2021-04-15 Ordinary Meeting Minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                                       15 APRIL 2021


3   GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT – 12 APRIL 2021


2   PARK ROAD TEMPORARY PATH UPGRADE FURTHER INFORMATION
    The following material was presented to the meeting in relation to this item:
     Cr Wegener – images - refer to Attachment 1
     Cr Stockwell – table – refer to Attachment 2

    In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson provided the following
    declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
    I, Cr Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter due to my
    relationship with Andrew and Cathryn St Baker who reside in Park Road adjacent to where the pathway
    is located. My family have holidayed once with Andrew and Cathryn St Baker, my husband is close
    personal friends with Andrew St Baker and one of my election signs was located at Thomas Surfboards
    and Andrew St Baker is a joint owner of that business. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now
    leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on.

    In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wegener provided the following
    declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
    I, Cr Wegener, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter due to my
    association with Andrew St Baker who owns a property in Park Road, adjacent to the where the pathway
    is located. Andrew St Baker contacted me in May 2020 about the pathway in question which runs on
    the northern edge of his property. I went to meet with him and looked at the path and he told me the
    history of his dealings with Council. I contacted the Project Officer and passed on Mr. St Baker’s
    concerns. Later, I informally met the Project Officer on the boardwalk and, I believe, he told me that it
    will eventually come before Council. I have a perceived association with Mr. St Baker as I am a surfboard
    manufacturer and he is an owner of Thomas Surfboards and the Thomas Factory. I believe Mr. St Baker
    has had a fantastic influence on manufacturing in Noosa. In Council I have often congratulated the
    Thomas Factory and I have discussed the emerging Enterprise Business Zones which Mr. St Baker
    supports. During the election campaign Mr. St Baker allowed me to put an election core flute at the
    Thomas Surfboard Factory. I occasionally meet Mr. St Baker in the surf and have had two discussions
    on the Noosa Biosphere, the history of Noosa and the Bring Back the Fish campaign at his house, which
    is, obviously, right above the surf break. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe
    a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because I believe I do not have a close personal
    relationship with Mr St Baker. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will
    respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain in and participate in the decision.
    Council Resolution
    Moved:           Cr Stewart
    Seconded:        Cr Stockwell
    That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wegener and determine that it is in the public
    interest that Cr Wegener participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that Cr
    Wegener does not have a close personal relationship with Mr St Baker and therefore a reasonable
    person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
                                                                                   Carried unanimously.
    (Cr Wegener did not vote on the above motion)

    Motion
    Moved:              Cr Wegener
    Seconded:           Cr Finzel
    That Council note the report by the Special Projects Coordinator to the Services & Organisation
    Committee Meeting dated 6 April 2021 providing further design information on the temporary
    path which was constructed as part of the previously completed Park Road Boardwalk project,
    and request staff to remove the temporary path as soon as possible with funding for the
    removal to be sourced from other project savings or at a future budget review.


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