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A Biodiversity Strategy for PMHC LGA. Policy background Key Natural Environment Strategy: To maintain and improve existing environmental values in the.

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Presentation on theme: "A Biodiversity Strategy for PMHC LGA. Policy background Key Natural Environment Strategy: To maintain and improve existing environmental values in the."— Presentation transcript:

1 A Biodiversity Strategy for PMHC LGA

2 Policy background Key Natural Environment Strategy: To maintain and improve existing environmental values in the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA. Focus area 4 - We understand and manage the impact that the community has on the natural environment. We protect the environment now and in the future. Action 4.7.1.2 Prepare a draft biodiversity strategy to determine environmental priorities for conservation and restoration.

3 Increased knowledge for PMHC for strategic planning Maximise development AND conservation of assets PMHC in good stead for new Biodiversity Cons. Act. Funding opportunities (rural landholders and Council) Solves current problems for development industry: –Increased certainty and provision of offsite offsets. Why Have a Biodiversity Strategy?

4 A Biologically Rich Area

5 The Great Balancing Act

6 Current Situation 1 Land purchased for development 2 Specialists engaged; plans created 3 Environmental consultant engaged 4 Biological values of land assessed...

7 Possible Outcomes of Assessments Land has low biological value= the development proceeds

8 Possible Outcomes of Assessments Land has moderate biological value= the development proceeds if the impact can be “offset”. On-site offsets currently used regularly. Expensive, ineffective, sometimes impossible....

9 On-site offset requires trees to be planted...

10 Poor outcomes....

11 Many Benefits of Off-site Offsets Less ‘squeezing in’ to accommodate conflicting goals Less expense to developers to ‘juggle outcomes’ Less risk to developers of losing lots for trees; Benefits to private landholders= funding for works; Better, more certain outcomes for biodiversity

12 Possible Outcomes of Assessments Land has high biological value= the development meets time and expense and may not even be able to go ahead. I wish I would have known this earlier!!!!

13 Current Situation: Data Poor Environment Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan looks at some priority areas and corridors

14 Too broad for planning Built using coarse data Errors at Fine Scales

15 A New Way Forward.... “Biological prioritisation” software (e.g. Zonation) can simultaneously assess the value of areas (50 m grids) across an LGA for hundreds of species. Shows which areas are important for biodiversity conservation and which areas are not so important. The ranking is based not just on how many species live there, but species uniqueness is considered. System developed by universities. Used worldwide.

16 Maps produced to aid strategic planning Already been applied by Councils at the regional level and individual Council level. High Conservation Upper Hunter Low Conservation

17 Landscape Connectivity Important for wildlife: breeding, feeding, refuge. Important for community: recreation/ tourism. Powerful software (GapClosR) available to identify key corridors and breaks in corridors.

18 Outcomes Relative biological values known across LGA; Knowledge before development process starts; Knowledge available to enable off site offsets. Knowledge for landholders seeking funding. Enables PMHC to access funding (as per Tweed).

19 An Example of Funding Tweed Shire and Byron Shire Councils have gained $2.1 million from the Federal Government for their Koala Connections project. $1.5 m in in-kind support. The project also won the 2014 NSW Natural Environment Sustainability Award

20 The New Biodiversity Conservation Act State/Federal Environmental Legislation under review The Biodiversity Conservation Act review suggests: –Moves towards prioritisation modelling; –Greater role ($$) for private conservation; – Moves towards offsite offsets.

21 Greater Emphasis on Threatened Species Universal acceptance/ importance of protection. Recovery Plans for all threatened species in NSW; Funding directed to Saving Our Species Program; Biodiversity Strategy = help to access this funding.

22 The Biodiversity Strategy will NOT: Make definitive decisions on development: –Due processes still need to be followed; –But more information available up front. Rezone areas for environmental protection; Force decisions on private landholders; Affect existing arrangements (Area 13, 14, 15).

23 PMHC Well-Placed to Commence Excellent data sets available: –Vegetation mapping for LGA (BioLink, 2013); –Koala Habitat Mapping for LGA (BioLink, 2013); –BioNet, BirdLife Australia, Other Data Strategic Links: –University of Melbourne; –Lake Macquarie City Council; –Office of Environment and Heritage.

24 Summary Responds to customer demands: –Developers requests for certainty and offsets; –Rural landholder requests for better access to $; –Internal PMHC need for offsets (e.g. Airport); Why Have a Biodiversity Strategy?

25 Will put PMHC in good position for forthcoming Biodiversity Conservation legislation. Increased knowledge for PMHC for strategic planning Summary Why Have a Biodiversity Strategy?

26 The Biodiversity Strategy will: Identify the biological assets of the PMHC LGA; Identify the threats to these assets; Identify actions to protect assets/ minimise threats; Back zone land for environmental protection. Summary The Biodiversity Strategy will NOT:

27 Rough Steps (also see Project Plan) 1 Form Reference Group inc. Councillors, scientists, local stakeholders (development and biodiversity) 2 Work with Reference Group to develop project scope and methodology; community briefings 3 Commence modelling in accordance with above; 4 Draft models (maps) examined/discussed by Council and then Reference Group 5 Models (maps) refined and rediscussed by Council and then Reference Group; 6 Acceptance of maps by Council; 7 Write draft Biodiversity Strategy, Council reviews, community reviews, write final Biodiversity Strategy; 8 Present to community (urban and rural customers); rural landholder information nights etc.

28 Thank you for your time Biodiversity is important for the culture, economy, ecological health and identity of an area. Not all areas of the LGA are equal for biodiversity. A Biodiversity Strategy greatly aids strategic planning. Conclusion

29 Future Meeting and Workshop Themes

30 Expert Panel Provide local expert knowledge Critic methodology and modelling outputs Includes State Agencies (Forest Corp, NPWS, Dept. Lands, Office of Environment and Heritage) Panel of 8 and Council Staff.


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