General Committee Meeting - June 2023
Date: Monday, 12 June 2023 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 04:11:01
Synopsis: Delegations tightened, Explicit DA triggers, Community Battery via CEO delegation, Encroachments adopted, Boating capacity concerns, Environment grants awarded, Financial surplus, EPS compactor approved.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Frank Wilkie Karen Finzel Joe Jurisevic Amelia Lorentson Clare Stewart Brian Stockwell Tom Wegener Executive Officers
Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director - Strategy And Environment &Sustainable Development Kim Rawlings Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Delegations of Authority: Council adopted the updated Council-to-CEO delegations under s257 LGA 2009 and ordered a further review of non-delegable development triggers to tighten criteria (Item 6.9; 00:59–18:18). Brian Stockwell: Secured amendment to review triggers for staff delegations, proposing prescriptive criteria for matters involving endangered vegetation, MNES habitat, heritage places, superseded scheme extensions, and Council land dealings (Item 6.9; 07:39–18:12). Community Battery: Council resolved to prepare a Tender Consideration Plan under s230 LGR 2012 and delegated negotiation/contracting to the CEO for a Noosaville community battery, leveraging a $500k federal grant with Yarra Energy Foundation (Item 5.1; 20:20–53:45). Joe Jurisevic: Confirmed Council will own/operate the battery and trade on the market; potential net revenue to offset rates and fund further emissions reductions (30:29–32:19). Environment Grants: Council awarded Environment Project, MEC and Alliance grants totalling $24,030 (1 yr), $784,554.61 (over 3 yrs), and $266,700 (over 3 yrs) respectively; reallocated $50,970 from Projects to Alliance for three years; CEO authorised to execute deeds; policy review endorsed (Item 5.2; 01:23:08–01:33:29). Planning Decisions by Delegation: April 2023 delegated approvals were noted; discussion clarified that reported “variations” reflect only what was approved, typically minor (Item 5.3; 01:34:11–01:39:55). Boating Facilities: Council welcomed MSQ’s study but raised capacity and regional planning concerns, rejected Chaplin Park ramp, supported pontoons and upgrades (Albert/Thomas St, Hilton Esplanade, Lake St, Moorindil St) with parking study input; sought increased State funding (Item 5.4; 01:40:00–02:02:06). Goodchap St Oncology Bunker: Approved minor change adding a 133 m² oncology “bunker,” maintained effective parking via expert review; GFA exceedance acceptable given context and design (Item 6.1; 02:14:50–02:26:58). Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation: Council noted the audited 2021–22 Annual Report and 2023–24 Operational Plan/funding request; draft budget includes $120k (Item 6.2; 02:27:28–02:37:47). Encroachments Policy: Adopted a shire‑wide Encroachments Policy and procedures (Local Law No. 4), risk‑based compliance, education-first approach; budget consideration and comms plan endorsed (Item 6.3; 02:37:51–03:20:59). EPS Compaction Unit: Awarded Contract CN00338 for an EPS thermal compactor to IS Recycling for $227,000; ~50 t/yr diversion estimated; rapid payback via landfill savings and material value (Item 6.4; 03:20:59–03:45:24). Financial Performance (May): Operating revenue +$1.9m vs budget (interest +$855k), operating expenditure −$794k; capital delivery 78% ($44.3m) with $7.5m committed; cash holdings $111m mostly restricted (QRA, levies), surplus/free cash ~ $5m (Item 6.5; 03:46:53–03:58:12). 2023–24 Fees & Charges: Fixed regulatory and commercial fees under LGA ss97–98, s262(3)(c) to commence 1 July; further event streamlining to be workshopped (Item 6.6; 03:58:23–04:03:26). 2024 Show Holiday: Will apply to OIR for Fri, 13 Sept 2024 as Noosa’s special holiday (Item 6.7; 04:03:26–04:04:24). Audit & Risk Committee: Appointed Ian Rushworth as external member for 2 years; noted independent effectiveness review underway; cyber/ICT emphasis acknowledged (Item 6.8; 04:04:30–04:10:05). Contentious / Transparency Matters Delegations review arose from “lessons learned” at Grass Tree Court; Council aims to replace subjective “controversial/significant” tests with explicit triggers to restore community trust (Item 6.9; 07:39–18:18). Boating study critique: Council flagged MSQ’s demand-led methodology ignores Noosa River capacity and regional displacement to Tin Can Bay/Passage, risking overbuild and environmental/traffic impacts (Item 5.4; 01:50:17–01:56:54). Encroachments: Council highlighted >90% encroachment prevalence on eastern beaches; policy prioritises safety/fire access and amenity; education-first, risk-matrix approach to avoid heavy‑handed enforcement (Item 6.3; 03:06:22–03:20:59). Events red tape: Fees unchanged for now; Council to review event approval processes in line with newly adopted corporate alignment (Item 6.6; 04:00:25–04:01:16). Legal / Risk Delegations: Adopted under LGA s257; ordered CEO report/workshop to define non‑delegable DA triggers (endangered vegetation, MNES habitat, heritage, superseded schemes, Council interest) to reduce discretionary risk (Item 6.9; 06:59–18:18). Community Battery procurement: Proceeding via Tender Consideration Plan (LGR s230) to partner with Yarra Energy Foundation; scope includes objectives, measures, alternatives, risk analysis; CEO delegated to contract (Item 5.1; 24:51–25:19). Encroachments enforcement: Action under Local Law No. 4; risk matrix prioritises health/safety (fire trails), access to services, environmental harm, and amenity; new encroachments treated more stringently (Item 6.3; 02:55:36–03:06:22). Goodchap St minor change: Assessed consistent with Planning Act 2016 s63(5); expert traffic advice supported retaining approved parking quantum due to low‑throughput oncology use (Item 6.1; 02:15:18–02:21:51). Audit & Risk governance: Independent review of Committee effectiveness and internal audit underway; new external member brings internal audit and ICT/cyber risk experience (Item 6.8; 04:06:50–04:10:05). EPS unit: Odour/emissions managed via carbon filtration; supplier offers refund of ventilation cost if emission standards unmet; safety/handling/containment assessed; movable plant mitigates site-layout risk (Item 6.4; 03:39:20–03:42:17). Conflicts of Interest Clare Stewart and Karen Finzel declared COIs re: Tourism Noosa/Altum links and left for parts of Items 5.2 and 5.3; Amelia Lorentson left re: Item 11 (personal relationship) (Item 5.2–5.3; 01:34:34–01:36:02). Frank Wilkie and Brian Stockwell declared COIs due to 2020 donations linked to PBCA; Council resolved both could participate on grants and encroachments policy as no personal/material gain; reasons recorded (Item 5.2; 01:05:40–01:08:41) and (Item 6.3; 02:40:26–02:49:07). Amelia Lorentson and Karen Finzel declared COIs and left on Encroachments Policy (family encroachments; past donor to EBPA); legal advice noted policy is not a “planning scheme,” so ordinary business exemption didn’t apply (Item 6.3; 02:38:51–02:40:26). Environmental Concerns & Climate/Energy Battery pilot will “soak” excess daytime solar on LV network and discharge at peak, lowering emissions and potentially generating revenue; Council intends rules to charge at low‑emissions times (Item 5.1; 25:45–34:41). EPS diversion (~2,388 m³/yr) will extend landfill life and cut ~$160/t disposal costs; materials re‑enter circular economy; potential to accept regional EPS under Gympie MOU (Item 6.4; 03:27:38–03:33:11). Environment grants fund MRCCC frog monitoring, Kin Kin sediment control (award‑winning), plastic‑free initiatives, koala work; strong volunteer leverage targeted to Environment Strategy (Item 5.2; 01:25:18–01:31:53). Boating: Council pressed for limits cognisant of Noosa River capacity and environmental/landscape values; opposed Chaplin Park facility; called for demand management and parking time-controls near ramps (Item 5.4; 01:51:30–01:56:54). Planning Scheme, Delegations & Development Brian Stockwell: Sought explicit non‑delegation triggers for DAs involving endangered flora/fauna, heritage, superseded schemes, and Council interests to reduce subjectivity and bolster public trust (Item 6.9; 07:39–16:30). “Significant community interest” tests under Planning Regs 2017 were canvassed for local guidance; Council to consider local policy definition via workshop (Item 6.9; 13:16–15:34). Goodchap St oncology change accepted despite GFA exceedance in CF zone; design/landscaping conditions mitigate; comparative oncology parking precedent at Noosa Civic noted (Item 6.1; 02:15:18–02:21:51). Noosa River Boating Facilities & Access Management Council endorsed quick wins (Noosa Woods, Gympie Tce, Lake St pontoons) and joint planning for key ramps, while rejecting Chaplin Park; foreshore masterplan and 2023/24 Parking Study to inform ramp parking/time-controls (Item 5.4; 01:45:14–01:49:28). Clare Stewart: Committed to advocate for State funding given three decades of underinvestment and current over‑capacity usage (Item 5.4; 01:56:54–02:01:16). Waste & Circular Economy EPS compaction unit reduces volume ~90%, with carbon filtration for odour; modular plant mitigates site changes; potential to accept safe EPS types only (no flame‑retardant construction EPS) (Item 6.4; 03:39:20–03:44:37). Joe Jurisevic: Noted swift ROI (trial likely paid unit already), aligning environmental benefit with strong financial case (Item 6.4; 03:27:27–03:30:34). Financial Management & Cyber/ICT Oversight May results show operating surplus vs budget, driven by interest revenue and underspends; cash $111m largely restricted (QRA advances ~$17.9m; levies; timing); free cash ~ $5m; capital delivery 78% YTD (Item 6.5; 03:46:53–03:55:18). Audit & Risk Committee external membership refreshed; independent effectiveness review commissioned; ICT/cyber risks flagged as priority capability (Item 6.8; 04:06:50–04:10:05).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES General Committee Meeting Monday, 12 June 2023 12:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Frank Wilkie (Chair) Karen Finzel, Joe Jurisevic, Amelia Lorentson, Clare Stewart, Brian Stockwell, Tom Wegener “Noosa Shire – different by nature” GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Councillor Frank Wilkie (Chair) Councillor Karen Finzel Councillor Joe Jurisevic Councillor Amelia Lorentson Councillor Clare Stewart Councillor Brian Stockwell Councillor Tom Wegener EXECUTIVE Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director - Strategy and Environment &Sustainable Development Kim Rawlings Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh APOLOGIES Nil 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener The Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 15 May 2023 be received and confirmed. Carried Unanimously. 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil 4. DEPUTATIONS Nil 6.9. 2022 DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY ANNUAL REVIEW Motion Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Governance Advisor to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 and adopt the Register of Delegations – Council to Chief Executive Officer - Pursuant to section 257 of the Local Government Act 2009, to GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 delegate the powers of the Local Government outlined in the Register of Delegations provided at Attachment 1, to the Chief Executive Officer of Council. Amendment Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That B be added to read; B. Further, the CEO be requested to bring forward a further report which reviews the current triggers for development matters precluded from delegation with a view to providing staff with more specific, less subjective, criteria including the results of a workshop which considers amongst other things precluding delegation decisions in the following circumstances: Where a matter relates to 1. the clearing of remnant 'of-concern' or 'endangered' vegetation from a biodiversity or Vegetation Management Act perspective; 2. the disturbance of the habitat of a species listed under the Nature Conservation or Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Acts; 3. an extension of an approval that was made under a Superseded Planning Scheme and/or where there is a resolution of Council to amend the Planning Scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval; 4. to the removal or substantial alteration to a structure or place of heritage significance identified in Council's Planning Scheme or in an adopted study of Council; and 5. a development where Council has a direct or indirect interest as a result of its involvement in previous or proposed land dealings. Carried Unanimously. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Governance Advisor to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 and A. Adopt the Register of Delegations – Council to Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to section 257 of the Local Government Act 2009, to delegate the powers of the Local Government outlined in the Register of Delegations provided at Attachment 1, to the Chief Executive Officer of Council. B. Further, the CEO be requested to bring forward a further report which reviews the current triggers for development matters precluded from delegation with a view to providing staff with more specific, less subjective, criteria including the results of a workshop which considers amongst other things precluding delegation decisions in the following circumstances: Where a matter relates to 1. the clearing of remnant 'of-concern' or 'endangered' vegetation from a biodiversity or Vegetation Management Act perspective; GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 2. the disturbance of the habitat of a species listed under the Nature Conservation or Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Acts; 3. an extension of an approval that was made under a Superseded Planning Scheme and/or where there is a resolution of Council to amend the Planning Scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval; 4. to the removal or substantial alteration to a structure or place of heritage significance identified in Council's Planning Scheme or in an adopted study of Council; and 5. a development where Council has a direct or indirect interest as a result of its involvement in previous or proposed land dealings. Carried Unanimously. 5. ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES 5.1. TENDER CONSIDERATION PLAN - COMMUNITY BATTERY (REFERRED FROM P&E 6 JUNE 2023) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Carbon Reduction Project Officer for Tender Consideration Plan - Community Battery to the Services and Organisation Committee dated 6 June 2023 and: A. Resolve to prepare a Tender Consideration Plan, substantially in accordance with the draft plan in Attachment 1 for the procurement of the supply, installation and operation of a Community Battery, under section 230 of the Local Government Regulation 2012 and; B. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer to: i. Prepare and adopt the Tender Consideration plan; ii. Approve the negotiation and enter into contracts, within the Chief Executive Officer’s financial delegation, in order to achieve the objectives of the Tender Consideration Plan. Carried Unanimously 5.2. ENVIRONMENT GRANTS - ENVIRONMENT PROJECT GRANTS (ROUND 18), MULTI-YEAR ENVIRONMENT COLLABORATIVE (MEC) GRANTS (ROUND 2: 2023-2026) AND ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION ALLIANCE GRANTS (2023- 2026) (REFERRED FROM P&E 6 JUNE 2023) In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stewart provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Leigh McCready, a Director of Tourism Noosa is a personal friend. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Stewart left the meeting room In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Finzel provided the GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Finzel, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Leigh McCready, a Director of Tourism Noosa, was involved with my 2020 election campaign with Future Noosa as a volunteer, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Finzel left the meeting room. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That Cr Jurisevic be appointed as Acting Chairperson of the meeting for this item for the purpose of considering the conflict of interest declaration by Cr Wilkie. Carried Unanimously. Cr Stockwell and Wilkie did not vote. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wilkie provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Wilkie, inform the meeting that I would like to declare a declarable conflict of interest for Item 5.2 Environmental Grants for the Noosa Environmental Education Hub grant. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $750 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the president of the Peregian Beach Community Association (PBCA). The PBCA supports the Peregian Beach Bushcare group. The Peregian Beach Bushcare group will feature in work being showcased to school students by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub. I nor the PBCA nor the Peregian Beach Bushcare Group stand to gain personally or materially through this grant to NEEH and make this declaration out of dquo;an abundance of caution” given the possible scope and interpretation of Conflict of Interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilkie and determine must leave the meeting and not participate in the consideration and vote on this matter because a reasonable person would not trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. For: Nil Against: Cr Tom Wegener, Cr Jurisevic and Cr Lorentson Lost (Cr Wilkie and Stockwell did not vote on the above motion ) Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilkie and determine that it is in the public interest that Cr Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that neither he nor the PBCA nor the Peregian Beach Bushcare Group stand to gain personally or materially through this grant to NEEH that it is in the public interest that Cr Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried Unanimously. (Cr Wilkie and Cr Stockwell did not vote on the above motion) GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 Cr Wilkie assumed the Chair 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 would like to declare a declarable conflict of interest for Item 5.2 Environmental Grants for the Noosa Environmental Education Hub grant. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $500 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the President of the Peregian Beach Community Association (PBCA). The PBCA supports the Peregian Beach Bushcare group. The Peregian Beach Bushcare group will feature in work being showcased to school students by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub. I nor the PBCA nor the Peregian Beach Bushcare Group stand to gain personally or materially through this grant to NEEH and make this declaration out of dquo;an abundance of caution” given the possible scope and interpretation of Conflict of Interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic 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 nor the PBCA nor the Peregian Beach Bushcare Group stand to gain personally or materially through this grant to NEEH that it is in the public interest that Cr Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried Unanimously. (Cr Stockwell and Cr Wilkie 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, 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 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 Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson 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 due to the community nature of this relationship with Landcare and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried Unanimously. (Cr Stockwell and Cr Wilkie 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 long- GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 term collaborator since 1994. I have in the past had 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 I 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. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic 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 a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Although he has 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 and vote that Cr Stockwell remains in the room. Carried Unanimously. (Cr Stockwell and Cr Wilkie 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 on 24 February 2020 I sought a review by the Independent Council Election Observer (ICEO) as to the public claims of the Future Noosa Team, of which Leigh McCready was publicly identified as a Campaign Manager. Leigh McCready is a Director of Tourism Noosa. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because the ICEO review was an advisory service, not a statutory process, and my queries at that time were in the public interest and neither I nor Ms McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice. Therefore, 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 Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson 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 a reasonable person could not have a perception of bias because the ICEO review was an advisory service, not a statutory process, and Cr Stockwell’s queries at that time were in the public interest and neither he nor Ms McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried Unanimously. (Cr Stockwell and Cr Wilkie did not vote on the above motion) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer - Policy and Planning to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023 GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 regarding the Environment Project Grants, MEC Grants and Environment Organisation Alliance Grants and: A. Award the Environment Project grants, Multi Year Environment Collaborative (MEC) grants and Alliance grants, for the initiatives recommended in Attachments 1 – 3 for funding totalling the amounts below: i. Environment Project Grants (Attachment 1) = $24,030.00 (one year) ii. MEC Grants (Attachment 2) = $261,518.20 (per year) totalling $784,554.61 (over three years) iii. Environment Organisation Alliance Grants (Attachment 3) = $88,900 (per year) totalling $266,700.00 (over three years); B. Support the reallocation of $50,970 from the Environment Project grants to the Alliance grants for the next three financial years (2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26); C. Authorise the CEO to enter Funding Deeds for the Environment Project grants, MEC grants and Alliance grants with successful organisations, as per the recommended funding amount; and D. Support the review of the Environment Grants Policy and Environment Levy Policy and associated guidelines by Environmental Services to identify areas for improvement in future grant rounds. Carried Unanimously. Cr Stewart and Cr Finzel returned to the meeting. 5.3. PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY APRIL 2023 (REFERRED FROM P&E 6 JUNE 2023) In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stewart provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Altum Properties No.9 P/L TTE, which is listed as item 17 in this report. I have a friendship with Leigh and Rob McCready, who are associated with the applicant. As a result, of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Stewart left the meeting. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Finzel provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Finzel, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Altum Properties No.9 P/L TTE, which is listed as item 17 in this report. Leigh McCready who is associated with the applicant, was involved in a volunteer capacity for my 2020 election campaign with Future Noosa, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Finzel left the meeting. 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 regards to GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 Item 11 of the Delegated Authority report due to my personal relationship with the applicant Mark Bain and the Bain Family who are family friends. We have attended social events together, and our children have attended school together. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Lorentson left the meeting. 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 in relation to the application by Altum Properties No.9 P/L TTE, which is listed as item 17 in this report. On 24 February 2020 I sought a review by the Independent Council Election Observer (ICEO) as to the public claims of the Future Noosa Team, of which Leigh McCready was publicly identified as a Campaign Manager. Leigh McCready is associated with the applicant. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because Council's consideration of this application is not to approve or reject it, it is only for noting of a decision that has already been made by staff. Therefore, 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 Joe Jurisevic 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 a reasonable person could not have a perception of bias because the ICEO review was an advisory service, not a statutory process, and Cr Stockwell’s queries at that time were in the public interest and neither he nor Ms McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice 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) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That Council note the report by the Manager, Development Assessment to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023 regarding planning applications that have been decided by delegated authority. Carried Unanimously. Cr Stewart, Cr Finzel and Cr Lorentson returned to the meeting. 5.4. MARITIME SAFETY QUEENSLAND RECREATIONAL BOATING FACILITIES DEMAND FORECAST STUDY 2022 ( REFERRED FROM S&O 6 JUNE 2023) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Karen Finzel Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 That Council note the report by the Principal Environment Officer and the Infrastructure Planning Co-ordinator to the Services and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 June 2023 and: A. Note its appreciation for MSQ / DTMR in commissioning the investigation to respond to increasing demand for recreational boating facilities B. Raise concerns for the lack of a regional approach to planning for boat launching facilities, particularly when the Noosa River system is a relatively small system compared to other regional water bodies and may not have the capacity to accommodate statistical growth C. Seek discussions about increased funding from MSQ / DTMR to fund onshore components of the boat ramp facilities D. Welcome further discussions between MSQ and Council to support expedient placement of the Noosa Woods Pontoon, Gympie Terrace Noosaville Pontoon and Lake Street Tewantin Pontoon to assist in improving boating access to the Noosa River E. Welcome initiation of planning processes jointly with MSQ and TMR to upgrade facilities at Albert / Thomas Steet (Noosaville) Boat Ramp, Hilton Esplanade (Tewantin) Boat Ramp, Lake Street (Tewantin) Boat Ramp and Moorindil Street (Tewantin) Boat Ramp but raise concerns for the unrealistic increase in car and trailer carparking capacity indicated in the Noosa Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study due to traffic, landscape and environmental impact F. Reject the proposed facility at Chaplin Park due to planning, tenure and character impacts on the park G. Note that Council is proposing to initiate a Parking Study in FY23/24 that will include examination of car and trailer parking at and near to boat ramps to examine additional measures to manage capacity through contemporary parking demand management techniques, and that the outcomes of this study should inform any consideration of future boat ramps. Carried Unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 2.34pm. The meeting resumed at 2.47pm. 6. REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE 6.1. 132007.12.9 - MINOR CHANGE TO EXISTING APPROVAL FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE, TO INCREASE THE USE AREA FOR A COMMUNITY USE - EDUCATION - TYPE 3 ADULT (ADMINISTRATION ONLY) AND INCLUDE BUSINESS USE OFFICE TYPE 3 - VETERINARY SITUATED AT 88A & 90 GOODCHAP STREET, NOOSAVILLE Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Development Planner to the General Meeting 12 June 2023 regarding Application No. 132007.12.9 to make a minor change to an GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 existing approval for Material Change of Use Commercial Business - Type 1 Office, Type 2 Medical, Education - Type 3 Adult, Retail Business - Type 1 Local & Type 2 Shop and Salon, Entertainment and Dining Business – Type 1 Food and Beverage, situated at 88a & 90 Goodchap Street, Noosaville and: A. Approve the change. B. Amend conditions 1, 12 & 13 as outlined in Attachment 1 - proposed amended conditions. C. Include additional conditions as outlined in Attachment 1 - proposed amended conditions. D. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. Carried Unanimously. 6.2. NOOSA BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 AND OPERATIONAL PLAN 2023/24 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Environment Services Manager (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 regarding Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) Annual Report 2021-22 and Operational Plan 2023-24 and: A. Note the Annual Report and audit of Financial Statement 2021-22 received from NBRF as provided in Attachment 1; and B. Note the Operational Plan 2023-24 and Funding Request received from NBRF as provided in Attachment 2. Carried Unanimously 6.3. ENCROACHMENTS POLICY AND ORGANISATIONAL PROCEDURES 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 Amelia Lorentson, inform the meeting that in considering the encroachment policy and managing any perceived conflict of interest, members of my family have had encroachments in the past and there may be encroachments on public land that I am not fully aware of. To manage any perceived conflict of interest in relation to the matters I believe it prudent to declare a conflict of interest in relation to the consideration of this policy and as such, exercise an 'abundance of caution'. I also note the legal advice received this morning from King & Co, that the Draft Policy does not constitute a 'planning scheme', as defined, and therefore does not come within the ambit of the 'ordinary business matter' exemption contained in section 150EF(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 2009. I will now leave the room and not participate in the discussion. Cr Lorentson left the meeting room. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Finzel provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Finzel, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as on 5 March 2020, Mr Peter Butt who I believe is an Executive Member of the Eastern Beaches GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 Protection Association who were submitters to the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan which addresses management issues relevant to encroachments. Peter Butt donated $1666.66 to my 2020 Election Campaign where I was one of three candidates that ran as a group known as 'Future Noosa' (which is no longer an entity). As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Finzel left the meeting room. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Cr Joe Jurisevic be appointed as Acting Chairperson of the meeting for this item for the purpose of considering the conflict of interest declaration by Cr Wilkie. Carried Unanimously. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wilkie provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I would like to declare a declarable conflict of interest for Item 6.3 Shire-Wide Encroachments Policy. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $750 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the President of the Peregian Beach Community Association (PBCA). The PBCA has made submissions requesting council address illegal encroachments. I nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of this shire-wide policy, however I make this declaration out of dquo;an abundance of caution” given the possible scope and interpretation of Conflict of Interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilkie and determine that it is in the public interest that Cr Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that neither Cr Wilkie nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of this shire-wide policy and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. For: Cr Joe Jurisevic and Cr Tom Wegener Against: Cr Clare Stewart Carried. (Cr Wilkie or Cr Stockwell did not vote on the above motion) Cr Wilkie assumed the Chair. 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 would like to declare a declarable conflict of interest for Item 6.3 Shire-Wide Encroachments Policy. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $500 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the president of the Peregian Beach Community Association (PBCA). The PBCA has made submissions requesting council address illegal encroachments. Neither I nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of this shire-wide policy however I make this declaration out of dquo;an abundance of caution” given the possible scope and interpretation of Conflict of Interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Clare Stewart Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic 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 neither Cr Stockwell nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of this shire-wide policy and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried Unanimously (Cr Stockwell and Cr Wilkie did not vote on the above motion) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Environment Officer - Coastal Management to the General Committee meeting dated 12 June 2023 regarding encroachments into Council-managed land, and: A. Approve the Encroachments Policy and Operational Procedures for implementation as attached to this report Attachment 1 and 2; and B. Consider a funding allocation for implementation of the Encroachments Policy and Operational Procedures as part of Council’s 2023/24 budget deliberations; and C. Develop a clear implementation plan, outlining education, awareness and communication materials to be developed to support community understanding and implementation of the policy. Carried Unanimously Cr Lorentson and Cr Finzel returned to the meeting. 6.4. CONTRACT NO. CN00338 - SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, COMMISSIONING & MAINTENANCE OF AN EPS THERMAL COMPACTION UNIT Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Waste Project Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 and Award Contract No. CN00338 - Supply, Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance of an EPS Thermal Compaction Unit to IS Recycling Pty Ltd under a lump sum contract for $227,000 (GST Exclusive) which includes a 12 month servicing and maintenance period. Carried Unanimously. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 6.5. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – MAY 2023 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 outlining May 2023 year to date financial performance against budget, including changes to the financial performance report with the inclusion of key financial sustainability indicators. Carried Unanimously. 6.6. 2023-2024 FEES AND CHARGES Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services (Acting) to the General Meeting dated 12 June 2023 and pursuant to sections 97, 98 and 262(3)(c) of the Local Government Act 2009, fix, for the 2023-24 financial year the costrecovery fees and commercial charges provided as Attachment 1 to the report. Carried Unanimously. 6.7. APPOINTMENT OF 2024 SHOW HOLIDAY Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Clare Stewart Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 June 2023 and request the Chief Executive Officer to apply to the Office of Industrial Relations for the appointment of Friday, 13 September 2024 as a Special holiday for Noosa Shire. Carried Unanimously 6.8. APPOINTMENT OF AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE EXTERNAL MEMBER Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Executive Officer, Office of the Chief Executive Officer and Mayor to the General Committee Meeting of 12 June 2023 in relation to the vacancy for an external member on Council's Audit and Risk Committee and: GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 JUNE 2023 A. Appoint Ian Rushworth as an external member of the Audit and Risk committee for a term of 2 years commencing 27 June 2023; and B. Note that the membership of the Audit and Risk Committee will be reviewed following the completion of an independent review of effectiveness of the Audit and Risk Committee. Carried Unanimously. 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 4.42 PM
Meeting Transcript
Frank Wilkie 00:00.000
Welcome everybody to the general committee meeting for June 2023. Begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians on the land on which we're gathered here today, that's the Kabi Kabi People, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We have everyone in attendance and now apologies. We have a confirmation of the minutes for the General Committee Meeting for the last month, please? Moved, Councillor Lorentson. Seconded, Councillor Wegener. All in favour, please? That's carried unanimously. We have no presentations, no deputations. We have 13 items for consideration today. And councillors, if it's all right with you, there's been a request for item 9, delegations of authority annual review, up to item 1. Everyone in favour of that? Sure. Okay. So welcome, Alex and Di. Would you like to give us an overview of have a view of the report, please. Yes, thank you, Councillor. SPEAKER_10 00:59.432
As we are all aware, council employees are required to undertake numerous activities and decisions every day in order to properly serve the community and keep council operating. In order to ensure this is able to be done efficiently and effectively, and equally to ensure that council can focus on high-risk strategic issues, the Local Government Act allows council by resolution to delegate powers of the local government under the lga or another act to the CEO subsequently to that the lga then allows the CEO to on delegate these powers to appropriately qualified employees or contractors of council if necessary beg my pardon I confirm that this stage of the review and this report is only in relation to council to CEO delegations and it is a requirement under the LGA that delegations from council of the CEO be reviewed annually by council in order to ensure that the delegations align with any relevant legislation changes and new legislation enacted after receiving our annual delegation updates from LGAQ this year the governance branch commenced the 2022 annual delegations review in September 2022 with the intention of one reformatting Noosa Council's Councillor CEO delegation register to align with LGAQ and industry standards secondly to realign the register and powers included in Noosa Council's council to CEO delegation register to better align with LGAQ recommendations and industry standards thirdly to provide the new CEO the opportunity to review and suggest powers delegated from council to CEO to reflect his risk appetite and approach in conducting this year's annual delegation review the governance branch spent an extensive amount of time consulting with relevant directors the previous and current CEO and councillors this included two Councillor workshops in which we explained in detail the delegations concept the annual delegations review process the steps the governance branch undertook as part of this year's extensive review and the outcome of the annual delegations review this year being the identification of 32 new councillors to consider for inclusion in this year's 2022 Councillor CEO register of delegations as such the outcome of the two Councillor workshops conducted over the past few months is the 2022 Councillor CEO delegation register presented with today's report as attachment one as you can see in the this 2022 review sorry governance in consultation with councillors added 24 new registers to the 2022 council of CEO delegation register has updated 11 existing registers and finally reviewed with no changes the remaining 49 registers thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:41.520
Have a recommendation before us does anyone care to move that or a version of I'm happy to move the staff recommendation. Moved by Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Councillor Jurisevic. Joe Jurisevic 03:55.860
I'd just like to acknowledge the comprehensive reporting and understanding that staff undertook for councillors to get their heads around this, is a lot of information is contained within this, not only councillors but the rest of councillors as well. I had a thorough of all the information brought to us and I'm happy that we've reached a point that meets needs of the council going forward. So thank you again for all the time and effort put into that understanding. Amelia Lorentson 04:33.610
I have I a question. Councillor Lorentson. Just a question in terms of delegating a function to a general manager and sub-delegations to a council officer. Is that covered under the delegations? So do the delegations include delegations, for example, a general manager can delegate to a council officer the right to assess a development application or duty to review an environmental assessment report. How does that work? Di 05:13.174
So Through the Chair today, as Alex explained, you're looking at the first stage which we need to go to you formally through legislation and that is the council to the CEO delegation chain. What that means is if you do adopt the recommendations today that will then allow the CEO to on delegate those powers. Council officers be it a Director, a manager, an officer, a project manager, anyone in council in accordance obviously with consultation with the executive team what is appropriate for the functions of that officer's role and responsibility. So to is just about council to CEO that first chain and then the second chain which you know obviously takes time and consultation we've already started that process to consider that with the executive group and managers on the ground we consult closely to see as they're the subject matter experts to see what they need their teams and their staff and resourcing to have power wise to be able to Karen Finzel 06:19.308
Exercise their so yeah thank you Joe Jurisevic 06:23.317
Yeah I imagine if that chain of command sort of handing down of authority didn't occur everything would be coming back to the CEO for review so that's why we appoint directors, managers, give people designations duties and all the rest of it so they can facilitate those functions. SPEAKER_03 06:41.183
That's right the pressure would be very very high on the CEO to do everything if it all Di 06:46.623
Stayed with the CEO which is unpractical and unreasonable Amelia Lorentson 06:53.400
Do want to make changes to the delegations down the track what's the best way to go about it? Di 06:59.320
You can do it at any point any point in time and the best way to do it I believe would be to workshop it with the operational team that's going to be impacted by change find out on the ground with the team what is the consequence because every time you look at a delegation or you adjust things it does have a flow-on effect in the administrative arm of the business so have a consultation with them find out the impacts figure out if know it suits both parties and then we can definitely put a new report up to council targeting that and for your consideration and resolution. Joe Jurisevic 07:50.460
Just enlarge it for you so you can see it a bit better. Brian Stockwell 07:52.703
Thank you the further calls to read further that the CEO be requested to bring forward a third report which reviews the current triggers for development matters precluded from delegation with a view to providing staff with more specific less subjective criteria in concluding the results of a workshop which is new wording including the results of a workshop SPEAKER_07 08:15.329
Criteria including instead of a consideration amongst other things Brian Stockwell 08:37.576
I'm gonna get rid of that ah yeah I just considers amongst other things precluding take it decisions in the following circumstances where a matter relates to one the clearing of remnant of concerned or endangered vegetation from a biodiversity or vegetation management act perspective. The disturbance of the habitat of a species listed under the nature conservation environment protection and biodiversity act an extension of approval that was made under a superseded planning scheme and or where there is a resolution of council to amend the planning scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval for the removal to the removal of a substantial operation to a structure or place of heritage significant identified in council's planning scheme or an adopted study of council and five a development where council has a direct or indirect interest as a result of its involvement in previous or proposed land dealings. I'll second that for the purpose of debate. I do so, obviously, we've had a range of community representations made to us about the grass Street court site and it has, you know, there's been nothing that's come to this council or the council before it or the council before that. Has allowed us to do anything else but improve the situation in relation to the glossy black cockatoo habitat. But there's still a strong desire for the community to see any decisions relating to sites like that to be made by decision rather than staff. This just promulgates a review and a workshop that will allow us to understand if we do go down this track of being less subjective, more prescriptive, one what are the implications so at the moment it's up to staff to identify what's of significance what's controversial whereas if we become more criteria based it may be more yes and no decisions which may be in my view a better way to go. Frank Wilkie 10:38.429
Thank you Councillor Stockwell. Anyone else wish to speak to the amendment? Joe Jurisevic 10:46.112
So yeah was that clear enough that there's nothing defined here these are may be considered in a workshop and the elements here and that any other issues that may need to be considered could also be brought up through a workshop. They're not all covered here or maybe what I'm suggesting is there may be other areas that aren't covered here that whilst the Councillor has outlined five options there may be other options that we need to consider. SPEAKER_01 11:17.574
I agree and I welcome the comments from Councillor Stockwell but I think the risk here is we become too descriptive in those in those five points there may be others that we want to consider or less my advice would be that we keep it to a workshop to a higher level keeping in mind that these are the points that we're looking to cover but if we if we put them into this and we then we eliminate limit ourselves or potentially limit ourselves so I think it's better to consider this but be more broad so that we can come back have a workshop talk it through make sure that we're all considerations are taken into account and we come back with a fully work Joe Jurisevic 11:58.370
Through considered adoption. So the language workshop which considers amongst other things recruiting delegation decisions on these items means that we've got a greater scope to review not just these five items. That's my thank you, it was wonderful. Councillor pinslow? Karen Finzel 12:13.390
Councillor pinslow A question from the senior, CEO through to the. Chair. So whereabouts in this or is it covered that we would be looking at like then having more robust internal systems and procedures around I guess flagging. These matters like the grass tree court. Patrick Murphy 12:34.804
Will this cover that internal review of how we manage that moving forward into the future. I think that's for us to consider and for you to consider in a workshop so we do environment. Ensure that with everything that we do, there's lessons learned. And this is lessons learned from many years ago. If we can make the system and processes better going forward, then if that's the way we want to go, then out, should be talking through and coming back with a proposal that everybody is agreeing with. I'm more than comfortable with that. Karen Finzel 13:11.861
And that's what we should put on the table and talk it through. Okay, thank you. Amelia Lorentson 13:15.661
Question to Dee. Section 50 of the Planning Act 2016 regulations specifies condition 1E that the CEO may exercise powers of the account. Council for an application other than the following: E being an application for a proposed development of significant community interest. What I'm thinking is the amendment in front of us, the workshop. We're amendment in the Planning Act 2016 where community, significant community interest needs to perhaps be further defined as including some of the points that's raised in the application. My question to you is after workshop, is there an opportunity then to consider potential changes and amendments in the planning regulations 2017? SPEAKER_03 14:12.611
Yep, the delegations, definitely after the workshop if you have considered SPEAKER_10 14:17.891
As a group that you want to add additional conditions to the delegations that surround the Planning Act 2016, you're more than welcome to and we can definitely push it up to council separately later on. SPEAKER_03 14:34.640
If that's if I can just add to that, Kim Rawlings 14:37.421
To council laurel. I think you're requesting advocacy to change something in the Planning Act 2016 regulations? Yes. Not ours? Oh. Amelia Lorentson 14:46.281
Sorry, the 2017 Planning Act 2016, so being specific. So it just needs a significant community interest. It needs almost to be more clarity around it, what it actually includes or excludes. SPEAKER_10_b 15:01.335
So I think to go to dee's point, I think we could do that at a local level, what that means for us. So we could have a guideline policy that says, this is Because, you know, as much as we could try and advocate for that, I think that's going to be different in different local governments, so I think we need to be able to specify what that means in the Noosa context and maybe Councillor Stockwell, some of his things he's put up there start to identify the applications that might be. Community interest. So we would do it at a local level. Frank Wilkie 15:37.604
Look, I'll speak in favour of the amendment. I'm going to support it. It's suitably, broadly worded to allow us to, in a workshop situation, to consider all these items of concern that have come up, the lessons that we've learned through the grass-tree court example, and any other issues that may come up that have a relevance to delegation. So I think it's suitably broad curriculum. Karen Finzel 16:05.709
I'll support it, too, can you move it down please because we will be having a workshop which is a process and it's the right it's not policy on the run and it will give us time to consider all angles and evaluate. Information before us. It's a good amendment but it certainly needs the proper process undertaken to ensure that we are covering that basis so I'm happy to support it in its current form. Councillor Jurisevic? Joe Jurisevic 16:33.136
Yeah, likewise I'm happy to support it. Gives the opportunity to consider these items that Councillor Stockwell has brought forward but other things lessons learned from past decision-making processes and the opportunity to bring those forward and review and see if there's any need to improve or enhance the decision-making process. Amelia Lorentson 16:56.094
President Morrison. Supporting the motion at the amendment I think it's really great what I would like to see is if we can pan it out even further to include things our community spend a lot of time signing petitions and you know petition grass tree court 76,000 I think we've got to give some discussion around what that means community interest should back in when a community has a very strong position about what they value so I'm actually really looking forward to the workshop and commend Councillor Stockwell for putting the amendment forward. Karen Finzel 17:46.902
In essence I support what you put up Councillor Stockwell I'm just wondering where a matter relates to but not limited to, show know we can open up through the workshop or is that going to be just that's included amongst other things. Alright, thank you. Look I support the amendment I think it shows that we have listened to our community you know this is being retrospective and historical so I think in terms of good governance and making sure to engender trust in our community. Have listened we have heard and we are working to the best of our ability to ensure that you know things that have become contentious in our community or have strong community interest that we're working as best we can as a council and as councillors to listen and bring continuous improvement with whatever opportunities we have before us to implement whatever is required to ensure that we have shown that we have listened and acted on trying to get better outcomes into the future. Frank Wilkie 19:01.782
Tommy first to speak. Councillor Stockwell, yours to close. Thank you, Tommy. What the amendment does in favour. That is unanimous. The amendment now becomes the motion to which only Councillor Jurisevic has spoken. Now the council is pushed to speak to the motion before Councillor Jurisevic closes. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 19:20.352
It is a much larger body of work than previous years and I think we should thank staff and for their patience to take the time to ensure that all councillors were apprised of what has been proposed and in what's come before council it really has taken out. Has ensured that anything delegated to staff doesn't have a decision-making ability that is. Properly bestowed to candidates. Council's elected representatives and I was quite happy with the final outcomes of those workshops and I think like the staff member the delegation for register will bear fruit. Frank Wilkie 19:59.709
Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Any other councillors wish to speak? Jody, would you close? No, I think that's it, thank you. Okay, I'll put the motion made in favour. Thank you. That is unanimous. Thank you, Alex. Go back to the agenda, tender consideration plan, community battery. And we have Annie Nolan. Joe Jurisevic 20:35.338
Welcome, Annie. Good afternoon, councillors. SPEAKER_03 20:38.258
Okay, so what you have in front of you is the report about the tender consideration plan. And just as a bit of background, when the Federal in, they actually committed $200 million to implementing community batteries right across Australia. And the first tranche of that was $29 million for community batteries in specific locations. There were a number of locations identified right across Australia where this grant funding actually had to be spent. And Noosaville was one of those locations that were stipulated in the grant funding. So council saw this grant funding as a significant to really pilot a community battery, which is very much an innovative and new piece of kit. There's not a lot of them around currently in Australia. And so we saw this as an opportunity to keep local solar that was generated on rooftop solars, particularly in Noosaville, keeping it local to be able to be utilised at night when the sun's not shining. So basically, a community battery will act as a solar sponge, really sort of collecting that solar that would potentially be exported back into the grid, keeping it locally so that then it can actually be utilised when the sun's not shining and particularly in the peak times. So we saw this as a fantastic opportunity and this would also complement our net zero emissions target that been in the in the Environment Strategy of 2019 and also the climate change response plan as well. So this was a terrific opportunity but we that we really needed an expert partner because this is such new and innovative technology to actually put in the grant and then if we were successful to actually activate through this grant as well so we identified that Yarra Energy Foundation or noted as YEF in the report is the only community not-for-profit organisation that has actually implemented a in the battery sorry in front of the metre community battery and that one has been going for a year as of world environment day last week in North Fitzroy and that is a real true community battery that has got community benefit. So as a result of that we actually put in the application in partnership with Yarra Energy Foundation and Zero Emissions Noosa Inc and a couple of weeks ago we were notified that we were successful in obtaining five hundred thousand dollars for that for that grant to install. A community battery within Noosaville. So as part of that under council's normal procurement plans we would normally over two hundred thousand dollars be required to go out for tender however under the local government regulations section 230 division 3 there is exceptions for medium-sized and large-sized contractual arrangements to actually put together what's called a tender consideration plan and for that to be happening it has consider the objectives of the plan how the objectives are to be achieved how the objective the achievement of the objectives will be measured alternative ways actually achieving the objectives and why those alternative means ie the standard ones was not adopted and the proposed terms of contract for the goods and services and a risk analysis alternative ways market for which these goods and services are to be obtained so what's in front of you is a recommendation to Resolve to prepare a tender consideration plan what's in the attachment one of that report for the procurement and supply and operation of a community battery under section 230 of the local government regulations and that we actually you delegate authority to the CEO to prepare and finalise and adopt the plan and approve the negotiations and entering into contracts within the CEOs financial delegation in order to achieve the objectives of the tender consideration plan this is very much what's in front of you report to undertake a procurement process in accordance with section 230 of the Local Government Act. Joe Jurisevic 25:19.499
Can I have a joke? Yeah, thanks, Annie. You mentioned the element of the metre. There are also batteries. That are considered after the metre. Can you tell us a bit of the difference between how this system will operate and that system because there will be benefits that differ based on where the community battery is located in relation to a metre as I understand. Annie Nolan 25:45.577
Yes so there's either behind the metre or in front of the metre batteries and so the behind the metre battery is really almost behind the fence on a particular facility, property, if you like, specific property, exactly so and we have actually got some batteries behind the metre at The J and also at the Leisure Centre and what that is doing is absorbing the solar from that specific property to be able to be utilised as well. There's not a lot of difference but in front of the metre what that does it's actually connected in the low voltage network and so what that will do in those properties actually that are connected in that low voltage network and the low voltage network is really what you see at your end of your Street it's not the big transmission lines it's that low voltage where you'll see the pad transformers. So what this does is if you are a solar generator from your rooftop solar in that low voltage network and you weren't using all of your solar you would be exporting it back into the grid and what the battery does is basically take all of that solar that is excess that would normally go it actually stores it in this in this piece of kit this battery and so at night when everybody comes home and turns on their air conditioning their cooking their TVs etc that's known as peak load and that's when the prices of electricity gets very expensive as well because they're trying to generate as much of electricity as they can so what this battery will do is actually discharge back into the grid to enable these the people on the local voltage network to be able to have a higher percentage of renewable energy at that particular time. Joe Jurisevic 27:32.030
There may be people that don't have solar systems on their roof as a result of this. We get some of the benefit of the community collective of solar system. Annie Nolan 27:41.681
It's very much a collective Joe, so the people that are actually connected onto this low voltage network where it is determined in Noosaville once that's actually determined, they won't see any changes to either their feed-in tariffs or their retailers. But what this does actually allow is that even if you haven't got solar, because the battery will be discharging at night when the sun's not shining, all in that actually be getting a higher percentage of renewable energy. So it's actually doing a number of things. It's reducing emissions from the coal-fired power station, particularly at that period of time. And it's also taking some pressure off the network as well, because what we're seeing is more rooftops are actually putting on more solar in a system that was only built for a built for a one-way basically from the large centralised generators through to houses we're seeing almost a two-way system now so what's happening is that the more and more solar it's putting more pressure on the grid in terms of voltage control as well as actually just being able to move this electricity in a two-way motion so even haven't got solar it will actually be taking some pressure off some of the future prices potentially because as we get more and more solar actually going into the grid it's most likely that the grid will actually have to be upgraded to be able to take with this two-way flow and that will obviously increase prices in the network scheme as Joe Jurisevic 29:19.394
Well. Thank you, that's where I get the concept of who gets the benefit financially on the, after the metre, downstream of the metre, the entity that has the metre is the one that gets the benefit batteries on their tariff. A community battery doesn't quite work in the same way financially. What it does, what my understanding is what it will do, from what you've explained there, is take the pressure off the peak load required from the supply end and if there's enough of these community batteries that will help bring the price of electricity down in the longer term by not having that peak demand at the most expensive part of the cycle of energy generation, is that correct? That is correct, yes. Thank you. I've just thought it pertinent to understand the difference between the two methodologies and what the benefits will be to the community of having community batteries. At the end of the day there's got to be some dollar value that comes out that is generated by this system. That's correct, yes. Who gets that benefit? Annie Nolan 30:29.033
So council will be the owner and operator of this community battery and so through a retailer council will be participating in the energy market and will be actually selling, sorry, it will be buying energy when the energy is, when the cost of energy is really low. I hear when there's a bulk load of solar going into the battery. Yes, that's exactly particularly noon, the middle of the day is when there's a lot of solar going in because a lot of people are at work and they're not actually using that solar. So it's going into the battery. Yes. And that's when, that happens, the price on the wholesale market is lowest. Yep. And emissions is lowest as well. So this battery will actually be purchasing low cost, low emissions and energy storing that. And then at night, it will actually be discharging that. And so what that will potentially be is a revenue source for council. We also want to say that this is very much a pilot project. So we're still, you know, we can't guarantee what that's going to be like, but it is potentially a once we take what the maintenance and operational costs. Of the battery will be. And then we also get some revenue from the. Operating in the wholesale market as well. Joe Jurisevic 31:51.004
So whilst there may not be a direct tariff benefit to the consumer, what there could be is a feedback into council's revenue, which may take some rates. General rate. The impact of rates. And potentially that revenue. Source, depending on the significance of it, that could actually be used for further projects for emission reductions in the community overall as well. So that we could get a greater flow of community batteries or a greater number of community batteries benefit across the Shire is greater, a larger income source potentially as a result of more community batteries going out there based on the findings of this pilot program and eventually a revenue source that may help offset some of the channels, thank Frank Wilkie 32:41.574
And any Energex moving into the space? Can you just talk a bit about Energex interests and what they'll be doing with community batteries? Annie Nolan 32:48.954
Yeah, sure. So, as I said, there were 56 batteries that were actually put out as part of this grant opportunity and the DM DNSP, or the distributed services network provider, I.e. Energex, they've also actually gone for this grant as well. So they have collected, I think I there's 13 down in southeastern Queensland. That Energex is actually utilising. The difference between a community battery and one run by DNSP, particularly looking at the model that Yarra Energy Foundation is operating, is that, as we just explained, by council actually owning and operating and actually maintaining the community asset in the community, it actually has that community benefit, as we just explained. What Energex will probably be doing is actually more of grid stabilisation, so to make sure that the voltage and the flow of electrons is stabilised. And so it will be more for their business case, as opposed to a true community battery. There be some emissions reductions most likely as well, but by actually council owning and operating this battery, we will actually have a rules-based, so that we actually charge will charge the battery when the emissions from electricity is really, really low and discharge so that we actually are reducing our emissions overall for the community. Joe Jurisevic 34:08.640
John, do you have a question? I have a question. So, yeah, just to further explain that to people, I mean, yeah, my understanding is the community battery will be similar to the sort of things that service providers like Energex Ergon and that will be facilitating to smooth out the system and actually take. Yes. In the longer term, take the peak load off. Correct. We're discussing one battery, but a network batteries will take not that peak load off and help bring. Annie Nolan 34:41.670
That's right, yes. And there's. The Federal government has also just recently announced an expression of interest for further funding for batteries right across Australia as well. Frank Wilkie 34:51.330
Thank you. Councillor Stockwell is moving. Can we have a seconder, please? Seconder, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 35:12.044
Is turning keeping with make that a community target as well. And this project goes towards achieving that target. We would not have got there had Zero Emissions Noosa not invested their intellect, their time. In future development of this and so I believe we're the only council in Queensland that will have done this when we do it. We have got five $500,000 of Federal money flowing into the Shire as a result of that network. It is really important that we heard from Annie that you know this problem of a system designed for a one-way monopolistic central generation in an age where energy we're going to be able to adapt that so that we do have distributed energy at a lower cost than it would otherwise be in the future then we have to go down this pilot process of working out how to do community batteries well. It's likely that as there'll will be. Large numbers of community batteries or some form of it to offset that grid destabilisation but also you know even businesses say I believe in Noosa Junction if you want to put solar power on your business in Noosa Junction the business case is not as good as elsewhere because the grid's already overloaded. They won't give you export licenses into the grid. So community batteries can overcome some of those problems and as we heard each one of these will start to reduce the emissions of this community by storing solar power generated in using it at night and I suppose to finish you know in the 80s we talked a lot about thinking acting think thinking globally acting locally this is what this is you know by drilling down to a very small one neighbourhood transmitter if enough of those get put in the global problem of climate change. And that's why it's exciting. Amelia Lorentson 37:56.476
Councillor Lorentson. Just a few questions Annie if that's okay. Home batteries versus community batteries so virtual power plants. What's more efficient a shared approach or individual approach? Annie Nolan 38:16.315
It's horses for courses actually, and I think somebody said we're not solve this problem with one silver bullet it's going to be a lot of silver buckshot so it very much is dependent on the situation so obviously community batteries home batteries are still quite expensive and so that's issue um and if you can afford to put in a community sorry a residential home battery go for it absolutely it's not a one or either solution so what this does is it enable people who either haven't got solar haven't got batteries to actually start getting a higher percentage without actually having to pay a premium for it of renewable energy in that mix so that's the difference so we want to not discouraging people from putting own household batteries but this is another solution at a different part of the actual network couple Amelia Lorentson 39:10.858
Of other questions so council owns the batteries and I'm referencing community land trust is there an opportunity down the track where we would actually consider the residents becoming sheet owners of their own local battery. SPEAKER_03_b 39:37.256
Is that something that we may entertain there's a lot of potential in that and what Zero Emissions Noosa Inc is also actually currently doing they got a funding grant funding from the State government to actually develop Roadmap for putting actually in a number a whole network of batteries right across Noosa Shire and part of that is actually looking at the various ownership models that could potentially be out there so yes this is and Yarra Energy Foundation talks about this as being very much in the grant phase where you know it's still very innovative very new so we there is a lot of grant funding around at this stage but once we actually start to get the data like our has done for the last year we understand how the battery operates the revenue sources you know the operational maintenance requirements etc then we'll have a much better understanding and that could open it up to a whole heap of investors including community Amelia Lorentson 40:29.101
And my last questions, I've read that next generation of batteries might come with EV charging stations and that's we're doing so that we don't have like you know a heap of community batteries but connected to EV charging stations. Do you know any more SPEAKER_03_b 40:50.652
About that? Yes, again that's another opportunity. It depends on where the battery would actually be located and whether it's relevant to actually have EV charger in there. In Victoria they're now starting to actually put community batteries connected to EV charging stations. So it's all very exciting. Joe Jurisevic 41:12.631
A couple more questions too from me. Lawrence to this question. I think it's good to get it out there in the public understanding. So a community battery doesn't preclude a homeowner from having their own battery within. And the batteries that you mentioned, you mentioned community facilities or council facilities. We've recently installed a couple of batteries on the downside of the beta. Can you give us a little bit a more of an indication of where they where they've been and what they were installed for? Annie Nolan 41:48.256
Sure. Yeah, these batteries are actually as a as a result of another grant that we went yeah, again, into. Partnership with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. And also University of Southern Queensland as the actual lead applicant. And that was under the bushfire resilience grants program. And so what this project was to do was to actually install some batteries at our evacuation centres so that they could actually power the building in the event that we actually lost power, so it would actually power essential services. Were actually just installed fairly recently The J and at the Leisure Centre, and they're connected to their essential services, so we would get power and lighting for a short period of time. Probably, if we used it effectively, it would power that probably overnight, maybe there's time until a is generator's available to be connected? Yeah. And in the meantime, when it's not actually being used in those circumstances, these batteries will actually be storing the excess solar that we're generating at those facilities, and particularly at The J, for example, where we night time activities, we'll actually be utilising more of our stored solar power at night time rather than getting it straight from the grid. A with question with regard to the lifespan of the batteries? What is the envisaged lifespan of the batteries? I'm working on the whole of life of the concept here. To when renewal is required? Sure. Again, it's a bit dependent, but basically the manufacturing guarantee is for 10 years. However, it depends on the charge and discharge cycle of that particular battery. And so based on the estimations that have currently been done, we're looking at probably 12, maybe even 15 years as well. But again, this is a pilot, so I can't put my hand on my heart and say how long they're going to last. Joe Jurisevic 43:41.923
Weather, let the, let the, let the ocean part of the pilot go forward." Great. I'm imagining then that one of the elements of the revenues this generates could be put towards the whole of life and the renewal element at the end of the life of the batteries. Yes. That's exactly what would happen. Thank you. The only other question is with regard to recyclability of the compatibility batteries they explain yellow some, element of discussion out there with regard to solar panels and solar panel recycling. Batteries of this type, what is the composition? Of the batteries and what is their capacity for recycling at the end of their life? Annie Nolan 44:21.184
This was another reason why we really liked working with Yarra Energy Foundation because they did a huge amount of research looking at the actual type of batteries and the battery that they are recommend recommending for this the Noosaville installation is they looked at all the various environmental considerations as well and the battery that they've chosen they're actually 95% recyclable and they're also manufactured with 100% renewables as well so they are very cognizant of not actually solving another problem by creating another problem and yes lithium is actually recyclable. They are manufactured it's sorry there's a whole various components of the actual batteries and the actual batteries are they're swedish but they actually then go into a norwegian component and I'd have to I have to check on it. That. They have an office or a they actually have a presence in Brisbane as well and Energex is also selecting these batteries for their installations on pole top batteries in ipswich and they're actually looking at developing a centre of excellence in Brisbane Joe Jurisevic 45:28.899
Possibility of development or of construction any sort of these batteries here in Australia? I couldn't tell you. They haven't discussed anything on that? No, not as yet. Councillor Finzel? Yes, Karen Finzel 45:40.701
Thank you Mr Chair. Thank you. I haven't really got questions. I am really excited about this opportunity. I moved here into the Noosa Shire early in the 80s and it's been my vision and dream to see how we can support a small community like Pomona to actually be able to have civic ownership on our own power that we generate. So it's really exciting. When I first came off the campaign I met with Zero Emissions Noosa and landcare actually to have a discussion around regenerative agriculture and we moved towards this idea of the community battery. And so it's really exciting to see this progress and get to this point where we can seriously look at how we harness that solar power energy with benefit back to our community and especially excited about revenue opportunities that we can all benefit. So I really support this and I'm looking forward to seeing this roll out. In the community. Frank Wilkie 46:38.453
Thank you. Councillor Tom. Tom Wegener 46:40.633
One quick question. Is this so, is the battery going to belong to council and will we be depreciating it as time goes that we will replace it at the end of its life? Yes. Great, okay. I'd just like to speak to this and just thank annie's visionary work and I'm just so proud that our council I'm just so proud to be a part of this and I'm just so it's a fantastic thing for us thank you very to very much team in the you and the team Joe Jurisevic 47:22.642
Another question before I speak to it I'm just trying to get a concept of where something similar like this may exist any is this similar obviously a lot smaller in scale to the tesla battery that was installed in south Australia? Annie Nolan 47:43.762
Again a different part of the network so the high voltage yeah and Energex is also actually putting some in on the medium voltage network as voltage network as well and there is one just outside of Toowoomba that we've actually been invited to if we would like to go and actually have a look at it Joe Jurisevic 48:07.716
I'll speak Councillor Finzel alluded to some opportunities there but as an electrician I've been watching this space very very carefully for quite some time with regard to the challenges that the solar, the uptake, the high uptake in this country of solar has created and some of the challenges that it presents with regard to the network, but also the criticisms of the uptake of renewable energy sources like solar from those that see other power sources as more feasible and the like. This I see as the answer to a lot of that. The opportunity to take the duck curve for those that want to look at the type of technology, the terminology being thrown around with regard to when the greatest percentage of solar is the network and sitting there without somewhere to go. Able to be stored, this is actually the solution, able to be stored at the peak of times and able to be discharged at that time when the peak load comes on at night. So it's using the natural cycle of day with regard to power generation, power renewal or entering into the system to deal with the peak that comes when people aren't home. So I see this as a great solution going forward. I see the opportunity of buying community ownership on both concepts. I see entities doing options and actually making cheaper power available their of strata title and major living developments along those lines, aged care developments and things along those lines. So I see this as an exciting move forward into. Battery technology and the future of. Power supply and grid stabilisation. Amelia Lorentson 50:16.078
Thank you. Sam, not only for your hard work, but leadership in this area of sustainable communities. Also, I want to just quickly note, sort of I get what all this is about. It's about growing renewables, our share of renewables. In the grid and ultimately reducing emissions, but we're in a cost of living crisis. And I know when I go home, I think for the first half hour, my husband's telling cost of groceries to kids registration, to opening a Bill, energy bills going up. So I think as a council, we have a responsibility, a duty of care to do what we can to acknowledge this cost of living crisis and B, do what we can. So thank you again for your leadership, Annie, a really exciting time. Times. Karen Finzel 51:17.677
Can I just add a thank you to, as well as the team and everyone, but the valued volunteers that work really hard in this space. They give hours and hours to collect data, engage with community and how valued they are in the inner space. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 51:38.332
It's worth reiterating that this $500,000 grant will deliver a more stable local energy grid. Residents will have access to renewable energy at no extra cost. It will be part of what they're getting in. The revenue generated for ratepayers will help you down with pressure on rates. EnergyX is moving this way already. And also the partnership that's been established with Zero Emissions Noosa is excellent. I also would like to thank by name Anne Kennedy, Amelia Lorentson 52:11.512
Vivian Griffin and Jeff Acton and also your work. Frank Wilkie 52:14.372
And it wouldn't have happened without that collaboration with the Yarra Energy Foundation. Councillor Stockwell said, it's very high highly skilled and professional consultancy work that they've given for free. Thank you, thank you. Brian Stockwell 52:32.571
There's been really valuable questioning and discussions. I think while the revenue flow from this particular pilot might be small, and in my view it's really ideal to go straight back into the zero emissions community climate action grants, we know that we're negotiating with Energex to get a similar charging policy to what exists in the Yarra Valley, Yarra Energy Foundation circumstances. I actually think there is models for community ownership but I also think there's a real opportunity for local government to look at renewable energy and their role in providing it. I think community batteries is one source of alternative revenue. Another one is if we do get community housing on council land that we're actually building the renewable energy plant on the roof and selling electricity to the occupants at cheaper than what they get otherwise. I'm really hopeful that this will so that saved by the 2028 local government elections that we no longer have three rs, we have four. That councils become roads, rates, rubbish and renewables. Frank Wilkie 53:40.263
Councillor Stockwell I'll put the motion as a favour. That is unanimous. Thank you. Annie. Thank you very much. Next up is environment grants. Environment project grants from 18 multi-year environments. Collaborative grants, round two. And environment Organisational Alliance Grants. Right. We've got a few conflicts of Mayor Clare, would you like interest. To go first? Karen Finzel 54:16.900
My Councillor, Stuart, informed me the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Leigh McCready, a Director of Tourism Noosa, is a friend. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while that is considered a vote. And voted on. Thank you, Mrs Chair. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, council of. Finzel provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in the matter. So, I, Councillor Finzel, inform the meeting I have this matter, as Leigh McCready, a Director of Tourism Noosa, was with my 2020 election campaign with Future Noosa as a volunteer, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Brian Stockwell 55:09.058
Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Just a question, Linda, do have more my standard declaration in relation to the agreement? Yes, I have it, but it's right down and that's okay when because we of what you do it doesn't have to be in order there's plenty to go Amelia Lorentson 55:22.921
Through. Councillor Wilkie is going to be needing an acting Chair to take on the acting. Frank Wilkie 55:28.601
Yeah, can I need to be able to read my convoluted. There we go. I, Councillor Wilkie, inform the meeting that I'd like to declare a potential. I just make that a declarable conflict of interest for item 5.2 environmental grants to the Noosa education hub grant. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $750 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell the president of the Peregian Beach community association, the PBCA. The PBCA supports the Peregian Beach Bushcare group. Will feature in work being showcased to school students by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub. I nor the PBCA nor group stand to gain personal material through this grant to NEEH. And make this declaration out of an abundance of caution given the possible scope and interpretation of conflict of interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I can stay in the meeting room. Brian Stockwell 56:31.321
And to appoint an acting Chair? Or do we just put that to the CEO for the time being? SPEAKER_01 56:40.081
Yes, we can. So that. I'm happy to take the role. Of Chair to deal with this matter. Larry Sengstock 56:49.672
Yeah, I don't think we need to. SPEAKER_09 56:51.292
So we're SPEAKER_02 56:53.192
Not going to do a resolution for that? Brian Stockwell 56:58.172
I think we just do it with the CEO and then I'll just move I'm Frank Wilkie 57:04.340
Sorry, you don't have to actually dictate. Oh, I can't do that yet, do I? Amelia Lorentson 57:09.963
Excuse me, can I have a look at the wording please? Frank's declaration, sorry. Yeah. Joe Jurisevic 57:16.805
Before, I'll move that we, whilst we deal with this matter, we hand the. Frank Wilkie 57:26.045
I didn't actually write, therefore I will choose to do it at the moment. I'm not meeting them. I did think there was more in. My declaration ended with "leave it to the meeting to determine whether I say I'm leaving. I'm not saying I want to stay or go. Clicking on it. That's just standard way to answer. My apologies. Joe Jurisevic 57:41.808
Again, we've decided that we can hand it over to the CEO because it's only determining whether the Chair has a conflict. So do we need to have a resolution in that regard hand to the chairmanship of the meeting to you in the interim while we decide this matter, or can we just do that by delegated authority as such? Or the two councillors can. I'm asking whether we have to make a. If one of the councillors would take over the Chair, then we'd have to move. I nominate Joe to take over the Chair, please. Thank you. It's probably easier. I have the ability to do it, but I'm- Yeah, I just didn't. More happy to do it. Whether we need to nominate you to do that, or whether we've got to go through the. You will have to second that, Joe. No, I can second. I'm still here. Can't because you've got a conflict. You can't do that. Tom Wegener 58:28.685
Where's my conflict? No, Tom doesn't have a conflict. I don't have it. You don't have a conflict? Tom does. Yeah. Joe Jurisevic 58:34.665
That- So none of the environmental grants periculture Noosa, what do you know? Go with the climate change response grant, not these ones. All right. Okay. All in favour? Yeah. Amelia Lorentson 58:46.725
In favour? In favour. SPEAKER_09 58:52.348
Of me being appointed the acting Joe Jurisevic 58:52.048
Chair of the meeting for the purpose of. All in favour? Motion carried. It ought to be noted that Councillor Stockwell did not vote. Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie did not vote on the matter. Right, teslas, we have Councillor Wilkie's declaration before us. Are there any questions that you wish to ask of Councillor Wilkie in respect of his declaration? Does anybody want to move a motion that Councillor Wilkie stays or does not stay in the room? Amelia Lorentson 59:22.270
I would like to move a motion that he does not participate in the consideration and vote on this matter because and therefore a reasonable person would not trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Okay, so moved. Joe Jurisevic 59:36.790
Councillor Lorentson, do we have a seconder? In the interest of I will if you're interested in discussing that Amelia Lorentson 59:56.680
Do you want to speak to him? To it. My decision for Councillor Wilkie to leave is not because I don't believe that he would be impartial on the matter, it's because in his own wordings that the need to exercise abundance of caution and also passing that PUP test. The man on the Street considered that the decision and partially doing it more in protection of Councillor Wilkie and that's the reason I've asked that I believe he should not be in the room. Sorry, Linda, can I go back to Councillor Wilkie's declaration Joe Jurisevic 01:00:38.823
Just read the intent, please? Councillor Wilkie, it's my understanding that you've had some challenges with regard to how you've presented your conflict in the past in this regard, I acknowledge the abutments has that changed the way that you have presented this declaration as a direct result of those elements? Frank Wilkie 01:01:12.355
Yes. What I've learned is it's not important. The important thing is that you make a declaration to declare the link. The grant is going to Noosa Environmental Education Hub. I noticed that the Peregian Beach Bushcare was mentioned in the report, and I understand. They're not going to be the recipient of the grant. I understand that Noosa Environmental Education Hub will be showcasing the work of the Peregian Bushcare group. Had an abundance so Adam remains caution. I've made this declaration so it's open. That's why I was trying to get from you what the link was more closely. Which is, I've come to learn it's the most important thing. That's the important thing, not whether you stay in the room or not. Joe Jurisevic 01:01:55.362
OK. Can I. No, you can't. Yes, Sir. Come on. At the moment we have a resolution before us that you've moved and I've seconded. We can continue to ask questions of Councillor Wilkie with regard to the elements of that conflict if you wish to. If there's anybody, if nobody else has any further questions, we can vote on the resolution. Before us with regard to Councillor Wilkie staying in the room and participating in the matter. So, Councillor we hope you got any questions or anything further to add. Tom Wegener 01:02:27.678
No, it just seems the environment hub is very, is removed several, considerably removed from Councillor Wilkie. Joe Jurisevic 01:02:39.353
Councillor Lorentson and you've spoken. I'll give you a right of reply at the end of everybody having their opportunity. I have a question, Joe. You can ask a question. Thank you. Yep. Amelia Lorentson 01:02:47.333
My question, thank you, is can I please understand, so the Noosa education hub, can I just get a little bit more detail, Frank, what is the connection again with the PBCA. Frank Wilkie 01:03:03.465
I just need to understand that a little bit. Well, the, I noticed in the report that the Peregian Beach Bushcare group was mentioned, and then the council workshops about this grant? I came to understand that Noosa Environmental Education Hub will be taking students to see the work done by the Peregian beach Bushcare group. Peregian is also the site Peregian beach community association, but they're not the recipients of the grant. Out of an abundance of caution, just for openness, they're mere mention of anything to do with Peregian beach community association is why I've outlined these links, no matter how tenuous, that might be my lesson. Thank you. Steve. Tom Wegener 01:03:50.284
Do you have a question? Yeah. I think one of the biggest issues facing us councillors is self-censorship. And self-censorship means that you're afraid to talk about anything because – or you're very limited with the scope of what you can talk about because you've actually supported a good cause in the past. And by supporting all of a sudden you're limited to what you can say now is self-censorship or being stifled in this way. So when the vote on a particular matter and the issue is so far removed through various stages of one group does this, influences that group, it just goes too far and I worry that we've taken this conflict of interest thing to a place where it was never meant to be in the first place which is inhibiting and not really supporting people in their efforts to make a better world through being part of these groups. We want our Councillors to be a part of community groups and by overdoing the conflict of interest concept we're actually limiting or not it not advancing that we are stifling ourselves so I'm very very and I've said this many times I'm very very wary of taking the conflict of interest to the ridiculous ends so I Joe Jurisevic 01:05:11.210
I'll speak to the matter as well. I appreciate where Councillor Wilkie is coming from and the tenuous nature of that relationship has been that has been challenged in the past but I think that this is a stretch too far with regard to the Noosa environment education hub showcasing the work of a community group and the elements that go there so I won't be supporting the motion put in the meeting. Amelia Lorentson 01:05:39.171
I'll speak. I won't be supporting the motion also. I thank Councillor Wilkie for exercising abundance of caution and giving a little bit more detail so I could understand the actual association. So thank you Councillor Wilkie but I'm satisfied. The link is really quite far removed. Okay so we'll put Joe Jurisevic 01:06:06.962
The motion. Those for Councillor Wilkie being required to leave the meeting. So the Wilkie may remain in the room. And I believe we should hear from the motion allowance. Oh, we've cut the yellow haven't other one, don't we? Yes, we've got to go to the other one. My apologies. Yes, I'll move the alternative motion, which is that council, no, the declarable conflict of council, we can determine that he may remain in the room. If could do you the relevant wording, please. I'll second it. I'll move it. I'll second it. Thank you. And that is that council votes to fill in a conflict of interest by council. Conflict of interest by Councillor Wilkie in the public interest of Councillor Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because council believes that he, uh. What's the old wording? Neither he nor the community association. Is that what we have to say? Bushy and critchstain again personally or materials with this grant to the NEP. And it's in the public interest of the council to participate in the council believes that. You're just missing that. There's a few words missing there. Yeah I'm just, it's just standard words so I'm going to have to fix that. That's a reasonable person. We trust that the final decision is made in the company's interest. And at the top, the council believes that he, he's missing. Second one, just after that please. That he, neither he, no, because it's 3-0. That he, nor the, nor the. Oh okay, nor the, okay. That's not true. Me. Any discussion, any further discussion on the matter? Any questions? Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Stockwell do not vote on this. And Councillor Stockwell. If there's no further discussion, can I have a vote from the councillors? All in favour? Carried unanimously by the three councillors on the. Remaining on the floor. And Melinda. Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Stockwell do not vote on the above motion. Yes. All right. Finish with that one? And in light of that, should enable us to return the chairmanship of the. To Councillor Wilkie. Yes. Karen Finzel 01:08:55.664
So Councillor Wilkie will resume the Chair. SPEAKER_07 01:09:01.344
And before we start that first one that you've got for me, because Councillor declared his interests above, I need to declare the same thing with one minor change. So if you could cut and paste that one there. Yeah, the one for what he declared. Karen Finzel 01:09:21.140
You had, yours was $500 wasn't it? Mine was $500 and I'm not Councillor Wilkie. Yeah, I'll charge that. SPEAKER_02 01:09:31.960
So you have Joe Jurisevic 01:09:37.020
You're going to have four COI's? Yes. Be left on before anybody else. Can you clear the board in one declaration though, or do you have to clear it separately? Brian Stockwell 01:09:48.939
I'm happy for that to be taken as read considering the recency of which we considered the matter. Joe Jurisevic 01:09:54.580
Let's make the necessary changes of Councillor Stockwell and the donation of that. Frank Wilkie 01:10:08.520
Okay so vote on that one first. Can I just ask a question? Is there any one that would take you out of your room or has okay. How many are there? How many CLIs do you have? SPEAKER_07 01:10:26.832
I have landcare, Mayoral accounting committee and Tewantin Noosa. Joe Jurisevic 01:10:31.672
Okay. We'll work to the one on one. Is that the way we can do it or do we have to? I suppose that's the correct way. So we've got the first one which is Frank Wilkie 01:10:40.012
Similar to mine. Joe Jurisevic 01:10:40.652
If any of you council wish to move a I'll council-- I'll move the resolution that you had-- I just need to----regard to noting the declarable conflict of interest and determine if it is in the public interest that he remains in the room. I'll leave that one. Frank Wilkie 01:10:57.515
Yeah, and then-- all right. And I'll just change the voting. Yeah. Amelia Lorentson 01:11:19.480
Let's do this. Questions? SPEAKER_07 01:11:36.740
They? Did he make his parlance with god today? They'd soon change the laws, wouldn't Frank Wilkie 01:11:48.741
They? Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Wegener. Joe Jurisevic 01:11:55.660
Chair, there's nothing to discuss. I think the questions. I think the question you asked and the questions the only link here, Councillor Stockwell, the only link here that I understand is the donation. In the same way that Councillor Wilkie had an electoral donation. I think there are no questions and nothing to. Add? Nothing to it. I really wish that. Frank Wilkie 01:12:30.420
Spontaneous this night. Mind. Yeah. Talk to you soon. One, and I hope think the important thing is that Councillor Stockwell has declared so it's transparent, it's on the record. Those links are there for everyone to see. All in favour? That's unanimous. We've got to go through all of them. SPEAKER_07 01:12:50.270
Okay. Come on. No. I didn't get any declaration that you. Joe Jurisevic 01:12:55.468
No, not during the declarations, I believe, because it would have just been in order. Frank Wilkie 01:12:59.708
No, it's any time. Otherwise you could potentially. So Councillor Stockwell can stay in the room. Now the next one. Brian Stockwell 01:13:09.993
That's right, that's it. I wish to inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict in the matter in relation to the application by Noosa District Landcare group due to my long-standing connection with the organisation as one of the inaugural members from the unincorporated group dating back to the 1980s and a current ordinary member. 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 respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Joe Jurisevic 01:13:43.780
I'll move the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell and determines in the public interest that Councillor 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. Land care and therefore reasonable personal trust that the final decision is in the public interest. I'll second that. Might change the wording of that. Close personal relationship? Should be the language used. There's not have a. No, that's a bad. Yeah, I think the language there is incorrect, sorry. What's the understanding we need? Not have a conflicting. Ah, it's due to the community nature. Due to the of the relationship, please. Thank you. That's, yeah, so I'll read that again. The council made the declarable conflict of interest by council Stockwell, determined that it is in public interest that council 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 due to the community and nature relationship with landcare and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in public interest. Got no questions or anything to add? Amelia Lorentson 01:15:40.448
Mayor, you got any questions for Councillor Stockwell about this one? No, just consistency also in decision making. Councillor Stockwell has always made this declaration and we've always agreed that he remain in the room and trust that the final decision is made in effect. Tom Wegener 01:16:02.516
And clearly you have no contracts currently with landcare? Joe Jurisevic 01:16:07.936
I was going to reiterate the fact that this is the consistent with the declaration that Councillor Stockwell has made in the past and the decision of council to allow him to reign the room. I put it as Frank Wilkie 01:16:21.020
A no go in favour, that's carried. Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie do not vote. That's carried. Next conflict of interest. Brian Stockwell 01:16:28.280
I wish to inform the meeting that I have a clear conflict conflicts of interest in this matter as I have a long-standing relationship with MRCCC as a previous government employee and a long-term collaborator since 1994. I have in the past I have had a small contract below the limit of a prescribed conflict and prior to the declarable timeframe. I was up until the last AGM council's representative on the committee and in this role a I played role, and in this role, I played a role rather than end. I 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 should have 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. Joe Jurisevic 01:17:29.150
I'll ask the question, Councillor Wegener asked of you previously, do you have contracts any obligations with MRCCC? No, I assist voluntarily Brian Stockwell 01:17:45.282
Now, and the small contract I had was well before 2014, which the act says that it's a cut-off period. Relationship is only as a member of MRCCC? I'm no longer a member. Councillor Wegener is now the member representing council. Are you a member of the MRCCC? No, I might still be the, what do you call it? No, the next one, if tom's not available, I might be still the. Joe Jurisevic 01:18:15.769
I'll take it, probably. SPEAKER_09 01:18:17.869
But that's just, that's not a case of, Amelia Lorentson 01:18:21.970
That council note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell and determine that it's in the public is with interest that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because council believes that a reasonable person would trust that a vital decision is made in the public interest. Joe Jurisevic 01:18:41.249
We just cleared the wording there, and therefore believes that a reasonable person ought that, and therefore a reasonable person. Amelia Lorentson 01:18:50.236
I'm sorry. Although he has a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe could have a perception of bias considering the community nature of this relationship. I vote that Councillor Stockwell remains in the room. Joe Jurisevic 01:19:11.132
Sorry it says because council believes that the "and therefore" is not required throughout the year. The "a" stands, that's it. That a reasonable person would trust that the virus is not going Brian Stockwell 01:19:23.532
Through. Can I also clarify in terms of Councillor Lorentson's question, Noosa Council is the member? Joe Jurisevic 01:19:30.020
Not the individual councillors? We're trying to clarify that relationship in that regard. Whether it was a personal relationship or only in the council role, thank you. Do we have a second? I second it, I thank you. Okay. Amelia, would you speak to it? No. Only to acknowledge that I think this is consistent with the previous declarations of Councillor Stockwell remaining in the room. And for consistency, I'm happy to support the resolution. Tom. Tom Wegener 01:20:01.247
I'd like to note that the last two conflicts of interest I would consider a badge of honour. You know, that's actually what you expect of councillors is to have these conflicts of they have these long relationships with these community groups. And although this process is cumbersome, I think it's important that these grants come before council for a vote and not be just delegated to staff. So it's a long process, but it's worth it, and that's what we have to do. Frank Wilkie 01:20:25.990
Again, without lying, I'm sorry about this. Say we've declared it, made it transparent. Clearable conflicts of interest. There was always just. A chance I was going to stay in the work, but I've supported the motion. But I'm not voting no more. Amelia Lorentson 01:20:42.394
Amelia, you're just closed. No, and I will say what you said, Frank. Although it is, you know, a long process, we have made a commitment to be transparent and open to the community. And I think this I is honouring that. So I commend Councillor Wilkie, Stockwell for making these declarations. Frank Wilkie 01:21:04.702
Thank you for that, that's unanimous. Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie do not vote. Do you have any more answers from Councillor Stockwell? One more. Joe Jurisevic 01:21:14.974
I'm are you serious really yeah I never thought there might I would like and that's just not what we're used to for. Brian Stockwell 01:21:22.570
I wish to inform the meeting of a decreable conflict of interest in this matter on the 24 February 2020. I sought a review of the Independent Council Election Observer as to the public claims of the Future Noosa team of which Leigh McCready was publicly identified as campaign manager. Leigh McCready is the Director of Tourism Noosa although I conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because the ICO review was an advisory service, not a statutory process, and my queries at the time were in the public interest, and neither I nor Ms. McCready stood to personally gain or lose from the advice, that advice. Therefore, I would choose to remain in the meeting room, however I respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Joe Jurisevic 01:22:00.661
And I will move that council make the declarable public division by council Stockwell determined that it's in the public interest that council Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because council believes that a reasonable person cannot have an exception of bias because the ICEO review was an advisory service not a statutory process and council stockwell's queries at the time were in the public interest and either he or Ms McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in public interest. I'll second thank you very much. John. That's consistent with the position that we've had all along with this declaration by Councillor Stockwell so I'm happy to support it once again. Joining us. What the motion does in favour? That's unanimous. There's another one I've got to hear. Frank Wilkie 01:22:51.111
We're now up to the recommendation. Do we need to adjourn? Refresh? Restore? What are we talking about? Welcome, Rebecca. Could you give us an overview? Happy to. So this report is to present an overview of the. Sorry, we've got the wrong item. Thank you. Kim Rawlings 01:23:44.330
This report presents an overview of the applications received for the current grant round. There's three components to the environment grants: a project grant for single-year projects multi-year environment collaboration grant for a collection of community groups to come together for a grant application, and then environmental organisation alliance grant to help with organisation. Organisational costs and these are really well subscribed we had a total of three hundred and seventy five thousand available for allocation of suitable grants and there was 17 in total received these applications checked for their eligibility against the relevant grants policy and guidelines the applications were then reviewed and assessed by senior staff in the environmental services team with experience assessing grants and grants and with environmental subject matter expertise they were moderated then by the Environmental Services Manager before workshopping with the councillors and then and then this report to council so we allocated funds against we recommend a recommended the allocation of funds against each of these three grants and the details of them provided in attachments one two and three of the council report Frank Wilkie 01:25:19.756
Questions councillors? Someone care to move the motion? Happy to move. To capture Jurisevic. Joe Jurisevic 01:25:25.516
I'll second it. Joe? A large number of very worthwhile projects presented here. For you. From the environment sphere and I'll highly support all those that have been given grant funds. Frank Wilkie 01:25:43.486
Okay. All councillors wish to speak to the motion? Councillor Stockwell? Brian Stockwell 01:25:47.967
I do say that it's really important to look at what and how much the community is involved in implementing our Environment Strategy. So when in 2016 we didn't have an Environment Strategy, our grants didn't have any priorities, there was no such thing as multi-year grants, there's no such thing as these alliances. So what really we see here is that the money we've got to help us achieve improving our natural environment and our waterways, but also to reduce waste. So it's really good to see Tourism Noosa in there as industry body who is adopting a an ethic of stewardship and being the leader in reducing waste particularly from events and the Plastic Free Noosa. We're looking at programs that run across not just our side, Shire and we're only funding a part of them like Find a Frog in February is a program run by the MRCCC is you know up north in Hervey Bay in the Fraser Coast right down to us and we link it into our local programs. We've seen kinderland bush links which started in the Sunshine Coast Council now we have volunteers going on to people's properties to help them look after areas of high conservation value. And we've got some money in there for to help that the expertise in community-based water quality monitoring and MRCCC to help us do the coordination of throughout the Noosa Shire so there's some really good projects a lot of them are continuing they're trying to continue to eradicate or control tax core creeper which invades our creeks and waterways and also noosaland the project up in Kin Kin to reduce the sediment layer that's going into the Kin Kin Creek and down into the to the river that won an international acknowledgement with a key store it is really important to when we give out these grants we're giving money and the volunteers generally giving two or three times the amount in volunteer labour. Frank Wilkie 01:27:57.864
I think it counts as Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 01:28:01.254
You've got to note Noosa environment education hub they're grassroot foreshore management custodians of place. I think that's what these grants read to me when the grants and how much money is allocated to our environmental grants it speaks about place and it speaks about what we as a community value the most and clearly it's our environment our competitive edge. So thank you for your report Rebecca. Joe Jurisevic 01:28:35.169
Joe, I will ask a question. With regard to the value of a return on investment with all these community groups. A figure with regard to what the return on that investment is with regard to volunteer hours? Because most of this work, as I understand it, is done by volunteers. SPEAKER_02 01:28:58.459
We don't Joe. I think it's a really good idea though and we would like to be able to provide some detailed reporting on the outcomes of these grants at the end of the grants that are currently in process. At the moment to be able to show that value add across the community for these various projects. So many of them are really useful extension to the programs that council do them in house and we would otherwise need to do them in house if it wasn't for the initiatives from the community. So they do add a lot of value to the work we do. Joe Jurisevic 01:29:39.882
And the elements of projects like kidman and Kin Kin have a significant-Kin I would imagine have a significant impact on the health of the nursery with the and the elements of erosion within the erasing of the awareness of erosion with regard to hinterland properties and what flows into the nursery or has flowed into the nursery from the past. SPEAKER_02 01:30:05.910
Yeah, absolutely. And many of the others are really good capacity building projects. They raise awareness, they improve understanding, they come with a solid science base and they enable a lot of improvements to the way properties are managed and environmental outcomes on the ground. Frank Wilkie 01:30:26.612
Just a question, Rebecca. We've funded two wildlife rescue groups, rescue and care groups, Wildlife Noosa and Wildcare Australia. Is the difference between the two just the. One is more regional. Wildcare takes a regional approach and Wildlife Noosa is more Shire based. Can you distinguish between the two? I don't have that detail. They do that, certainly do. Them. I can find out. Okay, sure. Great. Jodie, would you close? Yeah, I will. Oh, sorry, Tom. Tom Wegener 01:31:10.195
Just, you know, thank you very much Rebecca and the grants show a nexus or it's a nexus between the community and the council and I just would love to see it more publicized because it is so fantastic. With the acquittals, I'd love to see, you know, make sure the acquittal comes through, that it is publicized and even when they get these things to be publicized, of course, that's our job is probably to publicize it as councillors, but they are very, very important. We just like to see them further acknowledged because it gives the groups hope. Like, you know, somebody, people, a group of people say, we need to make change, but we just can't do anything. Well, you can do something. These grants are there for the like people feel maybe-empowerment. Non-empowered, but they should be empowered because the money's there. So it's fantastic. Thank you. Yes, Joe Jurisevic 01:32:02.998
Thank you. Councillor Stockwell, for delving into some of the projects that are there. I think we need to acknowledge the efforts of not only the organisations, but the volunteers that give their time to facilitate all these. Alluded to, Councillor Wilkie and I actually had to call on mild life rescue a few weeks ago when we saw an injured kangaroo on one of our trips and saw the work first hand that wildlife nursing did care of an injured animal and the true nature of the work that's undertaken and many of these other projects. I'll use a lot of volunteer hours and volunteer times and I want to congratulate and acknowledge the work of all these organisations in reducing, in undertaking these projects but also in reducing the responsibility of council, undertaking a lot of the work that otherwise have to undertake. And the value of return is greatly appreciated and benefited by the community as a whole. Frank Wilkie 01:33:13.476
Thank you. I put the motion those in favour. That is unanimous. Thank you Rebecca. You're welcome. Councillor Stewart and Finzel can come back in the room. Thank you. They're still here. They haven't gone home. We've got CRIs on the next one as well. Two. End of the year. SPEAKER_02 01:33:36.360
It's the same as KIPP. Amelia Lorentson 01:33:38.420
Planning one I think. Planning one? Delegated authority has got COI's as Frank Wilkie 01:33:44.960
Well. Okay, thank you. True. That's good. Where's the light? Yeah. Amelia Lorentson 01:33:59.222
I think that's Councillor Lorentson of Noosa, I can't see how I- yeah, first one. My phone. For the Noosa space centre, and recently there was two, but I want to put that to the page. Oh, Mr portorio. Is that on? In the pane. Delegated authority? No. It's not. Karen Finzel 01:34:19.793
Hello, welcome Patrick. Hello, thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:34:20.933
Right, we're up to planning applications decided by delegated authority. Welcome Patrick. Could you just give us a brief overview? Brian Stockwell 01:34:30.183
The declarations, Sir. Oh, declarations, okay. Karen Finzel 01:34:33.743
In accordance with chapter 5 of the government act 2009, I, Councillor Stewart, inform the meeting that I declare a conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application of our ultimate properties number. 9. Proprietary limited TTE, which is listed as item 17 of the support over-Friendship flee, Robert greene, are you associated with the applicant and result in a conflict of interest that I will now admit in the matter as considered and voted on. Can I cancel the meeting? Patel. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I have a declarable conflict of interest in the matter. My council has been to inform the meeting that this matter in to Altum Properties, number 9, PLTTE, which is listed as item 17 in this report. Leigh McCready, who is associated with the applicant, was involved in a volunteer capacity for my 2020 election campaign. Future Noosa, which is longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Amelia Lorentson 01:35:40.514
Thank you, Mr Chair. I, Councillor Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in regards to item 11 of the delegated. Due to my personal relationship with the applicant, mark Bain and the Bain family, who are family friends, we have attended social events together and our children have attended school together. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Brian Stockwell 01:36:13.300
Just for something different. Hi, Councillor Stockwell. I wish to inform the meeting room that I have considerable confidence in the interest in this matter in relation to the application by Altum Properties no. 9 v Proprietary Limited, TTE, which is listed as item 17 in this report on 24 February 2020. I sort of view the independent commission, council, ELEC. Council election observer. Since I just declared this, I move that you accept this as being read and that therefore I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I respect the decision of the meeting on whether Councillor Jurisevic Joe Jurisevic 01:36:45.842
Councillor Jurisevic, in their vein, I will move the council to note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell. In terms in the public interest, that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because council believes that a reasonable person could not have accepted the bias because the ICEO review was an advisory service, not a statutory process. Councillor STOCKWELL's the time were in the public interest and neither he nor Mr MacGregor used them to personally gain or lose from that advice and therefore a reasonable person would trust the finance issues made in the public interest. Have a seconder for that please, Councillor Tom. I do so on the basis of the earlier item having been undergone and being consistent with the whatever Councillor Stockwell has brought this matter before, Councillor. Thank you, we'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? Frank Wilkie 01:37:27.865
If that's carried unanimously, Councillor Stockwell can stay in the meeting room. Welcome Patrick could you just give us a bit of an overview of what we're looking at here Patrick Murphy 01:37:37.496
Okay, we have the report for the applications that were decided by delegation for the month of April 31.37 applications. Combination of minor change applications, Material Change of Use, development permit for building works, reconfig and operational works approvals forms the list Frank Wilkie 01:37:58.705
They're actually decided. Just for clarity, councillors actually have nothing to do with this decision. That's correct, they've been made under delegation. This is just simply for reporting purposes. To acknowledge work done by staff. The volume of work coming through. Councillor Jurisevic, no move. Seconded by Councillor Wegener, Joe would you speak to it. Joe Jurisevic 01:38:28.875
Only to acknowledge the vast number of staff and the great work they do in dealing with these under delegated authority. Frank Wilkie 01:38:37.132
Thank you. I have a question just to clarify. When there are notations on these individual applications that say exemptions, height, setbacks. Does that mean the relaxations have been given to height and setbacks? Patrick Murphy 01:38:55.749
Yes, the direction to staff is to make sure that what has been applied for is reflective when they effective when they follow up. Finalise. Their assessment of the application, for argument's sake, they could apply for three variations but only two are approved, so we need to make sure that's only coming through in the report, so what is in the report is reflective of what has been approved. That's correct. Frank Wilkie 01:39:16.960
Okay, so if height is referred to, does that mean that there is likely to be any significant relaxation for the height of the building? It would generally be a minor variation, noting that we do have areas which require substantial amounts of fill for flooding around Noosa fill, so that might be more significant in those locations, but generally it's quite minor. Okay, so it would be, the buildings would generally be, say if it's two storey, eight metres above natural ground level. That's correct. Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak in motion? If the motion doesn't favour, it's carried as an understatement. Thank you. I don't think you can put up your angle in the bedroom. Nobody cares. Welcome back everybody, up to the next item 5.4, which is the Maritime Safety Queensland regulation of boating facilities demand forecast statement 2022, which was referred from the services and modernisation committee, where it was well canvassed, lots of questions asked and spoken to, but has been referred due to the significance of the issue, unless any other councillors who weren't at that committee would like to ask questions or make comments. Welcome Shaun and Rebecca, could you give a service? Karen Finzel 01:41:02.134
Isn't this going to composition? No, just the attachments. Shaun Walsh 01:41:06.223
The Chair, I could clarify the expectations for Maritime Safety Queensland if you like. So I spoke to Maritime Safety Queensland officers yesterday. They're happy for the report and its recommendations to be publicly considered. Their sensitivity was about the diversion control of the BMT report. Which one. The State government have undertaken these similar reports across the whole of the State of Queensland and obviously they want to be, you know, have the ownership of the release of all the reports across Queensland. So it was more about recognition. That it is a draft report and they would like, the State government would like to be in control of the final BETN report at the appropriate time as approved by the State government. Frank Wilkie 01:41:48.594
It's likely the final draft will take on board the comments made from staff and councillors at the last meeting. Shaun Walsh 01:41:55.034
Most likely. He didn't I spoke to made the observation that the recommendations haven't materially changed, though they have actually included a lot more information on user patterns using new technology such as mobile phone data. So we haven't seen the 21st of April report. I can't say exactly what's in it, but he verbally just indicated that the recommendations are very similar. So it shouldn't affect our recommendations? No, so he just wished for me to reiterate to the councillors and any of the communities who may have a copy of that draft report that it is draft and subject to final state government endorsement and release it is a major quite exciting initiative for the State to actually have undertaken assessments across the State of that state. Frank Wilkie 01:42:37.685
Thank you Shaun. So given some people might be listening for the first time could you give an overview of what this report is all about? Shaun Walsh 01:42:43.525
I'll refer to Rebecca. Kim Rawlings 01:42:44.645
Thank you. So Maritime Safety Queensland commissioned a report on recreational boating facilities on the Noosa River and has done an assessment of what future needs might be required for upgrades or increased facilities and they've made recommendations relating to seven following a detailed assessment by BMT consultants the report makes recommendations relating to a submission back to MSQ on that great body of acknowledges work and also acknowledges the need for a regional approach when planning for boat launching facilities Noosa rivers are very very busy river it's well in demand it's however it's a small river system that it is often at capacity during peak times and we would request that consideration be given to all water bodies across the region in future planning of new upgraded facilities we would also wish to have further discussions with MSQ on funding opportunities for the onshore components of boat facilities not just the in water facilities themselves at boat ramps and then we've made some specific recommendations around design criteria for six of the seven projects chaplain Chaplin Park future boat ramp at that location is one that we feel shouldn't be taken forward for various community considerations in terms of the impact on the park land in that location Frank Wilkie 01:44:41.790
Councillor Stockwell and Wegener, you and Finzel, you weren't at the committee so are there any questions you have for staff about this report? Any other councillors have questions? Amelia Lorentson 01:44:54.083
Just one question just from community Rebecca so just can you clarify the next steps where to next and what can our community who are quite anxious in this space they expect Shaun Walsh 01:45:12.196
So the consultation processes have been run by the State government rather than by council we've just tried to be transparent in our you know examination of issues with councillors and councils to ensure we try and reflect what our organisation's beliefs are. In terms of the next steps firstly the positive indication back to the State government that the low-hanging fruit projects which they fund such as the pontoons at Noosa Woods, Gympie Terrace and also duplication or provision of a pontoon at lake Street a low-hanging fruit that you we should try and proceed with forthwith to try and improve the functionality of those facilities. The next thing is that we've actually got budgeted a foreshore master planning process for the Noosaville Foreshore which is actually out for an invitation to quote at the moment and detailed consideration of the Noosaville Boat Ramp facility is one of the key deliverables of that area so if you like that would be the first cab off the rank. We also make recommendations in the report that you know we need to advocate to the State government to actually fund the onshore components. We've tried to make that clear in the report so that the community are clear that you know we haven't currently budgeted for capital works expenditures for the onshore components. Now are we able to get additional funding from the as nusselville foreshore processes, should council be contributing more to the Noosaville boat ramp upgrade as an example. Subsequent to that lake Street Tewantin is envisaged to go through a similar design exercise as is the Doonella Street, sorry the Doonella Bridge Hilton Esplanade facility and also Moorindil Street so we sort of put a program in there. I think the key message we've got back to the State is that we're really keen to pursue improvements to six of the facilities. We need to have to figure out how to fund it. Clare Stewart 01:47:05.865
Does that answer your question, Councillor? Perfectly. Thank you. And I believe there is a funding bucket from the State government that's over $100 million in the space. Is there the ability for us to advocate directly to the State government for those funds to assist? Potentially, and also not just, obviously, we're responsible. Off the water, they're on the water, but to assist with those upgrades and the foreshores and the trailer parking and that sort of thing? Shaun Walsh 01:47:28.082
My understanding is that the report indicates that the priority one projects would cost about $138 million across the State to fund. So the State government department of responsibility responsible only have approximately $5 million funding available. So I've only five. But the Maritime Safety Queensland officer said if he was optimistic, so that there might be a budget announcement associated with the budget for the State government. So and you know, and usually, you have a lot of advocacy, you know, work undertaken by local communities to increase the pool and to prioritise particular projects over others. We could certainly advocate based on the need and the evidence we have and the fact that everyone knows Noosa is a water place, we could advocate. And noting the busyness of our Noosa River and you know, that our existing facilities have oversubscribed. And will that be the budget this year, the State government budget, I'm sure that is tomorrow. Yes, I can't answer that Councillor Stewart, so I'm not sure of the answer to that. Joe Jurisevic 01:48:38.530
What's here, your comment and what's been asked there caused me to ask another question. One of the things that seemed to come out of this report was not taking into consideration the capacity that's already been utilised on the river, I.e. acknowledging that the Noosa River is a very busy waterway already in relative to other waterways. Where in our recommendations do we. Is it in B that we raise concerns that the elements of. It does talk about capacity. To accommodate statistical growth, but it doesn't talk about the element. The review of the current usage and the capacity of the river as it currently stands to accommodate. Shaun Walsh 01:49:28.593
Is captured in recommendation B about raising concerns for a lack of regional approach and, you know, if we're looking at boating in the Noosa area, we should also be looking at access to tin can bay as well as to Pumicestone Passage because they're destinations for longer periods and, in our view, the lack of a regional approach with this report, because they're doing it simultaneously across all local governments across Queensland, you know, would have been quite an easy exercise to do rather than break it into just Noosa, then Sunshine Coast and, you know, Brisbane. So that's where we're going to. I suppose the remit of their report was just looking at boat ramp facilities rather than capacity. Noosa River to actually absorb more usage. It wasn't the remit of their particular report though. Joe Jurisevic 01:50:16.696
As far as work on boat ramps in the Noosa region, has there been much in the way of upgrades in the recent past by MSQ? Shaun Walsh 01:50:30.754
My recollection, and councillors may note that I actually did a similar investigation into upgrading boat ramp facilities in 2006, so for council, there has been no significant improvement since that date to actually provide. And what would happen is we've had more usage of the informal facilities Moorindil Street and also Hilton Esplanade. Bridge. Joe Jurisevic 01:50:54.981
In comparison to that, would we have a comparison, I mean, is that the situation in situation in other boat ramp facilities or have other boat ramp facilities received significant works in recent years? Shaun Walsh 01:51:07.542
Across the State. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:09.762
Even in the southern region? Shaun Walsh 01:51:13.382
I can't answer that Councillor consideration. Yeah. Frank Wilkie 01:51:16.383
Care to move the recommendation? Move Councillor Finzel, seconder Joe. Councillor Finzel, would you speak to the motion? Karen Finzel 01:51:25.963
No, I think it's all been covered. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:32.284
I will. It was a bit tongue-in-cheek of me to ask that question of you because I know from first-hand experience having gone to impala, having gone to river heads and the like, there has been a significant amount of spending on some upgrades to major boat rent facilities and boat launching facilities and various facilities to access places like Fraser and those. I've seen some significant spend, significant upgrades. With our busy river system haven't had that equivalent spend. Makes me want to see, you know, the appropriate level of upgrades done. Some of the low-hanging fruit that we've identified that could facilitate better boat movements are those floating pontoons that we see at most of those other facilities and I look forward to seeing the State develop the simple things that can be delivered in the short-term and a bit more review with regard to parking facilities and some of their management of the challenges that boat ramps present going forward. Thank you. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 01:52:52.257
It's interesting that the item is called a recreational planning facility demand forecast study, but the outcomes are actually a planning outcome. I really want to congratulate staff that have done in the review and particularly to sections four five of the report. If I can read first part of section four. The study uses statistics to determine demand and assumes that growth is unrestrained and will equally receive boating demand in the LGA in equal proportion to other water bodies. The study does not provide any assessment of the capacity or ability for the Noosa River to absorb growth which is a flaw in the methodology. It is a huge gap in the thinking. To me it's really important that when we do talk to them that the staff are really confident saying that this council does not plan like that. This is not only state government process that is happening at the moment where the tail is firmly wagging the dog. Okay? Growth and facilitation of growth is not demand management and that's what section 5 goes in. What the purpose of this study should be is how do we make safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities on the Noosa River for the voting public. And then you plan again what's needed to achieve that. Now our staff have come up behind scenes with some interesting concepts about how we might distribute boat parking, how we might integrate environmental repair with boating parking and facilities. The detailed draft is now confidential. I would hope by the time that it comes out in public that they're not silly enough to include concepts which include the filling of the Noosa River for cars. Mean if I was getting that from a consultant I would be having very very strong words. So I think MSQ should be similarly saying you've embarrassed us by putting that out in public. Because the Noosa River isn't going to be filled for car parking. Unless we have a very big change in politics at two levels of government. Anyway, I think it's really important that we reinforce the principle that in Noosa we manage growth by planning for the true carrying capacity of our assets. This is very much linked to our Destination Management Plan. But also, we do that by using modern technology and modern demand management and price signals that ensures that the most efficient. And effective use of the available land space is achieved. And I think for us as a council, we want to be looking at what facilities do we need to make better access. Our residents, like the concept of a resident-only grant at the end of Moorindil Street, for example, versus how much we want to cater for peak demand. Like, I was astonished to find that a visitor could come up and park their boat trailer in one of the car parks adjacent to a ramp for 24 hours or more. You know, we have to look at demand management and time control so that we have appropriate time, appropriately located spaces. If you want to park a trailer for a long period, there should be opportunities further away from the river and access to and from by other means. So I think I appreciate the work done by staff and the recommendation and hopefully it gives them some level of support that at a political level we'd like to see those areas, particularly in sessions four and five, pursued. Frank Wilkie 01:56:51.530
Mayor Stewart, did you want to say something? Did you have a question, Karen? No, I'll speak to it. Thank you, Shaun, for the analysis of the report because the report is generic in nature and we're one of many councils in which it seems that maritime safety please need to have that kind of approach so we know that one size does not fill, that we're all very different across our 77 local councils in Queensland. However, what we must focus on is that there is a need and a demand and that's clearly not been met. And as you said, we've had no upgrades or any changes since 2006 and certainly demand has increased since 2006, Karen Finzel 01:57:27.288
So 17 years ago. That's right, yes. So we know that we're under-resourced in regard to our boating facilities. So I think what we now do, and I appreciate. And you've highlighted what we can now do, feature on page seven of our S&O agenda, and we have to look at what we can achieve in the short, medium and long term. I think, as Councillor Lorentson said, the community are keen to know what can be done in the short-term, and I think you've highlighted that. So I think that doing something is better than doing nothing. And as there are certain, you know lot we've got a long way to go in looking at what we can achieve with the funds we have available. I think, as Councillor Jurisevic said, you know, it's a shame that Noosa hasn't received their fair share of the funding in regard to other councils, and it's certainly something that I'm happy to advocate to the State government for, or any councillors have to advocate for funding to the State government to receive that, because we are very much a. An outdoor water sports loving, whether it's stand-up paddle boards, whether it's non-motorised, whether it's motorised, our river is very much loved and used, and we need to ensure that we have the necessary facilities, not over demand, but we certainly can cater for all our residents. Well, our residents is number one, just with whatever they do. So I think that your funding is always great when it's not coming from our ratepayers, and so that's something I'm certainly happy to advocate for. But thank you for, as I said, your detailed analysis, appreciate any other councillors? I just wanted to, yeah, firstly thank everyone. I think, just coming off what Mayor Clare said, in roles of advocacy, I think even though the report from the State has seen that it hasn't like Councillor Stockwell said on that real localised level about the limited air capacity, I think those gaps in the report and we feel that those areas that weren't addressed actually gives us as a council really good opportunity to identify and focus on those areas that as a local government area that we want to see you know more recreational use and opportunities for our carrying capacity to be you know addressed and funded. Funding come from other levels. So I see this as a really good opportunity to actually help inform us with our local planning and management of the river and maybe that will help us inform our river plan or how we will move so I actually welcome the opportunity to really now give targeted advocacy for the areas that I see in the report from state that we feel don't actually manage that really localised area so yeah I think you can look at it as something we can really focus on moving forward to fill those gaps that we have identified and our recreational users at the river to move forward and give some positive outcomes through our local community through our planning. So thank you. Amelia Lorentson 02:00:29.799
Councillor Lorentson. On page 16 BMT report 2.3.2 outdated facilities a review of recreational facilities around Noosa indicates no significant increases to boat rank capacity in the last 30 years. So to me the issue in front the of us is not about interesting or facilitating growth. It's about addressing just immediate issues. It's about catching up. So I'm quite encouraged and excited by the recommendation and the report in front of us. I think there are real opportunities for us to catch up in those last 30 years. Noosaville foreshore master plan and the initiation of planning processes with MSQ and TMR or upgrade facilities noted in the recommendation E. So to me, it's really catch up and we've got the opportunity. Frank Wilkie 02:01:41.621
So anyone listening, this is really our first real step forward. Karen, do you wish to close? Karen Finzel 02:01:56.180
Just again, thank you for all the work the staff's done and looking forward to future conversations and opportunity to advocate in this space. So thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:02:05.801
Good promotion ladies and gentlemen. That is unanimous. Yeah. Can we ask if we have a. Absolutely. By the way. Frank Wilkie 02:14:52.380
Just let us know when we're on. Okay. Welcome back, everybody. We're up to item 6.1, which is a minor change to existing approval for material change use to increase the use area for a community use education type 3 adult and includes business use office type 3 veterinary situated at 88 A and 90 Goodchap Street, Noosaville. Welcome, Georgina. And welcome Patrick. Could you give us a bit of an overview please? Georgina 02:15:17.874
Yes, so I suppose we're all familiar with the site. We're on the corner of Goodchap Street and Eumundi Noosa Road. The application in front of us today is for the purpose of oncology treatment which will include a purpose-built building. And this building is going to be like located in the southeastern of the lot so via Eumundi Noosa Road frontage. The three main aspects of this application that's informed the assessment of our application, given us a bit of guidance, is in relation to car parking, an increase of GFA on the side, and infill of a pedestrian link, which is internal to the existing building, which is referred to as building A in the report that we have in front of us. So in terms of car parking, location the of the bunker will result in a removal, in removing 17 car parking spaces, and such spaces will be offset across the site. Applicant a number of previously approved under prior approval, which is 369 spaces, so they've managed to incorporate that into the existing development layout as well as provide five additional spaces on the site. The application was referred to an external traffic consultant who has reviewed the application and agrees with the applicant with the maintaining the 369 car parking spaces. Rather than despite the increase of floor area sorry and this is given the nature that the use is not a high turnover and the bunker can only treat one person at a time. It is be comparable to a recent approval that's been approved at Noosa Civic where weight was given to the extension with where it was approved for oncology treatment and a car parking relaxation was also provided then so this is somewhat comparable to the two in regard to the car parking arrangement on the site. In terms of the increase of floor area, you'll be noted in the report that we don't currently comply with one of the acceptable outcomes but in this instance, in this situation, the design of the building is considered reasonable and appropriate. There's also been some conditions imposed in relation to landscaping so we can increase and improve that on the site. And then thirdly. Have the applicant has proposed to infill a pedestrian link which is internal to building A and the purpose of that is to facilitate connection from the existing internal arrangement to the oncology bunker. It is to be noted that in this respect there was a comment made by a member of the public who operates in one of the businesses within building A and did have concerns in relation to the infill of the pedestrian link however having a look at this site is believed there's still alternative routes of access the pedestrian crossings remaining in its place it's getting realigned and there's also stairways from the lower level car parking space to go up to such a tenancy and I suppose for these reasons as well as contained in the report the minor change has been recommended for approval. Frank Wilkie 02:18:33.441
This is our recommendation. Any questions? Joe Jurisevic 02:18:39.762
I'm just trying to piece together some of the information here on the diagram. If I go to the, which are the three downhills I've got here, the development plan has replied. And I go to page, figure three. To site plan and floor plan on figures two and three, I can see where the blue shaded area in figure three is the proposed building extension. That's the additional area. That's the, that's where it's proposed to be located on the Noosa, Cooroy side, which is probably the lesser utilised because the frontages are all on the Goodchap Street side. But I notice in that traders lane, there are arrows indicating Noosa, Cooroy entry and exit to traders lane. Now my understanding is traders lane actually has a gate upon it. So is that going to be opened up as a result of this and access to traders lane? No, so the existing arrangement will existing arrangement will remain. So part of the prior approval, there are some conditions that relate to the use of that area only for service vehicles and ambulance access. Okay, so that is just emergency access only or in certain circumstances access. Yes. I just saw those arrows to and from and was wondering whether that changed any of that framework. I didn't read anything, but those arrows made me question it. And so the figure in figure five perspective, which didn't just say anything other than perspective, that's what the bunker will essentially look like as a block addition where you see windows the windows, the are actually facades to make it look like it's an incorporation and the block treatment is similar to the block treatment of the actual facade of the building, so to try and make it blend in. Okay, that's my understanding. There. I think that was questions I had in that regard. Oh yeah, so the traffic flow now, the arrows indicating there on the site now indicate we've passed our bunker, we have one-way traffic flow only. To go downstairs or all the way along. There was no, my understanding is there is an underground, an undercroft or underground car park there was no proposal to, the reason I ask this is because we had a another development proposal with a bunker of this nature was to be in the car park or in the underground area. There's no, there was no thought to place area. Always off to the side as an addition. That is correct. Noting that it complies with the setback requirements as well. As a result of that, it does comply with all the other setbacks. It does, that's correct. You pre-empted where I was going with that. Thank you Patrick. That's it. Amelia Lorentson 02:21:37.819
Just a quick question, Patrick. This has come through as a minor change. An additional building or an extension of a building 133 square metres, that's considered minor? Patrick Murphy 02:21:50.678
In the context of this overall development, where you've got one is over 3,000 square metres of GFA, and the context of the whole site it is certainly. It is, thank you, that clarifies that. And it's a use that's consistent with the approval as well, it's not introducing a new use. Joe Jurisevic 02:22:09.075
Have another question and I can't remember attachments it relates to just to Frank Wilkie 02:22:17.608
Clarify Georgina the addition because it's an oncology bunker one patient at a time and the car parking requirement of 360 million car parks is you know, it consistent. Patrick Murphy 02:22:31.281
Well it was considered that the existing is extended car parking is suitable for the whole site so whilst this floor area would normally require an increase in car parking in this instance due to the nature of the use and that's been reflected in the proposed Frank Wilkie 02:22:47.674
So it's deemed the car parking that would be available on the site is adequate. That's correct. We have a motion before the councillors. Joe Jurisevic 02:22:59.094
Sorry governor, I've got another question, I'm just trying to find the element with regard to the planning schemes that currently stands, with regard to lots being 1,000 square metres and this one had 3,000 square metres. This was approved. There's something about the size of the lots, Patrick, and I'm trying to find it in the wording, around how large, under the planning scheme, how large a lot should be. What was here was sort of three times that size. So it relates to the gross floor area of a community, a building. A building on a community facility's own site I found the existing development exceeds 1,000 square metres of building A already having a total gross floor area greater than 3,000 square metres. The proposal seeks a further 133 square metres. If it already the of 3,000 square metres, how does a further addition. Patrick Murphy 02:23:57.634
Yeah, so when this was constructed, there was no requirement on gross floor area in the scheme or site cover. So this current scheme now has a requirement that buildings don't exceed a gross floor area of 1,000 square metres. This building exceeds that requirement. Now, the calculation that's been done, if you go to that figure three that you referred to before, it's actually of all the tenancies, and if you look at that, you'll see that there is actually a break in the building in several sections, and when you actually look at this building, it does appear as multiple buildings. But notwithstanding, we have a building that is of 3,000 square metres, a significant size, and the additional 133 square metres is quite inconsequential in terms of the scale of the existing appearance of the building, and noting the form of the development they're proposing in terms of the scullion roof, the materials that are similar to the development, we consider it will be a suitable adjunct to the existing building. Joe Jurisevic 02:24:57.707
Way I'm reading this, the only reason for that limitation is because it's in the community facilities zone. That's correct. So if it was in another zone, like a commercial development, like Noosa Civic shopping centre, it's well over 1,000 square metres. That's correct. It doesn't have the same zone. Okay. So it's because of the zone that it's in that's right. Patrick Murphy 02:25:19.883
And I think we need to be mindful of the types of uses that we sometimes put into these zonings that they actually do require a significant floor plate as well. So you do have some instances where 1,000 square metres may not be suitable. Joe Jurisevic 02:25:30.596
Here's the element I'm trying to understand. How is this a community facilities zone building in a community facilities zone when it's a commercial building in something like the centre shopping centre or some sort of commercial precinct building would be? Patrick Murphy 02:25:49.469
Because when you look at the uses that are permitted in that occur on this site we're talking about medical facilities. Joe Jurisevic 02:25:55.406
School yeah education childcare okay so it's certainly that's how that Brian Stockwell 02:26:01.786
Just follow up on that I presume historically that it was deliberately zoned so it wouldn't be able to drawer go to the broad commercial use in that site and that was actually targeting to get more of these that's that is correct I didn't recall it used to have a higher level of importance. Frank Wilkie 02:26:27.436
Someone care to move the motion please. SPEAKER_09 02:26:30.096
Have you moved. Councillor Jurisevic seconded Mayor Stewart. Joe Jurisevic 02:26:36.280
I don't really have a lot to say to it, I'm just trying to understand development. The might of change, the need clearly for these type of facilities for the local community to provide additional assessment and treatment facilities. Medical conditions associated with this-- development, which has a number of medical facilitations within. I support it, thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:27:06.698
Much. Anybody else with a suspecting motion? Put to favour. That's unanimous. Karen Finzel, Georgina. 6.2 is Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation annual report and operational plan. We have Kim Rawlings. Slowly, because Rebecca has just left. SPEAKER_10_b 02:27:48.600
Councillors, much. This report is the annual report from the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation in accordance with the funding and partnership agreement. It outlines the achievements of the NBRF over the last 12 months. It provides their audited financial statements also outlines their funding request for the current for the future budget for council consideration and an indication of what their current priorities are for the next 12 months so this report is in accordance with the requirements of the funding agreement and meets the requirements of their reporting obligations. For your consideration. Frank Wilkie 02:28:32.804
And we will have the budget consultation feedback workshop tomorrow. Yes. And I imagine that's where we can thrash out funding requests such as this. That's right. On board feedback about SPEAKER_10_b 02:28:46.495
The proposal. Yeah, absolutely. The NBRF have put a particular figure in that they've requested of $180,000 annual support. In the draft budget, council have allocated $125,000 or $120,000 support. So yes, may be some feedback through that process in the consideration of the final budget. Frank Wilkie 02:29:07.226
Rebecca, is there anything else you want to add about what we're looking at here, please? SPEAKER_02 02:29:11.286
As I think she's it. Outlined it quite well. So the financial report's been independently audited and the report's come back to say that the NBRF are in a stable financial position and that the financial report is sufficient and appropriate, complies with Australian accounting standards and complies with the requirements of our funding agreement, which is key for council. Joe Jurisevic 02:29:43.210
Yeah um there's a little funny group there how long does the funding agreement go over? It's a 4 year term. And are there KPIs in that funding agreement? For their reporting requirements, for an operational plan. An annual report to be prepared and an annual financial report as well. This report has ticked all of those parameters I want to clarify, have I been able to see that? Frank Wilkie 02:30:15.540
What? Right, any other questions? Staff, councillors, the NBRF academy has moved the motion for the report. Moved by Councillor Lorentson, seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. To speak to me. Amelia Lorentson 02:30:31.541
Yeah, I'll just say that the partnership shows our commitment as a council in supporting organisations and people committed to our goals which conserving and protecting our natural and built environment. I would also like to note and thank the volunteer boards for their commitment to their biosphere but also note their in-kind contribution and that's noted in the report as annually exceeding three hundred and ninety thousand dollars and I think they gave themselves a value of about two hundred dollars per hour so thank you that provides considerable value go back to the NBRF and also to Noosa Shire. Councillor Lorentson. Frank Wilkie 02:31:29.266
Anybody else wish to speak? Tom. Tom Wegener 02:31:30.946
Well I'll just speak as a Director. I'd just like to say that the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation is evolving and in the background as Councillor Stockwell has said that there's movement with the biosphere perhaps sharing resources with NYCHA and other groups and this whole concept of informing. Helping, assisting council with the public face with projects out there is going forward with the biosphere reserve foundation and it's actually been on a really nice consistent track going forward for quite some time. Karen Finzel 02:32:14.313
Yeah, I just I guess we'll have opportunity to talk about it like at the workshop tomorrow. I did just wonder, I flagged the 68 percent of contract for support staff on page 223. I just wonder like this seemed a significant amount to me. I'm not a business expert. Discuss that further in terms of percentage of expenditure going back to support staff. SPEAKER_10_b 02:32:50.233
Anyway, I guess we can discuss that further in terms of percentage of expenditure going back to support staff. We provide a funding amount on an annual basis. It's not specified in the funding agreement what the amount is. To be dealt with and decided by council on an annual basis. But what it does say is that we'll provide support for both operational needs to support the organisation and then project funding. Council provides an amount and then the NBRF determines spent that. Whether it's spent on operational administrative support or whether it's spent on projects. We don't specify what the percentage is, it's the NBRF's decision how that's done. Joe, Joe Jurisevic 02:33:30.241
I'd like to congratulate the NBRF on their achievement today. Achievements today, I think the report indicates a number of well-structured and well-thought-out projects that they've been and supporting, particularly with regard to koala conservation, blossom plants, and including a koala vaccine trial, I think is correct, they are incorporating opportunities for students to be involved in operations here, they are generating one of one of the things that we were talked about is the opportunities for external funding opportunities coming in and they are certainly displaying an opportunity of external funds coming into the organisation to help facilitate this, the search for grants and the like and I think that the results and the projects they've that went out been undertaking have been well worthwhile. The return on investment in most of these projects from three to seven to one in some regards is a phenomenal return for a community based organisation and the science that they incorporate in all of their projects and deliveries is commensurate. Brian. Brian Stockwell 02:34:57.969
Yes, the reports are a very valuable statement of what's happened over the last year. I think sustainability forums are driving, I suppose, this organisation in probably a different, more defined role than what perhaps was envisaged back in the 2014-2016 council. So I think what these documents and. The review that sort of identifies the four strategic objectives of the current board members, which includes inspiring positive behaviour change, of leveraging the brand to attract purpose-led collaboration and partnerships, and, you know, the other thing that we saw in those projects is that role in science brokerage, like global government's not great about finding innovative solutions to real world problems, but if we work well with the biosphere board, their links and their partnerships with the university and researchers can help solve some of those problems. Because you know the other strategic objectives, number one, is to make sure that Noosa maintains its UNESCO biosphere reserve status. That's not a given. Every ten years we have to prove we're doing the right thing and we're managing it. And yes this is a demonstration of a sustainable community where people and nature are in the right balance and that we live in a great place and all the little critters and fauna also enjoy living here. Amelia Lorentson 02:36:21.474
I'd just like to add that I have taken part in quite a few of the symposiums and opportunities at the NBREF including marine symposium, the SHARP program, Rodriguez PhD on ascertaining the cultural social value of our beaches, spoken to JD about wetlands, attended a check of the sustainability so I really speak from someone who's actually been part of the biosphere and I think that's the opportunity it provides not just to myself as a Councillor but to also for all the residents. It's our opportunity to be a stakeholder in conservation efforts. So I again just take the opportunity to thank the NBRE, the volunteers and that brain trust, you know, sustainable communities work not in silo, it's not just council, it's these environmental community groups that are helping us achieve our goals. That's all. With much love and favour, Frank Wilkie 02:37:42.728
That is unanimous. Thank you Rebecca and Kim. Next up, we have encroachments, policy and organisational procedures. And again, Mel and Rebecca, and we have some COIs. Patrick Murphy 02:38:07.000
Can I speak first? Yes. Chair, we've got some legal advice this morning from King & Co, that the draft policy does not constitute a planning scheme, even though it's Shire-wide. Because not a planning scheme, it does not. So just so everyone's aware. Therefore, it does not come under the ambit of the ordinary business matter exemption contained in section 150 EF1B of the Local Government Act 2009. Just so that's. Essentially the reason why there are a number of CLIs on this particular. Joe Jurisevic 02:38:39.489
But it is a policy, not a planning scheme. So therefore, it doesn't. It's not exempt from conflict of interest. Okay. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 02:38:49.709
Councillor Lorentson I, Councillor Lorentson, inform the meeting that in considering the encroachment policy and managing any perceived conflict of interest, members of my family have had encroachments in the past and there may be encroachments in public areas that I am not fully aware of. To manage in relation to the matters, I believe it is fitting to declare a consideration of this policy and as an abundance of caution. I also note the legal advice received this morning from King & Co that the draft policy does not constitute a planning scheme as defined and therefore does not come within the ambit of the ordinary business matter exemption contained in section 150EF1B of the Local Government Act. I will now leave the room and participate in the discussion. Frank Wilkie 02:39:47.289
Finzel? Cllr Finzel: Karen Finzel 02:39:47.920
I, Councillor Finzel, inform the meeting that I declare of a conflict of interest in this matter, as of March 2020, Mr Peter Butt, who I believe is an executive member of the Eastern Beaches Protection Association, who was submitted in the eastern beaches portion. Beaches management plan, which addresses management issues relevant to encroachments. Peter buck donated $1,666.66 to my 2020 election. The election campaign, I was one of three candidates that were asked to work now as Future Noosa, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest, I am now in the meeting room of the eastern submitters voted department. Thank you, Frank Wilkie 02:40:26.979
Councillor Finzel. Thank you. I would like to declare my potential, I'll make that a declarable conflict of interest conflict for item 6.3, charter-Wide student encouragement policy in early 2020. I received an electrical donation of $750 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the president of the british and british community association. PBCA has made submissions requesting council address illegal encroachments. Please take up. Do its job. Just address illegal encroachments. I and all the PBCA stand to gain personal materials through the introduction of the Shire-wide policy. However, I'll make this declaration out of an abundance of portion given the scope and interpretation of conflicts of interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. Castles, this is similar to the declaration made about the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Reserves Management Plan not being ordinary council business. I'm going to appoint him. Oh, so he's Chair now. Yeah. We're going to have to be a point in this chain. Tom Wegener 02:41:43.080
I nominate Joe as Chair. Karen Finzel 02:41:46.300
I'll say that. SPEAKER_08 02:41:53.240
Yeah. All do you have a declaration? Joe Jurisevic 02:41:56.900
Are you going to vote yourself? I'll support. Yes, I'm just reading through the declaration. Sorry, I'm trying to get an understanding. Yeah, all right. Council, do we have any questions for Councillor Wilkie in this regard? Karen Finzel 02:42:10.740
Does anybody like to make a resolution in this? I'll speak to it. Councillor Wilkie, I'm going to stick to what I've always done, and I think I voted for you to go outside the room and invite you for caution in the Eastern Beaches so I can maintain my continuality in that. And you're moving that Councillor Wilkie would leave the room? Yes, I will. Won't. Yes. Normally just going to. Joe Jurisevic 02:42:33.689
That's all right. That's what you're normally. Just getting clarifying what you are. What the resolution that you're moving is. Do I have a seconder? I'll second for the purpose of debate. Councillor Wegener? Councillor Stewart? Do you wish to. Did you have a reason? No, I was just. I was involved in the meeting, Mr Chair, of my position. Not necessarily. So you're not moving the resolution? No, I wasn't moving it. That would be. My misunderstanding, I thought you were moving the resolution. No, because the resolution is that Wilkie. No, Councillor I'm not moving it because it was originally that he participate. So disregard that. I misunderstood that Councillor Stewart was moving the resolution. No, I was just. Not declaring a position. I was just. Pretty formal position. OK. Councillor Wilkie out of. OK. What we've got at the moment is an opportunity to ask questions. To move a resolution as regards to Councillor Wilkie's standing in this matter. Do any of the councillors have a position with regard to whether Councillor Wilkie should stay or go? And prepared to move a resolution in that regard? I'll move that. Councillor Wilkie stays in the room. So, we'll note that council. Note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Wilkie and the determines in the public interest that Councillor Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because council believes that neither Councillor Wilkie nor the PBCA. Can we just correct the wording there? But either Councillor Wilkie nor the PBCA stand to gain personal returnees from the introduction of this Shire-wide policy and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Is that what you're moving, Councillor Wilkie? Yeah, exactly. I'm goodbye. We'll talk about it next time. You can't? Oh, because you've got a declarable conflict. Okay, well, I'll second it. Councillor Wegener, do you wish to Tom Wegener 02:44:15.783
Speak to it? Yeah, again, you missed my wonderful elocution, and then, what is it, speaking lyrically? No, what is it that you love to say? Ah, anyway, that it's important that we have people involved in the community here, and it shouldn't be stifling stately affect on our ability to do things within the community and be, you know, help to help community groups. So we don't want to self-censure ourselves by always leaving the room. We want to work with them to declare the conflict of interest. Joe Jurisevic 02:44:49.686
I'm going to say that. Waxing lyrical. To be consistent with what we've iterated in the past and the position we've had throughout the meeting today, that I'll support this element of the resolution. So I do agree that. Believe I have a chance of working on. PBCA stand to have any material gain through this. I understand that many groups were given the opportunity to submit towards the policy and have positions in this regard to elements of encouragement encroachment. I think many in the community do. I'm prepared to support Councillor Wilkie's statement at the meeting. Anyone want to say anything? SPEAKER_04_b 02:45:40.318
Maintaining consistency, I note that Councillor Finzel left on the basis that someone who supported her through the campaign through a monetary donation and also sits on the executive and was involved in this, on that basis she left the room, so I don't see too much. I don't see anything different between that and Councillor Wilkie, so that's why I'm. And also based on consistency. In previous decisions I've made, I think it prudent in this instance that Councillor Wilkie remove himself from the room. SPEAKER_09_b 02:46:12.954
All right. Okay. I'm going I've got nothing further to add, Councillor Wilkie, to close. We'll put it to the vote. All in favour? Joe Jurisevic 02:46:23.998
Against? Motions carried, two to one. Given the chance of luck, Wilkie committed. Is permitted to stay in the room, I would assume that Councillor Wilkie will resume the Chair. Frank Wilkie 02:46:39.539
If I can clarify the difference between PBCA and EPA is that EPA members do stand to gain or lose materially or personally as a result of an encroachment's policy. PBCA members do not. SPEAKER_07_b 02:46:57.341
Okay. Councillor Stockwell. I too wish to declare that I can take out the potential, not using the copy because there's a few changes, wasn't there? Brian Stockwell 02:47:08.115
Oh, we'll get it together. I'd like to declare I can declare we'll accomplish the interests of item 6.3 of the Shire-wide encroachment's policy. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $500,000 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry cotterill. Barry cotterill is the president of the Peregian Beach community association. Has made submissions requesting council address illegal encroachments. Neither I nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of the Shire-wide policy, however. I make this declaration out of an abundance of caution given the possible scope and interpretation of the conflict of interest rulings. I believe I can make an impartial decision in the public interest in this matter and leave it to the meeting to determine whether I stay in the meeting room. Frank Wilkie 02:47:57.084
I'm not going to vote on this matter, it's my work to share, so I'm going to need someone to. I'll move. SPEAKER_04_b 02:48:02.604
Yeah, look, I have in the past, I will do what I always do, and that's remain consistent, and I have moved that Councillor Stockwell. Linda, that box is in the way. Yep. Thank you. That Councillor knightley declare a conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell, and determine that it is in the public interest that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on this matter, because neither Councillor Stockwell nor the PBCA stand to bear personally and materially through the introduction of the Shire-wide policy, and therefore a resident person would trust the time decisions made in the public interest. So seconded. By Councillor Jurisevic. Ms Stewart? No, this is what I've made. I have. Always voted in this way previously, so as I said, to maintain consistency, I will continue on with that. Joe Jurisevic 02:48:47.779
In a similar vein, I do not see that the community group stand to gain personal materials through the introduction of Shire-wide policy and. To be consistent with the way that we have addressed this matter of conflict in the past, I'm happy to support Councillor Stockwell remaining in the room. Tom Wegener 02:49:07.136
That's what everyone used to speak to. Just on the policy side of it, it's. Very good for Noosa to have experts such as Councillor Stockwell in the room to discuss these issues that he knows probably more about than the rest of us. Frank Wilkie 02:49:27.298
Vote, those in favour? That's unanimous, Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie do not vote on the motion. Right. Well, welcome to another two hours of conflict. There we go. To give us an overview of. What we're looking at today, please, with this shy white encroachments policy. Mel 02:49:48.755
Okay. So the encroachments policy was. Has got quite a bit of background in the chat also the Environment Strategy. And one of the directions was that the coastal management plan actually included an encroachments policy. Now, in the first Councillor workshop that we had at the beginning of last year, it became really clear that it was a Shire-wide issue that needed to escape from the confines of the coastal management plan, and that's what we've got here now. We've got a Shire-wide policy that applies to all council-managed land, not just bushland. And I guess the real opportunity here is for us to work with the of council land pieces that are in our neighbourhoods. So this is the bit of bushland out the back of your house, this is the trees that you walk under when you go to school, this is the space out the front of your house where the public services are delivered to your house, be it council lighting, being able to move through the community, being able to talk to your neighbours, and I guess that's why it's so important. Also, we've had quite a bit of community input asking for us to better manage our encroachments in our council managed land. Managed land. Bushland has been quite a focus for quite a few of these groups, but we're also getting a lot of requests to deal with issues in our road reserves. We did a little bit of work around how many of these matters we're receiving and we're receiving at least 100 every year. In many cases, we're having to deal with those situations again and again, because they're not being neatly resolved. Community, so we've also had a lot of requests from our council officers, they want us really strong frame, a firm framework that a allows them to deal consistently with these issues, that it doesn't matter what kind of encroachment it is, it doesn't matter who's doing the encroachment, it doesn't particularly matter where it is, if it's having that level of impact or impact on the environment, if it's hindering our ability to achieve some of our strategic outcomes, that's what should be the driver around what we're doing. So we've created a bit of a risk assessment framework that allows us to do that. Consistent assessment and that's what we've got here. It's been broken into two sections the policies says what we're trying to achieve and then the procedures actually break it down into the different types of council managed land to describe how we're going to achieve those outcomes and I guess the biggest thing is that we actually if these encroachments are in the way of achieving these outcomes achieving these community or environmental outcomes that we do have a recovery process in place as well and guess that also I ties in with the other aspect of this is that the implementation of the plan particularly the recovery is funded by council that's been a major hindrance in the past every bit of bushland is different it needs a site specific approach to how we just haven't had the capacity to provide that level of input back into the enforcement process and that's part of what we've done here is actually having somebody that specialises in that yeah and this is while it's a new policy it's not actually we're not actually giving us power giving ourselves powers that we didn't already have it's all under local law for which is roads reserves and other council managed land and assets and it helps manage protect the values of those facilities in those areas by managing access and by restricting the kinds of activities that the community can take in those areas that's driving vehicles in areas outside of those designated for it say the constructed portions of roads car parks that kind of thing and also the type of impacts that can cause problems typically vegetation damage any kind of improvements or encroachments yeah that's where we are with the framework Frank Wilkie 02:54:34.854
And you're proposing an educated approach as Mel 02:54:37.034
Yes very much so that's very much the first step in all of this is actually giving people a better understanding of how they can be a good bushland neighbour it ties in with the urban greening program which is the community mediated planting of verges it gives a really firm framework to how what kind of planting is acceptable in those verges and I community education and community that two-way communication will be really important it's been found to help change people's approaches to the bit of bushland out behind their place but we're also finding that our council officers conversations but they're finding that they're not getting the outcomes that they need without that sort of extra backup that the policy and the procedures will provide Frank Wilkie 02:55:35.884
Could you just talk a bit about the risk matrix that's going to be applied not going to, just because someone has a weed on their footpath or doesn't know there's going to be action, it's very much a risk-based, educated approach. Mel 02:55:49.337
So we've developed a risk assessment matrix looking at all of the types of impacts that you can have on council managed land so where are we right up so the first one is health and safety people and animals um so if it if it has negligible or low risk of injury to people using this the space, it will be in that area but particularly with health with health and safety risks if it goes into the high or the medium in that in that capacity it will be something that you have to act on. We're also looking at size and extent so we have different sizes and extents in the different types that we've got there so we've got roads parks and council managed bushland and so basically we're going if in bushland if it extends outside of the fire risk management measure in that specific location it's regarded as medium or high risk bushfire risk management and access one of the major considerations that we've got for encroachments into bushland is that it complicates our management access in a lot of cases it can be the bridging fuel between the back of the house and into the garden and the bushland so that's making sure that we incorporate the fire management into any of our recovery procedures environmental harm while this is probably most obvious in bushland areas it is also a consideration in our other forms of bushland other forms of council managed land so say we've got erosion in a in a road reserve that drains you know everywhere's in a catchment basically and also vegetation community amenity and enjoyment and that it will be particularly important when it comes to a lot of our road reserves making it makes such a big impact on Noosa liveability how our communities look and that will be a consideration in that and yeah and then if it impacts as impacts on the public service of the nearby private property now one of these will be assessed with a score from one for low to three for high and if it gets above a certain level it will be regarded as a medium or a high thing and will trigger requirements if it's a low it may not need to be dealt with. You. Joe Jurisevic 02:58:29.033
One of the challenges that faced nearby council was people planting fruit trees and taking over verge out front of their place. Does this policy help us deal with the challenges that presents? One of the big problems that they had down there was that a lot of the public service element of the road reserve wasn't maintained. So there wasn't that through passage and things like that. Mel 02:59:03.868
Or just pedestrian passage and somewhere to put the bins, you know, that kind of thing. Does allow for productive gardens and perhaps fruit trees if they're under two metres high. But we still need to maintain that function, that public service function and also the amenity. Joe Jurisevic 02:59:25.182
What do you say, public services? You're referring to the hard infrastructure or the infrastructure that runs through a person's property or down an easement or the like? Mel 02:59:35.487
No, I'm talking about being a pedestrian can walk along the edge of the road without. There's no footpath, but they've still got an access. Yeah, that 1.5 will still be maintained. So it needs to meet all the other criteria of verge planting, yeah, and yeah, just, it's got a productive element. We've highlighted that they don't have exclusive use of the area and produce either. Joe Jurisevic 03:00:03.261
The fruit trees are there and they're free for the public to gather. Yeah. Because they're on public land. Yeah. Great, that's one. Two, I noticed the concept, I think Councillor Wilkie alluded to it, that education was at the forefront of this and I noticed the good neighbour concept there. Now that applies, I'm assuming that applies both ways, not just to the uh to the um but also to the council in this regard, with regard to what its responsibilities are in maintaining fire trails and the like in reserves and things? Yes, very much so. Going forward this will help guide the elements of maintenance the council has to undertake going forward, perhaps where some of the maintenance hasn't been undertaken before. Mel 03:00:54.629
Yes, and I guess the other thing too is to highlight that the encroachments enforcement so going won't outstrip the potential that we have for recovery. So the speed of the rollout for this will be dictated by how much recovery capacity we have. So we're not going to select go in and take out an encroachment and then just leave it to go to whatever, that it is actually becomes an actively managed revegetation. Or regeneration, or whatever's needed to get that back into good condition. And to also highlight that we will be retaining whatever fire management mitigation measure is needed in that location. We won't be taking it up to the back fence if. You know if we would won't be increasing people's fire risk, I guess. Frank Wilkie 03:01:47.883
And in partnership with the property owner, if possible? Mel 03:01:50.763
If possible, yeah. Joe Jurisevic 03:01:53.103
The principle element here is that if an encroachment is noted, or otherwise, pointing out something in the first instance, you might not be aware, but this is actually not permitted, and the person might go, "I just a simple fix. In a lot of cases, they haven't even thought about what that bit of bushland is, and what's happening out there. All the access is required, or things like that. Mel 03:02:17.518
Yeah, that's right. Frank Wilkie 03:02:21.418
Stockwell? I don't think they've moved, they've been adapted. Say seconded. Councillor Jurisevic. Moved. Councillor Stockwell. Brian. Brian Stockwell 03:02:28.851
This is a big tick in terms of a long-term, very annoying problem in this council. So, one of the first two years of me being on council, I started to get community groups complaining about encroachments and how that impacts on their ability to look after and their ability to take foreshores. We know that one of the things that a policy does is makes consistently across the whole of our organisation and it's not telling anyone anything they don't know, but in absence of this policy we have a sections of council going out with different attitudes and different approaches and not always getting a really good outcome for the environment, the park, the road, whatever. So now we've got a consistent approach. That's one governance issue that is really well addressed. And also I think the risk assessment approach is really valuable now. It's taken a bit longer to get to this point than I would have liked. I could have put a budget BID in four years ago, five years ago. But what we've now got is good. The risk assessment approach the and criteria are really useful to both guide staff, but if you are a person that has got an encroachment, it should also guide you. Shouldn't wait for a council staff member to come knocking on the door. You should say, "Oh, okay." I'm high risk. I'm medium risk. I need to do something about it." And then it also will give them a list of identified preferred species. So it's a really good list of native species that are suitable for our Shire that people can look at. You know, we've had the discussion about the section about fitchville vegetable and productive gardens on the road verges. That's a great discussion to have. It was one the council has brought up. I won't say that we had to convince staff but we certainly made it clear that we supported and now the policy, now the procedures say council supports vegetable and productive gardens on road verges that are well maintained, well and consistently maintained, are of neat appearance, meet all the requirements that apply to private gardens and landscaping and road verges, and can be picked by children on the way home. No, the last one's mine. But it's not a big thing in our Shire at the moment. In other areas it's bigger, where there's not a lot of space, but it is something that if it's not native, it should be productive. And to me that's a big one. We also know there's been a lot of calls for compliance action, so we started the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and the first thing they came to consensus on was the need to look at encroachments on the river, and particularly quite a lot that are in the frying pan area. And so this policy and procedures give us a framework to address that. And I'm not going into any great detail, but of course the eastern beaches is going to be a strong place, because the draft coastal management plan and the audit done with that identified that 90% of properties along the eastern beaches some form of encroachment that's massive and that's you know we have to start in the highest risk areas and that's what this policy and procedures will do it will guide staff will make it really clear to individuals who some of them some a lot of those encroachments probably existed before the current people own the block of land or the house and so it will give them a clear indication what's acceptable what's not and as I said as Councillor Wilkie has been clear to point out our approach is first to make sure people understand what the policy says seek their voluntary compliance and use what we already have in existence under local law for as the enforcement mechanism if needed SPEAKER_04_b 03:06:20.510
Thank you very much the 90% of us this wasn't my question but I will follow it up now the 90% stat that the council allotted to encroachments along the eastern beaches. Do we know if that's legal or illegal? Do we know the breakdown of that? And do we have confirmation that it is 90%? Mel 03:06:40.635
It's more than 90% of the areas that we've mapped so far. Eastern beaches? Yeah, along the eastern beaches. That being said, that's fairly similar to other areas, we just haven't done that very precise breakdown yet because it's backed up by past condition mapping. We don't define encroachments as illegal or all legal it's just an encroachment is going over the boundary from one block of land into another block of land if you know what I mean and that's what we're looking at will be detained then I'm not just saying illegal so they basically yeah but that's we don't we're not using that term we're just saying encroachments basically um yeah and that's what it is it's extending your use into another person's land or you know extending with a building or a garden or whatever and 90% yeah it's I was really surprised I work in these spaces and I knew that there was a lot but when I actually went out and did the counting I was really surprised SPEAKER_04_b 03:07:57.867
More questions um so this is a whole of Shire yes policy it's not deemed to be in one particular area that's correct yeah and it's um from what we've been told this is really not and I think you said it we're not um getting any more you're not getting any more new powers so to speak this is already things are this is already being implemented across our organisation by various different parts of our organisation or various different parts of the organisation and consolidating it into one policy SPEAKER_02 03:08:29.565
Yes so this gives us a little bit more guidance on how to take a consistent approach and also best to prioritise the encroachment activities that we're doing in terms of compliance that you know with the level of encroachments that there are out there there's no would be able to get to each and all of them and nor would they wish to that risk matrix is really important for that to be able to have a look at the ones that are causing the most and impact that's what the community is calling us to do is to take a more active approach in managing those so they don't continue to proliferate but it's not going after the small Fry by any by any means it's being able to understand how do we apply the existing powers that are in the local law in a clear and consistent way and being able to resource that within council. SPEAKER_04_b 03:09:25.716
A big justification for the improvement policy has been the fact that it can pose a harm to people's safety, encroachments can be across fire breaks, fire trails, fire access so I imagine is that the area it's going to be first targeted those that pose the most risk and safety to our community? SPEAKER_02 03:09:43.996
Yeah that's first and forefront foremost in the risk matrix is safety being the first criteria, where it does impede the ability for fire access personnel or vehicles to be able to get through the back within fire break areas behind properties. That we do have instances of where we have private gardens that go into those areas fencing hedges that make it really difficult to be able to get that important access through so yeah it's definitely a priority. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:10:19.916
Okay, Councillor Wegener. Tom Wegener 03:10:21.956
It seems that you've seen the matrix used in the environment area before for that example choosing the top nine and code for that the animals but this is going to be an evolving matrix it seems because as you make decisions and make a call give it a number saying well it's a low priority high priority but then you'll actually be able to reflect on that and then in the future and say well this is what we did there this is you know just down the Street we're going to do the same thing here so there's going to be sort of a stare decisis or it's a continuation of that what is it um started you know started decisis it's like an iterative process yeah but it's when you did the same decision that decision kind of has standing for the next decision precedent that's the word getting old. Uh so yeah so the precedent like you will be that the matrix be used as a precedent moving forward and evolving our um our strategy and our enforcement of encroachments Mel 03:11:27.989
It gives it will be used like that I feel um it does give a really firm framework to document your decision making process um to actually look at all of these aspects that may not be immediately obvious um to everybody who's involved in this process um and yeah it will give you that framework like if saying that and I guess the other thing it will do if you're seeing a lot of this similar type of um impact coming through that you can actually do a bit of education specific to that but um yeah I agree that it will create precedence hopefully. Tom Wegener 03:12:07.265
I'll speak to it I think this is our um most interesting and complex policy that has come to us so far and the reason is it affects everybody has encroachments everybody's land in front of their house there is a road reserve or wherever every park every we're always on public land and there's always encroachments on public land so it's a really to and fro but it affects everybody on a daily basis basically so it's enormously important and I think it's very good that you're bringing a language to this the matrix because it gives measurements and parameters to be able to discuss the encroachments and bringing a way of talking about these things which and measuring them and measuring the importance it's really far-reaching and it brings the goal is certainty and clarity in what people I that we've brought up it gives you very consistent you know ideas to say oh there's the policy I can read this it's clear I can put my veggie patch in there providing people can still walk past I think it does that and so I think it'll make life easier for a lot of people that want to do stuff on the verge on public land what can they do what good can't they fantastic. So good luck with carrying it through it's gonna take a big budget and a lot of work but congratulations for taking this step forward Joe Jurisevic 03:13:29.112
Thank you words on the board in front of us develop clear plan, providing education, awareness and community education materials to be developed to support community understanding. That's a large part of the community understanding what is public land and what public land is there for we all have an element of public land in front of their house not everybody encroaches on it everybody is responsible for maintaining an element of it and mowing their front bird to have some shade trees on the front the things along those lines that the council determine the nature of so the great part of this policy is not what you can't do it also incorporates what you can do so it's not just about big stick really facilitating the understanding what public land is the value of public land and the need to keep a clear way so that people can walk safely down we don't have footpaths everywhere we and not everyone wants to walk on the road so that you can walk safely down the uh down the grass nature strip or refuge or whatever you want to call us we've gone on a nature strip we don't use that term here in Queensland that much don't utilise any meaning that much but uh it's to understand the elements of it um fire trials in particular um you know I know um a property not far from where I live continued their back fence right across the fire truck and it's important for them to understand that sorry this is a fire access trail you may abut the uh the reserve but that part of the reserve is the fire truck and in the event of an emergency you're going to be the one screaming saying hey the fire is coming my way you can't get a fire truck you know if we can't explain that as clearly and articulate that the reasons why those fire trails are so important so that vehicles can defend property and life when required so I think this is a great a great way forward I said I think it's important that we have that uh um other councils have been challenged by elements such as Street trees and that on Street uh Street foods and the like this helps guide anybody that's interested in undertaking that in the ways and means that they can approach council to facilitate put this. That to that if it's something they said say. Good luck. Desire. But uh the levels of encroachments where particularly fire trails are impacted and gardens are extended into internal areas and things I think are things that are important to explain and understand and to have a job with going forward for this community as a whole. Frank Wilkie 03:16:12.579
Congratulations on getting this policy this far. I think it's um vastly improves the way council will be able to engage with and harness the goodwill in the community. Currently as the Mayor said we have a local law which basically criminalises any form of encroachment, any form of interference with vegetation or a public road reserve or a nature strip is basically not permitted under the local law. But we know that there are very many good intentioned people uh in this community who take pride in their what they put on their nature on their footpath for example who want to help manage the bush land areas at the rear of their properties want to help maintain the fire access trials I see this um policy as a way of providing guidance to staff to enable take an educated approach to assist the good little people in our community who are wanting to contribute and help manage these public spaces and also take a risk-based approach to the encroachments that are posing a risk it won't have hopefully won't have offices, attending areas where the issues are very very minor posing very little risk to anyone and are basically the subject of some other sort of dispute. So yes, as Councillor Jurisevic said, it's an educated approach, we've developed a clear implementation plan outlining education, awareness, communication materials be developed to support to communication, awareness, communication materials to be developed to support community understanding and implementation of this policy. It's like lifting a veil of darkness that's been sitting over this area and inaction has for a long time. I think it's a very skilful piece of work. It's written from the right intentions. And outcomes in mind, which takes, which recognises the goodwill that's in the community. It's only a very small percentage of instances where there's bad faith and resistance, but I think it provides the work with each and everybody who has some form of encouragement, like we all do. So congratulations on this piece of work. Thank you. I okay, missed you. I missed you. This? Brian and Jo. SPEAKER_04_b 03:18:38.301
Has everyone else spoken to it? Except you and then Jo. Hasn't spoken to it. I will support this. Is a Shire-wide policy. I think that's really important to note. Shire-wide. Certainly, I draw attention as Councillor trusović said and Councillor Wilkie this is an education awareness and communication policy it's not necessarily a big stick I support this because we were told have had hundreds of complaints coming in and some very clearly around safety and about access to fire trails about people being unsafe feeling unsafe or not being able to get in and out of their properties because of the encroachments and that is something that certainly needs to be addressed and I think it's policy that isn't as you said that we are not necessarily garnishing a whole lot of new powers we are bringing together a whole lot of policies that have been across various areas of our organisation consolidating into the one which is important and the streamlines process and it gives certainty and clarity the organisation to council staff and that's a good thing to our community which is also very important so I will support this. Can I stop by Mr kloos? Oh yeah I will. Brian Stockwell 03:20:11.604
I think it's really good to clarify what it is and what it isn't. I think, I know he didn't mean it in the legal sense of the word but you're not a criminal if you break a local more misdemeanours in most cases. We can't send you to jail for planting the wrong tree on your footpath. But it puts it in the right context and yes it does talk about encroachment policy and having a response that's commensurate with the level of risk to the community in terms of safety, e.g. bushfires, but also in terms of risk to our assets, our natural assets, the things that people enjoy so much about living here and visiting here, is also consideration of that. And there's one thing that it also discriminates on, which hasn't been talked about, it defines what a new encroachment is. And the process for dealing with new encroachments is different to the historical ones. So it's quite clear in this policy, if you've done it over the last 12 months, that you're going to be you know, there's going to be a different stepwise process for you. It's not going to be if I go out and do a new one single forgiveness rather than commission. It's going to be the new encroachments. We do have what the community asked for when we had our representative presentations last year. It's more of a zero tolerance approach. Frank Wilkie 03:21:31.970
Thank you. I'll put the motion those in favour. That is unanimous. Thank you Noosa. Can come back in the room. Thank you very much. Welcome. Kyron, hello, Chelsea. Is relatively new to the world. Chelsea's relatively new to the waste department, but I thought it'd be worthwhile her seeing through the experience. The old EPS Thermal compaction. This must be the tenth one we've had, isn't it? There's been a few. I've got a very short. Joe Jurisevic 03:22:24.658
The contract, the contract, the contract. Frank Wilkie 03:22:26.279
It's just a contract, yeah. Are we going to start, what? Or? No, we're waiting for the audience to return. Here they are. So we're talking about a contract on CN00338, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of an EPS Thermal Compaction Unit, which the report's written by waste project manager Chelsea Bennett, and we have Kyla here as well. Would you like to give us an overview, please? Yep, I'll cover for Chelsea since it's her first one, so. Just as a quick background, we did undertake a trial involving an EPS. Thermal compaction unit, Eumundi Noosa landfill, back end of last year and to the early part of this year. The trial yielded pretty noteworthy environmental and economic benefits by diverting this waste stream away from the landfill. Considering the findings and the recent tender process, this report offers a recommendation to grant contract CN00338 to IS recycling under a lump sum agreement totalling $227,000 the contract encompasses a 12-month period for service and maintenance, encompasses the provision of supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance, as previously discussed, upon receiving the privilege of award we expect the commissioning process to include conclude by the end of August this year. Any questions? Joe Jurisevic 03:24:01.661
John? I've got one in come around here. The report, it says it's anticipated the system will divert approximately 50 tonnes of EPS, nirofone. Yes. The now, nirofone is pretty light. Yes. What sort of volume would. 50 cans come? How many football fields are we talking about? In my mind, this has got to be a vast quantity, as far as volume goes, to have 50 tonnes of such a lightweight material. Frank Wilkie 03:24:25.862
Yeah, so we, during the trial, we were averaging around. The data we collected suggested we were averaging between 20 to 25 tonnes of a half a year, so we've taken the extrapolation of that data to 50 tonnes. 50 tonnes from a volume perspective is about 2,388 cubic metres, so that's the sort of volume we'd be displacing with 50 tonnes of polystyrene. My understanding is we've got to. I mean, this is being diverted well from landfill at this point in time. Actually got a stockpile of it sitting aside. We've had the white bags there at the landfill for some time to collect this and to not let it go into landfill. I dare say that 50 tonnes might be an under value in terms of what we're actually sending because we haven't actively advertised to all commercial entities that we're taking polystyrene, so. Joe Jurisevic 03:25:27.810
What's the opportunity here going forward? I know the past from electrical wholesalers that I've spoken to and have come to me, and when this service ceased, we actually facilitated this service in the past, and the service ceased for a while, we stopped collecting it, they all came and said, "Hey, do you're not helping us, we're doing the bit for you, "we're collecting it all here, "we want to be able to take it to that next step." What can we do? We got the service back, the trial with the machine and the like, so we've got intellectual wholesalers, I'm managing you know, the list, plumbing supplies, wholesalers, retailers, all of those that have products here, but also the general public, when they get their product home, that styrofoam packaging is an opportunity to make them understand there's a new stream, a new waste stream that you can make it free to come and dispose of so that we can then extrude this, take all the air out of it and turn it into these hard blocks. Frank Wilkie 03:26:35.818
Yeah, well, I think mean, there's the machine's been sized for 200 kilograms an hour. And so there's enough capacity there for us to absorb any material that's produced locally. There's also probably enough capacity in other material from any range that we may have through our MOU with Gympie. So there's a potential that we can take this in and turn into a revenue-generating stream for Noosa. So that's the other potential out of this machine. So just with regards to volume, what is the. Extrusion or the compaction rate from what it starts out with to what it ends up? I couldn't. 90% I think. Yeah, so chelsea's saying 90% reduction. Joe Jurisevic 03:27:21.486
90% Reduction in the volume of it down to. Thank you. SPEAKER_04_b 03:27:27.235
Thanks, Jim. Councilman Bruce, we were just talking about potential. We're saving through maybe $1,000 potentially, aren't Frank Wilkie 03:27:36.595
Yes, every tonne we put to landfill cost us about $160 in so we dive in and that 15 kilos makes up one cubic metre of a tonne of which you'd automatically displace through waste. So from that sort of tonnage or that sort of displacement, we've managed to reduce that cost of 2000 $2,000 $3 or, 000 tonnes or whatever, 3,000 cubes, sorry, times 160. So it's better for the environment, better for the back pocket? Financially, yes. We, you know, we just spent seven, well nine million on a landfill last year, so any volume we can save is a huge saving for us internally Joe Jurisevic 03:28:22.154
Yes. Yeah, thank you. So with regard to a $270,000 investment, the anticipated processing cost savings were approximately $381,000. So within a year, we should recover the cost of this. This is without a doubt one of the elements that I've championed in the past because I brought the concept of the extrusion machine back from the waste conference many, years ago and spoke with the previous Waste Manager and we started diverting styrofoam back out of the landfill, not back out, but being dumped into those baskets and started getting that collection, the original concept of this was it was taken off site and delivered, but the opportunity there to see, and it's for a small, for a reasonable investment, you get a return on that investment. So it's a no brainer to turn around and facilitate this, the diversion from landfill, the volume and the waste there, and we haven't even tapped the entire market, to make people understand that here is a that there's a way of disposing of something out of, from, there's usage, everyday packaging that can be better, 90% reduction in volume as it goes through this process, and also creates a return to council, not only on the savings of it going into the landfill, which we don't have to pay for, but in the product that it creates, which then goes back to create more styrofoam, so it's closing the loop. Creating circular economy, it's facilitating a great need and a great diversion of waste from our landfill, and I congratulate staff on getting us to this point where we can facilitate this service for the community. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 03:30:34.140
Congratulations, kairos. Fantastic. My question is about end users. So I think that anything we do with waste, we need to transition into a circular who are the end users? As surfers, epoxy surfboards are made from EPS Um, and. Very light, very good if you want to do progressive turns. My kids have them. They snap them because they are so light and super fast. But who are the end users and have we gone out to them? Frank Wilkie 03:31:18.743
Moment we will we're looking at trying to get a contract with the actual installer and they will take the material back office and put it back into the market and it'll be basically recycled EPS so it will go to a very varied suppliers to use rather than virgin EPS so it could go into surfboards back into products that we get a TV from the electrical companies or whatever so that end market I think from a complete circle circular economy it would be great to control that better would but we would need a manufacturing step in between so advanced manufacturing on site that would take our product and turn it into another product to be able to utilise Amelia Lorentson 03:32:03.306
In so that is the vision isn't it long-term that's your vision I'm kind of going to see you know it all happened on the landfill site Frank Wilkie 03:32:12.826
I think with various products I think you know we are looking as you've just made the point to advance manufacturing it really depends on the material how much material produce the you know the investment in that advanced manufacturing and the market afterwards there's a there'd be a lot of work to do at that back end but I guess the focus for the team and myself at the moment is to establish quality products which are base products that can actually go to some market and then that just diverts them away from landfill and typically the markets will then open up after that. Tom Wegener 03:32:48.869
Thank Tom, when you say polystyrene, it's expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene, the two types of polystyrene? Frank Wilkie 03:32:59.293
No, what we're doing is extruding expanded polystyrene basically back to a, it's not natural form, but it's a condensed form that can actually then pull back and use Tom Wegener 03:33:09.913
The expanded polystyrene again. Okay, but there's, well, there's two types of polystyrene, extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, but I've seen that both of the types of polystyrene. Will be able to go into the same style. Yes. I'd like to speak to it. Maybe I'm not popular when I say, you know, polystyrene is a fantastic product. I mean, my gosh, you can make so many things out of it. And I think the fact that manufacturing here uses the stuff and it's used a lot and having it being able to be recycled is really, really important. Actually, I would think that not only surfboards, but I think that there's quite a few businesses that will just say, I can feel good about this, I can take my business into this way, furniture, whatever. Even houses are being made out of polystyrene now. It doesn't burn. Make unburnable polystyrene, which is unbelievable. So there's a lot of future for it. Even though it's not wood, it's still pretty darn good. And the recycling is just fantastic. Actually, I think it opens doors for manufacturers in new Frank Wilkie 03:34:18.683
Can I stop? Brian Stockwell 03:34:20.444
I'm going to have to respond to that. I think felonia is a fantastic product, and cheap, recycled and non-recyclable. Carbon based things are not going to crash home. I understand where council is coming from, but this is a problem product, and the culture that has made it such a huge problem of, you know. Buying things online and expecting everything to arrive with 15 layers of protection is what's driving the huge growth in it, and it would be a real shame to have a new staff member here without fully I know mechanical engineers are always interested in buying new gadgets, but I believe you may have a background in chemical and a pretty good process can you assure me in terms of this process that we've looked at everything we need in terms of receiving, storing, treating and removing the product, that there is no additional risk or no potential constraints that can be created by would buying this particular machine. SPEAKER_10_b 03:35:33.092
Absolutely, so we've assessed the process from receivables we've been assessing the changes that we might need to make to the layout on site so that we're not introducing any new safety risks of or businesses pulling up with big vans of broccoli boxes from the fruit shop and unloading that in making sure that we've assessed safe unloading areas ensuring that we've got no flyaway materials we're going to be looking maintain the looked at all of the any concerns around manual handling of the products going in as well as coming out the other end and right back down to where we're storing it just before it gets taken away. Frank Wilkie 03:36:24.092
Other thing to add what Chelsea said is the plant is a package plant so it actually is has the ability to unbolt from the floor and be moved so if there is a change in layout of the site we would be able to move that equipment a different layout and potentially build a better shed for it to go in if that was to go to go ahead Joe Jurisevic 03:36:50.329
I've got a third question, to go to how in the end, I mean, you know, something obviously has a power need and a power requirement. Do we know what the power element is and how much of it can be delivered through solar power or alternative energy sources rather than? Frank Wilkie 03:37:08.694
Yeah, I think I mean, it consumes power, there's no doubt. And when you heat something and compress something, you're usually using a fairly significant motor. At the moment, all the power at the landfill site is pulled off the mains. One of our projects that's going through is to look at a slightly different usage for the landfill in terms of solar power, and so we would obviously be using solar power to run this if that were to go ahead and be feasible. Joe Jurisevic 03:37:35.260
The capacity to relocate this machine, new sheds future planning with regard to solar power on roofs of sheds and the like, is something in the pipeline for the future of the lantern? Frank Wilkie 03:37:49.045
Yeah, I think it's part of what Chelsea was saying, the long-term vision of the site and procuring this bit of its it's its package set out, allows us to do exactly that and change building, change power input and allow us to run off solar if we were to get solar. Can I ask a slightly question on the left field? Can the machine be used for anything else? Um, I would. I was thinking of the balers being used for cardboard, being able to use for foam, example. Yeah. But has this got any other potential uses? I wouldn't be able to say with confidence at the table, but, you know. Joe Jurisevic 03:38:31.300
It works off compression and heat so. SPEAKER_10_b 03:38:36.920
Can an additional part to what Kyron mentioned, the other attractive feature of this machine is that we've got a silo that will allow accumulation greater than what will probably be the rate that we'll require, so we will be able to run the machine without the extruder. Which requires a lot of thermal energy on so we can actually stockpile just using the shredder and accumulate that material in place before we turn on the thermal compartment of the machine as well so that will us to operate in the most efficient manner. Amelia Lorentson 03:39:19.921
In terms of noise and odour, is it noisy and does it emit any odours? Frank Wilkie 03:39:28.261
So noise will be insignificant on a landfill. Odour wise, there will be an odour that comes off if you're heating something up. There's two other sites that are operating with this particular machine in Queensland that don't have any filtration or extraction systems. We've chosen to put on a carbon filter and the carbon will absorb odour, if any, and put it through the carbon filter and exhaust outside. Wouldn't it be right to have odour from a dump site? Well, that's the other bit that's. Joe Jurisevic 03:40:03.147
Being styrofoam, is there any toxicity in what's given off? Frank Wilkie 03:40:07.067
There's the, we're getting independent report on the material coming out of the machine, pre and post the carbon filter, to confirm that. Amelia Lorentson 03:40:19.113
And I know the contractors offered a full refund of $20,000 for the ventilation system in the event that it does not meet these standards. Frank Wilkie 03:40:29.954
Just a question. A couple of years back we had a host island wash up on our beaches from jetties. One of them was very broken up and collected with sand. That was to occur again. Does the machine have the capacity to handle that pollutant material? I think you have to be very careful with polluted polystyrene. And it's probably not the sand as much. I don't think the sand would be great for it. But what is probably more of a risk is metal and harder elements. The concrete. So all the pontoons that we received on the landfill we actually aimed at stripping them down into different fragments. So polystyrene metal concrete and it was very difficult to separate the polystyrene from how it had been plastered together with the concrete and so the risk of actually, we had the machine site, were trying to put the polystyrene through the machine at that time. So how big was the machine? The one we've got now is very small, the footprint's probably three by three metres, something like that, the actual footprint. Transportable? Yes, yeah, this machine's transportable that we're looking to procure, but it's in sections. So it's a bigger sections and obviously the throughput's a lot higher. Joe Jurisevic 03:41:56.809
Have to see the slides somewhere in the chat. SPEAKER_10_b 03:41:58.988
Yeah it's it would probably be looking at maybe a six metres square for the shredder and the silo and then we've got a conveyor running into the extruder which is probably another four metres square. Frank Wilkie 03:42:17.450
Councillor Finzel, question. SPEAKER_04_b 03:42:18.910
Thank you, thank you for the report. I've just got a question around, you know, in the building industry where they use those prefabricated panels for, you know, wall configuration and they've got the styrofoam in the middle. Has this machine got the capacity to, I don't know, extract the star if I'm out of that, one of our biggest landfill problems. SPEAKER_10_b 03:42:43.535
We wouldn't be looking at accepting any polystyrene from building materials just because a lot of that material actually has retardants in it that are actually prohibited. We're not actually allowed to put them into the machine. So that will affect the ability to export the materials. Joe Jurisevic 03:43:05.696
That's the question that I was, that was the next question that I had, was regard to forms of styrofoam we can export a lot slaves. Of slabs and building and construction now has a lot of styrofoam in the construction of slabs and a lot of offcuts. Is that type of styrofoam able to be put into the process? Frank Wilkie 03:43:28.450
It depends on the nature of that polystyrene. So there is some coding regarding the type of styrofoam coming in? Exactly, yeah. But the predominant volume of polystyrene that we get through is from packaging. Joe Jurisevic 03:43:44.163
Councillor, Lorentson alluded to surfboards. I mean surfboards, are they made of the type of styrofoam or do they have coverings over them? Yeah, usually they're covered. In epoxy or fibreglass. That would preclude that sort of stuff from, unless it was stripped or shredded in some way, which would be a very heavy manual process. Frank Wilkie 03:44:06.784
Yeah, or there'd be a pre-treatment and that pre-treatment would be probably be pretty complicated and I'm not entirely sure even existed at present. I'll speak to it. Congratulations on the work done in trialling a unit like this to get us to this point. I'll it's obviously cash positive for ratepayers and it's a good indication of how clean environmental practices are also economically very sensible as well. Be fair to say we're filming. Anybody else like to speak the next gentleman? I just want to SPEAKER_04_b 03:44:38.606
Thank Chelsea and Kyron for this. We really appreciate doing all these great initiatives and it lands on the back of the MOU at the end of the week with Gympie, which is so was fantastic. So we're taking some time, jumping strides in this space and really you're a great team and we're grateful and appreciative that you have our backing. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 03:44:59.367
Anybody else wish to speak before Joe closes? And Christopher, it just yes please. Was our delight to see this piece of equipment finally arrive and be known to be an understatement. I want to thank you both and the team for all this work that's undertaken in trialling and getting us to the stage where we can acquire the machine. All the work that goes into understanding. Styrofoam is not the ideal product that we'd like to be. I'd like to see mushroom compost versions of styrofoam come to the fore in the future and hopefully we can still extend those. But whilst we have this product in the environment and it's heavily utilised as it is, this is a far better outcome than landing in our landfill. It's a positive return to the community with regard to landfill space and on a product that it creates with a return to the system keeps it in a circular fashion. So it's certainly not going to waste. And it's certainly going to be the opportunities for reuse and remanufacture of styrofoam. So well done. Thank you for all the hard work and the investigation that's gone into making this possible. And I look forward to the ribbon-cutting ceremony when we get there. Frank Wilkie 03:46:21.456
Put the motioners in favour. That's unanimous. Thank you, Chelsea. Thanks, guys. Cheers. Thank you. Performance report. Acting financial services manager, Pauline Coles. And newly appointed, freshly minted Acting Director Corporate Services. Welcome. May we have a summary, please. Pauline Coles 03:46:53.242
You certainly can. Okay. So, good afternoon, councillors. Operating revenues continue to outperform forecast, as do operating expenditures, which is slightly under forecast for the end of May. Operating revenues. Is $1.9 million above budget, which is being driven predominantly by interest revenue of $855,000, and that's because QTC have shifted their rates on general cash holding in line with the increases in term deposits, and we've also done some reinvestments as well. These are predominantly development assessment and plumbing and building, although I am aware that there potentially could be some more development assessment fees coming shortly. That downside has been offset by a sale of goods and services of $595,000, predominantly related to holiday parks and community facilities. Other revenue is above budget $562,000 and that's relating to the recovery of the waste bin purchases by Cleanaway. So we recover the cost of purchasing those bins. That's $110,000 insurance recovery relating to the properties and facilities that were damaged during the flood event. So that's $128,000. And then some internal plant recoveries as well. Grant revenue is up $203,000 year to date because of some receipt of some flood management grants as well. So that's that comes come through operating expenditure is $794,000 under budget with employee costs $162,000 under budget. Materials and services are $679,000 under budget. This is a combination of factors. So civil operations is currently $555,000 over budget and holiday parks is $274,000 over budget which is offset by some additional revenue. But waste, strategic development assessment and infrastructure planning are also under budget so that's offsetting and putting us over. Tourism and economic development expenditure remains on track and overall council operating position at May is $2.6 million above budget. Now typically projects are finalised towards end of financial year so we do expect some expenditure to come through in June which will likely see that come down a little bit as well. Capital revenue is above budget by $12.1 million and that's due to further advance payments of the Queensland recovery authority disaster projects from the February 2022 event. Year-to-date council has expended 78% of its four-year capital program which equates to $44.3 million with a further $7.5 million committed. Council's cash holdings at the end of May was $111 million with $50 million of these funds invested in higher yielding term deposits to maximise their returns and this has contributed largely to the upside in our interest rate revenue. Counselors' cash holdings are than we would typically expect to see at this time of year and this is predominantly due to the advance payment of funding from the $80 million QRA program. We've got a net $17.9 million currently held in reserve for these works. Council is also holding $10 million relating to advance payment of four years worth of waste levy subsidy. In accordance with council's financial sustainability policy, we are also holding a minimum of three months cash cover as well as cash reserves to fund the operations for June and July until the first rate run of the new financial year. Also provided in our cash holdings is the remainder of the FY23 capital program as well as the nine million dollars of the projects that were pushed into the following year as part of budget review too. And we also hold funds in restricted funds for natural disaster rehabilitation, waste management services, developer contributions and unspent levies. We do provide a breakdown of these cash components quarterly and you will see one in the next month's report so that will break it down even further. Overall council's financial position continues to be on track and is meeting its financial sustainability target. Targets. Frank Wilkie 03:51:08.793
There's been a SPEAKER_04_b 03:51:09.833
Fair bit of talk about cash holding. Do you want to give some background or explanation to that and shed some light? SPEAKER_10_b 03:51:21.098
So we generally run at around 60 to 70 million holding in cash and that covers our general operations. So we hold three months to make sure that we meet our financial sustainability ratios and that can be up to six months and that's why we retain our QTC credit rating at a sound position. We obviously have a lot of restricted funds so all levy of the special levies and the separate charges like the environment or heritage levies where there's funds that are not spent are held in reserves and cannot be used for anything other than those purposes for which they were collected as I said we also have grant funds particularly QRA which is our large one at the moment but we hold in those projects specifically 17.9 million dollars and we've just received some more coming in so that will continue to happen as the project rolled out and we'll get someone funding coming through for about five million dollars worth of surplus cash which hasn't moved since our last report we have had a significant sort of movement I suppose from their last this time last year and that's related to some overspends on some of the capital projects and some unexpected works so but at this stage in the last quarter we haven't moved anything further than what we were because we seem to have a um under 317 and obviously we have to have a target grade in three months for cash expense cover and we're 13.6 so in terms of how that cap that ratio is calculated it takes the whole balance of our cash holdings and that includes a lot of restricted cash and that's why it looks quite high I can do a bit more of a breakdown for you next month's report that will show you the different components yeah so I guess to answer this, just to clarify, as Pauline alluded to we keep our three months cash cover yeah which we which we constrain and we only have our remaining five million of what Queensland treasury who review our financial long-term plan called surplus or free Frank Wilkie 03:53:17.990
Cash which in the scheme of cash cover is only another few weeks worth of cash given our operations annually so we so of that entire cover position not much of it is actually free or excessive cash. Brian Stockwell 03:53:36.735
Just to follow up on it, like the surplus actually haven't used it for a billion dollars. And what I think I heard you say, in the budget deliberations was over the last year we've actually gone down substantially because of the high cost of providing things like the Noosa Parade overrun and bridges etc. So the challenge in the budget ahead of us is try and build that up to a reasonably healthy balance because it's not only the amount of money we used. Fund new capital works but it's also that buffer for emergency. Correct, so it's to fund emergent works and capital programs or to provide a co-contribution to a grant application or to pay down debt if we were wanting to pay down debt. It was really healthy in terms of all the grants. We're probably at the end of that rivers of gold phase of government, aren't we, you know, and that may become a little bit more important. Amelia Lorentson 03:54:30.395
Councillor, if we were to fast forward 12 months' time from now, once we've SPEAKER_10_b 03:54:34.655
Gotten through the bulk of the construction work on our QRA reconstruction funds, which A lot of that setting aside, and another year through that prepayment on the State waste levy, you'll find that our cash holdings in total will be substantially lower, and we will still only be in a position where we have a limited amount of surplus or free cash. We'd like to think that we can retain the remaining what we've got left of $5 million and not erode that because once it's gone, it's gone. That's about our long-term sustainability, but you will see those cash holdings degrade over the next 12 months as we get through the back end of that bow wave or rivers gold as Councillor Stockwell alluded to. Thank you. DA, plumbing and building fees are the low budget. Are we seeing a downturn? Think in terms of building and plumbing there's been a resourcing issue in terms of pushing their revenue as well. So they've had some issues recruiting, but that's kind of impacted on theirs. DA is probably more of a timing of applications as and some of the short stay. So that includes the short stay revenues that we've forecast as well. Joe Jurisevic 03:55:46.292
Last question. With regard to, we always get this, I'm just thinking of it now, with holiday parks where there's a revenue and an expense, and the two offset each other, is it possible to add, in brackets, a net, under the revenue, what the net position is of elements like that where we have. Yeah, we can do that. Is that a difficult. No, that's it's nice to know the net position of the income. It's one thing having an income, we've got a positive net income or a negative net income. Just thought of that. When I'm looking at it, I'm going from one to the other. Was all just sitting there going, okay, yes, we know it's offset against an increase in associated operating costs, so the net value is blah. Anyone care does seconded by Stuart, Joe. Thank you again for, great to see you, seeing your financial position. Our capital expenditure continues to remain above $40 million a year, and delivering that with our team downstairs, it's a dedicated devoted team that put it in, plus we've got disaster projects on the go at the same time, so Larry, to the guys and the team downstairs, to pass on our thanks for the level of delivery that they've been doing over the last few years, particularly under a challenging time with COVID. Never increasing prices and the like. It's an incredible situation. Our operating revenue and operating expenses remain above track and on budget as does our capital revenues. That's a credit to the way that our finances are managed and the finance team. Thank you again. I think the result and of the, anyone reading this financial statement would see that this council is in a good financial position and well managed. Thank you. SPEAKER_04_b 03:57:46.839
Thank you for another great report and I'd like to lend my congratulations to Trent. We're very lucky to have you. Congratulations on the appointment of the new Director. We can stop saying acting now. We can drop the acting and the official Director. So thank you, very well deserved. Amelia Lorentson 03:58:00.972
Congratulations, Trent. Frank Wilkie 03:58:04.312
Further comments? Motion, those in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you, Pauline. SPEAKER_04_b 03:58:12.325
Thanks, Paul. We don't get rid of you, though. SPEAKER_10_b 03:58:20.866
Okay, so the Local Government Act 2009 empowers council to generate revenue from Fees and Charges by fixing a fee by way of a local law resolution. Fees and Charges can be set to recover the cost of delivering regulatory activities like planning and permits, as well as based on commercial full cost pricing principles, including a return on assets employed for business activities like waste and holiday parks. The proposed 2023-24 schedule comprises over 1,000 Fees and Charges, which generate approximately $25.3 million in revenue, and that includes just Fees and Charges, as well as sales of goods and services to fund the delivery of council Councillor services. Pricing. To recover the true cost of services provision, it's necessary to ensure that council generates sufficient revenue from its activities in line with its financial sustainability policy, and it also provides a diversified revenue base and ensures that the cost of services provided are equitably borne by those 2023-24 Fees and Charges will come into effect on the 1st of July and have been workshopped as part of the annual budget. Thank you, Brian. Brian Stockwell 03:59:31.738
I'm happy to move it. Seconder Joe. Yeah, we do this early each year because there are people in the community who have to give clients quotes about what the likely Fees and Charges are in a month's time. As I said, the process used to you is the same as others, is that it's a review of what it takes, who's involved and for how long to provide a service with a view that as much as is possible that the charge is not one that has to be subsidised greatly by the general rate payer if they don't benefit from it. Frank Wilkie 04:00:09.644
What's that? Joe Jurisevic 04:00:12.544
You might know, Joe. You said if anybody was wondering of the range and diversity of services the council delivers, this is the place to have a look. Amelia Lorentson 04:00:23.025
In terms of, I've got a question, sorry. In terms of tourism events, we've had some discussion around streamlining events and reducing red tape. Has that been reflected in the Fees and Charges or is that going to be taken to a separate workshop and discussion? Frank Wilkie 04:00:42.654
Through the Chair, I connect to that one. It would be taken to a separate workshop and discussion. That was obviously, if we wind the clock SPEAKER_10_b 04:00:48.754
Back recent adoption of our realignment, part of the discussion about major events through that process. And as our new Director Development & Regulation commences next month, part of the remit of that Director is to work with their managers. And those across the organisation so we can look at the approach and refine that. Fantastic. So at this point in time the fees are remaining as they are. Amelia Lorentson 04:01:16.344
And just a comment and I declare I have a dog. So in terms of dog registration. That was rough. Etc. Is there an opportunity again to bring to a workshop or a discussion council to relook how we distribute our dog number two bags? It would be great to get new supply with those compostable dog bags because know walk my dog every day and I would guess maybe one weekend a month I'd be lucky to score a green bag at a beach a Dog Beach so you me I always keep thinking wouldn't it be great and then for that 93 bucks or whatever we're paying in registration to be then sent a year's worth of green bags and onus on the responsible dog owner to bring or two bags when one walking a dog I'd Frank Wilkie 04:02:35.970
To take that on notice I do think there's a there's another fine action to take on a new Director SPEAKER_10_b 04:02:42.591
When they start next month as well could be a fee for service I was gonna say it will probably add additional cost because that does it does fund other things besides those sorts of things so it's animal control and all that sort of stuff so those animal registrations are used for other purposes relating to control. Joe Jurisevic 04:02:58.052
An opportunity to advocate to local retail outlets to stop the appropriate type of bags so that people can have possible bags available Brian Stockwell 04:03:10.410
I'm going to close it's important. I think it's just wonderful that in local government we can start with a $500,000 community battery and end with a two cent doggy food bag. SPEAKER_10_b 04:03:23.493
It unstrikes our diversity. Frank Wilkie 04:03:25.893
Right, I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you. I'm not doing the show holiday. Larry Sengstock, show holiday. Approved, I'll move it. I'll second. Councillor Finzel. I wouldn't know what would happen if we didn't agree. That is the 13th of September 2024. Joe Jurisevic 04:04:09.316
We're going to appoint him to die. Brian Stockwell 04:04:10.617
And I hope Councillor Stewart's theme on the day is black Friday. He's not on the day he is black Friday. Joe Jurisevic 04:04:15.417
A lot SPEAKER_05_b 04:04:20.536
Of witches. A lot of witch's hats could be there. That's carried unanimously. Thank you. Larry. Thank you. Thanks Larry. Next up, Audit and Risk Committee external member. SPEAKER_10_b 04:04:37.357
Okay. Hello councillors. So this report is recommending the appointment of Ian Rushworth as the new member of the Audit and Risk Committee. There are two external committee. The other two members are two councillors, currently the Mayor and Councillor Wegener. The previous incumbent of the role was Kerry Phillips and her term ended in March. So we put out an expression of interest and we received 35 applications. And they were shortlisted to five and those five were interviewed and assessed and Ian came out as the preferred candidate. So a little bit of background to Ian is that he's currently head of internal audit with the department of children, youth, justice and multicultural affairs. He's quite experienced in this space and I've been advised by the selection panel that he does have a strong understanding of ICT and cyber security. Issues so the report is primarily dealing with the appointment what it also flags though is that we're currently undertaking a review of the effectiveness of the Audit and Risk Committee and that's being done independently and it's really appropriate because QAO have actually identified that the effectiveness of Audit & Risk committees is really important going forward so that review has just commenced it's an independent review and we're also looking at our internal audit function and independent review that the same firm is doing it so the reason I'm raising that is that we're expecting that there will be a number of recommendations that will come from that review and it may highlight opportunities for us to improve the operations of the committee it might be numbers that's something to further consider the actual membership of the committee is charter for the Audit and Risk Committee so and that's a council resolved policy changes to the committee and the makeup etc will require a change to the charter and that will that would require so require a further report coming to council for further consideration so I just wanted to highlight that because that is happening as well Amelia Lorentson 04:06:54.126
Sitting, external member sitting fees, have they moved since 2021? Which is $800 per meeting and other external members $600 per meeting? SPEAKER_10_b 04:07:05.086
That's right I can't remember we did increase them and I had a feeling it actually might have been 21 but I'd have to double check lower but we did acknowledge the fact the amount of time and effort that the members have to put into actually reading the agendas the reports providing advice and actually physically attending the meetings which you know virtually is a day even though the meetings are sort of scheduled across the day so it does acknowledge that. Joe Jurisevic 04:07:33.769
I was more of a comment so I'll wait till I hear the conversation. Executive summary it turns around and talks about the risk of opportunities for those councillors including cyber and ICT system security and I didn't read anything with regard to ian's qualifications in that regard but you just clarified that in that we have to get some sort of a clearer understanding or a clearer background on the issue. His ICT qualifications? SPEAKER_10_b 04:08:02.387
He doesn't have an actual qualification his qualifications are not in ICT it's more his experience and because he's also previously worked at KPMG as well so he brings the in his experience so as Joe Jurisevic 04:08:18.667
Well allow someone to move it SPEAKER_05_b 04:08:20.967
Yeah I'll say that- Tom boos, seconded by Ms. Stewart. Told us to speak to it? Yeah. Tom Wegener 04:08:26.217
Was on the committee that interviewed him and he was you know I'll just everybody gave him a very high score right off the bat and the last audit risk committee said look you really need to look at your ICT you have to look at property you know the potential for you know things going wrong in there and so this person just seemed to be the perfect person at the time to show up and take on the new audit risk committee member. SPEAKER_04_b 04:08:51.407
Thank you for being on the committee because it's extra so thank you for that I'm looking forward to meeting Ian it's very important position and yeah he sounds like he's it comes with great credentials so thank you. Good. Hard. Amelia Lorentson 04:09:08.696
I've and risk committee prior to Tom Wegener so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Kerry Phillips. He was outstanding and I learnt so much for her so I don't know whether in terms of an amendment or just a noting to acknowledge and thank her for her contributions to the Audit and Risk Committee. You. In her capacity as external member for the last two years. I wish her well and I'm sure they are. SPEAKER_10_b 04:09:41.885
Yeah and I just want to let you know that I personally contacted Kerry through this process because she was an applicant and passed on that those comments that we really did appreciate her input and really valued it etc so we have done that but we can we can do that more formally in a in a the CEO which would be really appropriate and so yeah thank you Joe Jurisevic 04:10:04.395
Always good to have new eyes and a fresh perspective to keep an eye on our operations and our work on this committee. I welcome ian's appointment and I'd like to also thank Kerry for her time on the committee as we've alluded to and look forward to getting to meet Ian and leave more of any. SPEAKER_05_b 04:10:27.704
Thank you. Good. Okay, thank you. Motion. That's unanimous. Beautiful. Thank you. Lucky last. And ladies and gentlemen, that is the last item on today's General Committee closed. Thank you, councillors. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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