A symposium on shark nets, a successful Noosa Education Environment Hub and a tourism campaign focused on the biosphere were among the items highlighted by Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) chair Rex Halverson when he provided the organisation’s annual report to Noosa Council on Monday.
Under Council’s Funding Deed with NBRF the foundation is required to provide an annual report and financial statement.
Mr Halverson said his first year in the chair had its challenges beginning with bushfires, then dealing with COVID19 but the foundation was still able to deliver on projects.Among the achievments of the 2019/20 year cited in the report were the continued attraction of funding in a 3:1 ratio for ongoing projects including the Noosa Trail Masterplan, the Oyster Reef Restoration Trial and Keep on Keeping It in Kin Kin.
Mr Halverson said in addition the Noosa Education Environmental Hub had “taken off“ and they were improving communications with the community with events such art the Glossy Black Gala better engaging the community and a video created to explain the function of the biosphere.
He said the organisation had been discussing with the University of Sunshine Coast projects suitable for a number of their PhD candidates and they had strengthened relationships with Noosa Integrated Catchment Committee and Tourism Noosa with a tourism campaign with an outcome of the partnership being the Enter the Biosphere tourism campaign.
NBRF deputy chair Greg Shumann told Council the foundation was working toward delivering a symposium on shark nets in May or June to bring together a range of experts and stakeholders including commercials and community groups, government departments, Surfriders and the Surf Lifesaving club to discuss options and new technologies.
“We’ll look at what can be done to protect people and non-targeted species, in particular dolphins and turtles,“ he said.
Ms Shumann said being a biosphere didn’t fit well with the needless killing of endangered species such as hammerhead sharks.“I’ve always found if you get the right suite of people in a room they come up with some smart ideas,“ he said.
Under the NBRF 2019/20 financial statement Council provided NBRF $120,000 for operational expenses through the environment levy (50%) and general rates (50%) but did not provide any funding for projects either through direct funding or grants programs.According to Council the annual report showed the foundation’s projects were “progressing well towards intended outcomes and that projects were attracting significant investment“.
Council staff have begun discussions with the NBRF board on the composition of a new funding deed, to extend the partnership between NBRF and Council beyond 30 June 2021. This will be presented to a future Council meeting for consideration.
