General Committee Meeting - January 2024
Date: Monday, 15 January 2024 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 01:41:50
Synopsis: Bounce cafe trial approved to Jan 2025 with complaint-based monitoring, Council defending hospital and STA appeals, Budget Review delivers surplus and 73m capital, Tenders awarded.
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 Strategy And Environment Kim Rawlings (Via Microsoft Teams) Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Frank Wilkie: Council approved Bounce Hostel’s Other Change: retain Condition 5 (short-stay only), delete Condition 8, add a trial Food & Drink Outlet with lapse 18 Jan 2025 subject to complaints/prudence (Item 6.1; 22:41–29:37). Amelia Lorentson: Pushed for a shorter lapse (to 31 Jul 2024) citing no substantiated noise complaints and support for small business; Council ultimately adopted 12 months to capture peak holiday data (6.1; 07:36–10:08, 15:45–17:23, 22:41–27:49). Nadine (Planning): Supported Food & Drink use despite minor parking shortfall; recommended trial with monitoring of noise/parking; deletion of Condition 5 rejected as it mirrors “Visitor Accommodation Type 4” definition (6.1; 01:36–05:29, 14:06–15:25). Brian Stockwell: Amendment passed to set lapse at 18 Jan 2025 to test across Easter/July/September/Christmas peaks; unanimous (6.1; 22:41–24:43). Council: Resolved to defend two Planning & Environment Court appeals: Health Care Service/Hospital at 47 Goodchap St (Appeal 3156/2023) and STA cabins (15) at 94 & 142 Noosa Dr (Appeal 3746/2023) (Items 6.2–6.3; 29:37–35:33). Richard MacGillivray: STA refusal grounds included removal of 71–82 native trees (27–33 koala feed trees), overdevelopment, non-compliance with EMC zone, stormwater, and outside urban boundary (6.3; 33:33–34:55). Council: Budget Review 2 approved; operating position shifts from BR1 deficit $761k to $304k surplus; capital works (excl. QRA) revised to $46.1m; QRA disaster program added $127m, taking total capital to ~$173m (6.5; 36:46–39:42, 45:24–45:42). Pauline Coles: Interest revenue +$2.1m from higher term deposits; Holiday Park fee schedule adopted for 27 Jan–13 Jul 2025; ratios on track (6.5; 42:51–44:31, 36:46–39:42). Council: Noted Dec YTD performance: revenue +$3.2m (interest/parks/waste), operating underspend $1.2m; legal spend $1.2m of $1.6m 4‑yr budget; cash $106m (6.6; 01:08:21–01:11:04). Council: Extended Timothy Cronin as Audit & Risk Committee Chair to 10 Oct 2025; councillors praised his expertise and independence (6.7; 01:26:33–01:32:19). Council: Noted QLD Remuneration Commission determinations; Noosa reclassified to B3 from 1 Jul 2024 (6.8; 01:32:37–01:37:18). Confidential Awards (unanimous): CN00427 Garth Prowd Bridge upgrade to Marine & Civil Maintenance; CN00511 Noosa Spit nourishment to Hall Contracting (by 30 Sep 2024); RP00359 prequalified panel for pathways/kerb/drainage to six suppliers (7.1–7.3; 01:39:30–01:41:33; s254J(3)(g)). Contentious / Transparency Matters Council: Food & Drink trial conditioned on no “substantiated” complaints; officers to assess vexatious claims vs. evidenced impacts, reflecting procedural fairness (6.1; 20:28–21:12). Karen Finzel: Sought bus-usage data to inform parking impacts; current-period data unavailable until late Jan, underlining data timing limitations in decision-making (6.1; 12:54–13:45). Council: Closed meeting for three tenders under s254J(3)(g) LGR 2012 due to commercial sensitivity; then re-opened and resolved awards publicly (7; 01:38:50–01:41:33; Minutes 7.1–7.3). Amelia Lorentson: Probed rising legal costs and whether details are restricted under privacy; CEO confirmed confidentiality of specific advice (6.6; 01:11:08–01:12:38). Legal / Risk Council: Appeal 3156/2023 defence aligns with Noosa Plan intent to maximise co-location on hospital site or within designated centres; refusal also protected residential zoning and parking standards (6.2; 29:37–32:49). Council: Appeal 3746/2023 defence rests on significant native vegetation/koala feed tree loss, EMC zoning non-compliance, stormwater/drainage issues, and outside-urban-boundary controls (6.3; 33:33–34:55). Planning Officers: Bounce cafe trial includes lapse/extension criteria referencing substantiated complaints on noise/parking, creating a clear administrative law record for any future extension or challenge (6.1; 01:36–05:29, 22:41–23:14). Finance: Recognition of $127m QRA-funded capital with matching grant revenue and contract liabilities ensures compliance with accounting standards and mitigates ratepayer exposure (6.5–6.6; 45:24–46:06, 01:10:12–01:11:04). CEO/Finance: Elevated legal expenditure driven by governance/IR matters; in-house counsel commenced Dec but external advice still required, reflecting prudence amid legislative changes (6.6; 01:11:04–01:13:10). Conflicts of Interest Frank Wilkie: Declared prescribed conflict on RACV STA appeal due to sponsorship of Noosa Arts Theatre where he is president; exited, Tom Wegener appointed Acting Chair, then Wilkie returned post-vote (Item 6.3; 32:49–35:33). Short Term Accommodation / STA Richard MacGillivray: Active reconciliation indicates total STA numbers may be lower than earlier 4,000 estimate; dashboard in development to report approvals, hotline trends, and applications (6.6; 01:18:39–01:22:18). Council: Defending RACV STA cabins refusal based on environmental loss and planning non-compliance establishes strong precedent against STA intensification in sensitive zones (6.3; 33:33–34:55). Environmental Concerns & Stormwater Council/Infrastructure: Bioretention basins program prioritised; asset responsibility moved to Infrastructure to ensure stormwater performance while consulting Environment on biodiversity (6.5; 54:18–58:12). Amelia Lorentson: Queried adequacy of stormwater capex share post-2022 floods; officers stated renewals for roads/drainage are robust, with parks/buildings to improve (6.5; 48:30–52:39). Shaun Walsh: Belmore Terrace pathway works advanced as early stage of Web Park upgrade to meet grant acquittal by June and improve circulation during later park works (6.5; 47:49–48:30). Infrastructure: Retaining wall design at 56 David Low Way, Sunrise Beach (near bridge) progressing; construction in future budget (6.5; 52:45–53:41). Planning Scheme / Zoning & Parking Planning: Bounce cafe trial approved despite 4-space shortfall; officer evidence relied on on-site monitoring, historical operation, and management controls; Condition 5 retained to prevent de facto long-stay use (6.1; 01:36–05:29, 14:06–15:25). Councillors: Emphasised need to gather seasonal parking/noise data before any permanent approval; six-month option rejected to ensure Christmas peak captured (6.1; 10:14–12:39, 15:45–17:23, 22:41–24:43). Financial Governance Council/Finance: Holiday Parks revenues materially above budget; modest fee increases (4–8%) adopted for early 2025 bookings, benchmarked to market (6.5–6.6; 36:46–39:42, 01:17:19–01:18:39). Council: Recognised large QRA program administration load; praised decision to engage specialist program management to safeguard delivery and compliance (6.5; 01:00:13–01:02:59).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES General Committee Meeting Monday, 15 January 2024 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 15 JANUARY 2024 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Frank Wilkie (Chair) Cr Karen Finzel Cr Joe Jurisevic Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Clare Stewart (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Brian Stockwell Cr Tom Wegener EXECUTIVE Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Strategy and Environment Kim Rawlings (via Microsoft Teams) Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray APOLOGIES Nil. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Wilkie Seconded: Cr Lorentson That in accordance with Section 254K of the Local Government Regulation, Cr Stewart is approved to attend the Meeting dated 15 January 2024 via Microsoft Teams. Carried unanimously. 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener The Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 11 December 2023 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously. 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 4. DEPUTATIONS Nil. 5. ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES Nil. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 6. REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE 6.1. MCU18/0102.02 APPLICATION FOR AN OTHER CHANGE TO INCLUDE A FOOD AND DRINK OUTLET TO A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL (VISITOR ACCOMMODATION TYPE 4 CONVENTIONAL) FOR BOUNCE HOSTEL AT 14-16 MARY ST, NOOSAVILLE Motion Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Coordinator Planning to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding Application No. MCU18/0102.02 for an Other Change to Development Permit for Material Change of Use – Visitor Accommodation Type 4 Conventional, situated at 14-16 Mary St Noosaville and: A. Refuse to delete condition 5 for the following reasons: 1. Condition 5 is reflective of the approved use definition for Visitor Accommodation Type 4 Conventional, does not further restrict the use and provides clarity for all owners/ operators. B. Approve the Other Change to include the Food and Drink outlet. C. Agree to delete Condition 8. D. Include a new Condition 62 to read as follows: 62. The Food and Drink Outlet approval lapses on 31 July 2024, unless written consent is provided by Council’s delegate to extend the approval. In assessing a request to extend the approval, Council will have regard to any substantiated complaints relating to noise, car parking and any other relevant matters associated with the Food and Drink Outlet use. E. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. Amendment Moved: Cr Stockwell Seconded: Cr Jurisevic That Item D be amended to read: D. Include a new Condition 62 to read as follows: 62. The Food and Drink Outlet approval lapses on 18 January 2025 31 July 2024, unless written consent is provided by Council’s delegate to extend the approval. In assessing a request to extend the approval, Council will have regard to any substantiated complaints relating to noise, car parking and any other relevant matters associated with the Food and Drink Outlet use. Carried unanimously. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Coordinator Planning to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding Application No. MCU18/0102.02 for an Other Change to Development Permit for Material Change of Use – Visitor Accommodation Type 4 Conventional, situated at 14-16 Mary St Noosaville and: GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 A. Refuse to delete condition 5 for the following reasons: 1. Condition 5 is reflective of the approved use definition for Visitor Accommodation Type 4 Conventional, does not further restrict the use and provides clarity for all owners/ operators. B. Approve the Other Change to include the Food and Drink outlet. C. Agree to delete Condition 8. D. Include a new Condition 62 to read as follows: 62. The Food and Drink Outlet approval lapses on 18 January 2025, unless written consent is provided by Council’s delegate to extend the approval. In assessing a request to extend the approval, Council will have regard to any substantiated complaints relating to noise, car parking and any other relevant matters associated with the Food and Drink Outlet use. E. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. Carried unanimously. 6.2. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 3156 OF 2023 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICE AND HOSPITAL AT 47 GOODCHAP STREET, NOOSAVILLE Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Manager Development Assessment to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding Planning & Environment Court Appeal 3156 of 2023 and agree to defend the appeal. Carried unanimously. 6.3. PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 3746 OF 2023 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION (15 CABINS) AT 94 & 142 NOOSA DRIVE, NOOSA HEADS In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Wilkie provided the following declaration to the meeting of a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter: I Cr Wilkie inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter as RACV have been a sponsor of Noosa Arts Theatre where I serve as the committee president. As a result of this prescribed conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Cr Wilkie left the meeting. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Cr Wegener 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. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell That Council note the report by the Manager Development Assessment to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding Planning & Environment Court Appeal 3746 of 2023 and agree to defend the appeal. Carried unanimously. Cr Wilkie returned to the meeting and resumed the Chair. 6.4. PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY - NOVEMBER 2023 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Manager, Development Assessment to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding planning applications that have been decided by delegated authority. Carried unanimously. 6.5. BUDGET REVIEW 2 (BR2) FOR THE 2023/24 FINANCIAL YEAR Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 regarding Budget Review 2 for the 2023/24 Financial Year, and A. Approve the proposed changes to the budget for the 2023/24 financial year as outlined in the Revised Budget Financial Statements provided in Attachment 1 - 4 to the report; and B. Adopt the proposed general cost recovery fees and commercial charges schedule for Noosa Holiday Parks for the period 27 January 2025 to 13 July 2025 as detailed in the tables contained within the report. Carried unanimously. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 6.6. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – DECEMBER 2023 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024 outlining December 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. 6.7. AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council Note the report by the Executive Officer Internal Audit and Corporate Performance to the General Committee meeting dated 15 January 2024 and extend the appointment of Timothy Cronin as the Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee to 10 October 2025. Carried unanimously. 6.8. COUNCILLOR REMUNERATION UPDATE Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Executive Officer, Internal Audit and Corporate Performance to the General Committee meeting dated 15 January 2024 informing Council of the determinations of the Queensland Local Government Remuneration Commission, as detailed in the Local Government Remuneration Commission Annual Report 2023. Carried unanimously. 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 CLOSURE OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That the meeting be closed to the public pursuant to section 254J(3)(g - negotiations relating to a commercial matter involving the local government for which a public discussion would be likely to prejudice the interests of the local government) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, for the purpose of discussing: Item 7.1 - Confidential - CN00427 Garth Prowd Bridge Upgrade - Tender Award; Item 7.2 - Confidential - Contract Award Report - Contract No. CN00511 - Noosa Spit Nourishment; and Item 7.3 - Confidential - RP00359 - Register of Prequalified Suppliers for Construction of Pathways, Kerb, Channel, Drainage Pits & Associated Works. Carried unanimously. RE-OPENING OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That the meeting be re-opened to the public. Carried unanimously. 7.1. CONFIDENTIAL - CN00427 GARTH PROWD BRIDGE UPGRADE - TENDER AWARD Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Project Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2023 and A. Award Contract No. CN00427 Garth Prowd Bridge Upgrade to Marine & Civil Maintenance Pty Ltd for the lump sum price of as provided in their conforming tender documentation; and B. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise and execute the Contract on behalf of Council. Carried unanimously. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 7.2. CONFIDENTIAL - CONTRACT AWARD REPORT - CONTRACT NO. CN00511 - NOOSA SPIT NOURISHMENT Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell That Council A. Note the report by the Project Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024; B. Award Contract No. CN00511 for Noosa Spit Nourishment to Hall Contracting Pty Ltd for a schedule of rates contract for the construction contract value as provided in the conforming tender documentation with works being completed on or before 30 September 2024 (“the Contract”); and C. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise, execute and administer the Contract on behalf of Council. Carried unanimously. 7.3. CONFIDENTIAL - RP00359 - REGISTER OF PREQUALIFIED SUPPLIERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PATHWAYS, KERB, CHANNEL, DRAINAGE PITS & ASSOCIATED WORKS Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council A. Note the report by the Roads Infrastructure Coordinator to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 January 2024; B. Award Contract No. RP00359 for a Register of Pre-qualified Suppliers for Construction of Pathways, Kerb, Channel, Drainage Pits & Associated Works for a period of two (2) years commencing on 1 February 2024 to the following suppliers: i. Exceed Concrete Construction Pty Ltd ii. Pentacon Pty Ltd iii. Sunshine Civil Solutions Pty Ltd iv. The Trustee For Integral Concreting Services Family Trust t/as Assured Concreting Services v. Wilson Concreting Constructions Pty Ltd, and vi. Yeti Services Pty Ltd; C. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise, execute and administer the Contract on behalf of Council; D. Subject to satisfactory performance of the suppliers, authorise the CEO to approve the option to extend the contract at the expiry of initial term for a further three (3) terms of up to twelve (12) months each ending on 31 January 2029; E. Authorise the CEO to approve the addition of new suppliers to Contract No. RP00073 for the Register of Pre-qualified Suppliers for Construction of Pathways, Kerb, Channel, Drainage Pits & Associated Works as a result of an advertised refresh at the expiry of the initial term and term extensions. Carried unanimously. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 JANUARY 2024 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 03:31 PM
Meeting Transcript
Frank Wilkie 00:00.000
Begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we're gathered, which is the Kabi Kabi People. Paying respects to elders past, present and emerging. We have everyone in attendance. We have Mayor Clare Stewart online. Do we need to move a motion for Clare to attend us. We will do that now. I'd like to move that in accordance with section 254 K of Local Government Regulation, Councillor Clare Stewart is approved to attend the meeting dated 15th of January 2024 via Microsoft Teams. Do we have a seconder for that please? Seconder, Councillor Lorentson. All in favour? That's carried. Welcome Clare. You Councillor Wilkie, thank you. We'll have someone to confirm the Minutes the meeting for December discussion. Please. Move Councillor Jurisevic seconded, Councillor Wegener all in favour? We have no presentations, deputations. We have items referred from committees. The first reports direct to General Committee, which is Sorry, Mr Chair, can I correct that? We don't have any committees. That's what I said, Joe. Items referred to committees, then we have you're quite correct, Councillor. Application for another change to include a Food & Drink Outlet to a development approval visitor accommodation type 4 conventional for bounce bound hotel hostel at 14 to 16 Mary Street, Noosaville, and we have our staff here, Nadine, Patrick and Richard. Nadine, would you like to give us an overview, please? Nadine 01:36.791
Yes, good afternoon, Councillors. This report provides an assessment of an application for an other change to the existing approval for Bounce Hostel at Mary Street. Are only two matters that the applicant is asking to be modified. The first one is he's requesting deletion of condition 5, which requires the accommodation to be used for short-term visitors. Only. Second an other change to allow a new use to be located on the site, which is a Food & Drink Outlet, which is able non-staying utilise that cafe. So there's existing an cafe around the pool area at the moment, so guests are allowed to use that. So he's now wanting the ability for the general public to come in and utilise that cafe. So so at this stage the planning report, we don't believe that there's any real reason to delete condition five as the approval is for a hostel, the planning scheme supports a hostel, so we consider that condition hospital, just to be, again, consistent with the approval, and it just also gives the operator and the owners further advice that this is approved for hostel. The second part in terms of the Food & Drink Outlet, whilst this wouldn't be something that's specifically envisaged for this area thing, under the existing precinct, due to the site being quite unique and there is an existing approval on it, the way it is designed, and there is existing hostel component, staff are quite supportive of having this ability for that food and drink area to be located and used for other staff. So we have no objection and we support that proposal. We've also included, concluded a condition just to make sure that there are no complaints, to limit, sorry, after 12 months the applicant can apply. And, you know, there's a 12-month trial period one thing I haven't mentioned, sorry, is also it doesn't fully comply with car parking, but based on the use, the surrounding area, and how this is operating, we believe that the car parking should be sufficient for the proposal. Frank Wilkie 03:58.245
Questions, Councillors? Stockwell? Brian Stockwell 04:02.245
Just a question in terms of the reasons they provided for deleting condition 5? Leaking conditions by. Nadine 04:09.000
That would just saying say it's superfluous. Brian Stockwell 04:11.283
So it had nothing to do, during COVID and the housing crisis afterwards, they offered service to workers to actually live there? Nadine 04:23.103
No, there was nothing in the submission. That was us was really just to say they wanted it deleted. And just on that, if they did want to convert it to that side, I think car parking might be a different issue. But that wasn't mentioned. Joe Jurisevic 04:40.694
But given there are three banks to it, or three pavilions. Within the complex. Perhaps one or another could be considered for long, a term, hostile toll accommodation. Longer Nadine 04:55.544
They haven't requested that as part of this submission. So we haven't investigated that side many of things. SPEAKER_03 05:01.284
Fair enough. That's the result. It's not put forward by the applicant, not, expecting that to be the case. Frank Wilkie 05:07.962
Just a question. With the Food & Drink Outlet approval lapsing on 18th of January, they need to apply to extend it. Would you expect that they would be applying for an extension well before that date? And you will know whether there have been complaints or not. Nadine 05:29.323
Yes, at this stage we haven't, it has operated during COVID and there haven't been any complaints so that COVID extension finished in July. Food & Drink Outlet. The So it did have an operational period during COVID. Yeah. It hasn't operated since July. Which year? This Okay. This year. So, oh sorry last year. 20, 23. Yes. So it finished last year. Our understanding and what we're hearing is that the backpacker industry is ramping up, buses are backing in. So when it was previously operating there were no complaints. I've actually been on site and in terms of noise it is really well designed. There was music playing. So the noise component buffered to the surrounding areas. So it really comes down to that car parking and I suppose that whole management side. So I would anticipate, yes, in 12 month period there would be sufficient period for anyone to make a submission to us and we could evaluate and if there was an issue we could also report back to the client and say we're getting issues because of A, B, C and D. Amelia Lorentson 06:40.001
I'd like to move the motion with an amendment to condition include a new condition 62 to read as follows the Food & Drink Outlet approval lapses on 31st of July 2024. No 24, unless written consent is provided by council's delegate to extend the approval in assessing a request Council will have regard to any substantiated complaints related relating to noise, car parking and any other relevant matters associated with the Food & Drink Outlet use. Frank Wilkie 07:27.114
Do we have a seconder for that, please, for the purpose of debate? Councillor Stewart. Lunderson. Amelia Lorentson 07:36.716
We've received a request from the applicant and I believe I all believe the Councillors have received the request and they for an amendment and their request is for the 18th of July 2024. I've pushed that to 31st and my reasons are as follows. Firstly the business has been operating for 18 months and my understanding there has been no substantiating noise complaints. Also they've requested a six-month period basically to do just give the operators some sort of certainty and clarity. They have proven track record of responsible operation and they're requesting that we help support the business by allowing some certainty. I'd like to note that through COVID and also the period six months after the COVID period, we actually have already allowed an extension is my understanding. So there was already a temporary variation allowed. The permit. So we've had actually quite an extended period for Council to ascertain whether there were going to be any substantiated noise complaints and to date there's been none. So I am really supportive of their request for us to help support their business about the 31st of July 2024 because I think within the next six months there'll be plenty of time during school holidays, Australia day long weekend, Easter holiday. Now with we get the opportunity also to see if there are any complaints during the July school holidays which I think ends on the 7th of July, so I've allowed two, three weeks after that period just in case any complaints come through. And I just think that's just fair and equitable. Excellent. And also, what's the word, in keeping with our small business charter where we've and in particular, we've made a commitment to help support businesses, local in particular responsible operating local businesses. So yeah, leave that to all the Councillors to make a decision. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson. Frank Wilkie 10:10.415
Councils, any questions? Tom Wegener 10:13.260
Wegener? My concern is that it's the parking that the staff's mostly interested in. You know, would six months be enough time to really give it a go for parking? Because it seems that you'd want to go see seasons to see how much parking is actually how the parking situation is going to change because of the heat and drink. Question for staff? Yeah, that's the question. Is it long enough? Nadine 10:43.167
I tend to agree. It would be nice to have that full length to anticipate exactly we have different peaks through the year. So I guess it would be good to see how it performs over that early Christmas period. Patrick Murphy 10:56.318
I think it's important to reiterate that the 18 month trial period, you know, which went well, was at a time when the occupancy of the and other businesses within the area, you know, we're talking about COVID, it's very different to where we are right now. So we think 12 months is prudent to get a full pulse check throughout the periods that you're referring to, Councillor, in terms of, yes, it is important that we pick up the July holiday period, June but just importantly, to pick up Christmas period as well and through the warmer months where it might be busier as well. Thank you Through the Chair. Has there been any complaints through the current Christmas period around parking in the space? They're not currently operating as the cafe. Oh you want to wait. So the cafe ceased in July last year and seeking now to recommence. Joe Jurisevic 12:00.680
Like I'll speak to it I see the merits in what Councillor Lorentson is suggesting but I think given a full 12-month period would be prudent. The pressures that we've been hearing about during the current Christmas period and the months just gone past, I think it would be prudent to see a full year's operation through each of the holiday periods and I tend to concur with the staff recommendation for a full year there. Frank Wilkie 12:35.402
Other Councillors wish to speak to the motion? Tom? Tom Wegener 12:39.802
Yeah we take our parking pretty seriously don't we and so this is a situation where we're looking at the parking so yeah. Frank Wilkie 12:53.848
Councillor Finzel? Karen Finzel 12:54.888
Through the Chair, just given in relation to our Transport Strategy and diversifying traffic out of that area, are we looking at how many people, surely we've got data about are using the bus? To be able to inform this decision moving forward. Have we got data around the bus usage, the free bus usage in this Christmas period to help us make this decision? Frank Wilkie 13:22.026
Councillor, Mr Shaun. Shaun Walsh 13:23.686
With the permission of the Chair, the data comes at the earliest following January the 25th, and usually it's two or three weeks after that we get the bus use data. We certainly would have in the previous years, but not for this year. Frank Wilkie 13:40.165
Councillor Stewart, you have your hand up and wait impatiently. Clare Stewart 13:44.045
Thanks, Councillor Wilkie. The report suggested, Nadine, that about there was a camera and monitoring of the car parking and the cars. Yes. Can you just reiterate, because from my recollection, and I don't have a hard copy of the report on me, nor have I got it up, I've just got the recommendation up here, it was very, I mean it was basically not being used at all, was it? Nadine 14:07.008
That's correct. I did check the video stills at certain times. They were taken about three times a day, and for that month of September, it was predominantly empty most of the time. However, when they originally put in application, the information over that period showed that it was full on two saturdays. So again, there is that difference of data, but yeah, definitely September still showed parking was available on site in the basement. Was the cafe working there? No, cafe was not. Only being used for internal guests. Again, there was no external guests coming. Amelia Lorentson 14:44.121
My understanding also, Nadine, is that the occupancy rate at that time was 80%. Yes. Great. Can I ask, Patrick, have you had insight-- you've mentioned done some site visitation. Yes. And can I ask, during what period? Nadine 15:03.967
I went-- it was there in a couple an afternoon. Of things that I wanted did an to inspection talk on to you the site. About. And there was car parking space available. I don't know what the occupancy was, but I did observe the management on site. And, you know, we discussed in terms of how they were controlling people. And, again, they giving us the- management is looking for the current a-- you know, accommodation is their primary purpose. So they're wanting it as a nice place to come. They're not party area. So that was what they were telling me. But it wasn't busy when I went, no. you. Frank Wilkie 15:43.813
I'll speak appreciate what Councillor Lorentson is trying to do. I have no objection to a shortened trial period if it gives the data that we're after. But if the six-month period fell at a time when the cafe had been operating, providing for both staff, visitors and people from outside the premise through the September holidays and the school holidays, so you could capture that data, I would have been satisfied. With a six month period, but given that their cafe is not operating currently, it hasn't operated through this Christmas period, it'll probably be a while before it gets up and running will have passed. If we extend. If we have the six-month trial only to the 31st of July 2024, that will exclude the opportunity to get the data during a Christmas period. And for that reason, I would like to see a 12-month trial period in this instance because it will capture the holidays during the year and also when the cafe is operating through a Christmas period. If it was a six-month trial, we wouldn't have that data. I'm not against per se, just what's able to be captured in that timeframe. And the 12-month in this instance will give the opportunity for the operator to be up and running and for us to capture the during school holidays and the Christmas period, which, if it ends on the 31st of July, will have missed the Christmas data. Can I ask. So for that reason I won't. Lawrence and then Councillor Joe. Amelia Lorentson 17:28.704
So the approval lapses on the 18th of January. Nadine 17:32.044
Sorry, but we have some data collated over this Christmas period, is that correct, Nadine? From the applicant? I haven't received that. But again remembering that the cafe is only operating at the moment for the current guests, so this will allow people like us to go and utilise it, so we haven't got that data because he's not using the use. Just a note on this too, so isn't, this just restricting him. The approval will. The food and drink approval to allow external guests is to lapse next year. The existing hostel doesn't change. We're not affecting that, so those existing operations, there's no limitation. On that. This is just to come and the idea is that if everything's okay, they would just apply to us and then Patrick, if there are no complaints, we'll just sign off on it and they're a way to go. Joe Jurisevic 18:32.053
Councillor Chair, on what's been said around the time, I'll need some clarification, the Food & Drink Outlet has been operational? Nadine 18:39.233
Yes. Previously during COVID. Unknown 18:42.033
So when did it cease operating? July last year. SPEAKER_03 18:44.660
Last- July year. All external, but still bunching you to internal. Nadine 18:49.419
Internal, that's correct. Joe Jurisevic 18:50.459
So it hasn't ceased functioning, it's been operational, but just not That's correct, yes. I thought I'm going to clarify. Is the mention of it's not operating, it is operating, but it's operating in a different capacity to what's being requested here, which is to enable external-- Guests or patrons, yes. Guests in a similar way that was allowed during the October period when perhaps it wasn't operating in its full capacity into internal residents. SPEAKER_03 19:20.510
Yes, that's correct. Frank Wilkie 19:21.893
Thank you to the Clare--- Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 19:21.893
Thank you. What is the usual process for the planning when people make an application? Do we, is this the normal process that we do collect data over the period before we approve, give approval? Nadine 19:41.367
So this proposal doesn't comply with car parking in accordance with the planning scheme. So it's required to provide an additional four spaces on site. So they can't do that. So normally they would submit a car parking assessment and we would review that and often we would send that out to a consultant. So in this instance they relied on their own data so we've had just had raw data provided to us by the planner and that and that's what we've been making our assessment on. Councillor Finzel? Karen Finzel 20:11.263
If it goes for 12 months and say and so for example there is complaints that can be data breaches you know an issue and increasing intensification of traffic to the area. What's the process then? Nadine 20:28.325
How does that affect the applicant? So again they would come to us at that period at the end of the period and they'd have to we'd have to be able to substantiate those complaints so yes look at our own data see when the complaints were what was happening I would assume if we receive a complaint during this process we'll investigate it ourselves to see whether there is any factual basis to it really couldn't just be a fixation no no no that's right and we know that's you know one complaint about you know might not be enough or not one complaint could be if there's a massive party there or something like that or there's massive problems with car parking Patrick Murphy 21:11.193
This situation is one way where the infrastructure exists on site the cafe is there it's being used by guests of the hotel and it and if there was a problem and we couldn't extend the public going to the as a Food & Drink Outlet they would be able to continue using that infrastructure for their guests going forwards so it's a bit different in terms of someone maybe committing to a lease or buying equipment to facilitate a use and we're saying can only use it for 12 months and then you know you may not be able to use it going forward there's an element of certainty for them that they can continue to operate in this space as currently are. Richard MacGillivray 21:52.764
And I think it's some important to highlight too that Council officers have been working closely with the operator for some time even obviously during COVID where they were given the ability to operate and a special permit was provided so and even the 12-month period or the six-month on the decision that Council makes officers will continue to work closely with them and monitor that and if there's any discussion or issues that arise in that period we really want to make sure that yeah we've got this decision right and being able to evaluate the impacts any issues during operation with external guests I guess that's the reason for the 12-month period similar to a sunset clause where we get to sort of review and analyse and make sure we've got the decision right for perpetuity. Frank Wilkie 22:41.728
Councillor Lorentson has the right to close. Sorry, Councillor Stockwell. I'm moving the amendment. Yes. And that just amends the 31st of July back to the staff recommendation of 18th of January 2025 just to save time. I have a question to the Chair. Is that a direct negation of the original motion with the change of date from the commencement? Joe Jurisevic 23:11.880
I'm probably just lacking in Frank Wilkie 23:14.149
So this is not changing that substance of the whole motion it's just the change to a detail. Karen Finzel 23:23.149
The Chair with regards to the Standing Orders, through to the CEO, from my understanding is that I thought we had to vote on that before we could raise it on the amendment. Frank Wilkie 23:33.178
No, Councillor Lorentson has moved a motion because it was the first motion moved. It was a motion with a change, so it's a motion not an Councillor Stockwell is quite within his rights to move this amendment. Do we have a seconder for the amendment? It's Councillor Jurisevic Councillor Stockwell, you have Brian Stockwell 23:56.074
The floor. Oh yeah, just having listened to the arguments, I believe that the 12 months is a safer bet. I don't think it impacts the operation in any way other than another six months of a slight uncertainty as to the approval that's in place, which may, you know, if there's market issues involved, that may affect that. But when we're doing town planning applications, we that. So to me, based on staff advice and the need to, I suppose, look at various holiday periods of July, September, Christmas, 12 months appears to be a reasonable situation. Frank Wilkie 24:37.200
Any other Councillors who speak to the amendment? Councillor Jurisevic. Joe Jurisevic 24:43.220
I appreciate what was there. What we had before us is something that hasn't operated fully in the proposed format. Since the operation commenced due to COVID, and due to the conditions that were imposed upon the establishment when it was first established, that was to be for internal guests only. So this would be an opportunity to see a full 12 month operation in the. Under the conditions of which it intends to operate. Amelia Lorentson 25:20.726
I'll speak to it also. I'm actually happy to support the amendment. I think when a business approaches us and makes a request to reduce that lapse period, I think it's our duty to try to work with them. However, I know the operator, don't know him, but business I know that there aren't, to date, after an 18-month period, any noise complaints, so I can't see that happening in six months. During an extended six-month period. So, I'm happy, it's a do /die recommendation. I think he has no issues. Unfortunately, you know, we can't give him the clarity that he wants. After a six-month period, a 12-month period, I think he's fine. So, I'm happy to support the amendment. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Finlayson. Karen Finzel 26:25.762
I'm happy to speak to the motion. Well, I agree. I think it's prudent to get the data that we need. We know that congestion and traffic is a huge impact on our Shire at the moment. I called the owner this morning before the meeting just to have a conversation with him. He is a good operator. He's a good worker. Closely with Council staff to deal with the outcomes, especially through COVID and personally, you know, cost to him in terms of being away from his family and different things. Clare Stewart 26:58.548
His main concern for the operation of this is for, you know, to bring greater connection for community and I think that sits in line with our lifestyle survey that we did where 48 of people said that were interested in more cafes and restaurants and businesses where they could come and meet with their friends and, you know, have a nice time together. And I think this also feeds into, you know, our destination management. We're working towards finding that balance between how we all work together to find equity for all. Karen Finzel 27:31.202
You know, residents, workers, visitors. So this is one small aspect of much bigger strategic direction the Council is taking. And I'm happy to support the amendment. Moving forward, I think it will be delivered with a good outcome. Frank Wilkie 27:50.023
Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Anybody else wish to speak to the amendment before Councillor Stockwell closes? I waive my right to speak. I think it's all been well said already. Councillor Stockwell? Put the amendment. Those in favour? Unanimous. Thank you, Claire. Clare. We go back to the original question. Motion to which Councillor Lorentson, Jurisevic and Councillor Wegener have spoken. Councillor Stockwell? Brian Stockwell 28:16.528
It has been mentioned. This is a very good asset in terms of our tourist offering. It is, as we said, has been managed really well and has demonstrated a lot of the sorts of values that we want to see in our tourism industry. And, you know, we have, during COVID, gone and taken the extra mile to make sure that, as a start-up business that was opening during COVID, that it did survive. And that's a big benefit. I ran into a young couple over in my New Zealand ride last year, and they just, that was their last night after 18 months backpacking, and they said by far the best backpacker. Backing place they ever stayed at was bounce hostel and Mary Street. You know, one of the things they were very complimentary of. So we do need to support businesses like this. I do understand the owner's desire to have some certainty within six months rather than 12 months, but I believe if the current trends are indicative that it shouldn't be an issue. And it is a fairly significant reduction in car parking over the stipulated. It is, you know, four additional spaces was my reading of, so it's probably worthwhile being sure that we're not going to create any more drama. On the street if it was a 12 month period. Frank Wilkie 29:37.303
Thank you. Councillor Stockwell. Anybody else wish to speak to the original motion before Councillor Lorentson closes? Councillor Lorentson, do you wish to close? No, all has been said, thank you. Put the motion those in favour? That's carried unanimously. Thank you. We now go to item 6.2. Thank you Nadine. Which is Planning & Environment Court appeal number 3156 of 2023 application for Material Change of Use for Health Care Service and hospital at 47 Goodchap Street, Noosaville. Mr Murphy. Are here to us an overview please. Patrick Murphy 30:16.140
So, the report advises that we have received or the appeal has been lodged against the decision that was made by Council to refuse a development application for Material Change of Use for Health Care Service and hospital at 47 Goodchap Street in Noosaville, Councillors may recall the application was seeking the development of residential zone land and that was going to comprise two separate buildings, one being a single storey infusion centre located at the front of the site and also a two storey day surgery located over a basement car parking to the rear of the site. The application was refused on the basis that the scheme seeks that the use of the hospital site be maximised with further health services co-located. The existing hospital site. There are other areas available such as the Noosa Business Centre, the Noosa Junction, Mary Street, Thomas precinct and Opal Street, Cooroy that could accommodate the proposed health facilities and day surgery consistent with the current zoning pattern for the Shire and that the existing lot is well suited for residential development and is needed to cater for future housing. The proposed development is of a scale and character that is likely to adversely impact on residents, amenity and the streetscape and that it had not been demonstrated that car parking would be provided to meet the likely parking demand. Accordingly, the matter is in order for Council to defend at the appeal. Frank Wilkie 31:38.641
Councillor, we have and a motion whether to defend the appeal or not the recommendation as opposed to the appeal. Moved by Councillor Stockwell, seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. I wish to Just speak to the motion. I'm going to speak. Any Councillors wish to speak? If the motion goes in favour? That's carried unanimously. Thank you. We now have item 6.3, Planning & Environment Court appeal number 3746 of 2023, application for Material Change of Use, short-term accommodation.15 cabins, 94 and 142 Noosa Drive, heads. This is the RACV appeal and I have a declaration to make, please. I, Councillor Wilkie, inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter as RACV have been a sponsor of Noosa Arts Theatre, where I serve as the committee president. As a result of this I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted upon. Larry Sengstock 32:50.620
Wilkie is the Chair, we need to appoint a new Chair. I'll move Councillor Wegener, he's sitting in the right spot. Go in first Gary. Councillor Wegener? All in favour? Who's seconded that, by Karen, sorry. Councillor Wegener, you're in charge. Tom Wegener 33:12.184
Okay, well first have Planning and Environment Court appeal number 3764. Six four application for Material Change of Use for the short-term accommodation, 15 cabins at 94 and 142 drive Noosa Heads. Patrick, would you want to talk through this? We recently, this came before us recently, but please. Patrick Murphy 33:33.548
Yep, okay. So the report advises that appeal has been lodged against the decision made by Council to refuse the development application for Material Change of Use for short-term accommodation at 94 and 142 Noosa Drive heads. The application involved eight separate buildings comprising 15 two-storey dwelling units. There were 18 car carpets parks. All buildings were going to be elevated structures. The buildings were connected by a timber boardwalk and the development was going to result in the removal of a minimum of 71 potentially 82 native trees with um co-op being koala food potentially up to 33 koala feed trees being removed. And it was refused due to the unacceptable loss of vegetation, the proposed development being an overdevelopment of the land at the expense of the site's natural values, non-compliance with the Noosa Plan requirements for the development within the environment. Management and conservation zone, stormwater and drainage and development outside of the urban boundary. The matter is in order for Council to defend. Joe Jurisevic 34:55.211
That it was well discussed and debated when it came to full Council. So you might defend the appeal. Any further questions? Councillor Finzel, Morrison. Shaun Walsh 35:09.611
We'll get you to put it to a vote. Chair, Councillor. In favour? Seeing none of us. Tom Wegener 35:19.991
Motion carried. Okay. We we're getting ready. In. Larry Sengstock 35:29.591
Okay. Yes, here we go. Frank Wilkie 35:33.771
Thank you. Back to planning applications decided by delegated authority. We have no declarations to be made. Move Councillor Jurisevic, seconded Councillor Finzel. Any discussion? Yeah. Thank you. I'll put the motion those in favour. That's unanimous. Thank you. Now to budget review two for the 2023-24 final. Thank you Patrick. Thank you. Richard. And welcome Pauline. Just trying to figure out if you're not going to the theatre. Welcome, Pauline. For those watching, Pauline is the acting financial services manager. Pauline Coles is her full name. She's going places. Could you give us an overview please Pauline? Pauline Coles 36:46.477
Sure. Afternoon Councillors. In accordance with the Local Government Act, Council is required to undertake regular reviews of its adopted budget to ensure it remains reflective planned activities to be funded throughout the financial year. This is the second budget review for 23/24 and incorporates any new or emergent issues or actions that arise from Council meetings. In summary, the budget review is proposing a net improvement of a million dollars council's operating position with the current operating deficit of $761,000, improving to a $304,000 surplus. This result includes a range of emergent costs that have been funded through additional revenue and grants received year to date. Council's capital expenditure program excluding its curators QRA disaster projects will decrease from $51.3 million to $46.1 million and that's due to the updated delivery schedule for several multi-year with the delivery of the QRA fund of disaster projects now currently underway, Council will also recognise $127 million as part of its proposed capital works program. These relate to the February 22 flood and are all 100% fully funded by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. This brings the total to $173 million as a result of that, we also recognise corresponding increase in our capital grant revenue of $123 million relating to these projects. All capital submissions have been reviewed by the Capital Works Executive committee and all forecast financial sustainability ratios continue to be met. In addition to the budget review, we're also including review or the twice yearly review of a the Noosa Holiday Parks Fees and Charges. This allows us to provide a forward booking period to customers of 18 months. The current Fees and Charges for Noosa Holiday Parks apply to 27th 27 January 2025 and this report includes the proposed Fees and Charges up until the 13th of July 2025. Overall the increase to holiday parks and Fees and Charges is between three to four dollars which is about four to eight percent. This increase is driven by inflationary pressures on operational costs with Council and park management experiencing inflationary trends between 5 and 24-four percent across various areas. This movement in costs is factored into consideration when we set the pricing so that we ensure that we maintain our operating margins and also ensure compliance with national competition policy principles. The proposed fees have also been benchmarked and tested against Fees and Charges adopted by other government and privately owned camping and caravan parks that are similar in size, location and type so that we ensure we're in line with industry pricing. Overall this budget review continues to show Council in a strong financial position. Frank Wilkie 39:41.525
Thank you. A couple of Councillors may have some questions which we weren't workshop. Joe, do you have Joe Jurisevic 39:49.739
At the workshop. Just to reiterate, just the three things. In the original budget, what was our forecast deficit or otherwise? What was it in BR1 and BR2? I was going to say 121 off the top of my head, but bear with me. Pauline Coles 40:17.107
Yeah, so it no, you're right. It's okay. Had it before and I didn't bring it with me. I do actually have it in here, so I'll just look at it. Frank Wilkie 40:30.007
Was your question again, please, Jeff? Joe Jurisevic 40:33.644
What was the situation with the surplus and deficit as of the original budget, as of BR1 and now BR2? It was a deficit of 760. Yes. No, that wasn't just BR1. It was in the report. The original budget was. So the adopted $121,000 surplus and then it was budget review one, it was 761 deficit and now it's a $304,000 surplus. Thank you for the hard work that. Creates that turnaround in the employment position and brings us back to the surface for the rest of the year. Frank Wilkie 41:07.241
Questions, Councillor? Stewart, you have some questions? Clare Stewart 41:13.502
You, Pauline. Just going through, I've just got a couple of questions, and it's just to do with each attachment, so I'll go through attachment by if that's okay. As you highlighted, $173.3 million is incredible. Post-Capital works, it's unbelievable. And I see that we've got 64 submissions received from capital works programs for 2023-24 and a revised decrease in works of 5.1 million. Can you give me an explanation or Larry, perhaps someone from infrastructure of the decrease in works? Is that just because it's carry over or we're just holding off or. Pauline Coles 41:51.267
For I can comment if you want no that's fine so in terms of the decrease to the initial program there was about eight point six million dollars of reprogramming of multi year so some of those were grant funded are relating to supply and delivery timelines so they've just pushed out into the next year so we're taking that up there's some emergent works and variations that we've taken up to about four point.2 two million and then some other savings and overspends that we've netted out which brings you back to the five million dollars. So a lot of the push out relates to either multi-year programming or new grant funded projects that have come on board or some variations that have happened Clare Stewart 42:35.509
Terrific, thank you. Just another question, the financial services, the operating submissions attachment one, so we've seen an uplift because of higher yielding deposits of 2.1 million, is that correct? Pauline Coles 42:50.989
Correct, so in terms of offsetting some the submissions that have come through we've taken up the year-to-date upside in interest revenue which is about 2.1 million dollars and that's due to the higher yielding term deposits from the surplus funds that we're currently carrying. That obviously may not continue and probably won't continue future years as we consume that project money for the QRA projects. Okay, thank you. In regard to attachment to, the bridges and revetment wall, can you just talk me through that work I went through and they were where I noticed the larger discrepancies were, just the differences. Okay, so there were. 250,000 and 400,000 I think. So one, so there's a slight variation in relation to Garth Prowd which is an increase of about 250 000 thousand, and then there's also a reprogramming of the Doanella Bridge renewal as well which is about 400,000 that's pushing out. Okay, thanks for that's okay. Attachment three, revised state, sorry I didn't, I wasn't, I away when you did that. Was Clare Stewart 43:57.149
No, that's okay, all right, you've got the floor. Thanks, Councillor Wilkie. Attachment three, revised statement of income and expenditure. Interest received, the change is considerable as in grants and donations. Is there a $13.4 million change in or additional grant funding or is that just, again, due with, to do with timelines and money coming in and- sorry, in terms, sorry, could you just repeat which line you were looking at? Attachment three, revised statement of income and expenditure. Pauline Coles 44:26.022
Yep, and the line that you were looking at particularly. Hang on, I'll just get back, sorry, Pauline. No, that's okay. Sorry, the $1,300. I'm on the computer here. That's okay. I think I know what you're referring to, the operational grants, the $1.3 million. Yep, okay. So that relates to some additional grant, operating programs that we have had come online. Let me just find that for you, if you bear with me. One of them is a QCoast2100 grant, one is a flood resilience management program and the other one was part of a QRA resilience program. It was an operational component of those programs. Okay, so that's additional grant that we're forecasting. That obviously also has corresponding expenditure line item because they offset each other. And can you tell me what capital works constructed assets specifically means? Whereabouts exactly are you looking? The capital expenditure. There's a big difference. BR1 was 40. Sixty-five million? Yeah. So that's us recognising the QRA program. Okay, so this is and that's all to do with accounting just with processes? Clare Stewart 45:45.800
The process yeah, so that's just the capital component of in and out as well. The top section is operating off. The below section is capital. And in attachment for Pauline, contract assets under liabilities. I know it hasn't featured before but it is in this, these set of documents. Can you talk me through that? Pauline Coles 46:06.418
Sure, so for accounting purposes we're required to undertake a review of all the grants, levies, funds that we receive in terms of how we recognise that revenue over time. So depending on the criteria, so if they're sufficiently specific and measurable, we're required to recognise them as a liability going forward. So we remove them from revenue and contract liability. Now in terms of the 24 million that's recognised there, that is pretty predominantly QRA. So we had advance payment of QRA funds. So we took that up at the end of last financial year. So that's why it's flowing through in this budget review, because we've now finalised our audited financial statements for 2023. So those numbers have now picked up I apologise. Non-current liabilities on page three, provisions, the term provisions. Yes. Is that the increase you're referring to? Yes. So as part of, again, the finalisation of the 2023 financial statements, we recognise an additional $8 million of rehabilitation costs for the landfill site. So that's pushed up that provision amount. Clare Stewart 47:15.336
Okay. Thank you. Thanks much. Appreciate it. All of that. Amelia Lorentson 47:20.269
Thanks, Councillor. Lawrence. Thanks. I've got a couple of questions also, Pauline. In terms of Webb Park upgrade, I note that been pushed out. But I also note in the report that Belmore Terrace parkway renewal has been included as part of VR2. Correct. Can you just clarify what's happening? I was going to say, did Pauline Coles 47:43.606
John want to talk to that? Because he's probably better placed to do that as the infrastructure Shaun Walsh 47:49.346
Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, chief. So what we've done is we'll commence the early works, which is the Belmore Terrace pathway networks, which is really good because it's the circulation network around the edges of the park. And it's also a substantial budget component of the overall project. So for the community, it'll appear like we've actually started work on the park. And it'll make much easier for the community to circulate around the park when we actually do the works in the park itself. It also means that in terms of the pathway upgrades they're subject to a grant and we're actually expending the grant funds prior to the acquittal date which is June this year. So it's sort of like it's two stages the early works which is the Belmore Terrace park pathway works and then the balance of the landscape works actually within the park. Amelia Lorentson 48:31.192
Terrific, thank you. In terms of stormwater drainage, current budget 4.485 proposed budget review 1.052. So on page 41. So stormwater infrastructure it's a significant part of our services. What my question is does our strategic asset management plan align with our annual approved budget. So I'm doing sort of playing with my calculator at the moment and working out what percentage of our capital works program. Is dedicated to our stormwater infrastructure system and I actually pulled out I think it was the stormwater infrastructure asset management plan 2019 just to get a benchmark and at that time 2%. And my calculations, unless it's wrong, we're at about 7.78% of total budget. I'm on page 41 of 145. Of the reports. She's not like. Frank Wilkie 49:55.376
I'm on the General Committee. Report. She's in the full agenda, JC. In and front probably of me. Page 41 refers to. Amelia Lorentson 50:04.073
Capital works. It's just a summary. Sorry. Yeah. My question is, given how critical. You know, our infrastructure, managing our assets, arch of financial sustainability, is this a good percentage of total capital works program to. Sustain, you know, future risk. Shaun, would you like to take a permanent seat here? That's okay, I was going to say that the reason I pushed out was to do with Ross present, which is grant funder program, that's just the timing of grant funding, but yeah. And my question also stems from the 2022 rain events and population increase and our visitation numbers have also increased. So stormwater infrastructure is high priority and I actually get how it is critical to our council's financial. Sustainability so that's really been my focus just are we spending enough. Shaun Walsh 51:08.111
Through the Chair so as you recollect the council's had a briefing from Brian O'Connor our assets manager on the status of our asset management plan in recent months and the general summary is that our management system and the renewals budgets tied to it are very strong when it comes to roadways and drainage systems as a result of work and that being high priority the areas we're still to develop you know better quality asset management system parks and also buildings and facilities so they'll be our priority moving forward so I have confidence in our asset renewal system and the amount of money applied to it for our stormwater assets and our roadways I'm not so confident when it comes to parks and buildings facilities but they're areas for significant in the next year to two years and you have to remember that we came from basically a base of zero when we were de-amalgamated and you know trying to actually get good quality information and survey an asset management system working has required tremendous effort. So in some of the work that I've done in the stormwater they've actually put robots up all the drains to determine their level of clearing, to determine whether they're blocked, collapsed, to give us confidence in the stormwater management system. And we also need to be careful that stormwater is different from flooding. You know, stormwater is to deal with, you know, predicted events where the water runs through the system and discharges into the river. Of course when we have an extraordinary event like river flooding, that's a different scenario whatsoever where you're looking at protection of our critical assets. Frank Wilkie 52:37.515
Thank you very much. Shaun Walsh 52:41.840
You, John. Sean. Do you want to read the structure? Yeah. All right, James. Items. Amelia Lorentson 52:45.916
Probably, I've got lots of questions, but probably the only other one I need really answered in terms of retaining wall construction, Sunrise Beach, 56 David Low Way. Where exactly is that? Shaun Walsh 52:59.536
So that's the one that's below. The old caravan park, is one of the better words. Above in sunrise. Amelia Lorentson 53:08.070
So has that got anything to do, is that the one closest to the Burgess Creek? Larry Sengstock 53:13.490
No. It's quite separate. Bridge, very near the bridge, not far past the bridge, south of the bridge, I know exactly where it is. It's just an area that we identified last year. The money that's in the budget now is to do the review, planning and the design, and then future budget will be to actually repair it. Fantastic. Thank you, that's all. Frank Wilkie 53:42.124
Thank you very much. I'll oh yes, any other questions yes, Clare Stewart 53:46.808
Thank you to the Chair and the CEO. I just have a question around stormwater breaking as well, in relation to the infrastructure across the Shire and the prior originalisation process. Can you just talk me through how. If we review the budget and then extra money is allocated, in what way does that affect how we roll out the upgrades? So, for example, with the water retention basins, rehabilitation programs and things like that. Larry Sengstock 54:20.674
Allocation of money in there for bio-retention basins and there is an ongoing program. We've got 42 bio-retention basins across the Shire. I've done a little bit of research on this, as you can hear. So, yeah, you. But in terms of prioritisation, there was a report done in 2022 that itemised all those bio-retention basins and audited them, essentially, and put them in a, you know, good, bad or indifferent. Order, terms of what they're doing, what they're supposed to do and the maintenance level. I think that there is an ongoing question and understanding of residents in terms of the level of what we call Shaun Walsh 55:04.800
Maintenance. Larry Sengstock 55:05.840
Maintenance, amenity, appearance is probably a better word. Good too in terms of, you know, it being a reserve therefore being fully natural versus being manicured, yeah. Or kept in a different state. So it's, along those lines. We need to do a bit more work in terms of education of people because there is a, definite line between two that need we to work on. Through and you know I get some people look at it and go that's not well kept and I think that because of the amount of land and space that we do have under control and under reserve then it's you know it's difficult to keep up with it and it at the level that we need but we are working through that program and that's why with those 42 potentially that particularly the retention basins we're working through those in terms of some of have been got out of hand a little bit in recent years and we are working through our best to prioritise those so I don't have the answers for you in terms of which ones but we do have a program in place no that's in their internal operational operations documents here. Shaun Walsh 56:18.028
If I can add to that it's just of interest that a lot of these bio-retention basins are actually in environmental reserves so you know the spaces are being maintained for both their stormwater qualities as well as environmental properties and as you can appreciate a highly known you surface you know is not consistent with an environmental reserve you know so and I think that there needs to be and at the same time a number of these spaces immediately adjacent to residents who know pay a lot of money for their land and they have different expectations of those spaces so I think part of it as Larry said is education that this is an environmental reserve this is how it should look this is what like but at the same time we need to ensure that those bio-retention basins are actually doing what they said they do which is you know detain and treat stormwater and not contribute to health hazards as well at that time so it's probably in terms of residents expectations there's a balance or a middle ground about maintaining environmental quality stormwater qualities but certainly not achieving a high amenity standard in terms of it being manicured to ensure biodiversity properties are maintained. Joe Jurisevic 57:27.460
But it's also an understanding on council's part that there is a maintenance element bio-retention basins that probably weren't quite maintaining. Shaun Walsh 57:35.540
In the last 12 months the bio-retention basins asset as part of the asset program that I talked about has actually been transferred from the environment team over to the infrastructure team to ensure that there's much more rigour applied it meets stormwater parameters and the skill set is actually appropriate. Of course they need to consult with the environment staff to ensure biodiversity properties are maintained. To give a better emphasis on retention or maintenance of the stormwater assets. And that's been an agreed process between infrastructure services and environment services. Amelia Lorentson 58:13.338
Just one more. Page 46 of the report, Pauline. Local laws. Operating submissions made, I'm assuming, by the local laws officers. A submission of 42,000 for increased legal costs for prosecution of offenders. Correct. Do they also make submission for just increased local law officers. I've been, not inundated, but I've been receiving quite a few emails about dogs on beaches. And have they made a submission? In terms of we didn't receive a submission for additional resourcing for local laws, but obviously I'm assuming obviously part of the 2025 budget they'll review their service levels and what they need in terms of that. So at this stage, no, they haven't requested any additional resourcing. Frank Wilkie 59:04.713
Thank you very much. Just to clarify, this extra unasked is due to enforcement action? Correct, this has to do with enforcement of infringement. Councillor Stockwell. I know, I was just pointing out we were discussing a budget review. Yes, exactly. We're going down a bit further. We're going. I know that's right. No question. Okay. Move Council Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Lorentson, Jurisevic. Joe Jurisevic 59:30.020
I think the place is over, as you may have said. Good to see a return to surface service. For BR1, which typically happens. We're do some shopping changes in the end of the financial year. Looking at the programs going forward. We're predicting a surplus for It shows sound financial management terms are being gained upon by our financial team. We understand the very last, vast sums of money that we deal with that go through the various departments and I'd like to commend our financial team for their prudent financial management of our. Council funds and all of the Council team in that regard. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:00:10.914
Thank you, John. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 01:00:15.854
Oh yeah, there's an interesting comparison to be made on this budget. And I reflect back to last term where there's a great deal of. A certain amount of community concern that we weren't getting our capital works done. So the capital works budget now for this year is about three times, just for the stuff that the ratepayers are funding, three times that which was average during the Sunshine Coast Council era. But if we add in the amount of it's over ten times as much capital works than what Sunshine Coast Council is putting into the Noosa Shire area during the amalgamated period. Now, you know. Sometimes it's just one wise decision. We can thank our CEO when he's in his substandard position, suggesting very early in the disaster recovery process that we should get expert consultants in to run that disaster recovery without program. Them, you know, we'd be pulling our hair out. And so 123 million of. Is it? Of grant. Over 120 million of disaster funding that's coming in. It's also really important to understand how disaster affects the budget. Now, we're dealing with. Successive climate-related disasters, and we think about our other budgets in terms of our climate action budget. It's clear that the new normal will have probably a we'll fairly stream of disaster recovery for local councils to deal with. So while we may get that state government funding to do the work, there is a whole host of administrative responsibilities within this building that need to be met. And that's something we really have to understand be is as long as the State government continues to fund it, it's not going to be a do or die thing, but if we had to come up with over 120 million, our ratepayers couldn't afford it. There'd be projects that just wouldn't be getting done. There'd be residents who would continue to have to take the long way around for the rest of eternity before we could do some of the repairs that were getting done through the State funding. So it's really important to say yes, this is what we're going to do in the next six months. Long term, our budget, we have to think about what's ahead of us for the next ten years and realise that recovery from disaster is going to be an impost on the ratepayers of this community for at least another it's probably a lot longer. Understanding Frank Wilkie 01:02:59.383
Thank I think the council's stuck with it. Councillor Wegener? Whitner I'd like to Tom Wegener 01:03:05.144
Thank Councillor Stockwell for your cheerios first day the team, everybody. Thank you. I'm hoping that as we do go forward, there's been such a fantastic succession from Dr. I can't think Gibbons. Of a third. It's our first. Michael. Martin. You're Michael to yourself. You've maintained this um this transition of great um thoughtful generous and qualified people in your space. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:03:46.239
Yeah. Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 01:03:47.959
Uh just a really quick note. Thank Pauline and team. Um but also the you know, it's free money. We're getting the money from state but there's also resourcing human implication. That funding. So I know there's passionate, hard-working people with in infrastructure under this roof and we don't say thank you enough. It's big business and they're really good people making really big things happen in this Council. Thank you. Councillor Stewart. Clare Stewart 01:04:25.820
Thank you Councillor Wilkie. Just to reiterate what's already been said. Thank you Pauline Trent and all the team. It's remarkable to turn over a million dollars in such a short amount of time. It's a terrific way to finish off the Council term as well. So I want to thank you for all your hard work in that space. Also the infrastructure team, Larry, Shaun, thank you. That is unbelievable. $173.3 million of capital works. We are a small Council and that is certainly, as Councillor Stockwell said, the largest that we've seen, probably 10 times what's been done. And it's great. For our rate payer because we are receiving funding from the QRA and we're receiving grant feds and the State. But also it's lot of hard work and investment by our Council staff too. So please pass on our thanks to them because that is just a remarkable level of work that's been being achieved. Frank Wilkie 01:05:17.990
Thank you, Councillor Stewart. Anybody wish to speak before Councillor Jurisevic closes? Councillor Jurisevic. I'll close, Joe Jurisevic 01:05:29.343
Thank you. Yes, some good points raised there. Thank you, Brian. Yes, the level capital works goes down to exactly what Shaun was talking about. Our understanding of our assets, and the need to renew those assets with an element of resilience, knowing what goes on with regard to fires and floods and disasters in the future, you know, what the future brings. So we're getting ahead of them. It's taken a bit of time. We're playing catch-up. But that's uh why the spend is where it is. The QRA funding of course is significant and you're right, we'd be challenged by that. I've just recently come back from the shoalhaven Shire where as a result of disasters over the next three years their Council is proposing to raise rates by 46%.% because of the impact on their Council design of recent disaster events in that area so their real realistic challenge was going forward for any Council the impacts are huge particularly in flood's devastator and fire's devastator region they've had impact of a number of events over the last few years a lot of those southern councils did so you can see the sort of challenges that councils can face and so we've got a clear way on top and thank goodness we do have the QRA funding to renew these assets and thank goodness that they now understand the element of resilience which is in the Queensland disaster recovery plan. We've got resilience as is part of asset the renewal going forwards. But all good. Again, the asset management plans are the crucial nature of those and to continue to drive the renewal of assets, particularly with the ageing assets that we've got community facilities and the like. We'll continue to challenge our budgets for years to come. Frank Wilkie 01:07:14.654
Thank you. I'll put the motion to those in favour. It's carried unanimously. Thank you both very very much. Larry. Larry Sengstock 01:07:21.134
Can I just make one point. We have focused a lot on our assets and our infrastructure in here because but also, look, it's a massive space. Spreadsheet in front of you with a whole lot of staff. There's 500-odd staff out there working, delivering services, all meeting their budgets and all meeting the delivery. Levels that they need to. Be remiss of me if we didn't say that it's a whole Council effort here and we need to thank them also from my perspective. I know our focus went to the infrastructure because of it and I know you're well aware of the overall services that we deliver. Frank Wilkie 01:08:02.716
Thank you- Thanks, Larry. You, Shaun. Now next item is the Financial Performance Report. Don't go too far though, Shaun. For December. Pauline Coles. You have the floor again. Pauline Coles 01:08:22.814
Operating revenues continue to outperform forecast and operating expenditures are under forecast year to date to the end of December. Operating revenue is 3.2 million dollars above budget which has been driven by million dollars of interest and 1.4 sales of goods and services from holiday parks, community facilities and waste. We also have slight above budget amount of about 300,000 in operating grant revenue. This has been offset by lower than forecast revenue in rates due to some valuation changes and category changes and Fees and Charges are about half million dollars below budget year to date. Operating expenditure is 1.2 million dollars underspent with the majority of this underspend relating to employee costs resulting from vacancies and recruitment timing. Materials and services are expenditures marginally under budget at this point in the year. Many of these year-to-date variances that you'll see in this report have been addressed as part of the budget review too which will be reflected in the January report. The quarterly update on tourism economic development expenditures shows that this program is on track year-to-date. Also included in the report is the quarterly summary of legal expenditure. Which shows 1.2 million dollars spent of the four-year budget of 1.6 million dollars at this point in the year. Overall council's operating position at December is 4. Million dollars above capital revenue is above budget $5.2 first million due to the further advance funding from QRA and year-to-date. Excluding disaster projects, Council has expended 33 of the four-year capital program which equates to about 17 million dollars with a further 6 million dollars currently committed. A further 12.6 million has been funded year-to-date on QRA disaster projects, but as I mentioned with BR2 coming into place that will adjust those budgets back in the January reports. Council householdings at the end of March was 106 million dollars with 30 million dollars invested in term deposits. Reports. The quarterly update on the breakdown of cash holdings has also been included in this month's report and you'll note the major movement in the graph compared to the previous quarter is in working capital as we're at the end of the first rating cycle of the year so we issued rates in July and we've spent that money through to December which is why that's come down once we issue rates in January. Feb that'll kick up against once that comes back in and that'll fund through the operations to the end of the year. Restricted and unrestricted cash has also declined and that's basically due to the delivery of the capital works program and also the utilisation of QRA disaster funding that we received in advance. With half the financial year complete council's financial performance continues to be strong. Frank Wilkie 01:11:02.231
Okay, questions? Amelia Lorentson 01:11:06.359
In terms of the legal costs, can you explain, so general legal advice, so we've got an in-house legal Council, she or he started in December, probably two too soon to ask the question, are there any savings? But I did notice CEO and governance, that seems to be quite high, $65,000 of the $74,000 allocated. Budget, and industrial relations advice. Is that unusual? Pauline Coles 01:11:46.669
Or should questions to the CEO? Do you want to answer? Larry Sengstock 01:11:52.209
Well, it's the advice requested that we've been or needed to get in this recent sort of six to 12 months while I've been in the Chair particularly. I don't know whether that's me or whether that's just Daniel. But the advice that we get obviously comes at a cost. So any time that we ask for external advice, then it. Does come across a cost. So there's been quite a bit of that in recent times. So for a whole range of purposes. So that's been reflected there in that budget. Pauline Coles 01:12:24.637
Yeah, it's all dependent on really it's what types of work and what's happening at the time. Impacts on that budget and some years it's quite low and other years it can be quite high. Amelia, Amelia Lorentson 01:12:37.908
Have you got any more questions? Just in terms of details of the expenditure or advice that's been sought, is that protected under privacy information act? It is. Thank you. Councillor Finzel. Clare Stewart 01:12:54.661
Thank you, just coming off the back of that with the expenditure through the gas relations, CEO, would that have anything to do with the change in legislation around the reduction of working hard towards trying minimise some of our social hazards in the workplace? Larry Sengstock 01:13:10.722
Question. To some degree there is some advice that we've been seeking for that but there's also in terms of the training and education for our staff in general that's been accommodated in our you know budgets through the people and culture. Frank Wilkie 01:13:25.642
Move Councillor Jurisevic. Do we have a seconder? Councillor Lorentson. Lawson, Joe you have the floor. Joe Jurisevic 01:13:35.907
Here got a lot more information about the operating budget but we do sometimes tend to forget that we are operating in the realm of 100 million dollars of operation and expenditure, of revenue and expenditure with regards to year in out and the detail and the challenges that staff do have with regard to staying within the budgets and trying to maintain the budgets of every element, facet of Council through this and you can see those that are below a lot and of above involved and this the swings wing of is a man. Events yes, it's that. Go through the organisation and where those challenges is month on year on So that's a very comprehensive report. A monthly basis and it gives us a good snapshot on of how we're tracking with our financial performances. It should alert us quite readily of any concerns as our us to any challenges and try to address those as they arise. I think for anybody that wonders about the financial performance of councils should take the time to read each of these financial reports understand what happens and what is going on in Council on a regular basis. We often challenge some of the elements and the one that I like to bring up with the CEO is staff training. I think it's important that we have that approach and we do meet that. It's often difficult when we don't have a full column of staff to facilitate all of the training. So how are we going with staff annoyed is the CEO for a while? Pauline Coles 01:15:24.665
I think we're actually behind budget at the moment. Larry Sengstock 01:15:26.304
We are behind budget to some degree but we've also got number of things in train in terms of what we're going to be using that budget for. And one of those is psychosocial but also it's, you know, there are things in play. It was a nice little lead you did there, thank you. Absolutely. We've also, in this round, in this last 12 months, implemented more in looking at staff and what training needs they want, individually, so we're actually trying to cater for that as well, particularly from the, you know, in the management area, not some, from a, there's the, regulatory training that we need to do for various things like licences and permits and things like that, but then there's also training that we want our management training to get, you know, from our, be it our coordinators supervisors, all the way up through to the CEO. It's, you know, everybody needs to be given, afforded that ability to improve their personal development and professional development. So we're looking at all that and that's part of the program that we're now putting in place and where possible, we can afford it, we're going to implement those. Amelia Lorentson 01:16:37.349
In terms of psychosocial hazard training, that's going to be made available to Council employee staff. Given that councils are not considered employees, will there be an opportunity to maybe extend that training to Councillors Larry Sengstock 01:17:00.723
That's part of what we're looking to, and there's a whole program of discussion that needs to happen around that. But absolutely, we're in the induction program that's for the new round of Council. Cycle, that will be certainly part of the program that we'll be looking to implement. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:17:19.223
Question, Pauline. The holiday park revenue. To date is $660,000 above budget. That's an extraordinary result. What is it due to? It can't just be efficiencies. Pauline Coles 01:17:38.201
Of it's to do. We've had record high occupancy of sites across the board, so a lot of it's driven through that. We do have offsetting upside as well in expenditure that relates to that as well. But yeah, predominantly it's the utilisation of the sites and maximising the occupancy on the site. Frank Wilkie 01:17:57.497
And even though it was included in the BR2, there's a downturn in rates revenue because of revaluations. Pauline Coles 01:18:05.958
Could you just tell us a bit about that please? So there's been some changes in whether it's been through the individual property owners' request and from reviews the Valuer-General's office on the valuations of some properties, but there's also categories of properties so it might be where say a ratepayer payer was previously in a transitory category and they've gone through and gone actually no we're not in transitory anymore and that's moved out so there's been a lot of movements in terms of valuations and category movements. Frank Wilkie 01:18:34.695
Are we noticing many property owners shifting their properties from transitory back to? I couldn't tell you numbers but there has been some movement but I wouldn't have the content of that unless Richard does. Any indication of trends? Through the Chair. Richard MacGillivray 01:18:54.172
We're finding, we've been following up in relation to the short stays just recently, particularly where transitory rating categories are being applied. We've been finding that some of those properties that we suspected that were short-term letting have actually been rated, they haven't been basically following and checking rates. It is a principal place of residence and they've actually been playing the transitory rate. So we've been making adjustments as we've been dealing with that. So we suspect, and you'll be aware around the total number of possible STAs was as high as 4,000, you might recall. We suspect with the work that we've been doing in the team recently, it may not be quite as high as that. In fact, we're rolling through those other numbers at the moment. So it might be a lesser number than the 4,000 we suspected. We're still working our way through that as we ground truth and undertake those detailed investigations, and which means in a good sense that potentially overall less STAs than we first envisaged, we've still got a bit of work to do. And during this year of 2024, we'll be doing narrow that down to get that total number more accurate. There'll always be fluidity there in terms of people, you know, going into STAs and coming out on some of those 460s and things like that. And we'll just have to continuously keep our eye on that. But the good news is potentially that number is not quite as high as we first envisaged. There's still more work to be done. Frank Wilkie 01:20:24.948
And while you're here, Richard. The 101.000 above expenditure, budget and expenditure for development assessment, is that a combination of a high workload and needing to outsource the work, or why is it. Richard MacGillivray 01:20:40.286
Yeah, yes, so we're actually, about 25%. Under in terms of establishment for planning assessment at the moment, so we've been having to outsource to cover some of that resource gap, and that's possibly why we've got a lot more expenditure and that we've been outsourcing to cover that gap. Are slowly filling those positions, in fact we've got a new senior development planner that arrived today so we filled another role there, we've got one more to fill in there. So we are making inroads this year so that number should come back down. Shortly. Now we've got a full establishment, we're working our way towards Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:21:19.084
In terms of STA, will you be able to provide us with some data? And how many applications were approved during this term of Council? Will just be great to understand what the real number is. Richard MacGillivray 01:21:33.249
Absolutely. And in fact, it's good timing. We're working on a dashboard that will get some material for you and then for general public around overall numbers of STAs. Also looking at the trends since the start of the local in terms of what's been happening hotline requests, different trends, number of approvals that have been issued for the different categories. So we're working on that. We'll hopefully have something for Councillors shortly and the general public. Joe Jurisevic 01:21:58.494
And that will give us the number of approvals, outstanding applications that are still being assessed and the suspected a number of. Richard MacGillivray 01:22:06.930
Yeah potentially that's right and it is an assumption number on the total numbers. It'll be always hard to Joe Jurisevic 01:22:13.167
Probably lock down, and I'll have a look at the last reports. Richard MacGillivray 01:22:14.688
But yeah, yeah, we're slowly making good progress. Inroads through that number of properties on there. Thank you. Thanks. Frank Wilkie 01:22:22.827
All right. Brian Stockwell 01:22:25.340
Yeah, back, it's interesting to see when we're talking about swings and roundabouts. So the upside that we saw in budget review too is interest rates going up, our investments and our capital is earning more. On the building industry and the development industry. So we've actually seen, you know, a quarter of a million dollars less than what expected in development applications and 57k less than building and plumbing. And if you look at the applications coming through, you can still see that's going down. So, you know, the probably, maybe not the next one, but the one after, if that continues, we're going to be back into a fairly tight budgeting environment whereby have to look at the resources we've got and how we do it. The interesting thing is the juxtaposition of holiday park revenue going up in the cost of price, but that may be just people choosing for a slightly more affordable holiday rather than a more expensive one, you know, that more people choosing to go camping rather than staying in a unit or whatever, so it would be interesting to see how that holiday park revenue goes over the next year or so because it would give us an indication of how the local economy is going to be faring over this inflationary period. Amelia Lorentson 01:23:43.105
A quick question, Pauline, Through the Chair. Of course. Me. On page 79 under materials and services, I've just got a big question mark. I haven't seen this before. Administration supplies and consumables. Can you explain what's meant by that, consumables? Pauline Coles 01:24:01.822
It can include a whole range of things. I did have it up here but I've closed it, sorry. But I can certainly take it on notice and come back to you if you'd like. Yep, absolutely. Consumables is not necessarily food. Not necessarily it's not. Basically, it can be materials, travel, entertainment, it could be consultancy, a number of different things. But I can certainly come back to you. Amelia Lorentson 01:24:29.031
Thank you very much. Yes, please. Joe Jurisevic 01:24:34.799
Good point Councillor Stockwell. A councillor's not immune to the pressures out there in real world. We go through the challenges of having sufficient staff to fill, trying to fill those voids and vacancies, as all businesses do, as has been pointed out around the table. We also want to go to the pressures of increasing costs and expenses with everything we do. And all businesses and all governments currently through this. So the financial pressures and going forward, as we have done for the last 10 years, continues to be a critical element of the learning and counselling schemes. One we. The operating surplus ratio, the cash expense covers, the assets sustainability ratio, the net finances, liability ratios, all those ratios are that the State government expect us to hold within targets. It's important to see that Council have been in those. Well above those ranges for quite some time. We need to keep our eye on those and ensure that we continue to maintain. Those we're getting good returns on investment at the moment. We've got a bit of spare cash for investment as well, which is helping, so that will run out. So all those challenges going forward will be ones for our new Council to try and uphold and upkeep. It's very easy to be critical on the outside. When you're on the inside, you understand the work that goes in here, and you see these results, it's very pleasing to see the financial position of Council on a year-to basis. Frank Wilkie 01:26:19.169
In favour? That's unanimous. Next item is the Audit and Risk Committee membership. Mr. CEO, are you presenting this report? Yes. Larry Sengstock 01:26:33.129
Unfortunately, the yetis are not able to be with us so I'll present this. So the first one is the Audit and Risk Committee membership. Item 6.7. In accordance with our Local Government Act, we need to have an ours comprises of two Councillors, appointed and two external members. One of the external members, our current Chair, his tenure finishes the 11th of March this year. And so we need to make a decision on either renewing that or going for a new Chair. The recommendation here is that we renew and continue Tim cronin's chairmanship of the Audit and Risk Committee. We've just done a review and you've been privy to that as Councillors that is doing its job and doing it well. And so is for Tim, or Mr. Cronin, to his term to be extended to the 10th of October 2025. The maximum he can do is six years currently in our regulations. He was a member of the committee first and then he was Chair for three years, so that's why it's not another three-year it's actually about two years. That takes him up to the six-year mark. So we're recommending that it goes to 10th of October 2025. We've spoken to Mr Cronin, he's comfortable with taking that on as well. So we're putting it to you for a Tom Wegener 01:28:06.802
I'll move the staff recommendation. Frank Wilkie 01:28:09.082
Moved by Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Wegener. Tom Wegener 01:28:13.622
First, I invite other Councillors to come today. The auditor's duty meetings, because you to actually, you know, not only do you get the pleasure of watching staff squirm, as you all know, they get asked the hard questions, but also you get to ask You know, we all are speaking to individuals that do this with councils all across Queensland, and bigger councils and smaller councils, and you can ask really honest questions, "How are we faring compared to these others? You know, and like waste, for example, and NIT, they can say, "Well, this is what they're it's enormously helpful. I'd like to back Tim Cronin. He's absolutely fantastic, and really, you were there before me. He said you were very excited when he came on board. Yeah, he's enormously well-qualified to give us really great advice. So he's very clear and he's patient. I've tested that. He's very patient. Amelia Lorentson 01:29:12.109
That's OK. So have I, Tom. Yeah, I think I support the recommendation. He's fantastic. I'd like to speak. So I also have had the privilege and opportunity to sit on the Audit and Risk Committee. And like Tom, it is, I encourage everyone to put their hand up. I just want to just add to Tim. So I looked at the report, looked at his expertise and his financial management and risk experience. What's been left out is his local government experience. So I want to just highlight that tim's had over 30 years as an insurance and risk advisor, but he's also been the CEO, I think, of the Cook Shire Council. He sits not on Noosa Shire Council Audit and Risk Committee, but also on three other local governments in Queensland. So I totally support the extension and a really big supporter of Tim. He adds a lot of value and certainty and assurance, which I think, you know, in this financial and environmental political arena that we're all in. It's really much needed. Thank you. Joe Jurisevic 01:30:41.675
Councillor Joe, happy to support the appointment of Tim. As the chairperson for another three years, I think it's good to have the external oversight that we do have with our ordinance committee, with people like Tim and Ed, independent members that give us their outside experience and outside oversight, from an independent perspective, to help guide trips on. Track and even review one of the processes that are. Within and ensure that we're. Meeting our obligations. Going forward, I too have spent my time on the ordinance committee and recommend that all Councillors should spend some time on it, because you get the an insight into workings of not only Council, but also that external oversight that makes you look at things from a different perspective. I was very fortunate to have Scott Williams as my. That's great. As Chair for a large part of the time I was there, and I learnt a heck of a lot from watching and listening to Scott. So, yeah, I'm happy to support the staff. Frank Wilkie 01:31:46.811
Mayor Stewart. Clare Stewart 01:31:48.811
Thanks, Councillor. We're very happy to support. And he's an outstanding leader and it's great, you know, he's got a fountain of information and experience, as Councillor Lorentson has said, so I think this is a great appointment and I think we should be really grateful because, I mean, he comes up from Brisbane, you know, it's no small feat coming up and back in a day with traffic. He gives up his time and I think he does a wonderful job and a real service to Noosa Council and Noosa Shire. Frank Wilkie 01:32:20.080
Thank you, Councillor Stewart. Wegener, wiggin, did do you wish to close? No. That's all being said. Thank you. All in favour? It's carried unanimously. The next item is the Councillor remuneration update. Mr CEO. Larry Sengstock 01:32:37.106
Yes again this report was put forward by Debra yetze but she's not here today so I'll carry it through. This one is interesting. In the Queensland Local Government Remuneration Commission is required to complete a review every cycle. During 2023 they've done that review and have determined a new set of Council remuneration categories. So they've restructured it and have a new maximum remuneration levels be implemented on the 1st of July 2024. So this doesn't affect this Council, it affects the new cycle what's happened is that Noosa was previously a category 3 Council and is now under the new structure being categorised as a B3 along with Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council. So we're now a B3. With that B3 comes a change the remuneration. It's a slight increase. This commission also takes into account CPI and a whole range of things in its normal review, but this is a restructure as review. So it's come through. So from July 1, 2024, we will be categorised as a B3 Council with the maximum remuneration rates being applied to Mayor and Councillors through so the recommendation is that this, and this, I say this comes from the commission, or this is called the local government remuneration commission, and it's a state government directive if you like. So essentially it's been. This is where we fit now in the full scheme of Frank Wilkie 01:34:21.208
Local government across Queensland. So we're up there now with Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council. They all seem to be larger in geographical area? Larry Sengstock 01:34:31.846
Yes, I don't know how it's to go go through and analyse the I understand it's within the operational and the operational budgets. That's right, yes. So it takes in a whole range of things. Yeah, that's right. Those things and it's obviously. Joe Jurisevic 01:34:51.926
That's My understanding is the Council of former Mayor of Noosa and Sunshine Coast Council, Bob Abbott, is the Chair of that committee. Yeah, yes. Any questions? Councillor Joe? I know we've only talked about Council remuneration here and it doesn't seem to make a large change to the way that been calculated over the years. But as far but as workload or anything else, does this impact in any other way, shape or form on Council, do we, is the change of reporting from staff in any Because I know there was some talk about this taking us to a different realm with regard to when this was first proposed, is there any other changes that we've made on Council? My understanding is no. It's just a change to the category which comes with this and reflects what we do, our budgets, the services we provide. Frank Wilkie 01:35:56.106
Someone can move? Councillor Stockwell? Seconded? Councillor Jurisevic? Who should speak to it? Brian Stockwell 01:36:02.406
I think so, yeah. There has been a fairly good review of Council remuneration. And while we're now banded a little bit differently, previously, for example, we were on the same band as Gympie regional, which are now B2. It means that everyone gets a massive $200 more a year of your regional colleagues and if you look the at next step up to central highlands regional Council and Weston down regional Council, they are much more substantive shires that have large road networks, large impact of mining etc. so it probably to looks like psychological a break-up, and it's still that the remuneration for a Councillor is still something that's probably not enough to attract people if they were looking for a job and so it is going to once again this mean that most of the candidates won't be younger which is always a downside of this is that it does tend to sort candidates for local government based on their ability to afford remuneration which is just about medium and why think, it took this time. Frank Wilkie 01:37:18.678
Anybody else wish to speak to the motion? His time to this stuff. Yeah, yeah, I don't know if it's a voluntary law or not. One. Well, I put the motion in those in favour. It's carried unanimously. Thank you, Mr. CEO. We now have three confidential items. So, we need to close the meeting. So, Councillor Stockwell, move. Seconders? Councillor Lorentson seconded. The meeting be closed to the public pursuant to section 254 J3. Negotiations relating to a commercial matter involving the local government for which public discussion will be likely to prejudice the interests of the Local Government Regulation 2012 for the purpose of discussing a tender award for abridge Noosa spit nourishment. And the Register of Prequalified Suppliers for construction of pathways for channel drain and pitch associated works. I'll put the motion to those in favour. No, just before we do. Sorry. Brian Stockwell 01:38:31.981
It's just a parenthesis that hasn't been opened is closed. So, and as you read it, didn't quite make sense. See how you've got a parenthesis after Local Government? It's not clear where that starts. Before g. Oh, I see. Yeah, sorry, we're all good. Frank Wilkie 01:38:50.482
Okay, we are in parentheses. SPEAKER_08_b 01:38:53.662
Okay. Okay, one moment. Joe Jurisevic 01:38:55.540
Just as you're reading it, please pause for a second. After the three, break it. Frank Wilkie 01:38:59.082
We'll put that to the vote, all in favour? That's unanimous, thank you, Councillor Stewart. I'll just put it. Can we have a little break? Okay, welcome back everybody, in open session. We have a few recommendations. Joe Jurisevic 01:39:32.303
Okay, Frank Wilkie 01:39:33.863
Move Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Lorentson, who's to speak to the motion. Thank you, anybody else? All in favour? It's carried unanimously. Next item. And this is that Council note the report by the project manager of the General Committee Meeting to award contract for the spit nourishment to Hall Contracting for a schedule of rates contract for the construction, contract value as provided in the conforming tender documentation with works being completed on or before 30 September 2024 and delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise, execute and administer the contract on behalf of the Council. Moved by Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Stockwell. Any discussion? Joe Jurisevic 01:40:23.605
What I said the first time, it's how to do works, and hopefully this will be the. Facilitate ongoing picture of old bridge and the properties. All in favour? Frank Wilkie 01:40:36.305
That's carried unanimously. Last item. This is about the awarding of the contract for a Register of Prequalified Suppliers for construction of pathways, kerb, channel, drainage pits and associated works for a period of two years commencing on the 1st of February 2024. The following suppliers exceed concrete construction. Pty ltd, Pentacon Pty Ltd, Sunshine civil solutions, the trustees for Integral Concreting Services family trust as assured Wilson Concreting Constructions Pty Ltd and Yeti Services Pty Ltd to delegate to the Chief Executive Officer the power to negotiate, finalise, execute and administer the contract on behalf of the Council. That's it in its substance. Moved by Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Any discussion? We perceive so many local Sunshine Coast based businesses available to provide these services. All in favour? That's unanimous. The last item on today's agenda. Thank you everybody for your attendance, comments and patience. Thank you Mr CEO, Shaun and Kathleen and Vicky. I declare the meeting closed. Related Noosa Council Meetings
← Browse all Noosa Shire Council meeting transcripts
