2019-07-15 GC Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 8 - Alliance and Funding Agreement - TNC and Noosa Council

SCHEDULE A
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project proposes to establish an innovative and regionally significant Noosa River collaborative
alliance, between the Noosa Council and the global conservation organization The Nature
Conservancy, which seeks to improve the health and resilience of the Noosa River and the industries
and local communities that rely on its long-term wellbeing.

The focus is to:
 Improve the health and resilience of Noosa’s marine and estuarine environment through
   innovative restoration and coastal resilience projects;
 Capitalize on the expertise of The Nature Conservancy’s global networks and experience
   (through knowledge brokering, mentoring, study tours and access to subject matter experts) to
   improve Noosa River management and strengthen the long-term social, environmental and
   economic health and resilience of the Noosa River and surrounding marine environment;
 Demonstrate a leading example of a replicable, environmentally-focused, collaborative alliance
   that achieves superior outcomes for the environment and local communities compared to existing
   river and marine management models; and,
 Increase government (State and Federal), private, industry and community support for
   restoration and conservation-focused activities that improve the long-term social, economic and
   environmental health and resilience of the Noosa River and surrounding marine environment.

The collaborative alliance will initially prioritize the restoration of oyster reefs in the lower estuary (as
described below) as the first activity, with other potential activities including:
 General strategic support/advice for planning, management and evaluation associated with the
   new Noosa River Plan and other initiatives and projects associated with the river system;
 Coordination of research required to inform the delivery of the implementation of the Noosa River
   Plan; and
 Critical evaluation and potential reform of current and future management activities (e.g.
   commercial and recreational fishing, recreation, tourism, wetland restoration, sediment and
   nutrient inflows, community engagement).

The collaborative alliance will commence on 30 July 2019 and will run for three years and 3 months,
with the outcomes of the alliance to be reviewed in July 2022. The total operating budget is $2.4M
exclusive of GST, inclusive of $1.2M from The Nature Conservancy and $1.2M Grant from Noosa
Council with the expectation that TNC will raise further funding from a variety of other sources to
support further delivery of shell fish reef restoration.

Oyster reef restoration methodology will follow standards aligned with best practice oyster restoration
and the Society for Ecological Restoration global guidelines. The project will follow a staged
approach to restoration;
 Phase I – feasibility, which has been completed by the University of the Sunshine Coast (note,
   Phase I is not part of the Deliverables under this Agreement).
 Phase II - optimal design (2019-2020) which seeks to determine the optimal design, locations
   and most cost effective method of reef restoration.
 Phase III – pilot sites and full restoration (2020-2022) which seeks to construct reefs in their final
   design at two pilot sites for 12 months, then at feasible locations identified during Phase II.

This phased, time bound approach will reduce ecological and financial risks through the application
of an adaptive management framework.



Alliance and Funding Agreement                                                                Page 19 of 25