As part of council’s Enviroplan initiative there are a number of partnerships available between landholders and council. These partnerships encourage and assist Ipswich’s landholders to manage, enhance and protect ecosystems in order to conserve flora and fauna on their properties.
Objectives
- Foster stewardship and environmental advocacy
- Facilitate on-ground conservation outcomes and provide a reliable platform for conservation on private land
- Support and up-skill private landholders through education, resources and knowledge-sharing
- Actively engage with landholders in strategic priority areas as defined by the Nature Conservation Strategy and Waterway Health Strategy
- Engage with council and community stakeholders to achieve broad environmental outcomes
How to apply
To apply for the Habitat Gardens partnership:
- Fill in the application form online. This will automatically send your application to council. This is the preferred method.
- Fill in the Application Form (PDF, 196.9 KB) and email to ICCapplications@ipswich.qld.gov.au or send to PO Box 191, Ipswich, QLD 4305.
To apply for any other partnership type, please complete the Expression of Interest Form.
More information
- Read the Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program Brochure (PDF, 8.0 MB)
- Read the Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program Guidelines (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Council’s Free Plant Program provides free plants to residents. Landowners with a Landholder Conservation Partnership are eligible for extra plants
- Landholder partners are supported through the Nature Conservation Grants. Nature Conservation Grant applicant guidelines for 2020/21 (PDF, 561.7 KB)
- A range of fact sheets, booklets and brochures are available on the Environmental Education page
- Council offers a range of environmental volunteering opportunities across Ipswich. Find out more at the Volunteer Portal.
Partnership program types
Habitat Gardens
This is an urban partnership designed to help people with smaller blocks to still make a positive contribution to Ipswich’s environmental outcomes.
Eligibility criteria
Properties can be any size and in any Planning Scheme or Nature Conservation zone. However properties that are in Habitat Gardens are ineligible for other partnerships.
Requirements
- Intent to remove all environmental weeds and replace with native species
- Participation in neighbourhood meetings, workshops or online forum
- Intent improve sustainable practices
- 5 year commitment with the option to renew
- Submission of report every 5 years
Incentives
- Electronic quarterly updates
- Workshops and other networking opportunities
- Resources
- Access to a closed communication group through Shape Your Ipswich
- 20 free plants per year
Land for Wildlife
Land for Wildlife is an established program supported by many councils that helps private landholders who voluntarily provide and enhance habitat for native wildlife on their properties. It provides recognition for landholders committed to conserving the environment, even though the property may be managed primarily for other purposes, e.g. grazing.
There are two types of Land For Wildlife partnership – Full Registration and Working Towards.
Eligibility criteria
Properties must have an agreement area of more than 1 hectare to participate. Properties can be within any Planning Scheme or Nature Conservation zone. Properties are evaluated for vegetation values and condition. Council partners with landowners who have an existing commitment to protecting intact vegetation, and can demonstrate a future management intent.
Requirements
- Submission of an annual report for incentives
Incentives
- Development of a Property Management Plan with council program officers, reviewed every five (5) years
- Free plants as per Property Management Plan
- Land for Wildlife regional newsletter and electronic monthly update
- 3-4 workshops per year
- Site visits from council program officer every 1-2 years
Biodiversity Conservation Agreement
The Biodiversity Conservation Agreement is suited for landowners with a commitment to a high level of protection through the Ipswich Planning Scheme zones for intact vegetation.
Eligibility criteria
Properties need to provide an agreement area more than 1 hectare to participate and will be assessed for their vegetation values and condition. Council partners with landowners who have an existing commitment to protecting intact vegetation, and can demonstrate a future management intent.
Properties must also be within specified zones:
- Planning Scheme - Rural E (Special Land Management), Rural D (Conservation) or have intent to change to one of these zones
- Nature Conservation Strategy Zone – Priority Areas for Conservation and Rehabilitation, Regional Corridors or Priority Local Corridors
Requirements
- Development of a Property Management Plan with council program officer, reviewed every five (5) year
- Submission of an annual report for incentives
Incentives
- Nature Conservation Grant: Annual eligibility for up to $8000. Requires application process with acquittal report
- Free plants as per Property Management Plan
- 3-4 workshops per year
- Site visits from council program officer every 1-2 years
Corridor Conservation Agreement
The Corridor Conservation Agreement is suited for landowners with a commitment restoring fragmented landscapes or waterway corridors.
Eligibility criteria
Any size property can participate, but will be assessed for environmental values and condition. Council partners with landowners who have an existing commitment to protecting intact vegetation, and can demonstrate a future management intent.
Properties can be within any Planning Scheme Zone, but must be within one of the Nature Conservation Strategy Zones – Priority Areas for Conservation and Rehabilitation, Regional Corridors or Priority Local Corridors.
Requirements
- Development of a Property Management Plan with council program officer, reviewed every five (5) years
- Submission of an annual report for incentives
Incentives
- Nature Conservation Grant: Annual eligibility for up to $8000. Requires application process with acquittal report
- Free plants as per Property Management Plan
- 3-4 workshops per year
- Site visits from council program officer every 1-2 years
Voluntary Conservation Covenant
The Conservation Covenant is a permanent protection mechanism through the Land Titles Act in perpetuity for intact vegetation.
Eligibility criteria
The area covered by the agreement must be greater than 1ha. Properties will be assessed for their vegetation and/or waterway values and condition. Council partners with landowners who have an existing commitment to protecting intact vegetation, and can demonstrate a future management intent.
The terms of the Agreement will be developed in alignment with the zone of your property according to the Ipswich Planning Scheme and the management objectives according to the Nature Conservation Strategy.
These will be property specific agreements and may be different depending on the below criteria.
Properties must also be within specified zones:
- Planning Scheme - Rural E (Special Land Management, Rural D (Conservation) or intent to change to these zones
- Nature Conservation Strategy Zone – Priority Areas for Conservation and Rehabilitation, Regional Corridors or Priority Local Corridors
Requirements
- Development of a Project Management Plan with council program officer
Incentives
- Nature Conservation Grant - Annual eligibility for up to $8000. Requires application process with acquittal report
- Free plants as per Property Management Plan
- Voluntary Conservation Covenant Bursary of up to $2000 per financial year.