2020-03-16 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                      16 MARCH 2020


2.       Program of Works
The Category D Exceptional Assistance funding does not require an application or assessment
process as its purpose is to support each highly impacted local government’s individual recovery
needs. The required Program of Works is therefore a brief overview of the proposed expenses and
forecast budget required.
Nonetheless, Council officers have undertaken a thorough process within the time available to
develop a broad program of works, which will deliver benefits to the impacted and wider Noosa
communities.
Once Council has endorsed the Program of Works, it will be lodged with the QRA. The Program of
Works will be updated as required as the feasibility of each project or activity is determined and in
recognition of the emerging recovery needs of the community and other funding streams becoming
available. The final Program of Works will form the basis of reporting and acquittal of the
$1,275,000 funding.

3.       Stakeholder Engagement
To identify the best use of the funding, Council officers consulted widely with internal officers,
external agencies, impacted residents, community organisations and the wider public. This
included:
        workshops with internal officers to identify and collate recovery needs including infrastructure
         that was damaged as a result of the bushfire, high priority recovery activities and support
         required for specific sectors;
        a survey of residents with over 260 responses received;
        consultation with highly impacted residents;
        a “bushfire roundtable meeting” with key stakeholders, emergency agencies, community
         organisations and Council staff.
The high level of engagement through the consultation process elicited a diverse spectrum of over
400 ideas and suggestions including repairing or constructing physical infrastructure, building
community capacity and undertaking environmental regeneration projects. It was also evident
there is a high degree of concern regarding bushfires and the community’s desire to be better
prepared through hazard management and emergency evacuation procedures.
The survey responses showed the highest levels of support for rebuilding damaged Council assets,
helping prepare the community for future disaster events and supporting environmental recovery.


Supporting groups undertaking wildlife
 rescue and environmental recovery

     Conducting activities and projects to
      support the recovery of the local
                 economy
     Conducting activities and projects to                                        Not important
       bring community together and
                                                                                  Moderately important
             increase resilience
                                                                                  Important
Helping to prepare the community for
        future disaster events

       Rebuilding damaged or destroyed
                Council assets

                                         0.00%   20.00%   40.00%   60.00%    80.00%



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