2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                   16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   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 48:
                   We are a catering business on the coast, mainly specialize in weddings. 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. I have no doubt in
                   my mind that tourism Noosa does an amazing Job.

                   Submission 49:
                   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 50:
                   I strongly object to proposed changes to the Tourism Levy, as outlined in the 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

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