2015-05-04 Attachment 1 to Item 1 General Committee Agenda - MCU14 0009 Referral Agency Response

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                             4 MAY 2015



4                        UPDATE ON TOURISM AND PROPOSED FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH TOURISM
                         NOOSA
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                          Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                                Executive Office

Index                           ECM/ Subject/ Tourism Noosa

Attachments                     Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting
dated 4 May 2015 and authorise the Chief Executive Officer to enter into a 2 year funding
agreement with Tourism Noosa in accordance with the proposed terms and conditions outlined in
the report.


REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide the Council with an update on issues associated with
tourism and in particular, some tourism related governance issues, the role of Tourism Noosa,
the role of Sunshine Coast Destination Limited (SCDL) and proposed ongoing funding
arrangements via Council’s Tourism Levy.

Background

Council has had in place a Tourism Levy for nearly 15 years. The levy was requested by the
tourism industry to assist in funding tourism related operations with a particular focus on
marketing, visitor information centres, member development programs etc. The purpose of the
levy has not varied significantly over the years but the methodology used to determine which
ratepayers pay the levy has changed with the Sunshine Coast Council applying a uniform
methodology across the region during the amalgamation period. There has been no change to
that approach since de-amalgamation.

The total amount collected by the Tourism Levy is $2.516 million each year. The levy applies to
ratepayers as follows:

                                                           Cents per dollar of
                                                                                 Minimum
Description of Land                                         Rateable Value
                                                                                 (annual)
                                                               (annual)
A. Transitory Accommodation - Urban                              0.2272           $60.00
B. Transitory Accommodation - Rural                              0.1704           $60.00
C. Commercial and Industrial - Urban                             0.1136           $60.00
D. Commercial and Industrial - Rural                             0.0852           $60.00
E. Iconic Tourism                                                0.2272           $60.00




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