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 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proposing prescriptive criteria for matters involving endangered vegetation, MNES habitat, heritage places, superseded scheme extensions, and Council land dealings (Item 6.9; 07:39–18:12).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. May we have a confirmation of the minutes for the General Committee meeting for the last month please. Moved by Councillor Lorentson, seconded by 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? Okay. So welcome Alex and... So welcome Alex and Di. Would you like to give us an overview of the report, please? Yes, thank you, Councillor. Kim Rawlings 00:59.506
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 at a 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 with the intention of reformatting Noosa Council's Council of CEO delegation register to align with LGAQ and industry standards secondly to realign the register and powers included in Noosa Council's Council of CEO delegation register to align with LGAQ and industry standards secondly to realign the register and powers included in Noosa Council's Council Noosa Council's Council to CEO delegation register to better align with LGAQ recommendations and industry standards and 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 Extensive review and the outcome of the annual delegations review this year being the identification of 32 new registers for 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 report As you can see in the report, in this 2022 review, governance in consultation with councillors added 24 new registers to the 2022 Council to CEO delegation register. Governance in consultation with councillors has updated 11 existing registers. And finally, governance in consultation with councillors has reviewed, with no changes, the remaining 49 registers. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:39.268
We have a recommendation before us. Does anyone care to move that, or a version of it? I'm happy to move the staff recommendation. Moved by Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Joe Jurisevic 03:54.568
Councillor Jurisevic? I'd just like to acknowledge the comprehensive reporting and understanding that staff undertook. Well, councillors should get their heads around this. There is a lot of information contained within this, not only councillors but the rest of council as well. I had a thorough review of all the information brought to us and I'm happy that we've reached a point that meets the needs of the council going forward. So thank you again for all the time and effort put into it. I had a question. Amelia Lorentson 04:34.846
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 to delegate to a council officer the duty to review an environmental assessment report. How does that work? Joe Jurisevic 05:13.169
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 and what that means is if you do adopt the recommendations today that will then allow the CEO to on delegate those powers to council officers be it a director a manager an officer project manager anyone in council in accordance of obviously with consultation with the executive team what is appropriate for the functions of that officers role and responsibility so to answer your question today 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 the managers on the ground we consult closely 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 exercise their functions so yeah thank you yeah I'm imagining 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 of duties and all the rest of it so they can facilitate those functions that's right the pressure would be very very high on the CEO to do everything if it all stayed with the CEO which is unpractical and unreasonable we do want to make changes to the delegations down the track what's the best way to go about that or do that the best you can do it at any point the any point best in time way and to do it I believe would be to workshop it with the operational team that's going to be impacted by the change find out on the ground with the team what is the consequence because every time you look at a delegation where you adjust things it does have a flow and effect in the administrative arm So of the have business a consultation with them find out the impacts figure out if there's you know if it suits both both parties and then we can definitely put a new report up to council targeting that and for your consideration and resolution And that can be done at any time? Thank you. Any time. Brian Stockwell 07:40.630
I'd like to move. And that's to add a further clause. Just enlarge it for you so you can see it a bit better. Thank you. The further clause is to read further that the CIO be requested to bring forward a further report which reviews the current triggers for development matters precluded from staff delegation with with a view to provide more specific less subjective criteria in concluding the results of a workshop which is a new wording, concluding the results of a workshop, criteria including the results The results of the workshop. Is that a consideration? Amongst other things. I'm going to get rid of that. No, 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 Meditation from a biodiversity or vegetation management perspective. The disturbance of the habitat of the species listed under the Nature Conservation and Environmental 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. Frank Wilkie 09:37.434
I'll second that for the purpose of debate. Brian Stockwell 09:40.354
I do so obviously I do, so obviously this, 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. 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. 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 10:36.765
Thank you Councillor Stockwell. Anyone else wish to speak to the amendment? Can I ask a question? So yeah, Joe Jurisevic 10:47.145
Was that clear enough that there's nothing defined here? These are the elements that may be considered in a workshop and the elements here and that any other issues that that may need to be considered could also be brought up through a workshop? They're not all covered here? There may be other areas, 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. I welcome the comments from Councillor Stockwell, but I think the risk here is we become too descriptive 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 put them into this, then we 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 all considerations are taken into account, and we come back with a fully worked through. Fully worked through considered adoption. So the language workshop which considers amongst other things including the allegation decisions on these items means that we've got a greater scope to review not just these five items. That's my advice. Thank you. Councillor Finzel. Patrick Murphy 12:14.300
Question for the CEO through to the Chair. So whereabouts in this or is it covered that we would be looking at robust like then having internal all roads systems and procedures around I guess flagging these matters like the grass tree court. Kim Rawlings 12:34.582
Will this cover that internal review of how we manage that? Again through the chair I think that's that's for us to consider and for you to consider in a workshop environment to ensure that with everything that we do there's lessons learned and this is you know 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 that's what we should be threshing out, should be talking through and coming back with a proposal. Larry Sengstock 13:05.919
Proposal that everybody is agreeing with, I'm more than comfortable with that and that's that's what we should put on the table and talk it through. Amelia Lorentson 13:14.239
Question to Dean, section 50 section 50 of the Planning Act regulations specifies condition 1E that the CEO may exercise powers of the council for an application other than the following, E being an application There has been an application for a proposed development of significant community interest. What I'm thinking is, is the amendment in front of us, the workshop, we're also looking at a potential amendment in the Planning Act where significant community interest needs to perhaps be further defined as including some of the points that's raised in the application. So my question to you is, after the workshop, is there an opportunity then to consider potential changes and amendments in the planning regulations. in the planning regulations 2017? Kim Rawlings 14:12.331
Yep, the delegations definitely after the workshop if you have considered as a group that you want to add additional conditions to the delegations that surround the planning. around the Planning Act you're more than welcome to and we can definitely push it up to Council separately later on if that's if that's what I can If I can just just add add to to that, that Councillor Lorentson. I think you're requesting advocacy to change something in the Planning Act regulations. Yes. Not ours. Oh. Sorry, the 2017 Amelia Lorentson 14:48.301
Planning Act, 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. Kim Rawlings 15:01.304
So I think to go to Dee's point, I think we could do that. 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 yeah this is what that means for us because I don't you know I as much as we could try and advocate for that I think that's going to be different in in different local governments so I think it's 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 Well, some of his things he's put up there start to, you know, identify the applications that might be of significant community interest, so we would do it at a local level. Frank Wilkie 15:37.950
Look, I'll speak in favour of the amendment. I'm going to support it. It's certainly 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 Example, and any other issues that may come up that have a relevance to delegation. So I think it's suitably broad to allow us to do that in the correct forum. Patrick Murphy 16:05.768
I'll support it too because, can you move it down please a little bit? Because we will be having a workshop which is the proper process and it's not policy on the run and it will give us time to consider all angles and evaluate all 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. Joe Jurisevic 16:32.138
Councillor Jurisevic? Yeah likewise I'm happy to support it. 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 16:58.780
Supporting the motion, 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 like petitions. Our community spend a lot of time signing petitions. You know, petition, grass, tree, court, 76,000. I think we've got to give some discussion around what that means. Community interest should should factor 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 and commend Councillor Stockwell for putting the amendment forward. Kim Rawlings 17:47.477
Yeah, in essence, I support what you put up, Councillor Stockwell. I'm just wondering where a matter relates to, but not limited to, to show that we can open up through the workshop, or is that going to be just... Well, 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, you know, engender trust in our community, that we have listened, we have heard, and we are working to the best of our ability to ensure that, you know, things that have become content... 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... 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 better outcomes into the future Frank Wilkie 19:02.712
Councillor Stockwell used to close. Put the amendment those in favour. That is unanimous. The amendment now becomes the motion to which only Councillor Jurisevic has spoken. Now the councillor is pushed to speak to the motion before Councillor Jurisevic closes. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 19:20.412
It is a much larger body of work. 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 fully apprised of what has been proposed and what's come before. 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 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 instance, will bear through. Frank Wilkie 19:59.936
Councillor Stockwell. Any other councillors wish to speak? Jody was closed. I think so, that's it, thank you. We've got the motion made in favour. Thank you. That is unanimous. Thank you, Alex. Thank you, Guy. Thank you. We now go back to the agenda. Tender consideration plan, community battery. Good afternoon, councillors. Good afternoon. 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 government came in, they actually committed $200 million to implementing community batteries right across Australia. And the first tranche of And the first tranche of that was 29 million dollars 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. funding. So, Council saw this grant funding as a significant opportunity 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 at in the peak times. So we saw this as a fantastic opportunity and this would also complement our net zero emissions target that has 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 also recognised 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 community not-for-profit organisation that has actually implemented a in front of the battery, sorry, in front of the metre community battery and that one has been going for a year as of World Environment 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 $500,000 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 $200,000 would be required to go out for tender. However, under the Local Government Regulation 2012, section 230, division... 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... And for that to be happening it has to actually consider the objectives of the plan, how the objectives are to be achieved, how the achievement of the objectives will be measured. The alternative ways of actually achieving the objectives and why those alternative means, i.e. the standard ones, was not adopted and the proposed terms of contract for the goods and services and a risk analysis. The 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 largely in 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 actually 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 so this is very much what's in front of you a report to undertake a procurement process in accordance with section 230 of the Local Government Act Joe Jurisevic 25:30.563
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 25:43.411
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. If you like a specific property exactly so and we 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 store and to be able to be used. to store and 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 properties that are actually 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 Transformers so what this does is if you are a solar generator from your rooftop solar in that low 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 back into the grid and it actually stores it in this in this piece of kit this battery and so at night 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 the people on the local voltage network to be able to have a higher percentage of renewable energy at that particular time. There may be people that don't have solar systems on their roof as a result of this, but we get some of the benefit of the community collective of solar systems? 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 is, 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 network will 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. That period of time and it's also taking some pressure off the network as well because what we're seeing as more rooftops are actually putting on more solar in a system that was only built for a one-way basically from the large centralized 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 if you 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 well thank you that's where I get the the concept of who gets the benefit financially on the after the metre downstream of the metre the the entity that has the metre is the one that gets the benefit of the batteries on their tariff a community back A community battery doesn't quite work in the same way financially. Joe Jurisevic 29:44.092
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 generations Floyd! is that correct? Annie 30:09.811
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? So council will be the owner and operator of this community battery and so Work and they're not actually you using that solar so it's going yes and that's when when that happens the price down the wholesale market is lowest yep and emissions as lowest as well so this battery will actually be purchasing low-cost 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 revenue source for Council once we take what were the main maintenance and operational costs of the of the battery will be and then we also get some some revenue from the the whole operating in the wholesale market as Joe Jurisevic 31:50.987
Well. Now, whilst there might not be a direct tariff. benefit to the consumer, what there could be is a feedback into council's revenue, which might take some rates, general rate, the impact of rates. Annie 32:07.478
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. Joe Jurisevic 32:19.730
A greater flow of community batteries, or a greater number of community batteries, so that the 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 rates. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 32:41.710
And only Energex are moving into the space. Can you just talk a bit about Energex interests? Talk a bit about Energex interests and what they'll be doing with community batteries. Annie 32:48.933
Yeah, sure. So, as I said, there were 56 batteries that were actually put out as part of this grant opportunity and the 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 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 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 will 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 the battery when the emissions from electricity is really really low and discharge so that we actually And discharge, so that we actually are reducing our emissions overall for the community. Joe Jurisevic 34:16.973
To further explain that, my understanding is the community battery will be similar to the sort of things that service providers like Energex and Ergon and that will be facilitating to smooth out the system and actually take... In the longer term, take the peak load off. We're discussing one battery, but a network of batteries will take that peak load off. Annie 34:43.563
The federal government has also just recently announced an expression of interest for further funding for batteries right across Australia as well. Frank Wilkie 34:51.703
Councillor Stockwell is moving. We'll have a seconder please. Seconder Councillor Finzel, Councillor Stockwell. This is really exciting. When we think about the council's vision of being different by name, what staff have done here has really embodied that. It is about looking at a problem and coming up with a different solution that is totally in keeping with our strategy. In 2016 when we adopted a zero emissions for council operations, the community got excited. They went away and formed Zero Emissions Noosa as an incorporated group and they then asked in our 2019 environment strategy to 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. We talk about volunteers, but if we were to pay a consultant what Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. Brian Stockwell 35:46.998
Did, it would probably add 50 to 100 Noosa Inc. Did. It probably had $50,000 to $100,000 onto the project because they are the ones that looked at where is this being done well. They're the ones that, you know, with any that went down and, well, didn't go down, but got connected with Yarra Energy Foundation to identify the current best practice and to create that network of interested organisations in future development of this. I believe we're the only council in Queensland that will have done this when we do it. And so... We have got $500,000 of federal money flowing into the Shire as a result of that network and it is really important... 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 generation is highly distributed. If 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 in the future there'll 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, so they won't give you export licenses into the grid, so community batteries can overcome some of those problems. And as we've heard, each one of these will start to reduce the emissions of this community. community. By storing solar power generated during the day and using it at night. And I suppose to finish, I started with you to finish, you know, in the 80s we talked a lot about thinking, acting, thinking globally, acting locally. This is what this is. You know, by drilling down to a very small, one neighbourhood, one transmitter, if enough of those get put in, we'll reduce it. If those get put in, we'll reduce the global problem of climate change, and that's why it's exciting. Amelia Lorentson 37:59.339
Just a few questions, Annie, if that's okay. Home batteries versus... Batteries versus community batteries. So virtual power plants. What's more efficient, a shared approach or individual approach? Annie 38:16.394
It's horses for courses, actually. And I think somebody said... We're not going to 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, home batteries are still quite expensive. And so that's an issue. And if you can afford to put in a residential home battery, go for it. Do you have a potential home battery? Go for it, absolutely. Absolutely. It's not a one or either solution. So what this does is enable people who either haven't got solar or 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 in their own household batteries, but this is another solution at a different part of the actual network. Amelia Lorentson 39:08.864
A couple 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? Is that something that we may entertain? Annie 39:33.046
There's a lot of potential in that. There's a lot of potential. And what Zero Emissions Noosa Inc is also actually currently doing, they got a funding, grant funding from the State government to actually develop a roadmap for putting actually 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 there is a lot of grant funding around at this stage. But once we actually start to once we actually start to get the data, like our Energy Foundation has done for the last year, we understand how the battery operates, the revenue sources, you know, the operational maintenance requirements, et cetera, then we'll have a much better understanding. Then we'll have a much better understanding. And that could open it up to a whole heap of investors, including community and my last questions. I've read that next generation of batteries might come with the EV charging stations. And that's so exciting. So we don't have like, you know, a heap of community batteries that connected Community batteries are connected to EV charging stations. Do you know any more about that Annie? Again that's another opportunity. It depends on where the battery would actually be located and whether it's relevant to actually have an EV charger in there but certainly in Victoria they're now starting to actually put community batteries connected to EV charging stations. So it's all very exciting. Joe Jurisevic 41:11.854
A couple more questions too from me. Councillor Lorentson's 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, community facilities or council facilities, we've recently installed a couple of batteries on the downside of the metre. a little bit more of an indication of where they, where they've been and what they were, what they were installed for? Can you give us... Annie 41:48.277
Sure. Yeah, these batteries are actually as a result of another grant that we went into. Yeah, again, 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. And so what... And they are actually just installed fairly recently at 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 Joe Jurisevic 42:39.311
And in the meantime when it's not actually being used in those circumstances these actually batteries be will storing the excess solar that we're generating at those facilities and particularly at the J for example where we have a lot of 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. 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 as to when renewal is required. Sure. Annie 43:15.181
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 basically 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. I said like that way, that, that, that, that. 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. Joe Jurisevic 43:59.319
Thank you. The only other question is with regard to recyclability of the batteries. There's been some, some element of discussion with, 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 44:20.498
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 looked they 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 very cognizant of of not not actually actually solving sold 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 Joe Jurisevic 44:21.219
This was another reason Yes, that's exactly what. 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 at they're actually developing looking a centre of excellence in Brisbane possibility of development of construction of any sort of these batteries here in Australia? I couldn't tell you. They haven't discussed anything? No, not as yet. Councillor Finzel? Kim Rawlings 45:40.139
Yes, thank you Mr Chair, thank you. Joe Jurisevic 45:40.151
Yes, thank you Councillor Finzel. Kim Rawlings 45:42.719
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 support a small community like Pomona to actually be able to have civic ownership of our own power that we generate. So it's really exciting. When I first came off the campaign I met with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. and Landcare actually to have a discussion. 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. And I'm looking forward to seeing this roll out in the community. So I really support this. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 46:38.453
Thank you, Councillor Tom. Tom Wegener 46:40.673
One quick question. Is the battery going to belong to Council? And will we be depreciating it as time goes on so that we will replace it at the end of its life? Patrick Murphy 46:52.673
I suppose likely, yes. Tom Wegener 46:54.013
Great. Okay. I'd just like to speak to this. And just speak to this. And just thank Annie's visionary work. And just thank you. And I'm just so proud that our Council supports you in this. I'm very appreciative and respect how well you've worked with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. and Kennedy and Vivi Griffin and the Yarra Energy Foundation. And it's just very, very forward thinking. And so this is a fantastic thing for us. Thank you very, very much to you and the team. Joe Jurisevic 47:26.602
Another question before I speak to it. I'm just trying to get a concept of where something similar like this may exist. Is this similar, but obviously a lot smaller in scale, to the Tesla battery that was installed in South Australia? Again, a different part of the network. That's more of the high voltage. That's the high voltage. But on the line side rather than on Annie 47:52.385
The... Yeah, and Energex is also actually putting some in on the medium voltage network as well. And there is one just outside 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 48:07.709
I'll speak to it on the chat then. Yeah, well, Councillor Finzel alluded to some opportunities there, but as an electrician, I've been watching this space very, very... 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 technology, the terminology being thrown around with regard to when the greatest percentage of solar is available to 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. This is actually the solution. So it's using the natural cycle of the day with regard to power generation and 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 downstream options and actually making cheaper So I see this as a great solution. Power available to the occupants 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 This is an exciting move forward into battery technology and the future of power supply and grid stabilisation. move forward into... Thank you. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 50:11.383
I want to thank Annie and 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 me 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 A, acknowledge this cost of living crisis and B, do what we can. So thank you again for your leadership Annie. Really exciting times. Kim Rawlings 51:17.928
Can I just add a thank you to, as well as the team and Z 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 this space. Patrick Murphy 51:36.228
Thank you. Frank Wilkie 51:38.448
It's worth reiterating that this $500,000 grant will We'll deliver a more stable local energy grid. Residents will have access to renewable energy at no extra cost. It'll be part of what they're getting in. The revenue generated for rate payers will help keep downward pressure on rates. EnergyX is moving this way already. And also the partnership that's been established with Zero Emissions Noosa Inc. is excellent. I also would like to thank by name Anne Kennedy, Vivian Griffin and Jeff Acton and also your work and it wouldn't happen without that collaboration with the Yarra Energy Foundation as Councillor Stockwell said it's very high Highly skilled and professional consultancy work that they've given for free. Brian Stockwell 52:31.873
Yeah, I'll be quiet. 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 is 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... to get a similar charging policy to what exists in the Yarra Valley, Yarra Energy Foundation circumstances, I actually think, you know, 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, you know, 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 emerge into so that say by the 2028 local government elections that we no longer have three Rs, we have four. That councils become roads, rates, rubbish and renewables. Annie 53:44.016
Thank you. very much. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 53:50.284
Next up is Environment Grants. Environment Project Grants Round 18, Mountain View Environment Collaborative Grants, Round 2, and Environment Organisation Alliance Grants. We've got a few conflicts of interest. Mayor Clare, would you like to go first? Patrick Murphy 54:14.752
I, Councillor Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Lee McCready, a director of Treason Noosa, is a friend. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Thank you. Kim Rawlings 54:34.300
In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Councillor Finzel provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in the matter. So I, Councillor Finzel, informed the meeting I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as Lee 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. Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 55:10.542
Just a question. Yes. Linda, do you have my standard declaration on election terms, Lee McCready? Patrick Murphy 55:17.182
Yes, I have it, but it's right down here. Oh, that's okay. We can do it. It doesn't have to be in order. There's plenty to go through. The Council of Hawkeye is going to be leading by ear. The Council of Hawkeye is going to be leading by acting to take on acting. Frank Wilkie 55:28.943
Yeah, can I... 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'll 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. Susan Francis is the... Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the President of the Peregian Beach Community Association, the PBCA. The PBCA supports the Peregian Beach Bush Care Group. The Peregian Beach Bush Care Group will feature in work being showcased to school students by the Noosa Environmental Education Hub. I nor the PBCA nor the Peregian Beach Bush Care Group stand to gain personal material through this grant to NEE. 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 56:31.953
Do we have to appoint an acting chair? Yes. Or do we just put that to the CEO for the time being? Joe Jurisevic 56:40.073
Yes. Okay. So I'm happy to take the role of chair to deal with this matter. Yeah, I don't think we need to. So we're not going to do a resolution for that? Brian Stockwell 56:58.124
I think we just do it with the CEO and then I'll just move to Councillor Wilkie. I'm sorry, Brian, you're back to dictating. Oh, I can't do that here, do I? No, you can't, it's the power of the council. Amelia Lorentson 57:10.206
Excuse me, can I have a look at the wording, please, of Frank's declaration? Sorry. Joe Jurisevic 57:16.946
Before, while we do that, I'll move that we, whilst we deal with this matter, we hand the... I didn't actually do, right, therefore... I did think there was more in it. My declaration ended with, lead it to the meeting to determine whether I stay or move it. I'm not saying I want to stay or go. That's just standard wording. I apologise. 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 we need to have a resolution in that regard to hand... to him 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 a motion. Amelia Lorentson 58:09.817
If my nominee, Joe, takes over the chair, please. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 58:13.157
It's probably easier. Amelia Lorentson 58:15.197
I have the authority to do it, but... Yeah, I just didn't... Whether we need to nominate you to do that, or whether we... You'll have to second that, Joe. No, I can second it. I'm still here. You can't, because you've got a conflict. Joe Jurisevic 58:27.607
You can't do it. Patrick Murphy 58:29.387
Where's my conflict? No, Tom doesn't have a conflict. Tom Wegener 58:31.507
I don't have it. You don't have a conflict? Oh, these different grades. Yeah, yeah. And that's the... That does go with the climate change response. With the climate change response grant, not these ones. All right. Joe Jurisevic 58:45.356
Okay. All in favour? All in favour. Amelia Lorentson 58:49.136
In favour. Of me being appointed the acting 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, councillors, 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? 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 we have Councillor Lorentson, we have a seconder. Joe Jurisevic 59:49.600
In the interest of, I'll second that, in the interest of discussion I will speak to it. Amelia Lorentson 59:59.120
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 cup test. The man on the street considered that the decision was made impartially. 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? Just read it again, please. Councillor Wilkie, it's my understanding that you've had some some challenges with regard to how you've presented your conflict in the past in this regard. I acknowledge the abundance of care, the abundance of caution element here. Frank Wilkie 01:01:00.613
All of it here has that changed the way that you have presented this declaration as a direct result of those those elements 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 bush care group was mentioned in the report and I understand they're not they're not going to be the recipient of the grant but I understand that Noosa Environmental Education Hub will be showcasing the work of the Peregian bush care group so out of an abundance of caution I've made this declaration so it's open. Joe Jurisevic 01:01:45.147
That's why I was trying to get from you what the link was more closely which I've come to learn is the most important thing. That's the important thing, not whether you stay in the room or not. Amelia Lorentson 01:01:57.149
Can I? Joe Jurisevic 01:01:58.369
No you can't. No you can't Councillor. 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, nobody else has any further questions we can vote on the on the resolution before us with regard to Councillor Wilkie staying in the room and participating in the matter. Councillor Wegener, have you got any questions or anything further to add? Tom Wegener 01:02:27.885
No, it just seems the environment hub is very, is removed several, considerably removed from Councillor Wilkie. Joe Jurisevic 01:02:39.706
Councillor Lorentson, 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, my question. 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? I just need to understand that a little bit. Frank Wilkie 01:03:03.238
Well, I noticed in the report that the Peregian Beach Bush Care Group was mentioned and in 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 Bush Care Group. Peregian Beach Bush Care Group is also despite Peregian Beach Community Association. But they're not the recipients of the grant out of an abundance of caution for just for openness, a mere mention of anything to do with Peregian Beach Community Association is why I've outlined This is why I've outlined these links, no matter how tenuous, that might be my lesson. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:03:50.266
Any other questions? Yeah. I think... I think one of the biggest issues facing as 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. And by supporting a good cause in the past, all of a sudden you're limited in 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 if 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 a part of these groups. We want our councilors to be a part of community groups. And by overdoing the conflict of interest concept, we're actually limiting or not advancing that. We are stifling ourselves. So I'm very, very, and I've said this many, many times, I'm very, very wary of taking the conflict of interest to the ridiculous ends. So I do not support the motion. Joe Jurisevic 01:05:11.155
I'll speak to the mayor as well. I appreciate where Councillor Wilkie's coming from and the tenuous nature of that relationship 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 for the convenience of the moment. Amelia Lorentson 01:05:39.283
I'll speak. I won't be supporting the motion also. I thank Councillor Wilkie for a 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 that the link is really quite far removed. Joe Jurisevic 01:06:05.760
OK, so we'll put the motion. Those for Councillor Wilkie being... or Councillor Wilkie being required to leave the meeting. Raise your hands. Those against? The motion is lost. Councillor Wilkie may remain in the room and I believe we should... I'm here on the edge of the ocean, and I'm with us on the edge of the ocean. Oh, we've heard a bit. Oh, we've got to do the 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... Note the declarable conflict of council with the indeterminant that he may remain in the room. If you could do the relevant wording, please. I'll second. I'll move it. Tom Wegener 01:06:44.738
I'll second. Joe Jurisevic 01:06:50.060
And that is that Council votes in favour of a conflict of interest by Councillor Wilkie in the public interest that Councillor Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that he, neither he nor the community association, is that what we have to say? As a reasonable person, we trust that the final decision is made in the company of interest. Moved by me. Any discussion? Any further discussion on the matter? Any questions? Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Stockwell do not vote on this. Amelia Lorentson 01:08:21.020
And Councillor Stockwell. If there's no further discussion, can I have a... Any discussion? Can I have a vote from the councillors? All in favour? Carried unanimously by these three councillors. The remaining on the floor. Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Stockwell do not vote on the above motion. SPEAKER_01 01:08:40.166
All right. I'll finish with that one. And in light of that, that should enable us to return the chairmanship of the issue to Councillor Wilkie. Yes. Brian Stockwell 01:09:02.477
And before we start that first one that you've got for me, because because Councillor Wilkie has 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. Patrick Murphy 01:09:17.168
This one here? Brian Stockwell 01:09:18.908
Ah, that, yeah, the one for what he declared. Patrick Murphy 01:09:20.331
And you had, yours was $500 wasn't it? Brian Stockwell 01:09:26.211
Mine was $500 and I'm not Councillor Wilkie. Patrick Murphy 01:09:28.931
Yeah, I'll charge that. SPEAKER_01 01:09:31.931
So you have four COI's then? Is that right? Joe Jurisevic 01:09:36.874
You're gonna have four COI's? It'll be lunchtime. Can we clear the board in one declaration? Brian Stockwell 01:09:45.534
I'm happy for that to be taken as read considering the recency of which we considered the matter. Joe Jurisevic 01:09:54.054
Let's make the necessary changes of Councillor Stockwell and the data... Frank Wilkie 01:10:13.440
Can I just ask a question, is there any one that would take you out of your room or has taken you out of your room before? How many are there, how many CIOs do you have? Brian Stockwell 01:10:27.933
I have Landcare, Mayor of the Captain's Committee and Tewas of Noosa. Frank Wilkie 01:10:31.713
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 of doing it. So we've got the first one which is similar to mine, if any of you councillors wish to... I'll move the resolution that you had in regard to noting the declarable conflict of interest and terminating it is in the public interest that he remains in the room. I'll leave that one. Patrick Murphy 01:11:07.500
Ah, they're so... Steve's... Brian Stockwell 01:11:27.860
What do you think making a parliament was required to do this? Frank Wilkie 01:11:34.360
They'd soon change the laws, wouldn't they? Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Wegener, Chair... Joe Jurisevic 01:11:56.480
Nothing to discuss, I think the questions... I think the question you asked and the questions asked previously to link the only link here, Councillor Stockwell, the only link here that I understand is the donation. In the same way that Councillor Wilkie had... No questions and nothing to add? I really wish to speak to this one. Frank Wilkie 01:12:31.360
The important thing is that Councillor Stockwell has declared it, so it's transparent, it's on the record. Those links are there for everyone to see. All in favour? That's unanimous. I think you can vote soon. Okay. We've got a good thought for all of them. Okay. No. No, I didn't get any declaration that you... Joe Jurisevic 01:12:55.491
No, I'm not doing the declarations, I believe, because it would have just been in order. Frank Wilkie 01:12:59.671
Perhaps not last. No, no, it's any time. Okay. Otherwise you could potentially... So Councillor Stockwell can stay in the room. Hang on. Now we're going to... Brian Stockwell 01:13:12.050
I wish to inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest 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 on 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... 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 01:13:43.793
I'll move that Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell and determinants in the public interest of the 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 and does not have a close personal relationship with Landcare and therefore reasonable personal trust that the final decision is in the public interest. Amelia Lorentson 01:14:06.446
I'll second that. Joe Jurisevic 01:14:13.380
I might change the wording of that. Close personal relationship. Close personal relationship should be the language used. Does not have a... No, that's a bad... Yeah, I think the language there is incorrect, sorry. Brian Stockwell 01:14:26.180
What's the understanding? Joe Jurisevic 01:14:28.160
Does not have a conflicting... Brian Stockwell 01:14:30.920
It's due to the community nature. Joe Jurisevic 01:14:37.000
Thank you. Due to the community nature, right. Due to... 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... I stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this matter due to the community and age relationship with Landcare and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Got no questions at all? Mr Chair. Frank Wilkie 01:15:28.520
Again, it's important that he was declared. Declared all conflicts of interest in one way or the other. Stay in the room. Mary, 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 fact in the public interest. Thank you. Tom Wegener 01:16:02.793
You have no contract currently with Landcare? No. Joe Jurisevic 01:16:08.242
I'll close just to reiterate the fact that this is consistent with the declaration that Councillor Stockwell has made in the past and the decision of Council to allow him to remain in the room. I'll put it to the vote. Frank Wilkie 01:16:22.502
That's carried. Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie do not vote. That's carried. Next conflict of interest. Brian Stockwell 01:16:28.387
I wish to inform the meeting that I declare a conflict 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 had a small contract below the limit of 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 and in this role I played a role rather than him. 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 would 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. Joe Jurisevic 01:17:28.445
I will ask the question that Councillor Wegener asked of you previously. Do you have any contracts or any obligations with MRCC currently? No. I assist voluntarily now. Only as a volunteer. And the small contract I had was well before 2014. Which the Act says that's a cut-off period. Your relationship is only as a member of MRCC? I'm no longer a member. Brian Stockwell 01:17:58.507
Councillor Wegener is now known as a member representing Council. Are you a member of the MRCC? No. No, I might still be the, what do you call it? it's like... M7. No, the next one, if Tom's not available, I might be still the proxy. Probably. That's the problem, isn't it? But that's our council, as a council. Amelia Lorentson 01:18:22.436
I'll move that council note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell and determine that it's in the public 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. Although he has a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias considering a community nature of this relationship. I vote that Councillor Stockwell remains in the room. Brian Stockwell 01:19:23.988
Can I also clarify in terms of Councillor Wilkie's question, Noosa Council is the member? Thank you for clarifying that point. We wanted 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 at that point? Frank Wilkie 01:19:43.216
We have a second. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 01:19:45.176
Okay. Amelia, do you wish to 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 01:20:01.278
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 interest. You have these conflicts of interest because 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. It's a long process, but it's worth it and that's what we have to do. Frank Wilkie 01:20:25.907
Again, without voting, I can say we've declared it, made it transparent. Terrible conflicts of interest. There's always a chance to stay in the work. I support them. Amelia Lorentson 01:20:44.120
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 is honouring that. So I commend Councillor Wilkie, Stockwell for making these declarations. Frank Wilkie 01:21:07.452
That's unanimous. Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Wilkie do not vote. Do you have any more answers from Councillor Stockwell? Here we go, one more. I'm serious. Joe Jurisevic 01:21:16.114
Really? Yeah. I never thought that might just be an issue to me. I wish to inform the meeting of a decreable conflict of interest in this matter on the 24th February 2020. I sort of agree with the independent council election observer. As to the public claims of the future Noosa team of which Liam McCready was publicly identified as campaign manager. Liam McCready is the director of tourism Noosa. Although a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because the ICO review was an advisory service. 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 in the meeting room. on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. And I will move the Council to make the declaration of a public division by the Council of Stockwell determined that it is in the public interest that Council of Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because the Council believes that a reasonable person cannot have an exception of bias because the I.C.E. O review was an advisory service not a statutory process and Council of 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. The final decision is made in public interest. I'll second that. Seconded by Councillor Lorentson. It'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. Any other councillors to speak before John Hayes? Put the motion those in favour. That's unanimous. There's another one I'd love to hear. But we're looking good today. We're now up to the recommendation. Do we need to adjourn? Do we need a refresh? Refresh and restore? What are we talking about? Welcome, Rebecca. Could you give us an overview of what we're looking at? SPEAKER_01 01:23:08.283
Happy to. So this report is to present an overview of the... Sorry, we've got the wrong item. Okay this report presents an overview of the applications received for the current grant round. There's three components to the environment grants. Project grant for single year projects, multi-year environment collaboration grant for collection of community groups to come together for a grant application and then environment organisation alliance grant to help with organisational costs. And these were really well subscribed. We had a total of $375,000 available for allocation. of suitable grants and there was 17 in total received. These applications were checked for their eligibility against the relevant grants policy and guidelines. The application were then reviewed and assessed by senior staff in the environmental services team with experience assessing grants and with environmental subject matter expertise. They were moderated then by the environmental services manager before workshopping with the councillors 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 01:25:19.800
Questions councillors? Someone care to move the motion? Happy to move. Move to come to the Jurisevic. I'll second it. Joe Jurisevic 01:25:27.280
Joe? This is a large number of very worthwhile projects and presented here in the environment sphere and I'll happily support all those that have been given grant funds. Frank Wilkie 01:25:44.445
Any councillors wish to speak to the motion? Brian Stockwell 01:25:46.905
Councillor Stockwell? It's really important to look at what we approve 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 and there was no such thing as having these alliances. So what really we see here is that the groups are oversubscribing the amount of money we've got to help us achieve improving our natural environment and our waterways. to reduce waste so it's really good to see Tourism Noosa in there as a 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 Shire and we're only funding a part of them like find a property Funding and funding a part of them like find a frog in February is a program run by the MRCCC is you know up north in Harvey Bay in the Fraser Coast right down to us and we link it into our local programs we see kinderland bush links we've started the Sunshine Coast Council there we have volunteers going onto people's properties to help them look after the areas of high conservation value we've got some money in there for to help that the And therefore to help the expertise in community based water quality monitoring and MRCCC to help us do the coordination of that effort 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 the tax core creeper which invades our creeks and waterways, and also obviously Noosa Landcare with the project up in Kin Kin. So, yeah, it is really important to, when we give out these grants, we're giving money and the volunteers generally are giving two or three times the amount in volunteer labour. Frank Wilkie 01:27:57.878
Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Amelia Lorentson 01:27:59.238
Councillor Lorentson? 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 I look at 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 competitive edge. So, yeah, thank you for your report, Rebecca. Yeah. Thank you, Rebecca. Joe Jurisevic 01:28:37.524
John, I will ask a question. The value of return on investment with all of these community groups, do we have 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... Most of this work, as I understand it, is done by volunteers in our community. SPEAKER_01 01:28:58.204
Yeah, 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. Many of them are really useful extension to the programs that council was operating within in-house and we would otherwise need to do them in-house if it wasn't for the initiatives from the community. Joe Jurisevic 01:29:35.175
So they do add a lot of value to the work we do and the elements of projects like Keepin and Kin Kin have a significant I would imagine have a significant impact on the the health of the Noosa River and the elements of erosion within the raising of the awareness of erosion with regard to hinterland properties and what flows into the Noosa River or has flowed into the Noosa River. SPEAKER_01 01:30:05.772
Yeah absolutely that project 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 01:30:27.410
Just a question, Rebecca. We've funded two wildlife rescue groups, rescue and care groups, Wildlife Noosa and Wild Cairn Australia. Is the difference between the two just the one is more regional, like Wild Cairn takes a regional approach, and Wildlife Noosa is more Shire based? Can you distinguish between the two? SPEAKER_01 01:30:55.403
I don't have that detail. They do that, so they do. I'm happy to support them. I can find out. Okay, sure. Great. Frank Wilkie 01:31:07.183
Jodie, would you close? Yeah, I will. Oh, sorry, Tom. Just, you know, thank you very much, Rebecca and the team. These 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 that as the acquittal comes through, that the public, that it is publicized. Publicized and even when they get these things to be publicized of course that's our job is probably to publicize it as counselors but they are very very important and that we just like to see them further acknowledged because it gives the group's hope like you know somebody people group of people who say we need to make change we just can't do anything well you can do something these grants are there for for the groups to get like you get people to feel maybe non-empowered but The field may be non-empowered, but they should be empowered because the money is there. And even more, they get these. Tom Wegener 01:31:58.345
So it's fantastic. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 01:32:03.885
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. As Councillor Stockwell 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 the true nature of the work that's undertaken and many of these other projects are all used I'll use a lot of volunteer hours and volunteer time 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 council would otherwise have to have to undertake and the value of return is greatly appreciated benefit by the community as a whole. Thank you. I put the motion to those in favour. That is unanimous. Frank Wilkie 01:33:17.567
Thank you Rebecca. SPEAKER_01 01:33:18.447
You're welcome. Frank Wilkie 01:33:21.627
Councillor Stewart and Finzel can come back in the room. Thank you. They haven't gone home. We've got CLRs on the next one as well. SPEAKER_01 01:33:36.228
Is this MSQ? Planning one I think. Planning one? Amelia Lorentson 01:33:42.548
Delegated authority has got CLRs as well. Frank Wilkie 01:34:01.422
That's true. Councillor Amelia Lorentson 01:34:02.996
Lorentson, would you want to say your first one? My phone? For the Noosa space centre, and recently there was two, but I want to put that to you. What's the four R's? SPEAKER_01 01:34:13.396
Is that on? In the phone. In the phone? Delegated authority? No. Alright, we're up to planning applications decided by delegated authority. Welcome Patrick. Patrick, could you just give us a brief overview of the day? Could you just give us a brief... Oh, declarations. Okay. Patrick Murphy 01:34:33.853
In accordance with Chapter 5 of the Electoral 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 application by alternate properties number 9, proprietary limited TTE, which is listed as item 17 of the report. I, over-franchise it fully. Robert Greene, are you associated with the applicant? The result of my conflict of interest is that I will now... I'm now admitting that no matter what you say, I'm fine. Kim Rawlings 01:35:01.446
In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I have a declarable conflict of interest in the matter. My council will inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Elton Properties, number 9PLTTP, which is listed... which is listed as item 17 in this report. Lena Creedy, 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. Thank you, Mr Chair. Amelia Lorentson 01:35:43.457
I, Councillor Lorentson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in regards to 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. Thank you, Councillor. Brian Stockwell 01:36:13.360
Just for something different. We should inform the meeting that I've declared my confidential interest in this matter in relation to the application by Hilton Properties No. 9 v Pirate Limited, TDE, which is listed as item 17 in this report on 24 February 2020. I sort of view it as the Independent Commission Council Election Observer. Since I just declared this, I'll 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 I can remain and participate in the decision. Joe Jurisevic 01:36:46.202
Councillor Jones: In that vein, I will move that the Council ordinate the declarable conflict to be addressed by Councillor Stockwell. In terms in the public interest of the Council, Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because the Council believes that a reasonable person could not have a perception of bias because the ICA review was an advisory service It's not a statutory process. Council stock was created. at the time in the public interest and neither he nor Mr McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice and therefore a reasonable person would trust the final decisions made in the public interest. I 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. Frank Wilkie 01:37:27.140
Those in favour? That's carried unanimously. Councillor Stockwell can stay in the meeting room. Welcome, Patrick. Could you just give us an overview of what we're looking at here? Patrick Murphy 01:37:38.130
Okay. We have the report for the applications that were decided by delegation for the month of April, 37 applications, combination of minor change applications, material change of use, development permit for building. Actual change of use, development permit for building works, reconfigs and operational works approvals forms the list. Frank Wilkie 01:37:58.568
So they're actually decided? These have all been decided. Just for clarity, councillors actually have nothing to do with this decision making? That's correct, they've been made under delegation. And this is just simply for reporting purposes? To acknowledge the work done by staff? Yep, the volume of work coming through. Approvals given by staff under delegated authority. Councillor Jurisevic, no move. Seconded by Councillor Wegener. Joe Jurisevic 01:38:28.842
Only to acknowledge the vast number of staff and the great work they do in dealing with these under delegate authority. Frank Wilkie 01:38:37.324
I have a question just to clarify. When there are notations on these individual applications that say exemptions, height, setbacks, does that mean relaxations have been given to height and setbacks? Patrick Murphy 01:38:55.764
Yes, the direction to staff is to make sure that what has been applied for is reflective when they find when they 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. Frank Wilkie 01:39:15.197
Okay so if this 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 That's great. Patrick Murphy 01:39:29.368
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. Frank Wilkie 01:39:37.448
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 Thank you very much for the favour. it's carried It's carried unanimously. Thank you very much, thank you. Welcome back everybody. Up to the next item, 5.4, which is the Maritime Safety Queensland Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecast of 2022, which was referred from the Services and Modernisation Committee, where it was well canvassed, lots of questions asked and spoken to, but it's been referred due to the significance of the issue, unless any other council... of the issue, unless any other councils who weren't at that committee would like to ask questions or make comments. Welcome Shaun and Rebecca. Could you give a service? Patrick Murphy 01:41:02.044
Isn't this going to be confidential? Frank Wilkie 01:41:04.584
No, just the attachments. If 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. Yeah, their sensitivity was about the diversion control of the BMT report, which was attachment 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 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. It's likely that the final draft will take on board the comments made from staff and councillors at the last meeting. Tom Wegener 01:41:55.015
Most likely. He didn't, the officer 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 so I can't say exactly what's in it. But he verbally just indicated that the recommendations are very similar. Frank Wilkie 01:42:17.410
So it shouldn't affect our recommendations? Tom Wegener 01:42:19.330
No, so he just wished for me to reiterate to the councillors and any of the community who may have a copy of that draft report that it is draft and subject to final state government endorsement and release. And it is a major, quite exciting initiative for the State to actually have undertaken assessments across the State of that scale. Frank Wilkie 01:42:37.690
Thank you, Shaun. So given some people might be listening for the first time, could you give an overview of what this report is about? Tom Wegener 01:42:43.710
Yeah, I'll refer to Rebecca. Thank you. SPEAKER_01 01:42:45.502
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. Needs might be required for upgrades or increased facilities and they've made recommendations relating to seven priority projects following a detailed assessment by BMT consultants. The report makes recommendations relating to a submission back to MSQ on that study. So So. It acknowledges the great body of work and also acknowledges the need for a regional approach when planning for boat launching facilities. Noosa River is a very busy river. It's well in demand. 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 facilities or upgraded facilities. And, um, 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 Park future boat 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 at Noosaville. Frank Wilkie 01:44:40.372
Thank you, 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 01:44:54.191
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, what can they expect. Tom Wegener 01:45:14.871
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, you know, try and reflect what our organisations 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, 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 we need to advocate to the State government to actually fund the onshore components. And we've tried to make that clear in the report so that the community are clear that we haven't currently budgeted for capital works expenditure. Are we able to get additional funding from the State? And as a result of the Noosaville 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 Bridge, Doonella Bridge, Hilton Esplanade facility and also Marindal Street. Hilton Esplanade. 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. Patrick Murphy 01:47:05.305
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 space. Is there the ability for us to advocate directly with the State government for those funds to assist, potentially and also not just obviously we're responsible for off the water, they're on the water, but to assist with those upgrades, the foreshores and the trailer parking and that sort of thing? Tom Wegener 01:47:28.169
My understanding is that the report indicates that the Priority 1 projects would cost about $138 million across the State to fund. the State Government Department of Response would only have approximately $5 million funding available, so... Five. 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, um, and, you know, um, and usually, you know, they have a lot of advocacy... And usually, you know, they have a lot of advocacy, you know, work undertaken by local communities to increase the pool and to prioritise particular projects over others. Patrick Murphy 01:48:07.384
We can certainly advocate based on the need and the evidence we have and the fact that everyone has a nice resource of water. Tom Wegener 01:48:15.244
And noting the busyness of our Noosa River and the fact that our existing facilities have oversubscribed. Patrick Murphy 01:48:31.504
I can't answer that, Councillor Stewart, so I'm not sure of the answer to that. Joe Jurisevic 01:48:37.444
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 on the river, i.e. acknowledging that Noosa, particularly that the Noosa River is a very busy waterway already in relative to other waterways. Where in our recommendations do we, is it in V that we raise concerns that the elements of, it does talk about capacity to accommodate statistical growth, but it doesn't talk about the review of the current usage and the capacity of the river as it currently stands to accommodate that. Tom Wegener 01:49:27.687
It 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 Palmerstone 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 the local governments across Queensland you know would have would be quite an easy exercise to do rather than break it into just Noosa then Sunshine Coast. So that's where we get it. I suppose the remit of their report was just looking at boat ramp facilities rather than capacity of the Noosa River to actually absorb more usage. It wasn't the remit of their particular report though. Joe Jurisevic 01:50:16.710
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? Tom Wegener 01:50:30.350
My recollection, and councillors may know, 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 we've happened is we've had more usage of the informal facilities at Marindal Street and also Hilton Esplanade at the Lake Doonella Bridge. Joe Jurisevic 01:50:55.089
In comparison to that, would we have a comparison? I mean, is that the situation in other boat ramp facilities, or have other boat ramp facilities received? Have other boat ramp facilities received significant works in recent years? Tom Wegener 01:51:07.621
Across the State? Joe Jurisevic 01:51:09.721
Well, even in the southern region. Tom Wegener 01:51:13.441
I can't answer that, Councillor Jurisevic. Frank Wilkie 01:51:16.201
Someone care to move the recommendation? I'm happy to move. Moved by Councillor Finzel, seconded by Jo. Councillor Finzel, would you speak to the motion? Kim Rawlings 01:51:25.961
No, I think it's all been covered. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:31.269
Joe? Yeah, no, 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 riverheads and the like, there has been a significant amount of spending on some upgrades to major boat ramp facilities and boat launching facilities and ferry facilities to access places. To access places like Fraser and those, I've seen some significant spend, significant upgrades, and to hear that our area 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 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. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 01:52:52.080
It's interesting that the item is called a recreational painting facility demand forecast study but the outcomes are actually a painting outcome. I really want to congratulate staff who have done in the review and particularly to sections four and five of the report. If I can read the 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. 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 the 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 the scenes with some interesting concepts about how we might distribute boat parking, how we might integrate environmental repair with boating parking and facilities. Now 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 These include concepts which include the filling of the Noosa River for cars. I 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 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 ensure that the most efficient and effective use of the available land space is achieved. And I think, you know, for us as a council, we want to be looking at what facilities do we need to make better access for our residents, like the concept of a resident-only grant the Marindal 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. 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. 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 section four and five pursued. Frank Wilkie 01:56:52.156
Did you have a question, Karen? Patrick Murphy 01:56:55.296
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 the many councils in which it seems that Maritime Safety Queensland, we have that blanket 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, 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 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 I said, 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, it's a shame that we can't 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 an outdoor 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 necessary facilities, not over demand, but we certainly need to ensure that we can cater for all our, well our residents is number one, whatever they do. So I think that 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 it. I just wanted to firstly thank everyone. I think just coming off what Mayor Clear said in roles of advocacy, I think even though the report from the State has seen that it hasn't met us like Councillor Stockwell said on that real localiser level about the limited capacity, I think those gaps in the report and we feel that those areas that weren't... We feel that those areas that weren't addressed actually gives us as a council a 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 funding to come from other levels so I see this is a really good opportunity to actually help inform us with our local planning and management. Local planning and management of the river and maybe that will help us inform our river plan or how we want to move forward so I actually welcome the opportunity to really now give targeted advocacy for the areas that we are seeing 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 02:00:29.676
Councillor Lorentson. On page 16 of the BMT report 2.3.2 outdated facilities a review of recreational facilities a review of recreational facilities around Noosa indicates no significant increases to boat ramp capacity in the last 30 years so excuse me so to me the issue in front of us is not about addressing 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 the Noosaville foreshore Noosaville foreshore management plan and the initiation of planning processes with MSQ &T, MRT or upgrade facilities noted in the recommendation E. So to me, it's really catch up and we've got the opportunity. So anyone listening, this is really our first real step. Frank Wilkie 02:01:53.400
Karen, do you wish to close? Kim Rawlings 02:01:56.200
Just again, thank you for all the work the staff's done and I'm looking forward to future conversations and opportunity to advocate in this space. Patrick Murphy 02:02:05.240
So thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:14:52.980
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 88A and 90 Goodchap Street, Noosaville. Welcome Georgina and welcome Patrick. Could you give us a bit of an overview? Georgina 02:15:17.769
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. This building is going to be located in the southeastern corner of the lot so the Eumundi Noosa Road 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 and the location of the bunker will result in a removal in removing 17 The applicant seeks to maintain a number of spaces previously approved under that 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's 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 It is to be noted that this is comparable to our recent approval that's being approved at Noosa Civic where weight was given to the extension 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 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 and there's also been some conditions imposed in relation to any landscaping so we can increase and improve that on the site and then thirdly we have the applicant has proposed to infill a pedestrian link which is internal to building A and the purpose of that is to I suppose 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 connection. I'm 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, it's 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 As well as contained in the report, the minor change has been recommended for approval. Joe Jurisevic 02:18:38.899
Yeah, I'm just trying to piece together some of the information here on the diagram, and if I go to the, which of the three downloads I've got here, the development plan has a report, and I go to page, figure three, 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 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 entry and exit. Now my understanding is traders lane has a gate upon it. So is that going to be opened up as a result of this, and access to traders lane? Georgina 02:19:44.445
No, so the 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. Joe Jurisevic 02:19:54.126
Okay, so that is just emergency access only or in certain circumstances access? Yes, yes. I just saw those arrows to and from them. I 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... A block addition, accidentally when you said the windows, the windows 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. That was, I think that was the only relevant questions I had in that regard. Oh yeah, so the traffic flow now, the arrows indicating there on the site now indicate we're past our bunker, we have one-way traffic. have one-way traffic flow only in the, to go downstairs or all the way along. There was no, my understanding is there is an underground, an undercroft or underground car park near the, there was no proposal to, but the reason I ask this is because we had another development proposal with a bunker of this nature was to be in the car park in the underground area. There's no, there was no thought to place it in the underground area. It was always off to the side as an addition. That is correct. Noting that it complies with the setback requirements as well. Okay, and that's, 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. Amelia Lorentson 02:21:35.101
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 02:21:50.761
In the context of this overall development, where you've got one building in itself is over 3,000 square metres of GFA. And the context of the whole site, it is certainly... It is, thank you, that qualifies that. And it's a use that's consistent with the approval as well, it's not introducing new use. Joe Jurisevic 02:22:06.769
Thank you. I did have another question, and I can't remember which, the three attachments it relates to, I think it relates to the second attachment. Just to clarify, Georgina, the addition, because it's an oncology bunker, one patient at a time... The car parking requirement for 360-lane car parks, does it remain consistent? Patrick Murphy 02:22:32.190
Well, it was considered that the existing 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... I think 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 exceeds the 1,000 square metres, having a total gross floor area of 3,000 square metres, how does a further addition-- Yeah, so when this was constructed, there was no requirement. 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. 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-- The only reason for that, the way I'm reading this, the only reason for that limitation is because it's in the community facilities zone. Joe Jurisevic 02:25:04.361
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. That's correct. Okay, so it's because of the zone that it's in that that restriction is-- That's right. That's correct. Patrick Murphy 02:25:19.849
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 02:25:30.329
Well, here's the element I'm trying to understand. How is this a community facilities zone building and a community facilities zone when it's a commercial building in the... in the way that something like a shopping centre or some sort of commercial precinct building would be? Patrick Murphy 02:25:49.514
Because when you look at the uses that are permitted that occur on this site, we're talking about medical facilities... Brian Stockwell 02:26:05.140
Assume historically that it was deliberately zoned community uses so it wouldn't be able to go to the broader commercial use in that site and that was actually targeting to get more of these types of facilities. That is correct. I didn't recall it used to have a higher level of importance. Joe Jurisevic 02:26:21.986
Thank you, that explains the positive comments. Frank Wilkie 02:26:27.466
Someone can move the motion please. Joe Jurisevic 02:26:31.046
Moved. Second. I'm trying to understand the nuances of the development, the minor change, the need clearly for these type of facilities for the local community to provide additional assessment and treatment. Assessment and treatment facilities for medical conditions associated with this development, which has a number of medical facilitations within our support. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:27:13.594
Karen, thank you, Georgina. 6.2 is Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation annual report and operational plan. Kim Rawlings 02:27:26.814
We have Kim Rawlings. Slowly because Rebecca's just left she might have just Unknown 02:27:41.140
Got a lot of work to do but she's got a lot of work to do but she's got a lot of Kim Rawlings 02:27:48.620
Councillors, 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 and it it also outlines a 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 02:28:32.779
And we will have the budget consultation feedback workshop tomorrow. Yes. And I imagine that's where you can thrash out funding requests such as this. Kim Rawlings 02:28:43.739
That's right. And take on board feedback about the proposal. 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, there may be some feedback through that process in the consideration of the final budget. Frank Wilkie 02:29:07.240
Rebecca, is there anything else you want to add about what we're looking at here, please? SPEAKER_01 02:29:11.000
As outlined I think she's Kim's outlined it quite well. So the financial report's been independently audited and the reports 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 Counting Standards and complies with the requirements of our funding agreement, which is key for Council. Joe Jurisevic 02:29:44.619
How long does the funding agreement go over? SPEAKER_01 02:29:47.599
It's a four year term. Joe Jurisevic 02:29:48.979
And are there KPIs in that funding agreement? SPEAKER_01 02:29:51.519
For their reporting requirements, for an operational plan and an annual report to be prepared, and an annual financial report as well. Joe Jurisevic 02:30:00.979
So this report has ticked all of those parameters with regard to the KPIs available to them? Well, I want to clarify. I didn't actually see that. Frank Wilkie 02:30:15.820
Right, any other questions? Staff, councillors, Stockwell Academy, move the motion for the report to move to Councillor Lorentson, the seconded to Councillor Jurisevic. Councillor Lorentson, you have to speak to the report. Amelia Lorentson 02:30:33.580
Yeah, I'll just say that the partnership shows our commitment. It shows our commitment as a council in supporting organisations and people committed to our goals, which is conserving and protecting our natural and built environment. I also would like to note and thank the volunteer boards for their commitment to their biosphere, but also note their in-kind contribution. in the report as annually exceeding $390,000 and I think they gave themselves a value of about $200 per hour, so thank you. And that's noted. That provides considerable value both back to the NBRF and also to Noosa Shire. Frank Wilkie 02:31:29.174
Anybody else wish to speak? Tom. Tom Wegener 02:31:30.914
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 Biosphere perhaps sharing resources with NICA 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 it's actually been on a really nice consistent track going forward for quite some time. Kim Rawlings 02:32:13.939
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% of contract for support staff. On page 223. I just wonder, like, that just seemed a significant amount to me. I'm not a business expert, but 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. That's 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 Operational needs to support the organisation and then project funding. Council provides an amount and then the NBRF determines how they 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 Jurisevic 02:33:29.497
Joe, I'd like to congratulate the NBRF on their achievements to date. I think the report indicates a number of well structured and well thought out projects. Projects that they've been undertaking and supporting, particularly with regard to koala conservation, blossom flax, and including a koala vaccine trial. They are incorporating opportunities for students to be involved in operations here. They are generating one of the things that Generating 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 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. Brian Stockwell 02:34:57.360
Yes the reports are a very valuable statement of what's happened over the last year. I think the 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 identifies the four strategic objectives of the current board members, which includes inspiring positive behaviour change, of leveraging the brand to attract purposely 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 other researchers can help solve some of those problems because, you know, one of the other strategic objectives is really, number one, is to make sure that Noosa maintains its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. That's not a given. You know, 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. Frank Wilkie 02:36:22.265
Mary, do you wish to close? Amelia Lorentson 02:36:24.105
Yeah, I'd just like to add that I have taken part in quite a few of the symposiums and opportunities at the NBRE, including the marine symposium. The shark program, Rodriguez PhD on ascertaining the cultural, social value of our beaches. Spoken to JD about wetlands. Attended the sustainability forum. 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, again. 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 it. With much of that in favour, that is unanimous. Thank you, Rebecca and Kim. SPEAKER_01 02:37:47.066
Thanks, Kim. Thank you, Kim. Frank Wilkie 02:37:50.786
Next up, we have encroachments policy. We have encroachments policy and organisational procedures. Again, we have Mel and Rebecca, and we have some COIs. Joe Jurisevic 02:38:06.946
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 1. Planning scheme, even though it's Shire-wide, because it's not a planning scheme, it does not, so just so everyone's aware, therefore it does not come under the airmen of the ordinary business matter exemption contained in section 150 EF1B of the Local Government Act. Just so, that's essentially the reason why there are a number of CLIs on this particular, 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 02:38:49.487
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 a couple of areas that I am not fully aware of. To manage any perceived conflict of interest in relation to the matters, I believe it is 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... 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 not participate in the discussion. Kim Rawlings 02:39:49.200
I, Councillor Finzel, inform the meeting that I declare a conflict of interest in this matter, as of March 2020, Mr Peter Buck, who I believe is an executive member of the Eastern Ventures Protection Association, who are submitters in the Eastern Ventures Foreshore Management Plan, which addresses management issues relevant to encroachments. Patrick Murphy 02:40:07.854
Peter Buck donated $1,666 Kim Rawlings 02:40:10.934
66 To my 2020 election campaign, where I was one of three candidates that were asked to represent Noosa, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict of interest, I am now in the meeting room and I'll make this decision and vote it upon. Frank Wilkie 02:40:33.780
I would like to declare my potential, I'll make that a declarable conflict of interest for item 6.3, Shaun Walsh's approach to this policy. In early 2020, I received an electoral donation of $750 from Susan Francis. Susan Francis is the partner of Barry Cotterell. The President: Barry Cotterell. Barry Cotterell is the president... Barry Cotterell is the President of the British and British Community Association. PBCA has made submissions requesting Council address illegal encroachments. Please take it up, do its job. Just address illegal encroachments. I, nor the PBCA, stand to gain personal materials for the introduction of the Shire-wide policy. However, I make this declaration out of an abundance of portion given the possible 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 management plan not being ordinary and that it would be appropriate for me to stay in the meeting room and that it would be appropriate for me to stay in the meeting room. Castles, this is similar to the declaration made... About the Eastern Beaches foreshore management plan not being ordinary... Tom Wegener 02:41:43.220
And that it would be appropriate for me to stay in the meeting room. Castles, this is similar to the declaration made... Do you have a declaration? Joe Jurisevic 02:41:56.940
Are you going to vote yourself? I'll support, yes. Yes, I'm just reading through, just reading through the declarations, I'm trying to get an understanding. Yeah, alright. Councillor, do we have any questions for Councillor Wilkie in this regard? Does anybody like to make a resolution in this regard? 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 guys. I have a wonderful caution in the eastern benches so I can maintain my continuality in that. And you're moving that a councillor would leave the room? Patrick Murphy 02:42:29.466
Yes, I will, I want, yes. But I'm normally just moving. Joe Jurisevic 02:42:33.746
That's alright, that's what you're normally, just getting clarified what you are, what the resolution that you're moving is. Do I have a seconder? Do I have a seconder? Tom Wegener 02:42:41.766
No, thank you for that. No, thank you for that. Approves the debate. Joe Jurisevic 02:42:43.752
Councillor Wegener? Councillor Stewart? Patrick Murphy 02:42:45.912
Did you have a reason? No. No, I was just, I was involved in the meeting, Mr Chair, of my position. Not, not necessarily. So you're not moving the resolution? No, I wasn't moving it. Okay, sorry. That would be, that would be. My misunderstanding, I thought you were moving the resolution. No, because the resolution is that Councillor Wilkie, no, I'm not moving it because it was originally that he participate. Joe Jurisevic 02:43:06.482
Sorry, so disregard that, that what, I misunderstood that Councillor Stewart was moving the resolution? No, I was just. Not declaring a position. I was just. Patrick Murphy 02:43:14.462
Okay. Councillor Wilkie out of. Joe Jurisevic 02:43:16.442
Okay. What we've got at the moment is an opportunity to ask questions and or to move a resolution. 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? Tom Wegener 02:43:32.980
I'll move that Councillor Wilkie stays in the room. Joe Jurisevic 02:43:36.800
So, I'll note that council, note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Wilkie determines in the public interest that Councillor Wilkie participates and votes on this matter because council believes that neither Councillor Wilkie nor the BBCA, can we just correct the wording there? Neither Councillor Wilkie nor the BBCA stand to gain personal authority through the introduction of this show on white 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? Exactly. Do you want a seconder? Councillor Stockwell? I can't. You can't? Oh, because you've got a declarable conflict. Okay, well, I'll second it. Councillor Wegener, do you wish to speak to it? Tom Wegener 02:44:18.515
Well, yeah, again, you missed my wonderful introduction. What is it? Speaking lyrically? No, what is it that you love to say? Anyway, that it's important that we have people involved in the community here, and it shouldn't be a stifling effect on our ability to go out and do things within the community and be, you know, 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. We want to work with them. Joe Jurisevic 02:44:49.531
I'm going to say that 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 I don't believe I'm the councillor working on PBCA stand to have any material gain through this. I understand that many groups have given the opportunity to submit towards the policy and have positions with regard to elements of encroachment that I think many in the community do. I'm prepared to support Councillor Wilkie's statement at the meeting. Do you want to say anything? Patrick Murphy 02:45:39.279
While maintaining consistency but also 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. I don't see too much, I don't see anything different between that and Councillor Wilkie so that's why I'm also based on consistency in previous decisions I've made. I think it prudent in this instance that Councillor Wilkie can remove himself from the ring. Fair enough. Okay. Joe Jurisevic 02:46:16.615
Nothing further to add, Councillor Wilkie, to close? We'll put it to the vote. All in favour? Against? Motion's carried. Given that Councillor Wilkie is admitted to stay in the room, I would assume that Councillor Wilkie will resume the chair. Yes. Frank Wilkie 02:46:41.360
If I can clarify the difference between... If I can clarify the difference between the PBCA and the EPA is that EPA members do stand to gain or lose materially or personally as a result of an encroachments policy. PBCA members do not. Okay. Brian Stockwell 02:46:58.801
Councillor Stockwell. I too wish to declare... I'm taking out the potential. I'm not using the copy because there's a few changes, wasn't there? Oh, we'll get it together. I would like to declare a declarable conflict of interest of 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 Cotterill. Barry Cotterill is the president of the Bridgham Beach Community Association. The Bridgham Beach Community Association has made submissions requesting Council address illegal accrochements. Neither I nor the PBCA stand to gain personally or materially through the introduction of the Shire White 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. Patrick Murphy 02:48:03.309
I have, in the past, I will do what I always do and that's remain consistent and I have moved that Councillor Stockwell, sorry Linda, that box is in the way, just, yep, thank you, that Councillor Knightley declare a conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell and determine whether it is in the public interest that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on this. Public interest that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that Councillor Stockwell, 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 final decision is made in public interest. So seconded. Seconded. Councillor Jurisevic? Ms Stewart? No, this is what I've made, I have always voted in this way previously so to make, as I said to maintain consistency I will continue on with that. Joe Jurisevic 02:48:47.362
Jo? In a similar vein, I do not see that the community groups stand to gain personal materials through the introduction of trial-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. Great. That's what everyone used to speak. Just on the policy side of it, it's... 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 02:49:25.125
To the vote, those in favour, unanimous, councillor Stockwell and councillor Wilkie do not vote Right, is that it? Right. Welcome. Care to give us an overview of what we're looking at today, please, with this Shire-wide encroachments policy? Melissa 02:49:48.802
Okay, so the encroachments policy has got quite a bit of background in the CHAP. The CHAP and 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 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 bush land. And I guess the real opportunity here is for us to work with the pieces of council land that are in our in our in our neighborhoods so this is the bit of bush land out the back This is a little 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 services, the public services are delivered to your house, be it council lighting, being up in the air. 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. 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 input. 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 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 a really strong frame, a firm framework. A firm framework that 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 community 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 I guess that also ties in with the other aspect of this is that the implementation of Implementation of the plan, particularly the recovery, is funded by council. That's been a major hindrance in the past. Every bit of bushland's different, it needs a site-specific approach to how we do it, and we just haven't had the capacity to provide that level of Just 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, that gives that framework. Yeah and this is, while it's a new policy, it's not actually, we're not actually giving ourselves powers that we didn't already have. It's all under local law which is Roads, reserves and other council managed land and assets. And it helps manage, it helps 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. Typically, 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 improvement any kind of improvements or encroachments, that kind of thing. And yeah, that's where we are with the framework. Frank Wilkie 02:54:34.919
And you're proposing an educated approach as Melissa 02:54:37.059
Well? Oh 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 guess... that community education and that two-way communication will be really important. It's been found to... to help change people's approaches to the bit of bushland out behind their place but we're also finding that our council officers are already having these conversations but they're finding that... 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 02:55:36.231
Could you just talk a bit about the risk matrix that's going to be applied? It's not going to be just because someone has a weed on their foot. It's not going to be just because someone has a weed on their foot path or doesn't have any kind of reaction. It's very much a risk based approach. Melissa 02:55:49.245
Yes, 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. So if it has negligible or low risk of injury to people using the space, it will be in that area. But particularly 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. So basically we're going, 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 fire management access and in a lot of cases it can be the bridging fuel between the back of the house. 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 livability how our communities look and that will be a consideration in that and yeah and then if it impacts on the public service or the nearby private property. Now each one of these will be assessed with a score from 1 for low. 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. Joe Jurisevic 02:58:23.978
If it's a low it may not need to be dealt with thank you one of the challenges that faced nearby council was people planting fruit trees and taking over the verge out front of their place. Does this policy help us deal with the challenges that that presents? Melissa 02:58:52.263
One of the big problems that they One of the big problems that they had down there was that the public service element of the road reserve wasn't maintained so there wasn't that through passage and things like that. things like that or so much or off and pedestrian just somewhere pedestrian pass to put the bins you know that kind of thing this does allow for productive gardens and perhaps fruit trees if they're under two metres high but we still need to maintain function that that public service function and also the amenity so if 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 no no I'm talking about I'm being made a pedestrian can walk along the the edge of the road yeah that that 1.5 will still be maintained maintained so it needs to meet all the other criteria of verge planting yeah it's just it's got a productive element and I guess the other thing there too is that we've highlighted that they don't have exclusive use use of of the the area area and and they they don't don't have have exclusive exclusive use of the produce either The fruit trees are there, and they're free for the public to come in. Joe Jurisevic 03:00:06.665
Yeah. Because they're on public land, for example. Yeah. Great. That's one. Two. Hi. 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... but also to Council in its regard, with regard to what its responsibilities are in maintaining fire trails and the like in reserves, I think? Melissa 03:00:37.086
Yes, very much so. Joe Jurisevic 03:00:42.066
So going forward, this will help guide the elements of maintenance that Council has... that Council has to undertake going forward, perhaps where some of the maintenance hasn't been undertaken. Melissa 03:00:54.431
Yeah, and I guess the other thing too is to highlight that the encroachments enforcement 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 we're not going to select go in and 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 is needed to get that back into into good condition and to also highlight that we will be retaining whatever fire management mitigation measure is required. Fire management mitigation measure is needed in that location. We won't be taking it up to the back fence if, you know, we won't be increasing people's fire risk I guess. Joe Jurisevic 03:01:47.844
And in partnership with the property owner if possible? Melissa 03:01:50.764
If possible, yeah. Joe Jurisevic 03:01:53.183
The principal element here is that if an encroachment is noted, be it small or otherwise, pointing out something in the first instance may be all that's required. You may not be aware but this is actually not permitted. and the person might get off. Just wasn't aware. Simple fix. Melissa 03:02:10.381
In a lot of cases they haven't even thought about what that bit of bushland is and what what's happening out there. Joe Jurisevic 03:02:16.641
Yeah that's right. Frank Wilkie 03:02:26.781
This is a big tick. Brian Stockwell 03:02:29.702
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 meeting on council I started to get community groups complaining about encroachments. how that impacts on their ability to look after them and their ability to take foreshores. We know that one of the things that a policy does is makes consistent across the whole of our organisation and it's not telling any one thing anyone they don't know but in the absence of this policy we have different 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 you know but and also 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 and the criteria are really useful to both guide staff, but if you are a person that has got an encroachment, it should also guide you. 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 We've had the discussion about the section about 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. Our unique appearance meets 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. This is our show at the moment. In other areas it's bigger. 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 So we started the Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Group 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. I'm not going into any great detail but of course the eastern beaches are 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 have some form of encroachment. That's massive. We have to start in the highest risk areas. And that's what this policy and the procedures will do. It will guide staff, it will make it really clear to individuals who, some of them, a lot of those encroachments probably existed before the current people owned the block of land or the house. And so it will give them a clear indication what's acceptable and what's not. And as I said, as Councillor Wilkie has been clear to point out. As 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 the enforcement mechanism if needed. Patrick Murphy 03:06:21.995
Thank you very much. The 90% of us, and this wasn't my question but I will follow it up now, the 90% stat that council stockholders... Stat that Councillor Stockwell alluded to of encroachments along these conventions. Do we know if that's legal or illegal? Do we know the breakdown of that? And do we have confirmation of this 90%? Melissa 03:06:41.425
It's more than 90% of the areas that we've mapped so far. Patrick Murphy 03:06:46.368
Along the eastern beaches. Melissa 03:06:48.308
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 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. Patrick Murphy 03:07:22.585
So they will be detained then, if I'm not saying illegal, if they want to have some Yeah well 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 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 of them? Melissa 03:07:26.945
Yeah. Well, basically. Yeah. That there was a lot but when I actually went out and did the counting I was really surprised. SPEAKER_01 03:07:56.812
A few 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 yeah and it's 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 being implemented across our organisation by various different parts of our organisers or various different parts of the organisation and consolidating it into one policy yes yes so this gives us a little bit more guidance on how to take a consistent approach and also how best to prioritise the encroachment activities that we're doing in terms of compliance that you know with with the level of encroachments that there are out there there's no way that staff 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 impact and that's what the community is calling us to do is to to take a more active approach in managing those so they don't continue to proliferate but it's not going It's not going after the small fry 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. Patrick Murphy 03:09:25.745
A big justification for the improvement policy has been the fact that it can pose a harm to people's safety. Improptions can be across fire breaks, fire trails, fire access. So I imagine is that the area that's going to be first targeted, those that pose the most risk and safety to our community? SPEAKER_01 03:09:43.963
Yeah, that's first and 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 03:10:20.376
Okay, Councillor Tom. Tom Wegener 03:10:22.096
It seems that you've seen the matrix used in the environment area. Before, for example, choosing the top nine and so for the animals. But this is going to be an evolving matrix, it seems, because as you make decisions and make a call, give a particular Particular encroachment and number saying, well, it's a low priority, medium or high priority. But then you'll actually be able to reflect on that in the future and say, well, this is what we did there. This is 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 a continuation of that. What is it? Stare decisis, you know what stare decisis is? Frank Wilkie 03:11:05.981
Is it like an iterative process? Tom Wegener 03:11:08.281
Yeah, it's when you did the same decision, that decision kind of has standing for the next decision. Precedent. Precedent, that's the word. Getting old. So yeah, so the precedent like will be that the matrix be used as a precedent moving forward and evolving our strategy and our enforcement of encroachments? Melissa 03:11:28.362
It gives it, it will be used like that I feel. It does give a really firm framework to document your decision-making process. To actually look at all of these aspects that may not be immediately obvious to everybody who's involved in this process and yeah it will give you that framework like if you're saying saying that and I guess the other thing it will do if you're seeing a lot of the similar type of 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 yeah I think this is our most interesting and complex policy that has come to us so far and the reason is it affects everybody everybody has encroachments everybody's land in front of their house there is a road reserve or wherever in every park if we 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 and were all Tom Wegener 03:12:38.997
Bringing a language to this and 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 are doing and I think that with the veggies 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 it 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 keep do what good can't they do it's fantastic so good luck good luck with the carrying it through it's gonna take a big budget and a lot of work but congratulations And a lot of work, but congratulations for taking this step forward. Joe Jurisevic 03:13:29.310
Thank you. Yeah, I concur with that. Words on the board in front of us. Develop, clear plan, providing education, awareness and communication materials to be developed to support community understanding. And I think that's a large part of the, a large part of the element. Community understanding, understanding what is public land and what public land is, is Public land is their fault. 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. The entitlement to have some shade trees on the front and things along those lines at the council determine the nature of it. 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. so it's not just about It's about really facilitating the understanding of 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, and not everyone wants to walk on the road. So if you can walk safely down the grass, nature strip, or refuge, or whatever you want to call it, we've gone on a nature strip. We don't use that term. But it's to understand the elements of it. Fire trails, in particular. You know, I know a property not far from This property not far from where I live continued their back fence right across the fire trail and it's important for them to understand that sorry this is a fire access trail you may abut the reserve but that part of the reserve is the fire trail 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 if we can't that can't explain that as clearly and articulate that but 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 way forward. I think it's important that we have that. That's it. I think it's, um, other councillors have other councillors have been challenged by elements such as street trees and that on street...street verges 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 that. But the levels of encroachments where particularly fire trails are impacted and gardens are extended into communal areas and things, I think are things that are important to explain and understand. Frank Wilkie 03:16:12.583
Congratulations on getting this policy this far. I think it 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 rule 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. any form of invasion. But we know that there are very many good intentioned people in this community who take pride. Who take pride in what they put 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 trails. I see this policy as a way of providing guidance. There's a way of providing guidance to staff to enable them to 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 local laws, 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 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 in action it's been sitting over this area 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 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 opportunity to work with each and every body who has some form of encouragement, like we all do. So congratulations on this piece of work. Thank you. Can I speak to you? Patrick Murphy 03:18:35.627
Brian. Frank Wilkie 03:18:37.667
Has everyone else spoken to it? Except you. I will support this. This is a Shire-wide policy. I think that's really important to note, Shire-wide. And certainly I draw attention to, as Councillor Jurisevic 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 that we have had hundreds of complaints coming in and some very clear 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. that certainly needs to be addressed and I think it's policy that isn't, as you said Bec, we are not necessarily garnishing a whole lot of new powers, we are bringing together a whole lot of policy and that is something A whole lot of policies that have been across various areas of our organisation, consolidating into the one, which is important, and it streamlines the process, and it gives certainty and clarity to the organisation and to council staff, and that's a good thing. And it gives certainty and clarity thing and it gives certainty and clarity to our community, which is also very important, so I will support this. Can I just talk over to Mr Cleves? Yeah, I will. Brian Stockwell 03:20:12.219
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 law. These are 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 increasing 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 the level of risk to our assets, our natural assets, the things that people enjoy so much about living here and visiting here. There's 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 under this policy, if you've done it over the last 12 months, that you're going to be... There's going to be a different step-wise 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, is more of a zero tolerance approach. Frank Wilkie 03:21:31.940
Thank you. I'll put the motion those in favour. That is unanimous. Thank you, Melissa. Thank you. Now the councillors can come back in the room. Welcome, Kyra, hello. SPEAKER_09 03:21:55.620
Chelsea, Chelsea. Frank Wilkie 03:21:56.860
Chelsea. Chelsea. Chelsea is relatively new to the Waste Department. But I thought it'd be worthwhile her seeing through the experience. Joe Jurisevic 03:22:07.602
We're going to have to take some interesting things, aren't we? Some interesting HDLs. Brian Stockwell 03:22:16.944
The old EPS Thermal compaction. This must be the tenth one we've had, isn't it? SPEAKER_09 03:22:20.884
There's been a few. I've got a very short... Joe Jurisevic 03:22:24.664
The contract, the contract, the contract. SPEAKER_09 03:22:26.384
It's just a contract, yeah. Do I start, or...? No, we're waiting for the audience. Oh, right. Frank Wilkie 03:22:33.564
So we're talking about... So we're talking about a contract on CN00338, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of an EPS thermal compaction unit, which is polystyrene thermal compaction unit, reports written by... the project manager? Chelsea Bennett. We have... Yeah. Would you like to give us an overview, please? SPEAKER_09 03:22:58.409
Yep, I'll cover for Chelsea since it's her first one, so... Just as a quick back... Just as a quick background, we did undertake a trial involving an EPS thermal compaction unit, Umundi Noosa Landfill, back end of last year and to the early part of this year. Just as a quick back. The trial... 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 CNW. 00338 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 the award, we expect the commissioning process to conclude by the end of August this year. Any questions? Joe Jurisevic 03:24:01.526
I've got one comment in the report. It says it's anticipated the system will divert approximately 50 tonnes of EPS, Styrofoam. Styrofoam is pretty light. Yes. What sort of volume would 50 tonnes come? How many football fields are we talking? 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. SPEAKER_09 03:24:26.424
Yeah, so we, during the trial, we Yeah, so we, during the trial, we were averaging around, we did, 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. Joe Jurisevic 03:24:55.209
I mean, this is being diverted well from landfill at this point in time. We've 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. SPEAKER_09 03:25:09.603
I would just 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... Joe Jurisevic 03:25:27.296
What's the opportunity here going forward? I know from the past the 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, you're not helping us, we're Hey, 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've got the service back, the trial with the machine and the like. So we've got electrical wholesalers, I'm managing retailers, 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's styrofoam packaging. Here's an opportunity to make them understand that there's a new stream, a new waste stream that you can make a free, you know, to come and dispose of so that we can then extrude. Then extrude this, take all the air out of it and turn it into these hard, hard blocks that... SPEAKER_09 03:26:34.753
Yeah, well, I think we've got, I mean, there's the, the machine's been sized for 200 kilograms an hour. And so there's... And so there's enough capacity there for us to absorb any material that's produced locally. There's also probably enough capacity in there for us to absorb any other material from any range that we may have throughout. 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. Joe Jurisevic 03:27:06.461
So just with regards to volume, what is the extreme what is the extrusion or the compaction rate from what it starts out with to what it ends up with? SPEAKER_09 03:27:15.939
I couldn't. It's been 90% I think. Yeah, so Chelsea's saying 90% reduction in the volume of it down to. Patrick Murphy 03:27:35.797
So every ton we put to landfill cost us about a hundred and sixty dollars in operational cost so if we dive and that 15 kilos makes up one cubic metre it was fantastic yeah so every SPEAKER_09 03:27:51.224
Of a ton of which you'd automatically displaced through waste so from from that sort of tonnage or that sort of displacement we've done we've managed to reduce that cost of two thousand or three thousand tons of what three thousand cubes sorry times 160. Patrick Murphy 03:28:10.274
So it's better for the environment better for the back pocket? SPEAKER_09 03:28:12.854
Financially yes we you know we just spent seven or nine million on a landfill last year so any volume we can save is is a huge saving for us internally yes. Joe Jurisevic 03:28:22.574
Yeah Thank you. One other question here so with regard to a $270,000 investment. Yep. The anticipated processing cost savings were approximately $381,000 so within a year we should recover the cost of this and it should continue on. SPEAKER_09 03:28:44.205
To be brutally honest I think we probably paid for it in the last seven months trial. Yeah that's the reality. That's a great outcome. Yeah. That's a great idea. Do you want to issue one of them? Joe Jurisevic 03:28:54.785
I will. Hang on, so you actually want to jump to my... Hallelujah. 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, many years ago. I spoke with the previous waste manager and we started diverting styrofoam. We started diverting styrofoam back out of the landfill, back out of the square, 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 clear here that 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, you know, to make people understand that here is a way of disposing of something out of, from, there's an everyday 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 is, then goes back to create more styrofoam so it's closing the loop, it's creating the 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. Where we can facilitate this service for the community. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 03:30:34.295
Congratulations firstly Cooroy and team. Fantastic. My question is about end-users. So I think that anything we do with waste, we need to transition into a circular economy. Who are the end-users? As surfers, epoxy forms. Epoxy surfboards are made from EPS foam 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? SPEAKER_09 03:31:17.771
So at the moment we were looking at trying to get a contract with the actual installer and they will take the material back off us and put it back into the market and it will 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 it could go into back into products that we get a TV from 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 we'd need some advanced manufacturing on-site that would take our product and turn it into another product to be able to utilise in circles. That is the vision isn't it? Long term that's your vision Kyrone to see you know it all happen on the landfill site. I think with very I think with various products I think you know we are looking as you've just made the point to to advance manufacturing it really depends on the material how much material we produce the you know the investment in that advanced manufacturing and the market afterwards so there's a there'd be a lot of work to do at that back end but the I guess the focus for the team and myself at the moment is to establish quality products. 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. Frank Wilkie 03:32:50.515
Tom, when you say polystyrene it's expanded polystyrene and extruded polystyrene, the two types of polystyrene? SPEAKER_09 03:32:59.255
No, what we're doing is extruding expanded polystyrene basically back to a... natural form, but it's a condensed form that can actually be then pulled back and used as expanded polystyrene again. Okay, well there's two types of polystyrene, extruded polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, but I assume that both of the types of polystyrene will be able to go into the same stuff. Yes. I'd like to speak to it. Maybe I'm not popular when I... 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, 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, hallelujah, I can take care of my waste. I can feel good about this. You can go, I can, I can go take. my business into this way. Furniture, whatever, you know, even, even houses are being made out of polystyrene now. It doesn't burn. You can make unburnable polystyrene, which is unbelievable. So there's a lot of future for it, even though it's not as, it's not wood, it's still pretty darn good. And the recycling is just fantastic. It actually, I think it opens doors for manufacturers in New South. Councillor Stockwell. Frank Wilkie 03:34:19.795
Look, I'm going to have to respond to that. I think felonia is a fantastic product. And cheap recycled, non-recyclable, carbon-based things are not going to crash home. I understand where Councillor Wegener is coming from, but yeah, this is a problem product. And the culture that has 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 initiating them. I know mechanical engineers are always interested in buying new gadgets. I believe you may have a background in chemical and a pretty good process engineering mind, so 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 risks or no potential constraints that can be created by buying this particular machine? Kim Rawlings 03:35:32.858
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 perhaps contractors 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... Areas ensuring that we've got no flyaway materials so we're going to be looking to contain the shed that we're processing in really well. Looked at all of the any concerns around manual handling of the of the product 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 so a full assessment of that. SPEAKER_09 03:36:25.299
And the other other thing to add to 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 to a different layout. different layout and and potentially build a better shed for it to go in if that was to go to go ahead. Joe Jurisevic 03:36:50.487
I've got a further question. To go up to powering the unit. I mean, you know, something like this one 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 a... SPEAKER_09 03:37:08.745
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, so we would obviously be using solar power to run this if that were to go ahead and be feasible. Joe Jurisevic 03:37:35.450
Capacity to relocate this machine, new sheds and future planning with regard to solar power on roofs of sheds and the like is something in the pipeline for the future of the landfill? SPEAKER_09 03:37:48.632
Yeah, I think this part of what Chelsea was saying, the long-term vision of the site and procuring this bit of kit in particular, it's packaging, it's 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. Joe Jurisevic 03:38:13.306
Can I ask a slightly question out of left field? Can the machine be used for anything else? SPEAKER_09 03:38:18.579
I was thinking of the balers being used for cardboard being able to be used for foam, for example, but has this got any other potential uses? I wouldn't be able to say with confidence at the table, but you know... I don't know whether that's been looked into whether there's any other uses if it hasn't. It works off compression and heat, so... Just a thought bubble I had was then whether it can be used for anything else. Kim Rawlings 03:38:40.131
Can I add just an additional part to what Kyra mentioned. Can I add something? 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. 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 allow us to operate the most efficiently. In terms of noise and odour, is it noisy and does it emit any odours? So noise will be insignificant on the landfill. Odour wise, there will be an odour that comes off when 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. chosen to put on a carbon filter and the carbon filter will absorb any odour if any and put it through the carbon filter and exhaust outside. Wouldn't it be great to have odour from a dump site? Well, that's the other bit that's... Joe Jurisevic 03:40:03.062
Being styrofoam, is there any toxicity in what's given off? SPEAKER_09 03:40:08.062
We're getting an independent report on the material coming out of the machine. Pre and post the carbon filter to confirm that. Amelia Lorentson 03:40:19.055
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. Commission standards. Yes. Frank Wilkie 03:40:30.069
Just a question. A couple of years back we had a lot of stone wash up on our beaches from jetties. One of them was very broken up and corrected. With sand. Yeah. If that was to occur again, does the machine have the capacity to handle that polluted material? SPEAKER_09 03:40:51.507
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 like 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. Now it had been plastered together with the concrete and the metal. So the risk of actually, we had the machine on site, we 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 section. So it's in sections, so it's bigger sections, and obviously the throughput's a lot higher. Joe Jurisevic 03:41:51.936
So what sort of a footprint will it? Any idea? You must have set aside, it's somewhere in the shed. Yeah, it's, we'll 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. We've got a conveyor running into the extruder, which is probably another, another four metres Thank you. Um, thank you for the report. Um, I've just got a question around, um, 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 styrofoam out of that? is one of our biggest landfill problems. Kim Rawlings 03:42:43.519
We wouldn't be looking at accepting any polystyrene even construction from building materials, just because a lot of that material actually has flamers. It has flame retardants in it that are actually prohibited. We're not actually allowed to put them into the machine, because then that will affect the ability to export the materials. And that's the question that I was, that was the next the question that forms I had, was to get to of styrofoam that we can export. A lot of slabs and building and construction now has a lot of styrofoam in the construction site. There's a lot of offcuts and elements of that. Is that type of styrofoam Is that type of styrofoam able to be put into the process? SPEAKER_09 03:43:28.484
It depends on the nature of that polystyrene. So there is some coding regarding the type of styrofoam? Exactly yeah. But the predominant volume of polystyrene that we get through is from packaging. Joe Jurisevic 03:43:44.274
Councillor, Councillor Lorentson didn't allude to surfboards, I mean surfboards are they made of the stuff 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 one would imagine. SPEAKER_09 03:44:07.054
Yeah, or there'd be a pre-treatment and that pre-treatment would probably be pretty complicated and I'm not entirely sure it even exists at present. All right. Frank Wilkie 03:44:16.714
I'll speak to it. Congratulations on the work done in trialling a unit like this to get us to this point. 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. It would be fair to say we're coming. Anybody else like to speak to the motion? Next, Judith. Patrick Murphy 03:44:38.157
I just want to thank Chelsea and Kyrone. This continues on with that war on waste. We really appreciate doing all these great initiatives and it lands on the back of the MOU for the week with Gimpy, which is fantastic. So we're taking some giant 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 03:45:03.177
Just to close just like to say I'm delighted to see this place 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 the understanding. The styrofoam's not the ideal product that we'd like to be. I'd like to see mushroom compost versions of the styrofoam product in the environment and it's heavily utilised as it is, this is a far better outcome than landing in our landfill and it's a positive outcome. It's a positive return to the community with regard to landfill space and a product that it creates with a return to the system. It keeps it in a circular fashion so it's certainly not going to waste and it's certainly going to 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 03:46:21.399
For the most those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you Chelsea Financial Performance Report, Acting Financial Services Manager Pauline Coles and our newly appointed freshly minted Director of Corporate Services. Welcome. May we have a summary please. Kim Rawlings 03:46:53.500
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 revenue 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 holdings in line with the increases in term deposits and we've also done some reinvestments as well. Fees and charges are below budget these are predominantly development assessment and plumbing and building although I am aware that they're potentially 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 Clean Away 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 come through as well. 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. $555,000. $555,000 over budget and holiday parks is $274,000 over budget, which is offset by some additional revenue. But waste, strategic planning, 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. Revenue in 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 you'll 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. 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. Council's cash holdings are higher 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 right run of the new financial year. Also provided in our cash holdings is the remainder of the FY23 capital program as well as the $9 million 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 targets. Frank Wilkie 03:51:08.901
There's been a fair bit of talk about cash holding. Kim Rawlings 03:51:21.130
So we generally run at around 60 to 70 million holding in cash and that covers our general operations so 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 of the special levies and the separate charges like the environment levy or the 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 As I said, we also have grant funds, particularly QRA, which is our large one at the moment, but we hold in reserve to fund those projects specifically. $17.9 million. And we've just received... and we've just received some more coming in. So that will continue to happen as the project rolls out and we'll get funding coming through for that. We also have about $5 million worth of surplus cash, which hasn't moved since our last report. We have had... significant sort of movement, I suppose, from this time last year, and that's related to some overspends on some of the capital projects and some unexpected work. But at this stage, in the last quarter, we haven't moved anything further than what we were. Patrick Murphy 03:52:34.735
Because we seem to have under $3.17, obviously we have to have a target grade in three months for cash expense cover, and we're at $13.6. Kim Rawlings 03:52:43.275
So in terms of how that ratio is calculated, In terms of how 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. I guess, councillors, just to clarify, as Pauline alluded to, we keep our three months cash card which we constrain and we only have our remaining five 5 million million of of what what Queensland Queensland Treasury, who review our long-term financial plan, call surplus or free cash, which in the scheme of cash cover is only another few weeks' worth of cash, given our operations annually, so of that entire cash cover position, not much of it is actually free or excessive cash. Brian Stockwell 03:53:37.146
Just follow up on it. Like the surplus cash you have is the $5 million target, and what I think I heard you say and what I think I heard in the budget deliberations was over the last year, we've actually gone down substantially. We've 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 to try and build that up to a reasonably healthy balance because it's not only the amount of money Because it's not only the amount of money we use to 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. Patrick Murphy 03:54:29.556
If we were to fast forward 12 months time from now, once we've gotten through the bulk of the construction work on our QRA reconstruction funds, which is a lot of that setting aside, and another year through that prepayment. If we do 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 few years. We'll see those cash holdings degrade over the next 12 months as we get through the back end of that bow wave or rivers of gold as Councillor Stockwell alluded to. Thank you. DA, plumbing and building fees are the low budget. Are we seeing a downturn? Kim Rawlings 03:55:26.031
So I 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 well and some of the short stay. So that includes the short stay revenues and we forecast as well. Joe Jurisevic 03:55:45.072
Thank you. Last question, with regard to, we always get this, I'm just thinking of it now, with regard to holiday parks where there's a revenue and an expense. 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--- Is that a difficult--- No, that's fine, we can do that. It'd just be nice to know the net position. Yeah. It's one thing having an income. We've got a positive net income or a negative net income. Yeah. Just thought of that. Just thought of that. I'm going from one to the other. It 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. Brian Stockwell 03:56:30.951
Yeah, sure. Thank you very much. Anyone care to move the report? I'm going to move. Move, Joe. Second, Mayor Stewart. Joe. Thank you again for, great to see you, seeing your financial position. Our capital expenditure continues to remain... The 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. So, Larry, to the guys in the team downstairs, to pass on our thanks for the level of delivery that they've been doing over the last few years, particularly... In the last few years, particularly under challenging times with COVID and ever 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 anyone reading this financial statement would see that this council is in a good financial position. Patrick Murphy 03:57:44.496
Thank you for another great report and I'd like to lend my congratulations to Trent, we're very lucky to have you and 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. Congratulations, Trent. Frank Wilkie 03:58:04.301
Alright, further comments? Motion, those in favour? That is unanimous. Thanks, Pauline. Thank you, Pauline. Patrick Murphy 03:58:12.245
Thanks, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. Okay, Kim Rawlings 03:58:26.565
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 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 a thousand fees and charges which generate approximately twenty five point three million dollars in revenue and that includes just fees and charges as well as sales of goods and services to fund the delivery of council services. Pricing to recover the true cost of services provision is necessary to ensure the 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 who benefit from them. The proposed twenty twenty three twenty four fees and charges will come into effect on the first of July and have been workshopped as part of the annual budget. Brian Stockwell 03:59:36.223
We do this early each year because there are people in the community who have to make We do 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. Joe Jurisevic 04:00:13.233
If anybody was wondering of the range and diversity of services the council delivers, this is the place to have a look. Amelia Lorentson 04:00:22.990
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? Patrick Murphy 04:00:42.550
Through the chair, I connect to that one. It will be taken to a separate workshop and discussion. That was obviously, if we wind the clock back to our recent adoption of our realignment, part of the discussion about major events through that process. And as our new director of 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. Amelia Lorentson 04:01:12.446
So at this point in time the fees are remaining as they are. And just a comment and I declare I have a dog, so in terms of dog registration etc. is there an opportunity again to bring to a workshop or a discussion council to re-look how we you know distribute our dog number two bags you know registration what do we get with the registration it would be great to get you know you supply with those compostable dog bags because you 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 know for 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 one or two bags when walking a dog. Patrick Murphy 04:02:35.183
I'd have to tape it on notice. I do think there's another fine action to take on notice for a new director when they start next month as well. I was going to say, it will probably add additional cost because 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 animal control. Joe Jurisevic 04:02:57.993
Perhaps an opportunity there to advocate to local retail outlets to stock the appropriate type of bags so that people can have possible bags available. Brian Stockwell 04:03:11.610
I think it's just wonderful that the local government, we can start with a $500,000 community battery and end with a two cent dog food Frank Wilkie 04:03:25.526
All right, put the motion as a favour. That's unanimous. Thank you. Georgina 04:03:44.704
I'm not doing the show holiday. Larry Sengstock, show holiday. Patrick Murphy 04:03:50.184
Approved. I'll move it. I'll second. Frank Wilkie 04:03:52.344
Moved by Mayor Stewart, seconded by Councillor Finzel. I wouldn't know what would happen if we didn't agree. That is the 13th of September, 2024. He's incumbent on us as council to identify. I hope council's theme on the day is Black Friday. A lot of wifters' hats could be there. That's carried unanimously. Kim Rawlings 04:04:25.539
Thank you, Larry. Thank you. Thanks, Larry. Frank Wilkie 04:04:30.439
Next up. I wanted to. Georgina 04:04:41.076
This report is recommending the appointment of Ian Rushworth as the new member of the Audit and Risk Committee. There are two external members on the 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. 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 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 and 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 of 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 of members makeup of the committee etc so that's something to further consider the actual membership of the committee is dealt with in a charter for the Audit and Risk Committee so and that's a council resolved policy so any changes to the committee and the makeup etc will require change We'll require a change to the charter and that would also require a further report coming to council for further consideration. He's quite experienced. So I just wanted to highlight that because that is happening as well. Amelia Lorentson 04:06:50.604
Questions councillors? Amelia? External member sitting fees. Have they moved since 2021? So it's 800 per meeting and other external members 600 per meeting? Georgina 04:07:05.065
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 that. They were 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 04:07:35.432
I was more of a comment so I'll wait for the conversation. I think that's actually answered the question I had in the executive. In the executive summary it turns around and talks about the Risk and Opportunity Studies Council 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. Tom Wegener 04:07:57.154
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 for KPMG as well so he brings the in his experience so as well Yeah I was on the 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 and the last audit risk committee said look you really need to look at your ICT you have to look at property you have to look at you know the potential for you know do things going wrong in there and so this person just seemed to be the perfect just seemed to be the perfect person at the time to show up and take on the new Audit and Risk Committee member. person at the time Patrick Murphy 04:08:52.069
Thank you. I just want to thank Debra and Councillor Wegener for being on the committee because it's extraordinary. So thank you for that. I'm looking forward to meeting you. I'm looking forward to meeting Ian. He's a very important position and he sounds like he comes with great credentials. So thank you. Amelia Lorentson 04:09:08.654
I've sat on the audit 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 in her capacity as an external member for the last two years. 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 letter from the CEO which would be really appropriate. Which would be really appropriate and so yeah. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 04:10:05.983
Always good to have new eyes and a fresh perspective to keep an eye on our operations and our work on this committee. Welcome Ian's appointment. 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 meeting more of him. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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