Australian Local Government Association

Council land

Local government initiatives to preserve native vegetation on council land and in residential developments

Funding council environment programs: Options

The following measures all require additional council resources to be spent on protecting the environment. As a result, council will need to identify funding options:

• One common source of funding is through an environment levy. This levy is placed on all rate payers and the money is set aside specifically to fund environment activities such as biodiversity conservation.
• If councils purchase land, any profit made from on selling the land can be set aside to fund further environment activities.
• Private individuals can be encouraged to donate to a fund, in return having parkland or a bush reserve named after them.
• Local businesses can be encouraged to 'adopt' a significant area, thereby funding its management.
• Developers could be required to contribute to an environment fund to offset any loss of natural areas as part of a development.

Public open spaces

Councils provide public open space in residential areas. Councils can set aside areas of natural significance to fulfil these obligations. These areas should be identified early during town planning to ensure the maximum benefits of biodiversity are achieved.

Reservation of land through subdivision

Rezoning of land can be used to create natural reserves within a subdivision development. Council must consider how these reserves will be managed - perhaps a community group can be formed to assist with this. These reserves can once again provide areas for recreation. Rezoning for subdivision should be backed up through the town planning system. There are a number of options available under this system:

• Strata title subdivisions. In subdivisions where parcels of land are worth conserving, the areas can be made common property and administered by the strata company. All owners would have access, but the cost of managing the land is also borne by all owners.
• Cluster developments are used where most of the land can be conserved. The buildings are clustered on cleared areas, leaving the majority of the subdivision in its natural state.
• Subdivision concessions. The council may give extra development concessions above those normally offered in exchange for the owner protecting significant areas. In addition, it is possible to use the rates from these additional lots to fund environmental protection in other areas, such as rate rebates or to purchase land.

Purchase of rural land

If significant areas exist and council can not come to an agreement with the landholder to conserve the area, the council may consider purchase of the land. Council can either decide to keep the land, or can put covenants on the use of the land and on sell it.

To purchase the land, there are a number of funding options open to council, including:

• The Australian Government's National Reserve System where the Commonwealth provides two thirds of the cost of acquisition of land, with local governments providing the final third. Local governments are then responsible for maintaining the reserve. To be eligible, land must meet certain criteria, and should be an ecologically significant area. Priority is given to areas that conserve key habitats for nationally listed threatened species or are viable due to their large size or proximity to other areas managed for nature conservation.
• Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Special grants and technical support

Councils can make one off grants for measures such as fencing or weed control to assist landholders to manage and protect significant areas. Another option may be to pay landholders to manage significant areas. Support to landholders can also be provided by council giving free professional advice and/or regular visits from officers. Council may also assist landholders to obtain financial assistance from other sources, such as the Australian Government's Envirofund.