Minutes of Biodiversity Advisory Committee Meeting

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Biodiversity Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 21 September 2023

Minutes of the Biodiversity Advisory Committee Meeting held on Thursday, 21 September 2023

File No: I2023/1410

PRESENT: Cr S Ndiaye, Cr S Balson, Cr P Westheimer, Cr M Lyon (joined at 9:15am)

Staff: Shannon Burt (Director Sustainable Environment and Economy) - joined at 9:40 am

Sharyn French (Manager Environmental and Economic Planning)

Liz Caddick (Biodiversity Team Leader)

Chloe Dowsett (Coast and Biodiversity Coordinator) - joined at 9:30 am

Caitlin Weatherstone (Project Officer-Koala)

Claudia Caliari (Biodiversity Projects Officer)

David Filipczyk (Team Leader Bush Regeneration)

Michelle Wilde (Minute Taker)

Community: Dave Rawlins (Brunswick Valley Landcare)

Lindsay Murray

Stephen Millard

Guest: Andy Baker (Wildsite Ecological Services)

Cr Ndiaye (Chair) opened the meeting at 9:04 am and acknowledged that the meeting was being held on Bundjalung Country.

Attendance via AUDIO-VISUAL LINK:

Chloe Dowsett (Coast and Biodiversity Coordinator)

Apologies:

James Jackson, David Milledge, Leonard Cronin, Liana Joseph

Declarations of Interest – Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary

There were no declarations of interest.

Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Report No. 3.1 Confirmation of minutes from the 17 August meeting

File No: I2023/1331

Committee Recommendation:

That the minutes of the Biodiversity Advisory Committee Meeting held on 17 August 2023 be confirmed.

(Murray/Ndiaye)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Note: The minutes of the meeting held on 17 August 2023 are scheduled to be presented to Council, at the Ordinary Meeting on 28 September 2023.

Business Arising from Previous Minutes

There was no business arising from previous minutes.

Staff Reports - Sustainable Environment and Economy

Report No. 4.1 Identifying Open Forest Ecosystems for Ecological Restoration

File No: I2023/386

Committee Recommendation:

1. That the Biodiversity Advisory Committee welcomes the report and Attachment 1 (E2023/26821) and notes the importance of restoring eco-cultural burning practices.

2. That Open Ecosystem Restoration Potential mapping is added to Council’s online mapping tool.

3. That Council explores the option of comparative mapping between the open forest mapping and Council’s bush fire prone land mapping.

(Westheimer/Ndiaye)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Report No. 4.2 Update on Work Carried Out by Byron Council's Bush Regeneration Team

File No: I2023/1335

Committee Recommendation:

That the Biodiversity Advisory Committee applauds the work that has been carried out by Byron Council’s Bush Regeneration Team and notes the report and presentation.

(Millard/Westheimer)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Cr Lyon left the meeting at 10:30am

Report No. 4.3 Future Discussion Items for Biodiversity Advisory Committee

File No: I2023/1336

Committee Recommendation:

That the Biodiversity Advisory Committee notes the report.

(Murray/Milledge)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

There being no further business the meeting concluded at 11:05am

Venue	Conference Room, Station Street, Mullumbimby
Date	Thursday, 21 September 2023
Time	9.00am