2015-12-08 I&S Committee - Item 5 - Attach 1 - NOOSA SOCIAL STRATEGY

Community Facilities & Services

The Noosa Shire has a strong and active community                A large number of community service providers are
sector representing diverse interests and needs. There           headquartered outside of the Shire in regional centres
are approximately 300 not-for-profit community and               such as Maroochydore, Nambour and Gympie As a result
sporting organisations located within the Shire. These           Noosa Shire residents often have to travel to access
groups range in size and scale from small groups focussed        services.
on local activities to religious organisations with large
congregations and not-for-profit organisations delivering        Some of these service providers are actively exploring
services at a regional, state and national level.                the possibility of creating one stop shops to co locate
                                                                 multiple services across the Shire in order to better meet
Not-for-profit community organisations fill the gaps left        the needs of their clients, enhance information flow and
by the government and business sectors, often providing          achieve efficiencies of scale and better use of resources
direct assistance to the most vulnerable in the community.
Support from corporate sponsors and the community, as            The audit also identified that schools and private
well as government at all levels, is needed to sustain a         organisations have facilities that are often under-utilised
healthy not-for-profit sector.                                   on weekends, holiday periods or after school hours. The
                                                                 opportunity exists for these facilities to be made available
A preliminary audit of Noosa Shire facilities and services       for broader community purposes to help meet some of
was conducted in 2015. Evidence from the audit, as well          the excess demand for community meeting spaces.
as consultations with key stakeholders, indicates that
while there is limited demand for additional community           In order to meet the future needs of the Noosa
facilities in the Shire, the majority of facilities are ageing   communities, the Desired Standards of Service for Parks
and require not only increased maintenance but improved          and Land for Community Facilities should be reviewed.
functionality to allow them to better respond to changing        While Desired Standards of Service must be applied
service needs. Going forward there may be a need to              with caution, they provide a useful guide in ensuring an
rationalise under-utilised facilities or those deemed to be      equitable distribution of public facilities.
no longer fit for purpose to meet the changing needs of
the population.