Meeting minutes

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES                                      18 SEPTEMBER 2023


            COOTHARABA (REFERRED FROM PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT
            COMMITTEE DATED 12 SEPTEMBER 2023 - ITEM 5.3).

            In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Tom
            Wegener provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict
            of interest in this matter:

            I, Cr Tom Wegener inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest,
            upon request to staff for the permaculture report which was mentioned in the
            applicant's submission, it was revealed that the permaculture report was written
            by Tom Kendall, a local permaculture expert. As the president of the community
            group Permaculture Noosa, I have learned from Tom Kendall and visited his
            permaculture property. However, he is not a personal friend and I do not socialise
            with him outside of our common interest of Permaculture. I believe I can make a
            judgment in the public interest. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting
            room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain
            and participate in the decision.

            Committee Resolution
            Moved:               Cr Brian Stockwell
            Seconded:            Cr Joe Jurisevic
            That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wegener and determine
            Cr Wegener can participate and vote on this matter because Council believes
            that as Mr Kendall is not a close associate and that a reasonable person would
            trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
            Carried unanimously.
            Cr Wegener did not vote on the above motion.

            The following material was presented to the meeting in relation to this item:
            Cr Stockwell – refer to Attachment 1 to the minutes.

            Committee Recommendation
            Moved:                Cr Brian Stockwell
            Seconded:             Cr Amelia Lorentson
            That Council note the report by the Acting Coordinator Planning Assessment to
            the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 12 September 2023
            regarding Application No. 131998.981211.5 for an Other Change to
            Development Approval (12637DA) - Integrated Permaculture Designed Organic
            Orchard and Golf Course Complex (18 holes) to include Group Farm Stay
            Accommodation (undefined use) and associated supporting infrastructure
            (maximum 299 beds), situated at 59 Kabi Rd Cootharaba and:

             A.   Refuse the application for the following reasons:
                   1. The proposal does not further the SEQ Regional Plan 2017 strategy to
                   intensify or diversify on-farm agricultural activities as the proposed
                   permaculture and food production is not of a significant scale, largely
                   intended for farm stay guests, will alienate agricultural land and
                   compromise the rural production of the land.

                   2. The proposal is contrary to the Strategic Framework of the Noosa Plan
                   2020 as the proposed farm stay activity: