Annual Report 2019-20

         Noosa Shire Council                                                                                                                                                                  2019 - 20 Annual Report



  Message from the Mayor
  Well 2019/2020 will be remembered for many                                                                Everyone certainly hit the ground running, with the new Council adopting a budget for 2020/21, that
  things, but I think if I can sum it up in one word,                                                       had, according to CEO Brett de Chastel “been nothing like what he had seen in 20 years”. Facing a
  ‘resilience’ would be the term I would use for the                                                        deficit for the first time in years, all councillors were determined in their efforts to bring about a no-
  community of Noosa Shire.                                                                                 rate-rise for the majority of residents. The devastation that Covid-19 has had on our Shire: 2100 jobs
                                                                                                            lost; 4500 of local residents on JobKeeper; cannot be underestimated. As a premier tourist destination
  Major bushfires in 2019 at Peregian, Lake
                                                                                                            Council has well and truly understood the dire impact that our Shire and our economy is facing.
  Cooroibah, North Shore and Teewah, challenged
                                                                                                            With significant assistance from both the State and Federal governments through various grants,
  us all and changed our landscape in every
                                                                                                            Noosa Council was able to deliver a grass-roots budget with the focus firmly on the community. The
  sense of the word. United in determination and
                                                                                                            prioritisation of funds for footpaths, roads, bridges, housing for at-risk women, and the upgrading of
  resolute to overcome the adversity that we faced,
                                                                                                            community facilities were all of paramount importance to a council who were unanimous in delivering
  the community of Noosa Shire rallied as one
                                                                                                            projects providing benefit to all the community.
  to overcome the devastation, which engulfed
  our area. As we move into our next fire season,                                                           With Covid-19 still very much an ongoing issue, Noosa Shire Council has had to throw out the
  appreciation of the incredible efforts of our QLD                                                         playbook, ensuring flexibility is key as we continue to support our residents, our businesses and our
  Fire and Emergency Services, our Rural Fire Brigades and Qld Police are at the forefront of our minds     jobs.
  and with increased fire mitigation being put in place, Noosa Council is doing all it can to ensure the
                                                                                                            The formation of the Business Round Table has been crucial in our response and our engagement
  safety and security of our residents.
                                                                                                            with business owners. The 9-point recovery plan formulated from this round table and continued
  Council undertook a number of initiatives throughout the year. In July 2019, it endorsed a climate        consultation and support for our business owners will be crucial in our economic recovery.
  emergency, being the first Council in Queensland to do so and it achieved a national award for its
                                                                                                            Council staff have been working tirelessly to help our community organisations and not-for-profits
  collaborative approach to the landmark Yurol-Ringtail State Forest Conservation Project. I congratulate
                                                                                                            through the pandemic via a range of measures including assistance during the recovery of the fires,
  former Mayor Tony Wellington and the previous Council in this regard.
                                                                                                            increased and ongoing support for our most vulnerable and in need. All Council staff should be
  Noosa Shire continued to feature in the awards category. Recognition continued for the coveted Park       recognised and thanked for their hard work and dedication to the community.
  Road Boardwalk project, winning a number of engineering awards and Noosa Shire businesses were
                                                                                                            Personally, I would like to thank Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie, all councillors, our CEO Brett de Chastel,
  the recipients of 11 awards at the 2019 Sunshine Coast Business Awards, with Noosa Beach House
                                                                                                            the executive team here at Council and all staff for their ongoing support. As we move towards the
  winning the Business of the Year.
                                                                                                            new financial year, the residents of Noosa Shire can take comfort in the fact that Council is of the firm
  Amenities around the Shire, which were completed this year, included a shade house at Noosa               belief that ‘we are all in this together’.
  Botanical Gardens, the Peregian Beach toilet amenities, and larger projects including the
  refurbishment of the Noosa Aquatic centre as well as a major refurbishment of the Noosa North Shore
  Beach Campground.

  One of the biggest projects throughout 2019/20 was the formulation of the new Noosa Plan, which
  was a project four years in the making.

  Council elections loomed and on March 28, 2020 the residents of Noosa Shire headed to the polling
  booths in the most uncertain of times. With the height of the global pandemic Covid-19 upon us, rules     Clare Stewart
  and regulations had very much changed around the protocols of polling booths. Unchartered waters          Mayor
  were upon all candidates as we navigated our way through the most challenging of times. With
  myself appointed as the new mayor (by the closest of margins) and three new councillors emerging
  from the fray, Noosa Shire welcomed a new-look 2020 Council.




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