2015-04-28 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           28 APRIL 2015


7    GREEN ARMY PROJECT AGREEMENT
Author            Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast), Jan Maddin
                  Planning and Infrastructure Department

Index             ECM /Subject / Green Army Grants

Attachments       1.   Green Army Project Agreement (51 page document provided separately
                       to this Agenda; 2 hard copies available in the Councillors’ Room)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Planning &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 28 April 2015 regarding the successful outcome in
obtaining a Green Army Project for the Noosa Shire.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to inform Council about the successful bid to the Australian
Government’s Green Army Program for the services of a Green Army team to assist
managing weed threats in the bushland reserves and coastal habitats in the Noosa Local
Government Area.

The urban-bushland-coastal interface is an area of intense pressure from the impact of
weeds (and litter) which degrade these important habitats and threaten biodiversity.

The Green Army team of 10 will be deployed for 22 weeks from 11 May to 5 October, 2015,
to work in collaboration with Council, local bushland care group volunteers and shorebird
survey volunteers to help reverse the trend of the loss of biodiversity in the local area.

In total, 20 project sites have been identified for assistance by the Green Army (refer
Attachment 1 Project Agreement - Appendix 1) and a Works Program established to enable
five visits by the Green Army per project site (refer Attachment 1 Project Agreement -
Appendix 4).

The expected outcomes of the Green Army Project include:

   Reducing the impacts of Weeds of National Significance (WONS) in bushland
     reserves;
   Support for the protection and conservation of nationally threatened species,
     ecological communities and migratory species; and
   Fostering intergenerational learning, mentoring and skill sharing between the Green
     Army team, local conservation volunteers and Council.
Background

The Green Army is a hands-on, environmental action program that supports local
environment and heritage conservation projects across Australia. It is an initiative of the
Australian Government’s Department of the Environment.



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