2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

Page 75 of 140

a                  ee           oA       =
                                        a    ~—-        ALS      —_—— eo a Ps            =     si;
     é |                er      ENS     :                  moe        ;      ae   ttt nail —_
=            NOOSA COUNCIL                            FP     SaiiEs=              ae    ho
>                                                             a        rai            ——_—s            ~
               ~                                    -               :

         The State Government Supported Community Infrastructure Koala Conservation Policy (2014) outlines how state public sector
         entities will consider koala conservation outcomes in the planning and delivery of government supported community
         infrastructure such as roads and buildings.

         The Queensiand Environmental Offsets Policy (2014) provides the mechanism for the Planning Minister to declare an area to be
         a Biodiversity Development Offset Area (BDOA) for the purposes of achieving a net benefit for koala conservation. Offsets for
         koalas have already occurred in the Noosa Shire (e.g. Settlers Cove development) and will likely occur into the future.

         Meanwhile the state's Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan (2006) and the Nature Conservation (Koala)
         Management Program (2006 - 2016) prescribe outcomes for Koala Habitat Areas and criteria against which development in
         these areas must be assessed. Parts of Noosa Shire are identified as "Koala Conservation Areas" and also “Urban Koala
         Areas". Notably the mapping for these areas excludes some urban locales where koalas are known to exist, and also ignores
         the bulk of the Noosa hinterland where koalas are known to exist. The planning and development provisions In the Nature
          Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan (2006) and the Nature Conservation (Koala) Management Program (2006 - 2016) have
         now been superseded by the South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions 2010 (SPRP).

         Noosa Council's own planning scheme includes a biodiversity overiay that identifies potential koala habitat areas derived from
         State mapping. There are currently inconsistencies and shortcomings in this mapping. For some specific developments this
         mapping may have an impact on vegetation removal, although not in respect to the clearing for a house site for example

         Koala provisions in the Noosa Pian biodiversity overlay code requires developments to include measures to assist the survival
         of koalas and provide for koala movement across the landscape. The code calls up design measures in the Nature
          Conservation Plan 2006,

         As guidelines and koala mapping are revised over time, the planning scheme will need to be updated to reflect these changes.

         it is important to note that there are restrictions on what Council can and cannot do in terms of planning decisions that may
         impact on koalas. Council cannot, for example, readily prevent construction of houses on private property where that
         development is in accord with other government instruments and also in accord with aspects of the planning scheme

         What the Koala Management Policy May Consider

         The Noosa Council Koala Policy may consider issues such as:
         1. Habitat protection - where planning instruments allow and in keeping with other Council policies such as The Environmental
         Levy.
         2. Improved understanding of jocal koala populations.
         3. Improved mapping of local koala populations.
         4. Consideration of koala offsets where applicable (see Qld Environmental Offsets Policy above).
         5. infrastructure decisions - such as koala crossing signs, wildlife crossing additions as part of new infrastructure, etc.
         6. Pest control - particularly wild dogs.
         7. Community awareness and education,

    NOOSA COUNCIL                     PO Box    141                    P. (07) 5329 6500           [email protected]
                                       ea  REL   Ree OE: tals          =  (07) 5329 650             \      oSa.qid.gov.a

                                                                                                              Page 75 of 140