2021-01-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                  18 JANUARY 2021


4.    Climate change resilience
The land is partially mapped as a Climate Adaptation Biodiversity Resilient Area which means that
vegetation and habitat has capacity to adapt and change over time from increased sea level rise
and storm tide events.
In addition the protection of this parcel for conservation purposes would secure this important area
to maintain its role as a vital corridor linkage within the landscape. This connectivity will help
support the adaptive capacity of flora and fauna species into the future as the climate changes
(including changes in rainfall, temperatures and increased bushfire risks).




                          Map 5 Biodiversity climate change resilience mapping

5.    Approach to acquisition
Under the Environment Levy Policy and the Conservation Land Policy Guideline there are two
approaches to acquisition. The land may be a ‘buy and hold’ purchase, or it may be a ‘revolving
fund’ purchase. Traditionally Council has used a ‘buy and hold’ approach and met the ongoing
management costs (unless ‘gifted’ to National Parks).
A revolving fund approach involves on-selling with a protective mechanism such as Nature Refuge.
Funds recouped from the sale of the land are re-invested into another land purchase for
environmental purposes, thereby expanding the extent of protected areas across the shire.
For on-selling purposes the land must have a suitable house site for marketability. 325 & 375 Lake
Flat Road, Boreen Point is 100% vegetated with many tall trees and a well-developed vegetated
understory. The ELWG has explored a number of ways for a potential revolving fund purchase, but
ultimately vegetation would still need to be cleared for a house site and this is inconsistent with the
purpose of the Environment Levy Policy. The Council-adopted Revolving Fund Policy Guideline
states:
‘Land that is 100% vegetated is not suitable for a revolving fund because for re-sale purposes the
land would need a cleared house site’.
However, if Council were to purchase this land and an adjoining land parcel came onto the market
in the future, with a suitable house site area, Council could consider purchasing the neighbouring
land, undertake a boundary re-alignment and on-sell both land parcels with protective covenants
and house site areas.



                                                                                    Page 119 of 155