Byron Shire landholders could be offered a free pathway to stronger conservation zoning under a proposal coming before today’s Council meeting, following a report identifying significant gaps in protection for the Shire’s valuable habitat.
The proposal would allow willing landowners to request C2 Environmental Conservation zoning through Council’s regular planning amendments, without being charged for the process.
It follows an investigation into establishing a Byron conservation trust to help protect, regenerate and restore environmentally significant land.
Council’s Biodiversity and Agricultural Advisory Committee instead recommends pursuing alternatives to a separate trust, including stronger zoning protections and a partnership with Brunswick Valley Landcare.
A report prepared by Landcare representative Dave Rawlins identifies 16,068 hectares of mapped high ecological value land outside the national parks estate.
Of this, approximately 8,425 hectares fall within the report’s ‘very high protection’ category, which includes conservation zoning, conservation agreements and certain other statutory protections.
The remaining 7,644 hectares have varying levels of protection classified as high, moderate or low.
The figures do not mean that this land has no environmental safeguards. However, the report argues that nearly half the mapped area lacks the strongest protection available for long-term conservation.
It also raises concerns about the security of tree planting and restoration projects undertaken across the Shire.
‘As discussed previously, restoration plantings have little protection,’ the report states.
It recommends including existing planting areas in conservation zones where landowners are willing, along with new planting and bush regeneration projects.
According to the report, Brunswick Valley Landcare has already identified landholders interested in volunteering for conservation zoning and seeking a pathway through Council.
The committee’s recommendation would establish an ongoing process for such requests and engage Landcare to help develop a template for landholders to submit the necessary information.
Conservation zoning could apply to a portion of a property, with the remainder retaining its rural zoning.
The approach would seek to fulfil the proposed trust’s conservation objectives while avoiding the resources required to establish a separate legal entity.
The committee considered the findings on August 27. Its recommendation is now before councillors as part of today’s meeting agenda.
If supported, the proposal would provide a process for progressing voluntary rezoning requests, rather than immediately changing the zoning of individual properties.
The recommendation also calls for Council’s continued support for its biodiversity conservation strategy and restoration projects across the Shire.
Councillors will consider whether to support the proposed pathway at today’s meeting.
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