2014-02-25 Infrastructure & Services Committee Meeting Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                             25 FEBRUARY 2014


COMMUNITY & DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REPORTS
(excluding Planning & Development)

Community Services

5.    TAIT DUKE COTTAGE

Author            Manager, Community Services, Charlie Eames
                  Coordinator, Sport and Community Development, Alison Hamblin
                  Community and Development

Index             ECM/Project/Tait Duke Cottage

Attachments       1.    Deed of Agreement
                  2.    Cost estimates for the establishment of the cottage on each site


PURPOSE

1.    To advise Council of the background and current developments relating to Tait Duke
      Cottage; and
2.    To recommend a course of action for Council.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The former Noosa Shire Council accepted the gift of Tait Duke Cottage from Ms Esme Tait on 3
June 2004 with the Deed of Agreement being affected on 18 June 2009 (refer Attachment 1).

A number of conditions are contained within the Deed of Agreement, namely Council shall be
responsible for the relocation of the building within the general vicinity of Tewantin, the Cottage
be used for community services, but not as heritage/museum facility. It is envisaged by Ms Tait
that the building would provide ‘community house’ style services along the lines of those offered
at Pomona and District Community House.

An unsuccessful Expression of Interest (EOI) seeking a community group to refurbish and
manage the facility was undertaken by the Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) in 2010.

The Cottage is currently temporarily located in Wallace Park, however a 2013 review of the
Wallace Park Master Plan recommends the removal of the Cottage from the precinct.

Following the Master Plan review four Council controlled sites in the Tewantin locality were
referred for comments internally by Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) as to their suitability for the
relocation of the Cottage. Cost estimates for the establishment of the Cottage on each site
(Attachment 2) was developed by SCC.

There was no outcome from this process and the matter was deferred by Sunshine Coast
Council to the new Noosa Council. Subsequently Noosa Council officers have considered the
four previously identified potential sites whilst also considering other potential sites at Read Park
(next to the SES facility) and the Cooroy Lower Mill Site as alternative locations.

Several community organisations have informally expressed an interest of late (outside of the
SCC EOI process undertaken) in the refurbishment and future use of the Cottage.

Given this level of interest it is considered timely that Noosa Council call for a new EOI with set
criteria for the relocation and use of Tait Duke Cottage.


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