Case studies of council biodiversity projects
Many councils around Australia have developed extensive NRM programs. They can be a great source of information on how to set up a program and the lessons learnt. Before setting out to develop a program of your own, check out some of these.
Most NRM strategies are supported financially through an environment levy. This can allow councils to employ technical expertise to implement programs and to access further government funding to complete programs.
Bush protection
The City of Brisbane Council has numerous wildlife protection measures in place, such as a Land for Wildlife program where interested landholders join the program and receive free advice on protecting and enhancing the environment, Habitat Brisbane which supports volunteer groups, voluntary conservation agreements and a program that provides free plants for residents. These projects are funded through the Council's Bushland Preservation Levy.
Volunteer conservation agreements
Johnstone Shire Council in far north Queensland has a Habitat Conservation Program that promotes good habitat management practices on both council and private land. The council offers Voluntary Conservation Agreements which provide rate rebates, site assessments and technical advice for landholders that enter a conservation agreement with council. Council also carefully considers potential impacts on remnant vegetation when assessing development applications, operate their own nursery which is run by volunteers and have a strong environmental focus to their operations.
Ipswich City Council has developed Ipswich Enviroplan which aims to facilitate the retention and management of the natural environment within the city. Under the plan, the council secures land of significant conservation value through voluntary acquisition and voluntary conservation agreements. An Enviroplan levy is placed on all rate payers to fund the program. In addition, seminars, workshops and publications are used to increase public awareness and knowledge.
Environment levy
Wingecarribee Shire Council in NSW has had an environment levy in place since 2000. The aim of the current levy is to raise $3m over five years to fund programs that protect the environment. A large benefit of the levy has been council's ability to attract matching funds from Government agencies and to generate in kind volunteer work from the community. So far, over 26 bushland and riverbank restoration projects have been completed, with another 20 underway. Many more projects are now in the pipeline. The levy has also allowed Council to employ an environmental scientist who is undertaking an environmental review program with stakeholders, assists council to identify and remedy environmental problems and allows council to be proactive, reducing future costs.
Coffs Harbour Council has imposed a $25 per rate payer environmental levy, which raises around $700 000 per annum for environmental activities within the Shire. This has allowed council to employ a Biodiversity Officer and a Sustainability Officer. Other activities funded include an incentive program for land management, implementation of council's Koala Plan of Management, support of volunteer groups, bushland regeneration projects, and the restoration of coastal reserves and fish habitats. Council clearly displays all funded projects on their website.
Natural resource management strategy
Meander Valley Council in Tasmania has had a Natural Resource Management (NRM) plan in place since 1999. Since the plan was drawn up, many of the recommendations have been addressed. Native vegetation covers 68 per cent of the municipal area and the region is rich in biodiversity. These natural resources are valuable to the economy in terms of tourism, agriculture and forestry. The plan attaches priority to the protection and management of the resources and allows priorities to be funded.
Crows Nest Shire Council in Queensland has undertaken extensive NRM and biodiversity projects. They have developed an NRM strategy which includes a devolved grants scheme and on ground works program. Voluntary conservation agreements are offered by council, ranging from Land for Wildlife to conservation covenants and rate rebates. A community nursery has been established, as has a communication, education and awareness group. A biodiversity plan has been drawn up and the shires remnant vegetation has been mapped. Council charges an environmental levy of around $20 per rate payer per annum which they use to leverage further government funds for their programs.
Bankstown City Council has prepared a biodiversity strategy as part of their planning process. They also have a school environment grants project, education and awareness projects for the community, wetland and water quality monitoring programs.
Devolved grants scheme and incentives
Coorong District Council in South Australia has suffered severe environmental problems due to dry land salinity. The council has undertaken extensive environmental planning, and as a result set up an incentive scheme for local landholders, effectively providing a one stop shop for environment programs. About 75 per cent of landholders access the scheme each year, with funding available for a range of activities, such as $30/ha for perennial pasture establishment, $250/ha for farm forestry and incentives for lakeshore erosion control, land erosion and saltbush establishment. Under the scheme, 700 ha of native vegetation has been planted, 5400 ha of remnant native vegetation has been protected, $7m of government funds have been accessed, 90 per cent of money has been spent on onground works and an aquaculture industry established, all from a council with a population of just 6000.
The Western Sub-Regional Organisation of Councils - WESROC (Boonah, Esk, Gatton, Ipswich, Laidley and Toowoomba) has a devolved grants program called the Landholder Nature Conservation Project. The grants assist landholders to conserve remnant vegetation with fencing for stock control, weed or fire management and planting for restoration. Technical advice is also provided. The program has had the added benefit of education and contributing to an attitude change towards the importance of nature conservation.
Rate rebates
Hindmarsh Shire Council in Victoria has introduced a number of environmental initiatives, including rate rebates to protect significant areas of remnant native vegetation on private property. Under Project Hindmarsh, wildlife corridors have been established across the shire, including a link between two national parks. Up to 100km of shelter belts have been established to protect the fragile sand soils and to provide habitat and more than 1300km of direct seeding has been undertaken. Council employs a landcare officer who assists with obtaining grants. Assistance was provided through innovative ideas such as planting weekends, where through local radio station sponsorship, volunteers from the city are brought out to have a fun, camping and planting weekend.
Land management incentive programs
The Nillumbik Shire Council offers a range of land management incentives to residents to assist them to address land management issues and protect and enhance biodiversity.
- The Sustainable Agricultural Rebate provides a rebate of 20 per cent of the farm rate payable on the property if landowners undertake or maintain specified works to improve land and water resources, such as weed and pest control, protection of remnant vegetation or soil erosion control.
- The Community Rabbit Control program provides a subsidy for rabbit control works and is generally a third of the cost.
- Landcare Support Grants provide grants up to $2500 for landcare projects.
- The Biodiversity Enhancement program provides a rate rebate on property covered by a covenant ($50/ha, with a minimum of $200 and a maximum payment of $500) or a grant to landholders in environmentally significant areas to undertake biodiversity enhancement works (up to $500).
- Under the Community Weed Control program, council subsidises the cost of herbicide if the landowner pays the labour cost.
