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

                                                                Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018




Since 2014 NSC has prepared various plans and undertaken studies to inform preparation of the New
Noosa Plan including:
•       Centres Hierarchy
•       Local Economic Plan
•       Agricultural Land
•       Flood Management Plan
•       Housing Needs Assessment
•       Riparian study
•       Social Strategy
•       Cultural Plan
•       Transport Strategy
•       Biodiversity Plan
•       Koala Plan.

NSC was also awarded a Queensland Government grant to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan.

More detail on research projects, associated information and links to progress reports can be found in
Ch. 6 of this report.

2.2.7 Update on governance management and coordination

The Noosa Shire was first established as a separate local government entity in 1910. In March 2008,
the Queensland Government amalgamated Noosa with the Shire of Maroochy and the City of
Caloundra to form the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC). This was part of an efficiency
drive to reduce the number of local governments in Queensland. The amalgamation occurred despite
the 2007 referendum in Noosa Shire conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission where 95% of
voters rejected amalgamation.

A successful campaign was run during the next five years to de-amalgamate the Shire resulting in the
State Government agreeing to conduct a referendum on the issue. At this referendum 81% of residents
voted to leave the amalgamated regional council. On 9 November 2013, a local election resulted in a
new mayor and councillors being elected to take office on 1 January 2014. Accordingly, the Shire of
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Noosa was re-established on 1 January 2014 .

These changes to the Noosa local government have also resulted in changes to the governance
arrangements for the NBR. Under the SCRC the model was a Council-managed company with a board
of 11 directors that had oversight of seven community-based sector boards (all volunteers) supported
by Council staff.

Under the new NSC this has changed to a ‘two-part’ model. The new arrangements include the NBRF
Company (limited by guarantee) which is managed by an eight-person voluntary Board of Directors with
a skills-based membership that administers a public charitable trust.

In addition, there is a community membership-based volunteer organisation, the Noosa Community
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Biosphere Association (NCBA) that provides on ground support to achieving the objectives of the
NBR.

The PR has provided a catalyst for reviewing progress in all areas of activity, including governance. The
NBRF is committed to a process of continuous improvement. More details on the governance,
management and coordination of the NBR can be found in Ch.7.




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     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shire_of_Noosa
23
     http://ourbiosphere.com.au/about-our-biosphere/



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