Open Council is in active development and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Noosa Council. The data shown may be incomplete or incorrect — always check Council's own published documents before relying on it.

Open Council Noosa
Sign in

NOOSA ENVIRONMENT STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 5-YEAR MONITORING REPORT

Environmental Services Manager, Ben Derrick · Environmental Services | Strategy and Environment

Executive summary

This report provides the annual monitoring report against Council's Environment Strategy. It has been prepared to provide a summary update on Noosa Council’s progress against the targets and strategies identified in the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 and the actions in the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan 2019. The report presents the results for Year 5 (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) of Council’s implementation of the Environment Strategy. The Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan are due for a mid term review and as identified in the last annual report should be reviewed and updated based on progress to date, increases in scientific understanding, and emerging issues and opportunities. This monitoring report provides recommendations to inform the review of these documents and to support future monitoring activities. It is anticipated the review will be undertaken towards the end of the calendar year or early in 2026.

Recommendation

That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 May 2025 regarding the Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan for the 2023/24 Financial Year, and

  1. Note the progress against the targets and strategies in the Environment Strategy and the implementation actions in the Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan for the 2023/24 FY; and
  2. Note the recommendations for the mid term review and update of the Environment Strategy, at this half way point into its 10 year implementation.

Report

Author

Environmental Services Manager, Ben Derrick

Environmental Services | Strategy and Environment

Index

Attachments

Attachment 1_Summary of Progress against targets actions

Attachment 2 _Summary of projects funded from Environmental

Grants 2023_24FY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report provides the annual monitoring report against Council's Environment Strategy. It has been prepared to provide a summary update on Noosa Council’s progress against the targets and strategies identified in the Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 and the actions in the Environment Strategy Implementation Plan 2019. The report presents the results for Year 5 (1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024) of Council’s implementation of the Environment Strategy. The Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan are due for a mid term review and as identified in the last annual report should be reviewed and updated based on progress to date, increases in scientific understanding, and emerging issues and opportunities. This monitoring report provides recommendations to inform the review of these documents and to support future monitoring activities. It is anticipated the review will be undertaken towards the end of the calendar year or early in 2026.

RECOMMENDATION

That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 May 2025 regarding the Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan for the 2023/24 Financial Year, and

  1. Note the progress against the targets and strategies in the Environment Strategy and the implementation actions in the Noosa Environment Strategy Implementation Plan for the 2023/24 FY; and
  2. Note the recommendations for the mid term review and update of the Environment Strategy, at this half way point into its 10 year implementation.

REPORT

The Noosa Environment Strategy 2019 is the key strategic policy document for Council related to the environment and the way we look after it and live in it. The strategy is guided by Council’s Corporate Plan, Sustainability Principles and Environment and Sustainable Living Policy. It is also informed by applicable international, Commonwealth and State legislation and policy. The Environment Strategy sets a shared vision and is intended to inform planning, guide decision making, drive implementation, prioritise action and investment, and facilitate collaborative partnerships. The Environment Strategy is broken down into four key themes, each with their own goals, sub- strategies, targets, and outcomes. The four key themes are:

Biodiversity

Waterways, wetlands, and coasts

Sustainable living

Climate change adaptation and resilience The Environment Strategy has a 10-year time horizon, with annual progress reporting throughout that time. A mid term review is appropriate to ensure the strategy retains its currency and relevance; this is due to occur in late 2025/early 2026. The Implementation Plan was developed as part of the Environment Strategy in 2019 to provide a monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework to track the progress and success of the strategy. It nominates 42 implementation actions including for: Overarching enabling actions that sit across multiple themes; o Actions under each theme. o The plan includes methods to establish baseline data and to measure ongoing progress towards the targets. A summary of reporting completed against the Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan to date and where this current monitoring report sits is summarised in the figure below.

Summary of Environment Grants Program 2023/2024 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 and supports the implementation of the Noosa Environment Strategy and 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 2023/2024: 1. Environment Project & Climate Change Grants - $24,030 2. Multi-year Environment Collaborative (MEC) Grants - $261,518.20 3. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants – $88,900 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 environment benefits are being delivered by the Environment Grants Program across a diverse range of initiatives.

Summary of Climate Change Grants Program 2023/2024 Climate Change Response Grants are included under the Environment Grants Policy to assist in the implementation of the Climate Change Response Plan and achieve the outcomes of the Sustainable Living and Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience themes under the Environment Strategy. A total of $46,171 was allocated to the Climate Change Grants Program in 2023/2024. A summary of the outcomes arising from the Climate Change Grants program is included in Attachment 2. These projects contribute notable benefits for emissions reduction and resilience for Noosa Shire.

Recommendations for the review and update on the Environment Strategy The Environment Strategy has established a strong foundation to protect and enhance Noosa’s environmental assets and the Noosa Biosphere and is now due for a mid-term review and update for the following reasons: • Several Council plans and strategies related to the targets and outcomes of the Environment Strategy have been developed since 2019 including the new Corporate Plan (2023-2028), Noosa Plan (2020), Economic Development Strategy – Smart Biosphere (2021), Waste Strategy (2023), Noosa Climate Change Response Plan (2021), Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan (2023), Threatened Fauna Roadmap (2023), Enterprise Risk and Opportunity Management Framework (2023), draft Noosa River Catchment Management Plan. • Council's core business and legislative requirements related to the delivery of the Environment Strategy have grown and changed since 2019, including changes to bushfire, flying-fox management and biosecurity/pest management. • Council’s monitoring projects have delivered an increased understanding of environmental values and threats in the Noosa Shire since the Environment Strategy was developed and this should be reflected in the targets and outcomes of the updated Environment Strategy and Implementation Plan. • Council’s monitoring and actions should support the requirements for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve as part of the Man and the Biosphere (MaB) program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The second 10-year review by Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation for UNESCO is due 2027. • There has been a marked increase in global and local data and information that may help to shape contemporary planning and strategies. • There has been progress in global targets such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework that provides new policy context for conservation. The Environment Strategy mid term review ensures the conservation and sustainability priorities for Noosa Shire remain contemporary by: • Highlighting Council’s long-standing commitments to environmental protection and sustainable management • Reviewing outcomes and actions for the next 3-5 years to ensure they continue to build on Noosa’s conservation success • Providing a clear monitoring and evaluation framework including current Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound (SMART) targets, outcomes and success measures • Recognising the valued community partnerships that help drive Noosa’s environment and sustainability outcomes • Delivering an integrated approach to managing Noosa’s environment that helps prioritise investment and achieve excellence in environmental management and sustainability • Responding to threats and changing conditions • Addressing the needs and expectations of Noosa community and partner organisations • Outlining the values and feedback from the Noosa community that has helped shape the Environment Strategy and implementation plan An updated Implementation Plan will be prepared as part of the Environment Strategy review to identify Council activities and projects required for the next 3-5 years to achieve the targets and outcomes of the Environment Strategy.

Report details

Index: 21.06