2026 LGAQ CONFERENCE MOTIONS & COUNCILLOR ATTENDANCE · Report

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                              7 JULY 2026


    b. Motion: "UNESCO Biosphere Reserves – State and National Recognition and
       Funding (provided at Attachment 2)";
    c. Motion: "State Planning Reforms to Existing Use Rights for Short-Term Accommodation in
       Low Density Residential Zones" (provided at Attachment 3);
    d. Motion: "Recognising and Protecting Soil as Natural Critical Infrastructure" (provided at
       Attachment 4);
    e. Motion: "Drone Beach Surveillance - Supporting Lifeguards and Beachgoer Safety"
       (provided at Attachment 5);
    f.   Motion: "Electronic Gaming Machines on Council-Owned and Trustee Land" (provided at
         Attachment 6);
    g. Motion: "Funding Queensland Councils to Pilot Opt-In Reusable Cup Programs" (provided
       at Attachment 7);
    h. Motion: "Future-proofing Queensland’s Water Supply – A Whole-of Water-Cycle Approach
       to Climate Resilience" (provided at Attachment 8);
    i.   Motion: "World Surfing Reserves" (provided at Attachment 9);
    j.   Motion: "Submission to State Planning Policy Review" (provided at Attachment 10); and
    k. Motion: "Safe Parking Pilot Program on State-owned and Public Car Parks as a Response
       to the Housing Crisis".

C. Approve Cr <insert name> & Cr <insert name> to attend at the 2026 LGAQ Conference in Cairns
   in October 2026 under the Councillor's Expenses Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities
   Policy, Item 2.1 Mandatory - Professional Development and Representation.


REPORT
The following proposed motions have been put forward by Councillors and Directors for Council's
consideration for submission to the LGAQ Conference 2026. LGAQ requires a formal Council
Resolution on all motions submitted. Approval is sought to lodge the motions by the submission
closing date of 27 July 2026.


   a. Motion: Coordinated transition and ongoing funding for local governments to continue
      to provide flood monitoring services (provided at Attachment 1) - Shaun Walsh, Director
      Infrastructure Services:
      That the LGAQ calls on the Federal Government to provide ongoing funding and coordination
      for local governments to transition to a suitable flood monitoring platform that collects,
      displays and analyses real-time data from rainfall and river level gauges for flood warning and
      local disaster management.


   b. Motion: UNESCO Biosphere Reserves – State and National Recognition and Funding
      (provided at Attachment 2) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
      That the LGAQ call on the Queensland and Australian Governments to:
      A. Formally recognise UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as assets of state and national
      significance - environmental, cultural, scientific and economic - and acknowledge the role
      local governments play in their ongoing stewardship; and
      B. Establish dedicated and sustainable funding to support local governments in managing
      UNESCO Biosphere Reserve obligations, reflecting the state and national benefit these

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                             7 JULY 2026


       reserves deliver.


  c. Motion: State Planning Reforms to Existing Use Rights for Short-Term Accommodation
     in Low Density Residential Zones (provided at Attachment 3) - Richard MacGillivray,
     Director Development & Regulation:
     That the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) calls on the Queensland
     State Government to implement targeted legislative and regulatory reform to better manage
     the impacts of short-term accommodation on housing supply and residential amenity by:
     1. Amending the Planning Act 2016 and Planning Regulation 2017 to modify the operation of
     existing use rights for non-hosted short-term accommodation in the Low Density Residential
     Zone, including by:
         a. Limiting the continuation of these rights; and
         b. Providing for the extinguishment of such rights upon transfer of property ownership,
     enabling a gradual transition of affected dwellings back to permanent residential use; and
     2. Provides an opt-in mechanism for local governments, recognising variations in housing
     pressures, tourism profiles and community expectations across Queensland; and
     3. Establishing a clear, balanced statutory framework that:
        a. Enables a staged and orderly transition of housing stock back to long-term residential
     use;
        b. Retains appropriate support for low-impact, home-hosted short-term accommodation;
       c. Recognises and supports non-hosted short-term accommodation where it is expressly
     permitted and approved under planning schemes.


  d. Motion: Recognising and Protecting Soil as Natural Critical Infrastructure (provided at
     Attachment 4) - Cr Karen Finzel:
     That the LGAQ call on the State Government to develop a comprehensive Queensland Soil
     Health Plan to operationalise the National Soil Strategy at the state level and recognise soil
     as a “key national asset” and critical infrastructure essential for water security, agriculture
     productivity, healthy waterways, flood attenuation climate resilience and functioning
     ecosystems.


  e. Motion: Drone Beach Surveillance - Supporting Lifeguards and Beachgoer Safety
     (provided at Attachment 5) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
     That the LGAQ calls on the Queensland State Government to advocate to the Australian
     Government and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for regulatory reform to enable
     Queensland local governments to operate beach safety drone programs consistently and
     without unnecessary administrative burden, and to provide the funding and framework
     needed to support councils to expand drone surveillance to unpatrolled beaches across the
     State.


  f.   Motion: Electronic Gaming Machines on Council-Owned and Trustee Land (provided at
       Attachment 6) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
       That the LGAQ call on the State government to
       A. Require mandatory consultation with local councils prior to the granting, transfer, or
       expansion of gaming machine licences within their jurisdiction.
       B. Advocating for legislative amendments that give local governments greater standing to

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                7 JULY 2026


       address the clustering of gaming venues and associated community harm.


  g. Motion: Funding Queensland Councils to Pilot Opt-In Reusable Cup Programs (provided
     at Attachment 7) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
     That the LGAQ calls on the Queensland State Government to provide dedicated funding to
     Queensland local governments to establish opt-in reusable cup pilot programs, modelled on
     the Douglas Chooses to Reuse program in Port Douglas - funded by the Queensland
     Government, delivered by the Boomerang Alliance, and proven to work - with a view to scaling
     successful pilots across Queensland communities.


  h. Motion: Future-proofing Queensland’s Water Supply – A Whole-of Water-Cycle
     Approach to Climate Resilience (provided at Attachment 8) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
     That the LGAQ call on the Queensland and Federal Governments to take proactive action to
     secure long-term urban and regional water supply by investing in a diverse, climate-resilient,
     and circular water portfolio, spanning rainfall-independent sources, water-sensitive and
     nature-based measures, and demand-side management, and to provide dedicated funding
     and regulatory reform to enable water utilities and local governments to plan and deliver
     diversified water supply solutions before communities reach crisis point.


  i.   Motion: World Surfing Reserves (provided at Attachment 9) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
       That the LGAQ call on the State and Federal governments to formally recognise World Surfing
       Reserves as assets of state and national significance, acknowledging their environmental,
       social and economic value, including their contribution to the surfing economy and their value
       as a model for recognising and managing significant natural assets across Queensland.


  j.   Motion: Submission to State Planning Policy Review (provided at Attachment 10) - Kim
       Rawlings, Director Strategy & Environment:
       That the LGAQ calls on the State Government to maintain a strong, integrated State Planning
       Policy (SPP) that delivers balanced environmental, social and economic outcomes by
       retaining key State interests, including biodiversity, coastal environments, cultural heritage,
       natural hazards, climate resilience, housing diversity and liveability, while providing direction
       on the hierarchy of State and local planning interests, retention of state mapping and technical
       guidance, and adequate funding and support to Local Government so no additional financial
       or liability burden is shifted to local governments.
  k. Motion: Safe Parking Pilot Program on State-owned and Public Car Parks as a
     Response to the Housing Crisis (provided at Attachment 11) - Cr Amelia Lorentson:
     That the LGAQ call on the Queensland Government to establish and fund a statewide pilot
     Safe Parking Program on suitable State-owned and public car parks, including underutilised
     assets such as school car parks during holiday periods, in partnership with local governments
     and community organisations, to provide safe overnight accommodation and basic support
     services in response to the housing crisis, given the rising number of people living in vehicles
     and the lack of affordable housing across Queensland.

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                    7 JULY 2026


Link to Corporate Plan
Theme No. 5 - Excellence
This theme focuses on customer experience, financial sustainability, innovation and technology,
levels of service, governance, our employees and volunteers, funding streams and asset
management practices.




Previous Council Consideration
Council has made a range of motion submissions to LGAQ conferences in previous years.


Finance
Costs associated with councillors attending the conference are covered in the Councillors' Expenses
Reimbursement and Provision of Facilities Policy. Item 2.1 of the Policy, Mandatory Professional
Development & Representation, allows attendance of three delegates at the LGAQ (Local
Government Association Queensland) Annual Conference: The Mayor (or the Mayor’s Nominee
Councillor) as the primary attendee and LGAQ conference delegate, and two Councillors as further
attendees (with one appointed as he second delegate at the conference). Should further councillors
wish to attend they may utilise Item 2.2 Discretionary Professional Development & Representation,
should funding be available, or alternatively seek approval for mandatory funding via resolution of
council.


Risk & Opportunities
The LGAQ Conference provides a forum to table and debate issues of importance to local areas and
communities, as well as identify issues that are likely to be relevant to other local councils.


Human Rights
Human Rights Compatibility Statement
In developing this Report, the subject matter has been considered in accordance with the
requirements of the Queensland Human Rights Act 2019. It is considered that the subject matter
does not conflict with any human rights and supports a human rights approach to decision making
by Council. Council representatives will endeavour to act and make decisions under this report in a
manner that is compatible with human rights. This report should be read in conjunction with Council’s
Human Rights Policy.


Consultation
External Consultation - Community & Stakeholder
Nil.
Internal Consultation
Departments consulted:

       Office of the CEO, Mayor &         Community Services              Corporate Services
               Councillors
  x     Mayor & Councillors         x   Director                    x   Director
  x     Chief Executive Officer         Community Development           Financial Services
        Executive Officers              Sport & Active Lifestyles       Fleet

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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                                    7 JULY 2026


     Community Engagement                  Arts & Culture                 Revenue Services
     People & Culture                      Community Connection           ICT
     Governance                            Customer Experience            Procurement

                                                                          Commercial Property

     Strategy & Environment                Development & Regulation       Infrastructure Services
 x   Director                          x   Director                   x   Director
     Strategic Land Use Planning           Development Assessment         Infrastructure Planning, Design
                                                                          and Delivery
     Economic Development          &       Local Laws                     Civil and Asset operations
     Destination Management
 X   Environmental Services                Environmental Health           Waste
     Innovation & Digital Hub              Building & Plumbing            Building & Facilities
                                           Property / Permits             Disaster Management