2016-05-10 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    10 MAY 2016


It also states that unless otherwise approved by way of formal application, all roadside memorials
are to be treated as temporary installations and remain in place for a maximum period of 3
months.

Once adopted, the policy will allow Council officers to respond to concerns raised about public
safety, or interference to nearby residents or users of the surrounding area as a result of the
placing of a roadside memorial in a particular location, and if deemed necessary after appropriate
investigation remove or relocate the memorial.

3.   Head of Power to make the Policy
Pursuant to section 2, Schedule 7 ‘Alteration or improvement to local government controlled
areas and roads’ of the Noosa Shire Council Subordinate Local Law No 1 (Administration) 2015,
an approval is not required for an installation beside a road of a memorial comprising of a white
cross provided the installation complies with the local government’s policy for the activity.

4.   Need for the Policy
In approving the new suite of Noosa Local Laws in May 2015, Noosa Council repealed the
previous Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s (SCRC) suite of Local Laws. Whilst Noosa’s Local
Laws provides for the development of a local government policy to manage roadside memorials,
to date this policy had not been developed.

Without a Management of Roadside Memorials Policy, Council Officers have no guidelines as to
where a memorial might be located, how long to allow a temporary roadside memorial to stay in
place or how to respond to a complaint or request from a member of the community to remove a
memorial.

Having a policy in place also allows Council Officers to provide advice and educate members of
the community who have concerns or enquiries with respect to roadside memorials.


Previous Council Consideration

Ordinary Meeting, 7 May 2015, Item 20, Page 9
That Council note the report by the Governance Advisor to the Planning and Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 28 April 2015 and …
B    Repeal the current Noosa Shire Council Local Laws 2011 No 1 to No 6 (inclusive) on 30
     June 2015, and make the proposed Noosa Shire Council Local Laws No 1 to No 6
     (inclusive) ( provided at Attachment 1 to the report) to commence operation on 1 July
     2015.”

Finance & Risk

As outlined above, without a Management of Roadside Memorials Policy in place, Council
Officers are unable to consistently manage roadside memorials across the Shire.

By having a policy in place Council is able to balance the needs of a family and friends wishing to
grieve for a lost loved one, with safety issues and the legitimate needs of nearby property owners
and users of the area.




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