Annual Report 2019-20

          Noosa Shire Council                                                                                                                                                         2019 - 20 Annual Report



  Corporate Plan - Theme 4:                                                                            Other Initiatives to enable Council to achieve its goal for this theme
                                                                                                       •	The Queensland Audit Office gave Council another clean bill of health issuing an unmodified audit
  Long term planning for Noosa Shire                                                                      opinion.
  Key achievements as we work towards our long term goal include:                                      •	Council implemented strong control measures to mitigate the sustainability risks associated
                                                                                                          with Covid-19 direct financial impacts on Council which included re-prioritising expenditure and
  Specific Operational Plan Priorities
                                                                                                          projects, reviewing the 2020/21 budget assumptions including preparing detailed cash flow
  •	Council completed the community consultation on the draft new                                        modelling and providing advice to support effective decision-making.
     Noosa Planning Scheme and the Minister for Planning signed off                                    •	The Road Infrastructure Asset Management Plan was endorsed which is a blueprint to guide the
     on the Plan subject to several conditions. Following the local                                       management of the shire’s 867-kilometre road network and associated infrastructure assets now
     government elections, the New Noosa Plan was adopted by                                              and into the future.
     Council at a July 2020 Special Meeting and was scheduled to                                       •	Council endorsed a new events policy to strike a balance between the use of public land for events
     commence on 31 July 2020. The completion of the Plan paves the                                       and the community’s right to use public space for recreation.
     way for several key projects including the proposed Placemaking
                                                                                                       •	Council progressed planning and design for the Cooroy Noosa Road and Beckmans Road
     pilot program.
                                                                                                          intersection upgrade and secured $600,000 in funding from the Queensland Government for the
  •	The risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis for Council’s Coastal
                                                                                                          design component and is advocating for construction funding.
     Hazard Adaptation Plan (CHAP) was completed. The Draft CHAP
                                                                                                       •	Council developed and commenced implementation of a Strategic Tree Management Plan.
     will be presented to Council in early 20/21 for consideration with
                                                                                                          The new plan provides a framework to guide proactive arboriculture management decisions
     the aim of completing community engagement by late 2020.
                                                                                                          throughout the Noosa Shire. This is an essential component of achieving both a green liveable shire
  •	Council adopted the Noosa Spit Shoreline Erosion Management Plan which is a detailed study of
                                                                                                          and effective management of trees on public land.
     the erosion occurring on Noosa spit because of river movement, tide and boat wash. Funding
     has been allocated in Council’s 2020/21 and 2021/22 budgets to commence planning and              •	Partnerships were established to provide better value for ratepayer money such as working with
     construction works identified in the SEMP.                                                           Gympie Regional Council for the provision pre-cast concrete products.
  •	Council formed a working group to guide the Revenue Diversification Project. The working group
     is investigating options to broaden Council’s revenue streams to reduce where possible the
     reliance on general rate increases to fund service delivery.
  •	Council continued to implement the priority actions of the Noosa Transport Strategy including
     completing the second annual Christmas ‘Go Noosa’ Peak Period Traffic Management Plan with
     the introduction of a Shuttle Bus loop which saw a further 20% increase in public transport use
     during our busiest time of year.
  •	Negotiations progressed with Translink to introduce electric buses
     for Noosa, upgrade the Noosa Heads bus stop to a multimodal
     interchange and improve public transport generally.
  •	The Schools program was re-commenced to improve traffic around
     schools by getting more children using active travel and school
     buses.
  •	Council completed a comprehensive analysis of the possible
     options for the future use of the former Tewantin TAFE site. This
     included new information regarding constraints on the site. Council
     determined not to proceed with the purchase at the July 2020
     Council meeting.
  •	Capital planning for the Walking and Cycling Strategy update and
     High Priority Cycling Corridors continued along with the planning
     for the Noosa Drive, Noosa Parade and Hasting Street precinct.
     Council has successfully completed the design of the Noosa Parade
     corridor upgrade with the assistance of Qld Government funding
     and has submitted a grant application for delivery in 2020/2021.

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