2015-03-03 Planning & Organisation Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     3 MARCH 2015


in SEQ. Under the Single State Planning Policy Guidelines local councils are required to
address koala conservation and koala habitat offsets to ensure loss of koala habitat is
avoided or compensated for.

The federal government has recently released referral Guidelines to assist proponents and
decision makers in navigating the requirements of the Environmental Protection and
Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act) as it relates to koala conservation. It is the responsibility of
the landholder, owner, business or individual to determine if any new activity or development
requires referral under national environment law.

The South East Queensland Koala Conservation State Planning Regulatory Provisions 2010
(SPRP) apply to local planning instruments. This is the overarching planning instrument that
regulates new development at the development assessment stage. This incorporates priority
koala assessable development areas. Parts of Noosa Shire are included in this designation.
In relation to planning and development assessment the SPRP supersedes the State Nature
Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2006 and Management Program 2006-2016 (koala
plan) and has retained provisions such as sequential clearing, use of a koala spotter and
other matters. The ‘koala plan’ addresses a number of issues and identifies strategies to
help avoid the decline of koalas in relation to habitat protection, controls on vegetation
clearing and reducing vehicle mortality and dog attacks. The koala plan also discusses
issues with translocation and the role of research, zoos, public education and rehabilitation
of sick, injured and orphaned koalas.

If residual impacts on Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES), such as koalas,
cannot be avoided The Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy (2014) provides the
mechanism for the state Planning Minister to declare an area to be a Biodiversity
Development Offset Area (BDOA). Offsets provisions for koalas have already occurred in the
Noosa Shire (e.g. Settlers Cove development) and will likely occur into the future.

The State's Koala-sensitive Design Guideline: A guide to koala-sensitive design measures
for planning and development activities (2012) provides information for managers, land-use
planners, infrastructure providers and development proponents to benefit koalas. These
guidelines are referred to in the Noosa Plan Biodiversity Overlay Code as a guide for new
development to assist in the survival of koalas and provide for koala movement across the
landscape.

With the complexity of koala legislation and policy, it would be useful to have a simplified
local Noosa Shire policy to help guide koala conservation efforts for Council and the
community.

2.    Developing a Koala Policy

A Sunshine Coast Koala Summit was held in September 2012. The resulting report provided
a number of recommended steps to improve conservation of koalas on the Sunshine Coast.
Various koala proponents and activists have regularly put forward ideas for helping conserve
koalas. In addition there are a number of scientists working in South East Queensland who
can provide expert advice on koala conservation. Many residents also have their own ideas
about how koalas in the Shire might be better managed.

In order to develop a Noosa Shire Koala Policy, it is proposed to utilise the Your Say Noosa
interactive portal on Council's website for the purpose of public consultation. A background
paper will be provided on the website with general information on koalas, government
requirements and what a Noosa Koala Policy may consider (see Attachment 1). Links to
National and State koala legislation, policies and plans will also be provided.



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