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 2015, $350,000 was provided to cover agreed multi-year projects. Annual NBRF budgets are
dependent upon regular reporting and achieving satisfactory outcomes under agreed KPIs. This was a
change from previous arrangements under SCRC where approx. $171,200 per annum was allocated to
NBL in addition to Council’s direct costs of $90,000 per annum for a full-time project officer and other in-
direct staff costs.

In the most recent report to Council in February 2018, the NBRF had total expenditure in 2016-17 of
$308,638 comprised of $202,645 (first grants round projects) and $105,933 (operational costs - $86,852
staffing and $19,141 administrative expenses). Amounts for agreed projects that have not yet been
disbursed (but have been funded) are held on the balance sheet as a cash asset and a balancing
project liability. A new funding arrangement is proposed for the next three years commencing 1 July
2018.

Resourcing

The NBRF is managed by volunteer directors, and one paid part-time administrative assistant. This is
supplemented by use of paid specialist consultants as required. Refer to details Table 7 below:

Table 7 NBRF staff support
Staff             Status         Number       Role                           Contributions
NBRF Directors    Volunteer      8            Management and reporting       Monthly board meetings as
                                              of NBRF                        well as various additional
                                                                             meetings/workshops as
                                                                             required
NCBA              Volunteer      390          Advocacy to the Noosa          Monthly meetings,
                                 members      community on direct action     activities/projects and
                                 approx.      on biosphere related matters   community events
Consultants       Contract       Varies       Communications                 Part-time contract consultancy
                                              & other technical advisory     positions as required
                                              services as required
Administrative    Contract       1            Administrative support         Part-time (office
support                                                                      administration, meeting
                                                                             support, accounts etc.)

2.3.3 Communications strategy

The communications strategy over the past 10 years has seen the use of a mix of marketing and
promotional media to reach different audiences. The following communication mediums have been
employed over the review period:
•      Branding of various merchandise and publications with the Noosa Biosphere® trademark.
•      Regular radio program “Voices of the Biosphere”.
•      The production of a suite of NBR-related publications, including brochures, maps, fact sheets.
•      An external Noosa Biosphere website http://noosabiosphere.org.au/.
•      An external Noosa Community Biosphere Association website http://ourbiosphere.com.au/.
•      Attendance and displays at events such as World Environment Day.
•      Celebration of Noosa Biosphere Day.
•      One on one meetings with various stakeholders from a diverse range of audiences.
•      Joint venture branding on websites and promotional material with other organisations such as
       NSC and Tourism Noosa.

Some examples of NBR publications can be found in the Annexes section of this report.

In 2017-18, the NBRF Board has identified that it needs to refocus attention on stronger
communications in order to raise understanding of the NBR in the community as well as to assist its
fundraising activities. The Big Ideas Grants Round for project funding proved to be an effective vehicle
for promotion of the work of the NBRF resulting in:
•      Active promotion of the NBR in community news outlets;
•      Several media releases and media stories about grants submissions and deadlines; and
•      Positive relationships with extended media, and local businesses.



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