A report tabled at this week’s Redland City Council General Meeting shows Redlands Coast’s unique and valued natural environmental continues to be in safe hands.
The report was requested by Division 6 Councillor Julie Talty who asked for it to be provided to the Federal Government to assist in Environmental Protection Biosecurity Conservation (EPBC) assessments of community infrastructure.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said the comprehensive report on Council’s environmental programs and infrastructure, highlighted the past decade of Council’s environmental stewardship.
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“Redlands Coast has an enviable conservation estate with a high level of biodiversity,” the Mayor said.
“We are unique in that Redlands Coast has more than 4900 ha of conservation and green space, 525 km of waterways, 335 km of coastline, 1000 species of marine wildlife and 1700 species of flora and fauna – and all of this in an area of about 537 square km.
“This requires significant investment to ensure our environment is managed and maintained to a standard that protects and enhances its value as habitat and to the community.
“Our environment enhances our identity, lifestyle, wellbeing, economy and cultural values, which is why Council takes its protection and conversation very seriously.”
Over the past five years, Council has spent approximately $68m on its core environment program which is a major financial commitment.
Council’s spending on responsible management, maintenance and improvement of the city’s conservation areas has steadily increased year on year.
For example, in the 2020/21 financial year the total environment program budget was approximately $11.14m; while in 2022/23 it was approximately $14.27m; while approximately $15.76m having been allocated in this current financial year.
Council’s core environment program is funded through a combination of funding from the Environment and Coastal Management Special Charge (Environment Levy), which was established in the 1990s, and general rates revenue.
The program covers the following areas: conservation area maintenance, fire management, trail maintenance, fauna management, waterway management, environment corridor management, environmental education, conservation administration, and coastal protection.
The report shows that Council has spent close to $36m on strategic conservation land acquisitions since 1993, bringing around 1313 ha of land with high environmental values into public ownership.
This includes land that forms part of core habitat areas, environmental corridors and broader functional precincts, and adds to the broader conservation estate owned or managed by Council.
