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SHADE IN COORAN STREETSCAPE · Report
GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023
6.4 SHADE IN COORAN STREETSCAPE
Author Acting Chief Executive Officer, Larry Sengstock
CEO's Office | Office of the CEO & Mayor
Index ECM / Subject / 27.05
Attachments 1. Attachment 1 - Chronology of Aerial Photos at 12 King Street Cooran
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The business proprietors of the General Store at 12 King Street Cooran have made representations
to Council about the inadequacy of shade on the footpath tables, which are regarded as a key
community gathering location for the village.
The tables were originally placed in around 2010 following the streetscape upgrade and were funded
by a Councillor's discretionary budget. It is understood that temporary shade umbrellas were placed
over the tables at times to provide comfort for patrons, presumably by the proprietor of the adjacent
business. The umbrellas were placed as a courtesy rather than any under formal outdoor dining
arrangement or exclusive use of the tables. Council replaced the tables in 2023 due the age of the
previous furniture, which removed the ability to physically place the temporary umbrellas in the table
top. Subsequent consideration highlighted concerns for the liability and safety of the temporary
umbrellas in this location, combined with consistency of approach with other public locations in
Noosa. In other outdoor locations, adjacent businesses seek permission for an outdoor dining
licence, and management and liability of the temporary shade umbrellas formally rests with the
adjacent business owner.
The report outlines the existing provision of shade in the Cooran village centre, as well as
benchmarks with other village centres in the Shire.
Four options are canvassed in the report to improve shade in front of the premises:
• Option 1: Extend Shop Awning (by business owner)
• Option 2: Outdoor Dining Permit and Umbrellas (by business owner)
• Option 3 Public Outdoor Shade Umbrellas (by Council)
• Option 4: Additional Shade Tree Planting (by Council)
It is noted that these options have not been subject to community engagement or canvassed with
the business proprietor. The options have been provided to assist in determination of any preferred
option by Council and would require subsequent community and business community engagement.
The recommended option is for Council to explore funding for additional shade planting in various
locations in the street to benefit the entire community and provide a greener and cooler amenity.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Acting Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting
dated 11 December 2023 regarding additional shade measures in King Street Cooran and
A. Note that Council is committed to provide a shady and green character for King Street that
benefits all businesses and the community;
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023
B. Consider a budget allocation for the 2024/2025 financial year for supply and installation of
additional mature shade trees in King Street Cooran in consultation with all local businesses
and the community; and
C. Advise the proprietors of 12 King Street Cooran that if they wish to provide constructed shade
over the tables adjacent to the entrance to their premises, Council is in support of an
application for an outdoor dining area, with umbrellas managed by the proprietor, consistent
with its approach in other village centres.
REPORT
1. Background
Public seating tables are provided on the footpath outside the Cooran General Store at 12 King
Street Cooran. The image below demonstrates the current arrangements.
Figure 1: Cooran General Store from King Street
Figure 2: Public tables on footpath adjacent to General Store.
The business proprietors of the General Store at 12 King Street Cooran have made representations
to Council about the inadequacy of shade on tables on the footpath, which is regarded as a key
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023 community gathering location. An analysis of aerial images from Council’s aerial photography at Attachment 1, provides an indication of the history of the umbrellas in this location. Whilst the aerial photos cannot provide a wholistic picture, it indicates shade umbrellas appearing at the location as early as 2010, and being present 2017/ 2018 and 2021/2022. The tables were were funded by a Councillor's discretionary budget to provide public seating. It is understood that temporary shade umbrellas were placed over the tables to provide comfort for patrons, presumably by the proprietor of the adjacent business. The umbrellas were placed as a courtesy rather than any under formal outdoor dining arrangement or exclusive use of the tables. Council replaced the tables in 2023 due the age of the previous furniture, which removed the ability to physically place the temporary umbrellas in the table top. Subsequent consideration highlighted concerns for the liability and safety of the temporary umbrellas in this location, combined with consistency of approach with other public locations in Noosa. In other outdoor locations, adjacent business seek permission for an outdoor dining licence, and management and liability of the temporary shade umbrellas formally rests with the adjacent business owner. Subsequent communication highlighted concerns for the liability and safety of the temporary umbrellas in this location, combined with consistency of approach with other public locations in Noosa. The business proprietors of the General Store at 12 King Street Cooran have made representations to Council about the inadequacy of shade on the footpath, which is regarded as a key community gathering location. It is noted that the proprietors of 12 King Street have also recently submitted an application for a Food Business Licence converting part of the premises into a café. An analysis of constructed shade in the Cooran streetscape is provided in Figure 3 below. Figure 3: Constructed streetscape shade in King Street, Cooran Constructed shade is dispersed throughout the streetscape and in adjacent parks.
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023 • Public shelter on King Street adjacent to “top carpark” near to the School of Arts Hall; • Public shelter in Pioneer Park near to the playground; • Proposed Public bus stop shelter adjacent to Pioneer Park (scheduled for construction); • Deep shop awning at commercial premises at 2 King Street (The Cart and Lost in Cooran); • Shallow shop awning at commercial premises at 12 King Street (Cooran General Store); • Shallow Shop awning at commercial premises at 30 King Street (Yoga Studios); • Deep Shop awning at commercial premises at 16 King Street (Hinterland Restaurant). Many of the shaded spaces are adjacent to established key community gathering nodes along the street and in adjacent parks, noting the space outside of the General Store is not the only community gathering space with many options available. Figure 4: Existing Public Shelter on King Street, adjacent to top carpark Figure 5: Existing Public shelter in Pioneer Park, adjacent to King Street In addition, a new shelter is scheduled to be placed on King Street adjacent to Pioneer Park and the bus stop. This proposal is also aligned to modal shift, and encouragement of the use of public transport. A photo of the proposed design is indicated below. A budget of $65,000 has been allocated for the placement of the new shelter.
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023 Figure 6: Shelter proposed in King Street, adjacent to the Pioneer Park and the Bus Stop It is also noted that a number of occupied commercial premises do not have shade awnings across their frontage including: • Lazy Fox at 2 King Street Cooran • Noosa Hinterland Brewery at 28 King Street Cooran. 2. Benchmark at Other Locations Other village centres in Noosa provide useful examples for shade in the streetscape. a. Peregian Beach Kingfisher Drive at Peregian Beach - deep shop awnings at the frontage of the retail premises are supplemented by outdoor umbrellas in licenced outdoor dining areas. The umbrellas are managed by the adjacent retail premises. Shade in the street is also supplemented by extensive shade tree planting. A public outdoor table “The whale table” is located near to the corner of Kingfisher Drive and Heron Street. This table is not provided with an awning though is shaded by trees.
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023 Figure 7: Kingfisher Drive Peregian Beach Figure 8: Whale table cnr of Kingsfisher Drive and Heron Street b. Pomona Memorial Avenue at Pomona - deep shop awnings at the frontage of the retail premises are supplemented by outdoor umbrellas in licenced outdoor dining areas. The umbrellas are managed by the adjacent retail premises. Shade in the street is supplemented by extensive shade tree planting. Public furniture is also provided in the street that is not shaded by an awning, though is shaded by street trees. Figure 9: Memorial Ave, Pomona
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023
c. Maple Street and Emerald Street Cooroy
Deep shop awnings at the frontage of many retail premises providing shade to adjacent seating
areas. Cafes in Emerald Street have installed fixed umbrellas over their licenced outdoor dining area
– managed by the adjacent retail premises.
Figure 10: Awning and Fixed Umbrellas in Emerald Street, Cooroy
3. Options for Shade on King Street.
The following options have been determined to provide additional shade in the streetscape in the
vicinity of 12 King Street.
Description Analysis
Option 1 Extend Shop Awning (by business owner)
Owners of the business premises to extend the • Consistent with approach in other local
depth of the shop awning to provide deep shade village centres.
adjacent to the facade.
• Would be subject to planning and
building approvals.
• Likely to be at considerable expense
Option 2: Outdoor Dining Permit and Umbrellas (by business owner)
Owners of the business premises to seek • Consistent with approach in other village
approval for an outdoor dining area in the centres.
footpath. The licensee could then arrange shade
umbrellas on a daily basis. • The outdoor dining area becomes
exclusive to the nearby tenancy, rather
than available to the general public.
• The owners have previously been
advised of Council's support for this
option and has been rejected.
Option 4: Outdoor Shade Umbrellas (by Council)
Council install permanent shade umbrellas in the • The umbrella replicates the styling and
streetscape. The umbrellas are fixed and character of the previous temporary
certified for permanent installation.
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023
umbrellas. They can be sleeved in
between existing tables
• Maintains public non-exclusive use of the
public footpath tables rather than being
annexed to a specific tenancy.
• Initial estimates of supply and install are
in the order of $30,000 for 3 umbrellas.
Council does not currently maintain this
asset type. Will require ongoing
inspections and maintenance.
• Establishes a precedent for other retail
footpath areas in commercial areas
across the Shire.
• Council could be perceived to be
installing shade to support the customers
Character image: fixed shade umbrella of particular business owner in Cooran,
when other popular businesses in town
do not have shade over their footpath
Option 5: Additional Shade Tree Planting (by Council)
Council plant mature shade trees to improve • Provides broader urban greening
shade in the locality. benefits. Could be applied to multiple
locations in the Cooran streetscape as
some of the footpaths are very
unshaded.
• Consistent with approach in other
commercial centres which seek a natural
green appearance.
• Initial estimates of $1000 per tree. Whilst
advanced stock can be sourced, would
require time to provide shade.
4. Consideration
In consideration of the options the following key points are considered pertinent:
• Council’s approach in other village centres is to support outdoor dining areas with constructed
shade provided (including umbrellas) by the adjacent retail business.
• Council has supplied multiple locations with constructed shade for public non-exclusive
seating in Cooran.
• Council is committed to an additional shade shelter in Cooran at the bus stop with a budget
allocation of $65,000, which is also aligned to modal shift objectives to encourage use of
public transport
• A number of business premises in Cooran are also not provided with constructed shade over
the footpath, including the Lazy Fox and the Noosa Hinterland Brewery. These locations are
similarly key community gathering locations.
• There is opportunity for more shade tree planting in King Street Cooran, with various
locations benefiting pedestrians and village character.
On balance, it is recommended that any additional investment in shade for King Street Cooran would
be for planting of additional shade trees in various locations, including near to 12 King Street Cooran.
Trees could be located in consultation with local business proprietors and the general community.
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023 As part of this consideration, it is noted that if the proprietors of 12 King Street Cooran wish to provide constructed shade over the tables adjacent to the entrance to their premises, Council is in support of an application for an outdoor dining area, with umbrellas managed by the proprietor, consistent with its approach in other village centres. Link to Corporate Plan Theme No. 2. - Liveability Liveability encompasses housing, facilities and services, transport, health and wellbeing to enable an inclusive, connected and vibrant community. Objective: 2.6 Facilitate strong, vibrant, inclusive communities where people have a sense of belonging and are active participants in a rich community life. Objective 2.7 Fund and deliver sustainable assets and facilities and associated services responding to the changing needs of the community and the challenges and opportunities of the future. Theme No. 4. - Future This theme is focused on our future, strengthening our relationship with First Nations peoples and to ensure our community is prepared and resilient to change. A focus on youth, climate resilience and adaptation, sense of place and destination management. Objective 4.5 Implement a place-based approach to working with individual towns/villages and address their specific needs within a whole-of-Council framework. Previous Council Consideration Nil. Finance As noted above a number of the options have cost implications. Risk & Opportunities As noted above, the construction of shade structure in front of one retail premises could establish a precedent across the shire. Consultation External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder There has been no external consultation for the options, and any endorsed option would require community engagement. Internal Consultation Departments consulted:
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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING 11 DECEMBER 2023
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