Agenda of Biodiversity Advisory Committee Meeting

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

What is a “Conflict of Interests” - A conflict of interests can be of two types:

Pecuniary - an interest that a person has in a matter because of a reasonable likelihood or expectation of appreciable financial gain or loss to the person or another person with whom the person is associated.

Non-pecuniary – a private or personal interest that a Council official has that does not amount to a pecuniary interest as defined in the Code of Conduct for Councillors (eg. A friendship, membership of an association, society or trade union or involvement or interest in an activity and may include an interest of a financial nature).

Remoteness – a person does not have a pecuniary interest in a matter if the interest is so remote or insignificant that it could not reasonably be regarded as likely to influence any decision the person might make in relation to a matter or if the interest is of a kind specified in the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

Who has a Pecuniary Interest? - a person has a pecuniary interest in a matter if the pecuniary interest is the interest of the person, or another person with whom the person is associated (see below).

Relatives, Partners - a person is taken to have a pecuniary interest in a matter if:

· The person’s spouse or de facto partner or a relative of the person has a pecuniary interest in the matter, or

· The person, or a nominee, partners or employer of the person, is a member of a company or other body that has a pecuniary interest in the matter.

N.B. “Relative”, in relation to a person means any of the following:

(a) the parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, lineal descends or adopted child of the person or of the person’s spouse;

(b) the spouse or de facto partners of the person or of a person referred to in paragraph (a)

No Interest in the Matter - however, a person is not taken to have a pecuniary interest in a matter:

· If the person is unaware of the relevant pecuniary interest of the spouse, de facto partner, relative or company or other body, or

· Just because the person is a member of, or is employed by, the Council.

· Just because the person is a member of, or a delegate of the Council to, a company or other body that has a pecuniary interest in the matter provided that the person has no beneficial interest in any shares of the company or body.

Disclosure and participation in meetings

· A Councillor or a member of a Council Committee who has a pecuniary interest in any matter with which the Council is concerned and who is present at a meeting of the Council or Committee at which the matter is being considered must disclose the nature of the interest to the meeting as soon as practicable.

· The Councillor or member must not be present at, or in sight of, the meeting of the Council or Committee:

(a) at any time during which the matter is being considered or discussed by the Council or Committee, or

(b) at any time during which the Council or Committee is voting on any question in relation to the matter.

No Knowledge - a person does not breach this Clause if the person did not know and could not reasonably be expected to have known that the matter under consideration at the meeting was a matter in which he or she had a pecuniary interest.

Non-pecuniary Interests - Must be disclosed in meetings.

There are a broad range of options available for managing conflicts & the option chosen will depend on an assessment of the circumstances of the matter, the nature of the interest and the significance of the issue being dealt with. Non-pecuniary conflicts of interests must be dealt with in at least one of the following ways:

· It may be appropriate that no action be taken where the potential for conflict is minimal. However, Councillors should consider providing an explanation of why they consider a conflict does not exist.

· Limit involvement if practical (eg. Participate in discussion but not in decision making or vice-versa). Care needs to be taken when exercising this option.

· Remove the source of the conflict (eg. Relinquishing or divesting the personal interest that creates the conflict)

· Have no involvement by absenting yourself from and not taking part in any debate or voting on the issue as of the provisions in the Code of Conduct (particularly if you have a significant non-pecuniary interest)

RECORDING OF VOTING ON PLANNING MATTERS

Clause 375A of the Local Government Act 1993 – Recording of voting on planning matters

(1) In this section, planning decision means a decision made in the exercise of a function of a council under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979:

(a) including a decision relating to a development application, an environmental planning instrument, a development control plan or a development contribution plan under that Act, but

(b) not including the making of an order under that Act.

(2) The general manager is required to keep a register containing, for each planning decision made at a meeting of the council or a council committee, the names of the councillors who supported the decision and the names of any councillors who opposed (or are taken to have opposed) the decision.

(3) For the purpose of maintaining the register, a division is required to be called whenever a motion for a planning decision is put at a meeting of the council or a council committee.

(4) Each decision recorded in the register is to be described in the register or identified in a manner that enables the description to be obtained from another publicly available document, and is to include the information required by the regulations.

(5) This section extends to a meeting that is closed to the public.

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy 4.1

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report No. 4.1 Biodiversity Projects and Operations Update

Directorate: Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report Author: Lizabeth Caddick, Biodiversity Officer

Caitlin Weatherstone, Project Officer - Koala

File No: I2021/1320

Summary:

This report provides the Biodiversity Advisory Committee with an update on current projects and programmes being undertaken by the Biodiversity team, including:

· 2021-22 FY biodiversity conservation strategy projects

· Koala activity surveys

· New road signs

· Koala habitat planting projects

· Leash-Up Pilot Communication Project

· Sustainable Agriculture Projects

· Coastal Scoping Study for the Southern Byron Shire Coastline and Belongil Creek Estuary.

· Flying-fox Management Plan

· Pest Animal Management Plan

· Bringing Back the Bruns

· Wildlife corridor mapping

· Feral Cat trapping program – BSC and LLS partnership

· Keeping Cats Safe at Home Project - RSPCA NSW

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Biodiversity Advisory Committee note the update on current projects and programmes being undertaken by Council staff.

Attachments:

1 Leash-Up Project Final Report, E2021/86409 , page 31 ⇩

Report

2021-22 Financial Year Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Projects

Council’s 2021-22 Operational Plan has provided funding for the following new projects, which are Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Actions. Staff are currently preparing requests for quotes for these projects.

Project	OP number	Biodiversity Strategy Action number	Budget
Develop a Strategic Action Plan for Wildlife Road Strike Mitigation in Byron Shire.	3.1.1.15	4.25 - Work with RMS, local wildlife groups and Regional Koala Communications Group to identify road strike hotspots in Byron Shire., 4.26 - Seek funding for road strike mitigation trials at priority road strike hotspots. 4.27 - Consider roadkill mitigation measures and opportunities to improve wildlife connectivity into design work for new roads and road asset upgrades.	$11,500
Finalise shire-wide restoration map	3.1.1.17	1.20 Map areas that have been revegetated: a) using public funds, and b) for conservation purposes	$8,850
Map potential habitat areas for Mitchell's Rainforest Snail	3.1.1.18	1.25 Map potential habitat areas for Mitchell’s Rainforest Snail.	$8,000
Update 2017 vegetation and HEV mapping to reflect ground truthing done as part of EZone review (approx 250 sites).	3.1.1.19	1.14 Update and maintain Council's vegetation and HEV mapping with revised Plant Community Types (PCTs) and current aerial photography.	$6,000
Update flora and fauna lists for the shire, including status of threatened flora and fauna	3.1.1.20	1.11 Conduct a review of Byron Shire’s biodiversity values as a baseline for ongoing biodiversity monitoring. Include: • Updated Byron Shire flora and fauna lists, • Status of threatened flora and fauna, • Status of weed species, • Extent of native vegetation, • Extent of protected vegetation (public and private land) • Fire frequency status	$5,600

Coastal koala activity monitoring program 2021

Council’s coastal koala activity monitoring program is nearly complete, funded with a $20,000 grant from the NSW 2018-2021 Koala Strategy. The field work has been delayed by wet weather, Covid-19 and difficulties accessing some sites that are on private property. To date 49 out of 58 sites have been surveyed. A small number of survey site locations have been changed (within 250 metres) where we were unable to access private land.

This monitoring repeats surveys done in the coastal KPOM area in 2011 and 2016, and uses the Spot Assessment Technique (SAT) to assess changes in koala activity. The surveys involve repeat monitoring of 58 sites (mostly on private land) for koala scats (droppings), which are used as an indicator of koala presence/absence and activity.

As well as providing us with updated information on koala activity in the shire, the project has been a great opportunity to talk with landowners in the CKPOM areas about koala conservation on their land and what they can do to help. Once all surveys are complete, full results will be reported to BAC.

New road signs

At the end of the 2020-21 financial year, Council received a grant of $12,000 from the NSW Koala Strategy for installation of a koala zone on Mafeking Rd, Goonengerry, either side of Byrangery Grass Reserve and in a known breeding koala habitat area. The koala zone includes two 6m x 7m road markings, as well as signs picturing a mother koala with a joey on her back (Figures 1 and 2).

As part of Council’s road infrastructure upgrades, a koala zone and wildlife zone are also being installed on Bangalow Rd and on Gray’s Lane. Koala signs have also been installed as part of the Skinners Shoot Road upgrade (Figure 3). Speed limits will also be reduced on Gray’s Lane and Skinners Shoot Rd.

Figure 1 – Mafeking Rd Koala Zone

Figure 2 – Mafeking Rd Koala Sign

Figure 3 – Skinners Shoot Rd koala sign

Koala habitat planting projects

Council is continuing to progress a number of projects focussed on creating or restoring koala habitat on private land, including:

· North-East Hinterland Koala Conservation Project - This DPIE-funded project is a partnership between Tweed, Byron, Lismore and Ballina Councils and Friends of the Koala. Byron Shire Council has a budget of $45,000 over three years for koala habitat planting and restoration on private land. 15 sites, totalling around 15 ha and over 2000 trees have been planted and maintenance work on these sites is in progress.

· Koala Food for the Future Project – the Saving our Species program has provided $18,750 funding for koala habitat restoration on private land, with a similar methodology to the North-East Hinterland project. To date 10 sites, totalling 7.5 ha have been identified and planting is in progress.

· Council has been helping Mullumbimby High School students set up their Trees for Koalas - Connecting Communities project. Students from the school’s Special Education Learning Centre and their families joined in a second planting at The Pocket on 4 May. More trees will be delivered to the school in August for planting on private properties.

Leash-Up Pilot Communication Project

The Leash-Up project ran from June 2020 – June 2021, funded by a $84,890 grant under the NSW Koala Strategy’s ‘Conservation through Community Action’ pillar. The project developed a social behaviour change communications campaign and findings were reported to regional partners via the Northern Rivers Regional Koala Group. The final project report is attached (Attachment 1).

Leash-Up was an innovative community engagement project, aimed at increasing dog-leashing compliance in public spaces, to reduce the risk of dog-koala attacks. Rather than going straight to an education campaign, the project adopted a social marketing approach, guided by the theory of behaviour change, to engage with dog owners and understand attitudes and social norms. This understanding enabled development of a targeted and engaging campaign, which was tested on the target audience before being deployed via television, social media and signage.

Use of dog-leashing as a measure of behaviour change enabled simple monitoring of the effectiveness of the campaign at a pilot study site, and digitisation of the campaign via Facebook, Google and a website enabled us to measure the reach and influence of the campaign.

Key findings were:

· An incremental change in leashing of +11% hides more substantial behavioural changes:

o Large dogs are now being leashed more frequently with a leashing increase of +27%

o More dogs are being leashed on the street and at the park with a leashing increase of +20%

· 35% of dog owners associate dog leashing with koala protection messages

· 29% of dog owners have seen the Bow Wow TV ad

· Disagreement that most people walk dogs on-leash has risen by +23% suggesting dog owners may be more attuned to non-leashing behaviour than prior to the campaign

· Owners of large dog may be more amenable to making changes to dog management and land management to benefit koalas and other wildlife.

Implementing behaviour change requires a long-term approach. To ensure project benefits are ongoing, the engagement tools developed (artwork, videos) can be reused in future by both Byron and other councils, to reinforce messages and stimulate community conversation. Results were communicated to other regional LGAs via the Northern Rivers Regional Koala Communications Group. As a pilot study, the intention was to share learnings and outputs with other councils working to conserve koalas. All artwork is available to the other regional Councils and the TV ad campaign was deployed regionally, with the support of other local Councils.

Local Councils have a regulatory role over many issues (littering, parking, environmental health), and Council’s frequently use awareness-raising campaigns to help manage regulatory issues. The methodology used in this campaign, including social marketing, behaviour change theory and testing of concepts on the target audience are applicable to community engagement campaigns across a range of issues.

Additionally, the project created a significant database of local dog owners, their demographics, views and attitudes, which provides a starting point for development of additional communications materials relating to numerous dog-owner compliance issues.

Sustainable Agriculture

SmartFarms

The hand book for aspiring farmers - Starting Out!- An introductory Guide to Farming in the Byron Shire has been reprinted to allow for broader distribution. Promotion of the book is via the farmer network as well as through the organisations and individuals contributing to the book and facebook.

SmartFarms workshops have commenced with a soils workshop co-hosted by BVL and well attended. Due to the ongoing COVID restrictions, an extension of time to deliver the workshops has been granted by the Federal Government.

Smart Farms workshops completed so far:

- You and your land – planning what to do.

- Soils as part of Soils our national capital with BVL and Casino Food Co Op.

- Organic vegetable and flower Field Day hosted by Liz and Bob in Goonengerry which was filmed for a vid to get out on Social media and beyond.

- Rotational grazing with an aim pasture weed reduction.

Combating Pests and Weeds Grant (Commonwealth) 2020 - Agricultural advice, weed and pest animal control in Byron Shire

Tropical Soda Apple eradication is nearly complete. Over 5ha of the weed in the Shire has been controlled by Rous County Council which includes a number of follow-up controls over the last 12 months.

5 primary producing landholders are participating in the control of 5.5ha of environmental weeds ($27k). The project is addressing a variety of weeds including pasture and riparian weeds for the benefit of both productivity and the environment.

Approval has been granted for the amendment of the broad acre weed control project to allow the use of project funds to address weeds on 120ha of agricultural lands by a managed grazing incentive project.

12 primary producers will be participating in a Regenerative Agriculture based property planning workshop, pencilled in for 27/28 Sept 2021. 453ha of farmland in the Shire will be planned for managed/cell grazing. Regenerative grazing of this type promotes pasture development and condition which competes well with many weeds, as well as providing many other soil, moisture and nutrient retention benefits over the long term. Of these 12 participants, 6 farmers have been selected to receive grants up to $4,500 to assist them to implement their plans, for purchases such as electric fences, posts, energisers and water systems on their farms (over 140ha).

Additional agricultural extension activities

Update on achievements since Nov 2020:

· Byron Shire Farmer Network database set up and running consisting of 245 (last report was 195).

· 11 on site Farm Visits.

· 11 Real estate agents/buyers sent details and pdf of the new “Starting out” and “Farmers farm and cows DO moo” guides.

· 10 “Newsletter” emails gone out to the BFN for workshops, events, and grant info.

· 200 email introductions of extension role and service to landholders with properties over 30 acres.

· Agriculture extension role and service with contact numbers put in the latest Rates notice distributed to all rate payers in the Shire.

Community events:

BSC Ag Extension Officer to be:

· Presenter/Speaker at Fields of Hope to local ag students.

· Speaker at Turning Point Talks in Mullumbimby

Mentor Program collaboration in development with the Farming together program/Regenerative agricultural alliance. Potential to have 12 farmers as part of the program meeting with or having contact with a regenerative farming mentor monthly over a 12 month period.

Coastal Management Program (CMP) Scoping Study for the Southern Byron Shire Coastline and the Belongil Creek estuary

This Coastal Management Program (CMP) focuses on key management issues and threats to the coastal areas from Broken Head in the south to Cape Byron in the north. The project will also include the coastal creeks and lakes including Belongil Creek estuary, Tallow Creek estuary, Ti Tree (Taylor’s) Lake and their wider catchments.

The CMP will be a long-term strategy to guide Council and other stakeholders in the management of these popular but environmentally sensitive areas.

Council adopted the Stage 1 Scoping Study for the southern Byron Shire coastline and the Belongil Creek estuary at its 5 August 2021 meeting.

The Scoping Study considers the feedback from a community undertaken in late 2020/ 2021 and details engagement and information from other agencies involved in managing the coastal zone such as the Department of Primary Industry (DPI) Fisheries and Marine Parks, DPIE Crown Lands, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

An outcome of Stage 1 was the identification of studies and activities required to fill key data daps and to answer questions relating to priority management issues. These include:

• Coastal hazard assessment (funded and in progress).

• Mapping of an erosion escarpment, a coastal vulnerability area and verification of existing mapping of coastal wetlands and littoral rainforests.

• Identification of water pollution sources.

• An audit of the coastal planning framework for Byron Shire.

• Preliminary mapping of Aboriginal cultural heritage and values in the coastal zone.

• Ongoing implementation of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy.

• Activities involving engagement of Aboriginal cultural knowledge holders.

Council is currently seeking State Government grant funding to assist in proceeding with Stage 2 studies. These will ensure the development of more effective management strategies and actions which will occur in Stage 3.

Flying-fox Management Plan

The CSIRO August census has been cancelled. Flying-foxes are typically only found in the Middleton St camp this time of year. Staff will count this camp for its own records later in August 2021.

The results of the May 2021 National Census are tabled below.

	May 2019	May 2020	May 2021
Mullumbimby	0	0	0
Butler St	0	0	0
Middleton St	947	914	1017
Beech	0	0	0
Paddy’s Ck	0	0	0

Total number of Flying-foxes counted at the 5 managed camps in Byron Shire

Pest Animal Management Plan

Wild Dogs, Cats and Foxes

Trapping is on-going on Council lands through our contractor- JR Trapping. JR Trapping was also engaged by Council to trap on private land in the Shire for 15 weeks under the Australian Government Drought Pest and Weeds project.

In the 2020-21 year, 20 dogs, 16 foxes and 4 cats were trapped in the Shire by Council by JR Trapping.

A contract for a further 8 trapping weeks on private land until the end of June 2021 will commence shortly, funded by Australian Government Drought Pest and Weeds project.

Council participated in a feral cat trapping project funded by NCLLS. Priority areas were identified following consultation with Council staff, BVL and JR Trapping. 8 cats were trapped in an 8 week period.

Feral Deer

A young male Rusa deer was found in the north of the Shire on Tuesday 3 August. This was the first record of a deer in the Shire. The deer was dispatched that day by a local hunter.

A media report was sent to all outlets and was picked up by newspapers and radio. The main messages for the community included:

- to report all sightings on Feralscan (www.feralscan.com.au). A recording alerts the NCLLS, DPI and Council.

- landholders have a biosecurity obligation to control all pest weeds and animals on their land

No other sightings have been recorded in the Shire since.

Council is participating in an awareness campaign with neighbouring Councils to make sure people know what to do if they do spot a deer in the Shire. For more information about deer and the campaign in the Northern Rivers go to www.feraldeeralert.com.au

Indian Myna

Myna trapping has been a success so far with great results for the 20/21 year.

· 10 community members are involved in the Shire

· 7 members received 1:1 training and follow-up with dispatching of trapped birds

· 95 Indian Mynas trapped so far.

Council has received another 6 cages and looks forward to expanding the trapping program in the spring.

Bringing Back the Bruns

Fish Habitat Restoration Program – successful grant

Contracting, sub-contracting and design discussions have commenced with partners NCLLS and Soil Conservation Service for the Bringing Back the Bruns project on the Brunswick River in Mullumbimby. The project has been extended by 6 months due to the delayed release of the funding agreement to NCLLS.

Fisheries Habitat Action Grant (2019) – Mullumbimby Riparian Riverbank Project

1.8km of primary weed control has been completed and follow-up weed control is continuing until the project finishes at the end of September. A community information day is planned Saturday 4 September 2021, identifying the weeds of the area, community bush protection and regeneration.

Keeping Cats Safe at Home’ Project - RSPCA NSW

Keeping Cats Safe at Home is a 4-year behaviour change project aiming to reduce the impacts of pet cats on wildlife. The project encourages cat owners to keep their cats safe at home either exclusively indoors or indoors and outdoors using cat enclosures or modified fencing.

The project develops tailored behaviour change strategies for subgroups of cat owners within Byron Shire based on extensive consultation with all stakeholder groups, especially cat owners. The RSPCA NSW project team will deliver the project with support from Council compliance staff to engage their local communities, disseminate project messaging and assist with local project activities.

This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.

The overall vision is to normalise containment of pet cats to their owner’s property while ensuring optimal cat welfare, to protect wildlife, keep cats safe and help councils improve cat management in their Local Government Area.

Wildlife Corridor Mapping

Landmark Ecological have developed draft wildlife corridor mapping for the shire. We are currently consulting with other Council stakeholders (planners, agriculture) regarding the corridors and their role in Council business. We are also working closely with Landmark to refine the mapping methodology and alignment of the corridors.

The draft wildlife corridor maps were developed with the objective of protecting core habitat and dispersal opportunities for key threatened species in the shire – i.e. those species that have core habitat in the shire, and that have the most limited dispersal capability. The methodology is similar to that used in development of Lismore Council’s wildlife corridor maps (Landmark 2012) and the regional wildlife corridor mapping developed by NSW National Parks (Scotts 2003). However, for this project, Landmark have included threatened plants as well as threatened animals for the first time. The methodology takes into consideration current and historic species records, existing land use constraints and connections (e.g. highway underpasses), mapped corridors in adjacent shires, and the likely impacts of climate change (through consideration of flood prone land, south facing slopes, riparian habitats etc.).

The intent of the wildlife corridor mapping is to:

· Support Council, environmental groups and landholders to strategically focus their restoration activities to where they can have the greatest biodiversity benefit.

· To support Council and environmental groups in seeking grant funding for key strategic biodiversity conservation projects.

· To support the implementation of Council’s Biodiversity DCP (Chapter B1) during the development assessment process, by supporting planning decisions that best protect and enhance our biodiversity, while continuing to facilitate permitted land uses, e.g. on rural or residential zoned land.

· To incentivise the community, in both rural and suburban corridors, to take steps to help create and maintain wildlife connectivity in their backyards, through showing people a bigger picture view of the importance of their backyard habitat in the overall landscape.

Next Steps

Some amendments will be required to the Biodiversity DCP to:

· Ensure that the definition of a wildlife corridor in the DCP reflects the new mapping,

· Ensure that management intent is clear for both corridors in rural and built-up areas.

· Ensure that management intent is clear for both vegetated and cleared parts of corridors.

We intend to discuss this in depth with Councillors at the October Strategic Planning Workshop and with our farming community at the November Agricultural Cluster Group meeting, prior to reporting to the new Council in early 2022, followed by community engagement.

Strategic Considerations

Community Strategic Plan and Operational Plan

CSP Objective	L2	CSP Strategy	L3	DP Action	L4	OP Activity
Community Objective 2: We cultivate and celebrate our diverse cultures, lifestyle and sense of community	2.4	Enhance community safety and amenity while respecting our shared values	2.4.3	Enhance public safety, health and liveability through the use of council's regulatory controls and services	2.4.3.6	Facilitate companion animals education
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.1	Implement the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.2	Revise Wildlife Corridor Mapping (Biodiversity Conservation Strategy action)
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.6	Investigate opportunities for Council to provide incentives for landholders to conduct restoration works on their properties that will assist with long term biodiversity conservation.(Biodiversity Conservation Strategy action)
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.9	Implement the Flying Fox Camp Management Plan
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.10	Continue to undertake the Flying Fox National Census
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.11	Implement the Koala Plan of Management
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.12	Partner with key stakeholders on koala research and management projects, including - NE Hinterland Koala Conservation Project - North Coast Koala Linkage and - Maximising outcomes for koalas on private land project. (Koala Plan of Management action)
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.13	Deliver and report on feral animal projects (Action in Pest Animal Management Plan)
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.1	Partner to protect and enhance our biodiversity, ecosystems and ecology	3.1.1	Protect and enhance our natural environment and biodiversity	3.1.1.14	Deliver the pests and weeds grant funded project
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.2	Strive to become a sustainable community	3.2.2	Support community environmental and sustainability projects	3.2.2.1	Provide coastal, environmental and sustainability information and encourage and support community activities and groups
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.2	Strive to become a sustainable community	3.2.2	Support community environmental and sustainability projects	3.2.2.2	Participate in regional sustainability and environmental working groups and initiatives.
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.2	Strive to become a sustainable community	3.2.2	Support community environmental and sustainability projects	3.2.2.4	Support Friends of the Koala, Bangalow Koalas and Wires through the Regional Koala Communications Group.
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.2	Strive to become a sustainable community	3.2.2	Support community environmental and sustainability projects	3.2.2.5	Support Brunswick Valley Landcare to deliver the Land for Wildlife Program and biodiversity enquiries
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.3	Partner to protect and enhance the health of the Shire’s coastlines, estuaries, waterways and catchments	3.3.1	Implement Coastal Management Program	3.3.1.3	Continue Bringing Back the Brunswick River Project
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.3	Partner to protect and enhance the health of the Shire’s coastlines, estuaries, waterways and catchments	3.3.1	Implement Coastal Management Program	3.3.1.1	Continue preparing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) in accordance with the staged process for Cape Byron to South Golden Beach
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.3	Partner to protect and enhance the health of the Shire’s coastlines, estuaries, waterways and catchments	3.3.1	Implement Coastal Management Program	3.3.1.4	Continue preparing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) in accordance with the staged process for Cape Byron Southern Coastline (including Tallow and Belongil Creek Catchment)
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.4	Support and secure our farming future	3.4.1	Develop and implement strategies to support agriculture, agri-business and farmers	3.4.1.1	Finalise and commence implementation of the Agriculture Action Plan
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.4	Support and secure our farming future	3.4.1	Develop and implement strategies to support agriculture, agri-business and farmers	3.4.1.2	Continue to deliver Smart Farms –Small Grants project
Community Objective 3: We protect and enhance our natural environment	3.4	Support and secure our farming future	3.4.1	Develop and implement strategies to support agriculture, agri-business and farmers	3.4.1.3	Continue to convene Agricultural Cluster Group Meetings

Recent Resolutions

· N/A

Legal/Statutory/Policy Considerations

N/A

Financial Considerations

Where relevant, budgets for specific projects noted above.

Consultation and Engagement

N/A

Venue	Conference Room, Station Street, Mullumbimby
Date	Thursday, 9 September 2021
Time	9.00am