Mayor Budget Speech 2021

These projects are substantial. We have acted on what we’ve been asked to do. We must acknowledge
and thank both the Qld State Government and the Australian Federal Government for the significant
financial contributions they have made through grants such as Works for Qld, Unite and Recover,
Building Better Regions and so forth. Without their financial assistance we would not have been able to
implement what we have set out to achieve.

Last year we cut levies to ensure no rate rises. This year our transport levy is back to what it was in pre-
covid days and our environmental and heritage levies although increased are still below pre-covid
figures. Additional funds generated from these levies will allow investment in a range of initiatives and
projects that will benefit the community.

We have also introduced new rating categories for transitory accommodation or short stay properties.
This initiative addresses the impacts guests of these properties have on the demand for Council services
and infrastructure, and ensures these properties also contribute to the cost of tourism promotion in the
shire.

Noosa is regarded by many as a tourist town. In fact, we’re officially the best in Qld. We are well and
truly open for business and we welcome visitors with open arms. Our continued commitment to Tourism
Noosa in the form of $2.52 million in funding is testament to this. We are, however, also acutely aware
that houses which are solely or predominantly for the purpose of hosting short term visitors impact our
community. This is seen in increased pressures on our infrastructure, our waste, our roads, our parking.
The new transitory accommodation rating categories have been introduced to address this, however
what does not change is that our residents, who choose to rent out their properties for short stay
accommodation up to 60 days, as per the town plan, incur no additional rating increases. Similarly, our
residents who choose to home host or rent out a room in their home for short term accommodation- up
to 90 days per year also incur no additional changes to their rates. We acknowledge and appreciate that
many of our residents rely on this additional or supplementary income and we are determined to ensure
that they don’t bear the brunt of any increased charges.

In this accommodation sector we have also budgeted for additional funds and resources to manage the
roll-out of the new short-term accommodation local law as management of short- stay properties. This is
still a source of concern for our residents and something the State Government is not addressing.
Besides the huge increases to capital infrastructure there are many things about this budget that I am
particularly proud of.

The record $1m being spent on community grants is something which I think all Councillors are so
proud. The additional appointment of a community development officer here at Council will also ensure
that we provide as much support as we can to these groups and our broader community. So many of our
community groups: and there are over 300 in this Shire, do much of the ‘heavy lifting’ in helping our
vulnerable, our at risk, our juniors, our seniors, our workers, our sportspeople, our elderly and so on. It is
a privilege to stand with them and behind them and support the wonderful community works they do.