2018-07-16 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                     16 JULY 2018


 Council provided ongoing support to the Boomerang Alliance in their campaign for a Plastic
   Free Noosa.
 Staff are currently working to develop a suite of management plans for bushland reserve
   areas within the Shire. Approximately 30 plans were completed in the last 12 months and the
   Council also adopted a comprehensive set of Community Bushcare Operational Guidelines in
   April 2018. Council also finalised its policy on the management / removal of Trees on Public
   Land.
 Council is implementing its Zero Emissions Strategy focused on achieving net zero emissions
   by 2026. This was a major initiative of Mayor Wellington and Council considered a report by
   ERM in relation to the energy use of nine of Council’s largest energy producing sites.
   Contracts were let for the installation of solar panels at most of the major Council buildings at
   a cost of approximately $250,000. This will reduce both Council’s emissions and also our
   ongoing electricity costs.
 Council’s new waste management contract
   commenced in September 2017. This new
   contract (awarded to Cleanaway for the
   period 2017 - 2024 at an approximate cost
   of $46 million) is the largest contract the
   Council manages. The introduction of a
   mandated green waste recycling bin in
   urban areas of the Shire was seamless.
   This will reduce green waste being buried in
   the landfill, thus significantly reducing
   methane gas was a smooth process with
   significant    communication     with    our
   community to ensure that service delivery.
 Council has also successfully negotiated for
   the ongoing processing and sale of our
   recyclable waste following the 2017 decision of the Chinese government to discontinue taking
   Australian recyclable materials. At the same time, we have responded to the announcement
   by the State government to introduce a $70 per tonne landfill levy from early 2019.
 Council is continuing the development of a Climate Hazard Adaption Plan. This project (being
   funded by the State via LGAQ) is aiming to develop both a Climate Hazard Adaption Plan
   and a Climate Change Adaption Plan. Research and community engagement has been
   undertaken in 2017/18 for the CHAP.
 Work on our Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan has continued in 2017/18. This included
   significant media coverage and school education sessions.
 Council awarded tenders in September 2017 for the ongoing environmental monitoring of
   Council owned landfills including both current and closed landfills. This ensures that Council
   meets its environmental obligations in relation to its landfills (both current and closed).
 Council issued a new 7-year licence to operate the Recycling and Sales Facility at the
   Eumundi Road Resource Recovery Facility to Resource Recovery Australia. This decision
   saw the closure of the Brightside Tip Shop and the launch of Noosa Reviva on 3 July 2018.
 Council approved a further 3-year funding agreement with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve
   Foundation in June 2018. During 2017/18, Council also provided $250,000 to the Noosa
   Biosphere Reserve Foundation for projects that advance the purpose of the Noosa Biosphere
   Reserve as well as $140,000 for operational expenses (in accordance with the funding
   agreement in place until 30 June 2018).
 Council has addressed a range of significant planning and environment applications during
   the last 12 months. During that period, Council approved 98.5% of planning applications.

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