Council was proud to celebrate the achievements of the Kingborough Environmental Fund (KEF) at a conservation covenant in Oyster Cove.
The Mayor, Paula Wriedt said the Environmental Fund is an important initiative which supports the conservation of biodiversity and threatened species within the municipality.
“When land is developed in Kingborough sometimes native trees and plants, important for a healthy environment, are cleared,” Cr Wriedt said.
“As a last option, the Environmental Fund receives financial offsets from developments that cannot avoid removing important native plants and habitat, and when it’s not possible to protect bushland on the site.
“This is where Kingborough’s biodiversity offset scheme, allows economic growth and development to occur while balancing out any residual impacts of biodiversity loss at a different location.
“The offset funds collected when the land is developed are then reinvested by Council into local environmental projects, including the protection and restoration of bushland on private land.
“A key part of the fund is supporting landowners to create conservation covenants, which protects the same types of vegetation and habitat as were impacted by local developments.
“The bushland is then protected in perpetuity and landowners are supported by the Environmental Fund to undertake restoration work to improve the health of the covenant.
“Since 2018, the Kingborough Environmental Fund has protected over 240 hectares of bush.
“The fund has also supported native plantings on six hectares of land across several sites in Kingborough.
“After six years of implementation, over half of offsets received into the Environmental Fund have been spent.
“We have also met around 75% of our targets, and a significant portion of the remaining offsets will be directed towards the stewardship of these conservation covenants, including weed control, revegetation, and fencing.
“Landowners who protect their patch of bush through conservation covenants benefit from Council rate rebates, Land Tax exemptions, and stewardship support, including weed control, revegetation, and fencing.
“Council’s Biodiversity Offset Policy governs how financial offsets come into Council, while the Kingborough Environmental Fund ensures that these financial offsets are spent on like-for-like projects in an open and transparent manner.
“I’m really proud of the outcomes that this fund has achieved, and I hope to see it continue into the future.”
Local landowner Suzanne commended Council for their work on the program.
“We have been delighted to be involved in the Kingborough Environmental Fund and we commend Council’s officers on their strategic approach with the program,” Suzanne said.
“The attendance on the day was fantastic!”
For further information or to find out how offsets have been used please see Kingborough Environmental Fund – Kingborough Council
