MINUTES

Planning & Environment
Committee Meeting

Tuesday, 6 June 2023

9:30 AM
Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin

Committee: Crs Tom Wegener (Chair), Karen Finzel, Clare Stewart, Brian Stockwell

“Noosa Shire – different by nature”
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 JUNE 2023

1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES

COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Councillor Tom Wegener (Chair)
Councillor Karen Finzel
Councillor Clare Stewart
Councillor Brian Stockwell

NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Councillor Amelia Lorentson

EXECUTIVE
Acting Chief Executive Officer, Larry Sengstock
Director - Strategy and Environment & Sustainable Development, Kim Rawlings Acting Director Infrastructure Services, Shaun Walsh

APOLOGIES
Nil

2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Committee Recommendation
Moved: Cr Karen Finzel
Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart
The Minutes of the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting held on 9 May 2023 be received and confirmed.
Carried Unanimously.
3. PRESENTATIONS

Nil

4. DEPUTATIONS

Nil

5. REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE

5.1. TENDER CONSIDERATION PLAN - COMMUNITY BATTERY

Committee Recommendation
Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell
Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 JUNE 2023

That Planning & Environment Committee Agenda Item 5.1 be referred to the General Committee due to the significance of the issue.
Carried Unanimously.

5.2. CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE GRANTS - ROUND 3 - 2023/24

In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Tom Wegener provided the following declaration to the meeting of a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter:
I, Cr Wegener, inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Permaculture Noosa as I am the President of this Association. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on.

Cr Tom Wegener left the meeting

Committee Resolution
Moved: Cr Clare Stewart
Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell
That Cr Finzel be appointed as Acting Chairperson of the meeting for this item due to the conflict of interest declaration by Cr Tom Wegner.
Carried Unanimously.
Cr Finzel assumed the Chair.

Committee Recommendation
Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell
Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart
That Council note the report by the Carbon Reduction Project Officer to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023 regarding the Climate Change Response Grants, and:
A. Award grant funding for the various initiatives totalling the following amounts:
1. Climate Change Project Grants $59,836 (outlined in Attachment 1); B. Authorise the CEO to enter Funding Deeds for the Climate Change Project grants.
Carried Unanimously.

Cr Tom rejoined the meeting and resumed the Chair.

5.3. ENVIRONMENT GRANTS - ENVIRONMENT PROJECT GRANTS (ROUND 18),
MULTI-YEAR ENVIRONMENT COLLABORATIVE (MEC) GRANTS (ROUND 2:
2023-2026) AND ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION ALLIANCE GRANTS (2023-
2026)

In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stockwell provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:

I, Cr Stockwell, also inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by the Noosa District Landcare due to my long standing connection with the organisation as one of the inaugural members of the unincorporated group dating back to the 1980s and a current ordinary member. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 JUNE 2023

do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias considering the community nature of this relationship. I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision.
Committee Resolution
Moved: Cr Clare Stewart
Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener
That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Stockwell and determine that it is in the public interest that Cr Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that he does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this matter and does not have a close personal relationship with Landcare and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
Carried Unanimously.

(Cr Stockwell did not vote on the above motion)

In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stockwell provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:

I, Cr Stockwell, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as I have a long-standing relationship with MRCCC as a previous government employee and a longterm collaborator since 1994. I have in the past a small consultant contract below the limit for a Prescribed Conflict and prior to the declarable time frame. I was up until the last AGM Council's representative on the committee and in this role and played a role in facilitating and developing the group's revised catchment strategy. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias considering the community nature of this relationship. I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision.

At 9.49am both Cr Stewart and Cr Finzel notified the Chair Tom Wegener that they identified further Conflicts of Interest in relation to recommended funding Tourism Noosa - MEC Grant applications 2023-26 and their relationship with Leigh McCready who is a Board Member.

The Motion in regards to Cr Stockwells COI and Landcare became invalid in line with the Procedural Motion and the report being laid on the table.

The meeting adjourned at 9.50am.
The meeting resumed at 10.03 am.

Procedural Motion
Moved: Cr Tom Wegener
Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell
That the matter lay on the table until General Committee Meeting due the recently identified Conflicts of Interests.
Carried Unanimously.

6. REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE

6.1. NOOSA RIVER STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUMMARY REPORT

Committee Recommendation
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 JUNE 2023

Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell
Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel
That Council note the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee Summary Report by the Principal Environment Officer – River Strategy and Engagement to the Planning and Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023, and:
A. Note the achievements and outcomes of the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee and Maritime Safety Queensland, as well as next steps for Noosa River planning; and B. Request that a Thank You letter be sent to Committee members from the Mayor.
Carried Unanimously.

6.2. PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY APRIL 2023

Committee Recommendation
Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell
Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener
That Planning & Environment Committee Agenda Item 6.2 be referred to the General Committee due to the number of Conflicts of Interest in this matter to allow for a healthy quorum.
Carried Unanimously.

7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

Nil

8. MEETING CLOSURE

The meeting closed at 10.16am.