Services & Organisation Committee Meeting - April 2023
Date: Tuesday, 11 April 2023 at 1:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 02:15:03
Synopsis: Tourism Noosa: Performance‑tied deed, static funding, governance, contingency control, DMP reshape, Wastewater: End outfalls, 100% recycling, AMPs: Parks plan, data reset, MOU: Noosa‑Gympie waste.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Joe Jurisevic Amelia Lorentson Clare Stewart Frank Wilkie Executive Officers
S Waters, Chief Executive Officer L Sengstock, Director Infrastructure Services K Rawlings, Director Environment & Sustainable Development A Hamblin, Acting Director Community Services AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Joe Jurisevic: Committee authorised CEO to sign a Noosa–Gympie Waste Management MOU to collaborate on infrastructure, diversion and treatment; logistics and COMSEQ alignment noted (Item 5.2; 00:59–10:45). Frank Wilkie: Parks & Playgrounds Asset Management Plan approved as the final of eight AMPs, setting service levels, lifecycle and inspection regimes per Australian standards (Item 5.1; 11:56–21:17). Kim Rawlings: Peregian Digital Hub lease endorsed for Unit 5 (75m²) to Nabooki Pty Ltd for two years plus up to three 1‑year extensions after a market process (Item 5.4; 01:35:56–01:38:52). Amelia Lorentson: Council endorsed motion to ALGA NGA calling for a National Policy: no new ocean/estuarine sewerage outfalls and funding to recycle 100% of treated wastewater; Cr Lorentson to present (Item 5.5; 01:41:11–01:54:35). Scott Waters (CEO): Tourism Noosa Funding & Performance Deed proposed as 2+2 years at static funding with quarterly reporting, strategic/operational plans, efficiency/effectiveness review, and remedies up to termination; referred to General Committee (Item 5.3; 01:03:33–01:33:17). Joe Jurisevic: Centralised Legal Services Trial discussed in closed session under s254J(3)(e),(g) LGR 2012; referred to General Committee (Item 7.1; 01:55:39–02:14:19). Infrastructure Services: AMP discussion clarified “Condition 5” triggers inclusion in 10‑year renewal program, not immediate failure; asset audits and reclassification planned to correct age‑based overstatement of poor condition (30:17–36:23). Matt (Parks): Preventative vs reactive maintenance split about 60/40; urgent risks handled immediately; parts delays explained; improved public signage for maintenance timing planned in new amenities cleaning contract (43:12–44:56; 27:19–28:17). Amelia Lorentson: Accessibility and all‑abilities features to be integrated in renewals and Gympie Tce masterplan; example sites and wheelchair‑accessible tables flagged (16:39–20:22). Scott Waters (CEO): Limited future growth constrains LaGIP developer contributions; renewals will be largely self‑funded, reinforcing the need for robust AMP prioritisation (50:01–54:32). Infrastructure Services: Environmental/natural assets (trees) catalogued and managed but not monetised; urban greening program building a system for tree asset management (21:37–24:31). Committee: Minutes confirmed; attendance via Teams approved per s254K LGR 2012 (Attendance; 00:06–00:59). Contentious / Transparency Matters Scott Waters (CEO): Tourism Noosa deed shifts to performance‑contingent funding with quarterly reporting to Council; emphasis on governance, board review, and observer role to avoid conflicts (Item 5.3; 01:03:33–01:29:12). Amelia Lorentson: Questioned absence of CPI escalation; CEO defended static funding to drive efficiencies before additional funds considered (01:19:36–01:21:26). Frank Wilkie: Queried reduction of Tourism Noosa contingency reserve from $350k to $250k; CEO said full replenishment not currently feasible; revisit post-DMP (01:17:57–01:19:36). Committee: Events funding duplication acknowledged; Council to rationalise roles between Tourism Noosa grants and Council to avoid double-dipping (01:29:12–01:31:34). Committee: AMP graph showing ~$8.5m “Condition 5” assets challenged; officers explained age-based data skews and forthcoming whole-of-portfolio audit to reset conditions (30:17–34:24). Kim Rawlings: On Burgess Creek erosion attribution, stated no categorical evidence yet; USC model under development to test flow/velocity impacts (01:47:41–01:49:24). Legal / Risk Committee: MOU with Gympie is non‑binding; specific binding project agreements will return to Council for approval (06:35–06:53; 06:53–07:34; Item 5.2). Committee: Confidential legal item closed under LGR 2012 s254J(3)(e),(g) for legal advice and commercial negotiations; reopening resolved and referral to General Committee (Item 7.1; 01:55:39–02:14:19). Scott Waters (CEO): Tourism Noosa deed includes remedies up to termination for non‑performance; Council approval required for any draw on the $250k contingency (cl 11.1) as funds are public (01:23:18–01:23:49). Scott Waters (CEO): Councillor director roles on external boards discouraged due to LGA conflicts and directors’ liability; observer model retained (01:24:29–01:26:43). Parks Officers: Playground safety managed to Australian standards, with inspections and condition ratings; no public liability claims due to equipment failure reported (14:46–17:36). Committee: Justice responses to graffiti offenders not currently used; potential for Community Development exploration flagged (46:31–46:53). Conflicts of Interest Clare Stewart: Declared a declarable conflict for Tourism Noosa item due to friendship with Director Leigh McCready; exited for debate/vote per LGA Ch 5B; item referred to General (Item 5.3; 01:01:54–01:03:22). Environmental Concerns Amelia Lorentson: National push to end new ocean outfalls and fund 100% wastewater recycling; cited Clean Ocean Foundation data: 1,350 GL/year discharged in 2016 (01:41:11–01:51:06). Committee: DMP discussion paper imminent; extensive community engagement planned; DMP to inform potential reshaping of Tourism Noosa’s role and funding allocations (01:13:05–01:14:31; 01:14:31–01:15:14). Infrastructure Services: All‑abilities and accessibility upgrades to be embedded in renewals and masterplans; water points and amenities siting to reflect usage/demographics (16:39–21:17; 28:17–28:56). Committee: Tree assets mapped and managed (urban greening) but not monetised to avoid distorting Council’s asset base; risk/benefit acknowledged (21:37–24:31). Sunshine Beach / Burgess Creek Amelia Lorentson: Raised local impacts from STP discharges to Burgess Creek; Director confirmed no substantiated causal evidence yet; USC study underway (01:41:11–01:49:24; 01:47:41–01:49:24). Frank Wilkie: Supported national policy drive irrespective of unresolved local causation; scope is broader than Noosa (01:49:24–01:50:58). Events Funding & Governance Scott Waters (CEO): Current “scrambled” model acknowledged; Council elevating events within strategy team; to coordinate with Tourism Noosa to avoid duplicate grants from the same public funds (01:29:12–01:31:34). Amelia Lorentson: Noted Tourism Noosa sponsors 13 events annually, with eight delivering hinterland dispersal; CEO clarified these are ultimately Council funds administered by TN (01:31:34–01:32:25).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Tuesday, 11 April 2023 1:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Joe Jurisevic (Chair), Amelia Lorentson, Clare Stewart, Frank Wilkie “Noosa Shire – different by nature” SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 APRIL 2023 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Joe Jurisevic (Chair) Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Clare Stewart (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Frank Wilkie EXECUTIVE S Waters, Chief Executive Officer L Sengstock, Director Infrastructure Services K Rawlings, Director Environment & Sustainable Development A Hamblin, Acting Director Community Services APOLOGIES Nil Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That in accordance with Section 254K of the Local Government Regulation, Cr is approved to attend the Meeting dated 11/04/2023 via Microsoft Teams. Carried Unanimously The meeting commenced at 1.32pm. 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson The Minutes of the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting held on 7 March 2023 be received and confirmed. Carried Unanimously 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil 4. DEPUTATIONS Nil SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 APRIL 2023 5. REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE 5.2. NOOSA – GYMPIE WASTE MANAGEMENT MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Manager Waste and Environmental Health to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 11 April 2023 and authorise the CEO to progress and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gympie Regional Council and subsequently work on mutually beneficial activities particularly, but not limited to, Waste Management. Carried Unanimously 5.1. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Civil and Asset Operations Manager to the Services Committee Meeting dated 11 April 2023 and approve the Parks and Playgrounds Asset Management Plan as a document that specifies the activities, resources and asset classes to achieve Noosa Council’s asset management objectives. Carried Unanimously 5.3. TOURISM NOOSA FUNDING AGREEMENT In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stewart provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Leigh McCready, a Director of Tourism Noosa is a personal friend. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Stewart left the meeting. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Services & Organisation Committee Agenda Item 5.3 be referred to the General Committee due to the significance of the issue. Carried Unanimously Cr Stewart returned to the meeting. SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 APRIL 2023 5.4. PROPOSED LEASE TENANCY FOR PEREGIAN DIGITAL HUB Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Digital Hub Director to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 11 April 2023 regarding the commercial lease of office space at the Peregian Digital Hub and: A. Agree to enter a commercial lease of the Unit 5 premises of 75m2 to Nabooki Pty Ltd. for a two year term, as generally outlined in the report; B. Authorise the CEO to award up to three subsequent lease extensions each of 1 year, subject to the lessee complying with the terms of the lease. Carried Unanimously 5.5. MOTION TO ALGA NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2023 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 11 April 2023 regarding a motion to the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly 2023 and: A. Approve the following motion that has been submitted to the Australian Local Government Association: "This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to formulate a National Policy on Ocean Sewerage Outfalls that aims at NO new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built/developed along the Australian coastline, and that dedicated funding is provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls, to develop new methods/technologies and make every effort to recycle 100% of all treated wastewater generated within their localities, and avoid the need to discharge in the ocean." B. Approve Cr Amelia Lorentson to present this motion at the National General Assembly noting Councillor Lorentson has formed this motion. Carried Unanimously 6. REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE Nil. 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 APRIL 2023 7.1. CONFIDENTIAL - NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE - CENTRALISED LEGAL SERVICES TRIAL Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That the meeting be closed to the public pursuant to section 254J(3)(e&g) of the Local Government Regulation 2012 for the purpose of discussing Item 7.1 regarding legal advice and negotiations relating to commercial matters. Carried Unanimously RE-OPENING OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That the meeting be re-opened to the public. Carried Unanimously Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Services & Organisation Committee Agenda Item 7.1 be referred to the General Committee due to the significance of the issue. Carried Unanimously 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 3.47pm.
Meeting Transcript
Joe Jurisevic 00:06.140
Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to today's Services & Organisation Committee Meeting, break number 23, for this Council. Before we begin, I'd like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we've met, Kabi Kabi People, and pay respects to their owners. Earliest past, present, and future. As far as attendance goes, I believe right on attendance we have the Mayor online today, make a plan, live from. Good afternoon, good morning everyone, So you've and sync. We've just got to move in a second. Can we go through everything else before we do that or do we need to do that at the very beginning of the meeting? With the Mayor online we need a resolution to acknowledge that the Mayor is online. Happy to move it. By Councillor Wilkie to acknowledge and accept attending via teams. All in favour? Thank you, guys have it. Thank you. Welcome online. Thank you. Can I get a confirmation of the Minutes of the previous meeting? Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Lorentson. All in favour? It's an aye from you Clare. Aye. Thank you. Sorry. He's he'll be. He's. Good, we've got her. There are no presentations or deputations that I'm aware of. No, there are none. Move on to item 5, reports for consideration on the committee. Item 1 is the parks and playgrounds asset management plan, but we've had a request to move to item 2 first. That is the Noosa – Gympie waste management Memorandum of Understanding. We'll go little page is on, welcome car ride. The table. Kyle Ray, would you like to give us a bit of an overview of the Memorandum of Understanding and why it's needed? Frank Wilkie 02:11.530
Thanks, Councillor. The report table is to authorise the CEO to progress and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Gympie Regional Council, allowing staff to work together on mutually beneficial activities, in particular but not limited the goal from a waste management perspective is to identify partnerships within waste. For infrastructure and waste management which would be beneficial to both parties. There are several benefits for Noosa and Gympie residents of which a major one is to utilise the over both jurisdictions to support capital feasibility event of many. Major infrastructure which turn support potential funding from. Entities such as Council of Mayors South East Queensland. The MOU is designed to draw project. By planning processes which will include the necessary. Council approvals required. While being led by a steering committee with. Representatives from both councils. Joe Jurisevic 03:13.870
As I mentioned in the report, the Council is not a member of CONCEPT who we are currently dealing with. But my understanding is that they have applied Scott Waters 03:22.805
To become a member of CoMSEQ? Chair, that's absolutely correct. We have applied to become an associate member. Of Council of Mayors South East Queensland and there's. A view that will be accepted in the next CoMSEQ meeting and the CEO is aware and has no concerns in Noosa Council forming a relationship with the Council in relation to waste. I'm assuming that facilitate some of the finding opportunities for the concept as well? It looks like, absolutely. Yeah. Joe Jurisevic 03:54.297
Questions, Councillors? Frank Wilkie 03:56.437
Just the make-up of the steering committee in Kyron, what's proposed? I think it's pretty open at present so we need to get the MOU signed for from gympie's side and then first thing will be get together work and out what that steering doing. Committee looks like. Yep. Would it involve sharing waste infrastructure like landfill? Kyle Ray 04:16.367
At present that hasn't been discussed but there's always a potential. They'll have. They're looking for a new landfill site at Gympie right at this present time. We've obviously got our own landfill but more and have been about treatment of waste, not necessarily landfill. That's the general sort of consensus that we're going for treatment facilities, waste diversion. We have capacity for another, is it 40 years? 50 What about Gympie, how are they placed? Frank Wilkie 04:45.337
At present I think they're pretty low in terms of years but they're planning to look forward something with a lot more potential than that opportunity. This is more about diversion and reuse than landfills? Exactly, will be the bottom of the pile and effectively we'll be looking to divert as much as we can. In the report there's a reference to utilising land banks, what does that mean exactly? Kyle Ray 05:11.650
If we're producing organic stream so the back end of composting or anaerobic digestion for argument's sake, the requirement is to spread that material to a land bank. And that could be farming communities or known farming entities that we could pair up with and they'd be using that material for or in the replacement of fertiliser Frank Wilkie 05:36.149
Would council's gardens be one recipient of that sort of material? That would be the intent yes we'd have to get to a certain quality parks and gardens would require our material to meet that certain quality mainly for germination of weeds or even all that but that's quality we haven't yet been able to achieve with our current process. Joe Jurisevic 05:59.022
Thank you. That's obviously an opportunity going forward to look at what the needs of end users would be of a product if we do go down that line and try to facilitate the means to produce that good product. Kyle Ray 06:11.556
Yeah yeah I think that's stretches not just from organic material but other materials, concrete and so forth. You know, Gympie have a lot more industrial zones than we do, potentially better uses for some of the material we produce and I think joining up with them will be a big plus in exactly that. Joe Jurisevic 06:30.936
I see indeed, drainage for gravel and tewart Amelia Lorentson 06:36.656
In terms of the Memorandum of Understanding Kyron, it's not a legally binding agreement. In terms of cost, are there any financial implications with signing an MOU? Kyle Ray 06:54.078
Not that I'm aware of. I'd tell you none at present. It's a, yeah, as you said, it's not a legally binding document. The goal is to work on a project, by basis to get us to a point where we would find something that is legally binding. So we get to a point at that point where we're looking at an investment, the arrangements and they might become left. Will have to become binding at that point on. So we come back Joe Jurisevic 07:16.218
To Council before any of that is done. Exactly. Yeah, one would assume the other is also there that economies of scale may actually produce savings in the long term for the size and scale of operations or even present opportunities because by collaborating with another house. Yeah. We may not be able to do this on our own. Frank Wilkie 07:32.360
I yeah, I agree and part of that would be just the feasibility of somebody some of the infrastructure requires that capacity. Just a follow up question from Joe is that obviously there are advantages of cooperating with another Council. That's fantastic. Was there discussions of a similar nature undertaken with Sunshine Coast Council and why was the decision to Kyle Ray 07:53.458
Have an MOU with Gympie? All three councils? We're still talking to Sunshine Coast. It's not that we don't talk to them. I think that is on its way in terms of that level of agreement. They've got processes and infrastructure that's well advanced about and we are involved in some ways. Of that infrastructure. To the level that we're talking to Gympie, I would say it's not at that level just yet, but we are working towards that. Joe Jurisevic 08:29.547
Clare, do you have any questions at all? Clare Stewart 08:31.687
No, all good. I think it's a really positive step, collaborating with that neighbour, share resources, costs, potentially it's good. Amelia Lorentson 08:39.671
Anything further, Megan? I do, I have another question, Chair. I'm just thinking, some time ago when we first started with Council, engaged with regional Council, Sunshine Coast, Gympie, to have a look at feasibility of actually working together and whether it was advised to go on your own or not. Has that report sort of resurfaced and guided this decision or not? Kyle Ray 09:07.121
I think this decision's been taken purely with CoMSEQ in mind. Okay. CoMSEQ's been relatively new to us and to Noosa Council, but one of the key criteria of CoMSEQ is we are working in unison with our neighbours and Gympie being one coasters. Of those and Sunshine Coast as well. So I think we will end up down this sort of path in the Sunshine Coast, but that is one of the key criterias. So I wouldn't say that report's driven this, but that's probably more of a result of CoMSEQ rather than the report. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 09:42.643
And further from Scott Waters 09:43.643
The galloway Council, Tom, you've got a question. With gympie's positioning to the west and to the north, there's really not a lot of bigger towns. You know, there's umari and like little SPEAKER_01 09:54.963
Tiny towns. So it just really makes sense that we work with them. Like there are kind of, we're in our own little scene together going south, you know, they have much bigger councils, but it makes a lot of well, Kyle Ray 10:09.357
I think that probably the biggest thing from a practical point of view, from my world anyway, is logistics. The with Gympie, from our landfill to the centre of gympie's 35 minutes, that's a massive advantage in the waste world. Because everything's got to be treated. Transported. If you're moving material, whether that's organic material to a land bank or material to some sort of treatment facility, whether it's coming here or going there, that 35 minutes is a massive benefit for a financial model. And I think that's where we're looking to in terms of getting to a project by basis that the financial model stacks up and that's this sort of waste sharing and waste resource sharing helps us with that financial feasibility. Joe Jurisevic 10:57.300
I know we've looked at or we've spoken about the opportunity before with regard to services on the North Shore, in particular Teewah. My understanding is that Gympie facilitates the waste Yes, I believe they do, so there may be an opportunity for further enhanced discussion with regard to Teewah recycling may be incorporated into all recycling services on the North Shore? Yeah, something to think about, that's excellent. Any further questions? If not, can I have a mover? Councillor Wilkie, seconder, Councillor Lorentson. All in favour? Thank you, Clare. Mayor Thank you. Kyron. Thanks, guys. Back to item one on the agenda, which is the parks and playground asset management act. Thank you. Oh, as I noticed, brian's here. He's away on holiday. He's here, yeah. Thank you. Matt 11:54.686
So ciao. I can brief of the report so I'll just give a quick summary. So Council has a statutory requirement to develop asset management plans for its major asset classes, so this is the last of eight in the suite and basically it considers some key objectives such as service levels, financial life cycle costs, things like that. And the objectives are aligned with our Council asset management Roadmap and also the Queensland Audit Office asset management outcomes. Amelia Lorentson 12:42.241
A simple one for you Matt, why are we undertaking this review and when was the last time parks and playgrounds asset management plan was reviewed? Matt 12:53.101
I might have to defer Adam, do you know the age when the previous one was? Would be about five years. Yeah, but they're not on a five year cycle. Yeah, they are. That's correct. So we started, as I said before, this is the final of eight, so we started with our major asset classes such as roads and things like that and worked our way to this. So with parks and playgrounds it's lot in terms of the overall value of the asset the whole of the assets this is probably the least the value but it's probably one of the ones where there's a lot there's a high quantity of assets just they're small assets and they make up you know there's I think we have well we have 2,000 assets so that's individual items but it's across to around about 250 parks so I think there's 80 playgrounds getting back to your question about the importance of it is to bring everything together and get a good framework around it all Frank Wilkie 13:50.953
Yeah I had a question about what that 2,000 parks and playground assets encompasses so there's 250 parks 80 playgrounds Matt 14:00.995
So the assets include equipment does yes items individual yeah so you have playgrounds are the obvious one but we also have park shelters which is a lot of we have barbecues we have individual the furniture so if you think about Gympie Terrace for an example how much furniture we have down there you know just individual items. So one Chair would be one asset? Joe Jurisevic 14:22.757
Yes. One Chair, table, one shelver? Correct. One swing, slippery dip? SPEAKER_07 14:29.697
That's right. Amelia Lorentson 14:35.425
Are state or Federal requirements regarding management of playgrounds in the open space or reserves or is this just something we undertake as a Council? Matt 14:46.565
Yes, so in terms of the assets themselves, particularly playgrounds, they do have Australian standards around them in terms of it. It's all mainly around safety and risk obviously. Yeah, so we try our best to meet those standards and those standards involve frequencies as well like frequencies of inspections and then condition ratings and things like that so that's what informs our renewal programs. Joe Jurisevic 15:12.626
Also have requirements on the frequency of inspection of that. Do yeah because every piece of gear is a little bit different you know you have the different companies that have their own individual styles and models and things like a 10,000 k service or a 15 Fair, have you got any questions at all? You're muted. Clare, Clare Stewart 15:42.678
No, I guess this is quite separate, isn't it, to funding that we put towards obviously our parks and gardens going forward. This is just the plan, isn't it? This doesn't take into account if we want to add additional funding, this is basically just the overarching Matt 15:58.660
That's correct, right, yes. Joe Jurisevic 16:01.656
Having said that, there's an element in this that is mentioned with regard to future planning, needs. Future capital works are in there as part of the dollar figures. But nothing for grants or anything like that will be forecasted just yet. Now, as far as future needs, where equipment may be required, or the overview of. Whether the level of equipment is sufficient for a level of. Yes, that goes with the hierarchy of the park. And that's one of my if you guys are finished, I've got a series of questions. Amelia Lorentson 16:39.332
Oh, I've got a series of questions too. Where am I going to start? Okay, I'm with accessibility. So we assess hazards, do we assess accessibility of our playgrounds, I was just recently approached by some residents who asked why we don't have any wheelchair access picnic tables at any of our parks. Is that information accessibility, how are community expectations captured or collated? And that probably links with my next question Matt, so I'll throw this one in. Have we had any public liability claims attributable to. Council playgrounds? Again, where is that information collated and does that guide future needs? Matt 17:39.205
Yeah, I'll answer that one since it's. So we don't, to my knowledge, have any public liability claims. We have had some very minor incidents where children have fallen off a swing and hurt themselves but it hasn't been due to failure of our equipment or service standards, it's just the nature of a playground, that's kind of what they're like. Um you're sorry the first part of your question. Oh the disability stuff. I'm not quite sure about what's happened in the past but it's certainly something that's now front of mind when we're thinking about renewals and upgrades and things like that. So it's sort of become a fairly standard, I suppose, consideration and there's a lot of new technology and new designs that do incorporate. We have one that I'm aware of in the Shire in terms playground. We've got the, it's called a liberty swing down at the pirate playground at Gympie Terrace. But it's one of the older, it's like original, I think, versions of that style of thing. And yeah, and the playground hasn't been renewed or upgraded since that was installed and the whole playground. So, obviously, going forward, it would come down to things like, well, we'll certainly factor in things like specific requests from families or whatever that have children with disabilities. I know that the hinterland playground incorporated certain elements into that. And we're looking at renewing some tables and shelters down Gympie Terrace, for example. And we're just working with the design team on tweaking the designs of the tables to allow for wheelchair access. So it's all about dimensions inside, in between the post and the slab and the approach and the sort of the entry and exit points. So certainly something that's being incorporated into our work. Amelia Lorentson 19:42.918
Just share some information? The area outside the boathouse, that's where a lot of the seahorse nipper families congregate on a Friday afternoon. So there's a picnic table right near there. So it's part of that investigation. Yeah, it's a few years, isn't that area would be ideal. Thank you. Matt? Joe Jurisevic 20:06.158
I'm glad you mentioned the access element. I'm assuming pathway links and actually linking to the shelter. That's right. Exactly. Larry Sengstock 20:15.592
Just to answer that one too, Councillor. As you know, we're doing a full master plan of Gympie Terrace as well. So that will incorporate a number of those types of things as we go forward and making do allow for or if there's ideas. And you know how much, if you think back 20 years, 10 and now, how much playgrounds have changed and park furniture has changed. And it's just a gradual thing. And as we renew, replace look for the bigger and better or more accessible or whatever it might be types of equipment. So that's it's really just a rolling program. Joe Jurisevic 20:48.428
Yeah, the real idea now, think in the report we actually, our park is mentioned and it's due for Larry Sengstock 20:56.110
Yeah that's right yeah so we just need to have that in mind. And you know, there's some more specific disability type furniture equipment that can be incorporated now. Make sure that we've got that on our list as we go forward. Matt 21:09.830
All abilities term I was looking sorry. Amelia Lorentson 21:17.154
2,000 Parks and playground assets are on financial, on council's financial register. Natural assets, trees. Where are trees kept? Captured? In particular, you know, trees are near these picnic tables. Where is that captured in our asset management Matt 21:36.728
Plan? So trees aren't considered financial assets. But however we are, we're working on it. So we've done audits in lot of our precinct areas. So Gympie Terrace, for example, a few years ago we audited all the trees and captured them all. We assigned them an asset number and they are in our system mapped as assets and able to be referred to. So they're logged and they're managed accordingly, but they're not financial assets. We kind of have to treat separately, and I know that we're working on it at the moment as part of the urban greening project, we're working with some of the other staff and Council on a bit of a system there because we're going to be doing a lot of new planting throughout the urban area of Noosa in both road reserves and parks. We're working on a system there and I'm having regular meetings about developing that. Exciting. Joe Jurisevic 22:32.841
Yeah, from that's good. Perspective. From that I would follow on from that question. Whilst they might not be a financial asset, they're clearly absolutely. We should document and capture and understand them and that way the condition assessments and all the rest of the specific training and those sort of things to follow through. So that would be an advantage to yourself, Matt, with regards to how you manage that asset count. Matt 22:57.500
That's right, and they're a major benefit to any open space with what they provide and the shade component in itself, you know, if you put them close enough to an asset that they're not going to actually damage it through root contact, but the shade itself Joe Jurisevic 23:12.351
Yeah yeah. Well, I'm also getting that from a mate, but tree was known by, as tree number three, one, two, three, four, you that you know, it's been audited, ordered and it's been. Assessed. The arborist has gone there, you know. The limbs are secure or whether it needs trimming and the like so. Amelia Lorentson 23:29.622
That's the benefit but in terms of financial, there is a financial element with that. Managing natural assets when you look at their life cycles or life management, future risk, climate change, we know bushfires, water scarcity has been one of the number one climate, future risk. That's got financial impact on trees when we've got thousands and of trees in the Shire. So somehow I think that's got to be captured somewhere in our financial asset management plan. Larry Sengstock 24:09.743
A lot of spin-offs though, consequences. If you monetise your assets then you've got to, then it goes into our overall asset base Council which has a whole lot of other implications and risk. So that's the decision that's been taken in the past is we don't monetise them but we certainly manage them. They're on a register but they're not monetised as such. Joe Jurisevic 24:31.620
Any further? Amelia Lorentson 24:34.640
In terms of demographics, precinct um, of our suburbs have changed a lot and the people living in those I note in the report you've got usage but do we actually understand who are using it and whether they're suitable for the demographic of that precinct. Matt 24:58.570
Yeah, we try to get a handle on that as we go, but it is difficult without doing actual, I suppose, surveys. Amelia Lorentson 25:06.580
Or the census. We've got the 2021 census. Yeah, we probably needed a bit more work in that space to get a better handle on that. Yeah, things change. And in terms of even dogs, I've got a situation at Rainbow Park where it's frequented by both residents and lots of dog owners with dogs on lead. There's no freshwater tap there. In fact, there are no taps at all at rainbow creek, so it'd be great, again, in terms of usage to break it down to not just kids and people that use it, but also who've got pets. Mm-hmm. Okay. I think that we have to pass it in, I've never watched them. Matt 25:53.438
Yeah, Rainbow Park doesn't have a tap. It's just to do with the accessibility to the nearest SPEAKER_03 26:02.618
Mains and the cost involved. It's on my list of Council initiatives, jase, remember that. I'm going to need you to say, absolutely it is. Yeah, that's right. You see where I'm going with all my questions. Joe Jurisevic 26:22.512
Yeah. Amelia Lorentson 26:24.912
And just another idea that I'll throw at you while I have the opportunity. Do we have a sign, you know, I'm thinking of public toilets. When you go into a public toilet at a shopping centre, for example, it'll say the last time visited and maintained. Can we do something similar? Because again, one of the many requests that I get is when was the last time we actually had Council staff maintain and I was in a situation just recently at north orient park and I you're and I really commend Ryan, Kelsey, you've got some fantastic staff that work in parks and playground but they had been there recently but no one knew so that's just an idea if there's an access or public information sign where we could just make a note or next visit will be such and--such a date Matt 27:18.937
Yeah so I manage that I oversee management of the cleaning of public amenities contract which is our major cleaning contract covers all the park amenities blocks and a few other things it's coming up for the tenders expiring at the end of August so the first of September will be a new and we're doing the procurement and developing refining as the specifications for that at the moment and that what you just suggested is something that we we've already identified in terms of something similar to what the shopping mall toilets have a last cleaned and signed by the cleaning contractor you know I agree it would definitely sort out a lot of those complaints that we all get I know you guys receive a few that we get a few as well and a lot of the time it's they're making that they're asking question but the reality is that the cleaner has just been there within a few hours previous yeah so it'll definitely help Joe Jurisevic 28:17.231
Follows on to a sort of future needs drives where an amenities block may or not be situated time a good it's a good question and that's part of that the planning and master planning exercise that's going on for the bigger areas amenities wasn't something I specifically mentioned but that's the sort of thing I was alluding to in the range of questions SPEAKER_07 28:49.139
And I guess that's part of with the changing environment demographic we need to consider all those you know some of the parks may no longer need to be the type of park that they are they could be something totally different may need an amenities because they become bigger or they're in a different area now different you know there's a different demographic around them all that needs to be considered we certainly considering the all abilities change rooms toilets that type of stuff going into some of our parks as well because you know we've recognised that but there a need for those things but again it all comes down to planning budgets and time to get it done so you Joe Jurisevic 29:26.890
Know we've got it on our radar but which just not the first of the times I've been asked suddenly someone needs to go to the toilet. What do you do? SPEAKER_07 29:35.592
The most of it with that we've got now in place we're far more able to react and able to plan for that type of change now than we ever have before. Frank Wilkie 29:50.194
Thanks for the report, thank you The most striking thing about it is the condition asset value by asset type graph on page 3 and if I'm reading it correctly it nine million dollars worth of the assets are in reasonably good condition, two, but about eight and a half million are in really poor condition. Have I read that right? You have? Yeah. Orfield is one of us. Sure. So the question I have is, we seem to be doing record capital works programs every year. It's astonishing the amount of work the team's doing. Are we, when I see a profile like that, it begs the question, are we allocating funds in the right way when we've got so many assets in poor condition, a state that you hope to avoid with plan like this? So with those assets that are in condition five, there are lot of them are age-based. SPEAKER_07 30:55.502
Now with the data we have, a lot of those are your seats or wood that's out there on your tables and so on. Now I believe have been replaced over the course of their life cycle, that's an audit we're going to undertake as well with matt's team and we may go out to contract for that as well. So the high volume there, I do believe they are lower than based on age and how we capture things in the system. We know the date of when it was installed, but you can have an age of 10 years for your useful life on these tables or chairs, but they can go past that as well. But that's just purely how long we expect them to last. Frank Wilkie 31:49.110
Are sweating these assets too long? And in a different way to ensure that we keep these assets in better condition when it comes to the budget? Yeah, look at the four million enough and a half annually. Matt 32:10.539
So again, I think it comes down to the hierarchy of where the parks are located and the overall usage. We have, as I said, we've got a lot of parks. I think there's about 20 plus, around about 20 parks just in Noosa Waters alone. They're all pocket parks from developers. And things like that. So they will have assets in them to some degree, like they might just have one table, but the park doesn't get used as often as others. And so you renew your assets, condition deteriorates. They can deteriorate just weather or from use. So where they're deteriorating from use, obviously the parks that are more popular and highly frequented, the assets, the condition drops quicker, and that's when we tend to do the renewals and the replacements. Frank Wilkie 32:59.085
So what Adam was saying, age-based assessment, if they're in these parks that are rarely used, they can be an asset that is 10 years old and that's typically the end of its life, but it's still got life in it because it's only been Matt 33:12.181
Used that much. And it can have a lick of paint or a bit of a sand and oil, and then it's good to go for another few years. And we know that it's not getting the pressure wear and tear on it. Might just be the sun and the rain that makes it sort of weather a bit, and we can just do a maintenance repair. Frank Wilkie 33:29.803
So is there another way of assessing these assets that would give a profile that it doesn't give such an alarming picture because I'm sure you would repost those assets if they were in poor condition. SPEAKER_07 33:44.185
We can manually change the condition of an asset within the system. Just a full audit would need to be undertaken with 2,000 separate assets it's the, you know, the right stuff or whether we go to, contract for that to, look at those. And then, it, so it's a, is a task, but it's one that we're planning for. Joe Jurisevic 34:04.573
Well, then as you, want to take an inspection, you can see that yes, it is. Post-dead maintenance, patient. Needs replacing. And then as a result of that inspection, you could go back and reclassify that asset as per what its actual condition is, as opposed to its wife. Correct. And that's a discussion you have with your team. So it's the reclassification. That's where we're heading to, get into a more inspected and identified level of asset knowledge. Frank Wilkie 34:32.074
Yeah. So that feeds into another question I had on page two. There was, it said, "Any assets be included in the development and renewals program of the 10-year capital rewards program. So my understanding is you'd want to renew it before it reaches. In an ideal world, condition five? Larry Sengstock 34:55.624
Not necessarily. So this is one we talked about as well. But level five is essentially the trigger to put it in. And when we say it goes into the 10 year capital plan, it doesn't mean year nine of the just means that how we have a So it just goes into the plan, if you call it the plan. And if it's really, like if it's a wooden seat the that's down in Gympie Terrace that's subject to weather and usage and just wears out quicker, and it gets to level five and it might be that we know it's got a year left and then we've got to replace it. Or if it's something in a smaller park that's not used but we know it's at level five because of time, you then put it into the 10-year program and it might be a year four or five because we know got plenty of life left in it. That's what means. It's just a trigger. Level five doesn't mean that it's at the end of its life, it just means it's a trigger to then be. Joe Jurisevic 35:48.621
It's exactly how I read the same question that I asked. Condition five to me is it's too late. In the way this asset management thing is working, condition now is the time we need to plan for its replacement. Frank Wilkie 36:05.299
So condition's not necessarily for, it's approaching replacement time. Larry Sengstock 36:11.800
Yeah, it's the life cycle. And yeah, it needs to be addressed. Joe Jurisevic 36:13.859
For the yeah. Next. Correct. Condition five is when you make the assessment, is it disposal, is it replacement yeah or is it obvious Larry Sengstock 36:23.191
Yeah, that's right, exactly. Yeah, thank you. That clarifies it, Joe Jurisevic 36:25.051
Thank you, because that was one of my questions as well. Amelia Lorentson 36:29.231
In terms of the Cooroy Hinterland Playground, has the cost of that impacted. Levels of services and management of the other parks within the Shire? Yeah, so the Cooroy playground is still on maintenance, so it's still within its first 12 months. It's coming off pretty soon, but it's still on being maintained by contractor that built it. So the impacts will be seen next year? Matt 36:59.387
Yes, we've factored it into the next financial year, all those costs, the maintenance costs and things. Larry Sengstock 37:05.247
So we've got additional staff. This is always part of the overall plan, when it gets handed over, we have additional staff and additional goes that park. Amelia Lorentson 37:17.291
Terms of staff, I've had some concerns raised in the community, in particular after the realignment. Our parks and gardens, I think, are merging and the question I've been asked by resident is, does that mean will our parks be adequately staffed? Scott Waters 37:40.347
Through the Chair, Councillor Lorentson, that's actually off-topic. Oh, excuse me. But we're very happy to respond in that there is specific work that's being undertaken within our depot environment at and that's to work towards a multi-skilled workforce. Very happy to work with that particular resident that may have some concerns, but please note that the standards of service that was counselled with us today is the standard we'll be delivering tomorrow. What we're trying to work towards and achieve. There's very significant work that Larry, Brian and the team are delivering in the depot, is how can we have our workforce more skilled to deliver more and very different types of works, taking away from an old traditional structure which made us be, if you're parks and gardens, that's you're a civil ops, that is all you do to a more modern way of delivering local government outdoor services on a multi-skilled basis, so MSWs or multi-skilled workers is a process that is being undertaken, we're working closely the unions on that as well because it is a change, but please note that is somewhat different to the functional realignment that the organisation has gone through and is specific to the depot and somewhat off topic when we're talking about asset management plans. Joe Jurisevic 38:59.781
Because a tonne of asset management is maintenance of the assets and that kind of thing, so having the workforce and the capability of delivering on that maintenance and the assessments and the like requires an honest workforce to be able to not only prepare them, but assess them and see how they go through. So I welcome the opportunity. I think that offers a bit more variety of and challenges in the everyday work environment as well. Scott Waters 39:27.434
I thought it would put employees well in that opportunity as well. Chair, through Larry, Brian and also Matt, that's all the team's working towards. We've gone over the days of the silo, you do one thing and you'll go on thing only. But we're working towards that. It is a sensitive issue. We're talking about long-term employees that are having changes to their day-to work. So there is some elements there, but note that the team that are managing and leading the depot it's somewhat difficult, but working with unions and key leaders within that workforce that they're doing a great job to transition to what is a more modern contemporary way of delivering an outside multi-skilled workforce. Joe Jurisevic 40:13.772
Trying to see if amelia's finished first. Oh, good. Thank you. Jo? Amelia, Clare. Clare Stewart 40:19.332
Oh, thanks, Joe. Good question. Lara, when you're talking about those levels, the conditions, sort of condition four, five, and, you know, we look then and determine whether it's a new renewal upgrade, some of those things you're talking about, words, and they are minor works with, you know, park benches or, you know, latticework in a rotunda or something in a park, can that potentially be brought into those. What we're looking at in the budget with this potentially, I mean, those pools of. Funds for minor capital works and that can sort of be a follow-over from that. So if we do see something that needs immediate attention or, you know, a community member draws it to our attention, we can action it pretty quickly through. Potentially that new pool of funding. Larry Sengstock 41:03.379
Been approved. No, no, I think, sorry, I think the answer to that is if it's urgent work then we get it done anyway through our own maintenance programs and we've got the ability to do that. How we're set up. So we can do that. If it's something that's a little bit left of centre that may not be prioritised right now that needs to be brought forward then that's. Certainly something we're talking about in terms of our budgets going forward and how we have that ability to do that so yeah we will cover it no matter what I think is probably the thing if it's urgent emergent end and risk to Council then we would sort that through our own day-to because we have the ability to do that and then there's other things that are you know maybe lower down on the priority list that for some for whatever reason because we're going to get limited budget then they're things we can talk about in the new budget as we go forward Joe Jurisevic 42:09.413
Yeah, so along the lines of what Mayor was asking, one of the questions I asked is annual reactive versus preventative maintenance budget. Obviously, timber assets require oiling on a preventative maintenance preventive you'd would schedule that in for, I don't know, an annual, six-monthly, two-year, whatever, periodic maintenance versus come to the asset, we're going to do the painting, we go, oh, we can see the rock here, there's no point applying the oil until this piece of the timber is replaced. Reactive maintenance, so that element comes in, so we're in, not quite the pools of the maintenance, but how it's, the division budget, there's got to be an element of reactive maintenance and preventing violence. Preventive maintenance or ongoing maintenance. Do we have a break up of that within that maintenance budget or do we specifically just have a maintenance budget and reactive elements at hand with a different line? Matt 43:12.778
So I can ask that Chair. So within our operational maintenance budget, which we sort of manage internally in my team, we do have those situations covered for. We have probably, I'd say it's at a guess, it's probably about 60 that preventative% schedule sort of proactive. So it's your sanding and your oiling and your painting and your softball replacements. Grease and oil. And then we do find things, as you say, through our inspections and our attendance at the parks. We find things that are broken and you know a bit vandalism, graffiti, things like that. They get covered as well. So there's elements of our budget where we're allowed for an itemised, you know, broken bits of equipment and having to buy replacement parts for playgrounds. Some timber, you know, just things like that. They definitely get factored into it, so we allow for both. And I reckon it's about a 60%, 40, yeah. Joe Jurisevic 44:18.714
Okay, that answers that question. Now that's one of the things that I often get asked "How come that's not getting repaid? Isn't there any money in the budget? Clearly there is. Matt 44:29.468
There's often delays as well because some of your specialist parts for playgrounds can take a few months to order, so we'll order them as soon as we're aware of the issue, but then yeah, we might have to, you know, secure that piece of it, you know, bunt it off, make sure that no one can use it. And we are starting to now also put signs giving a bit of a why and time frame so we don't get all the complaints. And the CRMs yet. Joe Jurisevic 44:56.263
The more information you provide, the better informed the public are to understand the wrongs and the reasons behind that issue. Well that's great, to hear I'm glad you mentioned it's one of the questions that came up as I was reading through it. Suggested graffiti wasn't reactive maintenance. Graffiti clearly is reactive maintenance and even in the schedule there it said graffiti, I've seen graffiti within 24 hours or something else within. So why is graffiti not considered reactive maintenance when clearly it is a reactive maintenance? That might be semantics in the way the report is written but I read that graffiti wasn't considered as reactive maintenance but clearly the way uh, um, I think that cleared itself up there but again there's one element within the table that suggests it wasn't reactive maintenance. Page 24. We're feeding. Our table does say it's reactive maintenance. Says it's reactive and responded, emergencies to same day. Reactive maintenance reports. There was somewhere else where I didn't get that. Impression then later on I did there might be an element of semantics within the report where graffiti panel is just not referred to same way. Matt 46:11.824
So any graffiti in parks, we're on to it straight away as soon as it comes to our attention, depending obviously on the role of human. But anything that's obscene or anything like that, we're out straight away, get rid of it. If it's just something, a tag or something like that, we'll get to it within 10 days or as soon as we possibly Joe Jurisevic 46:30.983
Can. Do we still use youth justice to deal with offenders of graffiti, dealing with graffiti? Yeah, we take photos of the graffiti and send it through. There's a hotline for it. But do we actually get offenders coming back and clearing up I'm not through Council that we're aware of, no. Is that something we can, I know it has happened in the past, look at again? Yeah, I'd have to look into that. Thank you very much. Frank asked a question about the, yeah, condition five, and that was sort of the way it read, you know, we're waiting for it to come to the end of its life before that, and that's clearly not case. Condition five we know was the end of the program and scheduled for replacement, so one would think that good preventative and reactive maintenance would help prolong the life of equipment. Most beyond that time period provided it's not abused or in some other way, shape or form and in a weather condition or the like. I've asked about reactive maintenance. How do we determine renewal along the lines of what Amelia was asking. As like for versus upgrades or for more or better equipment, different long-lasting materials. So how do we make the valued assessment on upgrades and whether we just go with the same type of style, we actually look at what is better, longer-lasting, more facilitating, I.e. hardwood requires a lot of maintenance. Is hardwood the ideal product to stick in the ground, for example, or make seats out of that need to be oiled on a frequent basis and why? I know that Noosa look and feel comes into this a lot, but time has moved on and hardwoods are a limited resource. Where does sustainability come into the elements of asset renewal? Matt 48:36.892
So just getting part of that is renewal in terms of that in the asset world is a like for or a modern day equivalent replacement. An upgrade is a bigger and better or changing the, say it's a playground, changing it to Joe Jurisevic 48:54.826
Two swings slings to two slings in a slot. Matt 48:56.507
The function or adding an element, that sort of thing. So with renewal, when we renew something like for it's not absolute using the modern day materials, the technologies that are, and we try, we always try to go for as low a maintenance as possible. Yes, using materials that are sustainable, environmentally friendly and all that. So, and at the moment, the Noosa Design Principles is under review by the design run through the infrastructure planning and delivery design branch. And I've had myself and Brian have had a lot of input into that. Yeah and we've lately into it around the maintenance side of it and the material so yeah that's certainly something every time something comes up for renewal and is considered. Design all that we definitely try to incorporate that the best possible solutions. Joe Jurisevic 50:08.641
Double and I think this boils down to how I interpret it. There are three lines below that 10 million figure. Yep. And there's one green line going up which is an accumulation. It's the only element of accumulation. Correct. Each of those is year on and years has been totalled to the previous year to create that green line going forward. Yes. That's alright. I didn't get it the first time and when I looked at it again I thought this is the only way that this could make any sense. The last mention of the LGIP in the asset management plan. How do they relate? 2.4 mentions identifying future demand forecasts which we've spoken a bit about here. So what are the parameters that will determine future needs and how these will be determined? Is it. Because that's, assets have reached their end of life, is the LGIP still staying in play? Classification of parks and the like. How does the LGIP and the asset management plan come together? Scott Waters 51:17.953
I can help answer that. So the issue that we're facing around the LGIP for our particular Council is that we will have very limited growth into the future. So the LGIP is there for when we have future growth and development to be able to deliver across the local government area. Joe Jurisevic 51:34.573
Just for those online, local government infrastructure. Scott Waters 51:37.333
Thank you, Chair. Yes, so the problem that we're facing is that we have very limited, if any, future growth and that the LGIP is there to be able to look at the forward utilisation of developer contributions at the end of the day. How are we going to deliver those and what does that actually mean? Councils across Queensland are no longer sitting on large development contribution reserves that really aren't being spent and the developers are unsure of where they're going. We as a Council would self-fund our future renewals because we're not then in a position of receiving new equipment or new parts coming from the developer because we have limited development opportunities. So it is definitely one for us that from an asset management planning perspective, this work is extremely important because it will then need to be able to inform what our future budget is going to be in the renewal, replacement, refurbishment, have it what we will. Do with each individual and or particular park groups that we have. So it's setting the standard. What is the standard of service in each individual park? What's the categorisation of that park into the future? And then how will we that? And we do know that when neighbourhoods with young kids grow to older kids, that mum and dad then pick up the phone at the Council and say that piece of equipment isn't really fit for purpose for us anymore. We want to see a basketball court or skate ball or something of the like. The future for us is not a tool that can be a predictor unless there is a change in the scope of growth and development. So one of the things that we could Joe Jurisevic 53:15.644
Potentially look at is across a suburb, for want of a better terminology, look at different categories of equipment. Within that, catering for younger, next age group, maybe four or five different categories of that with different elements catering for different age needs that might facilitate a range of uses. What's more centrally located for the younger and as we sort of lay it out, what is it to be travelled to? Larry Sengstock 53:49.034
That's part of the broader planning exercise as well. Because you've got to look at that new look at hierarchy of parks and for these guys it's in terms of maintaining the furniture that's in there or grass or the trees whatever it might be. But then it's a matter of what equipment goes into those particular parks on hierarchy and that changes as we talked about before with demographics. As a suburb becomes older or younger you've got to provide the different services. Joe Jurisevic 54:18.743
Is there a way to provide a mix that caters for a blend perhaps and that's why I use the LGIP as the example thinking as a CEO because the LGIP is what us and gets us there in first place but once we're not growing anymore the LGIP ceases to give us that direction. So in that renewal process, exactly the sort of thing I'm alluding to here, how do we then look at what we upgrade to or change it again? We put in a blend and a mix that caters for a range of age groups or uses? Larry Sengstock 54:53.495
No question, that's what we are doing and I guess I think Gympie Terrace is a classic example of that. It's doing the master plan of that, understanding what the usage is, you know, that's the disabled or the all abilities tables, it's swings and play equipment. It's just all of that needs to be brought into it and that, you know, gets its own master plan, own to Joe Jurisevic 55:16.675
Deliver against it. So from an all abilities perspective, how many all abilities and where do we situate them across region so that everybody has one within a particular region within about five kilometres or ten kilometres or in a suburban area that park is no more than certain. Yeah. 800 metres for example from the ferds residence or something like that. We have a formula to find Larry Sengstock 55:44.119
To be honest I think we'll capture a lot of that and this- Kim's going to hit you on a computer- but the placemaking. Absolutely. You know we do it in Pomona first but then as we move along that's exactly what that should capture because that's the community feedback saying we want this and we need this and this is what suits our community so if Joe Jurisevic 56:02.291
Where our asset management plan for the future. Larry Sengstock 56:04.571
Well it all ties in together so it's a whole group it's not just these guys who are selecting equipment putting it in there it's just being advised by the other groups in Council to say this is what we need. As to what's appropriate and where it's appropriate. Absolutely. Joe Jurisevic 56:16.611
And that's again the LGIP was the driver of that Larry Sengstock 56:19.250
So I'm looking for the future as to how continue to view energy. And that's exactly what we're doing in this part of the realignment it's all about. Just making sure we all talk to each other and don't just go like for Joe Jurisevic 56:31.038
So we aren't looking beyond and talking to all the other elements of the absolutely. System and the community does. Amelia Lorentson 56:37.861
Just to be sure that we're going with in terms of the hierarchy, Matt, can I just ask a couple of questions? So the parks and playgrounds have been classified in accordance with the service it provides, there's a hierarchy or criteria that helps you understand which level a park fits into. Couple of questions. Environmental values. So we're looking at economic, usage. Does the environmental, does that sit under cultural reasons, sort of not spelled out, that the environmental value of a park should be somehow listed? Again, I use orient north park where it's got identified cash arena trees. For our vulnerable species, the glossy blacks. So how is the importance of the vegetation captured within the criteria? Matt 57:38.782
Good question. So. SPEAKER_07_b 57:42.742
So the hierarchy as it stands is based on the service it provides. So when we're bringing natural values into there, this is primarily looking at it. Asset management plan looks at it from that, the financial aspect and what we have on our register currently. So that's what drives that. So in terms of purely, natural, it would not affect Larry Sengstock 58:09.006
The hierarchy as much if it's just a purely an open space. The okay. Way we structure it in this organisation, that's natural areas and environment that have that, sitting under their, watch, if you like. And that's where, you know, you've got to, draw sort of lines somewhere. And that's where, in terms of the types of trees, if, you know, they, if they've got a question. Would go to natural areas and environment to understand what those trees are used for currently and what the, if they need to be replaced, what they're replaced with, or should they be kept because they're of a certain value. But that's where we've got to work in together. There's not just one department and that's where we are getting much better at in making sure that we don't just go off on our own tangent or our own silo. Joe Jurisevic 58:57.802
Sorry, just one other question. Page 7 of the asset management plan on level 3 refers to Heritage Park in Tewantin. I'm assuming that's Heritage Park. That should be Heritage Park or Yes, probably. Can we just clarify one thing? Parklands is the. Region, Heritage Park is the park, yeah? Yep. That and make sure that actually correctly just referred by the park manager? Yep, sure. I don't think any. When I looked at Heritage Park I was going, "Well, the only park you could be referring to Matt 59:27.793
Would be Heritage Park." Yeah, there's no Heritage Park anywhere on there. No, I think that's just a. Yep. A technical typo. That's right. Amelia Lorentson 59:36.190
And just one last question with the criteria description. Level four, infrequent use each week. It'd be interesting why the park isn't used a lot and it could be as simple as, and again this is just on the street, it doesn't have a barbecue facility, basketball hoop, a tap for the dogs to walk through, so it'd be great to break that down because to me it's a wasted asset and maybe we can maximise the use if we looked at, you know, what needs to be added there. Joe Jurisevic 01:00:13.438
One would think that if a park is underutilised, maybe we need to go out and talk to the community and say what do we need to put in this park to make it more accessible or more interesting or more valuable to the community as an asset to be giving off. Matt 01:00:27.210
I know of some parks that my staff go to maintain and the soft fall doesn't even have a footprint in it and there's under swing set or something and it's clear that no one's using it and it could be that the demographics have changed and there's no young kids there anymore. Joe Jurisevic 01:00:45.110
Maybe that's the time when we need to go out to the community if we're looking at that asset and maybe do a little bit of a letterbox drop around and say are you using what can we do better to make the park more interesting for you? Are the current level of equipment in the park suiting the local community's needs? Happy to move the recommendation Mr Chair. We haven't because I haven't checked out anything or moved anything Clare, nothing further from you? All good. In favour? CHAIRMAN BERNANKE: thank we've got through your list of questions? Yeah. Thanks, I didn't realise there were three other listeners. Amelia Lorentson 01:01:27.895
That's right. Joe Jurisevic 01:01:31.580
An important asset. Yeah, absolutely. It is. Thanks, guys. Snacks. Thank you. Very much. Item three, Tourism Noosa funding agreement. Clare. I don't have any declarable conflict of interest in this matter, so I don't think there's going to be a wall, but can you see it? I can. On your screen? No, I can't. In this matter, because I have a friendship with, hang on, Kat, is it up there? It should be on the board view, on your board view. Those online, if you'll bear with us, we're using a new system this month for the first time, and we're just coming to terms with some of the challenges of views that we've got. I'll just share it, through Teams, won't be a moment. Can you see that, Claire? Clay? Yeah. Is that better? Can you say that? SPEAKER_01 01:02:59.280
Hang on, Joe, I'm just. In Microsoft Teams. Is it email through cat? I'm sharing it in your teams. It's in teams. Hang on. Sorry, guys. Clare Stewart 01:03:06.263
OK. Yes, thank you, cat. In accordance with. I, Councillor Stewart, inform the meeting after a declarable conflict of interest in this matter, as Leigh McCready, a Director of tourism at Noosa, is a friend. As a result of my conflict I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Thank you Councillor Joe Jurisevic 01:03:33.320
And done. All right. Mr CEO, item 5.3 has your name as Can we get the summary of the item? Scott Waters 01:03:41.620
Chair, thank you. I understand the intent is to have this particular item referred to the General Committee. So Council is very happy to be able to talk through the report for you and take any questions that you might have help you go through that process for further consideration of the General Committee. Joe Jurisevic 01:03:58.564
Do you mean the first step goes through the general? Yes. The advice that I have is that yes. I would have expected it to, but I've had it. Scott Waters 01:04:09.204
Council, is Tourism Noosa the single largest contribution of funding that this Council makes for any organisation? This is not a decision for this Council to take lightly. Council does need time to be able to work through and deliberate the provision of funds to an entity that, yes, is the largest economic contributor to our local government area, but also an entity with 600 members. Those also need to have the ability to be able to start to shoulder the load when it comes to funding and marketing and the delivery of services for this particular industry and sector. For me, just over 12 months in the role and having. Background within tourism, I've taken a particular interest in this item for our Council to ensure that we're able to enhance how we have governance overarching and overriding everything that do we for. This particular funding that we provide. Tourism Noosa is an organisation that externally within the tourism sector has a fantastic reputation. Marketing is what they do and they do that very well. Know that because as a community we see the high level of tourism that comes through our particular community day in out and it's why us as not just elected members of the Council but officers, our community as a whole are undergoing a destination management process. Not want to see Noosa love to death but we do need to be able to have a strong tourism sector and a strong representative body at this point in time to have that representative body continue this Council has make a decision as to how it funds that tourism body into the future the recommendation that you have before you is about funding Tourism Noosa at the same level that we have through previous agreements and through this current year into future years it doesn't us preclude to have special projects or other elements of funding added to Tourism Noosa but I do believe within the time that I've been here that it is prudent that we work with Tourism Noosa on not only their efficiency and effectiveness as an organisation but also their governance as well too. The efficiency and effectiveness of Tourism Noosa and future funding should be dependent on how they run their business because let's face it they are running a business. It's a representative business of a cooperative of tourism businesses overall but it's still a business that is 90% funded by this Council. We do need to see how they will manage future funds and through efficiency and effectiveness can have further funding available for the different pieces of work that tourism and Noosa do but they need to be able to start to look internally first and look at what savings are available before coming to Council and asking for more money or going to their members and working through what a new membership scheme or a membership program may be some of the great work that Tourism Noosa does how did they monetise that work better for them and create better products have strong relationships with the numerous associations and representative bodies that our local government area has how can they be leaders for Council to be able to provide these funds basis of the funding and performance deed that you had before you is just that it's providing funding but it's contingent upon performance for Tourism Noosa means they need to have a fully strategic plan as approved by this Council an operating plan, very similar what our Council has to deal with our governments an operating plan that governs that 12 months aligned to the budget so we know exactly what they're doing and they also where they're going. Then a quarterly report to this Council delivered by Tourism Noosa either to this committee or to the P&E committee that demonstrates that Tourism Noosa has delivered against what that operating plan is. So three pieces of governance work that Tourism Noosa will need to do they'll also an efficiency and effectiveness review as part of this agreement and take regular reviews of their board and the performance as well. So there is a lot that we have been there. We have briefed this through to you on three separate occasions and we've done our very best to work with Tourism Noosa as the funding receiver and take into account all and requests from the Council. There are some elements though that we haven't been able to achieve. One is having specific funding go to specific areas. Tourism Noosa is just not that advanced. At this point in time, until they have a strategic plan, an operational plan, quarterly reporting, it's very difficult for us to fund one or two specific areas and put that into a particular project bucket or piece of work. I think in the future we can get there by working with them. The agreement and the way it's been negotiated is a two plus deal. So it pushes this through funding of this financial year and also next will be the second year of the next term of Council before this needs to be decided upon by the Council again. My recommendation to the Council though is we start a lot earlier. We don't get to the stage where we are now in April and we're unsure as to how tourism booths will be able to operate if we don't provide that funding overall. The other element to this is that past 30 June 2025, if this is operating and working well, there's the ability to continue this for another two years. So it's a two plus deal. Funding remains throughout that time. Tourism Noosa will need to find their own efficiencies within their own business if they are to look at having more funds available for marketing or wanting to do more activations or different doesn't preclude them from coming to this Council with a great idea or and saying we'd like to take on some of the work that you're doing and this on your behalf. If that's an opportunity it's for this Council table to decide on the strategic basis. I do know that to our community that there's a part here that's very much saying look let's get in and let's support our tourism sector and there's a big part of our community that's saying well you know this has impacted our lifestyle this is causing issues for us I think this though is now a great opportunity to really set a line in the sand for Tourism Noosa be able to say here are the very clear expectations of this Council for what we want you to do with the money that we provide. Here are the clear governance elements that we now have in place to ensure that we do that. Should you not do that, there are mechanisms for remedy by this Council within this agreement. Those can even be as much as cancellation of this particular so it's a serious document. It puts parameters around Tourism Noosa that they haven't had before. It still provides the same level of funding for Tourism Noosa. And our hope as a Council is now that with very clear direction, they can get in and deliver for our community. One part that touched is the Destination Management Plan. Once is completed, our Council and Tourism Noosa have the ability to be able to sit around the table, review the outcomes of and upon review of that, we can make amendments and changes to the that's enshrined within this document there for you as well too. So Councillors, not voted upon today, that I absolutely understand, referral to general, but I'm happy to take any questions that you may have and we try to make a fair and balanced agreement with Tourism Noosa. A new stuff, but it is one that is it very much in the council's favour, is the way that I'm running it for you. Happy to answer any questions. Frank Wilkie 01:12:20.890
Thank you, Mr CEO for the report, excellent, a lot of work involved in that. I have some clarifying questions and I'll save my debate for next week. Could you elaborate on the DMP timeframe? When do we expect this work to be done and how that will. At what phase of the agreement will that potentially affect it be at the end of the first two year term or could it be earlier? I don't know. Scott Waters 01:12:47.262
Deputy Mayor, Through the Chair, I'll take that question in two parts. I might defer to the Director for the timeframe around the DMP and then I can add some advice. Basis of that as to how that will affect and be delivered. Kim, if I could defer to you on the DMP question. Kim Rawlings 01:13:05.803
Thanks Scott, and Through the Chair. Councillor Wilkie, we in the process of developing a Discussion Paper for the Destination Management Plan that will be the first stage of community engagement on it. That needs to go through Council and through the PCG which will happen I'm hoping in the next four to six weeks and then we'll run a community it. That process will very much inform the development of the Destination Management Plan. My hope as you know with community engagement processes will go out for a certain amount of time. I think it will engender a lot of interest and potentially public debate. So it's a little hard to predict exactly how much time that process will take. We want to do it properly, and get it right. It's a really important piece. So you know, there could be a good couple of months in that process. Then there's development of the Draft Destination Management Plan that will again be worked through with Council and the PCG and consulted on. I'd hope that we'd have it by the end of the year for Council endorsement and consideration. That's our current timeframe. That's what we're working to. As you can see, I'm sort of allowing a little bit of flexibility in that because of the nature of the topic and the amount Frank Wilkie 01:14:33.897
That process could perhaps come a reshaping. Become or recrafting of the role of Tourism Noosa. Does this agreement give us any capacity to change the funding agreement with Tourism Noosa before the end of the first two-year term as the CEO or is the agreement written in a way that allows intervention at an earlier point? Scott Waters 01:14:58.098
Do the Chair, Councillor Wilkie? Absolutely does. So it's been written in a way that once the Destination Management Plan is adopted by the Council, I would recommend we'll be MBR coming into a caretaker election period but within three months of that DMP being think it would be proven to the Council to be able to set a timeframe with tourism moves look at adjustments to this agreement. Letting it go longer just leaves it more open for debate once the Council has made the decision on the DMP, I think three months, sit down with Tourism Noosa and say the reshaping in our view is this and here's how we'd like it to be taken forward and have Tourism Noosa consider and come back with what they'd like to do. Frank Wilkie 01:15:44.148
Okay, thank you. My next question, the funding agreement and the report makes reference to efficiency dividend which may involve, if they're demonstrated and efficiencies are demonstrated, may involve the waiving of council's internal costs which are charged to tourism what amount that is? Scott Waters 01:16:08.397
Through the Chair, it's about $130,000 per annum. So it is significant and it is important that Tourism Noosa, if, you know, we as a Councillor, we're not going to fund you at any high level Tourism Noosa, but we're happy to help your bottom line. Also need to start to make efforts improve and your efficiency and effectiveness. So we're happy to start that process, but it's for Tourism Noosa start to demonstrate that now. How can that business run better? Running a better business, there should be more funds and a better outcome to the community. So is it acting as double incentive? So if they show these improved efficiencies, which will free up cash within their organisation, we then will reward them with more cash. Potentially. Is that how it would work? Yeah, definitely. And utilise as a fairly standard tool. By waiving the internal costs. Yeah, and within government, that's a fairly standard cause that you would utilise for ongoing funding agreements to in an efficiency dividend and that we either fund you less to that amount, but we're not forcing Tourism Noosa on that at the moment, but we're very much pushing them into that direction that if they want to have more funds, be more efficient. Frank Wilkie 01:17:21.460
The next question is about the contingency fund. The former funding agreement made provision or made mandatory that Tourism Noosa set aside $350,000 for downturns in tourism visitation. They had to dip into those findings when COVID hit. So to reduce that amount by $100,000 to $250,000, are we and Tourism Noosa, is it suggested that we, as partners, banking on a reduction in the frequency of perhaps climate-induced disasters or any other sort of downturn? Costal mythic, like the two greatest global threats of the moment are climate-induced disasters and also cost of living. We both have the potential to impact on visitation. So by reducing the contingency to 250,000, are we banking that less likely or are we doing it? What discussions were there around amendment? Adequacy of that amount? That's Scott Waters 01:18:25.593
Through the Chair, Deputy Mayor, it really is just capacity for Tourism Noosa be able to replenish that reserve. Has been extinguished and advice that they had provided was fully replenish that reserve would cause difficulties within that business. So we negotiated a lesser level of $250,000 and it's more so about how the business is running and operating and its capacity. Have available free cash, as opposed to taking those other elements into account, something I think when the DMP is finalised, the potential for a revisit, DMP will also take into all of the other threats and changes to the tourism industry and impacts in the future and prudent to work through then, but it was one of the key markers that came back when we had finalised the legal document that you have before you, was specifically around the capacity to replenish reserve to the full level and that was a concession that we made to help tourism whistler. Frank Wilkie 01:19:26.803
So that reserve is currently empty? That's my understanding. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:19:35.771
I'll just sort of follow on from where frank's left in terms of the overhead costs that have been removed. CPI, consumer price index, I note that the agreement has no mention of CPI. My question is why and is it reasonable to withhold CPI? And in my three years in Council, I don't think I've ever seen an agreement that hasn't factored in a CPI increase or a capped amount increase. Scott Waters 01:20:09.396
Through the Chair, given that most of our agreements are year-to that would be dealt with, Councillor Lorentson, within each of those agreements at that time. We very rarely have a numerous multi-year agreement grain. So in terms of Noosa, there's an anomaly in that respect. So it's grant-to is how we work. So that's why you won't see that CPI, but I think it's really important for Tourism Noosa receiving these funds that they are able to demonstrate efficiency and effectiveness within their business. Ability for tourism free up cash in the future really is incumbent on Tourism Noosa for them as an entity to look at how they're running business and for Tourism Noosa in the future to be able to demonstrate to this Council of we've created these efficiencies and we've delivered these great outcomes. Council, if you fund us more, we can deliver these outcomes. It shouldn't be a situation where Council more money but we're still not changing our model or doing anything differently. So that's where we've taken it. The view is it's reasonable. Been accepted by Tourism Noosa at this point in time and we're happy to talk to the board of Tourism Noosa. About that but I think it's a good safeguard for this Council and it pushes more efficiency and effectiveness in the business. Amelia Lorentson 01:21:25.814
Again just following on with frank's question, the contingency fund. I note that I've got the previous agreement in front of me. It was called the marketing cash contingency and the cause of the agreement actually stipulates that the cash, be used only for marketing activity required outside. So is quite voiding different in this agreement. Can you explain? Or give me some details why and what the implications of that omission of marketing means? Scott Waters 01:22:07.099
Through the State Council, this is very much there for Tourism Noosa be able to have funds in reserve for the future of Tourism Noosa. Should there be an event or something that occurs for that business that it may no longer operate, Tourism Noosa have some sort of safeguard in there. Knowing this is a new agreement, totally redrafted into a funding and performance deed, there was review of the previous agreement as part of this, but it was viewed to have a more robust document in a deed style that has a number of different deep what did the $250,000 mean as a contingency fund? Ultimately it's there on an agreed basis to work with Council if there is some sort of event that can be utilised, but it also has additional funds that then safeguard business into the future. And given that from a cash flow basis, we're providing funds immediately when they become due for Tourism Noosa. I think it's important for that business to have some funds available should there be an issue in the future. Amelia Lorentson 01:23:18.770
I note the agreement, clause 11.1, number two, the approval's got to be, sorry, any withdrawal funding out of the contingency fund has to actually meet with Council approval. So it has to go through Council. And Through the Chair of Council, because it's ultimately our money. Excellent. And that's what does need to be understood, that these are Council funds. So, yeah, there's an additional safeguard in there. Right. Council observer position. So I sit as an observer, which means I'm excluded from any matters that are considered commercial in confidence. The past agreement actually gave. Council observer under course 20.5 the choice to either sit as a Council observer or they can elect to board Director. That choice has been removed from this agreement and can I ask and I know the reasons just some details as to why this decision was made Scott Waters 01:24:28.484
To the Chair, Councillor Lorentson, at the end of the day I would dissuade any Councillor from taking on a Director position as a Councillor. Directors liability first and foremost becomes an issue for anybody taking that particular role. There is provision under the Local Government Act to be a Director on a board of an entity that we fund. It immediately puts you though a complex conflict of interest situation as well, precluding from budget or planning matters, but there are elements that make it what might seem as attractive to be on the Director and a Director on a board and to be able to vote and have a high degree of input. For a Councillor it actually creates lot of impost for you delivering your role the recommendation is always to be an observer and to really be there to be able to provide advice and assistance able to understand how Council funds are being spent by the entity and what the future for the entity is going to be in relation to how that affects Council policy and be able to report back to the Council so it's really an assisting role opposed to a decision-making made the decision to fund. We have a robust agreement in place as to how our funds are to be spent. The observer role is really to understand and ensure that is being delivered at that level. So I would not recommend that be taken up. There is a provision under that there's only very few circumstances that really should be undertaken and that's why there's been that change there. In consultation with the Council we've ensured though that staff matters within Tourism Noosa have a degree of confidentiality about, like all staff matters, so it would be expected that you wouldn't be present for those staff matters but if there are any financial matters that are demonstrating difficulties it is absolutely the role of the observant be able to understand those and provide advice back to Council so we can help and assist and remedy any situation that might occur Amelia Lorentson 01:26:42.507
Efficiencies and effectiveness review. I note on page 64 that will be undertaken by Tourism Noosa and they are also determining the scope and structure of the review. Was consideration given for an independent review? Scott Waters 01:27:09.984
That's review Through the Chair Councillor Lorentson I believe that it would still be delivered independently that the view that I would take it but allow Tourism Noosa the latitude to be able to deliver that they know their business scope I'm not looking for anything in particular in relation to their efficiency and effectiveness I just really want see them deliver a better business for themselves and then efficiency and effectiveness review should deliver that. Look if it's not to the satisfaction of Council again we have remedy to that and we can have a discussion with Tourism Noosa about it but I know that they through discussions with the Chair and the Acting CEO they are committed to be able to be delivering on that review and see that as an important part. Amelia Lorentson 01:27:51.917
And given it's an obligation that we've imposed on Tourism Noosa, who's picking up the cost for the review? Tourism Noosa, okay. Just to clarify on the question, Amelia, you were talking about the review of the report? Yep, it's some of it. Tourism noosa's priority obligations and performance measures, one of their Frank. By 31st of December, they're required to undertake and provide a Council and efficiency and effectiveness review. Scope and structure is a big term, so I'm envisaging that's going to have. Board skills. Absolutely. Be reviewed, Tourism Noosa reviewed, their workplace planning, everything will Frank Wilkie 01:28:42.070
Be reviewed. Yes, that's my understanding. My question was, who's going to do the review? Children's nurse will have an external Scott Waters 01:28:50.439
Through the Chair, Deputy Mayor, look, this will be best delivered via an external. It's like auditing yourself. It'd be But they pay for it. Not recommended. Joe Jurisevic 01:29:04.319
That's right. I've got some more questions, Amelia Lorentson 01:29:15.907
Questions, more thank you, Through the Chair. In terms of events, there's lots of reference duplication. Can you explain, so TN and Council will take reasonable steps to avoid any duplication of funding. So what does that mean? So currently we have some events that put applications for funding through TN and also through Council. Does this preclude them, they've got to make a decision one or the other? Can you explain how that's going to work? Scott Waters 01:29:51.228
Yeah, do the Chair, Councillor Lance, and look are, let's put it this way, it's a scramble egg right now, is the issue that we're dealing with. We provide funds to Tourism Noosa. Then administer those funds through a grant program to events. And then we have those event organisers that may or not be successful then come to the Council and ask for more money. Ultimately, it's still Council money. So through the functional realignment of the organisation, we've split events within the Council business. We've elevated that to be within the Environment Strategy team led by Kim as our Director in that department and it really is a sit down with TN and Noosa to be able to look at the funding that they are delivering for events, how are being managed within Noosa and ultimately we stop the duplication of roles and how funding. We can't be in the position to be able to fund through one entity and then provide funding through us as the primary entity. There needs to be a better way of doing this and we're really open to working with Tourism Noosa around that. Is it a role that's best served just within Council? Something for us to work through jointly. What doesn't leave Council though is within our property team where the land use delivered. That still stays there as merely a regulatory compliance function. That continues within that team. But how we look at let's say our top 20 events, either on a profit or help work with them with funding and what tourism noosa's role is in is something that we'll work through as an outcome of this agreement. Amelia Lorentson 01:31:34.339
And this is just for everyone's information. I don't think a lot of people know Tourism Noosa sponsor 1313. Events throughout the calendar year, eight of those actually have regional and hinterland dispersal. I just think that's a really important stat that needs to be shared. Scott Waters 01:31:54.800
And Through the Chair of Lorentson and um regional hinterland dispersal ultimately Council funds so while Tourism Noosa is administering this, ultimately that money is Council money going through. So important point to understand on that as well too. Joe Jurisevic 01:32:10.069
So just to clarify, that's Tourism and Events Queensland funding of Noosa? Amelia Lorentson 01:32:18.717
Mm-hmm. SPEAKER_01 01:32:21.377
Should I get it right in the meantime? Brian Stockwell 01:32:23.580
Yep all right so I've got a couple of queries in regard to the total quantity quantum and allocation of funding. First one is about the specific two plus is. So is it at TN's discretion to continue on the two years? Is it mutually agreed, or is it council's discretion whether we continue on the agreement for the second two year period? Scott Waters 01:32:46.365
Through the Chair, Councillor Stockwell, it would need to be mutually agreed on. Given that we now have very parameters, it would become more clear and closer to the end of the agreement, if not earlier, if they were not being met, it would be an easier decision and discussion for the Council to have, so now that we have. There's no ambiguity in our relationship anymore, but it should be a joint decision as to whether the parties continue for the next two years, but yeah, a decision for the future. SPEAKER_01 01:33:17.463
And the second part then is, currently as it sits, there is no allocation within the different roles but there is a requirement for them to adjust to the Destination Management Plan. So is it sufficient within the current drafting of the agreement such that when if Council wants to shift the percentage of allocation between say marketing and sustainability and other aspects of their business, is there sufficient flexibility within the agreement as well to achieve that in years two, three and four? Scott Waters 01:34:00.951
Through the Chair, it's written with that intent, Councillor Stockwell, that we can't wait for the DMP is the issue. So spoke about scrambled eggs before, we've got chicken would dearly love to have the DMP inform this now. We're just not there yet. Tourism Noosa soon. Need funding certainly coming into the new financial year, but the very clear marker point within this agreement is the DMP and it is a sit down of what the outcomes of the was, what is the role of Tourism Noosa in the future and how we work together to be able to deliver that. But yes, it's written with the intent that the Destination Management Plan is a very important component and it's a point for both parties to sit down and discuss what the future that holds Joe Jurisevic 01:35:00.342
It over to the committee. Councillor Wilkie seconded, and the district was to move to the General Committee. All in favour? Inanimate. We'll have to get the Mayor back in. I'll just cancel it. Well, great to meet everyone. Are you going to come back here or? I'm sorry, you're jumping in? I still have another 22 minutes. Thank you very much. All right, we're going to do item four. The proposed lease tenancy for the bridgend digital hub. We've got to keep rolling, it's count of three. Give us an overview. Kim Rawlings 01:35:56.211
Thanks, Councillor Jurisevic. Chris Boden, our Director of digital hub is on a well-reserved break, so that's why I'm stepping in for him. This report recommends Council agree to commercial lease for a space that's become available at the digital hub. With our construction of our new AI Lab next door, we've been able to move some of our co-lab functions so that space where the wooden seating is at the moment, where there's guest speakers and things that were happening in the existing hub, we're repurposing that space and tentating, proposing to tenant part of it. So this lease takes place at the moment. Takes up about 75 square metres of that space. As per usual, we've run a process through our provider who works with us on these Colliers to run a market process and they have attracted a local tech company. Called nabuki through that process and the report recommends that we enter into a lease with nabuki with a two-year lease with options of three potential extensions. Let's that's it. Where are they situated currently? I knew someone was going to ask that. Amelia Lorentson 01:37:26.595
I should have checked. I've got the answer. So they've got 12 staff. Are located in Sydney, Holland, philippines and an advisory board in the US and UK. Are local though, so they do have a presence here? They do. They're based in Peregian. According to their linktis, I did a little bit of looking around because I great. Frank Wilkie 01:37:51.776
No, it's fantastic that a local business is doing so well, sound like we're in global climate change, exactly the sort of business that we want to attract. Very aligned. Digital hub, that's great we're expanding. Yep. And perhaps after two years they'll be even bigger and be able to take up other premises in the Civic or somewhere else here. That's the hope for them, that business will accelerate by being part of this prism digital hub. Wish them every success. Amelia Lorentson 01:38:23.625
I'm reading, so they're white label marketplaces. And I think my understanding of what they do, online bookings and marketplace technology that helps local tourism operators gain exposure. Am I right? Kim Rawlings 01:38:36.819
Yeah, absolutely. They do marketplace, they do booking platforms, so tours Amelia Lorentson 01:38:40.819
And classes, scoop. Joe Jurisevic 01:38:47.792
Clare, any questions at all? Good, thank you. Nothing further? I'll move it. Councillor Wilkie seconded it, Councillor Lorentson all in favour? Awesome plan. Hear the verbal aye please Clare? Yes. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:39:06.444
Thanks Councillors. You. Joe Jurisevic 01:39:09.104
We move on to the last item in public. Which is item 5, the motion to the ALGA National General Assembly 2023. Scott Waters 01:39:21.640
Chair, all, present at this time, but, also. But ultimately it's a motion that's been brought to the Council table by Councillor Lorentson and Councillor Lorentson will be attending the Australian Local Government Association's National General Assembly in Canberra this year. And like the local government association of Queensland, there's the ability to be able to have motions put before the National General Assembly for consideration of the assembly that forms policy at a national level. So it needs to be at a Federal government policy level to be able to have, firstly it be accepted by the Australian Local Government Association, then debated, and then the Australian association policy executive, which is made up of all of the presidents of the local government associations of each state and territory, then work through a process as to whether this is accepted as policy for lobbying with the Councillor Lorentson SPOKE TO ME ABOUT A NUMBER OF PROPOSED MOTIONS AND I WORKED WITH Council ARNSTON TO GET WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE THE BETTER FIT WITHIN THE GUIDELINES AND AS YOU 'LL NOTE FROM THE REPORT THEY ARE QUITE CLEAR. AS TO WHAT IS REQUIRED AND WHY BECAUSE THEY ARE NATIONAL LEVEL. SO Through the Chair I MAY ASK IF Council WARRENSON CAN SPEAK TO Council WARRENSON'S MOTION AND WHAT Council WANTING TO ACHIEVE, BUT THIS REPORT is really to bring this to the Council table from the operational element of the Council, from strategic the Council to be able to make a decision. To take that forward. Joe Jurisevic 01:41:04.545
I think that would be wholly prudent for the Council to turn around and speak to our own motion. Amelia Lorentson 01:41:10.139
I'll speak to it. This is something that I think everyone knows I'm quite passionate about. I went to the LGAQ with a similar motion in Cairns just recently in October 2022 and my purpose there WAS TO GET WASTEWATER REUSE ON THE STATE'S LIST OF PRIORITIES AND THAT WAS UPHELD ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY. SO THIS IS SORT OF AT THE NEXT STEP. SO I'm GOING TO READ WHAT I WROTE AND I THINK THAT WILL BE CLEARER IN MY INTENT AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO DO THIS ON BEHALF OF Noosa. OUR BEACHES AND COASTLINE. ARE SOME OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC PLACES. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE THAT IN 2023 TREATED AND UNTREATED SEWAGE IS STILL BEING DISCHARGED INTO OUR OCEANS. ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY DEMAND A BETTER WAY OF MANAGING WASTE. WASTEWATER CREATES MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS FOR LOCAL REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS AND WASTEWATER PROVIDERS THAT HAS ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIOECONOMIC AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. WASTEWATER REUSE, HOWEVER, CREATES ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY ADVOCATING FOR NATIONAL Amelia Lorentson 01:43:59.840
WHY I'm GOING CAMBRA to Canberra is because of what's happening in our backyard here in Noosa we've got a sewage treatment plant at Burgess Creek that discharges treated effluent directly into the coral sea at Sunshine Beach the significant volume of discharge and constant outflow going into Burgess Creek our oceans, in my opinion, is causing erosion to our dunes and coastal ecosystems. That's also threatening road infrastructure and homes. I question and will continue to question why an activity of dumping treated wastewater and contaminated stormwater into our oceans. Is tolerated and, in fact, legal. Are we tolerating practices that compromise the environment, are reasonably foreseeable and preventable? Is it environmental best practice? Is the permitted use and environmental practices that were okay 20 plus years ago still relevant? And if we're okay with it and the water quality has met water quality criteria, then why aren't we reusing it? So in October 2020, 2022, I went to Cairns. I advocated that we needed, as a state and as a country water industry, support less wasteful distribution and use of water, as well as water treatment and recycling. Water what is scarcity, extreme weather events and population growth require that we are more efficient with our water management and more sustainable with our sewerage and stormwater management. What's required is legislative changes, governmental support and incentives for the utilisation of reclaiming. Reclaimed aim to recycle 100 of wastewater. We must seek out and encourage wastewater reuse markets to drive investment in water reuse that respect the environment and create jobs. We must actively seek out public-private partnerships that increase investments projects, again, such as converting sewage treatment plants to produce biogas and electricity from waste. Sources. UNESCO made it clear that climate change and water quality and water scarcity is one of the biggest threats to the health of our environment and community, and whilst it might not be currently possible to way with marine outfalls completely, we must be forward-thinking and do what we can to look at alternatives and new technologies to lessen the environmental impact. We must understand that the value of water is greater than cost the of an ocean outfall and that our beaches, dunes, our natural environment and the health of australians must be a key priority for this country. Therefore, ASCET Council supports this motion that calls on the National General Assembly to formulate a national policy that aims at no new ocean and estuarine sewerage outfalls to be built or developed along the Australian coastline and that dedicated funding is provided to support local regional governments and wastewater providers with existing ocean and estuarine outfalls. New methods, technologies and make every effort to recycle 100 of all treated wastewater generated within the localities and avoid the need in the ocean. People and planet before profit. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:47:40.697
Look I'm going to support this motion. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was achieved? 100 of all waste water recycled? I think it's a very noble aim and I think it would be a wonderful thing if it was a policy that. And funding and resources dedicated towards that outcome. I. Like the report but I do have to pick up one element of it. A question. There's a statement in here and it's clearly a statement of opinion that the waste water going erosion to it's our dunes and coastal ecosystems that are threatening road infrastructure and private homes. Probably a question for Director of environment and planning. Is there any evidence to suggest that the water. Down Burgess Creek is causing erosion that's Kim Rawlings 01:48:34.876
Through the Chair, no, we can't categorically say that. There isn't substantiated evidence of that as yet. As Councillors know, we are in partnership with University of the Sunshine Coast undertaking a research project looking at these exact issues. So a model is being developed that was looking at the flows, the velocity, the whole environment for Burgess Creek and what impacts that might be having on the surrounding environment. We've only just started that, we're about three months into that partnership. The model has started to be developed but we are still needing a few more data inputs so we're some months away from having that sort of statement being able to be categorically made or otherwise. Frank Wilkie 01:49:24.258
Of course the outcome of this motion is much bigger than what's happening locally and I would not Kyle Ray 01:49:32.986
Stand in the way of this motion because of a point of fact like that. Amelia Lorentson 01:49:38.976
Thank you, Kim. Thanks, Can I just add the aim of 100% recyclable reuse water. There's actually councils already doing it, so it is achievable and one of my other aspirations, Councillor Wilkie, is to somehow facilitate and whether it's through Noosa Council or the LGAQ, a national or state wastewater technology and innovation expo where we can share what's actually happening, real life projects, innovation, best practice techniques and sustainable water management and I've got huge files on councils that are doing it so well. It is so achievable. It's not a dream, it's not an aspiration. All we need is political will and community to back us. And as much as I hate to say it, money. And, you know, I get it. This costs a lot. Who's going to pay for it? And if it gets passed on to the rate payer, you know, not everyone's going to be happy with it. And that's why I'm going to Federal government. Asking for dedicated funding for these projects, it is achievable. That's why I think it's a good idea. It's occurring piecemeal across the country already. It is. But if there is a policy at a national level, can pull it all together. Absolutely. And looking at, in terms of, rather than supply, needs. Because there's some dams that are full. And there's some places, localities where they're declared emptied. Places around Australia where they're at drought levels. So it'd be great as part of the strategy to actually have look at need rather than supply. Where is water actually needed? And whether it's pipelines, whether it's conversion, the solutions are there. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:39.550
You clear, got anything to add to this? SPEAKER_01 01:51:44.183
No, very short, capitalised motion and I'll call the group attending to look at that and find her in the Minutes where she's done at this place. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:56.203
Thank you. Likewise, I'm very happy to support reason, my recollection of the reason that a lot of councils are at that point is that this was an issue that was addressed by governments in the past and they did put resources and it appears to have fallen off the agenda to some degree. But it can't be like Australia, where they talk about grouse. Droughts. Are an extremely prevalent part of the landscape in this country, we shouldn't be wasting water. Losing a resource that can potentially be reused anywhere. It's element of recycling that should be embraced and we should look at the opportunities. I understand there are members in the community that are challenged by the concept of using some way, shapes or form and that there are some challenges towards utilising it. But, where possible, we should look at the opportunities that are so, I'm happy to support this going forward and see if we can perhaps, if not all, re-evaluate the use of waste water and where it can and can't be facilitated to drought-proof or can try and help drought-proof this country in some way, shape or form, if that is in any an achievable goal. So, I commend you, Councillor Lorentson, on bringing this to us and I'll take it to the National General Assembly and I wish you every success. In approving and moving forward with the application. Amelia Lorentson 01:53:37.088
One last thing I'd love to add is but it's not going to general so I'm just going to take the opportunity but I think people forget water is finite once it's gone but wastewater isn't it's the only type of water that's actually increasing and again with population growth climate change I keep talking about water scarcity but wastewater is the only thing that's guaranteed to increase not water Joe Jurisevic 01:54:08.028
We in the urban area tend to take it for granted because it's not that case everywhere Frank Wilkie 01:54:16.401
We could get into a broader conversation about the world being a closed system that no every drop of water that was here 50 billion years ago is still here because it's recycled naturally a property professor stockbroker elucidated yeah SPEAKER_01 01:54:31.390
Yeah yeah every drop we drink's probably been through drinks kidneys of the dinosaur Joe Jurisevic 01:54:43.572
Water supplies in the country. But anyway, yes. I'm happy to second it. Thank you. Moved, seconded. Olive all in favour? Ava. Thank you, Mayor Clare. Carry unanimous. Moved to the last item, there's no reports from anybody on the committee. We do have a confidential session listed around the centralised legal services file. Before we go into confidential session, we'll leave our motion to Frank Wilkie 01:55:16.200
Just a question for the CEO. Why is this item going confidential? Scott Waters 01:55:22.360
It has legal details that could be identifiable. Okay, like the cases that were counted. The attachment has individual cases for three months' worth of Council legal. Frank Wilkie 01:55:36.579
Are we going to confidential? Joe Jurisevic 01:55:39.599
Yes. Are we going to a confidential session? Happy to second. Frank Wilkie 01:55:40.139
We need the reasons. Joe Jurisevic 01:55:47.359
Meeting closed. Amelia Lorentson 01:55:48.719
They are section 254J3. Confidential legal issues. Thank you. If there's two audits, yeah. The same reason, I just didn't want to change it. Joe Jurisevic 01:56:11.882
I'll just Seven? Yeah, I can fix that up later, but it's the same as well. Frank Wilkie 01:56:17.602
Yeah. I'll fix it up from here. Amelia Lorentson 01:56:22.302
Okay. Joe Jurisevic 01:56:23.402
All in favour? So I've moved it, sorry to cancel the motion to the seconder. SPEAKER_01 01:56:29.502
Yes. Joe Jurisevic 02:14:19.580
Okay, welcome back everybody. We have a motion that the matter before us on central eyes for legal services trial be referred to General Committee. Do I have a mover? Councillor Wilkie. I'll second it. All in favour? Yes. Unanimously carried. So that matter will now for further consideration. We need no further items on the agenda. I'll close the meeting now at 3:47pm. Thank you all for your time. Clare, good job. Amelia Lorentson 02:14:57.838
Thank you, Chair. Thank you, everyone. SPEAKER_01 02:14:58.598
Thank you, Chair. Bye everyone. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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