2018-12-20 Ordinary Meeting Agenda

ORDINARY MEETING AGENDA                                                       20 DECEMBER 2018


Potential Council Use
Uses for the facility that could potentially align with Council’s Corporate and Operational Plan
objectives (including adopted strategies and plans) have been discussed across the various
Departments within Council.

Of the range of options available to Council, most would not be viable. In particular, suggestions
appearing in the local press suggesting that Council should relocate its main operations from Pelican
Street, Tewantin to the TAFE site would not be viable because:
1.    The land on which the bulk of the Tewantin building rests is not owned by Council, but rather
      by the State. Council occupies the site under arrangement with the State, but Council would
      not be the beneficiary of any sale or development of the Pelican Street site.
2.    Moving Council’s main operations out of the Tewantin CBD would have a devastating impact
      on the viability of many traders in the Tewantin CBD. After all, Council is the largest employer
      in the area, and its many employees avail themselves of food, retail and professional services
      in the Tewantin CBD.

Potential Community Group use
Council’s Community Development and Property branches previously advised that there are
currently no active discussions with any group seeking tenure arrangements within a Council facility
(with recent demand considered low). With respect to the availability of floor space in Council
controlled facilities in Tewantin, spare capacity current exists in both the recently completed Tait
Duke Cottage, as well as facilities at the Tewantin Sports Complex.

With respect to casual space available in other local Council facilities, capacity exists in the nearby
Wallace Park estate, in particular the Noosa Leisure Centre (three meeting rooms), with further
meeting rooms now also available in the upgraded Noosaville Library. Meeting rooms are also
currently available for use by not-for-profit community groups at Cooroy Library, free of charge.

In the end, Council must consider the overarching financial ramifications of purchase of the TAFE
site. Making the site available to community groups – even if there was demand – would be unlikely
to assist in covering the purchase, renovation and ongoing maintenance of this facility. Community
use would only be viable in part of the complex if there was sufficient income being generated in the
rest of the complex to cover costs.

Other Uses
Population and demographic projections indicate that, given the size and location of the Tewantin
TAFE site, commercial appetite may exist with respect to some form of aged care / retirement village
development in the near future.

Council may also be open to making the site available for light industrial or commercial uses, should
an appropriate business case be made.

Based on a resolution of Council in mid-2016, Council’s preference was to see the site utilised for
education purposes. Expansion of education opportunities is a focus of Council’s Local Economic
Plan. Whilst recognising the limitations of the TAFE site in terms of access and proximity to other
facilities, it may nevertheless be considered suitable for educational use such as adult education or
specific vocational training.




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