Meeting minutes

ORDINARY MEETING MINUTES                                                              19 JUNE 2025


8.           PUBLIC QUESTION TIME


8.1   Brian O'Connor
      QUESTION 1
      Has Noosa Council developed a Hinterland Heritage Brand, as was a heritage action
      aspiration contained in the Noosa Council Cultural Strategy 2019-23 and, if not, will such an
      action be carried forward into the new cultural strategy now under development?

      Response provided by Kerri Contini, Director Community Services
      Thank-you Mr O‘Connor for your question and your ongoing interest in the Noosa Council
      Cultural Strategy 2019-23.
      The final report on the Cultural Strategy 2019-2023 was endorsed at the September 2024
      Ordinary meeting. This report showed that at the end of 2023, over 92% of Plan actions were
      completed or underway. This was a major achievement for Council’s Arts & Culture team, our
      valued volunteers and the community groups that partner with Council to provide cultural
      experiences. Of the 69 Actions in the Plan, only 3 were not addressed, one of which was
      ‘Explore the potential of creating a Hinterland Heritage Brand’.
      The Cultural Plan was developed and adopted prior to Covid and spanned a period of
      significant change and challenge. Prior to Covid the concept of a hinterland heritage brand
      was proposed by stakeholders as a way of celebrating our heritage and using it to attract
      tourists beyond the coast and into hinterland areas. However, through Covid and beyond,
      hinterland tourism grew considerably on its own and the priority for hinterland communities is
      maintaining village character and lifestyle. Because of these changes a hinterland heritage
      brand has not been included in the draft Cultural Plan 2025-30. We are planning to develop
      a Noosa Heritage Plan over the next five years and if stakeholders are interested in a
      hinterland heritage brand then they could raise it as part of this project.

      QUESTION 2
      Noosa Council papers indicate that an undisclosed 2032 Olympics Plan has been developed,
      with the intention of creating ‘legacy projects’ for the shire beyond the Games proper, so can
      the council indicate when it will be released and will ratepayers have an opportunity to provide
      input before it is adopted formally?

      Response provided by Kerri Contini, Director Community Services
      Thank-you Mr O’Connor for your question in relation to Noosa Council’s plans for the 2032
      Olympics.
      Noosa Council has been actively preparing for the Brisbane 2032 Games over the past year,
      noting that we are not a host Local Government. Our focus as a starting point has included
      aligning where relevant with the Brisbane Elevate 2042 Legacy Plan, collaborating with SEQ
      Councils through the SEQIN2032 Working Group, and establishing connections with
      organising bodies. To be clear, a 2032 Olympics Plan has not been developed. A situational
      analysis has begun, focusing on facilities, demographics, tourism, transport, and waste
      infrastructure, while identifying potential legacy opportunities such as infrastructure
      improvements, strategic partnerships, sports development, and volunteering. Mayor Wilkie
      has also been involved in engaging with SEQ mayors regarding regional planning as well as
      learning from international Olympics experiences. Over the coming year Council will continue
      to work with key stakeholders in early planning to maximise community and regional benefits.