2017-10-19 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                                            19 OCTOBER 2017


7                        ORDINARY MEETING REPORTS


1.                       NOOSA SUSTAINABILITY INSTITUTE PROPOSAL BY CSIRO’S DATA61
Document i nformati on




Author                              Director of Environment and Sustainable Development, Kim Rawlings
                                    Environment and Sustainable Development

Index                               ECM/Projects & Contracts/Data61

Attachments                         Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Director Environment and Sustainable Development to the
Ordinary Meeting dated 19 October 2017 and
A.                       Agree to the appointment of CSIRO’s Data61 to undertake research into the concept of an
                         institute of sustainability in Noosa;
B.                       Enter into the arrangement with Data61 in accordance with section 235(a) of the Local
                         Government Regulation 2012;
C.                       Approve the staged investigation and business case development of establishing a
                         Sustainability Institute in Noosa;
D.                       Refer funding for Stage 1 of the project to the next budget review; and
E.                       Consider funding of Stage 2 and 3 of the project at a future Council meeting, following the
                         review of the outcomes of Stage 1.


REPORT
This report seeks Council's consideration of a proposal to explore the concept of developing a
world class Institute of Sustainability (actual name to be determined) in Noosa. Council officers
have been in consultation with CSIRO’s Data61 unit to develop a proposal to explore this
concept and prepare an initial business case for Council consideration.

1.                       Proposal Concept

Data61 (a leading digital research and data innovation CSIRO business unit) proposes to assist
Council in defining and potentially participating in a world class institute of sustainability. At this
stage the ‘institute’ is a concept only and may be achieved virtually or physically, the structure and
feasibility of both will be explored and tested as part of this initiative.

Council has placed significant emphasis and focus on sustainability, plus leadership for its
community around sustainable practises for its natural and built environment. It has actively sought
to continue to develop Council's credentials and expertise in this area. Many current Council
initiatives provide tangible evidence of this, including, but not limited to the adoption of the Zero
Emissions Noosa Organisational Strategy 2016 – 2026.

Council has demonstrated an ongoing active interest and commitment in strengthening its focus
on sustainability and having a leadership role in the application of sustainability thinking and

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