Annual Report 2017-18

 Introduction
                                                   Meanwhile, at Peregian, works were
                                                   completed on our business accelerator, known
                                                   as the Peregian Digital Hub. As the financial
                                                   year drew to a close, the Hub was humming
                                                   with tenants and numerous tech events.
                                                   In the spirit of cooperation, Council also
                                                   established a first for the Shire: the
                                                   Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference
                                                   Group. This brings together 15 business,
                                                   community and environmental groups as well
                                                   as Tourism Noosa and Council to consider
                                                   the challenges we face around our success
 A message from our Mayor                          as a premier tourist destination. The work by
                                                   this broad assemblage of players will continue
 The 2017-18 financial year saw Council
                                                   into the new financial year. Never before have
 complete a remarkable workload. I am sure
                                                   so many local representatives been asked to
 many staff are still a tad breathless from the
                                                   tackle such a key issue for our locale.
 effort!
                                                   Back to core Council business, and 2017-18
 One of our more significant achievements
                                                   found Council completing the first draft of the
 for the year was also a more left-field project
                                                   new Noosa Planning Scheme and thereafter
 for Council. The purchase of land beside
                                                   delivering this massive document to the State
 the Noosa River known as John’s Landing
                                                   for their first interest check. The next stage
 allowed Council to resolve perhaps the most
                                                   will be further public consultation in 2018-19,
 pressing social issue in the Shire. With the
                                                   before going back to the State for gazettal.
 help of our Noosa Community Roundtable,
 plus a wonderful project officer, we were able      And, while we’re talking planning, during
 to assist more than 90 people to find better       the year Council received 503 development
 accommodation. As a result, many lives were       applications and approved 98.5% of them.
 significantly improved and a host of children      Council also enjoyed considerable success in
 were reacquainted with school life. We entered    the Planning & Environment Court defending
 this project with some trepidation. Thankfully,   numerous appeal cases.
 the outcomes exceeded our expectations.
                                                   Following extensive consultation and a good
 Another big picture project was the negotiation   deal of debate, the Noosaville Foreshore Land
 over the Yurol/Ringtail Forest Conservation       Use Master Plan was finally completed. So
 Project. This unique and innovative four-         too was a Noosa Main Beach Events Policy to
 way deal between HQ Plantations, the State        help guide the future of activities at one of our
 Government, Noosa Parks Association and           key assets.
 the Council will see 2,400 hectares of land
 added to the conservation estate. Much of it      We worked extensively on our transport
 will be rehabilitated plantation land, and all    solutions for the Shire, with significant data
 will eventually finish up as national park. The    collection undertaken. Various project groups,
 scale and audacity of this complex project is     consultants and experts all grappled with
 extraordinary, with the end result providing      our transport issues. This is no easy nut to
 koala habitat and environmental connectivity      crack, and our ongoing research is continually
 between the hinterland and the Cooloola           challenging assumptions about the best way
 section of the Great Sandy National Park.         forward. Meanwhile, the initial walk-and-
                                                   ride-to-school program is having significant
                                                   success.



Page 4 | 2017-2018 Annual Report