2021-06-08 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      8 JUNE 2021


2    AMENDMENTS TO COMMERCIAL USE OF COMMUNITY LAND POLICY

Author           Property Advisor, Denis Wallace
                 Corporate Services Department

Index            ECM/ 27.48 Council Policies/ 34.61 Commercial Use of Community Land

Attachments      1.    Amended Commercial Use of Community Land Policy – tracked
                       changes version
                 2.    Amended Commercial Use of Community Land Policy


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not Applicable

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Property Advisor to the Services & Organisation Committee
Meeting dated 8 June 2021 and agree to adopt the amended Commercial Use of Community Land
Policy included as Attachment 2 to the report.

REPORT
1. Purpose
The purpose of this report is to seek adoption of minor amendments to Council’s Commercial Use
of Community Land Policy to reflect the outcomes of the recent tender for new Commercial High
Use Permits from 2021 to 2026.
2. Background
Commercial use of public land is restricted under Noosa’s Local Laws and some limited
commercial activity is facilitated in accordance with Council’s Commercial Use of Community Land
Policy. The policy was adopted in 2014 and outlines an approach of prioritising passive community
recreation and use ahead of commercial requests to use public space. It provides for commercial
permits to be issued under two primary categories, being:
    Commercial High Use Permits – located in high use areas and allowing more intensive,
     ongoing commercial activity. Council currently supports 10 permits, including one “iconic
     lifetime permit” awarded to Hey Bill.
    Commercial Low Use Permits – located in other areas and allowing infrequent commercial
     activity of low intensity. Council currently supports 34 permits, comprising of fitness classes,
     itinerant food vendors and the like.
Council recently undertook a tender process for the High Use permits and agreed to award 9 new
permits for defined activities. Key outcomes of the tender process included:
A move from 3-year to 5-year permit terms to provide permittees greater business surety and ability
to better plan and invest. This change was supported by the State’s Department of Resources,
which oversees most matters under the Land Act 1994.
Seven commercial activities were supported across ten sites, with Kayak Tours/Hire discontinued
and no clear need identified to warrant new sites or activities.
3. Amendments to Council Policy
Per Council’s resolution at its May 2021 meeting, amendments to Council’s Commercial Use of
Community Land Policy are proposed to reflect the latest tender process. Marked-up and clean
versions of the amended policy are included in Attachments 1 and 2 respectively.


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