2021-05-11 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   11 MAY 2021




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           11 MAY 2021

     >   The Yurol Ringtail conservation project — an innovative five way partnership between three State
         government Departments, Council, a local environment organisation and a private timber plantation
         company which will see the establishment of a new national park for Noosa comprising over 2,400
         ha. Providing regional environment connectivity at a scale not normally achieved in south-east
         Queensland, this project won both the Queensland and Australian local government awards for best
         project of its type in 2019. This is one project that | am particularly proud of given its long-term
         benefits to the Noosa region and environment.

 e   We have developed and tested in real life our disaster management capability and have come through
     with flying colours. Although now just a distant memory, early minor flooding following de-amalgamation
     assisted in “road testing” our response capability. The remnants of Cyclone Debbie in February 2017
     proved that we could manage more significant disasters which stood us in good stead for the 2019
     bushfires. With four separate fire events, our Council was able to support our community and local
     emergency services. My most vivid memory is standing in front of the Council Chambers on the Friday
     evening of the Cooroibah fires watching the glow work its way towards Tewantin. Visiting the evacuation
     centres at midnight and seeing our staff provide support and assistance to hundreds of evacuees
     demonstrated how committed our staff are to supporting the Noosa community. We also have focused
     on reducing future risk by installing new flood gauges, undertaking flood prevention works at the
     Daintree Estate, Rifle Street Pomona and more recently, increasing our fire burn program and fire access
     track maintenance.

 e   Of course, the advent of Covid 19 in early 2020 presented new challenges. With many of the decisions
     to be made in relation to our Covid response falling within the caretaker period, as CEO | was mindful to
     support both the community and also our staff in unprecedented times. This type of issue wasn’t in the
     “CEO manual” but we adapted as an organisation by changing work practices (working from home etc)
     while at the same time, ensuring that services were still provided to our community. We also established
     the Business Roundtable, provided discounts for various business licenses, supported local community
     groups to deliver food parcels and adopted a “Covid budget”. | am incredibly proud of how our team
     responded to the Covid challenge and | even learnt new skills by introducing live CEO online broadcasts
     to our staff.

 e   There are some particular projects which | would like to highlight as being significant in this period. These
     include:-
      >» The sealing of Dr Pages Road. At a cost of $5.5M, this signature road sealing project opened up the
         northern part of our hinterland for tourism opportunities as well as benefiting the community living
         in that locality to be able to access Tewantin on an all-weather road. It was designed and constructed
         in a compressed timeframe and opened in 2016.

     >   The purchase of Johns Landing. Working with the Community Roundtable, Council was successful in
         assisting to relocate and provide social support to over 90 residents of Johns Landing in order to
         alleviate social problems that had been apparent for many years. The Council now has a riverfront
         asset which is available for future use options as well as securing environmental land as part of the
         purchase.

     >   Queens Baton relay. As part of the 2018 Commonwealth games, Noosa hosted the Queens Baton
         relay. It was a wonderful community event culminating with the baton being run along Noosa Main
         Beach and feedback from the organisers was that the Noosa leg of the relay was one of the best
         organised and supported of the relay. Perhaps we will be hosting the Olympic torch relay in 2032?

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