2018-09-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

Page 15 of 28

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        To putin context our vision for the future of
       Noosa Shire, it is important to understand
       our history, our journey and our story.

                                                                 During the 1990s and 2000s, Noosa Shire also
                                                                 focused on building community capacity.       This
         Noosa Shire covers an area of 870 km?. The land is      included the development of major community
         Kabi Kabi land and was looked after for thousands of    infrastructure such as libraries, an aquatic centre
         years by the Kabi Kabi people.                          and sporting facilities.
         The early settlement period saw a focus on timber       However,   the  focus  was   on   more  than  just
         and fishing as well as being a gateway to the Gympie    community infrastructure.   There was significant
         goldfields.                                             focus on community engagement, with the Noosa
                                                                 community becoming intimately involved in decision
         Noosa Shire story began to emerge.                      2000s, the focus began to include the diversification
           ;                        .                   .        of the Noosa economy. This was a natural evolution
         Like many coastal communities, Noosa was facing         towards an emphasis on the triple bottom line. The
         choices about how/it would develop.     The,1960s       Shire developed its first economic plan and sought
         and 1990s, saw significant environmental, battles       to encourage smart industries that would reduce our
         where the Noosa community fought to retain Noosa        reliance on tourism
         Shire as a unique place — unfettered by rampant
         development.                                            There was a real sense of alignment between the
                    ;                   :           ;            Council and the community in the 2000s. This was
         These environmental battles defined that period and     highlighted when the State government decided to
         culminated in the 1997 Strategic Plan. This provided    amalgamate Noosa Shire with shires to the south
         a town planning framework to ensure that Noosa          The Noosa community fought to stop that decision
         would differentiate itself from other places.           in 2008 and rallied to protect their Shire. Despite
                                  .        .        .            failing to win the initial campaign in 2008, the Noosa
         The concept of a population carrying capacity was                   a      .              .         .
         :                     ;     ‘   wee         om          community did not give up and continued the fight for
         introduced together with height limits on buildings.                 s     :     :     ;      3
                   :                  i                    ‘     what they believed in. This culminated in the Noosa
         Noosa Shire focused on the “Noosa look and feel            :    :           5
             :         :                                         Shire being re-established on 1 January 2014.
         design of public spaces.
                   ,         ;              a    :      ,        The first term of the new Council was focused on
         Noosa Shire was an innovator at this time, introducing           ,             ‘                 '
                   a                                             re-establishment — getting the new Council up and
         outdoor dining to Queensland. The focus was both             s                               5       -
         on   protecting the natural environment and also        fanning: ‘There was a strong emplaslson Paluiny
             P        g .    .     .                    .        a sound financial platform to ensure Council’s long
         creating a special built environment for Noosa Shire.             Sa
                                                                 term sustainability.

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