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NOOSA ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY - YEAR THREE (2021/2022) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ANNUAL UPDATED (REFERRED FROM PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE DATED 11 JULY 2023 - ITEM 6.2)

Principal Environment Officer , Camille Oliver · Strategy and Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Executive summary

The following report and attachments have been prepared to provide an update on the performance of the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 inclusive of: • Summary of progress against Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan 2019 (2020- 2023), which is a three-year plan containing several actions intended to initiate progress towards the targets in the Noosa Environment Strategy. • Summary of Outcomes from the Environment Grants 2021/22 FY, a key part of the delivery of the Noosa Environment Strategy. The report and attachments show the status of the Noosa Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan between 1 July 2021 to June 30, 2022, which is the end of the third year of the strategy life. The delay in the completion of third-year reporting was due to disruptions caused by staff changes in the Environmental Services Team and reduced capacity due to staff vacancies. The report and attachments highlight how actions nominated in the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan are progressing and areas where attention is needed and/or further data is required for effective monitoring. The Year 4 (1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023) Monitoring Report and review and update of the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan will be prepared and presented to Council by September 2023.

Recommendation

That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 11 July 2023 regarding the Noosa Environment Strategy – Year Three (2021/2022) Implementation Plan Annual Update and note;

  1. Year 3 (1 July 2021-30 June 2022) Summary Report provides an update on the progress of the 42 actions outlined in the Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan for the 2021/22 FY. These actions are made up of four (4) enabling actions that will deliver outcomes across all four themes of the Environment Strategy, and 38 actions that are specific to each of the four themes: Biodiversity; Waterways, wetlands & coasts; Sustainable living; and Climate change resilience and adaptation.
  2. Year 4 (1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023) Monitoring Report and review and update of the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan will be prepared and presented to Council by September 2023.

Report

Implementation Plan - Summary of Progress Progress of each of the actions in the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan have been assessed against the following criteria: • Completed: action is complete, and no further action is required. •

On target: action is progressing in accordance with the delivery schedule/ implementation plan requirements. •

Progressing: steps have been taken towards this action, but the action is not being delivered in accordance with the delivery schedule/implementation plan requirements due to issues such as resourcing, financial constraints, or other delays. •

Needs attention: action either has not started, or not significantly progressed in accordance with the Implementation Plan. •

Scheduled for future: action has not begun and is intended to be initiated in future years, as identified in the Implementation Plan.

Of the 42 actions, only one was not planned to begin until the 2022/23 FY. Attachment

provides details on the progress of each individual action item. Significant achievements in Year 3 (2021/2022) A summary of the significant achievements delivered by Council against the actions nominated in the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan are provided below: • Continuation of the Environment Grants Program supporting 8 community groups and 10 projects. The program also provided operational support to 6 community groups. • The Bushland Reserve Strategic Management Plan identified 57 priority reserves requiring a Bushland Operational Assessments (BOAs), all of which were completed in the 2021/22 FY. • In the 2021/22FY, 82 properties were visited as part of Council’s approved Biosecurity Surveillance Program, targeting Cats Claw Creeper and other priority weeds, with 3 advisory letters and 2 biosecurity orders issued. • Rehabilitation actions are on target with Greenfleet and Noosa Landcare continuing revegetation works at Yurol and Ringtail State Forests. • Continued growth of the Land for Wildlife and Voluntary Conservation Agreement (VCA) properties in the Noosa Shire, with 2 new VCAs signed up in the financial year. A highlight was the registration of a 32-hectare rural residential zoned property at Cooroibah that includes endangered regional ecosystems. • Delivery of the second year of the Urban Wildlife Gardens Program (UWG), with continued growth of landowners involved in the program in the Noosa Shire. • Commencement of the fine scale regional ecosystem (RE) mapping project of the Noosa Shire to improve knowledge of the region’s environmental values and correct discrepancies between the Council biodiversity overlay and State vegetation management mapping. At the close of the 2021/2022FY approximately 29% of the Shire was completed. • Delivery of fauna monitoring programs, including koala surveys using drones of Yurol Ringtail State Forest by QUT, monitoring Glossy-black Cockatoos through the Glossy Black Conservancy, and flying-fox monitoring under the National Flying-fox Monitoring Program. • Wild dog control including trapping and baiting has been undertaken in some of the identified Koala Habitat Areas mostly on private land in the localities of Como, Kin Kin, Cootharaba, Cooran, Federal, and Ridgewood with 3 wild dogs trapped in these areas. • Consolidation of water quality monitoring data for the Noosa Shire into the SWIM local database to allow long term trend analysis and identification of catchments requiring further management actions to be identified. • The foundations for oyster reef ecosystems in place at four restoration sites in the Noosa River Estuary as part of the Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project. • Council has supported 18 Bushland Care Groups involved in various projects working towards the preservation of riparian vegetation under Bushland Restoration Plans. • Scoping for the Eastern Beaches Coastal Foreshores Management Plan (EBFMP) commenced, and good initial progress made. A draft is scheduled for completion in the 2022/23 FY. • The introduction of green waste bins saw approximately 16,000 tonnes annually of organic waste, that previously would have gone to landfill, diverted, and recycled for consumer use. • The Waste Education and Sustainability Officer has worked collaboratively with key stakeholders to deliver multiple education programs and events. More than 1300 students attended talks at the new waste education centre at the landfill. • Council has extended its’ solar array to 680kW to reduce greenhouse gas emissions GHGs. The total GHG emissions footprint for the 2021/22 financial year was 45,259 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, representing a 12% reduction on the previous year. • ‘Give a Sheet’ was delivered in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul and BlockTexx Textile Recovery Technologies. The event was a Queensland-first circular economy initiative to reduce environmental impact by textile recycling.

Actions requiring review and further attention Actions which were identified as requiring review and further attention to deliver the outcomes of the Environment Strategy include: 1. Implement an Environment & Sustainability Roundtable to provide a mechanism for local community groups, government stakeholders and experts to have input into the development of Council policy. 2. Identify priority land parcels that enhance landscape connectivity and seek to have them managed for environmental outcomes, either through direct purchase by Council, or utilising other appropriate protective mechanisms. 3. Work with stakeholders to review current fishing practises and achieve sustainable recreational and commercial fishing outcomes in the Noosa River. 4. Implement propagation programs that grow threatened plant species and result in new populations at appropriate, low-risk locations. 5. Implement a septic system inspection program in high priority areas (such as Noosa North Shore) to better understand the impact of these systems on the quality of surface water and groundwater systems. 6. Advocate for mandating minimum energy efficiency and renewable energy generation to all new development in the shire, including domestic residences. 7. Identify potential areas for carbon sequestration in the Noosa Shire and support landholders to take advantage of available opportunities.

Summary of outcomes from Environment Grants Program 2021/22 FY Council has a long history of working with and supporting the community to achieve significant environmental outcomes. The Council’s Environment Grants Program is funded by the Environmental Levy intends to support the implementation of the Noosa Environment Strategy, as well as Council’s other key environment strategies and plans. The Environment Grant Program is designed to enable collaboration with the community in initiatives that work towards the outcomes and targets identified in the Noosa Environment Strategy. All initiatives funded by the Environment Grants Program must have tangible and measurable outcomes. There are three types of grants currently available under the Environment Grants Program: 1. Environment Project Grants: 1-year grants for projects, programs or events that align with the Noosa Environment Strategy, as well as Council’s other key environment strategies and plans, and have a positive impact on the environment. 2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants: 3-year grants that support longer-term, larger-scale strategic initiatives that align with the Noosa Environment Strategy and have a significant positive impact on the Noosa environment. 3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants: 3-year grants that provide organisational support to community groups that are primarily focused on environment activities. The following funding amounts were allocated to the Environment Grants Program in 2021/2022 FY: 1. Environment Project & Climate Change Grants - $75,000 2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants - $261,574 3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants – $68,615 A summary of outcomes arising from the Environment Grants program is included in Attachment 2. This information has been gathered from the grant acquittal process and indicates that significant positive environmental outcomes are being delivered by the Environment Grants Program.

Report details

Index: Subject/21.44 - Environment Strategy