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

                                                                 Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018




•     8 Community Halls
•     3 Community Centres at Peregian, Pomona and Tewantin
•     68 Community buildings servicing a range of community needs
•     39 Commercial/privately owned sport & recreation facilities (incl. not for profit freehold sites)
•     29 Council controlled (trustee/freehold) sport & recreation facilities including 3 multi-use sports
      complexes.
•     18 Other Government controlled/managed sport & recreation facilities

In 2015 Council adopted a Social Strategy to provide a framework to continue to improve community
wellbeing and cohesiveness while addressing the social challenges facing the Shire over the coming
years. The Strategy highlights the Noosa community’s strengths as a community and commits to
supporting and building on these while at the same time identifying priority social issues and challenges
for action.

5.10 Indicators to assess the effectiveness of activities fostering sustainable development

In 2010 the Australian Conservation Foundation applied a sustainable cities index across Australia’s 20
largest cities. The Sunshine Coast (including the NBR at the time of the amalgamated Councils), was
       nd
rated 2 based on the following indicators:
•     Air quality
•     Ecological footprint
•     Green buildings
•     Water
•     Biodiversity
•     Health
•     Density
•     Wellbeing
•     Transport
•     Employment
•     Climate change
•     Public participation
•     Education
•     Household repayments
•     Food production

With its extensive protected area network and strong planning controls, Noosa was a significant factor
in achieving such a high rating.

5.11 Main factors that influenced success of development efforts

The main factors that have positively influenced the success of sustainable development efforts in NBR
are:
•     A long history of community activism and support for conservation and sustainable development.
•     A planning scheme with a development cap and strong sustainability provisions.
•     A supportive community, willing to support regulatory frameworks and investment in community
      environmental programs such as the Environment Levy and the NBRF.
•     A strong community engagement program through mechanisms such as Council’s ‘Your Say’
      Noosa where the community is invited to comment on a range of plans and programs across the
      biosphere.

Council is currently developing an Environment Strategy. This will provide an opportunity to align NBRF
strategic priorities with Council’s plans, policies and programs. Whilst statutory provisions are in place
through State legislation and the Noosa planning scheme, the strategy will help identify key focus areas
across the biosphere. The NBRF are identified as key stakeholders in the consultation process in
developing the strategy.




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