Annual Report 2018-19

Message from the
Mayor
Whew! 2018-19 was quite a year for
Noosa Council, involving a number of
big vision projects. What’s more, we
finished the financial year with a solid
fiscal performance.
Let’s begin with the Yurol/Ringtail Forest Conservation
Project. While the groundwork was prepared in
preceding years, 2018-19 saw the actual signing of the
landmark agreement between the State Government,
Noosa Parks Association and Noosa Council to
purchase plantation rights from HQ Plantations.             houses 18 businesses employing 55 people. In fact, 2
                                                            new businesses were birthed at the Hub, which also
Within ten years, this project will see 2,400 hectares of   hosted multiple workshops, events with quality speakers,
rehabilitated plantation and state forest land added to     and at the time of writing was providing entrepreneurial
the conservation estate as national park. This wildlife     support to 27 companies. The Hub has also focussed
corridor will provide connectivity between the hinterland   on the next generation of entrepreneurs and technical
and the Cooloola section of the Great Sandy National        wizards, with after-school inventor and robotics clubs,
Park – a wonderful result for our local koalas and many     and 10 high school students being mentored.
other endemic species.
                                                            The Noosaville Library refurbishment and expansion
                                                            was completed and opened by the Minister for Local
The stunning boardwalk that connects Little Cove
                                                            Government, Stirling Hinchliffe. The new-look library
with the entrance to the headland section of the Noosa
                                                            includes a maker space, meeting room, dedicated
National Park was also completed. This magnificent,
                                                            history room, and outdoor wi-fi area. It is also much
bespoke structure, designed to minimise impact on the
                                                            more spacious, whilst retaining the integrity of the
landscape, really has that “wow” factor. It won an award
                                                            original architecture.
for environmental excellence before it was even open to
the public and has since won further building awards.       The library extension was partly achieved with a State
                                                            Government grant, and in this regard, Noosa Council
                                                            has been served very well with grants funding. A total of
                                                            $8.3M, including the Federal Financial Assistance Grant,
“The stunning                                               has been received through the 2018-19 financial year.

boardwalk ... won an                                        But good financial management requires much more
                                                            than successful grant applications. And so, once again,
award before it was even                                    we completed the year with a small surplus. But we also
                                                            managed to pay down $10 million from our historical
open to the public”                                         inherited debt, significantly reducing this high-interest
                                                            burden from future councils.
The Peregian Digital Hub exceeded expectations as it
ventured forth in its first year of operations. Under the
masterful guidance of Chris Boden, the facility now




Noosa Council | 2018/2019 Annual Report                                                                      Page 6