2018-09-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                           11 SEPTEMBER 2018


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 15 January 2015, Item 6, Page 18
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the General Committee
Meeting dated 12 January 2015 and
A.   Adopt the Noosa Environment Levy Policy as set out in Attachment 1;
B.   Endorse the development of an Environment Levy Guideline to guide the implementation of
     the Environment Levy Policy;
C.   Endorse the development of Strategic Biodiversity Corridor maps to assist with the
     implementation of the Environmental Levy; and
D.   Endorse the formation of an Environment Levy Working Group consisting of the Council
     staff identified in the report minus the Coordinator Financial Services but including
     Councillor Wellington.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 19 July 2018, Item 7, Page 14
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 10 July 2018 and repeal the current Environment Levy Policy and
adopt the revised Environment Levy Policy provided as Attachment 2 to the report, authorising
the CEO to make minor amendments as necessary.
Finance
Apart from the Land for Wildlife (LfW) Program implementation of the Conservation Land
Guideline is financed through the Environment Levy and implemented subject to budget
availability.
Funding for LfW is subject to the annual Budget process.
Risks & Opportunities
The guidelines provide a clear and rigorous approach to guide the use of Environment Levy
funds for the purposes of acquisition or application of other conservation mechanisms suitable on
private land. There are however potential risks with implementing a revolving fund. It is not
always possible to predict fluctuations in the property market and placing an encumbrance over
land (i.e. Nature Reserve) may affect a property value on re-sale. Alternatively, certain buyers
place more value on a property with Nature Refuge status. A business case is intended to be
developed before entering into a revolving fund proposition.
The Conservation Land Guideline provides a methodology for identifying land parcels of interest
for conservation protection. Some landholders may be concerned that their land may be of
interest to Council for conservation protection. However, conservation measures are voluntary
and initiated at the request of the landowner.

Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Subject to Council’s consideration, a public Conserving Land in Noosa Shire Fact Sheet
(Attachment 4) has been developed which will be available publicly to assist the community and
key stakeholders to understand the intent of the Conservation Land Guideline.
Internal Consultation
The Conservation Land Guideline, Revolving Fund and Private Landholder Conservation
Partnerships Guidelines and the Conserving Land in Noosa Shire Fact Sheet have been
reviewed by the Environment Levy Working Group.




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