2015-08-18 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                18 AUGUST 2015


Corporate Plan Priority 6 – Custodianship of Noosa’s environment
Noosa has a long and proud environmental record. Our Council will continue to apply best
practice to its custodianship of Noosa’s natural environment aiming to enhance local
biodiversity for the benefit of future generations.

Key achievements include:
   Establishment of the new management arrangements for the Noosa Biosphere
     Reserve. The NBR Board has been appointed and the necessary MOU and funding
     arrangements put in place including the lease of Doonella House and employment of
     the NBR Executive Officer. The community based Association has been established.
   Council established a significant number of environmental policies in 2014/15. These
     included:
     o     Noosa Shire Koala Policy; and
     o     Tree Management on Public Land Policy.
     The Council also adopted an Environment Levy Policy and established an
     Environment Levy Working Group to review potential land purchases under the
     Environment Levy.
   Following community consultation, the Council adopted a number of plans to manage
     environmental issues. These included:
     o     Noosa Pest Management Plan; and
     o     Noosa Bushland Reserve Fire Management Plan.
     Council also made a number of submissions on issues such as the review of
     Queensland Fisheries Management and also made submissions on proposed changes
     to planning and environment legislation.
   Council commenced its first Green Army project in 2015 with a focus on weed removal
     in bushland reserve areas.
   The Noosa River was the subject of research and consideration of management
     options during 2014/15. Options of the future management of the Noosa River have
     been referred to the second Community Jury. Council also commenced a study to
     develop a new Noosa Hydrodynamic Model. Council undertook planning on a number
     of erosion projects including Weyba Creek and Munna Point.
   Council began a program to audit bio-retention basins – both Council owned and
     privately owned bio-retention basins. This audit will be completed in the 2015/16
     financial year.
   Council invested in the installation of power correction equipment to reduce electricity
     consumption at five major Council sites. As well as saving costs, the equipment
     reduces electricity consumption resulting in carbon reduction.
   The ongoing impact of the bat colony at Wallace Park has continued to be monitored
     with the number of bats increasing substantially at times during the year. There has
     been considerable impact on local residents but no easy solution appears to be
     available based on experience elsewhere and scientific evidence. Consultants will be
     presenting options under a management plan in due course.
   Council jointly funded a number of research projects on the Noosa River with The
     Thomas Foundation. The projects are being undertaken by The Nature Conservancy
     and include an analysis of historic fishing records and a trial of oyster sites for future
     oyster regeneration.




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