2020-07-07 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      7 JULY 2020


    Council is negotiating with the State government about what would be required by Council if
     the Greenfleet proposal proceeds. At this stage, we are proposing that Council would not
     need to undertake any further remediation work but that rather, funding that we would have
     otherwise committed to remediation would be quarantined for potential future acquisition of
     more environmental land in the Yurol Ringtail precinct if that opportunity arose. Noosa Parks
     Association is proposing a similar approach. The State government appears comfortable
     with that proposition.
    If the State and Greenfleet are able to reach agreement in relation to the carbon offset issue
     and the arrangements between Greenfleet and the Kabi Kabi are crystallised, then the
     original contracts entered into between the State government/Council/NPA will need to be
     amended to reflect the new arrangements.
    The State government is currently seeking “in principle” agreement from all of the original
     project partners to the proposal from Greenfleet to advance the negotiations.
    The recommendation above proposes that Council provide that “in principle” agreement to
     enable the negotiations to continue. In the event that those negotiations are successful and
     contract variations are required, the CEO would report back to Council providing details of
     any contract variation and seek Council’s approval to any such contract variations.

Overall, the proposal from Greenfleet to undertake broad scale and significant remediation is a
positive one that will further enhance the success of this project.

Previous Council Consideration
Special Meeting Minutes, 13 October 2017, Item 1, Page 3
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Special Meeting dated 13 October
2017 and the further report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Special Meeting dated 13 October
2017 containing updated information regarding a proposed hinterland environmental conservation
project and:
A.   Note the proposed environmental benefits, risks and costs associated with the proposed
     project; and
B.   Approve the project “in principle” and authorise the Chief Executive Officer to proceed with
     the Approved Actions as set out in the further report.

Special Meeting Minutes, 27 June 2018, Item 1, Page 2
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Special Meeting dated 27 June
2018 in relation to the Yurol & Ringtail State Forests Conservation Project and Council:
A.   Agree to enter into the Deed of Funding provided as Attachment 2 to this report between the
     State, Council, and the Noosa Parks Association;
B.   Note that Council’s contribution of $1,166,000 (GST exclusive) and the balance of Noosa
     Parks Association contribution of $625,000 (GST exclusive) will be funded from 2018/19
     Environment Levy revenue and restricted cash reserves as contributions to the State
     Department of Environment & Science towards the cost of compensation for surrender by
     HQ Plantations of pine harvest licence rights over Yurol & Ringtail State Forests;
C.   Authorise the CEO to remove the confidentiality associated with Attachment 2 Deed of
     Funding between the State of Queensland, Noosa Council and Noosa Parks Association
     once the Minister for Environment & Science has signed the document;
D.   Subject to Treasury approval under the Statutory Bodies Financial Arrangements Act &
     Regulations, agree to enter into a Deed of Funding with the Noosa Parks Association for a
     deferred payment arrangement to reimburse Council the sum of $625,000 payable by the
     Noosa Parks Association Inc. in five annual payments of $125,000 commencing 12 months
     after the signing of the State Funding Deed;

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