2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                 16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   Submission 30:
                   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 31:
                   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 32:
                   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/We 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?
                   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.


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