2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  21 JULY 2015



6                        PROPOSED KOALA OFFSET PLANTING ASSOCIATED WITH BRUCE HIGHWAY
                         UPGRADE
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                          Manager, Planning & Environment, Kerri Coyle
                                Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                           ECM/Subject/Environment & Biodiversity Policy

Attachments                     1.   Proposed DTMR Offset Planting areas


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Manager, Planning & Environment to the Planning &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 21 July 2015 and agree to write to the Department of
Transport and Main Roads requesting that:
A.   The Department provide a commitment that koala habitat offset plantings associated with
     the Bruce Highway upgrade clearing in Noosa Shire be fully located within the Noosa
     Shire;
B.   The Department consult with Noosa Council if further offset planting sites are required to
     meet their koala habitat offset obligations;
C.   The koala habitat offset areas be protected from future development impacts on habitat by
     permanently securing the sites for conservation purposes in accordance with the Offsets
     for Net Gain of Koala Habitat in South East Queensland Policy; and
D.   The Department consult with Noosa Council about any proposed clearing of native
     vegetation mapped by the Noosa Plan’s Biodiversity Overlay on the proposed koala habitat
     offset sites.



REPORT
A report providing an overview of Environmental Offset Legislation was considered by Council at
its Ordinary Meeting on 2 July 2015. This report also detailed the Noosa experience with
Environmental Offsets, including bringing to Council’s attention that the Cooroy to Curra Bruce
Highway upgrade resulted in clearing of koala habitat in Noosa Shire and that the Department of
Main Roads and Transport (DTMR) were proposing to offset this koala habitat loss in the Gympie
Region adjacent to the Bruce Highway.

On 3 July 2015, Council officers met with DTMR officers to discuss the koala offsets arising from
the Cooroy to Curra Bruce Highway upgrade. Specifically, the meeting was intended to better
understand DTMR’s obligations for the koala habitat offset and to discuss some preliminary
options for the offsets to occur in Noosa Shire.

At the meeting, the DTMR officer provided some history of the Bruce Highway upgrade project
having commenced some years ago, including their consultation with the Department of
Environment, Heritage and Protection and the then Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the project
having commenced prior to de-amalgamation. The DTMR officer also advised the following:




                                                                                 Page 63 of 140