Services & Organisation Committee Meeting, 10 October 2023
Date: Tuesday, 10 October 2023 at 1:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 01:21:32
Synopsis: Waste Plan adopted prioritizing diversion and organics processing, Rising levy pass-through acknowledged, Landfill life extended via diversion, Disaster Plan with tech upgrades approved, Caretaker constraints clarified.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Amelia Lorentson Joe Jurisevic Clare Stewart Frank Wilkie
Non-Committee Members
Executive Officers
Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh
AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Adopted Waste Plan 2023–2028: Council unanimously endorsed “From Waste to Resource,” emphasizing avoidance, reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery, and last-resort disposal (Item 5.1; 36:06, 33:46). Waste levy impacts: Officers confirmed QLD waste levy now $105/t (2023–24) rising to $145/t by 1 July 2027, with phased pass-through to domestic waste, driving cost pressures unless landfill diversion increases (04:59–06:36; Item 5.1). Landfill life: 49 years remaining based on current inputs; growth would reduce this unless diversion infrastructure expands; collaboration with Gympie via MOU to scale shared assets (07:47–09:49, 11:04–12:32; Item 5.1). Emissions profile: Food waste is ~40% of residual stream but produces ~63% of Council’s emissions; plan actions include technology and feasibility studies for organics processing (e.g., AD/biogas) (16:22–17:38; Item 5.1). Waste-to-energy exploration: Council and COMSEQ partners investigating WtE to make landfill “last port of call,” potentially extending landfill life dramatically (13:57–14:55; Item 5.1). Tourism & circular economy: Plastic Free Noosa cited as effective; Council positions infrastructure to back behavioral change, including polystyrene recovery and Containers for Change (12:32–13:57, 32:10–33:46; Item 5.1). Public place bins: Proposal to align bin ratios, compaction, and sensors across precincts to cut litter and facilitate recycling/organics, integrating with plan actions (17:53–20:12; Item 5.1). Consultation: Two-phase process with 828 surveys; strong support for hierarchy and circular principles; plan updated to reflect feedback, branding, and new actions (02:29–04:10, 21:05–22:27; Item 5.1). Adopted Disaster Management Plan 2023: Repeals 2018 plan; devolves sub-plan updates/approvals to the LDMG for agility; Get Ready materials tabled (Item 5.2; 37:15–39:09, 01:02:12–01:03:27). Technology & comms uplift: AI smoke-detection cameras (Shire-wide coverage), new VHF comms network, and upgraded flood monitoring to provide local catchment alerts (44:25–47:39; Item 5.2). Supplier lists approved: Amended Sole and Specialised Supplier Lists adopted for 12 months under LG Regulation exceptions; examples include software/IP and time-sensitive planning expertise (01:11:27–01:17:07; Item 5.3). Meeting schedule Jan–Mar 2024: Approved with clarification on caretaker constraints and potential proximity to election; only BAU/operational matters permitted in caretaker period (01:18:12–01:21:03; Item 5.4). Contentious / Transparency Matters Devolution of sub-plan approvals to LDMG: Improves nimbleness but shifts routine oversight from full Council; officers stated this aligns with other LGs and is effectively current practice (01:02:12–01:03:27; Item 5.2). Waste levy pass-through to residents: Explicit acknowledgment that domestic customers will bear an increasing share over five years; Council’s mitigation rests on diversion success (05:29–06:19; Item 5.1). Public place organics bins: Discussion foreshadows a third-stream; caution raised about matching behavior change with back-end processing to maintain public trust (20:12–21:05; Item 5.1). Supplier list churn: Questions on removals (e.g., Adamas, UQ) clarified as market changes or service no longer required; annual review noted (01:14:54–01:16:10; Item 5.3). Legal / Risk Statutory compliance: Waste strategy required under State law; Disaster Plan under Disaster Management Act 2003; procurement exceptions under Local Government Act 2009 and Regulation 2012 (07:37; 38:14–39:09; 01:11:27–01:12:54; Items 5.1–5.3). Caretaker limitations: From election call (~29 Jan 2024 expected), only business-as-usual/operational decisions; mitigates probity risk of major commitments (01:18:47–01:20:48; Item 5.4). Financial exposure from levy: Rising levy materially increases landfill costs; Council’s risk posture hinges on timely organics diversion and potential WtE to avoid fee shocks (04:59–06:36; Item 5.1). Disaster tech maturity: Fire-tech camera system is in commissioning; risk of false positives/coverage gaps acknowledged, with regional collaboration to improve resilience (44:33–47:39; Item 5.2). Environmental incident readiness: Lessons from polystyrene spill; marine debris kits and spill response capacity being built but not yet fully in place, indicating residual exposure (54:12–55:42; Item 5.2). Conflicts of Interest Amelia Lorentson: Declared a declarable COI as spouse employed by Page Furnishers proposed for Specialised Supplier List; she left the room and **Clare Stewart** chaired for this item (01:10:19–01:12:54; Item 5.3). Process integrity: Appointment of Acting Chair and unanimous decision recorded, aligning with Chapter 5B LG Act conflict-handling requirements (Item 5.3; 01:11:27–01:17:07). Environmental Concerns UNESCO Biosphere obligations: Members linked waste emissions (63% from landfill) to “do no harm” commitments, reinforcing urgency of diversion and circular systems (33:46–35:33; Item 5.1). Organics diversion benefits: Reduces methane and supports regenerative outputs (compost, biogas), delivering climate and cost co-benefits (16:22–17:38; Item 5.1). Pollution & Spill Response Beach debris incidents: LDMG includes an Environmental Restoration Coordinator; marine cleanup kits and procedures are in progress following polystyrene spill lessons (54:12–55:42; Item 5.2). Dashboard alerts: Disaster dashboard centralizes hazard info (smoke, closures) and Noosa Alert notifications to residents for rapid communications (01:05:08–01:06:53; Item 5.2). Community Transparency & Engagement Waste plan engagement: 828 survey responses across two phases; plan updated with visible change log and strengthened stewardship advocacy (02:29–04:10, 22:20–23:05; Item 5.1). Disaster readiness outreach: Extensive school, aged care, and small business programs; Get Ready event with 13 partners and household kits promotes self-reliance (49:20–01:07:41; Item 5.2). Tourism partnership: Plastic Free Noosa and industry collaboration recognized as model behavior change backed by processing infrastructure (12:32–13:57; Item 5.1). Election/Caretaker Period Meeting continuity: Ordinary meeting may occur the Thursday before election; cancellable if no business, but BAU reports likely; workshops limited to non-foundational items (01:19:05–01:20:48; Item 5.4). Public guidance: Clarified caretaker timing and constraints to ensure probity and avoid major policy shifts pre-election (01:18:47–01:20:20; Item 5.4).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Tuesday, 10 October 2023 1:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Amelia Lorentson (Chair), Joe Jurisevic, Clare Stewart, Frank Wilkie “Noosa Shire – different by nature” SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 10 OCTOBER 2023 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Amelia Lorentson (Chair) Cr Joe Jurisevic Cr Clare Stewart Cr Frank Wilkie NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Tom Wegener EXECUTIVE Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh APOLOGIES Nil The meeting opened at 1.32pm. 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Clare Stewart Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie The Minutes of the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting held on 12 September 2023 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously. 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 4. DEPUTATIONS Nil. 5. REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 10 OCTOBER 2023 5.1. FINAL WASTE PLAN 2023 - 2028 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Manager Waste and Environmental Health to the Services and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 October 2023 and adopt the From Waste to Resource Waste Plan 2023 – 2028. Carried unanimously. 5.2. ENDORSEMENT OF NOOSA LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2023 The following material was distributed to the meeting in relation to this item: o Disaster Management Officer – refer to Attachment 1 - Get Ready Pack Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Clare Stewart Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Disaster Management Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 October 2023 and: A. Repeal the Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan 2018; B. Adopt the Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan 2023 as provided at Attachment 1 to the Endorsement of the Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan 2023 report; and C. Devolve responsibility for updating and approving the operational Sub-Plans of the Local Disaster Management 2023 to the Noosa Local Disaster Management Group. Carried unanimously. 5.3. NOOSA SHIRE COUNCIL SOLE AND SPECIALISED LISTS In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Lorentson provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as my husband, Chris Lorentson, is an employee of Page Furnishers Pty Ltd who are proposed to be included on the Specialised Supplier List. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Lorentson left the meeting. Committee Resolution SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 10 OCTOBER 2023 Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Cr Stewart be appointed as Acting Chairperson of the meeting for this item for the purpose of considering the conflict of interest declaration by Cr Lorentson. Carried unanimously. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Clare Stewart Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Procurement and Contracts Advisor to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 October 2023 and A. Adopt the amended Sole Supplier list provided at Attachment 1 of the report for the next twelve (12) months; and B. Adopt the amended Specialised Supplier list provided at Attachment 2 of the report for the next twelve (12) months. Carried unanimously. Cr Lorentson returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair. 5.4. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE – JANUARY TO MARCH 2024 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer (Acting) to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 October 2023 and approve the Council Meeting schedule for January-March 2024 as set out in Attachment 1 to the Report. Carried unanimously. 6. REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE Nil. 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 2.53pm.
Meeting Transcript
Amelia Lorentson 00:01.062
First, I'd like to begin by an Acknowledgement to Country. I would like to respectfully acknowledge the Kabi Kabi People as the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters that form the region that we call Noosa. Council pays its respects to elders past, present and emerging and welcomes the ongoing role that Indigenous people play within the Noosa community. Attendance and apology. First I'd like to note that everyone is in attendance that is the Mayor Clare Stewart, Councillor Joe Jurisevic and Deputy Mayor Councillor Frank Wilkie. I also note that Councillor Tom Wegener is in the gallery and I don't think Councillor Finzel, she's not online? No, so Councillor Finzel not online. Nor Councillor Stockwell. Before commencing the meeting can I please request that everyone have their phones on silent or turned off and also I would like to remind everyone around the table of their obligations under the Councillor Code of Conduct that we are respectful and to one another including staff. First I'd like to go to confirmation of minutes. Can I have a mover and a seconder? Thank you Clare Stewart. A seconder? Thank you Councillor Wilkie. No discussion or in favour? Thank you. Presentations and deputations there are none and we'll go straight to the reports for consideration of committee meeting. Item 5.1 final waste plan 2023-2028. I'd like to welcome Director Director, kyrone Dodds. Excuse me, Sir, I'm just giving you a promotion and you deserve one. Carefully, you're putting in a pay rise next. Any pay rise requests? I oh, yeah? The future. So I ask before we start, are there any conflicts of interest? None. And kyrone, if you can start by just giving us a summary and overview of the final waste plan 2023-2028. You know, on Facebook as well, so.
Kyrone Dodds 02:30.563
The waste plan that was developed involved a two-part consultation process conducted during February and March and August /September this year. Phase one sought community and stakeholder values in waste management annualisation and utilisation, shaping the draft waste. Phase two gathered additional insights on the draft waste plan itself, and in total we had 828 surveys in both phases of that process. Community feedback strongly supported the draft waste plan vision and the waste hierarchy, which is principles to is avoiding. Reduce, reuse, recycle and dispose as the last resort. Those opposing the draft waste plan include. Concerns over rate increases are requested off kerbside. Opposition to food waste collection services are already composting food waste and are. Positioned to change. However, the overall, plan received very strong support for. Encouraging personal responsibility, advocating to reduce waste at source, innovation. And ensuring that appropriate infrastructure and operations are in place to support waste reuse and recycling. The plan also received strong support from that circular economy to reduce the cost to the community of landfilling material. And that material will be used as a resource for potential revenue generation. Changes to the draft waste plan include design modifications in line with community Council branding, additional wording and advocacy for product stewardship schemes and new actions related to food waste and construction and demolition waste. Fantastic.
Amelia Lorentson 04:11.013
Councillors, questions? For kyrone.
Joe Jurisevic 04:15.076
Thank and kyrone. Thank you for a comprehensive plan and a Roadmap going forward for the changes that need to be done and an element of-- change. That has to be implemented. One of those-- one of the reasons that we have to implement that is the impact of the Queensland government's state waste levy. And I'm reading here it was sent to land uh currently 85 dollars per ton per tonne, increasing to $95 a tonne this year. So what is the implication of the state's waste levy on what currently goes into landfill?
Kyrone Dodds 04:59.951
So currently the actual waste levy this year, this financial year, is $105. So that is applied to commercial waste, commercial customs.
Joe Jurisevic 05:09.344
So it's $23.24, so it was $95 and $22.23. That's the $10 increase that's mentioned annually until it goes to $145 a tonne. So what's the impact of that $95 to $105, all the way up to $145 a tonne, by the 1st of July 2027, going to do to the cost of landfill?
Kyrone Dodds 05:29.938
Well, in a nutshell, it will increase the cost of our public. It started this year in July, so the State government have introduced a percentage of that levy that we have to rebate the State. Think that equates to five dollars, but I'm not entirely sure how much, about five to six dollars per tonne and that increases over the next five years until it's the full cost of the levy and that gets applied to our domestic customers.
Joe Jurisevic 05:57.658
But yeah until now it's only been applied to commercial customers and from this year it gets applied to domestic services so they'll be just based on that state levy there'll be a change to the cost of implementation or the cost of continuing the service where we landfill residential waste.
Kyrone Dodds 06:15.933
Exactly, so the actual cost of the collections or anything doesn't is not affected but the costs are going through our levy zone so there's a dedicated earmarked zone on the site anything that goes into that zone which we have to track and report on newly attracts that levy.
Joe Jurisevic 06:36.855
So what's the obvious way for. I can turn around and do this. What's the obvious way and the thing that the plan delivers for the public to consider to avoid. The increases and to manage the costs of things going to landfill?
Kyrone Dodds 06:52.595
It's to look at waste differently and I think that's what we're trying to do within the strategy. Waste in particular outside of Queensland and Australia. As much as in brazil. Sure, yeah. Should we stop calling it waste? Yes, I think it's a good start. Thank you. It's only waste if we waste it. Wasting an energy value of some sort.
Joe Jurisevic 07:16.282
And potentially creating a greenhouse gas that we can't that we currently can't deal with
Amelia Lorentson 07:24.960
I've got a bunch of questions and I won't ask them all at once. I'll leave it to the table. But before we go on, why do we have to develop a waste plan? Is it obligatory? Yes, we have you too. In terms of, I'm referencing page 18 of the plan. The figures are really stubborn. I'll just pull out page 18. Landfill site, 49 years remaining in the landfill life. 49 years is not that far away. Have we included in those numbers, you know, the potential impact of a population or dwelling increase? So the SEQ regional draft plan had population and dwelling forecast. How, if those numbers. Um are realised 19,000,100,000, 10,000 in the first three years, how does that change the data that we're looking at and has that been considered as part of the plan?
Kyrone Dodds 08:44.527
So we haven't included the data in the model, but if we reduce the years, there's no doubt, the tonnage is directly related to population, so you have a strong correlation of those years will reduce, unless, what it also doesn't include is the fact that we're actively trying to divert material as we go along. So the model looks at if we carry on the current rate of material to landfill, we've got 50 years left. We are actively reducing that year by If we increase, introduce infrastructure to divert further, then it should lengthen. But obviously, if we increase population, that adds to the timeshift.
Amelia Lorentson 09:33.346
Questions?
Frank Wilkie 09:34.296
Yeah, thank you. Kyrone, on page nine, there's an amount of 2021 costs of 147 per tonne of waste going to landfill. That's operational costs, isn't it? Yes, that's. Not the waste levy. No, that's not the waste levy. That's our cost to put one tonne of material into the ground, and that's actually. It's increased since then. Yeah. What are the costs now? Approximately 200. It's gone up that much and in two years. Yeah. There's also on page nine a really interesting figure, which is the amount of household waste the average Australian produces every year of 543 kilograms. We've got an aspirational goal to reduce the amount produced per Noosa person resident to below that, significantly below that, but there seems to be. In my opinion, an omission from this report about what is the rate generated per Noosa resident.
Unidentified Speaker 10:37.406
And I understand there are difficulties around calculating that. Could you just talk us through the variables that make it very difficult to include that figure, please?
Kyrone Dodds 10:46.827
Yeah, so that's a national figure that's. From the statistics. To calculate it locally, we would need to understand exactly who is a local and who is non-local coming out of our language. It's internal coming into the landfill as well. From outside the Shire. From the outside of the Shire. So it's very difficult to get the resources and the equipment and technology to do that right now. We also have a 1.8 million tourist population per year. And what percentage of that and B&Bs and so forth add into that domestic change is not quite clear as well. So what we do know is the number is higher than our national average. Is putting that into accurate terms, is we can do that?
Frank Wilkie 11:36.579
Yes. And you mentioned that there's waste coming from outside the Shire into our landfill, which affects the figures. But collaboration is a big part of the strategy going forward, isn't it? Can you just talk about the sort of collaboration that's going on with them? So we've got an MOU with Gympie
Kyrone Dodds 11:54.254
That was signed six months ago. We have had our first pedestal, a steering room. Group meeting about a month ago. We've got one this Friday. We have a weekly working group meeting with our opposite numbers in Gympie and we're currently looking at all the infrastructure and at the tunnels time. Between the tonnages between the two councils that would potentially make some of these projects viable which is key. And that's shared infrastructure, shared resource. We will continue to do that and we will support us in the funding which is critical for COMSEQ and that collaboration as well
Frank Wilkie 12:33.026
Mentioned also the 1.8 million visitors per year which are having, they're playing a part in generating extra waste that can't be attributed. Necessarily to misery. To Noosa residents. Yeah. So part of the problem there also part of the solution the tourism industry could you talk about the collaboration with the tourism industry that's underway to help address some of that.
Kyrone Dodds 12:54.977
Yeah so tourism in Noosa would be I think excellent they're Plastic Free Noosa. The way, that's been a model that's been used outside of Noosa and I think the way they've delivered that is a model we can use for some able change going forward. So what they've done I think has been excellent. I think our role particularly around this is the infrastructure that sits behind that behavioural change. So if we make a difference and we do something different, we need to have that infrastructure to support that material when it's processing.
Frank Wilkie 13:29.549
And in the waste hierarchy, it's often referred to avoidance, reusing, recycling and disposal. But there's also another line that's in the report that hasn't been mentioned yet is recover. Can you talk about what that step involves? It's quite exciting. In the material space? Yeah. So, of course, are in recovery- recovering and also isn't it waste-to-energy?
Kyrone Dodds 13:57.343
Yes, waste-to-energy. Is a very interesting space in terms of taking the typical residual waste that's left over after you've removed recycling. Organics, green waste, and anything else that could be recovered and turned into another material or reprocessed. The last position before you put it into a landfill should be extract the energy that's within that material to produce energy. Yes. And we're actively talking with COMSEQ well as their neighbours in that space through the MOU. And I think it's an exciting space because once we are in that area of looking at that type of technology, suddenly our landfill becomes the last port of call. And 50 years could become 150,200 years or even better.
Frank Wilkie 14:55.622
Yeah, one more question if I'm on. Not in chat. The feedback from the community is that taking personal responsibility for our what waste is widely supported and advocated for. In japan, there are no bins in the streets and the streets are very litter-free. Is that an example of residents taking very strong- not saying that's going to happen here- but that's an example of what can be achieved when personal responsibility is taken very seriously?
Kyrone Dodds 15:24.865
I think yeah, that's the gold standard. We're quite away from the gold standard, but I think that's the intention. We can get personal responsibility, and that goes across all facets of waste. In terms of buying something you don't need, and disposing of something the wrong way, effectively, you're making a difference with the actions that you make, personally. And that's the message we're trying to get through, and we'll be part of the behavioural change going forward. Yeah, Thank you. Very much.
Unidentified Speaker 16:01.021
When I was doing some radio around this, it was some of the stats were interesting around food scraps. 40% of what takes about landfills from food scraps and it 25 takes 25 years. For a lettuce to break down. So what can we do in that space with our food scraps? Because I know that is the issue, and what is the plan specifically?
Kyrone Dodds 16:22.457
So, yeah, the bulk of our emissions are generated from predominantly food waste. We removed green waste 2017 as a Council. We're probably one of the leaders in Queensland for doing that, if not first. But the next. Organic stream laser that goes into the landfill is food waste. Of that 40% that goes in, not only from their bins, but from commercial customs, that generates 63% of council's emissions. We've got actions in the strategy to review technology. That can process that food waste, and look at the infrastructure and potential building of the infrastructure with our partners in keeping at some location. Once we pull that material out, once again it has an energy value. And we can extract that energy and utilise that to produce green power, green hydrogen, biogas, a number of different alternatives. But that's the intention. I guess the next stage after the strategy is to get into feasibility studies of some of the projects, which we've actively already started in some spots. Schools in some aspects
Unidentified Speaker 17:39.549
The AD plant, is that the one?
Kyrone Dodds 17:41.234
AD plant, we're looking at organic treatment, solar power, we've already started those feasibility studies.
Amelia Lorentson 17:50.591
Thank you. Councillor Joe, you've got a question?
Joe Jurisevic 17:53.628
Yeah, I was reading through some of the feedback that was given and one of the of ones that's I've heard from for a long time and I've advocated for a long time was a review of bins. And I read under litter avoidance here, 3.1, 3.2, but the one thing that was missing there under litter avoidance was bin management, public place bin management. But I noticed that under precinct waste management, 5.1 review precinct waste management opportunities for innovation including inclusive of bin ratios, compaction bins, bin level sensors, bins overflowing, that's how litter starts. Bins are overflowing. If we can. Prevent that, but also making bins available, the right bins available. I've often said there's an imbalance in the number of general waste bins to recycle bins. If we want people to recycle more, we really have to provide. The right balance and facilitation of those bins, and if we go into composting. We'll be looking at a third public place bin, potentially. I'm just wondering whether that point, 5.1, can be added as 3. And reiterated. Under litter avoidance, because it is a litter avoidance mechanism. So it's a minor thing, but I think that reiterating that point under litter avoidance, it's a litter avoidance mechanism, it's precinct waste, but it shouldn't only be in the major. Precincts. I think we should have apply the level of bin ratios and the need for compaction bins and bin level sensors and understanding if bins are overflowing anywhere across the Shire, that we understand that occurs. Is that the opportunity going forward with regard to public place bins is to facilitate each of the strains better than we currently do and the potential for, I don't know, is a third public place bin for compostable waste? Considering Plastic Free Noosa has done such an amazing job of getting retailers on board in the Hastings Street precinct and Gympie Terrace and the junction of most of our tourism precincts around to go away from plastic containers and have compostable containers. Is that where we need to go?
Kyrone Dodds 20:13.515
I think long term the bid infrastructure should match our infrastructure. That's what we've got to get to. So we've got to be careful with behavioural we don't have the infrastructure that sits behind that behavioural change otherwise we can potentially get a customer to do something that we can't support.
Joe Jurisevic 20:36.617
We lose the faith that people have in the current system of saying well I put my recyclables in that bin but I know that you know I don't see that truck going to. Deliver to recyclables. I see it going to the landfill. Some misapprehension of whether you know like the truck that goes on Hastings Street which has two compartments. The other element of that question and I've just lost my train of thought. I was trying to do it throw in another question. I'll come back to where I was going.
Amelia Lorentson 21:05.902
I want to comment on the engagement process. It was excellent. So really, really well done. In terms of all the surveys submitted I've just 828 and I did a little bit of research on you know sample size and what's considered a good sample size and margins of error and how and 828 is ranked really high and if my research is correct margin of error is 3% and that's you know something really excellent my question is can you just talk us through the engagement process did we engage an external consultant or was a lot of it done in house
Kyrone Dodds 21:56.156
Yeah I think thanks for the credit I think actually it's the same so Joe ferris and the team were key to that contemplation process team members shared the work we've worked with we work comms. On the process and yeah I think it's great to see most of that has been done
Amelia Lorentson 22:20.987
Could you please extend congratulations the audience, it was brilliant. Joe has your question come back to you?
Joe Jurisevic 22:28.316
Along the lines of yeah again with the sort of feedback with regard to the draft plan and what we see here have we taken on board comments from the public and the feedback that we've got and how are they implemented or shown within the final plan
Kyrone Dodds 22:44.532
Yes and the report Council like the last couple of pages of it will incorporate all the changes and anything that's updated you'll see in bold
Joe Jurisevic 22:53.962
But there's a summary of the summary of changes six. In section there and including in bold is directly relating to the questions or the points that have been raised. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 23:11.940
Low-waste policy and will that get introduced a extended into sustainability procurement and will we look at resource recovery facilities at all our facilities not just at the depot?
Unidentified Speaker 23:29.967
If I've got anything to do with it, absolutely.
Kyrone Dodds 23:55.360
I have IBM machines in there. And it looks like they're promoting the bin enclosure rather than closing it off and I think that sort of mentality actually is not a bad idea of getting the right response to
Joe Jurisevic 24:13.355
The cycle you have to encourage the correct the behaviour that you're trying try to instil into to the population
Frank Wilkie 24:21.413
Happy to move the recommendation I'm happy to second it I was happy to move it I was happy yeah
Amelia Lorentson 24:32.787
Speaking, I'd like to ask Councillor Tom Wegener, you've got your hand up, would you like to ask some questions, please?
Tom Wegener 24:40.525
Do you think yeah, do you think, I guess if I put my comment into a question, do you think that this is the to do biggest change? That our term as Councillors and as staff has brought to Noosa Council? Because it is a phenomenal change from when we came here to the way strategy, to the way strategy today. So, thank just like to congratulate you and mark Carroll on coming on board. This is a big win for us. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 25:11.461
Who would like to speak?
Frank Wilkie 25:13.976
I moved it, so I'll speak. Thanks for answering the questions. Kyrone, please congratulate the staff. I thought it was a very well-written, clear strategy that used simple language and didn't hide the hard truths of where we are at and the work, the large task ahead of us. So, please pass on the congratulations. To the team yeah
Joe Jurisevic 25:31.739
Thank you oh, okay. Is that it? That's it. You don't need to go on. Yeah, I'll speak to it. Yes, Councillor Tom, you're right. This is the biggest transitional move. Ten years in the making of my time here on Council. To see these things being implemented into a Waste Strategy and the way forward to change the concept of waste. It's not waste. It is a resource and the more that we can understand and value that it's a resource and the more we can continue to advocate for changes where waste gets generated by manufacturers that don't have a process for accepting those products that they generate back, that creates a need for landfill, the more we have to push for change higher up the chain. Fortunately the Australian Federal government and the State government, 20 years behind most of the southern states I might add, are on board and starting to implement the strategies and the processes that will facilitate this change going forward. We can no longer see landfill as a viable option. It has to be the exception rather than the rule. And in fact, if we can avoid it completely, we can avoid the one thing, some of the comments here with regard to what we need to do going forward. We want to keep landfill, we want to keep waste charges down. Well, the way to keep waste charges down is to look at what you take in, what you purchase. Look at what it's made of, what its life is. Don't buy the cheap junky stuff that is disposable. Let's stop being a disposable society and start taking responsibility for the waste that we generate. Let's bring our businesses on board to help facilitate the change that we need. I see so many businesses that could easily be saving themselves costs simply by segregating their waste and taking it and using the opportunities of waste that carries no charge and doesn't go into landfill and facilitating of that at the facility so that they don't incorporate charges where uh where recycled goods like paper and cardboard and that don't fill up the bin we know that 40 to 50 percent of what goes into the general waste bin it's is organic matter. That shouldn't be in there. If you can't compost at home okay we need to have a have an alternative and if that doesn't go into landfill and doesn't continue to generate landfill gases well it becomes a resource that can go back out into regenerative farming. The way in the future is to turn acknowledge that compost is as good if not a better form of fertiliser for land management than any of the ones that we purchase commercially and acquire from other forms of product. We've been using in our backyard for years. It's not rocket science. It's back to fundamentals. As a society, we understood that when necessity was the driver post-war in particular. Through those commercialised and consumer driven years and american society is a lot to do with that with through the 70s and 80s of consumerism that we started to uh of become a throwaway society of throw away, That has to stop. Through this and I, was one of the Councillors at the amalgamation that advocated for the return of the kerbside cleanup service. But in my time here, and through the understanding of taking responsibility for the waste you generate, and I applaud it here, I applaud that we finally made the commitment that service is no longer a viable service to deliver. I appreciate that people have had that service and rely on that service but this is the 21st century and we have so many alternatives to putting it out on the street making somebody else's responsibility to take it away. We've got Facebook marketplace everybody uses that if it's got any real value and you're going to put it out on the street somebody will take it sure but if it's got any real value charity organisations that will help facilitate that you know help facilitate a need for those that actually need these products you can talk to your neighbours and say I've got this go and actually walk down the street let your neighbours know you've got something to give away maybe they'll take it we've got the garage sale trail, we've got garage sales, we've got you know social mark social media and social marketing we've got so many opportunities to dispose of valuable goods if you no longer want them and then just throwing them out and expecting somebody else to do it the challenge comes a service like that you want to talk about keeping costs down it's an expensive service to deliver for the community and only a small percentage of the community really is to realistically utilise it element is the people the other that abuse the service that cost of service the from being long available run in the long run we can't people have dumping as business and we can't have streets being used as rubbish tips it's just not the way in this day and age and it's not the way of the future we really need to and this outlays it we really need to take responsibility for the rubbish that we generate there are so many methods explained in this way strategy for the future going forward for people to avoid the need for that sort of mindset and way the to avoid the cost of waste services in the future is to adhere to the ideas and the concepts that this strategy delivers and I want to congratulate staff and all those that had a hand in putting this together many of these areas of delivery, areas are things that I've been advocating in my time on Council and I've had many in the community asked me to advocate for these services to be delivered and I'm pleased to say that this Waste Strategy will deliver this for our community in the future. Thank you. To your team and all that were involved.
Amelia Lorentson 32:06.670
Thank you Joe, that was well said. Mayor Stewart.
Unidentified Speaker 32:10.894
Thank you Clare, I remember reiterating everyone's thanks and appreciation to you mark, Joe and all the team. Tom, I think it is something that we should be incredibly proud of. This is the 2023-2028 from waste to resource waste plan. It's not the 2012.2016, it's not the 2020. So I think it's something that all of this Council and at this table and indeed all of the Councillors can really hang their hats on. With such a wonderful team, Kyrone and led by you, really have been a game changer. We're looking at real, meaningful, tangible results from this Waste Strategy. We're looking at the containers for change. We've got that. We've got the polystyrene thermal compacting machine. We have an MOU with Gympie to make some real meaningful collaboration and changes in this to share resources, share costs, share opportunities. We also have. With having joined the Council of Mayors, an opportunity now to be part of the big picture. And as we can see, the State government is so important in this space and advocating and working together as a South East Queensland Council of Mayors for waste and to deliver outcomes to get finance, to get resources and to get the funds, I think is incredibly powerful. It's really important, it's fundamental and central to our Waste Strategy going forward. That was evident. So I want to thank you and the team and Councillor Wegener, I agree wholeheartedly, this is something that I'm incredibly proud of that we've delivered in this term of Council, but not without the skill, expertise and knowledge of all staff. Please, thank you, thank you guys, it's been a huge team effort, we appreciate it. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 33:46.458
I'll just add a couple extra things. You know, in the report it actually states that two guys 2007, new zealanders designated the UNESCO status for a biosphere. And with that comes obligations, and the obligations, you know, protecting, conserving our environment, or said another way, do no harm. Do no harm. When I go through the draft report, you know, the numbers are really just slightly, 63% of emissions come from our landfill. We've got 49 years left on our landfill site and that doesn't, you know, consider potential population growth and dwelling growth. So the time to act is right now and I think this is just an excellent road map. Community even the local businesses and I do want to shout out to the small local businesses who are already in this space and I think the plan is a commitment that we are going to support them in minimising, reducing, recycling waste, and we've got a community with shared vision as Council. So again, thank you kyrone and the A team, or WOW team, law and waste team. This isn't going to this is a game changer and it's a really wonderful way to end this term at Council. Big tick from us to you and community to you. Absolutely. Thanks, guys. Thanks, team.
Unidentified Speaker 35:33.704
Absolutely.
Unidentified Speaker 35:34.824
Now about that directorship.
Frank Wilkie 35:39.324
Setting you up, kyrone. We haven't closed this. So I'm going to put all this to a vote. Not yet. Frank doesn't has it closed. I haven't closed. Oh, excuse me. Mover. Would you like. Mover. Look, I would only be reusing, recycling, recovering and disposing of things that have been said before around this table. So I won't say anything.
Amelia Lorentson 36:05.948
Well done. All in favour? Carried. Unanimously. Do you want to put your hands up? That's right. Thank you. Two feet up as well. Thank you, Kyrone. Well done, mate. Well done. Next 5.0. Go to report five points. Do we have any below? Noosa Shire Council sole and specialist list. No, you're jumping ahead. Oh, excuse me, I jumped ahead. Disaster management. Report 5.2, endorsement of Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan 2023. Firstly, I'd like to introduce Sean to the desk Director of Infrastructure Services and you and um Neil Ferris welcome to Noosa Council.
Shaun Walsh 36:54.315
And I'll get Ian Williams, our disaster resilience officer as well um so I actually have deliberately put out high profits because we thought you'd like one on your shoulders thank you
Unidentified Speaker 37:06.435
No no sorry I'm into waste minimisation and I can't take paper
Unidentified Speaker 37:11.697
Thanks make an exception in this case Joe all right
Amelia Lorentson 37:15.458
Thank you before we start can I ask conflicts of interest
Frank Wilkie 37:20.986
No night Thank you.
Shaun Walsh 37:24.342
Sir thank you very much I just said that that's why she's listening to me thank you
Amelia Lorentson 37:47.867
I'm going to gonna hand it over to Shaun can you give us an overview or a summary of the report um in front of us I'm
Shaun Walsh 37:56.332
Actually going to put our new disaster management officer on the spot put him on the spot and ask him to present the paper baptism of fire because we're very happy that he's commenced with us as an organisation and timely he's commenced with disaster theory. Sorry I've got no burning questions.
Unidentified Speaker 38:15.560
He's actor. It's a hard act to bollos. Follow so final deaths. So it's a requirement
Neil Ferris 38:20.219
Of the Disaster Management Act 2003 that the government develop some regular reviews of the disaster management plan to assist with effective disaster management for its area. That's what we're presenting today. It's the Local Disaster Management Plan. The last major assessment of the Noosa Local Disaster Management Plan occurred in 2018. The plan is being rewritten to align with contemporary. Practice and use the Queensland emergency risk management framework, also known as QERMF. Methodology and in consultation with emergency service providers and stakeholders. The plan was reviewed and endorsed by the Local Disaster Management Group in February. And we.2023 and rebranded with the Council branding.
Shaun Walsh 39:08.707
Yeah.
Amelia Lorentson 39:09.730
Thank you. Okay. Thanks Neil for this summary and I'm going to throw it to the. Councillors. Any questions?
Frank Wilkie 39:17.218
It's the best looking one I've ever seen. Beautiful design.
Shaun Walsh 39:21.131
I'd like to acknowledge the work of Sue Lowry and also Ian Williams in compiling the whole consultation process before we go on to the stakeholders. Yes. And the emergency services as well as the community groups.
Joe Jurisevic 39:32.898
It might have been a bit of work from the previous disaster management officer.
Frank Wilkie 39:36.074
Thank I just have a question about how has the risk management matrix changed since 2019?
Ian Williams 39:47.349
Ian, over to you for this question. Predominantly for 2019 obviously with the fire focus, obviously we'd have a lot of floods. Be honest with that five-year cycle of recovery that we've been in, it's been grab the Chair before you a situation in the sense that we've gone fire, flood, fire, pandemic, flood, so the matrix in a sense has changed. I mean the relations with the procedures, but with the actual disaster. I mean the likelihood of events, yes.
Frank Wilkie 40:21.029
I with climate change.
Joe Jurisevic 40:23.353
Yeah. I would have said the elements of pandemic were probably there in the previous plan, but now are far more highlighted now that we've actually had one.
Amelia Lorentson 40:36.608
And you forgot the lens. Realisation. That as well. Sorry. That's fine. $80 million worth of landslips, yes. I'm going to start with a basic question just for clarity. What's the role of local government in a disaster and what's the role of the local disaster management
Shaun Walsh 40:54.334
Group? I'm not actually deferring to our Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group. It's our CEO, Larry Sengstock, who's still in that role and that's the appropriate person to respond to
Larry Sengstock 41:05.427
That. So we have local government management groups. We have regional. In the and the State. So whenever there's a need for that group to get together and react, then that's the process that we follow. So yes, I'm the Chair of that. Whilst I'm the coordinator of that. And the Mayor is the Chair of our local group, and we kind of constitute all of our service providers. In terms of when a disaster does happen, so if it's a flood, it's as we had in February. 23rd February 2022. I'm losing track of what happens when it does happen. Early 2022 with a flood, it's Council or the LPMG that stands up and Council takes the lead role. If it's a fire that we had in 2019, it's the QFES, so the fire and emergency services. So it takes the lead role. Pandemic Queensland Health. That's just changed over now to Queensland police. So it sits under the banner. So it just depends on the type of disaster. But the focus has been certainly improved and increased enormously over the last few years up here, but across Australia because of the climate change and the amount of natural disasters that we've been encountering. So it just means that the councils, local governments in particular, are far more focused and we have found specific people. In my last Council we had somebody who was a part-time part of their job and now it's a full-time where we have a number of people and that resource I think is only going to grow as we go down the track because the amount of work and the amount of planning and the amount of. We can't just rely on volunteers. We need to have people who are fully trained and able to step up straight away. And we've increased our resources. In terms of our fire management as well with the local government. So Sean Harris on our group now, he's done an amazing job of just giving us that. We've increased his resources, but he's also done a lot of work on just giving us that level of bit of comfort that we are doing stuff where we can and as much as we can to try to minimise the impact should there be a fire in the near future, so. Certainly as an organisation Council, we are far more focused on how we manage disasters, how we mitigate, how we prepare for and mitigate as best we can. So it's, you know, we're never going to be perfect, but certainly we're well down the track and we've got some very good people who are very dedicated to the task that we have to do, so it's a.
Amelia Lorentson 44:00.118
It's a comforting factor for our community, I think.
Joe Jurisevic 44:01.800
Can I tack something onto I'll take of that the end of that? Level of technology in this sphere, trying to keep abreast of all that, really means that we need a resource that can stay at the forefront and be aware of the changes, and some of those changes that we've been at the forefront of with that they're yeah. Fire tech. Their sort of technology that's been developing, you know, right out of our own bridge and digital home.
Frank Wilkie 44:26.079
Just on that, can we ask about the sort of technologies that we are employing and will be using this season?
Shaun Walsh 44:33.809
Well, I think we need to be careful with the fire tech programs. Related to cameras flew around the fire that actually detects smoke so and then that's exactly what it's come. That's the first time we understand some trial illustrator, but there's a lot of them fine-tuning.org community someone providing a barbecue in the backyard, we don't want to do that, so we haven't set up the audio the overall alert system as yet, but it's been monitored. And if they see an inkling of smoke, then obviously they'll mean you're an act, but it's so, you know, and our vision of digital centre has been to full-front with actually embracing that technology. The other areas that we're actually looking at is also monitoring stations and systems which are basically an update of manual monitoring stations around the Shire, so we can actually give much more accurate local information to our residents that you might be aware that of the same some thing. Issues we experienced in 2022, you know, a flood event was that, you know, the data coming from the other more regional authorities or organisations wasn't necessarily specific enough for our Shire. And we need to get much better at actually monitoring those catchment conditions for our local residents. So the other thing that we're on the finalisation of procurement. Is the Shire-wide VHF. Shire-wide VHF communication system. We've never actually had a Shire-wide comms system before and you might note that during local disasters mobile phones are next to useless because the towers have quite you know, systems are taken up by capacity with residents. Communicating with each other so you need a parallel communication system. UHF is valuable for localised communication in our construction sites but it doesn't carry everyone. So for the first time we've had a broad digital based UHF system so we're in the process of appearing at the moment. So we still have a long way to go in terms of using new technology.
Frank Wilkie 46:43.465
Thank you Shaun. Sean. Fire detection cameras, what percentage of the Shire are covered by that? It's not the entire Shire. What percentage? The whole Shire is covered. It is? Yeah, so there are two mounts for the cameras, one's a timber one and a black mount. Yes. The two. Okay, because I got of impression that the one at Kin Kin wasn't detected.
Ian Williams 47:09.514
So, certainly it is detected, it is in the distance, but it is the third, obviously the most como, Kim general are all part of that, so it is part of the certainly part of the coverage of the camera, but it is the furthest?
Frank Wilkie 47:24.624
Yes. It's not a black spot though.
Shaun Walsh 47:27.383
No, I think ideally we would get additional coverage. You know, and there's been explorations from mumbai. Okay. And also, I think. Are difficult to look at in this field as well give you a even better coverage over the Noosa shore and also the king islands. So, we've got further. This is why we talk about being a commissioning base and about how we read the technology before we actually.
Frank Wilkie 47:48.788
No, it's a great ambition.
Joe Jurisevic 47:49.549
Yeah. My understanding of the Sunshine Coast Council on the news the other night was also talking about implementing the systems that will give us greater coverage to the south, I would imagine, to facilitate. I've got a question. Thank you.
Unidentified Speaker 48:07.402
Sean and all the team. Thank you, sue. This is. And, of course, James. Yeah. Yeah, James. You guys have done a terrific job on this. And we're the lead agency when it comes to flood. And, obviously, QFES will. And now, of course, I'm pleased to take the lead on if there are fires. But coming into. Fire season, and I guess that's what's part of get ready, is that, you know, we can mitigate and do the best. Yeah, most we can. And I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, but from, you know, where we were four years ago, we're in a far stronger position with all the resources and the extra technology I think the two-thousand- that's been put into fire management and mitigation. Think the 2019 fires were a game changer for this community and realised that so much more had to go into fire management.
Clare Stewart 48:50.438
The question is you know, that we can only do so much, but we really need the community to come on board with this, don't we, and to really prepare their own properties. As best they can.
Shaun Walsh 49:01.237
Know their owners. Yeah. Story. It's a really good statement because, you know, a lot of government is community, but we need communities to support local government at times like this. And the best communities are the ones who are pre-prepared and resilient and work with each other. Because unfortunately, during natural disasters, our resources are stretched. They can't be everywhere, and the more communities are self-prepared and ready to help each other, then the safer they're going to be and more resilient to disasters. So I can hint at this, Ian is our disaster resilience officer, which is a very different kettle of fish, which is all about preparing communities for resilience. Do you want to add to more of that, Ian?
Ian Williams 49:39.226
Well, only in the sense what you see before you is, as was read out by Neil, incorporating quarks, engagement the quorum, but as far as our engagement with community in that process, last July we began the engagement by holding a series of five workshops, and they were sort of just being aware of where they were, so we had Kin Kin school of arts hall for Kin Kin komo Federal, and then Peregian beach community house for Peregian and eastern beaches. For the beach. Holiday road resort over on the North Shore, so that was Tewantin North Shore residence, Cooroy Pomona, lion's den was Cooroy Black Mountain, and Pomona itself. Then we did lake Cootharaba sailing club for the Cooroibah, the Cooroibah, Cootharaba warring and Boreen Point communities. And all of those, the data from, or the information that came back from those meetings were incorporated into the report which you saw in front of you. So the engagement has been, I suppose since then, almost ongoing. And then probably more importantly in the engagement part of things, we have a resilient plan, a resilience plan that I've worked from in my contracted time, focuses on three main areas, and I think you've all been graciously attended many of those, and that is obviously schools, which we're in the throes of right now, with get ready month, and then right through to summer until literally almost the last day of school. So that's all state schools, private schools, nearly every school, and nursery will be receiving us in the next month and a half. So that's schools. Aged care, which has been a really exciting time for us. We've had workshops and forums, but we've also had individual, you've probably seen through the council's Facebook, we do individual visits to about 100 residents at a time, and we're doing that right through Shire with our QFES ambulance and SES partners, and then the third component is through small business, we had a small business forum in March, and then we will hold that annually, and in between we still pop in the town hall meetings and the various would pop chambers and things like that. So that, in a sense, becomes the bulk of what's in front as far as engagement with our community, and we've pretty much got a cycle now in our structure that plans for that ongoing.
Unidentified Speaker 51:49.659
And it is what you just said about the schools, it's so powerful because often the kids are the ones who go home and go, "Hey, we've done this, so don't forget about this." So it's so great to engage them exactly as you said in and I was going to mention, you know, having the support of emergency services there has been so valuable, you know, because, you know, seeing them there and the kids interact with them and able to ask them questions, I think it's been really powerful to do all of that, and I've been to some of the aged care workshops. They've been excellent too. I mean, I think been you've covered I don't I think there's been any area that's been left out you know you no stones have been left unturned you haven't covered at all oh
Shaun Walsh 52:24.674
I think we'll say that you know we've probably got more work to do with in terms of local residents in particular new arrivals who far have been here so long, like in the road I live in the hinterland during the 2022 event, we have everyone's contact details, we don't need to look at each other's pockets, but we have two infirm people who rely on prescription medication, no support level. So we went door knocking, made sure they were okay, got their scripts arranged, you know, driving them on very wet public roads the more we can do, and so we didn't have to call upon emergency services or ambulance or SES, we can stress times. So I think the next stage of things we do is how we make that full process in our communities to make them all as easy as possible. That's neighbourhoods. Creating neighbourhoods again. Back to neighbourhoods knowing neighbours. I mean, similar situation during the fires. I mean, last man out, I was knocking on everybody's doors when the Tewantin evacuation was here, making sure everybody was aware and was evacuating. Lights were on, particular. It's a joint effort.
Amelia Lorentson 53:32.450
Commend you. Just before I came to the meeting, there's some plastic or a process how do we
Shaun Walsh 54:36.179
You know, to make these conventions among the four fairies, that's a work in progress. We actually had a meeting about it with Melissa coyle and Ben Derrick about it last week to discuss next steps about actually properly deploying. We've got an outstanding action in our continuous improvement plan. Unfortunately, priorities have and we're still going through our list. And we've already got a trailer at the depot for oil spill response, but we need to ramp that up for other debris. So I would have liked to have said that we're better prepared for marine debris at the moment. We've still got some more work to do, and that's just because of time. And resources and going through the priorities.
Joe Jurisevic 55:15.586
And heightened awareness. Having had it happen, we're now aware of the sort of things that can occur.
Shaun Walsh 55:19.906
It's still, we're it. Actually still working through the lessons learned from the 2022 disaster, and we're actually planning on doing a report to the LDMG and also to Council about our status on what the connections are, and where the outstanding things are going to be fixed. That's one that we're in progress, but we haven't had as much progress as we would like to.
Joe Jurisevic 55:42.584
I'm happy having to move. And I'll happily second it. Thank you.
Clare Stewart 55:46.139
Thank you. Claire, would you like to speak? Sure, just want reiterate our thanks. You know, I feel that we are really well prepared here, and that's very good. So much to do with all the work that you've all done. So, there's no one I've sat with in a disaster, and there's no one who knows. Disasters better than you, and your expertise and skills were fundamental during the floods. And so, you know, I think we've got-- if a disaster does strike, we've got a really strong plan, we've got a really strong team, and I think the community should take comfort in that. But it doesn't mean that we can't-- we need all or that we need get on board, get ready, months. And as you said, it is a really good opportunity to prepare our community, to keep having those talks, those resilience talks. I think a resilient community is a prepared community, and we can't control modern nature, but we can certainly prepare the best we can. And I think we're doing a really great job in that. Think, you know, we're the team outside, and I said to dale from Queensland police, I said, "We're so lucky. We're the best in business. We really do." So I think that, you know, when we sit in that disaster room, I know that we've got the skilled expertise and knowledge, and I think that's something that the community can take comfort in. So thank you very much for all your hard work. It's valued greatly appreciated. Councillor and we appreciate it. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 57:02.101
Councillor Joe?
Joe Jurisevic 57:02.990
Yeah. Yes. Yeah. What a change over my time in that room. Ten years ago when I sat in for the first two years as an observer and then the last two terms a Deputy Chair of the LDMG, I've seen a major, a large number of changes, and are the better. And this plan resembles a lot of the change that has occurred and a lot of the learnings that not we've not gained only as a Council but through the DDMD and through the challenges that we've had thrust at us. We've gone through fire, flood, pandemic, environmental you know, spills, we've had a lot, I'm exhausted just thinking about it, with the hours of sleep that we've lost over the last five years in particular, but fortunately the State government has been a large part of the support of this as well. Never had a recovery plan for this state until a few years ago. I remember going to that first meeting with the State about recovery plans and the word resilience was barely mentioned. We've now got a resilience officer and what a transition, what a change that's made to the way that we understand and we deal with disasters in this state and in this Council as a result. Yeah, um resilience a whole new meaning that we just don't replace like with that we actually look at what the impacts of replacing something that's been impacted and see if we can't construct something that has the ability to outlast the last disaster and the next disaster. Hopefully, we don't, have we don't to have to replace it. Time and again, that we actually learn lessons from each of these, events and that we grow strategies and procedures that try and keep us at the forefront of it. But at the end of the day, you know, this is, a great plan. But as you said, as you guys have said, I mean, we rely on the individuals to make sure that they implement their own plans at home and how important that is because, yeah, we can't be everywhere. The services are stretched at that time and everybody's going to understand they have to and significant role to play of understanding of where it is in relation to you. When is it time to pack up? When get your family together and get out? Because that's a decision that ultimately we all have to make at some stage. Remember the fires. 10 Tewantin that decision. Had to get out. They were told to evacuate. Every time we have a flood, there are a number of people that know what the rising waters mean and know what the trigger points are. And newcomers to the place have to find that out. They have to become aware of those challenges that confront us. Being able to rapid response, when we've learned from the lessons of the polystyrene on the beach or an oil spill. I can remember years ago, Mayor Bob Abbot having to react to an oil spill on the beach. He couldn't wait for the State to turn around and give him approvals. Got the vehicles on the beach and started damming up and trying to prevent the oil spill from spreading. It's that capacity, that knowledge and that sort of local understanding of conditions. That we need to have to know what we need to put in place. When those sort of things strike. I said full credit to James, I said I want to acknowledge James Elliott for the work that he's done in putting this together and some of the technological advances that he has helped us embark on through his time as our disaster management officer. I think he did a tremendous job and I'm sure Neil that you'll equally feel that role going forward but the opportunity opportunities that presents of technology present to us are ones that we must embrace where we can because they will help our community and will help our operations to go forward and but even going you know even making sure that we've got good communications across the region. Blackspots, little things are so important to ensuring that when not if but when because we know this is going to happen it's not a matter of if it's going to happen when it's going to happen that we're as prepared as we possibly can be and that each time something like this happens we learn from those learn the lessons of what we can still deliver better for the community going forward for the future. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 01:01:22.290
Frank you haven't spoken Councillor.
Frank Wilkie 01:01:23.977
Yeah thank you because as one of the Peregian residents who was evacuated twice in six weeks in 2019 due to fire and on one of those occasions a red glow in the distance within 20 minutes within 20 became an ember storm over the house prompting quick evacuation I'm really looking forward to this I'm really interested in how this fire tech is going to be working and helping us detect and mobilise really quickly before it gets to that point. But I have a question. One of the things we're being asked to approve here in this recommendation is devolving responsibility for updating and approving the operational sub plans of a local disaster management 2023 to the Noosa Local Disaster Management Group. Could you tell us how often- sub plans updated
Shaun Walsh 01:02:10.639
And who does them? Sub plans have already been updated.
Frank Wilkie 01:02:15.790
Because I don't recall any of them coming before Council.
Shaun Walsh 01:02:20.965
This approach is consistent with other local governments that have sub plans for the yeah, major plan and it basically allows the local groups to update some things. The sub plans themselves without having to actually come to full Council or the LDMG. So it becomes a much more flexible and easy to manage sub in documents operations would be involved. For instance, we've been involved with SEQ orderings recently, updating mediation sub plans associated with, you know, possibly, you know, if there's catastrophic damage, which is normal things or something that could happen. So we don't have to bring that through the Council, so it allows it to be much more nimble and flexible.
Frank Wilkie 01:03:00.325
I appreciate it. Is it just ratifying something that's happening already? So we've been asked to approve the devolution of responsibility for updating these plans. I don't recall any of them coming before Council anyway. So it's just ratifying a process that's underway already.
Shaun Walsh 01:03:20.758
I think that's correct and I think we're just trying to make it clear that there are some plans to support this master plan.
Joe Jurisevic 01:03:35.057
Yeah, in essence it would get encapsulated in the approval of the disaster management plan because all those sub plans are part of this
Unidentified Speaker 01:03:42.298
Going forward, yes. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 01:03:46.445
I want to acknowledge the firefighters. Today's the Firefighters' Remembrance Day and I just think it falls on a really good day as we're endorsing our Local Disaster Management Plan. So I want to acknowledge and pay tribute to those who've lost their lives in the line of duty. A shout out to all our other SES workers, lifeguards, our police and the volunteers, our volunteering rural fighters. You know I sit back and go when disaster hits where would you rather be think Noosa is a pretty great place to be. And I'm going to finish on a quote which gets thrown a lot over the last four years in the space of local disaster: "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best" I'm hoping for the best.
Joe Jurisevic 01:04:46.705
Just one quick question and then we'll move on. Just one question before the Mayor closes.
Amelia Lorentson 01:04:50.826
Oh and Tom, excuse me, Tom. Thank you. I'll go to Joe first. That's alright.
Joe Jurisevic 01:04:56.594
If the community are looking for where they can get their information with regard to disaster management. From Council, where do they go to?
Unidentified Speaker 01:05:10.961
It's was my Dorothy Dixer voice. For you.
Ian Williams 01:05:12.781
It is. Two reasons. You'll see before you perhaps, so every engagement that we have, the right number of packs come with me. So you can see here at disaster.minister.future.gov.au or you can just go straight to council's website and almost immediately you'll see the disaster dashboard. So ultimately every LDA in Queensland has I'm going as the system that we use but our disaster dashboard is that kind of true for all residents.
Joe Jurisevic 01:05:42.734
You don't only have to wait for a disaster to find use in that disaster dashboard. What sort of things will you find on the disaster dashboard that people will find useful?
Ian Williams 01:05:51.905
We can also move and change and certainly on the Noosa leadership we'll be able to incorporate some of this, but it could be meteorology updates, weather updates. Road closures. So smoke hazards, fire areas, whatever it is. But we also work with our partners to have some of their promotion in there as well, and on the disaster dashboard it takes you back to council's website as well. So the idea there, we basically have a thing, stay informed, and there are two things that happen on the disaster dashboard. First of all, the information that every resident would need in relation to any question. Second the part is newsreel a Noosa Alert, which sits right beside it. And on that Noosa Alert is the ability for them to put in, there's no privacy issues in the sense that it's just an email address and a phone number or a mobile number for information from the disaster dashboard when LDMG is leaning forward, standing up. We were then able to send all that information through firetex or fire service.
Joe Jurisevic 01:06:46.371
So probably a good thing for people to familiarise themselves with outside of a disaster so that when the time comes they know what sort of information they can see.
Ian Williams 01:06:54.100
And the last but not least, these packs that you have in front of you represent the packs that will be Saturday at the get ready event for Noosa. We're really proud of this. It's not something we get to speak about that often, but the great thing about it is that there are 17 get ready weeks around Queensland, there are 17 events happening around the State, but there are only six that are basically being attended or promoted by get ready Queensland, and we're one of those six. So Saturday, you're all invited, you all received my early email and then Susan went out at lunchtime. This Saturday from 7:00 until 12:00, directly behind and keeping with the weekly promoted markets going to be 13 disaster management partners all going to be there having a chat with everybody about everything that they know.
Joe Jurisevic 01:07:41.601
So if people aren't sure of what they need to put into their own household disaster emergency thought processes, this is the place to come.
Amelia Lorentson 01:07:49.572
This is how you make a plan. That's how you make a plan. So excellent.
Ian Williams 01:07:52.859
So the idea here is in case I brought the aged care kit with me for you, so obviously this is through my engagement with them and then getting sort of best practice through all the disaster through to the State. It's just a clear clipboard and then on it you'll probably see some two to three different things. That Councillor Finzel just showed up which is the dangerous weather emergency plan and then I don't know if you don't mind really holding it up, just that little flyer there, yeah that one
Amelia Lorentson 01:08:23.632
So that's magnetised. Oh, I'm going to get give these to my neighbours, they're just so excited.
Ian Williams 01:08:28.779
So they're magnetised and if you spin them around there's a little magnet on them. That's what I thought. So on the back that just goes on your fridge so that's every now and then when the disaster happens. All the disaster happens, and then a USB and a LAN. And that allows the USB is empty so that's Wills, passports, insurance certificates, all the things that don't happen.
Joe Jurisevic 01:08:48.494
The sort of things you probably don't think of at the last minute that you need to have at hand in the event that something tragic happens.
Ian Williams 01:08:55.433
So everyone who visits us on Saturday and everyone in between will receive one of these packs. Fantastic.
Unidentified Speaker 01:09:00.384
Excellent. Very good. Such great work.
Tom Wegener 01:09:02.233
Well done. Thanks. You. Sorry, I think tom's going to have a question. I just wanted to say thank you so much. I think this is a really important feature because it just gets me thinking straight away are in there at that point in time. That's one thing that I missed out on. You need to have them staffed. This is really a great tool.
Ian Williams 01:09:25.235
Thank you. Fantastic. See you then. They've done a great job with it as well. It helps. Love thank you very much.
Amelia Lorentson 01:09:35.908
Sorry for that fantastic. So good. Thank you. Okay, so everyone's spoken. Claire, would you like your place? No, no, all good. Just thank you. Good Saturday. And please come on. Good morning, guys. Oh, really? Oh. Okay. We'll come and say hello. Oh, we'll be there. Our fire management officer will be there. See many different Council people there as well, so feel free to participate. Perfect. Thanks, Anne. And again, extend our thank you to all the staff. Excellent work. Great, thanks. All those in favour? Thank you. Thank you, Carrie, unanimously. Thank you. Thanks, Shaun. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. So now we're going next. To report number 5.3, Noosa Shire Council and specialised police. And I welcome to the table. Do you want to talk? I move on, I'm going to clear conflict of interest. If I could have that in front of me, Cathy. The screen. It's on the screen. It's on the data page. Councillor Lorentson. I, Councillor Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as my husband, Chris Lorentson, is an employee of. Page Furnishers, who I propose to be included on the Specialised Supplier List. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on.
Frank Wilkie 01:11:28.004
I would like to move the motion that Mayor Stewart be appointed Chairperson. I'd a small invite. Would you like to ask for us all in favour? Carried unanimously.
Clare Stewart 01:11:54.112
Thank you. We have a great team here to give us a rundown. Absolutely. So a summary to this report. The procurement of council's goods and services must be carried out in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and the default contracting procedures outlined in the Local Government Regulation 2012. The local government Reg also allows for exceptions to the default contracting procedures and that includes the approval of a supplier being deemed either as a sole or a specialised supplier. So a sole is that it's satisfied that there is only one supplier who is reasonably available and a specialised supplier because of the specialised or confidential nature of the services that are sought it would be impractical. Or disadvantageous for local governments to invite quotes or tenders.
Joe Jurisevic 01:12:54.998
So examples of something like that would be where we're using a particular type of software and intellectual property is that or legal services that are king and co is that an example of that? Correct. Right, thank you, any questions? Yep, got another one. Joe. In light of what we've just been talking about with the Waste Strategy, these guys are on our books. So when it comes to procurement of services and procurement of products in particular, how do we, is there an opportunity within this soul list to incorporate the elements of circular economy and the type of elements that we procure with these suppliers when we've got the them on our books? Yeah, I think in terms of.
Unidentified Speaker 01:13:42.213
I think in terms of solar sole supply supplier lists at moment, the we're currently working on a sustainable procurement policy and we'll come to Council to workshop that in December this year. The intent of that policy is to cover any type of procurement, any type of arrangement, not just. I realise that. But I was just wondering an opportunity under that.
Joe Jurisevic 01:14:05.047
Once we implement that for any of our arrangements, whether they're sold specialised or other arrangements that Council has, to be able to meet some of those objectives for sure. That's right it's just that given that these aren't actually a supplier that is going through that renewal phase on a regular basis, or do we do that? Every time we update this list, do we go through and refine that list and look at who is on that list? Because I do notice there are some dropping off and some coming on.
Unidentified Speaker 01:14:32.495
That's correct. It is an annual process that we do, and it does come in alignment with the types of projects that we ramp up and ramp down with. So, yeah, it's part of that process. We've review that in accordance with the rates.
Joe Jurisevic 01:14:47.703
So the elements of procurement can be revised on an annual basis when this list is upgraded. Thank you.
Frank Wilkie 01:14:55.073
I just have a question. Thank you, Mayor. The reason why someone might be removed from the list, like adanis for example, why do they, you said alternative procurement and contract solution completed, that means you've found someone else to do the work?
Unidentified Speaker 01:15:09.283
In that case, there was a there was a different supplier that had been, that had come on board in the market, and that we could do a competitive process, and through that competitive process it it's bound was found to be a more advantageous option.
Frank Wilkie 01:15:29.844
Okay okay, and. Specialist supplier list, The University of Queensland, services no longer required by Council.
Unidentified Speaker 01:15:39.790
So the services in particular that they speak to are those that are written in the reason for inclusion. So those ones in particular were specific to specialised knowledge, experience and planning appeals for the understanding of the Noosa Plan. These specialised services are time sensitive due to court time frames. So they were deemed that they were no longer required for that particular service.
Frank Wilkie 01:16:09.568
So does that mean if you need the expertise of your a university you wouldn't be using UQ anymore?
Unidentified Speaker 01:16:17.956
We would potentially go through another procurement process in order to them for other services.
Clare Stewart 01:16:33.166
Do we have questions? I'm to move it.
Unidentified Speaker 01:16:37.409
I'll second it.
Clare Stewart 01:16:38.010
Okay. Thank you, guys. It's a very long list. I appreciate all your hard work because it is time consuming and there's a lot of due diligence required, so I really appreciate it, so thank you.
Joe Jurisevic 01:16:50.491
At the end of the day, the concept of this is to save time and effort on services. The community and the needs of Council at times, so that we don't have to go through the full open process. That's all I have for prices. No, thank you.
Clare Stewart 01:17:07.185
Thank you. All in favour? All in favour. Carried unanimously. Thank you, guys. Thank you so much. Thanks, Barry. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.
Amelia Lorentson 01:17:37.580
Welcome it. Back to the table, Councillor Lorentson. Do you comments? You often have those conversations? I have an don't want to answer that question. OK, we're up to report number 5.4, Council meeting scheduled January to March 2024, and Acting CEO Larry Sengstock. I ask if you can start by giving us a summary. Or overview of the report in front of us.
Larry Sengstock 01:18:12.611
So this is just a schedule of Council meetings that we're obliged to do on a regular basis, so this is for the next year, 2024, given that we have our election on the big call the 16th of March, so we're in January, February and March, is really what this shows is the series of meetings that we have, our two committee meetings and then our General Committee and that would be a few years.
Amelia Lorentson 01:18:44.932
Well, that's where we are phone. I asked for an hour on the 14th, yeah. So just for clarity, so we're in take-a-mode from January 1.
Trent Grauf 01:18:52.604
Not that soon, it's still, once the last year is called, we expect it to be called on the 29th of January at this point in time, but we don't know until we know.
Unknown 01:19:05.831
Typically about six weeks before.
Unidentified Speaker 01:19:08.444
Yeah, about six weeks. We're expecting it to be there.
Amelia Lorentson 01:19:11.184
Okay. And in terms of the meetings between January and until March, only no major policy decisions will remain during that period.
Larry Sengstock 01:19:24.545
In January through March, we still hold these meetings, but we're only able to make basically business decisions. Able operational decisions. No financial decisions.
Frank Wilkie 01:19:36.754
The budget and all that.
Clare Stewart 01:19:39.769
I'm happy to move the report in front of us. Can I ask a question? Larry, in regard to March, there's an ordinary Council meeting literally on the Thursday night before the election.
Unidentified Speaker 01:19:49.170
It's a standard practice that there have always been meetings, general and ordinary, that close to the election?
Larry Sengstock 01:19:56.831
Yeah, that's a good question. My understanding is yes, you can. Have it. Because Thursday night is our system. Every Council is different in terms of which nights and days they use. I do say it's in our schedule. If we don't have anything we want to bring to the table as officers, then we don't need to look at the Council. But at least there is a.
Unidentified Speaker 01:20:19.050
We have done. To, but in terms of no, you no don't two necessarily lines necessarily, have to go. If we don't have anything specific, but more likely we'll be bringing regular VAUs, so we still have to do the ASA reports.
Unidentified Speaker 01:20:31.487
Standing Orders required. Might be very short.
Unidentified Speaker 01:20:33.608
Yeah, exactly. And Larry, what about within the caretaker period, will there be workshops on? Because I can't imagine there'll be workshops to lay the foundations for their reports and things like that, so I imagine that will be less too.
Larry Sengstock 01:20:46.971
Yeah have to be things that are specific to what we want to get through and what we, again, as long as they're not the foundation for any major change, then it's a shut-in for them. So before we find out, it's a good way to end it.
Amelia Lorentson 01:21:03.771
I'll move the report in front of us. Nothing more to say. All those in favour? Thank you. Supported unanimously. Thank you, Madam Chair. We're up to item 7. There's no confidential sessions. I now declare the meeting closed and the time is 2.55pm. Thank you and see you next.
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