Meeting papers

The Land for Wildlife (LfW) program started in Victoria in 1981 with the aim of supporting private landholders to
deliver natural resource outcomes. The State of Victoria remains the head of power to the program with all
participating bodies holding a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State. Noosa Council has been
part of the LfWSEQ collaboration since 1998, alongside 10 other SEQ Council’s. The agreement articulates
specified program standards and obligations to maintain the integrity of the LfW brand.
With over 50% of biodiversity values contained on private land in SEQ, LfW plays an integral role in partnering
with private landholders to conserve the biodiversity and natural amenity of the region. The LfW program aligns
with regional, state and federal objectives, with the program being embedded in many SEQ Council policies and
strategies, such as pest management and biodiversity. The program engages with the community to improve
catchment and waterway health through erosion and sediment control, revegetation and remnant vegetation
protection through the integration of wildlife habitat with agricultural and other land uses. It creates wildlife
corridor linkages in strategic locations and between core protected areas, enabling genetic interchange needed
to avoid inbreeding in isolated populations.
The LFW SEQ Terms of Reference document (Appendix 1) outlines arrangements for SEQ Councils to deliver
the LFW program. The SEQ LfW program is coordinated by a full-time position overseen by a steering
committee comprising the 13 councils. A host Council undertakes administrative tasks on behalf of the SEQ
Councils, this role is currently provided by Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCC), and from June 30th 2023
Brisbane City Council will be the host Council for the next 3 years. All SEQ Councils contribute funds to support
regional co-ordination, maintenance of the regional LfW database, newsletter production, and periodic member
surveys. The funding level is based on the number of members in each Council. Noosa Council’s contribution for
the 2022-23 financial year is $14,400. There are currently 5,378 properties registered in the Land for Wildlife
program in SEQ, covering 76,000 hectares of retained habitat.
In the Noosa Shire, the LfW Program is delivered as part of Council’s Private Land Conservation Partnerships
program and is consistent with the Corporate Plan, Environment Strategy, and the Conservation Land
Guideline.
LfW is a voluntary conservation program that creates partnerships with eligible landholders. Council Officers
undertake property assessments and provide advice and engagement on the management of properties for its
conservation values. The LfW Program is delivered as part of Council’s Private Land Conservation
Partnerships and is consistent with the Conservation Land Guideline.


Eligibility
Landowners that are eligible for the LfW program must:
   • Have a minimum of 1 hectare of conservation area on their property considered ‘retained habitat’ or
      ‘habitat under restoration’ as defined in the LfW SEQ Guideline (Appendix 2).
    •    Have a commitment to manage their property for nature conservation.
Eligibility
Residents that are eligible for the LfW program include:
•    Landholders that have a minimum of 1 hectare of conservation area on their property considered ‘retained
     habitat’ or ‘habitat under restoration’ as defined in the Land for Wildlife Queensland Guideline.
•       Landholders demonstrating their intention and commitment to manage their property to maintain and
        enhance native flora and fauna in a way that attempts to integrate nature conservation with other land
        management objectives.
Support for LfW
Council will provide support for new and existing LfW members subject to available resources and consisting
of:
    • An initial site visit, property assessment, follow up property report, and provision of a sign (for fully
        registered properties) and resource materials for new members.
    • Quarterly newsletter delivered electronically where possible.
    • LfW events such as workshops and field days.
    • Property revisits and ongoing advice as requested by existing members.
    • An incentives program (subject to available resources) including (but not limited to) free native tube
        stock, training/assistance with environmental weed management, equipment loans for items such as
        fauna cameras, weed management tools, and resource books.
Support for Land for Wildlife



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