2018-04-16 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   16 APRIL 2018




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                         16 APRIL 2018

       1.       Introduction

 |     Noosa Shire Council is-pleasedte—supports the Community Bushland Care Program and our
       dedicated network of community volunteers.
       The Community Bushland Care program has been operating in Noosa Shire since 2002 and through
       this program volunteers and local community organisations have made significant contributions to the
       natural environment.

       The program is a partnership arrangement between Council and community volunteers who find
       reward contributing to positive change in their local bushland areas and aligns with the Corporate
       goal: ‘Our environment is protected, enhanced and valued by the community’ and ‘Our community is
       connected, safe and happy and able to meet their potential’.
 |     The ‘Council and Community Bushland Care Partnership - Operational Guidelines’ provides a
       framework for a program that has been established for many years in partnership with staff, volunteers
       and community organisations.
       Community Bushland Care volunteers continue to demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm in
       achieving environmental outcomes and provide additional support and management of ecologically
 |     significant bushland. Theseis guidelines outlines Council’s support, recognition and ongoing
       commitment to this valued partnership.

       2.      Aims and Objectives
       The principal aims of the volunteer Community Bushland Care Program are to involve local community
       members in ecological restoration projects, instil community pride, foster community awareness and
       improve environmental outcomes in Noosa’s locally ecologically significant bushland areas.
       In doing this, Council aims to provide a fair and equitable standard of service to all Community
       Bushland Care groups based on needs and available resources.
       The volunteer Community Bushland Care Program’s objectives are to:
       e  Involve the wider community in ecological restoration, creation of resilient native flora and fauna
          communities, habitats, linkages and corridors.
       e  Create a sense of place between local residents and their natural environment.
       e  Provide training to increase the skills and knowledge of volunteers to ensure best-practice
          ecological restoration principles are utilised in all activities.
       e  Ensure volunteers undertake activities safely and in accordance with Council’s objectives, policies
          and procedures and legislative responsibilities.
       e  Provide volunteers with a program that provides appropriate levels of support and recognition of
          volunteer’s efforts.
       e  Encourage community participation and action through education of conservation values and
          management issues relating to the Noosa Shire.

       Council and Community Bushland Care — Operational Guidelines                             Page 2

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