2019-02-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                           12 FEBRUARY 2019


   Peregian Beach Community Association – Barry Cotterell
   NICA – Peter Hunnan
   Landcare – Phil Moran
   Cooroy Chamber of commerce – Danielle Taylor
   Observers – Noosa Council CEO, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development,
     Deputy Mayor and Tourism Noosa CEO

The first meeting held on 27 March 2018 was independently facilitated and was an opportunity
for members to raise issues of concern that would be the subject of further discussion and, where
appropriate, further research. The key issues identified by the Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder
Reference Group in early discussions included:
1.    Determining the tourist carrying capacity / how to define sustainable tourism
2.    Diversification of the tourism impact (mainly geographic)
3.    Impact of events (number of events, road closures etc)
4.    Impact of transport/ traffic/ parking
5.    Impact on housing / residential amenity (AirBnB impact)
6.    Gathering info on issues (further studies required)
7.    Environmental impacts of tourism
8.    Achieving a “social contract” between the Tourism industry, Council and the community.

Tourism Noosa also identified that they would be commissioning an independent study on the
“Value and impacts of tourism to the Noosa community”. This study has been commenced and
is expected to be completed by March 2019. The study includes research into the economic
benefits to the Noosa community that flow from the tourism industry and also the impacts of
tourism on the Noosa community (the latter being supplemented by a community survey).

The Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group’s Terms of Reference is attached to this
report by way of background.

2.    PROGRESS TO DATE
The Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group has now met on six occasions with a
further meeting being held on 7 February 2019 focusing on the environmental impacts of tourism.

The Reference Group has been working through the issues raised with information being
provided on a range of issues including the following:

A.    Impact of events on local lifestyle
The Reference Group raised concerns about the apparent number of events in Noosa Shire and
their impact on local lifestyle. The issue of the number and duration of road closures associated
with events was also raised. The following information was provided to the Reference Group:
 In 2017, 704 permits were issued for use of community land. Of these, 377 were for wedding
    ceremonies, 7 were footpath trading permits, 66 street stalls, 32 commercial filming permits
    and 12 commercial high use permits.
 In 2017, there were 56 events across the Shire including the Noosa Triathlon, Noosa
    International Film Festival, Noosa Classic Car Show, Outriggers Challenge and the
    Hinterland Great Walk.
 There were 15 large-scale events using public land. Half of these events are based in the
    hinterland:
    o Noosa Triathlon Multi-sport Festival (Noosa Heads etc)
    o Noosa Food & Wine Festival (Noosa Heads)

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