2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                 16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   $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.
                   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 45:
                   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 46:
                   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 47:
                   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

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