NOOSA AQUATICS CENTRE UPGRADE PLAN AND NOOSA AQUATICS FACILITIES STRATEGIC PLAN · Attachment 2 Noosa Aquatic Facilities Strategic Plan 2026-2036

       Community and Stakeholder Engagement
       To ensure this strategic plan is genuinely tailored to local                                                ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES
       needs, Council drew insight from community members,
       key stakeholders, staff and Councillors across two stages                                                   NOOSA AQUATIC FACILITY NETWORK
       of engagement.
                                                                                                                   Community and stakeholder engagement identified the following key regional priorities for the Noosa aquatic
                                      Interviews                                            Survey                 facility network:
                                      Face-to-face                                          Online community       Welcoming, inclusive and safe spaces                      Support for local partnerships and access equity
                                      and telephone                                         survey (91              ● Strong support for significant redevelopment of         ● Continued Council support for third-party
                                      interviews with                                       responses)                 the NAC, as outlined in the NAC Upgrade Plan              lessees at state school pools to retain ongoing
                                      local clubs, peak                                                                and Prioritised Implementation Plan                       community access
                                      bodies, schools,                                      Interviews              ● Desire for incorporation of universal design            ● Reactivation of community access to the Pomona
                                                           Stage 2: February - March 2025


                                      primary and allied
         Stage 1: March - June 2024




                                                                                                                       elements in aquatic infrastructure to ensure              State School pool, to which a new lessee has
                                      health providers,                                     Follow-up
                                                                                                                       broad accessibility for the Shire’s diverse               engaged with the school on a trial basis through
                                      Council staff                                         interviews with
                                                                                                                       population                                                2025/26
                                      and school pool                                       local clubs, schools
                                                                                                                    ● Stakeholders emphasised privacy, safety, shade,         ● Encouragement of collaboration between
                                      lessees                                               and Council staff
                                                                                                                       lighting and clear sightlines as essential elements       schools, clubs, health providers and Council to
                                                                                                                       in aquatic facility design                                share facilities and programs
                                      Site visits                                           Open days
                                                                                                                   Dynamic, year-round programming                            ● Requests for recreational water features (e.g.
                                      Site visits to                                        2 x community           ● Programming should reflect Noosa’s ageing                  water slides and splash park elements) in
                                      existing aquatic                                      open days at the           population                                                hinterland areas such as Pomona
                                      facilities                                            NAC (85 attendees)      ● Continued support for water safety, rehabilitation,    Managing disruption and communication
                                                                                                                       hydrotherapy, aqua fitness and social swimming         ● Concerns about potential closures during
                                      Workshops                                             Workshops                  programs                                                  construction. Stakeholders asked for clear
                                                                                            Follow-up               ● Requests for new offerings such as wellness and            communication, phasing and alternative access
                                      Visioning
                                                                                            workshop with              recovery facilities                                       arrangements
                                      workshops with
                                                                                            Council staff and      Retention of learn-to-swim as a community priority         ● Desire for transparency and ongoing engagement
                                      Council staff and
                                      Councillors                                           Councillors             ● Learn-to-swim remains essential for child safety           throughout upgrade delivery
                                                                                                                       and lifelong water skills and confidence              Legacy and event outcomes
                                                                                                                   Environmentally and financially responsible                ● Proactive positioning of the NAC to leverage
            This strategic plan also drew on outcomes from                                                         operations                                                    Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
            community engagement conducted by Council                                                                                                                            legacy and funding opportunities, including
                                                                                                                    ● Broad community support for energy-efficient
           between August 2023 and November 2024 for the                                                                                                                         hosting pre-Games training, regional events
           Pomona Place Plan project, which attracted input                                                           systems, solar power, water-wise landscaping and           and athlete engagement programs, while
                     from more than 500 residents.                                                                    sustainable materials                                      ensuring upgrades meet high-performance and
                                                                                                                    ● Recognition that upgrades should balance                   accessibility standards
                                                                                                                      environmental performance with affordability for
                                                                                                                      users, Council and other facility providers
22 | NOOSA SHIRE COUNCIL | AQUATIC FACILITIES STRATEGIC PLAN 2026-2036