Budget 2012-2013: Supporting a greener Ipswich

28 June 2012

IPSWICH City Council's highly successful Voluntary Conservation Agreements program will continue to deliver benefits for our local environment.

Ipswich City Council Environment and Conservation Committee Chairperson Councillor Heather Morrow said this innovative program continued to deliver excellent outcomes for Ipswich's environment.

"This city has a wonderful natural environment that we all enjoy and conserving it is a top priority for council," Cr Morrow said.

 "Council currently has over 200 voluntary private landholder partnerships, totally over 7,058 hectares of privately held bushland.

"These agreements between council and landholders support the conservation of natural bushland by working together to provide expert advice to landholders on conserving their land.

"In addition, landholders benefit from land management payments and the environmental weed control rebate.

"These direct payments mean that council is providing incentive for responsible land management. 

"Landholders are also eligible for significant financial incentives under the Environmental Incentive Program.

"These attractive incentives can include wildlife nesting boxes, extra free trees, water saving products and extra weed rebate for the year.

"The environmental incentive package has been designed to provide our conservation partners with extra support."

These schemes are funded through council's Enviroplan Levy.

"In addition to support for the comprehensive Voluntary Conservation Agreements council will also this year complete the purchase of $10 million worth of bushland to be held in trust for the enjoyment of the community through this levy," Cr Morrow said.

"This means council will hold more than 6000 hectares of land that we can all enjoy, making us a greener city and a more pleasant place to call home."

-ENDS-