Meeting papers

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                             11 APRIL 2023


5.1     REVISED POLICY GUIDELINES- PRIVATE LAND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS


Author             Acting Principal Environment Officer, Dave Burrows
                   Environmental Services Department
Index              21.35 Voluntary Conservation Agreements and Covenants
Attachments         1.   Current and proposed
                         funding amounts to existing VCA properties – in
                         accordance with Section 254J
                    2.   Revised Policy Guidelines - Private Land Conservation Partnerships -
                         track changes
                    3.   Policy Guideline - Private Land Conservation Partnerships Final with
                         attachments


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report provides an update on the current status of the Land for Wildlife (LfW) and Voluntary
Conservation Agreement (VCA) programs and requests amendments to the Policy Guideline –
Private Land Conservation Partnerships. The purpose of the amendments are to increase the level
of landowner engagement in the VCA program and ensure the incentives provided to VCA clients
are equitable. The report also proposes a new third private landowner engagement program called
a Split Zoning Conservation Program targeted at smaller properties that do not qualify for a VCA.
RECOMMENDATION
That Noosa Council (Council) note the report by the Conservation Partnerships Officer to the
Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 11 April 2023 and
      A. Approve the amendments as outlined in the attached updated Private Land Conservation
         Partnerships Policy Guideline; and
      B. Request staff to address program resourcing as part of the 2023-24 budget process.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide an update to Council on outcomes achieved with
Conservation Partnerships program delivery and seek Council endorsement for amendments to the
Policy Guideline – Private Land Conservation Partnerships.

This guideline provides direction to Council staff in delivering conservation programs to private
landowners in Noosa Shire. These programs contribute towards the Environment Strategy target of
50% of land in Noosa Shire managed for conservation by 2030. There is currently 36.6% of the shire
under conservation protection (Figure 1) and 40.8% of the shire's land being managed for its
environmental values, this figure includes Land for Wildlife as at 2021. Approximately 50% of
remnant vegetation within the shire exists on private property, including some vegetation types which
are poorly represented in existing protected areas. Council recognises that private land conservation
is well placed to make a significant contribution to conservation as part of a broader strategic
objective to protect and enhance biodiversity within Noosa Shire, as well as providing social and
wellbeing benefits to landowners and economic benefits to local communities. It is more cost
effective to work with willing landowners than purchasing land with associated acquisition and
maintenance costs. A comparison of these costs based on Sunshine Coast Council data between
2009 and 2013 is presented in Table 1 below.




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