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

                                                                 Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018




•       In 17/18 the Biosphere Foundation funded the Marine Ecology Education Indigenous Corporation
        to develop an Environmental and Cultural Learning Trail for the Noosa River & lakes. It is
        anticipated to support indigenous led economic opportunities for Kabi Kabi people.
•       In July 2017 Council staff and councillors (including one Councillor member of the PRAG) met
        with Kabi Kabi on Noosa North Shore to discuss how council and Kabi Kabi could work together
        and to identify areas of common interest. The NBRF part-funded Noosa River Oyster Reef
        Project was also discussed at this meeting.
•       On 6 July 2016 a representative from the Goombuckar Corporation (an indigenous education &
        cultural group) gave a talk to Councillors and council staff (including PRAG members) on Kabi
        Kabi cultural awareness.
•       The Noosa Community Biosphere Association engaged a Kabi Kabi representative to develop a
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        “Welcome to Country” message through a biosphere promotional video .

It is acknowledged that the NBRF would like to have closer working relationships with Traditional Land
owners. Kabi Kabi First Nation Traditional Owners are registered as Native Title Claimants for the entire
NBR area. NSC is also a party to negotiations with the State Government and other Councils within the
Native Title claim area to develop an Indigenous Land Use Agreement with Kabi Kabi First Nation
Traditional Owners.

1.5.3 Number of meetings, workshops

The PRAG met on a total of 10 occasions during 2017-18, facilitated by the Consultant employed by the
NBRF to coordinate and prepare the PR. The PRAG discussed various aspects of the NBR and its
management since the 2007 designation, including:
•       Major geographical features
•       The status of Noosa’s terrestrial and marine ecology
•       Historic development patterns
•       Economic trends
•       Demographic profile
•       Past and current BR management structures
•       Funding sources
•       The role of the NSC and various local community members and conservation organisations in
        shaping NBR governance structures and operations
•       Traditional Owner knowledge and engagement
•       The range of funded research projects and outcomes to date and
•       The future outlook for the NBR.

At the executive level, regular meetings were held between the Chair of the NBRF Board and the CEO
of NSC on strategic directions and operational planning for the NBR (presenting quarterly to half-yearly
progress reports); as well as informal discussions held with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and various
elected Councillors on assorted BR-related topics.

The Strategic Advisor to the NBRF Board conducted over 100 interviews with a diverse array of people
in the community who have been involved in the activities of the NBR since 2007. The purpose of these
meetings was to seek their views, and to engage broad sections of the community with specific interests
in the biosphere (for example, businesses, commercial fishers, farmers, and teachers) in shaping future
directions of the NBRF.

1.5.4 Attendance and representation

All meetings were well attended by a range of genders and demographics within the community all with
varying levels of involvement, experience and responsibility for activities within the NBR.

Targeted community consultation was also effective in informing the development of the PR. The
following key stakeholders were consulted throughout the process of developing the PR:
•       NBRF Board of Directors
•       NSC elected members
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     NCBA Noosa Biosphere - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7str9D0vrtc



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