2015-01-12 General Committee Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 17 Noosa Council Report 2014

Mayor’s Message
Noosa's long struggle to manage its own affairs is now a proud part of our history. So too will be
this Noosa Council “annual” report, the first since it was amalgamated with Caloundra and
Maroochy Councils in 2008. It covers the 6 month period from reinstatement of Noosa Council on
1 January 2014 to 30 June 2014.
The report will be deliberately concise because it covers such a short period, where the focus was
on establishing a functioning organisation as well as significantly improving service delivery and
establishing a sound financial base.
While all of the Council team are quietly proud of the progress that has been made, we are all too
aware that the first 6 months was just the start of a multi-year journey towards developing an
efficient organisation that delivers superior outcomes to our community.
My assessment of the position at the end of this reporting period is:

      The Council was financially sustainable without a rate increase.
      On the ground service delivery has been significantly improved since de-amalgamation,
       with potential for future incremental gains.
      The organisation delivered to expectations in a short time frame, but will need to embrace
       continuous improvement to be at the leading edge of local government efficiency.

The success of Council in these early stages was achieved because of the inspiring efforts of a
small number of transfer team staff who worked incredible hours to ensure services to the
community were not interrupted on the rebirth of Noosa Council on New Year’s day, 2014. Both the
community and the Council owe them a great deal.
It is now the task of the whole Noosa Council team, staff and elected members, to build on that
huge effort in the years to come.
The enthusiasm generated by a battle won and a community back in charge of its own destiny
forged a bond between Councillors and an unprecedented level of co-operative working
relationships.
Further improvement throughout the organisation can help consign the poor culture that developed
during amalgamation to the dustbin of history. A new culture is a vital ingredient of an efficient
Noosa Council.
Finally, I want to acknowledge on behalf of the elected Council the efforts of our CEO and those
staff who frequently worked day and night, including weekends, during our first 6 months. They can
be particularly proud of the achievements in this report as well as others to come.




Noel Playford
Mayor




Noosa Council Report 2014                                                               Page 3 of 27