2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                     21 JULY 2015



7                        NOOSA KOALA CONSERVATION POLICY
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                              Principal Environment Officer, Peter Milne
                                    Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                               ECM/Subject/Koala Policy/Management

Attachments                         1.    Koala Conservation Policy Background Paper
                                    2.    Noosa Koala Conservation Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 21 July 2015 and:
A.                       Thank the public submitters and key stakeholders for contributing to the development of the
                         Noosa Koala Conservation Policy;
B.                       Adopt the Noosa Koala Conservation Policy provided at Attachment 2 to the report; and
C.                       Commence the development of a Shire-wide Koala Conservation Plan to implement the
                         policy.


REPORT
1.                       Public Consultation
Submissions were invited from the public on the proposed Noosa Koala Conservation Policy
through the ‘Your Say Noosa’ portal. A background paper (Attachment 1) on the policy was
posted on the website and eighteen submissions from the public were received. A copy of the
submissions has been placed in the Councillors Room. In summary, most of the submissions
addressed:
                       Protecting koala habitat
                       Better koala records, data and maps
                       Public education, particularly responsible dog ownership
                       West Cooroy State Forest transfer into National Park
                       Funding for more research
                       Stronger development controls
                       More koala signs
                       Reduce speed limits
                       Establish a koala sanctuary
                       Allow translocation of koalas
                       Wild dog control
                       Koalas and tourism
                       Support offsets on private land
                       Purchase land parcels that have koala habitat
                       Increase capacity by partnering with Universities, other government departments,
                         environment groups and landholders

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