2014-01-02 Budget Attachments

Appendix 4


APPENDIX 4 - OVERALL PLAN
Rural Fire Charge

1. Special Charge for Assistance to Noosa and Surrounds Rural Fire Brigades
Noosa Shire Council recognises that it is beyond the fundraising ability of the volunteers that staff
the rural fire brigades within Noosa shire to raise the funds to meet their operational costs and to
acquire and maintain the necessary equipment to conduct their activities. Therefore, to provide
financial assistance to Noosa Rural Fire Brigade Group and its constituent Rural Fire Brigades,
Council has resolved to make and levy a special charge for the second half of the 2013/14 financial
year upon all rateable land within Noosa shire which will, in the Council’s opinion, specially benefit
from the services provided by the Rural Fire Brigades listed below.
2. The Rateable Land to Which the Special Charges Applies
The special charge for the Rural Fire Charge applies to all rateable land within the Noosa shire that
falls within the Gazetted Rural Fire Brigade area maps for the Rural Fire Brigades listed below.

                        Rural Fire Board Area                  Annual Charge
               Black Mountain                                         $25.00
               Boreen Point                                           $25.00
               Cooroibah                                              $25.00
               Doonan                                                 $25.00
               Federal                                                $25.00
               Kin Kin                                                $25.00
               Noosa North Shore                                      $25.00
               Ridgewood                                              $25.00
               Teewah                                                 $25.00
               Tinbeerwah                                             $25.00

3. The Service to be Provided
The funds raised by the special charge will assist the Brigades within the Noosa shire by providing
funding for the purchase of equipment and operational costs and training initiatives required by the
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. This will enable the Brigades to direct more time toward:
      (a) prevention of rural fires;
      (b) education of residents; and
      (c) training of volunteers.
4. The Estimated Cost of Implementing the Overall Plan
The special charge will raise a total of approximately $76,700 in the second half of the 2013/14
financial year. Council will distribute these funds to the Noosa Rural Fire Brigade Group in
accordance with the following procedures:
4.1      The Noosa Rural Fire Brigade Group is to determine the proposed distribution calculation of
         levy funds in consultation with the Sunshine Coast Rural Fire Brigade Finance Committee;
4.2      Following the January rate run the rural fire levy funds collected by the Council shall be
         available for payment to the Rural Fire Brigade Group; and
4.3      To obtain the full amount of the moneys levied by the Noosa Shire Council by way of the
         special charge each Rural Fire Brigade must submit to Council and the Noosa Rural Fire
         Brigade Group the following:
         (a)   audited statements of expenditure and receipts from the Rural Fire Brigade for the
               2012/13 financial year’s operations;




                                                Noosa Shire Council Budget six months ending 30 June 2014   41