2020-01-13 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                             13 JANUARY 2020


REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE

1                        AMENDMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT LEVY POLICY AND PRIVATE LAND
                         CONSERVATION POLICY GUIDELINE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Conservation Partnerships Officer, David Burrows
                                    Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index                               ECM/Subject /47.15 Environment Levy

Attachments                         1.   Environment Levy Policy
                                    2.   Policy Guideline – Private Land Conservation Partnerships



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not Applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Conservation Partnerships Officer to the General Committee
Meeting dated 13 January 2020 and
A.                       Approve amendments to the Environment Levy Policy as provided at Attachment 1;
B.                       Approve amendments to the Policy Guideline - Private Land Conservation Partnerships as
                         provided at Attachment 2; and
C.                       Write to the Queensland Government Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef,
                         Science, and the Arts expressing support for the Nature Refuge program and requesting
                         that the program be adequately resourced.

REPORT
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to amend the Environment Levy Policy and
Private Land Conservation Policy Guideline regarding statutory conservation protection
mechanisms and financial incentives under the Voluntary Conservation Agreement program. This
report also seeks approval to write to the Qld Government Minister for Environment and the
Great Barrier Reef, Science, and the Arts expressing support for the Nature Refuge program and
requesting that the program be adequately resourced.

Voluntary Conservation Agreement Program

The Voluntary Conservation Agreement Program (VCA) offers a voluntary agreement between
Council and eligible landholders to permanently protect a conservation area within their property. It
directly supports conservation efforts by private landholders who wish to protect and enhance
biodiversity in Noosa Shire by funding on-ground environmental restoration works. Private land
conservation makes a significant contribution to conservation as part of a broader strategic
objective to protect and enhance biodiversity and connectivity across Noosa Shire, as well as
providing benefits to landholders and communities. Support for private land conservation is a key
action under the Noosa Environment Strategy, to expand vegetation networks and habitat. It is a
cost effective measure to help consolidate and connect Core Protected Areas such as National
Park and Bushland Reserves.
Council currently offers two statutory conservation protection mechanisms under the VCA program.
These are:


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