TOURISM NOOSA FUNDING AND PERFORMANCE DEED 2026–2029 · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                           13 APRIL 2026


The Funding Deed requires TN to evolve its activities, governance and performance focus to embed
the vision, principles and priority actions of the DMP. This includes aligning destination marketing
and storytelling with “values over volume”, supporting behaviour-change initiatives for visitors and
industry, strengthening sustainability and regenerative tourism practices, and building industry
capability to deliver experiences consistent with what Noosa can sustainably support.

TN remains responsible for delivering core tourism functions on behalf of Council, including
destination marketing and brand stewardship, trade and business events activity, visitor information
services, research and insights, industry development and partnerships. However, these functions
must now be delivered through a DMP lens, with clear obligations to demonstrate how activities
contribute to community outcomes, environmental stewardship and economic resilience.

The Funding Deed also reinforces TN’s obligations to operate transparently, collaborate closely with
Council, and participate constructively in emerging destination governance arrangements, including
engagement with the Destination Stewardship Council once established. Annual review mechanisms
within the Funding Deed ensure TN’s role and priorities can be refined over time to remain aligned
with Council policy, the DMP and evolving community expectations.

The Tourism Noosa Funding Deed
The proposed TN Funding Deed establishes a three-year funding and performance framework for
the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029, providing certainty of funding while strengthening
accountability for outcomes.

Council will provide $2.0 million per annum (ex GST) to TN, paid in three instalments, subject to
annual CPI indexation, capped at 3.5%, applied on each anniversary of the Term. For clarity, the
CPI indexation is applied to year’s two and three only. The first instalment is payable early in the
financial year, with the second instalment subject to review of the Annual Outcomes Report against
KPIs and Target Metrics, and the final (third) yearly instalment paid at the end of January of the
relevant financial year.

A performance-based adjustment of up to $350,000, applied where Council determines, based on
the prior year’s performance, that KPIs have not been fully achieved now forms part of the Deed
provisions. This assessment is informed by TN’s Annual Outcome Report, due by 31 July each year,
and applies a clear points-based sliding-scale methodology linked to KPI achievement and priority
tiers, as set out in Schedule 2.

The Funding Deed sets out strengthened reporting and accountability requirements, including
quarterly progress reports (within 10 business days of quarter end) and the Annual Outcome Report,
which consolidates performance, financial reporting and delivery against the Agreed Priorities and
KPIs. These reporting mechanisms provide Council with timely oversight and a transparent basis for
assessing value for money.

Schedule 1 – Agreed Priorities, KPIs and Target Metrics (and Schedule 2 – Performance
Adjustment methodology)
Schedule 1 of the Funding Deed provides a single, consolidated performance framework that links
Council funding to Agreed Priorities, KPIs and Target Metrics, with Schedule 2 establishing the
method by which performance-based funding adjustments are calculated. This unified structure is
aligned to the DMP and the TN Roadmap.

The Schedule is organised across defined service areas, including strategy and governance
alignment, destination marketing and brand stewardship, industry capability and experience
development, trade and business events, visitor services, research and insights, and partnerships
and revenue diversification. For each area, the Schedule specifies clear deliverables, KPIs and
objective Target Metrics, ensuring expectations are explicit and assessable.

Importantly, the Funding Deed includes a structured annual review mechanism, allowing Council