2017-05-24 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                  24 MAY 2017


Cash Reserve

Sufficient unrestricted cash reserves exist to accommodate this purchase. Council’s interest
revenue budget for 2017/18 will need to be monitored in light of the reduction in cash available for
investment.

Potential Transition and Management costs

There are a number of costs over and above the purchase price which Council will need to consider
prior to purchasing the land. These costs are indicative only:
Costs to be met through the Community Development Team’s Social Strategy initiatives budget in
2016/17 and 2017/18:
     $70,000 to engage a suitably qualified Project Manager for 6 months from April 2017 to assist
       with the transition;
     $30,000 to clean up the site including demolition of the existing house; and
    $10,000 for security to visit the site after purchase to ensure that people do not return to live
      on the site.

Costs to be funded through the Environment Levy (as per the Environment Levy Policy):
   $5,000 to develop a Management Plan and Nature Refuge gazettal;
   $30,000 for revegetation works on the foreshore and regrowth areas including 3 years of
     maintenance;
   $5,000 Fire trail establishment;
   $7,000 for fencing and gates; and
    $2,000 for new signage at the entrance to the property.

In addition to the above costs, there would be significant costs to upgrade the amenities and roads
if Council wished to reopen the camping ground or create a day recreation area at some time in
the future.

Refurbishing and upgrading the camping ground is not recommended at this stage but is simply
identified as a future option for consideration. Any consideration of redeveloping the Johns
Landing Camping Ground would need the development of a robust business case and in any event,
the Council is currently focused on the Noosa North Shore Campground site redevelopment which
is scheduled over the coming years.

The decision to purchase the property under Option 4 should be firstly for environmental protection
purposes with the social issues as a secondary consideration. The option of a future day use area
or camping ground is not the reason for purchase but is simply identified as a future possibility for
the sake of completeness.

Risks

There are a number of risks to Council in purchasing the property most of which relate to social
issues and the people currently living on the site. Broadly these risks are summarised as follows:
 Council being perceived as uncaring and forcing people with no-where else to go to leave the
    site;
 Interim park management during the transition period;
 Poor transition results in increased homelessness in the Shire;
 Long term residents refuse to leave the site; and
 The social issues simply transfer to another location within the Shire.

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