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NOOSA COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE KABI KABI COMMITMENT

Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings · Strategy and Environment Department

Executive summary

This report seeks Council’s acknowledgement, support and commitment to the ‘Kabi Kabi Commitment’. Importantly, this action marks an incredibly significant opportunity for Council to further demonstrate its respect for the First Nations Peoples and our enduring commitment to care for the land, water and people of Noosa. Every so often, an opportunity arises with transformative potential – where the circumstances and timing are just right to partner on an initiative that can generate significant long-term and intergenerational benefit for the Noosa community. Noosa has been renowned for recognising these opportunities. The “Kabi Kabi Commitment” is one of these opportunities. As part of the world’s oldest continuing culture, the Kabi Kabi Peoples have been living sustainably in the Noosa region for over 30,000 years caring for and regenerating the land. Kabi Kabi’s reciprocal relationship with the land was predicated on the notion of custodianship of Country: protecting and regenerating nature so that it could in turn, sustain the people that rely on it for healthy food, clean water, fresh air, medicine, culture, shelter and recreation. Connection to and understanding of the land is intrinsic to the social and cultural structure and value systems of Kabi Kabi Peoples. This culture of deep connection and custodianship of nature as our fundamental life-support system is one that must be shared with current and future generations of residents, businesses and visitors to ensure a healthy, regenerative and sustainable future for all. In late 2021, Council endorsed the development of a Destination Management Plan (DMP) for Noosa Shire, as an important step in managing Noosa’s success as a sustainable destination. As part of the DMP process and Council’s broader sustainability and First Nations Partnerships programs, Council worked with the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC) to develop the “Kabi Kabi Commitment”. The Commitment is an invitation from the Traditional Custodians of Noosa to residents, business and visitors to open their hearts and minds, become custodians of our collective home and ensure it is a place that regenerates and sustains nature now so that it can continue to sustain future generations in return. The “Kabi Kabi Commitment” builds on and celebrates the long history of sustainable development led by both Noosa Council and the broader Noosa community. It aligns with the long-term Noosa values of environmental protection, stewardship and sustainability. This has been marked by many milestones with just a few significant ones mentioned here: Strong planning frameworks that have protected Noosa from inappropriate development and ▪ sand mining; Establishing Queensland’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2007; ▪ ▪ Establishing Noosa as one of only three World Surfing Reserves in Australia; and, Ensuring that over 42% of Noosa is protected in conservation tenure, with a target of 50% by ▪ Embracing the “Kabi Kabi Commitment” (Attachment 1) honours this legacy of embedding long-term sustainability and intergenerational wellbeing into the planning and development of Noosa. It enhances Noosa’s culture of ‘Different by Nature’; strengthens Council’s commitment to the greater good; and reaffirms Council’s dedication to walk in partnership with the Kabi Kabi Peoples to protect, sustain and enhance the natural systems that we rely on. It is these natural systems that underpin our values and why we call Noosa our home. It is these natural systems that must be managed sustainably and holistically for future generations to continue to thrive in this truly unique and special place.

Recommendation

That Council note the report by the Director of Strategy & Environment to the Ordinary Meeting dated 19 September 2024 and

  1. Acknowledge, support and commit to the “Kabi Kabi Commitment” provided at Attachment 1;
  2. Embrace the shared principles of custodianship and co-stewardship of Noosa’s land and waters in partnership with Kabi Kabi, as outlined in the “Kabi Kabi Commitment”; and
  3. Note that Council will continue partnering with Kabi Kabi to identify opportunities to embed their knowledge, culture, traditions and aspirations in Council’s strategies, plans, projects and services across all key areas of Council work.

Report

Acknowledgement It is important to begin by acknowledging and paying respect to the Kabi Kabi Peoples as the Traditional Custodians and Native Title Holders of the land and waters of the Noosa region. We pay respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging, and thank them for their sustainable stewardship of the Noosa area for countless generations. We recognise that their long-term stewardship of Land, Sea and Sky Country has enabled current generations to continue to thrive in this truly unique part of the world.

Context As part of the world’s oldest continuing culture, the Kabi Kabi Peoples have cared for and nourished the Noosa region since time immemorial. Song lines and story lines have woven environmental stewardship into the fabric of Kabi Kabi customs and traditions, reinforcing a deep spiritual and cultural connection to protect Country and manage it sustainably for future generations. Noosa’s community and Noosa Council have continued a legacy of intergenerational equity through sustainable development dating back to the early 1950s. As the first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Queensland, sustainable development became a key driver of Noosa’s success, contributing to its unique brand of “Different by Nature”. Low-rise and sensitive development has been enshrined in our planning scheme for years; we have protected over 40% of our LGA in conservation tenure; have 70% of the Shire vegetated; maintain one of the healthiest river systems in SEQ (including one of only two Everglades systems in the world); and have been designated a World Surfing Reserve since 2020. All of these actions were led by decisions which considered long-term sustainability for the benefit of both current and future generations. Over the past year, Noosa Council has been working closely with the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation (KKPAC), building on a historically strong foundation of trust between Council and the Traditional Custodians of the Noosa region. KKPAC’s purpose is to build on native title rights and interests to strengthen cultural knowledge, economic opportunity and authority for all Kabi Kabi on Country. Council staff and the Directors of KKPAC have held over 28 formal engagements, including workshops, meetings and Walk on Country events to inform Council’s key strategies and plans, as well as site inductions and cultural heritage assessments to inform capital works projects. Most notably, these engagements have also included building a strong foundation of trust: trust that Council is committed to partner with Kabi Kabi to protect cultural heritage, respect First Nations rights, and improve opportunities for Kabi Kabi in Noosa; and, trust that Noosa Council is committed to its role as an active custodian of Country, improving Noosa’s lands and waterways so that future generations can continue to thrive in this special place.

Project Background In late 2021, Council endorsed the development of a Destination Management Plan for Noosa Shire, as an important step in managing Noosa’s success as a sustainable destination. This process is ongoing and seeks to ensure the communities’ values are at its heart. Its intent is to continue to prioritise our environmental and residential liveability and minimise impacts on these from increased visitation, whilst ensuring Noosa remains a special destination with a thriving economy and an enduring commitment to care for this place and its environment. Fundamental to Noosa Shire’s Destination Management Plan is the notion of regeneration and regenerative tourism, which seeks to encourage those who visit our place to care for it, to tread lightly and leave it better than they found it. As part of the Destination Management Plan, Council staff identified an important opportunity to bridge the gap between the environmental and liveability pressures associated with increased visitation in Noosa, strong community values and aspiration for environmental protection, and the care and custodianship of Country embodied in Kabi Kabi culture. Inspiration for a shared custodianship approach with First Nations Peoples was taken from several leading global best practice examples, including New Zealand’s ‘Tiaki Promise’ and the ‘Palau Pledge’ both of which now underpin each country’s respective destination management approach and expectations of all who live and visit these places. The work Council staff undertook with the Directors of KKPAC, primarily initiated and led by Director & Secretary Brian Warner, culminated in the development of the “Kabi Kabi Commitment” (Attachment 1). This Commitment represents over nine months of collaboration and engagement and has culminated in a very important statement and a very significant step in terms of recognition. The commitment will form an important part of the Noosa Shire’s Destination Management Plan amongst many other opportunities to embed the Commitment. The Commitment was finalised through Council’s relationship workshops with KKPAC and first shared by KKPAC with Councillors in May 2024.

Significance Every so often, an opportunity arises with transformative potential – where the circumstances and timing are just right to partner on an initiative that can generate significant long-term and intergenerational benefit for the Noosa community. The “Kabi Kabi Commitment” is one of these opportunities. The Commitment is an invitation to walk together with the Kabi Kabi Peoples in custodianship and environmental stewardship of the land and waters of the Noosa area. It is a commitment to both current and future generations that we will protect, sustain and enhance the fundamental life-support system that nature provides us: clean air, fresh water, healthy food, a stable climate, medicine, shelter, recreation and amenity. In sharing the Commitment more broadly, its message can be embraced by visitors, helping to ensure that the lands and waters of Noosa Shire are regeneratively managed over the long-term. Importantly, accepting the principles and values shared in the Commitment is also a way of: • paying respect to the natural world for continuing to provide residents, businesses and visitors with its gifts; and • paying respect to Kabi Kabi for protecting and nurturing the lands and waters of Noosa for thousands of years, shaping this place into the world-renowned place of biodiversity, liveability and natural beauty that it is today. In signing onto the “Kabi Kabi Commitment”, Council is acknowledging the long history of partnership between Noosa Council and the Kabi Kabi Peoples and committing to continue its legacy of sustainable stewardship of the Noosa region. This legacy can now be significantly enhanced through genuine partnership with one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures.

In practice In practice, the “Kabi Kabi Commitment” reinforces and strengthens Noosa Council’s seven Sustainability Principles, setting a strong strategic direction for future Council policies and plans. With the recent Native Title Determination, Kabi Kabi now have recognised rights and interests to Country that come from their traditional laws and customs. This imparts a duty to recognise and support Kabi Kabi Peoples, Country and culture, as the First Nation and First Peoples of Noosa. Council’s support of the Commitment imparts a positive duty of care for Council: an obligation on Council policy and strategy makers and decision makers to recognise and support First Nations’ history and culture, and consider the impact of our decisions on cultural values, the natural environment, and intergenerational wellbeing in a proactive way. The “Kabi Kabi Commitment” is therefore integral to strengthening Council’s partnership with Kabi Kabi and ensuring that their knowledge, rights and interests continue to be represented both strategically and at the project level in Council operations. This not only improves outcomes and aspirations for Kabi Kabi in the region, but also builds upon Council’s promise to be co-stewards of Noosa, ensuring that Council’s intent and actions continue to leave a net positive impact for future generations.

Policy Alignment

Report details

Index: Subject/46.07