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

7.6.2 Update information about the manager(s)/coordinator(s) of the biosphere reserve
      including designation procedures.

NSC remains the overall manager of the biosphere reserve with primary controls through its land use
planning scheme and various environmental, social, economic and cultural strategies and related
policies. The overall management has been supported by the following arrangements over the past 10
years:

•       NBL 2008 – 2013
        The NBL was a company limited by guarantee, with NSC as the single shareholder. There was a
        Board of 11 Directors, nine of whom had nominated from within the Noosa community, plus two
        elected Councillors.

•       NBRF 2014-present
        The NBRF is comprised of a voluntary Board up to eight members appointed by the Foundation’s
        members. One of the Board members is one elected Councillor. The NBRF has primary
        responsibility for financial management, reporting and selecting suitable BR-related research
        projects for funding. Membership of the Foundation is limited to current and ex-Board members.

7.6.3 Are there any changes with regard to the coordination structure of the biosphere reserve?

Over the past decade, there have been two main models for the management and coordination of the
NBR, both created by the NSC administration after community consultation. The first model NBL was
under the direct authority of NSC whereas the new model is independent although reliant on funding
from NSC.

NBL 2008 – 2013

There were seven Sector Boards, each with approximately 10 members from the community with
specific expertise or interest in the chosen area. The Sector Boards had been reference groups
operating under the NSC prior to Biosphere Reserve accreditation. These sub-committees met regularly
to discuss relevant issues to raise with the Board, and to help plan community-based activities for the
NBR. Themes covered by the Sector Boards were: Economy, Environment, Cultural, Social, Tourism,
plus Research Development & Learning. The NBL hosted an annual festival to showcase
environmentally-friendly products and significant environmental activities to the community.

NBRF 2014-present

Following extensive community consultation including open public forums, plus the establishment of an
internal working group, the NSC decided on and instigated a new management model for the NBR. The
NSC created the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation Ltd (NBRF), a company to act as trustee for the
Noosa Biosphere Reserve Trust, a charitable trust. The NSC also applied for and received deductable
gift recipient status for the trust which provides taxation benefits for donors to the trust.

The principal purpose of the charitable trust, administered by NBRF, is to advance the protection and
enhancement of the natural environment, being the natural ecosystem and biodiversity of the Noosa
Biosphere Reserve, and also to advance research, education and information about that natural
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environment.

A separate community membership organisation, the Noosa Community Biosphere Association (NCBA)
was also established as the more broadly representative arm of the BR, to organise events and
encourage local community participation in the NBR.

The NBRF has no permanent staff, but employs skilled contractors as required. These staff provide
administrative, communications, research, fundraising and strategic advisory skills.




66
     30 June 2017, NSC, Notes to the Financial Statements, p.5.



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