2020-01-13 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   13 JANUARY 2020




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                             13 JANUARY 2020

           COUNCIL POLICY - ENVIRONMENT LEVY

           USE OF REVENUE
           °    The apportionment of Environment Levy funds will be subject to Council’s annual budget
                 review and program priorities.
           e    The Levy can be used for leveraging grants and partnership opportunities from the state and
                federal governments, other agencies and trusts, provided there is no impediment to achieving
                the agreed purpose of the Levy.
           °     Financial management of Levy revenue must be in accordance with relevant legislation and
                Council policies.

           ENVIRONMENT LEVY GUIDELINES
           Specific provisions for implementing Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land and Support for
           Private Land Conservation Partnerships is detailed in the Conservation Land Guideline and the
           Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships Guideline.
           With regard to Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land, the Conservation Land Guideline
           includes details about identification of high biodiverse value parcels, mapped biodiversity corridors,
           and preferred tenure for conservation purposes, and also provides a decision tool to support
           decision-making.
           With regard to support for Private Land Conservation Agreements, the Guidelines will include
           eligibility criteria, minimum and maximum financial incentives based on the size and suitability of the
           land   under    Covenant/Nature    Refuge/Environmental    Management      and   __Conservation
           zoningsevernant/Nature Refuge, components of the Environmental Management Plan including fire
           management planning, and processes for developing a VCA with a landholder.
           With regard to the Environmental Grants Program, the Environment Grants Policy and related
           guidelines will specify grant eligibility, process and assessment criteria.

           ENVIRONMENT LEVY WORKING GROUP
           The Environment Levy Working Group (ELWG) will make recommendations to Council on the
           spending of Environment Levy funds. The Committee will consist of:
           Manager Environmental Services
           Principal Environment Officer
           Senior Environment Officer (Planning)
           Property Adviser
           Principal Strategic Planner (Land Use)
           Community Partnerships Officer
           Coordinator Financial Services (as required)
           One Councillor appointed by Council
           Activities of the ELWG will include;
              e   Making assessments of properties for potential purchase based on the Conservation Land
                  Guideline. Properties identified as high priority may be presented to Council for a decision on
                  purchase and options available for purchase.
              e   Assessing applicants for Voluntary Conservation Agreements and making recommendations
                  for agreements to proceed, based on annual budget allocation for the program.
               e  Developing and annually reviewing guidelines for the Environmental Grants Program.
              e   Provision of advice to Council on other matters consistent with the purpose of the
                  Environment Levy Policy that require technical advice and assessment as required.

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