2014-06-17 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA    17 JUNE 2014


                                                     ATTACHMENT 1




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INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                17 JUNE 2014

                                                                                ATTACHMENT 1
   Rotel           Oar
    Council                                                        Sunshine Coast Regional Council

 STRATEGIC POLICY

 ENVIRONMENT LEVY

 Corporate Plan                  Ecological Sustainability
 Reference:                      2.2.3 — Prepare and implement an environment levy policy and
                                 program that focuses on identified strategic needs.

 Policy Owner and                Manager Environment Policy, Regional Strategy and Planning
 Department:

BACKGROUND
The Sunshine Coast is valued for its environmental values, including its waterways and coastal
foreshores and its diversity of native vegetation and animals—all of which help support the lifestyles and
livelihoods of the region.
To assist in achieving Council's vision to be “Australia’s most sustainable region — vibrant, green,
diverse”, the Corporate Plan 2009-2014 (the Plan) identifies the organisation’s responsibility to protect
and enhance the quality of our environment. It proposes to address this through a number of emerging
priorities and strategies including those associated with the Sunshine Coast's biodiversity, waterways
and foreshores.

The Plan also identifies the need to prepare and implement an environmental levy policy and program
that focuses on identified strategic needs. The Environment Levy is a key revenue source to assist in
the implementation of council endorsed environmental strategies/plans.
POLICY PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to:
    «  inform the allocation of revenue raised through an Environment Levy on rateable properties in the
       Sunshine Coast Regional Council Local Government Area; and
    e¢ outline the arrangements for managing the Environment Levy allocations and program.

POLICY OUTCOMES
The outcomes of the application of this policy are:
    ¢  support for council to achieve its vision for the Sunshine Coast to be “Australia’s most sustainable
       region — vibrant, green, diverse’;
    ¢  ecological sustainable development;
    e  action which supports the implementation of council's environmental strategies/plans;
    «  action on key Sunshine Coast environmental challenges, including flying fox management;
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