2019-07-15 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                        15 JULY 2019

Oyster reef restoration methodology will follow standards aligned with best practice oyster
restoration and the Society for Ecological Restoration global guidelines. The project will follow a
staged approach to restoration;
 Phase I – feasibility and trial, which has been completed by the University of the Sunshine
    Coast.
 Phase II - optimal design (2019-2020) which seeks to determine the optimal design, locations
    and most cost effective method of reef restoration.
 Phase III – pilot sites and full restoration (2020-2022) which seeks to construct reefs at two
    pilot sites for 12 months, then at other feasible locations identified during phase II.
Phase II and III are the subject of this agreement with TNC over 3 years.
In delivering this project, it is intended that through the Agreement, TNC can provide some strategic
support and integration of not only the range of management and conservation initiatives that are
occurring locally in and around the Noosa River, but draw on significant scientific expertise from
across the globe, thus enabling coordination across effort, integration of outcomes and access to
world best practice.

The Alliance and Funding Agreement (Attachment 1) provides detailed terms for the nature of
the partnership up to September 30, 2022, and includes;
     A clear statement of the objectives of the partnership and the obligations of each party.
     A range of clauses to provide clarity over communications, confidentiality, intellectual
      property and dispute resolution.
     Clear guidance on project governance, including the establishment of a Technical Advisory
      Group as well as an executive-level forum.
     A description of the project and its aims.
     Clear project deliverables with timeframes, measurable outcomes and agency responsibility.
     A staged timeline for Council’s payments towards the project, with these payments linked to
      the achievement of the measureable outcomes within the project deliverables.

Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 17 January 2019, Item 2, Page 5
That Council note the report by the Director Environment and Sustainable Development and
Environmental Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 14 January 2019,
consider the proposal from the Nature Conservancy as detailed in this report, and
A     Consider in the finalisation of the Noosa River Plan the inclusion of an aquatic and marine
      ecosystem restoration program as a core element of the Noosa River Plan 2019; that:
      1.    combines local knowledge and scientific expertise to inform advocacy, policy, planning
            and on-ground action;
      2.    coordinates and integrates the implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review of
            investment across a range of sectors and community groups;
      3.    respects both the traditional owner and historic commercial fishing family heritage;
      4.    addresses the priority threats to natural resource productivity and fish habitats to
            improve ecosystem health;
      5.    aims to enhance the biological and structural complexity across the network of fish
            habitats;
      6.    has a goal of increasing the overall carrying capacity of the river in terms of biodiversity
            and fish abundance.
B.    Note that Council considers the proposal from the Nature Conservancy as detailed in this
      report to be a significant opportunity to advance aquatic and marine ecosystem restoration


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