2017-11-07 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 10 - Annual Report 2016-17

Mayor’s Message


                       Mayor’s Message
                       The 2016-17 financial year
                                                       Of some significance was the new waste
                       consolidated many of the
                                                       contract that allowed us to not only improve
                       priorities of the current
                                                       our regular services, but also roll out a green
                       Council.
                                                       bin service to urban areas. We also undertook
                                                       an organisational restructure that, amongst
                        Of particular note was the
                                                       other benefits, allows for a greater corporate
                        beginning of our journey
                                                       emphasis on environmental issues. And
                        towards zero emissions,
                                                       thanks in part to State and LGAQ funding,
                        with close analysis of the
                                                       significant work has occurred on Council’s
                        organisation’s       carbon
                                                       climate change adaptation plans.
                        footprint, and the inclusion
                        of a dedicated carbon
                                                       We have also beefed up our Economic
reduction officer. Already we have achieved a 6%
                                                       Development resources; undertaken a range
reduction of our carbon emissions. The next
                                                       of community plans with input from residents
couple of years will see even greater
                                                       and stakeholders; and provided over $810,000
improvements as we hurtle towards our goal of
                                                       in grants to local community groups.
being net zero emissions by 2026.
                                                       Looking back, I am amazed at the workload
Transport was another complex matter that
                                                       this Council has managed to squeeze into a
Council bravely grappled with. Following
                                                       very hectic year. That we could achieve so
considerable consultation with the community,
                                                       much is entirely thanks to our committed and
including more than 1250 submissions, plus
                                                       passionate workforce. It cannot be overstated
numerous stakeholder sessions and workshops,
                                                       just how dedicated our staff are to making
we came up with a workable Transport Strategy.
                                                       Noosa Council progressive and exemplary.
Many Council decisions, including budget
priorities and the new planning scheme, are
                                                       I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank my
already being tested against the overarching
                                                       fellow Councillors for their unswerving
intentions of this important Strategy.
                                                       dedication to the Noosa Shire community. I am
                                                       extremely blessed to be able to work with a
Speaking of the new planning scheme, drafting of
                                                       group of Councillors who are committed to
the document continues apace, with a range of
                                                       ensuring that our working environment is
specific studies informing the process now
                                                       amicable and constructive. Not all mayors, nor
completed. A final community consultation
                                                       local governments, are as fortunate as I am.
process is scheduled to be undertaken in late
2018, after the first State interest review.
                                                       Thanks also must go to our highly-engaged
                                                       residents who give so much back to their
Meanwhile, our planners are having to deal with
                                                       community. They ensure that Noosa Shire truly
an    escalating     volume     of   development
                                                       is the best place on the planet in which to
applications. Of the 477 planning applications
                                                       reside.
decided on last year, Council approved all but 6.
Of those that were refused, four were for removal
of healthy trees, one was for a change of existing
approval conditions, and only one was a town
planning development application.
                                                       Tony Wellington
                                                       Mayor
Financial stability remains an important hallmark
of Noosa Council, with revenues exceeding costs,
debt levels reducing and Council again investing
significantly in the replacement of key community
infrastructure.




                                                                         Noosa Council | Annual Report 2016 - 2017
                                                                                                           Page 5