Meeting minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                           20 JULY 2023


         Council Resolution
         Moved:       Cr Joe Jurisevic
         Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart
         That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilkie and determine that
         Cr Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that Cr Wilkie
         does not stand to gain personally or materially through noting this report, and therefore
         a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
                                                                         Carried unanimously.
         Crs Wilkie, Stockwell, Lorentson, Finzel and Wegener did not vote on the above
         motion.

         In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stockwell
         provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in
         this matter:
         I, Cr Stockwell, inform the meeting that I have declarable conflicts of interest in this
         matter as:
              in early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $500 from Peregian resident
                 Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Peregian resident Barry
                 Cotterell. Mr Cotterell is the president of the Peregian Beach Community
                 Association (PBCA). The Environment Strategy Update mentions the progress
                 of the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan. The PBCA
                 has provided feedback on the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves
                 Management Plan. The Office of the Independent Assessor and legal advice
                 has indicated the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan is
                 not Ordinary Council business because it relates to a specific geographical
                 area and that links to groups who have made submission to it ought to be
                 declared. Although I nor the PBCA, which is a volunteer community group,
                 stand to gain personally or materially through noting this report, I make this
                 declaration out of "an abundance of caution" and commitment to transparency;
                 and
              I have a long-standing relationship with MRCCC as a previous government
                 employee and a long term collaborator since 1994. I have in the past had a
                 small consultant contract below the limit for a Prescribed Conflict and prior to
                 the declarable time frame. I was up until the last AGM Council's representative
                 on the committee and in this role I played a role in facilitating and developing
                 the group's revised catchment strategy. Although I have a declarable conflict
                 of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of
                 bias considering the community nature of this relationship.
              due to my long standing connection with Noosa District Landcare as one of
                 the inaugural members of the unincorporated group dating back to the 1980s
                 and a current ordinary member. Although I have a declarable conflict of
                 interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias
                 considering the community nature of this relationship.
         I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and l
         therefore 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.
         Council Resolution
         Moved:        Cr Joe Jurisevic
         Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart
         That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Stockwell and determine
         that Cr Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that
         Cr Stockwell does not stand to gain personally or materially through noting this report,
         and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the
         public interest.
                                                                         Carried unanimously.