2017-10-19 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                         19 OCTOBER 2017


practises. The idea of the establishment of a Sustainability Institute being a platform or focal point
to advance and test Noosa’s sustainability efforts with various research institutes and other
partners is considered a logical next step for Council in this arena. Attracting tertiary institutions
and post-graduate studies in Noosa can have significant flow-on benefits for the economy and the
community.

Council staff have been discussing this concept with Data61 with a view to establishing a world
class “think tank” focused on sustainability, the working name for the concept at this point is the
“Noosa Sustainability Institute”.

Beyond the idea of a ‘think tank’ the intent would be to ensure the conversion of best practice
research into effective and implementable action, to provide an avenue and focal point that brings
together researchers, government and community to more effectively promote, facilitate, test and
innovate different sustainability measures and approaches to real challenges and opportunities
within our environment and communities.

It is anticipated that, should Council endorse this initiative, a draft business case and proposed
operational model would be completed by end June 2018.


2.     Strategic Alignment and Benefits

This proposal aligns strongly with a range of Council’s key corporate and strategic plans, which
outline specific objectives for Noosa to be well managed and sustainable, to ensure our economy
is diverse and resilient, to engage with our community using best practice and to ensure
sustainability principles are at the heart of all we do.

Councils’ Local Economic Plan (LEP) specifically articulates a vision for Noosa to have ‘a dynamic
and resilient economy for generations to come’. The achievement of this is underpinned by a set
of clear objectives in this plan to strengthen and diversify the economy, to explore and develop
collaborative models and partnerships, to connect and share knowledge and data and to utilise
and leverage the strong Noosa Brand and commitment to sustainability. Education is identified as
a key sector.

Strategically there is strong alignment to Council’s LEP and the success of this initiative would
assist in achieving many of the objectives and actions it articulates.

Council has received a proposal from Data61 to partner in the development of this concept. It is
proposed that the establishment of a Sustainability Institute could have a wide range of benefits to
Noosa including but not limited to:

    Being a base for trialling world-leading sustainability practices;
    Providing a mechanism for the community to be involved in sustainability initiatives;
    Being a focal point for additional investment in local activities;
    Helping to establish a high profile university presence in Noosa;
    Enhancing Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities with local schools;
    Reinforcing Noosa's brand as a leader in sustainability;
    Improving local eco-tourism opportunities; and
    Seeding local start-up businesses focussed on sustainability solutions and technologies.

Data61 have also stated in their proposal that they are "very open to the idea of partnering with
Noosa Council and other potential research partners to establish the institute and have a
contribution to the research program."



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