2014-10-14 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda - Pages 51 - 117

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   14 OCTOBER 2014




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PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                14 OCTOBER 2014

        Ey                     PROPOSAL FOR A BOUNDARY CHANGE

            legislation, I would be prepared to consider supporting a referral to the Local
            Government Change Commission for assessment”         The Minister also advised
            that he would need a submission by early 2015 to meet the 2016 local
            government elections.

            In a press release of the 18 February, 2014 Mr Crisafulli listed possible
            boundary changes, as one of the pressing issues that the newly de-amalgamated
            councils would have to prioritise, further reinforcing the fact that it was possible
            to have a boundary change considered for those newly amalgamated Councils.

            Following the advice from the Minister in January, the EDV Residents Group
            Committee determined that it was important to re-start a conversation with the
            local community (encompassing the suburbs of Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale,
            Weyba Downs (and South Weyba Downs now listed as Peregian Beach (West)).
            The rationale for re-starting this conversation was that although there was clear
            evidence in 2006 that over 80.5% of residents and 87% of businesses supported
            a boundary change, this needed to be tested with the current 2014 community.

            In February 2014, The EDV Group advised both Mayors that they would be
            proceeding to investigate the level of community support for a boundary change
            and would make a formal approach following community consultation.       These
            letters were followed by informal meetings with the Mayors and CEOs of both
            Councils (as well as the local Councillors representing the EDV area).

            Informally, the Mayor and CEO of Noosa Council indicated they would want some
            formal request in due course in order that they could do some research from
            their Council’s perspective. Informally, on the 7™ July the Mayor and CEO of the
            SCC agreed that they would not consider the matter formally until they had
            received a formal submission from the EDV Group but requested this to be
            brought forward to early September.        Despite that time frame severely
            compromising the community consultation process, the EDV representatives
            undertook to do this.  However, without warning and in total disregard of this
            meeting agreement, the Mayor pre-emptively put forward a minute to the SCC
            on the 24'" july which resulted in the Council refusing to support a boundary
            change.

            Since that time the Minister has further reiterated his statements about the
            process for a boundary change in the media and in correspondence to the EDV
            Group as recently as the 21% August 2014.        Our reading of this material
            indicates that the SCC refusal has not shut the door on the potential for a
            favourable Ministerial decision, providing there is community support and one
            Council in agreement.

                                                                                         2
            Submission from the EDV Group

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