Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                  9 MAY 2023


5.2     SEQ REGIONAL CLIMATE RESILIENT ALLIANCE


Author             Climate Change Project Officer, Sally Jensen
                   Strategic Land Use & Planning Department
Index              41.23 Climate Change & 41.45 Climate Change Response Plan
Attachments        1.   ATTACHMENT 1 - SEQCRA FACT SHEET
                   2.   ATTACHMENT 2 - ONE-PAGE SUMMARY OF PRIORITY PROJECTS


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A regional Climate Alliance is being established in South East Queensland (SEQ) to formalise a
partnership between local governments on climate change. The purpose of establishing an SEQ
Climate Resilient Alliance is to enhance the capacity of Councils to accelerate emissions reduction
and respond to climate risks through collaborative projects at a regional scale. A working group
have developed an appropriate model for a regional partnership between SEQ councils. The
proposed model is based on successful and established climate alliances in other parts of Australia.
The proposed structure will be an un-incorporated, membership-based partnership formalised by an
memorandum of understanding agreement. It will have tiered membership fees banded according
to population, a simple governance structure, and a regional Alliance Co-ordinator funded through
membership fees. This report outlines the scope of the proposed alliance including membership
costs, project work, governance, risks and opportunities for Noosa Council.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Climate Change Project Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 9 May 2023 regarding the SEQ Climate Resilience Alliance (SEQCRA),
and:
A. Endorse Noosa Council becoming a Member of the SEQ Climate Resilience Alliance for a period
   of 3 years commencing 1 July 2023;
B. Note the Director of Environment and Strategy will sit on SEQCRA’s Executive Steering
   Committee, meeting quarterly; and
C. Note Council's Carbon Reduction Project Officer will be the staff representative on SEQCRA’s
   Coordination Committee.




REPORT
Background
In April 2021, five SEQ Councils received Queensland Climate Resilient Council (QCRC) funding to
undertake a Climate Resilient Councils Pilot Project. The aim of the Pilot Project was to develop an
appropriate model for a regional partnership between SEQ councils that could accelerate emissions
reduction and climate resilience for councils and their communities across the region.

The Pilot Project analysed a range of alliance models and preferred project outcomes and developed
an action plan. From analysing other climate alliances in Australia it was clear that successful project
outcomes are best achieved through well coordinated, targeted regional collaborations that share
information and resources and tackle climate projects together. There is a pressing need for local
governments to deliver climate change initiatives in a timely and effective manner given the range of
critical climate challenges facing local councils and communities. The alliance model provides a




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