2019-06-11 P&E Agenda - Item 7 - Attachment 1 - Environment Strategy

 Strategy 1.1 Protect and enhance existing ecosystems,
 		           vegetation networks and habitats

 Target                                                                Ecosystems in Noosa Shire are impacted by a range of threats
                                                                       including weeds, feral animals, development, vegetation
 By 2030, there is no net loss of ecosystem values across the          clearing, pollution, urban runoff and climate change.
 shire, and the condition of Council’s priority bushland reserves
 are enhanced.                                                         There are a range of statutory and non-statutory measures to
                                                                       protect and enhance existing ecosystems, vegetation networks
 Noosa Shire’s reserve system contributes towards a large,             and habitats. The Noosa Planning Scheme helps protect high
 well-connected network of core protected areas. These                 value biodiversity and riparian corridors. It provides additional
 extend across a diverse cross-section of ecosystem types and          protection to matters not covered by State and Commonwealth
 altitudinal ranges that link public and private lands. Many of        legislation such as high value regrowth and vegetation and
 these areas are large and highly biodiverse.                          species that are considered to be locally significant.

 The largest protected reserve is the Cooloola section of the          Outside statutory protection there are a range of programs
 Great Sandy National Park. Connectivity between large areas           helping to improve the condition of ecosystems, vegetation and
 of private and public land assist with maintaining the diversity,     habitat. Noosa Council owns and manages over 180 bushland
 abundance and health of many native species. The vegetation           reserves and, in partnership with community volunteers, is
 networks that extend along waterways and form Noosa’s                 undertaking site stabilisation works, weed control and plantings
 wetlands and coastal environments assist in protecting water          to restore the natural ecology of these reserves. Council
 quality and play an important role in buffering foreshores from       also partners with private landholders through conservation
 erosion, capturing sediment and filtering runoff across the           agreements to promote and support similar works on private
 catchment.                                                            land to further expand the Noosa conservation estate.

 Existing small vegetation patches and urban habitats are also         Different government agencies have responsibility for managing
 important for providing habitat and supporting species survival.      Noosa’s protected areas, with the State Government managing
 This includes the vegetated road reserve network, which plays         National Parks and State Forests. For public land not under
 a role in providing habitat and connectivity across the shire.        Council control, Council can play an advocacy and support role
                                                                       with other government land managers to improve environmental
 Ecosystems function are at their best when they are as close to       outcomes.
 their natural state as possible, the condition that has resulted in
 the co-evolution of the species that inhabit them.




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