2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                 16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   future Councils will continue to use the funds for Tourism purposes. In this uncertain
                   Covid world, now more than ever before our tourism industry needs security and the
                   work of Tourism Noosa.

                   Submission 22:
                   I strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget
                   papers, and disagree with the statement that "Tourism promotion has evolved into core
                   Council business". Tourism promotion has sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an
                   organisation that professionally, transparently and strategically promotes the
                   destination, with great success. Our increasing visitor spend (reaching a record $1.2
                   billion in the months before Covid) and the recent Queensland's Top Tourism Town
                   Award (Tourism Noosa's submission) are 2 recent examples. I urge you to maintain
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.

                   Submission 23:
                   As an industry dependant on Tourism we strongly object to proposed changes to the
                   Tourism Levy, as outlined in draft Budget papers, and disagree with the statement that
                   "Tourism promotion has evolved into core Council business". Tourism promotion has
                   sat with Tourism Noosa for 20 years, an organisation that professionally, transparently
                   and strategically promotes the destination, with great success. Our increasing visitor
                   spend (reaching a record $1.2 billion in the months before Covid) and the recent
                   Queensland's Top Tourism Town Award (Tourism Noosa's submission) are 2 recent
                   examples. I urge you to maintain the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to
                   fund Tourism Noosa's operations well into the future. We have faced hardship due to
                   COVID and we continue with much uncertainty as this health climate keeps evolving
                   and providing new challenges each day. This has impacted the tourism sector in many
                   ways, and we need our tourism body strong and focused on this region

                   Submission 24:
                   The proposal to bring the Tourism and Economic Development Levy under General
                   Rates is alarming for the tourism industry. Where will we see the current transparency
                   around how our Tourism Levy funds are used, as we do in Tourism Noosa's Annual
                   Reports? With protection removed, there is no guarantee that Council or future
                   Councils will continue to use the funds for their purpose, or will even fund Tourism
                   Noosa for the purpose of tourism promotion. In this uncertain Covid world, now more
                   than ever before our tourism industry needs security and the work of Tourism Noosa

                   Submission 25:
                   The Council collects a Tourism and Economic Levy from applicable rate payers
                   (tourism and commercial businesses, short stay homes and now Air BnBs) and pays
                   Tourism Noosa the set amount of $2.52M, not including the annual charge of a fee of
                   $80,000 for collection and distribution to Tourism Noosa. Toward the end of this year,
                   Tourism Noosa will be working with Council to negotiate a new contract for Tourism
                   Noosa to continue its operations in 2022 and beyond. I whole heartly disagree with the
                   section under KEY DRAFT BUDGET COMPONENTS 1. Rates and charges. ‘Tourism
                   and economic development activities are now considered core Council business and
                   are proposed to be funded by general rates (to be applied only to those properties that
                   are currently paying the Tourism and Economic Levy).’ This statement provides a
                   fundamental change to the transparency and protection of how Noosa Council
                   accounts for rate payers' Tourism Levy funds, and if they are being used in the best
                   interest of tourism and the economy, businesses and community in Noosa. Council is
                   requested to provide the Noosa community with complete transparency and answers
                   on:
                   1. The exact breakdown of the total funds being collected from Tourism and Economic
                   Levy rate payers, and how Council plans to allocate that funding outside the $2.5M for
                   Tourism Noosa.
                   2. Why is it suddenly now that Noosa Council deems tourism as a core responsibility
                   when it hasn’t before?


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