2019-04-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      9 APRIL 2019


Previous Council Consideration

Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 20 September 2018, Item 3, Page 13
That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 11 September 2018 and adopt:
A.   The Conservation Land Guideline provided at Attachment 1 to the report which provides a
     mapping methodology to support the Environment Levy Land Acquisition Program and
     Private Landholder Conservation Partnerships Programs, with minor changes as
     authorised by the CEO;
B.   The Revolving Fund Guideline provided at Attachment 2 to the report which provides a
     framework to implement a revolving fund, with minor changes as authorised by the CEO;
C.   The Private LandConservation Guideline provided at Attachment 3 to the report to guide
     the Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) and Land for Wildlife (LfW) Programs, with
     minor changes as authorised by the CEO; and
D.   The Fact Sheet - Conserving Land in Noosa Shire provided at Attachment 4 to the report.


Finance
A valuation was undertaken by Bugler Francis Valuers (Attachment 2). The property has been
valued between $400,000 to $450,000, with an estimate of $425,000 (which is the same as the
asking price).

By comparison the most recent Environment Levy purchases of Johns Landing and Cooloothin
Creek were much more expensive to purchase having direct river frontage and higher ground.
Prices are summarised in Table 2.

EL Land parcel                   Purchase cost                    Price per ha
Johns Landing                    $2.2m                            $44,900/ha
Cooloothin Creek                 $2.7m                            $25,470/ha
1675 Louis Bazzo                 $425,000                         $8,250/ha

The restricted cash reserves of the Environment Levy are forecast to be $1.8 million by 30 June
2019 based on the current budget forecasts. This indicates that there is sufficient capacity to
purchase the land parcel using Environment Levy funds without impacting the delivery of current
environmental programs and still retaining a surplus of reserves for utilisation in future years.

It is proposed that, should Council proceed with the recommendation, an allocation of $425,000
be set aside in the capital works program for the purchase at Budget Review 3 (BR3).

Risks & Opportunities
There is a risk that if Council does not purchase the land, a new landholder will clear vegetation
and fill a portion of the land for a house site on the eastern side of the parcel.

If Council purchases the land there is inherent risks of bushfire similar to other bushland reserves
and ongoing weed maintenance requirements.

By purchasing this land there is an opportunity to help consolidate a linkage between Yurol-
Ringtail State Forest and Cooloola National Park.




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