Meeting papers

Council will develop an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in consultation with the landholder. At the end of
the 5 year term and at the request of the landholder, the EMP may be reviewed to guide landholders with future
actions. The EMP will include:
•     a description of the conservation area and its environmental values;
•     any threatening processes;
•     management actions required;
•     timeframes to deliver the EMP.




Support for VCAs
Establishment costs
Council will outlay costs to establish a Nature Refuge or Conservation Covenant over the nominated section of
the property. Costs include developing a survey plan of the covenant area, Nature Refuge establishment tasks,
Titles Queensland property searches, document preparation and lodgement fees, as well as Council officer time.
Financial Incentive
The annual incentive to implement the EMP will be capped as follows:
• Minimum amount of $2,000 per annum for conservation areas up to 5 hectares in size.
• For conservation areas over 5 hectares an additional $200 will be available for every extra hectare, up to a
   maximum total of $6,000 each year.
• Costs cannot be claimed for unexpended VCA funds from previous financial years.
What funds can be used for under the EMP
The type of works or materials required will be identified in the agreed EMP. Examples include:
•     Engagement of contractors for ecological restoration works and fencing or barbed wire fence removal.
•     Engagement of contractors for invasive species control.
•     Engagement of consultants for services such as ecological surveys or fire management planning and
      approved works.
•     Purchase of or reimbursement for materials such as herbicide and/or tools necessary to conduct
      environmental restoration activities.
VCA properties may be eligible for grants and other funding from Council (LfW incentives), state and federal
governments.
VCA funds cannot be used for works that are a regulatory requirement such as a condition of development or
subject to compliance action by a regulatory authority.
Commissioning works
The EMP priorities will be discussed on-site annually with a Council officer, the landowner and contractor to
review works undertaken and identify upcoming works. Agreed works will be confirmed in writing by Council and
co-ordinated by the landholder and contractor. Once works have been completed to the satisfaction of Council
and the landholder, the contractor will be paid by Council. Regarding reimbursement of materials and tools the
landholder shall obtain a quote from the supplier and submit to Council for written approval prior to purchase.
The landowner then provides a tax invoice to Council for reimbursement of funds.
Rate refund
A component of the annual incentive can be negotiated with the landholder to go towards a refund of the
general rate amount. A rate refund will only be considered by Council when all management tasks specified
under the EMP have been substantially achieved, and only if the full rates payable on the property have been
paid by the landowner for past and current rating periods. The allowable amount going towards a rate refund
will be determined by the size of the conservation area expressed as a percentage of the total property size
(see below). For example, if 50% of the property is within the conservation area then the rate refund will be
50% of the general rate.

                                                                                                  Page 20 of 201