2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                  16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   We believe it is critical for Noosa Council to show leadership on this issue on behalf of
                   its businesses and households. Once a pre-feasibility study has been completed, this
                   would enable the development of an implementation coalition which could include
                   Regional Development Australia, Energex, the University of the Sunshine Coast,
                   Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and our business and community associations.

                   Noosa would then be in a strong position to seek funding from external sources
                   including ARENA or the Federal Government Regional and Remote Communities
                   Reliability Fund. Rounds One and Two have already closed, so it is important that
                   Noosa position itself for the next round.

                   4. Bushfire Resilience and Response Levy or Climate Response Levy?

                   We note the proposal to introduce a Bushfire Resilience and Response Levy. Clearly
                   climate change is leading to increased and more intensive bushfire risks and it is
                   appropriate to identify a strategy and funding source to do this. However, we would
                   submit that just identifying bushfire risk is a piecemeal approach to the overall climate
                   change risks faced by our community, which have been documented in both the
                   Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan and the Climate Change Response Plan. Bushfire is
                   just one of the risks posed to our community from climate change. Therefore we believe
                   that either a separate Climate Response levy should be introduced to fund Council’s
                   identified goals and targets, or that the Bushfire Resilience and Response Levy
                   becomes a subset of the overarching Climate Response Levy.

                   5. Failure to include Operational Plan in public documents

                   This is a significant omission. The Operational Plan is a key component of the suite of
                   Budget documents, and is where the community can assess Council progress on non-
                   capital commitments in a range of Council policy documents, such as the Climate
                   Change Response Plan. In addition, while $460 000 has been allocated for Economic
                   Development, there is no detail on funds available for economic development
                   initiatives, such as our proposed Business Energy Transition Officer (see 2 above). We
                   are assuming that non-tourism businesses which previously contributed to the Tourism
                   and Economic Development Levy will now be rated at a higher rate (with the former
                   levy amount bundled into this) but again have no information on how those additional
                   rate funds are to be invested.

                   6. Deletion of Tourism and Economic Development Levy

                   This is a huge change in Council policy but almost seems an afterthought. There is a
                   very significant difference between funds raised by a levy and funds raised through
                   general revenue. Funds raised by a levy must be used for the specified purpose. Funds
                   raised through rates and going to general revenue have no such protection and can be
                   used for any purpose, despite assurances that may be given.

                   The proposal to bundle the levy costs in with the general rate means that there is no
                   clear delineation of funds committed for tourism or economic development. The
                   Tourism and Economic Development Levy is an amazing success story and has over
                   two decades delivered extraordinary runs on the board for the Noosa tourism industry
                   and its employees. The casual deletion of this levy seems unbelievable especially in
                   an era of COVID-19 uncertainty.


                   Submission 3:
                   Two issues in the Noosa Council budget give us some optimism that Council may be
                   at last recognising existential threats to Noosa:
                   - the provision to require owners of properties being let for Short Stay Accommodation
                   to be levied; and
                   - reduced funding for Tourism Noosa.


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