Voluntary Conservation Agreements

Voluntary Conservation Agreements (VCAs) support landholders who want to permanently protect and actively improve native habitat on their properties.

What is a VCA?

A VCA is a legally binding agreement between a landholder and us that permanently protects the natural values of a designated area of a property. The protection can come from either a nature refuge or covenant. The area designated for protection will be rezoned to ‘Conservation’ under our City Plan.

Landholders choose the area they would like to permanently protect for conservation. Landholders with a VCA:

  • keep full control of their land and the right to enjoy it and
  • no one can enter the property without permission.

Support for landholders with a VCA

  • Rate donation: a 50 to 95% rate donation determined by how much of the property is protected
  • Cash incentive: $7000 paid when the VCA is executed and used as seed funding for the first year's round of on-ground management (reimbursed at the end of financial year)
  • Cash reimbursement: up to $7000 annual management assistance to engage contractors and carry out approved management activities in the conservation area, for example, ecological restoration
  • Management plan: tailored advice to guide the conservation area's management including:
    - annual property visits
    - vegetation assessments and management plans 
  • Ongoing support: more benefits offered through Land for Wildlife

Eligibility and how to apply

To be eligible for a VCA, a property must have significant natural values and be of adequate size.

To learn more about the scheme and find out if your property is eligible, contact our Conservation Partnerships Officer on 0424 778 713 or via email: conservationpartnerships@goldcoast.qld.gov.au.

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