2019-05-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         7 MAY 2019


9     Remediation of pine areas

As Council will recall, we have some remediation obligations for pine areas that have been
harvested by HQPlantations. We have no remediation obligations in relation to any hardwood
areas. Under the contract, those remediation obligations will only occur after 5 years when
Council will have the right to become trustee of the Conservation Park on the former PLA pine
areas. We then have an annual commitment (capped at $125,000 pa for 5 years) to undertake
remediation of those areas. Noosa Parks Association has made a similar financial commitment
for remediation. At the end of the five years, the remediated Conservation Park is then
transferred into National Park.

Early indications are that natural regeneration will be occurring at a significant rate. Pine areas
that have been harvested in recent years in the Ringtail area are showing very strong natural
regeneration. Even the more recently harvested pine areas are showing positive signs of natural
regeneration. The fact that many of these pine areas are being harvested earlier than anticipated
will also provide more time for natural regeneration than the previously anticipated timeframes.

This project has received a high level of recognition and has begun to attract interest from third
parties to assist in the regeneration of these areas. The Transition Committee has worked co-
operatively to manage the partial early surrender of part of the PLA area at Ringtail (at the north
east corner) with a view to providing an access permit to a third party to undertake tree planting
and associated remediation work.

It is important to note that the Council does not have any tenure or formal access rights at this
stage. That will only arise after five years when the Council has a right to become trustee of
Conservation Park over the former PLA pine areas. In the meantime, the State can issue access
permits for interested third parties who wish to assist in the remediation of these former forestry
areas.

Members of the Transition Committee are in negotiation with interested third parties who wish to
provide funds and support for this environmental project. It is apparent that this project will likely
attract significant third party funding, thus potentially taking pressure off Council’s remediation
obligations.

Previous Council Consideration
Special Meeting Minutes, 13 October 2017, Item 1, Page 3
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Special Meeting dated 13
October 2017 and the further report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Special Meeting dated
13 October 2017 containing updated information regarding a proposed hinterland environmental
conservation project and:
A.    Note the proposed environmental benefits, risks and costs associated with the proposed
      project; and
B.    Approve the project “in principle” and authorise the Chief Executive Officer to proceed with
      the Approved Actions as set out in the further report.




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