2021-03-09 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       9 MARCH 2021


     Socio-economic impact hazard assessment of flooding and inundation, including survey of
      building stock vulnerability to help provide a business case for risk mitigation. Survey includes
      recording building design, materials, age, height above flood etc for better understanding
      flood and inundation risk – linked to CHAP.
     Climate change ecosystem vulnerability and carbon drawdown assessment to help prioritise
      revegetation and restoration efforts across the shire.
The outcomes of these studies may have future budgetary implications which will be further scoped
for consideration by Council in the coming years.
Budget has also been requested for the following activities in the 2021/22 financial year:
     Rewable energy investigation (community focused) - Assess opportunities and financial
      models within and outside the shire for community owned renewable energy projects, such
      as solar farms, micro grids and solar gardens. Extension of the work carried out by ZEN Inc.
     Trial of energy audits for vulnerable households.
     Urban greening program – for streets and public spaces to increase urban tree cover canopy,
      including investigation alternative methods for financing implementation.
     Development of climate responsive design guidelines – to support the planning scheme,
      place making, asset management and design to improve understanding of how infrastructure
      and urban design measures can be used to increase climate resilience within Noosa’s public
      areas, streetscapes and buildings.
     Localised modelling and concept design of inundation hazard reduction measures for
      Noosaville/Noosa Heads area (e.g. flood levy, landscape design, stormwater improvements)
      - linked to CHAP.
     Locally based heat risk assessment for urban areas to improve understanding and help
      development responses to urban heat impacts in Noosa.
These issues will be considered as part of the 2021/22 budget process.
Initiatives identified as ‘ongoing’ in the summary of actions will be financed through existing
operational or capital program budgets.
Risks & Opportunities
There are a number of significant opportunities associated with the Climate Change Response
Plan:
Reputational - Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019. This plan will help enhance
Council’s reputation as a clean green destination for investment by outlining the actions it will
undertake to address climate change and grow clean low carbon industries in Noosa.
Assets - The initiatives outlined in this plan will help increase the resilience of Council and
community assets to the impacts of climate change now and in the future, providing greater
certainty and preparedness
Environmental - The actions outlined in this plan will support the enhancement Noosa’s native
vegetation and biodiversity for carbon drawdown and for improving resilience to climate threats.
Economic - The plan identifies a number of opportunities to grow and promote cleantech industries
and sustainable agri-business within Noosa Shire. This is outlined within the Cities Power
Partnership Economic Statement signed by Council in October 2020.
Community - The plan outlines a number of initiatives to assist residents and businesses reduce
costs as well as actions to make the community more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Of course, the risk is that if Council fails to start planning for climate change at this time, future
generations will be adversely impacted by our failure to adequately plan.


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