2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   3. Will Noosa Council publish achievements from the economic development allocation
                   of funds – similar to an annual report for those that contribute to the fund?
                   4. Is Noosa Council planning to reduce funding to Tourism Noosa over the next 5
                   years?
                   5. Do Noosa Councillors understand the impact to our economy from the visitor
                   economy? If so – why is there not more support for businesses and industry around
                   tourism?
                   FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL RESPONSE:
                   6. Can Noosa Council elaborate more on the new allocation of $150,000 to ‘destination
                   management’ that has been allocated but not included in the budget consultation
                   process? Is destination management not the core role of a Council and should have
                   been a focus previously?
                   7. The economy of Noosa is critical to families and business. Why has Noosa Council
                   now removed the requirement for ‘new to region’ retirees to pay 3 years of full rates
                   before a discount is applied – essentially enabling immediate discounts to new
                   residents that do not contribute to economic activity in the region.
                   8. Where has Noosa Council allocated funding for improved traffic and transport
                   options for Hastings Street and Noosa Junction, including allocation for funds for
                   permanent free buses for improved traffic management?

                   Submission 26:
                   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 27:
                   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 28:
                   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 29:
                   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.


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