2015-01-12 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                12 January 2015


Through its support for VCAs, Council may choose to work with landholders to protect
biodiversity beyond the confines of state and Council owned land. Thus partnerships may be
generated between landholders and Council to conserve natural values on privately owned land.
Council will provide incentives to VCA landholders for environmental works as per an agreed
Environment Management Plan and/or imposition of an environmental covenant on the land title.
It is noted that VCAs, by significantly expanding the overall conservation estate, can represent
excellent value for dollar spend.
Similar to the Acquisition of Environmentally Significant Land program, potential VCA properties
will be assessed on their biodiversity attributes, regional ecosystem attributes, connectivity,
consolidation, species protection, and rehabilitation opportunities. VCAs that are proposed for
land that is identified on Council’s Preferred Acquisition List will receive the highest priority.
VCAs that contribute to Strategic Biodiversity Corridors will also be considered favourably.
Where land acquisition may not be an option for a particular parcel of land, the VCA program
may be a suitable alternative for the landholder.
Council will establish an Environment Levy Working Group to make annual recommendations
to Council regarding new and ongoing support for individual Voluntary Conservation Agreements.
3.     Contributions to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust
The principal purposes contained in the Trust Deed for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust are:
(i)     advancing the protection and enhancement of a significant aspect of the natural
        environment, being the natural ecosystems and biodiversity of the Noosa Biosphere
        Reserve; and
(ii)    advancing research, education and information about a significant aspect of the natural
        environment, being the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
As Trustee of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust, the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd
may utilise funds held in the Trust to achieve the purposes of the Trust.
The purposes of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust are in keeping with the overarching
purposes of this policy. Council may thus choose to allocate a proportion of the Levy funds to
Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust to fund projects that are directed towards protecting and
advancing the natural environment.
The Levy amount to be contributed to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust will be determined by
Council as part of the annual budget process.
It is expected that projects approved by Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd that utilise
Levy contributions will be for projects that conserve and/or improve biodiversity in the Noosa
Shire and which have tangible and measurable outcomes.
USE OF REVENUE
•      The apportionment of Environment Levy funds across the three programs of Acquisition of
       Environmentally Significant Land, Support for Voluntary Conservation Agreements and
       Contributions to Noosa Biosphere Trust will be subject to Council’s annual budget review
       and program priorities.
•      All revenue including any revenue raised through approved Levy business activities is to be
       accounted for separately from Council’s general revenue and shall not at any time be
       available for expenditure as general revenue.
•      The Levy can be used for leveraging grants and partnership opportunities from the state
       and federal governments and other agencies, provided there is no impediment to achieving
       the agreed outcomes of Levy funding.
•      Financial management of Levy revenue must be in accordance with relevant legislation and
       Council policies.


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