2021-01-18 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                   18 JANUARY 2021


Previous Council Consideration
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 19 December 2019, Item 1, Page 12
That Council note the report by the Environmental Services Manager to the Planning &
Environment Committee Meeting dated 10 December 2019 and note the 2018/19 Annual Report
and audited Financial Statements received from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation as
provided at Attachments 1 and 2 to the report and thank Mr Dick Barnes for his efforts in the Noosa
Biosphere Reserve Foundation.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 21 March 2019, Item 5, Page 19
That Council note the report by the Director Environment and Sustainable Development to the
Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 12 March 2019 and note the report received
from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation including the 2017/2018 Annual Report and
Audited Financial Statement as provided at Attachment 1 and thank the volunteer Board Members
of NBRF for their efforts.
Ordinary Meeting Minutes, 21 June 2018, Item 1, Page 15
That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2018 and:
A.    Agree to enter into a 3-year Funding Deed with the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation
      (the Foundation) as set out in Attachment 1 to the report;
B.    Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to make any minor alterations to the Funding Deed, as
      may be necessary, and enter into the Funding Deed with the Foundation;
C.    Offer the Foundation the remaining 3-year lease option to continue the use of the Council
      premises at 52 Doonella Street, Tewantin subject to the existing lease conditions and
      continuation of the informal arrangements for use of the premises by other community
      groups.
D.    Thank the NBRF members including current board members for their considerable volunteer
      efforts over the past 3 years.
Finance
The NBRF 2019/20 audited financial statements are provided with the 2019/20 Annual Report in
Attachment 2.
The 2019/20 financial year is the second year of the current Funding Deed. In accordance with the
funding deed section 3(c), NBRF requested $120,000 funding for operational expenses and this
request was supported by Council during the budget process, and provided in quarterly payments
in the 19/20 financial year. This contribution was funded 50% by the environment levy and 50% by
general rates.
NBRF did not request any funding for projects, as defined in section 4 of the Funding Deed, and
therefore no funding was provided for projects in the 2019/20 financial year. NBRF did not apply
for any grants through Council’s other grants programs, including the Environment Grants.
Risks & Opportunities
The greatest benefit through the provision of Council funding is the ability of the Foundation to
multiply Council’s investment by attracting funding and in-kind contributions from other sources,
due to its charitable fund status. Existing projects continue to attract funding at a ratio of over 3:1.
This ratio does not include significant investments such as $1.6M that is to be invested into the
Noosa Trail Network, as a result of the Noosa Trail Masterplan work funded primarily by NBRF,
and the development of the Plan led by Noosa Tourism.
There is potential for risk if the NBRF does not deliver good outcomes in accordance with the
purpose of the funding. The Annual report provide details sufficient to identify that the Foundation’s
projects are progressing well towards intended outcomes and that projects are attracting significant
co-investment.

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