Ordinary minutes, 17 July 2025

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                               17 JULY 2025


8.2   BRIAN O'CONNOR
      QUESTION 1
      Can the council explain the process and benefits of the workshop procedures involving
      relevant council staff and councillors when considering proposed new projects, initiatives and
      policy under development?
      RESPONSE FROM LARRY SENGSTOCK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
      Councillor Workshops and Briefings are an effective way of assisting Councillors to
      understand and explore often complex issues and projects. Whilst they are not a decision-
      making forum, workshops and briefings are useful for a range of reasons including:
       enabling Councillors to be briefed on complex matters;
       providing training for Councillors on roles and responsibilities, new legislation etc;
       allowing Councillors to share information about matters they are currently dealing with;
       providing a forum to explore ideas and discuss concepts in the lead up to developing new
          strategies and policies;
       being briefed by staff on current operational matters.
      Staff may seek feedback from Councillors and/or provide information to Councillors. Officers
      provide Councillors with advice as well as any relevant background material and follow up
      information e.g. presentations or other information discussed at a workshop. Council has an
      approved Briefing Session and Workshop Policy which is available on Council’s website
      - Councillor Briefing Sessions and Workshops (Non Statutory Meetings) Policy(PDF, 164KB)

      QUESTION 2
      Can Noosa Council outline the works that were to have proceeded in the 2024-25 financial
      year described by Mayor Frank Wilkie in respect of the Pomona Place Plan in a statement
      published first on the council website on 24 March 2025 thus: “We’ve included funds in the
      current budget to fill missing pedestrian links between the high school campus and the
      village.’’ And did those scheduled works include shared pedestrian/bicycle path links between
      Pavillion Street and Summit Road via Meridan Court in 2024-25 and along Summit Road to
      the Pomona Campus of the Noosa District State High School in 2025-26?
      RESPONSE FROM RESPONSE FROM SHAUN WALSH DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE
      SERVICES
      Thank you for the question. The works that we included in the 24/25 budget for is a 2.5metre
      wide shared pathway along Summit Road from the main entry of the Pomona Secondary
      College through to Page Court and these works are scheduled for construction in 2025/26
      financial year. This route provides a safer defined route from the secondary college to the
      Pomona town centre along the new footpath, through the low-speed environment of Page
      Court and Meridan Court and along the existing footpaths on Pavillion Street, Cooroora Creek
      Park and the centre of town. This initial work is a first step towards improved footpaths in town
      desired by the community from the Pomona Place Making Project. In this regard Council has
      recently been successful in obtaining a grant from the Queensland Department of Transport
      and Main Roads for a Walking Network Plan to better define future desired footpath works by
      the community and assist in gaining grant funds for future works. Council looks forward to
      future community engagement about the Pomona Walking Network Plan.



8.3   PAT SPICER
      QUESTION 1
      With what other Community Housing Provider, other than Coast2Bay, has Noosa Council
      had discussions, if ever, about provision of social and affordable housing in Noosa Shire?
      RESPONSE FROM KIM RAWLINGS, DIRECTOR STRATEGY AND ENVIRONMENT
      Over the last 10 years Noosa Council has had discussions with at least a dozen Registered
      Community Housing Providers, some of whom have indicated an interest in building or
      acquiring housing in Noosa Shire. Some of these providers are expert in specific forms of
      housing such as housing for people with disabilities, seniors, people escaping domestic or