2014-03-31 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                                  31 MARCH 2014


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting, 20 January 2014:

     “That Council agree to the process steps 1 to 3 outlined in the report to the Ordinary Meeting
     dated 20 January 2014 to review the Noosa Biosphere Reserve management arrangements
     to maximise the potential for community involvement in Noosa Biosphere Reserve projects,
     activities and initiatives and further, Council appoint Cr Pardon and Cr Wellington as
     Directors to the Noosa Biosphere Limited Board.”

Finance & Risk
The level of ongoing financial commitment by the Council to support the Noosa Biosphere
Reserve will be determined during the 2014/15 Budget Process.

CONSULTATION

External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
To date, the review process has included:

1.     Public invitation through paid advertising, media releases, and web together with a
       personal invitation to the NBL for submission of ideas on the vision, and preferred
       Management Model (closed on 28 th February, 2014).

2.     Review of the sixty-seven (67) responses received to the invitation to submit ideas on the
       vision and Management Model. Of these, five (5) were short-listed to make a presentation
       to the Working Group.

       Most of the remaining submissions suggested excellent ideas for projects or initiatives seen
       to be in line with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve status, rather than the vision or
       Management Model. Council will separately consider if any of these ideas can inform
       future priorities for Council and the Noosa Biosphere Reserve.

3.     Two facilitated open meetings were held on 4 th & 11th March 2014 where the five (5) short-
       listed submitters presented their ideas to the Working Group.

4.     A facilitated workshop held on 13 th March with existing NBL Board members and Sector
       Board members.

5.     Numerous meetings of the Working Group to consider submissions and the outcomes of
       the meetings and workshop. These meetings of the Working Groups were facilitated by the
       CEO.

It is intended to undertake further consultation on the proposed vision and Management Model
with a public meeting currently scheduled for 15 th April 2014.




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