Agenda of Environment and Sustainability Committee

Item No.	Item Title	Page No.
1	Response to Notice of Motion - Southern Resource Recovery Centre Ancillary Services	7
	Confirmation of Minutes
2	Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee No. 2024(05) of 15 October 2024	25
	Officers’ Reports
3	Little Liverpool Range Initiative Progress Report	33
4	Community Disaster Risk Awareness Education	77
	Notices of Motion
	Matters Arising
	Questions / General Business

Environment and Sustainability Committee NO. 2024(06)

14 November 2024

AGENDA

Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA

BUSINESS OUTSTANDING

1. Response to Notice of Motion - Southern Resource Recovery Centre ancillary services

This is a report concerning a response to a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Jim Madden at the Environment and Sustainability Committee held on 13 August 2024 requesting :

That Council Officers prepare a report relating to costings and a review as to the possibility of the following facilities at the proposed Southern Resource Recovery Centre (SRRC):

· Tip Shop – where items that would otherwise go to landfill could be sold.

· Tool Library - where residents can loan tools for use instead of buying cheap tools and disposing of them in landfill.

· Toy Library - where residents can loan children’s educational toys & play equipment.

· Repair Centre or Repair Cafe - where residents can take items to learn how to repair and reuse these items.

· And any other relevant issues.

Attached to this report is a detailed assessment paper prepared to answer the above question and provide guidance.

In summary the tip shop as already planned is the most consistent site usage in relation to associated waste activities. The Tool Library, Toy Library and Repair Café, whilst strongly supported in principle as sound circular economy practises are not best suited for co-location at the SRRC for a range of risk, traffic management and suitability reasons, and these should be explored and supported at other Council locations such as Community Centres.

Noting that there is still significant time before final site designs are completed for the SRRC.

Recommendation

That the response to notice of motion in relation to the Southern Resource Recovery Centre Ancillary Services be received and noted.

Confirmation of Minutes

2. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee No. 2024(05) of 15 October 2024

Recommendation

That the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee held on
15 October 2024 be confirmed.

Officers’ Reports

3. Little Liverpool Range INITIATIVE Progress Report

This is a report concerning the continued growth and achievements of the Little Liverpool Range Initiative since its inception in July 2016.

Recommendation

That the report in relation to the Little Liverpool Range Initiative Progress Report be received and its contents noted.

4. Community disaster risk awareness education

This is a report concerning the outcomes of a recently concluded grant-funded project focused on understanding and improving disaster risk awareness and preparedness in Ipswich. This two-year Commonwealth-funded project enabled council to temporarily employ a project officer to undertake a large volume of community education focused on improving community resilience to disasters.

Recommendation

That the report on Community Disaster Risk Awareness Education be received and the contents noted.

NOTICES OF MOTION

MATTERS ARISING

QUESTIONS / GENERAL BUSINESS

Environment and Sustainability Committee

Meeting Agenda

14 November

2024

Doc ID No: A10859086

ITEM: 1

SUBJECT: Response to Notice of Motion - Southern Resource Recovery Centre ancillary services

AUTHOR: Strategy Advisor (Resource Recovery)

DATE: 24 October 2024

Executive Summary

This is a report concerning a response to a Notice of Motion submitted by Councillor Jim Madden at the Environment and Sustainability Committee held on 13 August 2024 requesting :

That Council Officers prepare a report relating to costings and a review as to the possibility of the following facilities at the proposed Southern Resource Recovery Centre (SRRC):

· Tip Shop – where items that would otherwise go to landfill could be sold.

· Tool Library - where residents can loan tools for use instead of buying cheap tools and disposing of them in landfill.

· Toy Library - where residents can loan children’s educational toys & play equipment.

· Repair Centre or Repair Cafe - where residents can take items to learn how to repair and reuse these items.

· And any other relevant issues.

Attached to this report is a detailed assessment paper prepared to answer the above question and provide guidance.

Noting that there is still significant time before final site designs are completed for the SRRC.

Recommendation/s

That the response to notice of motion in relation to the Southern Resource Recovery Centre Ancillary Services be received and noted.

RELATED PARTIES

· There were no related parties identified

· There was no declaration of conflicts of interest

ifuture Theme

Natural and Sustainable

Purpose of Report/Background

In response to the Notice of Motion (A10479381) put forward by Councillor Jim Madden on 13 August 2024, regarding the preparation of a report relating to costings and a review as to the possibility of additional facilities and services at the Southern Resource Recovery Centre (SRRC), a desktop investigation and service option comparison analysis was conducted and collated in the attached report.

In response to the population growth of Ipswich, there is an urgent need to build a SRRC to meet the resource recovery and waste management needs of Ipswich communities. The existing RRCs are operating over their capacities, with no space to expand to include a tip shop or any other auxiliary facilities to encourage resource recovery and sustainability.

The purpose of this report is to:

o Review different options of additional facilities and services at the SRRC

o Understand opportunities and constrains of these options

o Assist with the decision-making process on waste facility development.

Legal IMPLICATIONS

This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:

Not Applicable

No legal implications identified.

policy implications

No policy implications identified.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There were four (4) main risks identified within each service option, as listed:

· Operational risk, including

o Safety – Testing and tagging electrical goods, training for safe use

o Liability – Council culpability risks

o Security – Break-in, theft, hold-up, vandalism

· Additional resourcing – Skilled volunteers/ new staff requirements and extra footprint required.

· Community uptake

· Community perception

Results of risk assessment are summarised as:

· Low risks are associated with a Tip Shop as this service being ancillary in nature to the transfer station operation and the inclusion in the SRRC concept design.

· High risks in relation to Tool Libraries are operating, staff, and community perception risks.

· Repair Café has high risks on staff, facility footprint, and community perception components.

· High risks of Toy Libraries are staff, facility footprint, and community perception.

Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

Consultation with IWS Infrastructure Coordinator revealed current SRRC design allocates approximately 2,000m² of footprint for use as a ‘Recycling Shed’ with an anticipated construction cost of $3-6M (inclusive of 30% contingency). Estimates in the attached report refer to a mid-range capital expenditure of approximately $4.5M for the Recycling Shed and the Tip Shop within. From this, the figure of $2,500 per square metre was used to calculate footprint costs for each service option.

Staff costs were based on an average salary of $80K/year.

Costs estimates below is based on above assumptions, including only construction costs and labour costs.

Tip Shop

· Footprint cost – approximately $4.5M

· Minimum FTE cost/year – $160K (x2 full time staff)

Tool Library

· Footprint cost – approximately $500K

· On-going additional security, liability and indirect resourcing costs

· Operated by skilled/ experience-based volunteers

Repair Café

· Footprint Cost – approximately $1.9M

· On-going additional, liability and indirect resourcing costs

· Operated by skilled/ experience-based volunteers

Toy Library

· Footprint Cost – approximately $175K

· Internal Model Minimum FTE cost/year - $80K (x1 full time professional staff)

· On-going additional asset, security, liability and indirect resourcing costs

COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION

Wide consultation occurred across many parties, all over the country, including:

· Repair Café Foundation were consulted, and the statement included in their terms and conditions notes “official Repair Cafes must be run by voluntary, non-business entities”

· Australian Repair Network were consulted, and they stated that Tool Library was a community-run program.

· Australian Library of Things Network were consulted and there was no preference for motion indicated

· Toy Libraries Australia were consulted and disagreed with motion due to preference for Council support and promotion partnership model

Conclusion

Investigative analysis revealed that:

1. A Tip Shop is the most compatible service option due to:

o The service being ancillary in nature to the transfer station operation

o The flexibility potential of frontline service provision (Internal, External, Social Enterprise)

o Council operated staff costing of $160K/year

o Footprint construction cost of $4.5M (included in full SRRC design scope)

2. Tool Libraries are led and administrated by community groups and are likely too high-risk to be incorporated into SRRC function due to:

o Increased security, liability and resourcing costs

o Minimum footprint cost of $500K

3. Official Repair Café can only be run by non-profit community groups, entities such as Local Governments are not eligible to host these events. Repair Café is not a compatible service at the SRRC due to:

o Increased safety, resourcing and public perception risk

o Insufficient appropriate footprint (minimum footprint cost of $1.9M)

4. Toy Libraries are really quite incompatible for inclusion in the function of the SRRC due to:

o Heavy industrial nature of the primary function of the SRRC

o Increased safety, security, liability, environmental, community engagement and negative public perception risk

o Council operated staff cost minimum of $80K/year

o Minimum footprint cost of $175K

5. No other relevant issues were identified.

The attached report thoroughly explores the service options identified in the Notice of Motion, within the context of potential implementation at the SRRC. It details standard operating models, indicative costings as well as strategic and operational risks for each service option.

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTS

RECEIVE AND NOTE REPORT

The Recommendation states that the report be received, and the contents noted. The decision to receive and note the report does not limit human rights. Therefore, the decision is compatible with human rights.

Attachments and Confidential Background Papers

1.	Ancillary Service Options for SRCC - Assessment ⇩

Sam Wylie

Strategy Advisor (Resource Recovery)

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

David McAlister

Manager, Resource Recovery

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

Kaye Cavanagh

General Manager (Environment and Sustainability)

“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”

Environment and Sustainability Committee

Meeting Agenda

14 November

2024

Environment and Sustainability Committee NO. 2024(05)

15 October 2024

Minutes

COUNCILLORS’ ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Jim Madden (Chairperson); Councillors Andrew Antoniolli (Deputy Chairperson), Mayor Teresa Harding, Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, Jacob Madsen (via audio-link) and Pye Augustine

COUNCILLOR’S APOLOGIES:

Nil

OFFICERS’ ATTENDANCE:

Chief Executive Officer (Sonia Cooper), General Manager Environment and Sustainability (Kaye Cavanagh), Manager, Resource Recovery (David McAlister), Chief of Staff – Office of the Mayor (Melissa Fitzgerald), Senior Communications and Policy Officer (Jodie Richter) and Theatre Technician (Harrison Cate)

Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country

Councillor Jim Madden (Chairperson) delivered the Acknowledgement of Country

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA

In accordance with section 150EQ of the Local Government Act 2009, Councillor Jim Madden informed the meeting that he has a declarable conflict of interest in Item 2 titled Ipswich City Council Membership to Healthy Land and Water 2024-2025.

The nature of the interest is that Councillor Madden was a former board member of Healthy Waterways however has no current connection with Healthy Land and Water and is not an office bearer or member.

Councillor Jim Madden invited the other councillors to determine if he can continue to participate in the decision process.

It was moved by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic and seconded by Councillor Andrew Antoniolli that Councillor Jim Madden may participate in the meeting in relation to the matter, including by voting on the matter because there is no personal or financial benefit to the councillor and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.

The eligible councillors present at the meeting decided that Councillor Jim Madden may participate in the meeting in relation to the matter, including by voting on the matter.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Antoniolli Nil

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

Councillor Jim Madden did not take part in the vote on this matter.

The motion was put and carried.

_________________________________________________________________________

BUSINESS OUTSTANDING

Nil

Confirmation of Minutes

1. Confirmation of Minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee No. 2024(04) of 3 September 2024

Recommendation

Moved by Councillor Andrew Antoniolli:

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

That the minutes of the Environment and Sustainability Committee held on
3 September 2024 be confirmed.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

Officers’ Reports

2. Ipswich City Council Membership to HEALTHY Land and Water 2024 - 2025

This is a report concerning Ipswich City Council and the regional Natural Resource Management group for South East Queensland - Healthy Land and Water, specifically the current and future membership and funding arrangements which have been under review for 2 consecutive years and the value it offers to Council.

**Recommendation

That Council resolves to cease its membership of Healthy Land and Water and no longer make an annual financial membership payment.

Move into Closed Session

Recommendation

Moved by Mayor Teresa Harding:

Seconded by Councillor Andrew Antoniolli:

That in accordance with section 254J(3)(g) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, the meeting move into closed session to discuss Item 2 titled Ipswich City Council Membership to Healthy Land and Water 2024-2025.

The meeting moved into closed session at 4.15 pm.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

Move into Open Session

Recommendation

Moved by Councillor Jim Madden:

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

That the meeting move into open session.

The meeting moved into open session at 4.21 pm.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

2. Ipswich City Council Membership to HEALTHY Land and Water 2024 - 2025

**Recommendation

Moved by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

Seconded by Mayor Teresa Harding:

That Council resolves to cease its membership of Healthy Land and Water and no longer make an annual financial membership payment.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

Move into Closed Session

Recommendation

Moved by Councillor Jim Madden:

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

That in accordance with section 254J(3)(i) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, the meeting move into closed session to discuss Item 3 titled Board Appointments of Greenovate Pty Ltd Non-Confidential Report.

The meeting moved into closed session at 4.25 pm.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

Move into Open Session

Recommendation

Moved by Councillor Jim Madden:

Seconded by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

That the meeting move into open session.

The meeting moved into open session at 4.44 pm.

AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE

Councillors: Councillors:

Madden Nil

Antoniolli

Harding

Jonic

Madsen

Augustine

The motion was put and carried.

3. Board Appointments of Greenovate Pty Ltd non-confidential report

This paper serves as a covering report for the Council to resolve to appoint the preferred candidates for the Board Members of Greenovate Pty Ltd, the personal and private details of the candidates and recruitment process are detailed in the multiple attached confidential papers.

“The attachment/s to this report are confidential in accordance with section 254J(3)(i) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.”

Recommendation

A. In accordance with Rule 7.2(a) and Rule 7.3(a)(1) of the Greenovate Constitution, and clause 5.2(a) and 5.4 (a)(1) of the Security Holders Agreement, together with Logan City Council and Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council appoint Candidate 1 as an Independent Director of Greenovate Pty Ltd A.C.N. 672 812 154 for a period of four (4) years as set out in Confidential Attachment 4.

B. In accordance with Rule 7.2(a) and Rule 7.3(b) of the Greenovate Constitution, and clause 5.4(a) of the Security Holders Agreement, together with Logan City Council and Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council appoint Candidate 2 as an Independent Director of Greenovate Pty Ltd A.C.N. 672 812 154 for a period of three (3) years as set out in Confidential Attachment 4.

C. In accordance with Rule 7.2(a) and Rule 7.3(b) of the Greenovate Constitution, and clause 5.4(a) of the Security Holders Agreement, together with Logan City Council and Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council appoint Candidate 3 as an Independent Director of Greenovate Pty Ltd A.C.N. 672 812 154 for a period of three (3) years as set out in Confidential Attachment 4.

D. In accordance with Rule 7.2(a) and Rule 7.3(b) of the Greenovate Constitution, and clause 5.4(a) of the Security Holders Agreement, together with Logan City Council and Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council appoint Candidate 4 as an Independent Director of Greenovate Pty Ltd A.C.N. 672 812 154 for a period of three (3) years as set out in Confidential Attachment 4.

E. If Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council and Redland City Council do not resolve to appoint at least two (2) Independent Directors to Greenovate Pty Ltd by
6 November 2024, the shareholder representative for the Council is authorised to:

a. execute a variation to the SHA in accordance with the amendment set out in Attachment 7;

b. pass a Securityholder resolution to replace the Constitution of Greenovate Pty Ltd with the amended Constitution as set out in Attachment 6; and

c. pass a Securityholder resolution appointing the Chief Executive Officer of Redland City Council, as an interim director under Rule 7.6 (a) of the Greenovate Constitution and clause 5.1(c) of the Security Holders Agreement.

F. That upon the winding up of Greenovate Pty Ltd, the confidential attachments to the report titled Greenovate Pty Ltd Board Chair, be placed in the public records.

*Due to the confidential nature of these appointments and until such time as the other Councils have adopted their recommendations, the names of the proposed directors will be held in confidence.

The committee varied Recommendation C to include the words: subject to further due diligence being undertaken for consideration at the October Council Ordinary Meeting.

Recommendation

Moved by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic:

Seconded by Mayor Teresa Harding:

C. That in accordance with Rule 7.2(a) and Rule 7.3(b) of the Greenovate Constitution, and clause 5.4(a) of the Security Holders Agreement, together with Logan City Council and Redland City Council, Ipswich City Council appoint Candidate 3 as an Independent Director of Greenovate Pty Ltd A.C.N. 672 812 154 for a period of three (3) years as set out in Confidential Attachment 4, subject to further due diligence being undertaken for consideration at the October Council Ordinary Meeting.

E. If Logan City Council, Ipswich City Council and Redland City Council do not resolve to appoint at least two (2) Independent Directors to Greenovate Pty Ltd by 6 November 2024, the shareholder representative for the Council is authorised to:

a. execute a variation to the SHA in accordance with the amendment set out in Attachment 7;

b. pass a Securityholder resolution to replace the Constitution of Greenovate Pty Ltd with the amended Constitution as set out in Attachment 6; and

F. That upon the winding up of Greenovate Pty Ltd, the confidential attachments to the report titled Greenovate Pty Ltd Board Chair, be placed in the public records.

*Due to the confidential nature of these appointments and until such time as the other Councils have adopted their recommendations, the names of the proposed directors will be held in confidence.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Nil

MATTERS ARISING

Nil

PROCEDURAL MOTIONS AND FORMAL MATTERS

The meeting commenced at 4.01 pm.

The meeting closed at 4.45 pm.

**Refer Council Ordinary Meeting of 24 October 2024 for amendment

Environment and Sustainability Committee

Meeting Agenda

14 November

2024

Doc ID No: A10606080

ITEM: 3

SUBJECT: Little Liverpool Range INITIATIVE Progress Report

AUTHOR: Team Leader (Environment and Sustainability Education and Awareness)

DATE: 4 September 2024

Executive Summary

This is a report concerning the continued growth and achievements of the Little Liverpool Range Initiative since its inception in July 2016.

Recommendation/s

That the report in relation to the Little Liverpool Range Initiative Progress Report be received and its contents noted.

RELATED PARTIES

Queensland Trust for Nature

Turner Family Foundation

ifuture Theme

Natural and Sustainable

Purpose of Report/Background

The Little Liverpool Range extends approximately 62km to the north of the Great Dividing Range and is estimated to be around 46,000 hectares. The Range is home to a variety of native species of national, state and local significance including koala, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, powerful owl, glossy black cockatoo and swamp tea tree. With large areas of intact remnant vegetation, The Range also provides essential habitat connectivity between Main Range National Park and the D’Aguilar Ranges, linking key habitats within the Great Eastern Range.

In recognition of the importance of this landscape and the value of formalising a partnership, the Little Liverpool Range Initiative was formed in July 2016 and has been built on a collaborative partnership between Ipswich City Council, Queensland Trust for Nature and the Turner Family Foundation. The Initiative is comprised of landholder and community representatives, local councils, natural resource management groups, research institutions, and conservation organisations who work collaboratively to coordinate land management efforts at a regional scale, ensuring the natural beauty, wildlife and landscapes of the Little Liverpool Range are maintained for future generations.

Facilitating land stewardship is a key objective of the Initiative and over the years, it has connected landholders with Natural Resource Management Groups to support on-ground works including ecological restoration works, biocontrol releases, fire management, data collection and supplementary habitat. Environmental education has been a priority for the Initiative by empowering landholders with knowledge and resources for managing remnant or recovering ecosystems.

Governance

In recognition of the Initiative’s natural growth, governance documentation was established and has been revised to ensure consistent and stable strategic delivery of support to landholders could be managed and maintained in a clear and transparent way.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (attachment 2) outlines the agreed condition of the funding arrangement between Council, Turner Family Foundation and Queensland Trust for Nature over three (3) years which has been extended since 2016 and the value of contributions increased. The MOU is due for review in 2026.

The Terms of Reference document (attachment 3) outlines the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and identifies joint activities and implements long term arrangements for continuing to deliver on the Strategic plan.

Little Liverpool Range Initiative Strategic Plan (attachment 1) provides guidance and outlines a vision and key objectives to facilitate on-ground stewardship which include the following and is further detailed in Attachment 1 as:

· Protect existing habitat

· Facilitate land stewardship

· Restore degraded habitat

· Support locally rare and threatened species

· Increase community awareness

Resourcing

· The Initiative is delivered by one Council Officer 2 days per week, this position is currently vacant and awaiting recruitment.

· Turner Family Foundation and Queensland Trust for Nature provide an annual financial contribution towards materials and services and in-kind contributions towards achieving the Strategic Plan.

· External revenue from several successful grant applications is applied to specific projects, Queensland Government Citizen Science funding and focussed on threatened species recovery which funded community nest box program and aligns with the strategic plan.

Working Group Members

· Somerset Regional Council

· Scenic Rim Regional Council

· Lockyer Valley Regional Council

· University of Southern Queensland

· Healthy Land and Water

· Landholder Representative in the Range

Partnerships

· University of Queensland student projects.

o One existing project delivering a project on raising the profile of native grasses in the Range with project sites in Mount Grandchester Conservation Estate

· Great Eastern Ranges

o Future partnership with Great Eastern Ranges is being negotiated between Great Eastern Ranges, Council Officers and Funding Partners.

Measuring Success

Upskilling and educating landholders are key drivers for empowering the little Liverpool range community to deliver sustainable land management, the following data is used to measure the growth and success of the Initiative.

Membership

· 50 landholders are currently actively engaged in the Initiative covering over 5000ha across the Range

Engagement

· Over 240 landholders have attended more than 17 educational workshops since 2021

· 550 Facebook followers

· 192 Instagram followers

· Quarterly electronic newsletters

· Two Great Southern BioBlitz

Data collection projects

· Nest Box monitoring project

· Over 30 next boxes have been installed on private properties in the Range to support ecologically significant species including microbats, gliders, phascogales, powerful owls and glossy black cockatoos

· iNaturalist Project delivered through the Great Southern Bioblitz, the Bioblitz is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.

· The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. The two Bioblitz collected the following data

o 13,573 observations

o 2,448 different species recorded

o 52 iNaturalist members

The successful governance structure of the Initiative and led by a qualified Officer, has leveraged the opportunity for cross boundary and multi-disciplinary collaboration and conservation at a landscape scale. The ongoing support of all parties through consistent consultation has allowed for the successful delivery of key strategic objectives to connect landscapes and corridors.

Legal IMPLICATIONS

This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following legislative provisions:

Local Government Act 2009

policy implications

The matter of this report is consistent with the Natural Environment Policy.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no risks associated with the recommendation to receive this report.

Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

Allocated operational budget 2024-2025 financial year

Annual contributions:

· Ipswich City Council (ICC)

· Turner Family Foundation (TFF)

· Queensland Trust for Nature (QTFN)

COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION

· Consultation with Turner Family Foundation and Queensland Trust for Nature is ongoing

· Consultation with working group members occurs quarterly

Conclusion

The growth of the Little Liverpool Range Initiative through memberships, partnerships and financial contributions has highlighted the importance placed on stewardship within landscape conservation. Collaboration has been a key driver in the successful operational delivery of the Strategic Plan. The Initiative continues to connect people, landscapes and ecosystems to conserve local and regional biodiversity for future generations.

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTS

RECEIVE AND NOTE REPORT

The Recommendation states that the report be received and the contents noted. The decision to receive and note the report does not limit human rights. Therefore, the decision is compatible with human rights.

Attachments and Confidential Background Papers

1.	Little Liverpool Range Strategic Plan ⇩
2.	LLRI Memorandum of Understanding ⇩
3.	LLRI Terms of Reference ⇩

Stephani Grove

Team Leader (Environment and Sustainability Education and Awareness)

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

Phil A. Smith

Manager, Natural Environment

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

Kaye Cavanagh

General Manager (Environment and Sustainability)

“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”

Environment and Sustainability Committee

Meeting Agenda

14 November

2024

Doc ID No: A10397237

ITEM: 4

SUBJECT: Community disaster risk awareness education

AUTHOR: Disaster Management Coordinator

DATE: 11 September 2024

Executive Summary

Recommendation/s

That the report on Community Disaster Risk Awareness Education be received and the contents noted.

RELATED PARTIES

There was no declaration of conflicts of interest.

ifuture Theme

Safe, Inclusive and Creative

Purpose of Report/Background

In January 2022, Council applied for Commonwealth funding through the Preparing Australian Communities Program (PACP). The overall aim of the PACP project in Ipswich was to design and deliver disaster risk awareness and preparedness education for Ipswich communities. The PACP project had three (3) key deliverables:

1. undertake independent market research to determine the community’s current level of awareness and preparedness;

2. prepare a literature review to understand current and emerging trends in disaster education and communication; and

3. to design and deliver an education and awareness program.

Essential to the success of the PACP project was the funding of a dedicated project officer to deliver the work. This not only enabled council’s existing Emergency Management team to continue delivering business-as-usual operations, but also demonstrated that a dedicated resource would significantly improve council’s ability to interact with community members and positively influence their disaster risk-related behaviour. Evaluation and reporting completed throughout the project's life shows that this additional officer enabled council to deliver community education at 54 events and reach approximately 6,900 people. It is important to note that this volume of community interaction is unachievable within existing resources.

The first PACP project deliverable was a literature review to understand the current and emerging best practice methods for community education. Integrating new and virtual technologies was a standout feature for embedding learnings from disaster education programs. The literature review considered over 120 articles; discussed a variety of key and emerging themes; and made several recommendations. The recommendations – regular reviews and market research, continued in-person activities, youth-focused education and incorporation of emerging technologies – will be implemented as far as practicable within existing resources; however, to achieve the desired outcomes would require ongoing funding of a dedicated community education officer.

The second PACP project deliverable was to undertake independent market research. A market research consultant was engaged to deliver this piece of work with the findings shared in a previous committee report (as such, they will not be detailed here). The insights gained from this market research have been invaluable in enabling council to better understand the community’s risk awareness and preparedness behaviours, and to tailor and target communication and education activities accordingly. It would be valuable to undertake this research again in three (3) to five (5) years’ time, to understand how risk awareness and preparedness behaviours have changed, particularly given the anticipated population growth for Ipswich.

The results of the market research have been used to inform various pieces of work, including achievement of the third and final PACP deliverable: design and delivery of an education and awareness program. The literature review confirmed that many of council’s existing approaches and collateral were in line with good practice and therefore required limited re-design. The insights from the literature review and the market research have informed elements of the program delivery including council’s annual higher-risk weather season awareness campaigns (for both 2023-2024 and 2024-2025); a complete review and update of disaster management collateral and translation of updated disaster management collateral into 11 languages.

Legal IMPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

policy implications

This report and its recommendations are consistent with the following policy provisions: Disaster Management Policy

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

The project aimed to increase disaster risk awareness in the Ipswich community in an effort reduce the impact of disasters.

Financial/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

This project was primarily funded through the PACP grant funding program, administered by the National Emergency Management Agency, to the value of $269,000. As a result, a variety of council collateral that was re-designed and printed will feature the Commonwealth coat of arms or acknowledgement statement.

Note that this funding is entirely independent of the 2022 flood event and any associated disaster recovery funding arrangements.

COMMUNITY and OTHER CONSULTATION

The community has been involved through market research (540 people) and the education and awareness activities undertaken throughout the two-year life of the project (~6,900 people). Their feedback has contributed as detailed in the body of this report.

It is important to note that the volume of council’s disaster-related community education activities increased substantially as a result of the additional capacity created by this project. As such, while face-to-face community education will continue into the future with existing resources, the volume will be significantly less due to the loss of the project officer.

Conclusion

The insights gleaned at all stages of the project, including the significant volume of invaluable community education achieved through the funding of an additional officer, have and will continue to inform council’s disaster risk awareness and preparedness program.

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS

HUMAN RIGHTS IMPACTS

RECEIVE AND NOTE REPORT

Kristie Mckenna

Disaster Management Coordinator

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

Matthew Pinder

Disaster and Natural Hazards Manager

I concur with the recommendations contained in this report.

Kaye Cavanagh

General Manager (Environment and Sustainability)

“Together, we proudly enhance the quality of life for our community”