2022-02-08 Planning and Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                 8 FEBRUARY 2022


2. Reduce the threat of priority biosecurity
                                                In the 20/21 FY, 250 properties were visited as part of Council’s approved Biosecurity
   risks, such as pest plants and animals,
                                                Surveillance Program, targeting Cats Claw Creeper and other priority weeds. Biosecurity threats
   on Council land and support private
                                                were detected on 7 of these properties with 5 advisory letters and 2 Biosecurity orders issued.
   landholders to do the same.
                                                Ongoing assistance is provided to landholders to control Fireweed in the Lake MacDonald area
                                                and Cats Claw Creeper in the Upper Six Mile Creek catchment area.
                                                Pest Management Officers continue to provide ongoing assistance to landholders in the control
                                                of Wild Dogs, Fox, Deer, Feral Cat and Myna Birds on private land as part of their regular
                                                business.
                                                Land for wildlife incentive program – 26 LFW members received weed management training and
                                                contractor assistance on their properties targeting Cats Claw, madeira Vine, Camphor, lantana.
                                                Area of land treated 9.3 hectares. Council investment $23,000. Landowner co-contribution –
                                                labour $9000, materials $1460.
3. Implement rehabilitation programs of         This action is progressing well with both the Ecological Restoration Plan and Plant species list
   former forestry areas in the Yurol and       for nursery propagation close to completion. Agreements between DES, Landcare, Kabi Kabi
   Ringtail State Forests, in preparation       and Greenfleet have been finalised in the more recent period and QPWS are taking on a greater
   for the land to be transferred to National   operational role for management of State Forest areas. 82ha of land has been revegetated in FY
   Park.                                        20/21 so far with 24,800 trees planted. QUT have commenced koala baseline, vegetation
                                                assessment and dog threat assessment using remote and drone technology. This is a 2-3 year
                                                project.

Actions: Expand vegetation networks and habitat
4. Support private landholders to achieve       A report outlining the success of community participation in voluntary conservation programs,
   environmental outcomes on their              including Land for Wildlife and Voluntary Conservation Agreements was presented to the
   property through an expanded Land for        Planning and Environment Committee on 7 December. This indicated that for the 2020/21
   Wildlife and Voluntary Conservation          financial year, there are 68 new registered Land for Wildlife properties with 5 new Land for
   Agreement Program.                           Wildlife working towards properties. This includes 380 ha of retained habitat and 73 hectares of
                                                habitat under restoration. In addition to this, 82 existing Land for Wildlife properties have been
                                                revisited in the same period. The report also showed that as at July 1 2021 there were 20 active
                                                VCA properties covering 336 hectares.
                                                Growth in land owner participation in the last two years has been due to extra resourcing being
                                                allocated to program promotion and landowner engagement. Five VCA properties have
                                                disengaged from the program due to change of property ownership but noting the
                                                covenant/nature refuge remains on title, securing conservation qualities in perpetuity.




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