Annual Report 2014

During this period, we also began to lay the foundations for a deeper level of community
engagement. We began to build the “Your Say Noosa” online portal which gives our community
another avenue to provide feedback on important projects. This portal went live after 30 June
2014. We also began to research how a “community jury” could operate in the Noosa context.
That concept is being developed further in 2014/15.

Organisation Establishment
After initially adopting an interim organisational structure in April 2014, the Council adopted its
permanent organisational structure on 26 June 2014. The structure is based on the following
Departments:
   Community Services Department;
   Corporate Services Department;
   Executive Office; and
   Planning and Infrastructure Department.

The appointment of a CEO, Directors and Managers was also completed in this period. As at 30
June 2014, Council’s adopted organisational structure included an equivalent full time staffing level
of 343. Workplace Health and Safety (WH&S) policies and practices have also been established
but there is a lot more work to be done in the WH&S area.


Finance
As a result of the de-amalgamation process, Council adopted two budgets within a 6 month period.
Council adopted an interim budget on 2 January 2014 which effectively continued the previous
Sunshine Coast Regional Council budget for the Noosa area to 30 June 2014. There was no
increase in rates or change to the rates structure in that budget.

The main focus for the Council in its first 6 months was the development of its long term financial
model and the preparation of the 2014/15 financial year budget. Both were completed and the
2014/15 budget was adopted on 26 June 2014. That budget will set the foundation for Council’s
long term financial future. Specifically, the 2014/15 budget contained the following:

   Development of the budget from a zero base, to ensure that the full cost of delivering current
    levels of services were understood and appropriately costed;
   No increase in general rates;
   Significant capital works program – which included the adoption of a $22.3 million program
    which was greater than the capital works program for the Noosa area compared to the previous
    year. The main focus is on the renewal of assets (particularly roads and bridges); and
   Financial ratios – Achievement of all financial ratio benchmark targets set by the Queensland
    Government for financially sustainable Councils and in particular, achievement of the asset
    sustainability ratio which reflects the fact that Council is fully funding the restoration of its
    existing asset base – a key indicator for a financially sustainable Council.




Noosa Council Report 2014                                                                Page 4 of 24