Lismore biodiversity strategy a good buy: council ecologist

LISMORE City Council ecologist Theresa Adams is adamant ratepayers are getting their money’s worth with the biodiversity management strategy.

LISMORE City Council ecologist Theresa Adams is adamant ratepayers are getting their money's worth with the biodiversity management strategy.

Ms Adams said if the strategy proceeds, rural landholders will see incentives to protect conservation areas, while urban ratepayers will see cleaner roadsides, more green corridors and improved walking tracks in bushland reserves.

"Developing a (biodiversity management strategy) is a common method used by local governments to improve and enhance biodiversity, which has been proven to work," she said.

• DRAFT BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
• WHAT IT COSTS AND HOW THE SPECIAL RATE VARIATION WOULD WORK
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"The BMS contains 63 actions - we are achieving a lot and focussing funding where it's needed. Instead of putting out spot fires, we have a sensible plan for systematic improvement.

"We would see better walking tracks in urban bushlands, more ecologically sustainable developments, green corridors to provide connectivity for our native flora and fauna, protection and improvement of endangered ecological communities and threatened species habitat, more educational community events and field days for landholders, regenerated riverbanks and more."

Ms Adams conceded ratepayers are seemingly split on whether to proceed with the strategy.

"Some farmers are very supportive, and some are vehemently opposed to it," she said.

"I think there is some misinformation out there about locking up land and this sort of thing that can scare farmers and make it very hard for us to communicate the reality about the BMS, which provides opportunities such as rate rebates and incentives for them to improve their land."

Ms Adams said farmers who do support the strategy "understand that improving the environment on their farms is good for the land and therefore good for their agribusiness".

She noted the council has received negative feedback from ratepayers who feel rates are already too high, but positive feedback in regards to the strategy's diversity and investment in biodiversity, which some say is well overdue.

Ms Adams believes if the strategy is not implemented there will be consequences.

"We would see weeds continue to choke our bushlands and riverbanks, feral and pest animals increase and continue to displace our native species, and a continued decline in water quality and the health of our river and creeks," she said.

"We would slow the progress toward encouraging best-practice ecologically sustainable development and land management, and see our endangered ecological communities and threatened species continue to decline."