2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                       16 JUNE 2021


No.   Contribution
7     New rating categories for transitory accommodation (short stay) properties supported

      The introduction of new rating categories for transitory accommodation (short stay) properties is
      supported, but the rise is not commensurate with the nature of the properties and should be more.
      They are a business and should be paying commercial rates. The rise should be commensurate
      with the costs Council will incur when the new local law is adopted, as well as the increased demand
      on Council services and infrastructure.

8     The notion that tourism ‘promotion’ is core Council business is not supported

      The notion that tourism ‘promotion’ is core Council business is not supported. The ‘levy’ or a
      differential rate for tourism businesses needs to remain as a recognition of the burden tourism
      places on services and infrastructure for the Council as destination manager, but promotion should
      be the realm of a non-Council tourism organisation self-funded from membership fees.

9     The current arrangements for the Tourism Levy certainly need review

      The current arrangements for the Tourism Levy certainly need review, and it is hoped that the
      agreement with Tourism Noosa will be significantly changed when it comes up for review.
      Transferring these levy funds to a self- interested, industry organisation that has no transparency or
      responsibility to the community and no Council input might have been appropriate in a time when
      tourism in Noosa was struggling to gain its footing, but inappropriate in 2021/22 when little promotion
      is necessary, when the tourism industry is placing a massive burden on liveability and services and
      infrastructure in the shire, and where changes in direction in promotion might have adverse impacts
      on Council and community.

      Council’s ‘core business’ in relation to tourism is its role as destination manager, and this uses a
      very significant portion of its resources, primarily paid for by non-tourism ratepayers. The tourism
      levy and the tourism industry should contribute more to that purpose than ordinary ratepayers.
      Applying the levy funds to more than just granting them to an opaque organisation for tourism
      promotion would be a beginning.

10    Tourism Noosa has been operating without Council input and without residents having a say
      in how funds are spent. It's time for a change

      Time for Tourism Noosa to stand on their own two feet.

11    Support increased rates for STAs

      The introduction of new rating categories for transitory accommodation (short stay) properties is
      supported, but the rise is not commensurate with the nature of the properties and should be more.
      They are a business and should be paying commercial rates. The rise should be commensurate
      with the costs Council will incur when the new local law is adopted, as well as the increased demand
      on Council services and infrastructure.

12    SUBMISSION POINTS Tourism Noosa should fund its own promotion. Council read should
      fund infrastructure costs

13    Tourism Levy - should not be used for promoting Noosa. Use to establish cap on tourist
      numbers. Constant growth will kill Noosa’s uniquenes.

      Noosa has too many tourists and over scale events which is leading to a decline in the quality of the
      environment and decline in amenity to local residents, The levy should be used to fund high quality
      infra structure, environmental protection and free public transport, The levy also needs to fund
      serious research in to a tourist number cap to ensure Noosa retains its unique environmental
      qualities and market niche. Overcrowding reduces the resident and tourist experience. Be radical.
      Rather than say we need big tourist numbers to support businesses like restaurants, time to say we
      have too many restaurants and limit them, limit STL etc Quality always wins over quantity in the
      long run.


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