2021-11-09 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                9 NOVEMBER 2021


3     TOURISM FUNDING AGREEMENT REVIEW PROCESS

Author            Chief Executive Officer, Brett de Chastel
                  CEO’s Office

Index             ECM/ Subject/71.01/Tourism Noosa

Attachments       Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At its July 2021 meeting, the Council resolved to bring forward negotiations in relation to the funding
agreement with Tourism Noosa. The current agreement with Tourism Noosa expires on 30 June
2022 but Council was looking to finalise arrangements for any new agreement by December 2021.
Since making that decision, it has become apparent that there are quite a lot of changes underway
which are creating uncertainty to be able to finalise meaningful negotiations.
From Council’s perspective, these variables include:
(a)   commencement of a Destination Management project
(b)   working towards finalisation of the Council’s new economic development strategy and
(c)   change of Council CEO.
From Tourism Noosa’s perspective, these variables include
(a)   proposed major changes to the TN Constitution
(b)   resulting changes in the structure and membership of the TN Board.
Accordingly, it is recommended that we extend the existing agreement for a further 12 months and
to commence the negotiation of a new funding agreement in the second half of 2022. Informal
discussions with the Tourism Noosa board indicate support for this approach.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services and Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 9 November 2021 and
A.    Agree to extend the existing funding agreement between Council and Tourism Noosa for a
      further term of 12 months on and from 1 July 2022 on the same terms and conditions as
      contained in the existing funding agreement;
B.    Request the Chief Executive Officer to undertake negotiations for a new funding agreement
      with Tourism Noosa in the second half of 2022; and
C.    Note that any new long term funding agreement will not commence until 1 July 2023.

REPORT
Purpose
At its Ordinary Meeting 15 July 2021, Item 8, Page 22, Council passed the following resolution
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting dated
12 July 2021 and note that the CEO will work through a review process with Tourism Noosa with the
intent of finalising a new Funding Agreement for consideration by Council by the end of 2021 noting
that any new agreement will not commence until 1 July 2022.
Since that time, it has become apparent that both Tourism Noosa and Noosa Council have significant
changes underway and that it would accordingly, be better to negotiate a longer term agreement

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