Key statements, initiatives and processes needed to support the new planning scheme,
   strategic and operational plans, ongoing implementation, monitoring and review; and
 Showcasing Council environmental programs and initiatives that highlight successful on-
   ground achievements and partnerships between Council and the community such as
   Council’s Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program and working with Bushcare and Coast
   Care Group volunteers.

The development of the strategy will include discussions with local and regional groups involved
in environment and natural resource management, as well as research institutions, state
agencies and other environment stakeholders, to draw common threads relevant to Noosa’s
future environmental management priorities.

From this targeted consultation, a discussion paper will be prepared to inform the community
about Council’s proposed approach and to seek comments and ideas on this. This feedback will
then enable the drafting the Environment Strategy and the Biodiversity Conservation Plan.

3.    Biodiversity Conservation Plan

This plan will provide the detailed policy direction and actions specific to biodiversity conservation
arising from the Biodiversity Assessment Report and Environment Strategy. The focus of the plan
will be on maintaining and enhancing local biodiversity values through Council custodianship and
partnership with the community.

The policy direction and specific actions in this plan will:
 form the foundation for biodiversity related policy and mapping within the new planning
   scheme
 inform Council’s acquisition program and community partnerships programs using the
   biodiversity values mapping and corridor mapping from the Biodiversity Assessment Report

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