On this page:

• Conservation land management strategy
• Environment levy

Conservation land management strategy

The Conservation Land Management Strategy provides strategic direction for managing conservation land in the Redlands and a clear set of guidelines for identifying and categorising conservation land.

Download the Conservation Land Management Strategy [PDF 1MB]

Conservation land (17.7 per cent of land in the Redlands) includes:

• conservation areas
• nature refuges
• bushland refuges
• nature belts
• creek corridors
• urban habitat
• conservation coastal foreshores
• wetlands
• drainage reserves
• road reserves.

Previously, much of Council’s knowledge on effective resource management was covered in a range of management plans, strategies, databases, working procedures and within the personal knowledge of past and present Council officers.

Effective management of conservation land requires a set of principles for a coordinated approach to improve biodiversity services, environmental planning and operational management.

Environment levy

Photo: Kalisha Hutchinson

The Environment and Coastal Management Separate Charge is used to protect, manage and enhance Redlands Coast unique natural environment for the community.  This includes koala habitat, bushland, green space, waterways, catchments, air and coastal ecosystems in the City that cannot always be effectively protected through Council’s regulatory or management powers. 

The levy funds:

1. acquisition of conservation land
2. land management, including rehabilitation and maintenance
3. koala habitat restoration
4. waterways, foreshore and catchment rehabilitation and maintenance
5. pest management 
6. track and trail maintenance and repairs
7. environmental education
8. strengthening stewardship of the natural environment
9. implementation of environment strategies and policies

Redland City Council’s conservation land acquisition program prioritises the acquisition of land to expand and connect wildlife habitat. This is achieved through rehabilitation works, offset plantings and long term protection. These positive environmental outcomes contribute to effective biodiversity conservation. For example, sustaining koala populations or buffering sensitive environmental areas, which also provide wider community benefit.

Currently the levy for the Environment and Coastal Management Separate Charge is $172 per annum.

Since 1993, Council has purchased 357 properties totalling 1313 hectares, at a cost of almost $35.4 million.

For a property to qualify to be purchased using this fund it must have significant environmental values, such as forming part of a wildlife corridor or high biodiversity, have some level of threat, such as clearing or degradation, have a community benefit, such as cultural or historical values and be affordable.

• Read a list of Environmental Land Acquisitions [PDF, 30MB]
• View Areas of Land Acquisitions [PDF, 0.3MB]