2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

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POLICY STATEMENT
This policy states Council's position on the conservation and protection of koalas in Noosa Shire.
The Koala Conservation Policy focuses on eight key areas:
1.    Habitat protection.
      a.   Where legislative and planning instruments allow, further habitat loss within known core
           koala habitat areas is prevented.
      b.   Measures to protect koala habitat are consistent with other plans, policies and
           programs for biodiversity protection. Examples include the Noosa Plan Biodiversity
           Overlay and Riparian Protection Areas and the Environment Levy Program.
      c.   Where possible, measures to conserve and enhance Strategic Biodiversity Corridors
           and/or Strategic Offset Investment Corridors, are focused on areas that assist koala
           populations.
      d.   Land conservation practices are encouraged in known koala habitat areas. This may
           include support for Voluntary Conservation Agreements through the Environment Levy,
           and/or encouragement to include koala food trees on both private and public land in
           known koala habitat areas.
      e.   Measures to conserve and protect koalas are prioritised in koala habitat areas where it
           can be demonstrated that there are long-term viable populations of koalas. This will
           ensure that resources and efforts are allocated effectively.
     f.    State government controlled land with known koala habitat, that currently does not
           have conservation protection, is to be investigated for potential inclusion in the
           conservation estate.
2.    Improved understanding of Koala needs and behaviours.
      a.   Research partnerships between Council, State Government, research organisations
           and koala interest groups are encouraged and aimed at:
           i.    identifying and eliminating information gaps about koala behaviour within the
                 Noosa Shire.
           ii.   identifying habitat and range requirements for local koalas.
           iii. | assessing the health of koala populations.
           iv.   assessing the importance of regrowth and isolated trees to koalas, outside
                 remnant vegetation areas.
           Vv.   prioritising conservation and protection actions,
      b.   Processes and systems are to be investigated, potentially with koala interest groups
           and experts, to further collate information about koala sightings, injuries, and mortality
           in the Shire.
      c.   Key experts are to be identified and consulted on koala needs and behaviour. Such
           experts may include State Government Departments, University staff and students,
           Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, wildlife carers and koala advocates.
3.    Mapping and Monitoring Local Koala Populations.
      a.   In partnership with research agencies, the distribution and health of koalas across the
           Shire is to be assessed and monitored,
      b.   Building on current mapping resources, koala records, and regional ecosystem
           mapping, koala habitat mapping is to be updated. The updated koala habitat mapping
           will be considered in future amendments to the Noosa Plan.
     c.    Regrowth, urban trees and rural ‘stepping stone’ corridors are to be considered in koala
           mapping.
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