2016-07-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    18 JULY 2016


 Council adopted a set of sustainability principles that guide the development of numerous
   strategies. All Council strategies will now incorporate a focus on long term sustainability.
 Council adopted a Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan following community consultation.
 Council adopted a Koala Conservation Plan following community consultation and an
   implementation plan has also been developed following community consultation.
 Council adopted an Environment Levy Policy to provide guidance on the management and
   expenditure of Environment Levy funds.
 Council adopted a Business Continuity Policy to ensure Council’s services are maintained
   throughout any disruption and a Fraud and Corruption Policy to protect Council’s assets,
   interests and reputation.

Corporate Plan Priority 6 – Custodianship of Noosa’s environment
Noosa has a long and proud environmental record. Our Council will continue to apply best
practice to its custodianship of Noosa’s natural environment aiming to enhance local biodiversity
for the benefit of future generations.

Key achievements include:
 Council is developing a series of bushland reserve plans and the first of these, at Tewantin, is
   currently the subject of community consultation. More funds are set aside in the 2016/17
   budget to develop more bushland reserve plans.
 Council’s Environment Levy Working Group continues to identify potential land purchases
   under the Environment Levy. Following its recommendation, Council made its first major
   Environment Levy purchase in 2015 through the acquisition of an environmentally significant
   parcel of land with Noosa River frontage at a cost of $2.8M.
 Council has commenced its second Green Army project with a focus on weed removal in
   bushland reserve areas.
 Council is working with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, the Thomas Foundation
   and University of the Sunshine Coast on a project in the Noosa River and is assisting with
   obtaining the necessary State approvals so that the Oyster restoration project can proceed.
 Council has provided funds for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation to facilitate a series
   of projects including work on Koala mapping, Oyster restoration in the Noosa River and long
   term reduction of sediment in the Kin Kin Creek catchment. This funding has been enhanced
   through the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation model which has seen a “multiplier effect”
   with additional funding and University research support being attracted to projects.
 The future management arrangements for the Noosa River are being advanced following the
   outcomes of the second Community Jury. Council is also developing a new Noosa
   Hydrodynamic Model for the lower Noosa River. Council undertook work on a number of
   erosion projects including Weyba Creek and Munna Point. The Noosa River continued to
   maintain the highest rating (A-) throughout SEQ waterways.
 We began to trial electric equipment in our day to day operations such as an electric quad
   bike at the Botanical Gardens as well as electric brush cutters and chainsaws.
 Council has adopted an Emission Reduction Policy and begun working with Beyond Zero
   Emissions on measuring our Carbon output as a first step in that process.
 Council has been undertaking a program to audit bio-retention basins – both Council owned
   and privately owned. The audit of Council owned bio-retention basins has been the first
   priority.
 The flying fox colony at Wallace Park was monitored with the number of flying foxes
   fluctuating substantially at different times during the year. Council adopted a management
   plan and while some actions were undertaken during the year, the flying fox de-camped to
   Goat Island in June 2016 as part of their natural cycle.

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