2021-06-16 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                                  16 JUNE 2021


Submission Topic   Detail
                   the current Tourism Levy structure and continue to fund Tourism Noosa's operations
                   well into the future.

                   Submission 57
                   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.

                   I further note there has been a complete lack of consultation regarding the proposed
                   changes with relevant stakeholders and the taking away of the tourism and economic
                   levy eliminates a number of key protections for rate payers within the shire who are
                   invested in and rely on Council to fund tourism and economic development in the
                   region. Further the elimination of the levy reduces Council’s transparency and
                   accountability to the Tourism sector.

                   Submission 58
                   Thank you for the opportunity to provide the feedback below: The Council draft Budget
                   Information Sheets contain the following information: “Tourism and economic
                   development activities are now considered core Council business and are proposed
                   tobe funded by general rates(to be applied only to those properties that are currently
                   paying the Tourism and Economic Levy).” “2.Tourism and economic development
                   funding now considered core business of Council. The Tourism Levy was first
                   introduced in 2001 to generate funds to invest in a tourism promotion campaign for the
                   shire. Since this time tourism promotion and economic development activities have
                   evolved into core Council business. As such it is now considered that tourism and
                   economic development activities should be funded by general rates (applied only to
                   those properties who are currently paying the levy) rather than through the continuation
                   of a speciallevy. The amount of revenue collected and subsequently spent ondelivering
                   these services to support tourism and the economywill remain unchanged –however it
                   will now instead be reflected in the relevant general rate category on the rate notice.”

                   I have been a Tourism business owner in the past. I moved here from NZ to invest in
                   a Management Rights business in Noosa in 2007. A reason for investing in Noosa was
                   the understanding of the outstanding values of Tourism Noosa as a key vehicle to
                   promote Tourism in the area and thereby support my business investment. That
                   investment of mine employed multiple people. There is no doubt as is said in the
                   Overall plan of the current Special Rate for the Levy of the vital importance of Tourism
                   in the Noosa economic engine:

                   ”Tourism is a major economic driver and Council is committed to its ongoing
                   sustainability and appropriate level of support including promotion and marketing.” I
                   have a major concern that this change to move the collection of rates funding into
                   General differential rates as stated jeopardises the funding of Tourism Noosa and
                   diffuses the focus on successful Tourism marketing and support in Noosa.

                   The mechanism to do this outside a Special rate is a concern as the current absolutely
                   focussed use of the funds that are fenced in for the purpose as below is lost “The
                   service, facility or activity for which the rate is levied is the carrying out of
                   implementation of the Noosa Local Economic Plan which includes projects and
                   activities that are aimed at growing the Noosa economy. This includes projects and
                   activities that focus on diversifying the Noosa Economy but also continuing with a key
                   focus on tourism promotion strategies. The projects and activities may be implemented
                   by Council and / or approved external agencies.”


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