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 Natural Environment Policy 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 council@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 Seed Collection Program (PDF, 837KB)
- Read the Priority Species for seed collection (PDF, 248KB)
- Read the Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program Brochure (PDF, 8.0 MB)
- Read the Landholder Conservation Partnerships Program Guidelines (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Read the Voluntary Conservation Covenant Bursary applicant guidelines (PDF, 462.4 KB)
- Read the Resource Lending Agreement (PDF, 153.5 KB)
- Council’s Free Plant Program provides free plants to residents. Landowners with a Landholder Conservation Partnership are eligible for extra plants
- Council Nursery stocklist for VCA partners (PDF, 183.7 KB)(relevant to Property Management Plans)
- Landholder partners are supported through the Nature Conservation Grants. Read the Nature Conservation Grant Applicant Guidelines (PDF, 249.5 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 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. Properties that are in Habitat Gardens are ineligible for other partnerships.
Requirements
- Intent to remove all environmental weeds and replace with native species
- Willingness to actively engage in the program
- 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, where available
- 20 additional free plants per year
Landholder report
Once a Habitat Gardens member reaches the end of the five-year agreement, a report on their progress and feedback on the program is required for acquittal.
You can fill in the Habitat Gardens Landholder Report through the online survey or email the report document (PDF, 990.1 KB) (along with required images) to partnerships@ipswich.qld.gov.au.
Land for Wildlife
Land for Wildlife is an established program supported by many councils in South-East Queensland that helps private landholders who voluntarily protect and enhance habitat for native wildlife on their properties. It provides recognition for landholders committed to conserving the environment.
This is the only program permitted to be registered alongside Corridor Conservation Agreement, Biodiversity Conservation Agreement or the Voluntary Conservation Covenant on the same property.
Eligibility criteria
Properties must have an agreement area of more than 1 hectare to participate. Properties can be within any Planning Scheme 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 and program feedback
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
- Natural Environment Strategy Zone - regional corridor areas, high ecological significance wetlands, locally significant priority species habitat, core habitat, priority urban biodiversity corridor/nodes and mapped waterways and riparian corridors.
Requirements
- Development of a Property Management Plan with council program officer, reviewed every five (5) year
- Submission of an annual report for incentives and program feedback
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 or enhance existing vegetation, and can demonstrate a future management intent.
Properties can be within any Planning Scheme Zone, but must be within one of the Natural Environment Strategy zones - regional corridor areas, high ecological significance wetlands, locally significant priority species habiat, core habitat, priority urban biodiversity corridor/nodes and mapped waterways and riparian corridors.
Requirements
- Development of a Property Management Plan with council program officer, reviewed every five (5) years
- Submission of an annual report for incentives and program feedback
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 and restoration areas within strategic areas of high conservation significance.
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/or restoring fragmented landscapes, 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 Natural Environment 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
- Natural Environment Strategy zone - regional corridor areas, high ecological significance wetlands, locally significant priority species habitat, core habitat, priority urban biodiversity corridor/nodes and mapped waterways and riparian corridors.
Requirements
- Development of a Project Management Plan with council program officer
- Signing of a legally binding Covenant Agreement
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. Read the Voluntary Conservation Covenant Bursary applicant guidelines (PDF, 462.4 KB)