2021-08-16 General Committee Meeting Minutes

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES                                                           16 AUGUST 2021


      11     UPDATE ON COASTAL HAZARDS ADAPTATION PLAN (CHAP)
             In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson provided the
             following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
             I, Cr Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as
             my brother, Gabriel Cerasani, owns a property at Beaches Estate, Sunrise Beach which is one of
             the properties identified as `at risk' under the draft CHAP. Although I have a declarable conflict of
             interest and I believe I could consider the matter impartially and in the public interest, I believe
             that some members of the public may still have a perception of bias and it is for that reason that
             I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on.
             In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Finzel provided the
             following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:
             I, Cr Finzel, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as on 5
             March 2020, Mr Peter Butt who is an Executive Member of the Eastern Beaches Protection
             Association donated $1666.66 to my 2020 Election Campaign where I was one of three
             candidates that ran as a group known as 'Future Noosa' (which is no longer an entity). Although
             I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a
             perception of bias because I believe that I do not have a close personal relationship with Mr Butt
             and I believe I can consider this matter impartially and in the public interest. Therefore, I will
             choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on
             whether I can remain and participate in the decision.
             Cr Stockwell provided the following statement to the meeting:
             I, Cr Stockwell, advise that I have previously declared a prescribed conflict of interest in relation
             to this matter as I owned a property at Noosa Lakes Resort that was identified in the draft CHAP
             as having the potential to be impacted by inundation resulting from sea level rise. I have now
             sold that property and therefore no longer have a conflict of interest in relation to any matters
             associated with the CHAP.

             Committee Resolution
             Moved:              Cr Wilkie
             Seconded:           Cr Stewart
             That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Finzel and determine that it is in the
             public interest that Cr Finzel participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that
             Cr Finzel does not have a close personal relationship with Mr Butt and would be able to consider
             the matter impartially and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made
             in the public interest.
                                                                                         Carried unanimously.
             (Cr Finzel did not vote on the above motion)


             Committee Recommendation
             Moved:              Cr Stockwell
             Seconded:           Cr Jurisevic
             That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee
             Meeting dated 16 August 2021 and note progress on the Coastal Hazards Adaptation
             Plan (CHAP) community engagement process.
                                                                                       Carried unanimously.
             Cr Lorentson re-joined the meeting.



Cr Stockwell left the meeting.




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