2015-08-18 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                18 AUGUST 2015


Individual jurors provided the following feedback to Council:
   “I feel very lucky to live in Noosa. We have a Council who actually wants to listen to its
     residents and find out what they think are the best ways of disposing of their organic
     waste.”
   “I would sum up the experience as rewarding; despite dealing with many different
     personalities we were able to reach recommendations that were accepted by all which
     is no small achievement!”
   “I commend Noosa Council for this initiative. I have to admit I was apprehensive In
     February but over the months I was astonished in how I gained confidence and
     enjoyed being with a diverse group of people and contributing to such a worthwhile
     project. I am proud of the final product and my input and many ways I feel sad that it is
     all over.”
   “I found it a most enjoyable and rewarding experience although a little frustrating and
     confusing along the way. The question itself was much more complex than I first
     anticipated, and I was very proud with the quality of our final report, and so grateful to
     that small band of co-jurors who so skilfully initiated that task. I would certainly
     commend the process for the future where appropriate.”
   “I found being a member of the first Noosa Jury an interesting and learning experience.
     The guest speakers were informative and the whole process was very well organised.”
   “newDemocracy did a great job guiding the jury and providing whatever information we
     asked for! Thanks to Noosa Council for the opportunity to be involved in an
     environmentally important decision for our area!”
   “I was amazed that 24 people from all walks of life could arrive at a sensible
     conclusion that would benefit future generations to come.”
   “I'm confident the community will support the Council heading in the direction we have
     outlined. Very valuable exercise in democracy in action and learning about organic
     waste.”
   “The final document was worth the effort; getting it to that stage of consensus was
     difficult and frustrating at times. It was tempting for some to micro manage the answer
     and to lose sight of the question. Would fewer jurors reach an earlier conclusion I
     wonder...and would it be the same conclusion? To be fair it was/is a difficult and
     involved subject.”

Feedback from Councillors

Councillors were invited to supply feedback and they reported comments from their
constituents and from their own experiences as witnesses of the Community Jury in action.
Generally Councillors were impressed with the nDF model including: the jury process; how
seriously the jurors took their responsibility in being involved; the depth of understanding of
the issue from submitters; the willingness of those that were approached to provide further
input and jurors who had expressed delight at being involved.

Councillors felt that more could have been done to educate the community about the organic
waste issue; encourage greater community interest in the topic and more widely
communicate the Jury’s findings as a ground-breaking and worth sharing process.
Feedback also included that the Jury was a Queensland first and an extension of Council’s
commitment to improve transparency and community engagement, which has provided a
broader understanding of the challenges this community faces and possible solutions.




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