2017-07-17 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   17 JULY 2017


 In one of the largest contracts our Council has entered into, Council awarded a new waste
   management contract to Cleanaway for the period 2017 - 2024 at an approximate cost of $46
   million. This contract covers the collection, disposal and recycling operations for the Eumundi
   Road Waste Recovery Centre and includes the introduction of a green waste recycling bin
   which will reduce green waste being buried in the landfill, thus significantly reducing methane
   gas.
 Council was successful in receiving a grant (managed by the Local Government Association
   of Queensland) for the development of a Climate Hazard Adaption Plan. A Project Officer has
   been appointed and work is currently underway to develop both a Climate Hazard Adaption
   Plan (year one) and a Climate Change Adaption Plan (year two).
 Council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Healthy Waterways and
   Catchments for the ongoing “Land for Wildlife” program. This program helps support property
   owners who care for their land to encourage environmental protections.
 Council undertook an environmental clean-up of asbestos which was dumped illegally on
   Walter Hay Drive.
 A systematic inspection of our industrial areas has been undertaken to identify any issues
   with run-off etc to local waterways. The detailed report has identified some key areas for
   improvement and the Council will be considering the option of introducing a licencing regime
   under our local laws.
 The Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan has been rolled out in 2016/17. This included
   significant media coverage and school education sessions.
 Council has entered into a contract for the purchase of Johns Landing (approximately 50 ha)
   in order to undertake the long-term protection of important environmental land on the Noosa
   River. Council is also working with the current owner of the property to assist with the
   transition to alternative housing for those residents living on the current site.
 Council has facilitated the approval processes for a project being funded by the Noosa
   Biosphere Reserve Foundation to re-establish oyster reefs in the Noosa River. This has
   entailed obtaining both town planning approval from Council and environmental approvals
   from the State government. In addition, Council also provided $250,000 to the Noosa
   Biosphere Reserve Foundation for projects that advance the purpose of the Noosa Biosphere
   Reserve.
 Council has addressed a range of significant planning and environment applications during
   the last 12 months. As can be seen from the table of statistics at the end of this report,
   Council approved 98.7% of planning applications. Some of the more interesting applications
   considered by Council during 2016/17 included:
   o Village Bicycle
   o   Proposal to extend a deck at the Noosa Marina
   o   Tewantin RSL
   o   Service Station at Taylor Court, Cooroy
   o   Proposed Elanda Point jetty
   o   90 Beach Road, Noosa North Shore
   o   A number of microbreweries and of course, a chocolate factory!
 Council had considerable success in the Planning and Environment Court with a significant
   victory for our Planning Scheme in the Noosa Civic case. The court supported Council’s
   position that it was inappropriate under the Planning Scheme to expand retail operations on
   that site. During 2016/17, the appellant in the poultry farm case also withdrew their appeal as
   did the appellant in the Service Station Centre appeal at the Good Shepherd Lutheran School
   site on Eumundi Road.




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