2018-08-07 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve 10 Year Periodic Review

                                                                     Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018



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The acidic and freshwater wetlands and streams of the Cooloola sand mass (Noosa North Shore)
comprise part of the Noosa River catchment. The Great Sandy Strait region immediately to the north of
the Noosa Shire is recognised as a wetland of international importance and is listed under RAMSAR.
Sunshine Beach, on the southern part of the Noosa headland, is a successful turtle breeding site. The
natural beach and dune system remains largely unaffected by habitat loss and other damaging effects
of coastal development seen elsewhere along the Queensland coastline. The beach provides a critical
nesting habitat for the endangered Loggerhead Turtle [Caretta caretta] and less frequently, the
vulnerable Green Turtle [Chelonia mydas].

In terms of sustainable development, the NSC is a signatory to the Cities Power Partnership launched
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in 2017 by the Climate Council of Australia . The national partnership is comprised of 70 Local
Government Authorities (LGAs) who have pledged to undertake specific local action to accelerate
emissions reduction strategies. Each authority has agreed to promote clean energy within their shire
boundaries, as part of their sustainable development programs. The NSC has set its own organisational
target of Zero Emissions by 2026.

State

There are a number of State agencies that are involved with the governance and management of the
BR. The Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Department of Natural Resources, Mines & Energy and
Department of Environment & Science (including Queensland National Parks) are responsible for the
management of large areas of land in the BR. Plans of management developed through community
consultation processes help protect the environment, economic and socio-cultural values of the land.
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For example, the Great Sandy Region Management Plan consultation process assists in the
development of cooperative frameworks between business, industry, environment and Indigenous
groups. The plan is under review.

Regional

In addition to State agencies such as Queensland National Parks, there are two main regional groups
undertaking natural resource management (NRM) activities in the NBR: Healthy Land & Water (HLW), a
relatively new non-profit organisation (combining previous agencies Healthy Waterways and South-East
Queensland (SEQ) Catchments); and the Burnett Mary Regional Group.

The HLW monitors the health of waterways and catchments across the SEQ, one of the fastest growing
regions in Australia. The organisation brings together landholders, community groups, government,
industry and university-based scientists to monitor water quality, sediment load, environmental
conditions, and to develop common approaches to measurement. The Noosa River recently received
an ‘A minus’ rating in the Healthy Waterways and Catchments Report Card 2017, indicating excellent
water quality. The report card indicated that the local community places a high value on the NBR
waterways.

The NSC is a member of Regional Development Australia’s Sunshine Coast (RDASC) committee,
comprising representatives from all tiers of government, business and community in the region. The
RDASC acts as an infrastructure and major projects network. The latest RDASC publication - Regional
Roadmap 2016-17 - lists Tourism, Sport and Leisure; Clean Technologies; Aviation and
Aerospace;Agribusiness; Health and Wellbeing; Knowledge Industries & Professional Services; and
Education and Research as key priority areas for action over the coming decade.




8
     2016, Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE)
9
     http://citiespowerpartnership.org.au/power-partners/ (accessed 2/5/18)
10
     https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/managing/plans-strategies/great_sandy_region.html



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