2022-06-13 General Committee Meeting Agenda PUBLIC

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                    13 JUNE 2022


3    NOOSA ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY MONITORING REPORT


Author           Shaun Walsh, (Acting) Environmental Services Manager
                 Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index            ECM/ 21.44 Environment Strategy / Biodiversity Plan

Attachments      1.    Noosa Environment Strategy Monitoring Report 2019 – 2021
                       (22-page attachment provided separately to this agenda)


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The following report and attachment has been prepared to provide an update on the performance
of the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019. It is a commitment of the Noosa Environment Strategy
2019 that a report on the progress towards the 12 targets be provided every two years.
This monitoring report shows the status the Noosa Environment Strategy as at 30 June 2021 which
is the end of second year of the Strategy’s ten year life.
The attachment highlights the areas within this plan where monitoring of targets is well established
and progress is as predicted but also shows some areas where there is still more work needed to
establish baseline datasets and comprehensive monitoring programs. The monitoring report
contents will continue to be refined in future versions as data sets are updated or become available
on future years.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Acting Environmental Services Manager to the General
Committee Meeting dated 13 June 2022 and provide the Year 2 biennial report on progress
towards the 12 targets outlined in the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019.

REPORT
At the June 2019 Ordinary Meeting Noosa Council endorsed the Noosa Environment Strategy &
Implementation Plan. The Noosa Environment Strategy is the key strategic policy document for
Council related to our environment and the way we live within it. The Strategy identifies key
strategies, outcomes and measurable targets that guide decision-making and support prioritisation
of investment over the 10 year life of the strategy.
The Strategy provides a clear monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework for the Strategy that
consists of;
•    Annual reporting on the progress of specific implementation actions associated with the
     Environment Strategy.
•    Biennial reporting against the 12 targets identified in the Environment Strategy, to measure
     the success of the Strategy’s implementation.
A copy of the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 can be found at the following link
https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/1130/noosa-environment-strategy
The Noosa Environment Strategy is made up of 4 overarching themes: Biodiversity, Waterways,
Wetlands & Coasts, Sustainable Living and Climate Change Resiliance and Adaptation. Each of
these themes has 3 associated strategies and targets that are intended to improve the state of the
environment in Noosa. This report and attachment provides a snapshot of each of the 12 targets
and the current state of the data used to evaluate progress towards them.
It is noted that this biennial monitoring report has been significantly delayed due to the departure
of the former Environmental Services Manager, COVID and natural disaster disruptions. It is also

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