2020-07-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         7 JULY 2020


    an update on the first tranche of tenure transfer to National Park
    an update on the harvesting of existing pine plantations by HQP (more details below)
    an update on the harvesting of some hardwood areas by the Department of Forestry (more
     details below)
    opportunities for third parties to become involved in the remediation (see part 2 of this report).

The 7 May 2019 update report by the CEO can be found on Council’s website
(https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/606/2019-05-07-planning-environment-committee-
agenda-pdf).

B.   Project update for 2020

This section of the report provides Council with the latest update on the project as at June 2020.

Transition Committee

The Transition Committee was established to provide co-ordination between the project partners
over the life of the project. The Committee is chaired by the CEO. The Committee met quite
frequently shortly after contract signing but now meets on a 6 monthly basis with the last meeting
held in January 2020. The next meeting is scheduled shortly. The Committee focuses on:
     acting as a clearing house between the project partners for any issues that arise;
     assisting to coordinate harvesting schedules between HQP and DAF;
     assisting to coordinate any public messaging in relation to harvesting schedules;
     ensuring the smooth transition of any tenure issues (including the finalisation of the first
      tranche of land transfer into National Park tenure);
     addressing fire management issues (which is the responsibility of the State government);
     co-ordinating the surrender timetable for the Plantation License Areas.

Harvesting update

HQP are progressing well with their harvesting schedule for the pine areas on the PLA and are
ahead of schedule. They have completed the harvest for the eastern and north-eastern areas of
the Ringtail Forest. They are a month or two away from completion of all pine harvesting in the
Yurol Forest area. They are yet to commence harvesting of the western area of Ringtail Forest.
Their harvesting schedule is governed by market demand and seasonal access. HQP have already
surrendered the PLA for the north eastern area of Ringtail Forest and will likely surrender the PLA
for the Yurol Forest area once harvesting is complete in that area.

Early indications are that natural regeneration of the harvested pine areas is occurring at a
significantly better rate than originally envisaged based on a recent inspection by senior QPWS
staff. Pine areas that have been harvested in recent years in the Ringtail area are showing very
strong natural regeneration. The more recently harvested pine areas (particularly at the southern
end of Yurol Forest) are also showing positive signs of natural regeneration. The fact that many
of these pine areas are being harvested earlier than anticipated will also provide more time for
natural regeneration than the previously anticipated timeframes.

DAF contractors have recently commenced harvesting of hardwood timber areas in the state forest
in accordance with the agreement. The next focus areas for harvest of hardwood by DAF
contractors are east of Pomona (Station Road) and on the northern side of Yurol Forest Drive.
DAF are also on track to complete their harvesting of hardwood areas within the 5 year timeframe
but are likely to complete their hardwood harvests well after HQP complete their harvest.



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