2017-04-18 General Committee Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   18 APRIL 2017




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GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                                   18 APRIL 2017

           3.2      Your Say Noosa
           Following the public meeting Council established a Cooroy Memorial Hall YourSayNoosa website to
           allow discussion to continue in an online forum. The site included a range of background documents
           and the information presented at the Public Meeting.

           Between 28 November and 31 January there were 608 visits to the site, 196 of these visitors actively
           engaged in the site and over 100 documents were downloaded. Of particular interest was the
           Independent Building Inspections report.

           A number of written comments were received on the community forum component of the Your Say
           Noosa site.

           These comments include

               A community's history should be preserved as much as is possible and practicable. The hall’s
               long history and long standing connection with large parts of the community going back
               generations contributes to what gives our town a sense of pride and continuity to longstanding
               families and a sense of continuity and stability to new families. Residents can be proud of their
               town when they can point out to visitors its history.

               | think many of the past users will return to the hall if the hire rates are reasonable. | remember
               the swearing in of the councillors as a very memorable event, and the hall was perfect for the
               occasion. Some events certainly do just feel right there.

               If grants or other ways of paying for the repairs e.g. something like the restoration of the Tait
               house, arent available, | would like to see the repairs paid for by a one off levy, or a small annual
               levy for a specified number of years for people who cannot afford a larger one off amount.
               Reason for this is that Cooroy residents and Cooroy’s outlying suburbs, (Lake Macdonald, Black
               Mountain etc) have helped to maintain the other halls in the shire from general rates since the
               council took them over.

                The wonderful old hall will always be a 'beggar' if it relies solely upon local government handouts
               and public support. Generous and caring local residents have thrown their weight behind efforts
               to save the hall and that patronage, can only be applauded. However, the hall will continue to
               deteriorate unless a viable and continuing commercial revenue stream can be developed to
               ensure a secure future and a wholesale refurbishment of the facility to meet modern needs and
               usages.

               | am against having commercial enterprise at the front of the building. That would completely
               change the character of the building.

               | think the Hall would make a beautiful, romantic venue for weddings and other functions

           3.3.     Further Consultation

           After the November public meeting, Council commenced a more focused round of consultation.
           Officers extended an offer to community members to meet with Council representatives to discuss
           ideas and concerns. This included a range of meeting formats from discussions with individuals to
           small groups.
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