2018-08-31 Special Meeting Minutes

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                 31 AUGUST 2018


 Department          Use Purpose          Findings
 Environment and     Environment land        Although the site contains endangered vegetation it has
 Sustainable         acquisition              not been identified to date in Council’s Conservation Land
 Development                                  Guideline which identifies significant properties of interest
                                              for purchase using Environment Levy funds
                     Economic                As an education hub the site may have some wider
                     Development              economic potential but that would require a substantial
                                              paying anchor tenant and a number of sub tenants to
                                              ensure the facility was viable for Council
                                             Some commercial expression of interest was received
                                              regarding potentially leasing the site should Council
                                              purchase (although not of anchor tenant size)
 Infrastructure      Transport               Council’s Transport Strategy implementation has recently
 Services                                     commenced. Opportunities for site use as a bus depot or
                                              use for other transport purposes (possibly a park and ride
                                              facility) were discussed.
                                             It is unlikely that the site would provide a long term solution
                                              as a secure bus storage yard or park and ride facility given
                                              the existing carpark configuration has insufficient
                                              hardstand space and other necessary infrastructure and
                                              would require major rework (likely to create environmental
                                              and planning conflicts)
 Corporate           Strategic land          Council’s Property Branch is about to commence a
 Services            acquisition              strategic review of Council land holding opportunities. The
                                              project has not advanced enough to provide any advice
                                              regarding the value or otherwise of the site as a strategic
                                              land acquisition

Potential Community Group use
Likely community group demand for the facility was investigated within the context of any anecdotal
examples of need in addition to understanding current availability of floor space in Tewantin and
also the broader Noosa area.
Council’s Community Development and Property branches advised that there are currently no
active discussions with any group seeking tenure arrangements within a Council facility (with recent
demand considered low). With respect to the availability of floor space in Council controlled
facilities in Tewantin, spare capacity current exists in both the recently completed Tait Duke
Cottage (with Council currently seeking community group interest for a lease arrangement), and
facilities at the Tewantin Sports Complex (with a number of buildings having spare capacity during
the week).
With respect to casual space available in other local Council facilities, capacity exists in the nearby
Wallace Park estate, in particular the Noosa Leisure Centre (three meeting rooms), with meeting
rooms also becoming available for hire in the Noosaville Library once the refurbishment is
completed in November. Meeting rooms are also currently available for use free of charge at the
Cooroy Library for not-for-profit community groups
Following recent enquiries regarding the availability of commercial and other non-Council facility
floor space in Tewantin, there are a number of opportunities for free casual use of meeting space
in the new Bendigo bank building, at the RSL and also the Japara Noosa aged care facility in
Moorindil Street. Other shire wide meeting space is available for hire (for example Tewantin CWA,
Tewantin Masons, Pomona Community House, Cooran Hall, Kin Kin Hall, public school halls,
Cooroy Hall etc.)




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