2020-07-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       7 JULY 2020


4    YUROL RINGTAIL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT


Author           Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                 CEO’s Office

Index            ECM/ Project/ Yurol and Ringtail State Forests Conservation Project

Attachments      1.    Plan A – Map of Tenure in Yurol Ringtail Area


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Yurol Ringtail Environmental Project is the most significant environmental project that the
Council has been involved in in recent years. This report provides Council with background to the
project, an update on its current status and details of an opportunity to achieve even better
outcomes.

The project has some considerable complexity in terms of land tenure, number of parties involved,
contract structures etc. There have been quite a number of reports to Council in the past outlining
details of those issues. (See section 1A). The CEO has managed this project and is able to provide
Council with background, history and details of the contractual arrangements.

The current status of the project is that it is proceeding well with the harvesting of pine ahead of
schedule and the harvesting of hardwood on schedule. Early indications are that natural regrowth
in the harvested pine areas is ahead of expectations. Interested third parties such as the
philanthropic arm of the Body Shop have contributed funds towards tree planting in the subject
area. (See section 1B).

The CEO is also negotiating to achieve even better outcomes for regeneration of the site and the
report contains details of that opportunity (see section 2).

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 7 July 2020 regarding the Yurol Ringtail Environmental Project and:
A.   Note that the project remains on track with all milestones to date being met;
B.   Authorise the CEO to continue negotiations between the existing project partners and
     Greenfleet as outlined in the report and further, advise the State government that Council
     supports “in principle’ the proposal by Greenfleet to undertake environmental remediation
     work in the Yurol Ringtail project area; and
C.   Note that the CEO will provide a further report to Council once those negotiations are further
     advanced outlining details of any changes required to existing contracts.



REPORT
This report is in two parts. The first part provides the new Council with the background, history
and current status of the Yurol Ringtail environmental project. The second part of this report
highlights an opportunity to further enhance the project through additional environmental
remediation work to be undertaken by Greenfleet (a not-for-profit organisation).




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