Green light for green projects

Council has given the green light to environment projects designed to deliver on council’s vision for the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s most sustainable region.

The projects – funded from council’s Environment Levy and valued at $35 million plus over five years – include land acquisitions, a Waterways and Coastal Foreshores Strategy, a Biodiversity Report Card for the region and a raft of community grants and funded partnerships.

The projects are tied to council’s Environment Levy Policy, endorsed at council’s 27 August Ordinary Meeting. The new regional policy and program builds on past strengths and lays out five years of exciting, strategic projects made possible by Environment Levy funds. The policy puts a strong focus on permanently protecting valuable habitat and ecosystems by acquiring high environmental value land parcels and in boosting available funds with assistance from other levels of government. There is also a major focus on partnerships with private landholders and community groups to assist them to preserve and enhance biodiversity values and ecosystem services.

Key environment levy-funded initiatives outlined in the policy include:

• $19.6m over five years for land acquisition. This will build on the existing conservation area network and focus on consolidating larger conservation areas for future generations to enjoy
• $7.1m over five years for developing and implementing a Waterways and Coastal Foreshores Strategy
• $317,000 over five years for developing and implementing a Regional Biodiversity Report Card
• $8.3m for community environment grants, voluntary conservation agreements on private lands and partnership agreements with community groups and non-government organisations to undertake environmental initiatives

The Environment Levy is included in council rates notices and is reviewed each financial year.

Source:  Sunshine Coast Council eNews 2 September 2009

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