General Committee - February 2024
Date: Monday, 12 February 2024 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 01:54:22
Synopsis: Approvals: Landfill reconfiguration with offsets and upgrades, Netanya setbacks and parking contribution, Tewantin subdivision with flood/bushfire controls, Governance: conditions published, Advocacy: member safety and wastewater recycling.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Frank Wilkie Karen Finzel Joe Jurisevic Amelia Lorentson Clare Stewart Brian Stockwell Tom Wegener Jurisevic Was Not Present At The Start Of The Meeting. Executive Officers
Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director Strategy And Environment Kim Rawlings (Via Microsoft Teams) Director Community Services Kerri Contini (Via Microsoft Teams) Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Approved subdivision RAL23/0015 at 11 Billabong Way, Tewantin, creating 2 lots with access easement; flood and bushfire notes and building envelopes imposed; fencing to be 1.2m and not impede flood conveyance (Item 5.1; 03:58–06:15). Frank Wilkie moved approval with amended conditions incl. fence specification and removal of redundant effluent reference; carried unanimously (Item 5.1; 03:58–05:38). Approved minor change package for Netanya, 71 Hastings St: setbacks on Park Rd to minimum 2m, lightweight light-coloured batten materials, and infrastructure agreement for 1 car space in lieu (Item 5.2; 08:52–14:45). Brian Stockwell secured added conditions to reduce bulk and ensure beachside character under Noosa Plan; encroaching fence already removed (Item 5.2; 08:52–10:36, 12:26). Approved “other change” expanding resource recovery area and relocating/upsizing HES basin at Noosa Landfill, Doonan; ecological offsets and stormwater upgrades conditioned (Item 6.1; 16:15–25:58). Included full conditions (1–45) in minutes for transparency; officers to explore koala awareness signage subject to State road constraints (Item 6.1; 38:31–40:30, 45:29–49:13). Financial Performance Jan 2024 noted: operating surplus $1.3m above budget YTD; cash $110m (rates cycle peak); capex 38% delivered excl. disaster works; key indicators added (Item 6.2; 50:30–55:35). Approved ALGA motions: psychosocial safety parity/training for elected members (Finzel) and national investment in wastewater recycling incl. PFAS treatment (Lorentson); CEO authorised to make minor edits; both to present if re-elected (Item 6.3; 01:06:21–01:28:33, 01:25:17–01:26:12). Operational Plan Q2 noted: 79% initiatives completed/on track; staffing gaps delaying some transport/community strategy items; environment roundtables to resume with new Council (Item 6.4; 01:29:02–01:36:02, 01:34:11–01:35:40). Planning KPI discussion: high application volumes with staffing shortages; managed via agreed extensions; noted deemed approval (code) and deemed refusal (impact) risks (Item 6.4; 01:36:14–01:37:23). Reallocation of grant to Ed Webb Park due to acquittal timing; Changing Places facility design continues within foreshore master plan and 10‑yr program (Item 6.4; 01:46:59–01:48:27). Contentious / Transparency Matters Amelia Lorentson queried potential conflict re: Joe Jurisevic and Griffith Ave; confirmed he does not live there; no COI (05:51–06:15; Item 5.1). Procedural concern on adding unseen landfill conditions; resolved by attaching full prior conditions to minutes for public visibility (40:20–41:13; Item 6.1). Karen Finzel pressed for proactive community comms on landfill vegetation clearing and safety upgrades; CEO committed to media release post‑decision (34:49–37:56; Item 6.1). Request for public consultant fee transparency; officers noted commercial‑in‑confidence and proposed function‑based disclosure (57:05–59:57; Item 6.2). Legal / Risk Approvals noted as provided under s63(5) Planning Act 2016 for RAL23/0015 and Netanya changes, ensuring lawful reasons documented (Items 5.1, 5.2). Landfill clearing: Council as proponent uses Schedule 5 infrastructure exemption for koala habitat; still must meet self‑assessable koala policy and separate SARA vegetation referral conditions; 6:1 offset (approx. 500 stems→3,000) onsite 1.8ha plus State offsets (26:01–29:16; 27:31–29:16; Item 6.1). Fauna management conditioned: suitably qualified ecologist/QPWS certified; pre‑clear scans and potential IR drone use to mitigate harm (29:28–31:45; Item 6.1). HES basin: current asset at limit in large events; upsizing reduces pollution risk and meets contemporary stormwater standards; safety separation for public operations addressed (31:45–34:03; Item 6.1). Statutory clock risks: code apps may be deemed approved; impact apps deemed refused; Council managing via extensions/info requests (01:36:14–01:37:23; Item 6.4). Netanya: setback and materials conditions enforce Noosa Plan character outcomes; infrastructure agreement lawfully substitutes one car space with contribution (Item 5.2; 08:52–12:26). Conflicts of Interest Amelia Lorentson raised a potential COI for Joe Jurisevic regarding Griffith Ave access; confirmed no proximity interest; matter proceeded unanimously (05:51–06:15; Item 5.1). Environmental Concerns Landfill expansion balances vegetation loss with onsite 1.8ha offsets and State‑required offsets; koala corridor width increased on southern boundary; signage awareness to be explored (43:50–46:03, 45:29–49:13; Item 6.1). Flood notes and building envelopes mandated on new Tewantin lots; fencing not to impede flood conveyance, acknowledging 1% AEP hazard lines (Item 5.1; 01:16–04:38). ALGA motion seeks national investment in wastewater recycling, tertiary/quaternary treatment (PFAS/microplastics), reducing ocean outfalls and building community trust (01:18:31–01:27:23; Item 6.3). Planning Scheme, Character & Hastings St Netanya conditions target reduced bulk, 2m setbacks, lightweight light‑coloured elements to align with Noosa Plan coastal character; existing bulky dark pillars criticised (08:52–10:36; Item 5.2). Encroachment resolved pre‑decision; demonstrates compliance with property boundaries and public realm protection (12:26; Item 5.2). Community Transparency & Governance Full landfill condition set to be published with minutes to avoid fragmented approvals and aid public scrutiny (38:31–41:13; Item 6.1). Psychosocial safety motion seeks consistent national approach so elected reps receive parity training/protection; WHS Act s29 duties for “other persons” noted as partial coverage (01:12:55–01:18:31; Item 6.3). Operational delivery pressures tied to staffing shortages; traffic/transport coordinator recruitment ongoing; interim internal reallocations made (01:31:37–01:34:11; Item 6.4). Finance & Economic Signals Revenues buoyed by interest and user charges (holiday parks, waste); DA/building/plumbing fees below budget amid market slowdown and resourcing; clarity sought on cash restricted to disaster/QRA (50:30–57:02; Item 6.2). Insurance costs trending higher; work underway on WorkCover optimization; addition of financial sustainability indicators improves oversight (01:03:08–01:03:35; Item 6.2). New Development Applications / Changes Tewantin 1→2 lot reconfig with flood/bushfire overlays and access easement formalisation; PO4 non‑compliance accepted to maintain estate character (01:16–03:58; Item 5.1). Netanya staged refurb change with car park IA and façade/landscaping refinements at key Park Rd/Hastings corner (Item 5.2; 08:52–10:36). Noosa Landfill operational reconfiguration to expand recovery area, relocate HES basin, raise pad to flood-tolerable level; no traffic intensification evidenced (16:15–25:58; Item 6.1).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES General Committee Meeting Monday, 12 February 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 12 FEBRUARY 2024 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Frank Wilkie Cr Karen Finzel Cr Joe Jurisevic Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Clare Stewart Cr Brian Stockwell Cr Tom Wegener Councillor Jurisevic was not present at the start of the meeting. EXECUTIVE Acting Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director Strategy and Environment Kim Rawlings (via Microsoft Teams) Director Community Services Kerri Contini (via Microsoft Teams) Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray APOLOGIES Nil. 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell The Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 15 January 2024 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously. 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 4. DEPUTATIONS Nil. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 FEBRUARY 2024 5. ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES 5.1. RAL23/0015 DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION TO RECONFIGURE A LOT (1 LOT INTO 2 LOTS & ACCESS EASEMENT) AT 11 BILLABONG WAY, TEWANTIN (REFERRED FROM PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING DATED 6 FEBRUARY 2024 - ITEM 5.1 - FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Development Planner to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 February 2024 regarding Application No. RAL23/0015 for a Development Permit for Reconfiguring a Lot – 1 lot into 2 lots and Access Easement situated at 11 Billabong Way Tewantin and: A. Approve the application in accordance with the proposed conditions outlined in Attachment 1 to the GC Minutes dated 12 February 2024 RAL23/0015 - Amended Conditions B. Include the following Property Notes on the approved lots: Lot 1 1. During inclement weather events up to and beyond the 1% AEP event, this lot experiences flooding along the eastern and southern property boundaries. 2. All structures are to be constructed within the building envelope shown on the approved plan. For more information refer to Council Approval RAL23/0015. 3. To ensure the safety of people and property on this property is maintained, all buildings and structures must be sited constructed in accordance with the bushfire management conditions of Council Approval RAL23/0015. Lot 2 4. During inclement weather events up to and beyond the 1% AEP event, this lot experiences flooding along the eastern property boundary. 5. All structures are to be constructed within the building envelope shown on the approved plan. For more information refer to Council Approval RAL23/0015. 6. To ensure the safety of people and property on this property is maintained, all buildings and structures must be sited constructed in accordance with the bushfire management conditions of Council Approval RAL23/0015. C. Include the following Reference Document: Plan No. Rev. Plan/Document Name Date - 1 Bushfire Evacuation Plan 13.11.2023 prepared by Equilibrium Ecology GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 FEBRUARY 2024 D. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. Carried unanimously. 5.2. 51901.3614.03, 51901.3786.04, 51992.479.03, 51994.1048.03, 51994.1249.03, MCU13/0081.03 – MINOR CHANGE TO DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS FOR 47 MULTIPLE DWELLINGS, ENTERTAINMENT & DINING - TYPE 1 FOOD & BEVERAGE AND RETAIL BUSINESS - TYPE 1 LOCAL AND TYPE 2 SHOP & SALON AT ‘NETANYA’ - 71 HASTINGS STREET NOOSA HEADS DESCRIBED AS LOT 0 ON BUP101500 (REFERRED FROM PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING DATED 6 FEBRUARY 2024 ITEM 5.2 - DUE TO SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ISSUE.) Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener Cr Jurisevic joined the meeting. That Council note the report by the Coordinator Planning to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 February 2024 regarding Application No.s 51901.3614.03 51901.3614, 51901.3786.04, 51992.479.03, 51994.1048.03, 51994.1249.03, MCU13/0081.03 to make a minor change to existing approvals for staging and minor changes to refurbishment works situated at Netanya 71 Hastings St Noosa Heads Qld 4567 and: A. Approve the change. B. Amend conditions as outlined in Attachment 2 to the GC Minutes Dated 12 February 2024 – MCU13/0081.03 – Amended Conditions. C. Agree to enter into an Infrastructure Agreement with the applicant that provides for contributions in lieu one on site car parking space. D. Include amended and additional conditions as outlined in Attachment 1 on 51901.3614.01, 51901.3786.02, 51992.479.01, 51994.1249.01, 51994.1048.01 and MCU13/0081.01. E. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. Carried unanimously. 6. REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE 6.1. 132005.638.03 - OTHER CHANGE TO AN EXISTING APPROVAL FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE – EXPANSION OF SPECIAL PURPOSE (WASTE DISPOSAL AND RECYCLING FACILITY) & ONGOING CLEARING PURPOSES AT 561 EUMUNDI NOOSA ROAD, DOONAN Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Joe Jurisevic Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 FEBRUARY 2024 That Council note the report prepared by external consultant (JFP Urban Consultants) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 February 2024 regarding Application No. 132005.638.03 for an Other change application to an existing approval for Material Change of Use – Waste Disposal & Recycling Facility and Ongoing Clearing Purposes, situated at Noosa Landfill at 561 Eumundi Noosa Rd Doonan Qld 4562 and: A. Approve the application in accordance with the proposed conditions outlined in Attachment 1; and B. Note a full copy of the conditions is provided at Attachment 3 to the GC Minutes dated 12 February 2024 - 132005.638.03 - Full copy of conditions. Carried unanimously. 6.2. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – JANUARY 2024 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Joe Jurisevic That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 February 2024 outlining January 2024 year to date financial performance against budget, including changes to the financial performance report with the inclusion of key financial sustainability indicators. Carried unanimously. 6.3. COUNCILLOR MOTIONS FOR SUBMISSION TO ALGA NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2024 Motion Moved: Cr Karen Finzel Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 February 2024 regarding motions to the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly 2024 and: A. Approve the following motion, initiated by Cr Finzel, to be submitted to the Australian Local Government Association: "This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government in establishing pro-active steps to identify the core elements required to create a strategic, collaborative and consistent national approach and potentially policy changes in providing equal rights for Elective Representatives in relation to Psychosocial Safety Legislation and Workplace Health & Safety." B. Approve the following motion, initiated by Cr Lorentson, to be submitted to the Australian Local Government Association: "This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to strengthen environmental Initiatives and invest in wastewater recycling and adopt a collaborative approach for Trust and Sustainability." C. Approve (if elected at upcoming Local Government elections), Crs Finzel & Lorentson to present their motions at the National General Assembly. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 FEBRUARY 2024 Amendment Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Brian Stockwell That item D be added to read: D. Authorise the CEO to make minor amendments to the submissions prior to submitting to ALGA. Carried unanimously. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Karen Finzel Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 February 2024 regarding motions to the Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly 2024 and: A. Approve the following motion, initiated by Cr Finzel, to be submitted to the Australian Local Government Association: "This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government in establishing pro-active steps to identify the core elements required to create a strategic, collaborative and consistent national approach and potentially policy changes in providing equal rights for Elective Representatives in relation to Psychosocial Safety Legislation and Workplace Health & Safety." B. Approve the following motion, initiated by Cr Lorentson, to be submitted to the Australian Local Government Association: "This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to strengthen environmental Initiatives and invest in wastewater recycling and adopt a collaborative approach for Trust and Sustainability." C. Approve (if elected at upcoming Local Government elections), Crs Finzel & Lorentson to present their motions at the National General Assembly. D. Authorise the CEO to make minor amendments to the submissions prior to submitting to ALGA. Carried unanimously. 6.4. OPERATIONAL PLAN 2023-24 Q2 QUARTERLY REPORT Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Karen Finzel Seconded: Cr Clare Stewart That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer (Acting) to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 February 2024 regarding the 2023-24 Operational Plan and: A. Note the progress report for Q2 2023-24 Operational Plan to 31 December 2023 provided as Attachment 1; B. Note the comments on the progress of all initiatives provided as Attachment 2; and C. Note the status of Council's Key Performance Indicators provided as Attachment 3. Carried unanimously. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 FEBRUARY 2024 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 2:32 PM
Meeting Transcript
Frank Wilkie 00:03.960
Good morning and welcome everybody to the General Committee meeting of the 12th of February. Welcome to our guests in the gallery. I declare the meeting open. have all councillors in attendance. Councillor Finzel is on her way. Joe Jurisevic is an apology. He will be also late due to attending a funeral. May we May we have, I'd also like to acknowledge the traditional custodians on the land on which we're gathered here today. It's the Kabi Kabi, or Gubbi Gubbi people and pay respects to their elders past, present and emerging. May we have someone to confirm of the last General Committee meeting. That's Councillor Lorentson, Superintendent Councillor Stockwell. All in favour? That's unanimous. We have no presentations, we have no deputations, and we have items referred from committees. The first development application to reconfigure a lot, one lot into two lots and access easement at 11 Billabong Way, Tewantin, which is referred from the Planning and Environment Committee meeting dated 6 February 2024. further consideration, we have our staff here who are going to tell us a bit about it. SPEAKER_10 01:16.762
Yes, good afternoon. So the application in front of us is a one into two lot subdivision and access easement. The application is located within the Noosa Parklands estate and it is at the end of a cul-de-sac. The existing lot is over 7,000 square metres in size. It has two existing approved dwellings on the property. One being the main dwelling house and one being an approved caretaker's residence. The application seeks to create one 5,000 square metre lot and one 2,000 square metre lot. The application is located within the flood, bushfire and biodiversity overlays as discussed further in the report. The application has been recommended for approval subject to conditions. Notably, the development does not comply with performance outcome PO4 of the reconfiguring and lock code. the outcome refers to no additional lots to be created with access of Griffith Avenue. Following conversations with the strategic planning team, the intent behind this requirement is to protect the established character within the estate. In considering the proposed lot sizes are well and truly above the minimum lot size of 600 square metres. And we're we're looking at maintaining the existing access so we're formalising it in a way and having an access easement over the existing driveway. The non-compliance with the PO is considered appropriate as it continues to uphold the established character and amenity of the estate. In regard to the flood and bushfire hazard present on the lot, the applicant has demonstrated and nominated building envelopes over the premises which achieve the required separation distances of the area where development will be clear of the flood hazard overlay. The flooding component on the existing allotment is very minor and is illustrated in one of the figures in the report as well. Following offline conversations and I suppose questions specific to this application, there has been amended conditions recommended and provided. Which I suppose we can touch on later on as we conclude but I suppose there is an additional item to condition 7 that specifically refers to any future fencing is not to restrict the flow of water essentially. Frank Wilkie 03:58.326
So that was my question to Georgina. The suggested change to the motion which is a fence of minimum of 1.2 metres high and that it be designed not to restrict flood conveyance, is there any issue with that? SPEAKER_10 04:14.030
The reduction in height, no. So the main intent behind condition seven is just to make sure that it's clear that where the property ends essentially as we do a joint council reserve there and then I suppose as yeah that's Yeah that's exactly it and then it was raised in terms of what sort of impacts this fence could have on the flow of water at the point in time if it was to be re-fenced. Richard MacGillivray 04:38.560
There is an existing fence on site and this condition reflects the State of that of 1.2 metres in height so that gives them the capacity to retain the fence and noting that that fence won't impede flood flow so that was councillor Jurisevic's changes and if all councillors were in agreement with that the staff would have no problem with that that's correct there was another change to condition five yes to remove the reference to the effort disposal areas because the site is silly so it was it was redundant okay right, any other questions, councillors? Well, I'll move the motion with the changes as proposed by Councillor Jurisevic and seconded by Councillor Stewart. Amelia Lorentson 05:38.498
Question through the chair that I've directed to Larry. I'm not sure how to handle it. Oh, you haven't. Frank Wilkie 05:47.218
I'll waive my right to speak if you want to ask your questions now. Amelia Lorentson 05:51.858
Thank you. Just, you know, there was mention that there was access to Griffith Avenue and I was just wondering, does Councillor Jurisevic live on that street in Tewantin and is there a potential conflict? He doesn't live on Griffith Avenue. Griffith Avenue, thank you. That's the question I was asking. Thank you very much. Frank Wilkie 06:15.070
Other discussion? I'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? That's unanimous. It's carried. Thank you Georgina. item is... Minor change to development approvals 47 multiple dwellings entertainment and dining type one food and beverage at retail business and retail business type one local and type two shop and salon at Netanya 71 Hastings Street Noosa Heads described as lot zero on BUP 101 500 referred due to the So as you say this is relates to the Netanya Resort at 71 Hastings Street. In 2020 there was a previous change application to the six approvals that are related to the site. Those works have since occurred. This now a further change to three tenancies that are in the southeast corner of the site and also some retrospective works also requiring approval. The previous application proposed a number of new car parks. One of those car parks cannot be provided as there's actually an existing pole in the location of where it was shown that that car park would be. be. So it's proposed that an infrastructure agreement be entered into to make contributions for that one car space. That has been accepted by us. Of a more substantive nature is the proposed setback to Park Road. There's some issues with the setback that's proposed and so I think it's 120 mils at its smallest point. The scheme landscaping to be provided in this location. It's a key corner and by having the eaves overhang the setback area, it's going to limit the opportunity for meaningful landscaping. So we're that setback to be increased to 2 metres to that park road frontage and seeking to approve the application with the requirement that the plans be amended to reflect that increased setback. From the Planning and Environment Committee meeting there were some matters raised around encroachment. I'd just like to advise that those those matters have been resolved. There was a fence that had been constructed off the site and that we've had an inspection this morning to confirm that that fence has now been removed. Questions councillors? Brian Stockwell 08:52.940
Any questions? Yes. I will move a slightly different recommendation, as discussed at the planning environment, and that's just the staff recommendation with the amendment to read the new feature warnings are to be set back a minimum of two metres from the park road frontage. All timber batten screens and support posts are to be set back a minimum of two metres from all street frontages. The bulk of the new feature awnings and associated pillars, batten screens are to be reduced by, first dot point, lessening the thickness of the feature awnings and pillar batten screens, including the use of lightweight building materials, and second dot point, the feature awnings and pillars batten screens must be made of light-coloured materials that complement the beachside character. The bulk... Frank Wilkie 09:43.273
May we have a seconder for that please? please? I'll second it. Seconder, Councillor Wegener. Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 09:49.925
So, the, um, overall there's no, the only significant issue is in regard to that Park Road, Hastings Street corner, um, and the look and feel of it. Part of that was the expense of that, and the other one that I think Councillor Wegener raised and what I also saw was the, there's a very sort of big dark brown bulky pillars that really was, in my, my view, not keeping what the aspired look and feel of Hastings Street in the Noosa Plan is. Staff have helped me with providing that as as a potential augmented condition to just enhance the opportunity to get a good quality design that is a little bit more subtropical beachside architectural in its rendering of the facade of the shops. Frank Wilkie 10:36.795
You Councillor Stockwell. Any other questions or councillors care to comment? Councillor Wegener. Brian Stockwell 10:43.935
I just need to follow on from that. I spent quite a bit of time wandering around there over the weekend and I actually noticed that this same sort of awning is actually in front of Providore the restaurant there and it actually looks quite nice and I was from the drawings I thought oh my gosh this looks very bulky but then when you go down there and see how the awning in front of Providore is and it is actually it's light screening type of like would you say I don't know what you call it but it's not a big blocky wall a big chunk it's batons yeah the baton and so as long as they stick with with that which is it which I think Councillor Stockwell's addition here just basically you know says yes do that which you're already doing but I'll But it doesn't look like that in the plans but in on the drawings here it looks quite bulky and so going down they've been looking at actually how it fit how it's gonna sit is it quite nice yeah I support it. Amelia Lorentson 11:46.436
Councillor My concern with the light-coloured material is that the whole building is dark so my question to Richard is is there any opportunity for us to run this past the applicant to just check that we're not interfering with the overall look of the building? Is it you know we're not architects here so so I would just I would just love to just understand if he's that because a light-coloured material you've got an entire building that's dark you know maybe a little bit at odds. Richard MacGillivray 12:26.603
Yeah if councillors if you have a look at figure three the renderings I think it's quite useful. A lot of the building proposed building will be relatively white I know it's dark in terms of the what's sitting under there but the below the awnings I guess is going to be quite light and white there so I think there is there is an opportunity and I guess when they make the revisions as shown to set it back two metres we will have a closer look at the treatment and materials as well and we'll obviously key focus is to maintain the scheme characteristics and make sure it is lightweight and and doesn't have a big impostor bearing in terms of urban urban design there so they are shown as you'll see is as battens there I know it's quite hard on some of the angles there to clearly see that there's quite a bit of light between them and it depends on the angle you're looking at it from we'll be making sure that that is relatively light colour so it just it's in keeping I guess with the the Noosa character so I think think the change that's suggested is going to be okay and won't stick out too much from what's proposed to be built. Thank you. Councillor Stewart. Clare Stewart 13:44.821
If that's going to cost additional expenditure to the applicant and if they are actually, you know, shouldn't be going to the site when it's not necessary or have they sort of, are they open to this kind of change? Richard MacGillivray 13:57.821
Yes, thank We'll be having some discussion with them. Obviously they are required to make this amendment so when they are putting that forward we can go through with them the design details to achieve the requirements of the planning scheme. Really the key element of this proposal there, particularly with the light coloured materials, is not going to have a significant cost impost as it's just really a change of the materials and treatment. Whelan. Brian Stockwell 14:25.824
If I remember standing in front of the door, I think it was like wood that they were using there. It struck me as I could see the grain, which means it's not painted dark. I'm quite sure that that's the case, even though it doesn't look like that in these photos. Yes, yeah. Is that a comment or a question? That was a comment. Frank Wilkie 14:45.963
It sounds like a comment. Okay. Welcome, Councillor Jo. Well, no apologies to the media for my kindness. I've just come from any other councillors wish to speak to the motion? Councillor Stockwell you wish to close. I put the motion to the vote. Those in favour? That's unanimous. It's Thank you. Next item is, are you with us still Patrick for the next one? Yeah. Other change to an existing approval for material change of use expansion of special purpose waste disposal and recycling facilities ongoing clearing purposes at 561 Eumundi Noosa Road, Doonan. Richard MacGillivray 15:28.006
Yes. If I might just, I'm able to introduce councillors to Mr. Tim Balcombe from RPS. He's our external assessor for this application. As you're all aware, councillors are a proponent in this particular development application and as a result to ensure we maintain impartial and create an arm's length separation an arm's length separation from our role as the developer in this case of the landfill and the assessment manager, we have engaged an external consultant to undertake the assessment on our behalf. provide you a quick summary of his assessment of this particular proposal and we've got Will and Patrick here to assist with any particular other questions we might get along the way. The floor is yours Tim. Tim Balcombe 16:15.597
Thanks guys, thanks Richard. So what we've got before us is an application to change an existing development approval which is the Doonan landfill facility. The change is another change so it's not a change therefore it's bringing new land into the existing approval. In this instance the proposed change fully relates just to the resource recovery area of the existing landfill. The proposal by council is to expand the the resource recovery area. As a result of expanding the resource recovery area there is a consequence of the removal Major focus on removing recyclables from the landfill itself so therefore in doing so there's more reliance on the existing landfill the resource recovery area and what's happened time is the there's more demand for the resource recovery itself it's the with sort of losing space I suppose it's the public's coming in there you've got heavy machinery you've got yeah a lot of things going and I suppose with the with the location of the existing HES basin that's existing is right in the centre of the resource recovery area and by relocating the the basin itself allows for much greater area and more efficient use of that land it also provides really important protection and it doesn't involve so much monitoring of the the public that will be entering the site with through signage and just operate operational matters itself so it's really important that those there that's the primary purpose of the the expansion but unfortunately as a result of that expansion it will result in the consequential removal of remnant vegetation on the site tools Matters. It's also interesting to note that the the area is koala habitat map koala habitat area so what that means normally it would be subject to schedule 7 of the planning regulation so because council is the operator itself they have an exemption because of important infrastructure requirements so therefore council is exempt from this the schedule 11 it's also important to note that we've got these clearances and for certain infrastructure the State have also recommended council go for a it's a relevant purpose designation which allows is one means for the State to have confidence or they've reviewed the the proposal they've delivered that relevant purpose designation as well notwithstanding that the application is still required to be referred to the State for the review of the the clearing of of that remnant vegetation as it would normally be required but typically if council was not the application and the local government undertakings you know important infrastructure requirements there would be certain other hurdles that would have to go through it's also important to note that under the planning regulations there's no operational works component to the to any approvals associated with council infrastructure projects I suppose so the assessment of the application involved a few key key matters I suppose one of our primary interest was it was an intensification of the use wasn't going to involve more traffic staff all those types of matters that need to be conceded and look the applicant really demonstrated quite well that yeah it was just more it's not expansion of the tip we were same amount of material coming in and they've been able to demonstrate that over about 15 years of sort of volumes that have entered the tip so but what they have been able to demonstrate is there's a way greater reliance on this resource recovery area although the volume of the material is pretty much the same steady over the time so what that means is less less waste is going into the work landfill and more waste has recovered in this area which is a great thing up with blue so in that sense we were quite comfortable that there was no intensification but it still allows for steady growth of the of the weights of the council's asset over time and what all that also does is sort of takes our out. concerns off the traffic and parking issues because they were also demonstrated to be much the same and it is a steady growth as you would typically expect for a facility such as this so the main concerns with the application really rely on just removal of vegetation and also some stormwater matters but our primary focus was probably on the ecology what was the impacts of removing this vegetation as a as a as a consequence of the removal of the vegetation the the applicant has proposed an environmental offset which is located to the south of the site it's located in the southeast corner it's 1.8 hectares and this is this is surplus land. It's already been shaped for another wetland or a HES basin down at the other end of the site because it captures both catchments on either the landfill itself. And so it's proposed that this recently reshaped surplus land, which is the only surplus land on the site that's not designated as remnant vegetation as well. going to be the offset receiver in this in this instance. We've had an external ecologist review the applicant's application and through a rigorous assessment and asking the questions they they ultimately found that the environmental offset through certain other sort of recommendations and conditions in in order to protect the existing vegetation the north and the existing footprint that yeah that he was comfortable that the vegetation could be facilitated on the basis that the offsetting was to occur and for each tree that was to be occurred additional six trees have to be planted as compensation for that in the designated offset area the error the proposal also has some stormwater impacts we've got an existing HES basin that's 20 years old that is now not up to best practice anymore so they want to design a new top-of-the-line sort of compliant and a basin that basically complies with industry best practice at this point in time that will also assist time that will also assist with flooding, water quality and all these types of things. In terms of flooding it's not a designated flood area but there is localised flooding that needs to be considered so it's also been conditioned that the fill site itself be raised up to a flood tolerable level so the use can operate in flood-free circumstances. yeah so looking at the application as a whole we found that based on the zoning that the use is basically is consistent with the intent of the zone and with the the purpose of the management facility itself it It also it also provides you know that the safety that we're after for the operation of the resource recovery area. It also facilitates the expansion of the new HES basin and also it fulfil the environmental obligations through offsetting and also the State of reviewed the veg clearing the veg clearing and SARA has also recommended approval with conditions in relation to the proposed expansion, so therefore we've recommended approval for the expansion as proposed by the applicant. Frank Wilkie 25:58.442
Thank you Tim. Questions? Councillor Stockwell. Yes, yes. Brian Stockwell 26:01.482
Point of clarification, I think in your introduction you introduction, you mentioned RPS, except on our agenda, we've got Jones, Leeds and Pike. Can you explain the relationship? JFP. Richard MacGillivray 26:14.051
JFP. Apologies. It should be Jones. JFP and consults. Apologies for that. Joe Jurisevic 26:20.925
Yeah, the mention of six-to-one offset for Koala Planting. That offset being undertaken on the southern end, south-eastern end, does that still remain within Koala Corridor? Yes, it certainly is a designated area. Prior to the clearing it is mapped as koala habitat which is the paper bark species so yeah the offset area and that was one of the questions asked by the the ecologist was that we had to replace Is there any need within state koala mapping for koala crossings or koala acknowledgement through busy road, particularly state road assets? Tim Balcombe 27:27.865
It's probably a better question for Will, but I'm more than happy to assist. SPEAKER_10 27:31.905
So in this instance, the State are exempt from assessment of the koala habitat area because of the Schedule 5 and where this sits as far as works for council, by council on a waste area. So they've exempted themselves from that assessment. Council has, however, required required them to undertake their self-assessable requirement under the koala habitat that's in both a KPA and KHA area so there is a self-assessable criteria and as part of that criteria they have to offset each stem that's removed so 500 stems to be removed they have to provide 3,000 stems in its place. Joe Jurisevic 28:13.418
Are they required to approve the offset site? SPEAKER_10 28:14.526
No but because they are exempted council is now the assessment manager for this portion of the assessment. Joe Jurisevic 28:23.766
One would think that the assessment by council still has to be undertaken under state regulation and state requirements. SPEAKER_10 28:31.446
Yes but because it is part of schedule 5 it is exempt however there is a policy that captures infrastructure under schedule 5 so there's a new policy which is a self-assessable criteria that regardless of whether you're exempt you still have to comply with this self-assessable policy. And there has been state referral for vegetation so However, So the State have got an interest in the vegetation that's to be removed and they've provided a separate offset for the vegetation communities on the site. So that's a separate offset to the one that is proposed on the site. Richard MacGillivray 29:14.317
That's 0.21 of a hectare, is that correct? SPEAKER_10 29:16.797
1.8 Hectare. the State offset? Correct. Of two separate types of vegetation. Amelia Lorentson 29:28.960
Question to Richard. In terms of condition under 30, a civically qualified person must be engaged to manage fauna and fauna prime during clearing to ensure that the works are carried out in accordance with the vegetation removal and fauna management plan. I was just wondering if you can expand on the definition of a qualified, a suitably qualified person and just give some assurance that there'll be measures in place to identify or spot any species for and fauna pre-trapping. I was just Plan. Can you just sort of give me some background me some background or assurance. Richard MacGillivray 30:11.142
Absolutely so yeah there is a requirement we add what we call an advisory note to provide clarification on the definitions of a qualified persons. For the purposes of a rehabilitation rehabilitation plan so qualified person is considered to be a landscape architect or ecologist with a minimum of three years experience in the field. For fauna protection they're required to have certification and calculate compensated habitat and they must also have three years of experience and they must have current certification under the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service as well so we'll be requiring that as part of that those minimum requirements obviously we'll be working closely with the applicant to ensure that we achieve best practice with fauna management and that includes all that includes all the provisions for pre-trap clearing. So that means doing a full scan well before any clearing occurs on site to make sure that we do the best possible job we can to ensure that all fauna are safely. relocated from the particular area of clearing. There's also the opportunity to use new technology such as infrared drones which can actually detect a lot of the fauna that can be hovered over the any clearing. It's been proven very successful in a lot of places where these works have had to occur in the past and we'll be looking to work with the applicant to ensure those best practice technologies are applied in this particular case. Frank Wilkie 31:45.817
Any questions councillors? I have a question to start with. What are the consequences in terms of state regulations if we do not do this work? Richard MacGillivray 31:56.397
There is an issue on the side in terms of safety. believe there has been communications from the State to our waste department around needing to comply with those safety requirements. There's also just in addition to Patrick's comments there's obviously some concerns regarding the size of the current HES basin that is on the site that in large events is at its limits and so there's risks over time particularly with climate change scenarios involved that there may be failure over time so we need to ensure that we are well positioned to ensure that we can manage those environmental impacts and that's where we need a So it doesn't overflow in a big rain event, for example, and pollute the surrounding environment? Absolutely, Councillor, yeah. So that's a big focus of these works is actually to assist with environmental protection whilst there's an immediate impact required for required for the clearing long term. This will position Council and our community in a far better position to address those environmental issues moving forward. Thank you. Clare Stewart 33:00.557
Councillor Stewart. Richard MacGillivray 33:06.258
Yeah look absolutely we're in a situation where our waste team are well aware that there are limitations on the current operation. They are required We are required to ensure that it does comply with standards in terms of the sizing and that does require an enlargement of this HES basin. The Waste Team have explored the entire site for the best location for these...activities and this has proven to be the best possible location for that to occur. As mentioned earlier there's also safety concerns around the clearances required for the public when they're entering these facilities so we need to ensure we've we need to ensure we've got adequate space for the public to access through the site moving forward so we're essentially in a situation where council needs to needs to undertake these works to ensure that they've got a compliant operation moving forward. Joe Jurisevic 34:03.539
Councillor joe um and you've got a question councillor well joe's moved it you can still ask some questions um thank you for the report it's comprehensive um just in terms of our community is so focused on you know our environment the ecology and you know all our surveys surveys have shown that these are number one. In a report, I might have missed it, but I didn't see anything about messaging back to community in terms of being proactive on the front foot and putting positive messaging back to community. This is a must It's been highlighted today through the Chair to the CEO. How are we going to manage that messaging back to the community? Brian Stockwell 34:49.105
The council is coming from the perspective of the applicant and the current consideration we're assessing in development, which we also happen to be an applicant, I don't think it's appropriate to actually talk about communication as the applicant when we're assessing development. Frank Wilkie 35:05.918
Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. I think it's it's a key question about how we're going to communicate. it's Brian Stockwell 35:13.312
Yeah, as an applicant. Joe Jurisevic 35:15.932
Yes. I would argue we're wearing two hats in this case. I think we have to be very careful not to wear two hats in the car. Our role is a statutory role in considering a development application and I think the question requires us to take that hat off and put our hat on as an applicant and it's not what's on the agenda, yet what's on the agenda? Yeah, what's on the agenda is the assessment of the development application. You have to be very careful not to mix the two. Frank Wilkie 35:42.475
Yes, I'm having, I'm seeing, I still see that as quite a relevant question about what sort of communications will there be about this, these works. they be approved today? So, unless there's... Joe Jurisevic 36:03.620
Mr Chair, can I put it a different way? If this were a development application from a developer on a different parcel of land, would we be asking the same question of that developer as to how they're going to communicate their... The difference is ratepayers money would not be involved in that situation. So we're talking about a council owned, a publicly owned facility involving dollars to do this work. And there's a lot of community interest in this. It's a community owned facility. I think it's a very pertinent question. Well, I respect the point you're making. I'd like to allow the question if that's the Chair. So Mr Chair, what sort of communications would be planned around this? If it were approved today? Larry Sengstock 36:53.157
If it were approved today, Chair, I think that we would be, we're obliged to, and with the hat of the Council once we approve it, I think we're then obliged to provide the community with some information about why we're doing it, how it's come about. I think the report itself has been comprehensive enough to do that. There was a report prior to this, remember, alerting Council to and community to this particular. Application that was coming and why and the and the extent of this works in relation to the overall extent of the of the of the site over the years and the conservation overlay. That's been placed on that site. I think that we would we would happily that's with once this is if if and when when this is is approved or agreed then. know we we would look to have a an appropriate media. Thank you. Okay. I've got a media a media release. Yes. Thank you. Karen Finzel 37:56.931
So through the chair I know councillors stopping to look at the table. My apologies if that's been out of order. I just felt in terms of good governance, open and transparency back to our community. That was my question. to raise a question, but Frank Wilkie 38:16.761
If it's, I've ruled that it was acceptable. I respect what the points that have been raised. I'm just making sure. No, no, no. Councillor Stockwell, you wish to second this motion? Joe Jurisevic 38:27.168
I haven't raised the motion yet because I've added an additional condition. Pauline Coles 38:27.341
Yes. Frank Wilkie 38:31.608
Okay. Councillor Jurisevic. I've got an additional condition. All right, so. Can we, can we add on the additional conditions? Yes, yes. The additional conditions are. Clare Stewart 38:42.728
Is this adding to the Is this adding to the end or where are you adding them? Joe Jurisevic 38:47.095
The conditional conditions are around, I thought we had drafted some, but around 1 including conditions 1 to 13 as an attachment to these meeting minutes so that all the conditions 1 to 45 are available to the public as part of this As part of the minutes of this meeting. The conditions start at condition 14. The original conditions 1 to 13 are in a previous report to council. And the second condition is around Koala Corrigan. Clare Stewart 39:27.628
So that's the first thing, to just have a full copy of the conditions as item B? Yes. Amelia Lorentson 39:38.680
And then you wanted to also change Joe Jurisevic 39:40.380
The-- Wanted to add-- condition that, uh... Conditions right for Thursday night and review those conditions and have it appropriately worded for Thursday night's meeting. I'll just have the first condition at this point. Frank Wilkie 40:18.628
Okay, we have a seconder for that. Brian Stockwell 40:20.268
Yeah, I'm happy. Frank Wilkie 40:21.188
Councillor Stockwell, Councillor Jurisevic. Oh, sorry. Clare Stewart 40:24.908
That's okay. Brian Stockwell 40:30.478
The conditions 1 to 13, are they on the agenda in any location? Clare Stewart 40:35.698
No, that's why he wants to add them. Brian Stockwell 40:37.658
They're not on this agenda. I'll move a procedural motion. procedural motion then that may be deferred to Thursday because we can't vote on something we haven't seen. Joe Jurisevic 40:47.429
You have seen them. They are conditioned on the previous approval for this application. Richard MacGillivray 40:54.949
Previous approval? Joe Jurisevic 41:13.197
Ten minutes of this meeting, sorry. Yeah, basically an element to consolidate- Happy to take a second to that, okay. Yeah, look, I think it's been alluded around the table, the previous approval, this is necessary. I understand the need, there's a very great need for this to undertake public, to undertake safety, not only for the public, but for those people that are working at the landfill. This will help facilitate greater collection and better facilitation of resource recovery at the centre, and as a result of the loss of vegetation, it's going to take to cover the... the necessary offsets to facilitate six-to-one offsets for koala planting, which will be a benefit to the koala population as well. Frank Wilkie 42:08.462
Councillor Stockwell and Councillor Finzel. Brian Stockwell 42:10.602
I might pre-empt a little bit what Councillor Jurisevic is going. It is mapped as koala habitat, but Melaleuca is not a really strong koala food species. It is one they will eat. this site was more wetland lower level and I had a quick look while it was going and the wild net records show that there's no sightings of koalas within the landfill site. Be used as they have them. Frank Wilkie 43:03.322
Thank you Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 43:05.902
Thank you through the Chair. I'd just like to take the opportunity to say I support Councillor Joe's condition on there. I think it is really important that we can use this as a condition to build trust within our community, support Support good governance and building excellence and being outward facing. So I really support this and see it as a great opportunity to give as much information back to community as we can in a long sustained manner. you. Frank Wilkie 43:35.989
Thank you Councillor Finzel. Joe Jurisevic 43:37.229
I just wanted to ask a question. In the report, I'm sure I read that there are, following from what Councillor Stockwell asked, koala, solvents and koala movements in and around the landfill site. Tim Balcombe 43:50.023
That includes in all directions, so do we actually have file passage documentation with regards to which way they're travelling? No, is this for the specialist reporting? Yeah, I don't believe we had any indicative mapping to show existing sightings and the way they were traversing, I think. the site sits regionally, you've got the large patch of bush to the north and there is a connecting tissue of vegetation that runs along the southern boundary, so I guess there is connectivity through and around the site as it sits. So given that it's low-level Melaleuca that sometimes what we'll be facilitating will be of a higher order, a I think the offset definitely increases the width of the corridor along the southern boundary I think that's a that's a positive outcome for that corridor but as Mr Stockwell said that the they're not the favoured food tree they will eat them in if they're desperate but it isn't favoured. Joe Jurisevic 44:59.480
So is this, I'll allude to what my additional condition would regard to, is there scope here to facilitate some koala crossings or indications that koalas are in the area in the conditions for the applicant to turn around and put in maybe some line marking and /or some solar powered signs, similar to what Morton Council do with regard to where koala habitat is being increased. SPEAKER_10 45:29.076
Signage is a fantastic thing. I think being able to educate road users to the potential for koalas in the area. So you know, watch your speed and slow down. The opportunity to be able to provide that a state road I'm unfamiliar with, but potentially there are other roads that surround the site that we could implement those signs. Joe Jurisevic 45:50.946
Is that something that could be investigated before Thursday's meeting with regard to how the State would feel if we condition something along those lines for Council to ask On a state road? Richard MacGillivray 46:03.336
If I can answer that one, Councillor, we can certainly make some inquiries regarding that. Obviously being a state-controlled road it'd be difficult for us to give certainty around that unless we've gone through a full process and I don't think in a few days we'll probably get in writing a letter from the State saying that they will you know confirm to allow us to install signage or install it themselves but we'll make inquiries in that regard I think there's a good opportunity across the region to look at this more broadly rather than a specific site and as Councillor Stockwell mentioned earlier possibly there's other more higher risk sites that have vegetation that is probably the primary food source for koalas that we might look at as a a primary location rather than this specific site knowing that the State controlled road is to the south and obviously we have our road on the eastern boundary we could look at potentially some some signage there on our own road. I think there'll be difficulty getting signage agreed to be installed before the ordinary meeting on Thursday. That's my only concern, but happy to make inquiries. Happy to look at the wording of the condition to be subject to, at least to investigate or look at the opportunities and try to encourage the awareness of motorists in the area, particularly if we're going to increase the level of koala habitat in the area, particularly adjacent to busy Two busy incoming roads into the area. And look, we have spoken briefly with our external ecologist who did the assessment and they did look at connectivity for koalas through there. They were comfortable that given the scale of what was proposed to be undertaken, the significant offset provided that reasonable steps have been taken to address the area of clearing with the offset. They commended the idea of potential crossings and always would encourage there to be more of it however in this particular case they didn't recommend that via condition due to they thought it was probably excessive requiring them to go above and beyond with putting more signage and potentially crossings there but I think there's an there's an opportunity to look at signage as Reasonable Look at signage as a first point of view because it's relatively low cost and can create greater awareness for all users and certainly could be of benefit. So we're happy to explore that further in preparation for the ordinary meeting on. Thursday? Joe Jurisevic 48:41.016
I don't see some line marking for solar power times being particularly dangerous. I've said let's look at the wording that we can do. Richard MacGillivray 48:50.356
Yeah look the line marking I mean yeah I mean yeah I mean if you're looking seriously at crossings potentially you look at something a bit more substantial either an underpass or an overpass. Joe Jurisevic 49:00.303
Well I'm more about driver awareness. Yes and that's with the signage. Along the lines of what we've been undertaking in council now with VMS boards. I think we can do better than VMS boards and I think this is an opportunity to start the conversation. Richard MacGillivray 49:13.701
Yep, absolutely. Frank Wilkie 49:15.021
All right. Councillor, anyone else wish to speak before Councillor Joe closes? Councillor Joe? Joe Jurisevic 49:24.521
No, I think that's it, thank you. Frank Wilkie 49:25.821
Put it to the vote. Guys in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, Tim. Thank you, Will. Amelia Lorentson 49:32.081
Thanks. Thank you. Thanks. Next up. Frank Wilkie 49:40.420
We move the motion to change motion as circulated by yourself. Thank you. Mr Chair. Yes. Karen Finzel 49:52.363
At the end of the meeting, I just got a quick question. Can we just suspend the standing orders just to say a few words about Brian Lawson? I know you've-- Joe Jurisevic 50:01.923
Have I asked whether we can undertake that something on Thursday night? Karen Finzel 50:06.103
Oh, Thursday night. Frank Wilkie 50:07.526
The next item is the financial performance report for January written by financial services manager acting Pauline Coles and we have Trent Grauf as well. Welcome Pauline and Trent. Good afternoon. Could you give an overview please? Pauline Coles 50:30.625
Sure I can. So firstly I'd like to bring to your attention that the January 2024 year-to-date results now reflect the budget review too. by Council at the January ordinary meeting. Year-to-date January operating revenues continue to outperform our forecast and operating percentages are under forecast year-to-date to the end of January. Operating revenue is $420,000 above budget which is driven by interest income of $325,000, sales of goods and services of $466,000 which is predominantly from holiday parks, waste and some community facilities and this is offset by lower than forecast revenue from fees and charges relating to development assessment, building and plumbing and local laws. Operating expenditures Operating expenditures $861,000 underspent with the majority of this relating to employee costs about a million dollars and this is a result of some vacancies and recruitment timing as well. It is compounded at this time of year by the timing of leave being taken by staff and the accrual provisions and that's equivalent to about $300,000 so it's sort of overstate just because everyone takes a lot of leave around January but we don't accrue it in the system that way. accrue it in the system that way. Materials and services are slightly overspent, about $122,000. And tourism and economic development expenditure is on track as forecast. Overall Council's operating position at the end of January is $1.3 million above budget. it, obviously noting that relates to some timing issues. Year to date, excluding our disaster projects, Council has spent 38% of its full year capital program, which equates to about $17.6 million, with a further $10 million in commitments. Of the disaster program, $15 million has been spent to date. Due to the timing, obviously it's a little bit slower over the December /January quarter, but that should ramp up into the remainder ramp up into the remainder of this year. Council's cash holding at the end of January was $110 million with $35 million of these funds invested in term deposits. With the second rates cycle happening in January, cash again at its peak and it will decline over time as operational expenditure occurs and the capital program is delivered. Overall Council's financial performance continues to be strong. Frank Wilkie 52:50.639
Joe? Joe Jurisevic 52:51.459
I know it's a new term, or is it just me? Sports facility change? Is that referring to our aquatic centre, our indoor leisure centre? Pauline Coles 52:59.379
Correct, so just to clarify, so previously we used to refer to it as community facilities, but with the realignment flowing through the financial system now, sports and active lifestyle area has obviously the NAC and the leisure centre, whereas previously it used to have also the J and there, but the J is now the NAC. So that's the only area, the sports and the NAC Correct. and the leisure centre are the only areas that relate to sports facility fees? Correct. No others? Clare Stewart 53:26.500
Councillor Stewart. Thank you, thank you Paul. And again, a great report. I'm just going to come back to, it seems to be 11.7 months, page 84. Yes. It's always quite high, I know I ask this question every month, but it seems to stay steady at that for a period of time now. And I know that all the comments are saying it's coming, it'll obviously decrease coming to June 30. Correct. To expenditure. Pauline Coles 53:56.370
So obviously it was up high, generally, because we'd had advance payment of all the career aid disaster funding, about 27 million we'd That's starting to occur, the expenditure on that, however, with the rates occurring in January, that's kind of pushed it up, so it's held at quite a level. So as we go through to June, we'll spend those funds on operations, and that will start to come down. And as as the capital program for disaster continues, it will also come down as well as a result of that. Joe Jurisevic 54:20.956
But having said that, we have more disaster funding to come in for the project? We will, yes. So that may not decrease the... depending on how the spend and the income and the outgoing... Correct, so in the preliminary one we had an advance payment and depending on the cash flow cycle we may ask for an advance payment again from QRRA, But but if if we don't then it'll be we spend and then we get reimbursed so it'll be a matter of timing so unless we get another advance payment which we might require once we finalise the delivery of those projects and the cash impact on council it it may have another spike but it may actually just be a timing month on month off. So from here on in we won't be getting funding in advance we'll be actually getting payment on invoice. Pauline Coles 55:03.859
Correct so at the moment those advance funds to deliver the program so we're submitting claims every month. That's why I'm just clarifying that we're not going to get lump sums in to pay ahead of, you know, we're going to be paying on invoice. At this stage no but we are assessing at the moment the delivery schedule for those programs to make sure that when there's a big delivery at Black Mountain that we may need an advance payment. But at this stage we haven't requested that. Again, who does the invoice go to? Does it go to QRA or does it go to Council? It comes to us. So we need the money for QRA in advance so I'll have to pay for that. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 55:35.027
So do we have too much cash on hand is where I think our business is sort of heading to. Pauline Coles 55:41.867
No, so when I referred, I think in the last quarterly update I obviously showed the breakdown of those things. We hold a minimum of three months cash cover to fund our operations should we not be able to collect rates or if something happens. or if something happens. We also hold quite a substantial amount of funding in there for some advanced waste levies, for our environment levy and some disaster provisions as well so we hold that fund in there as well. We The calculation that you see here is on our total funding it doesn't exclude those amounts that we're holding for restricted purposes so it does show it slightly higher than what we would normally see but that's essentially what's happening. Joe Jurisevic 56:16.237
To clarify that, that, is is it it possible possible to report it from here on in, and possibly whether you can answer it today, how much of that cash is being held specifically for QRA projects or each of those elements to show what is being held specifically for? Pauline Coles 56:34.765
We can show that, yes, and we do show that in the quarterly report of the cash dissection. We don't break it down to QRA specifically, but we could probably do that. Joe Jurisevic 56:43.565
May pay to take just the QRA element out of it so we can see how much is council cash and how much is disaster much is disaster management cash or something, or other advanced payment cash, as in tooth funding, we've got, is it tooth funding that we've got coming in advance again this year? Yes. Pauline Coles 57:02.222
Yes, we can look at that for Amelia Lorentson 57:05.419
Hi Pauline, a question I think I've asked quite a few times over this term in terms of consultancy, whether we can give some consideration to set set up up a a consultant fee register, just for, so that it can be made public, just to provide transparency on expenditure towards consultants. Is that something we can do? Because I keep asking Pauline Coles 57:34.716
Can we... So obviously, I think I provided you a dissection, and we did do it by type, but we do obviously have commercial and confidence obviously have commercial and confidence arrangements with consultancies and those sorts of things, so we don't necessarily publish a list of those consultants. Obviously, the larger ones, if there's any large ones, would be on the tender list that's published by the procurement team. I'm not sure. I'd have to get some advice in terms of what we could publish and make public on that. What we'll take, though, is that the... Like our list of preferred suppliers, there would be a list of preferred suppliers and consultants that comes through from LocalBuy? There would be. Some of it's not necessarily published, but it would be available through LocalBuy Network. Whatever's publicly available, we'd be able to publicly... Potentially, yes. Larry Sengstock 58:23.467
Through the Chair. For some consultancies, yes, you can have a list because they're regularly used. But then there's often, you know, tasks that we need to undertake and get at least specific specialists. And they're, you know, they're separate. We don't have a standard list. Joe Jurisevic 58:44.324
Depending on the amount because obviously if it's under the $15,000 threshold it's just a matter of quotes rather than depending on how It's more for transparency and also understanding whether the services can or can't be done in-house and why not and just some learnings that we can pull out of that. SPEAKER_10 59:06.841
Through the chat what you might find more valuable from a transparency or analysis perspective is the function that that consultant is providing rather than the So particularly where different parts of the organisation may engage a larger firm, like for example some of our big four finance firms, could be a range of different types of services undertaken. So I think that the key takeaway would be around the function. That would be one way of displaying the services that we reach out for that aren't available in-house and that without mentioning specific supply. Yeah, and the gap in expertise also. You know, when we're resourcing staff, should we be clear in what we're looking for and understanding where the gaps are will help. Frank Wilkie 59:57.418
I have a question. The development assessment, building and plumbing fees and community facilities revenues all below budget. Correct. Seemingly for months on end they were always over and above. Pauline Coles 01:00:13.436
Historically they were yes obviously and then obviously we ramped up with development assessments. Some of it may be timing, some of it's impacted by staffing and resourcing to do compliance, some compliance work. I mean obviously with DA they're kind of optimistic that there will be DA applications that will come in through to the end of the them back up again. And building and plumbing generally does quite well. Building has been down. So it really is dependent on the market. Frank Wilkie 01:00:38.630
Is interest rates buying? Is that a factor? Pauline Coles 01:00:41.950
Potentially. And obviously people aren't sort of buying property as much and doing renovations as much. So potentially yes. Frank Wilkie 01:00:48.150
And it's not just down because it's January? Pauline Coles 01:00:51.670
No. It's been down It's been down consistently for the last quite, quite a few months. Joe Jurisevic 01:00:55.725
Yeah. You've implemented some new IT systems or some new IT software as well. Has that had any impact on any areas of council? Pauline Coles 01:01:02.445
I wouldn't say that they would have in those two areas. SPEAKER_10 01:01:05.405
Let's read the chat, the software upgrade had impact in terms of delays for recognition through the financial statements for a month or two. Not in terms of ongoing financial... Absolutely, during that transition period. But not--- We're back up. Frank Wilkie 01:01:22.775
Okay, and expenditure of community facilities is down? Sorry, revenue of community facilities? Pauline Coles 01:01:30.855
That relates predominantly to Noosa seniors, so in terms of the charging to their participants, essentially, in services that they've been doing. So they had quite a optimistic budget this year, but they have had a they have had a changeover in managers as well, so that's compounded a little bit as well. Joe Jurisevic 01:01:47.825
So a bit of an increase in spending? The expenditure is also down as well, so it's not. Frank Wilkie 01:01:53.445
So will you be adjusting the budget accordingly? Pauline Coles 01:01:57.385
We would be, in 2025, definitely adjusting the budget. Correct. Frank Wilkie 01:02:02.265
Is it going to affect the bottom line? Pauline Coles 01:02:04.945
Noosa seniors actually runs at a neutral position, so they spend the Frank Wilkie 01:02:12.471
But also the budget estimates for development, assessment and building and planning, will they need to be adjusted? Pauline Coles 01:02:19.731
In conversations through budget review, they were optimistic that optimistic that they would be able to recover that funds between now and the end of the year but I will only see that over time as if they are able to achieve that because DA fees are dependent on the development assessments that are coming through so depending on what's there they may recoup that between now and the end of the year. Okay. Councillor Frank Wilkie 01:02:39.450
Finzel. Karen Finzel 01:02:40.189
Thank you for the report. As always I'm interested in the top three percentages in the key materials and services. I notice insurance is up now 93%. I'm just wondering how we're tracking that outgoing expenditure and in what way is that related to you know the change around legislation was Pauline Coles 01:03:08.680
In terms of insurance, obviously insurance is up generally. I think the 93 is probably not necessarily 93% of the whole year, so it's not a double budget. They obviously have been an increase in costs and increasing claims which affects our premiums. I know there is work ongoing at the moment around the work cover policy and looking at different options as to how we might reduce the premiums relating to that. But that's ongoing and we won't see that outcome until sort of into next year. Karen Finzel 01:03:35.938
Interesting. Okay, thanks for that. Brian Stockwell 01:03:39.858
I've noticed that, and to Annette's planning applications, know, we get the digital spreadsheet, they've been very small, much smaller than in the past. Is that an indication of a slowdown? Pauline Coles 01:03:52.580
Potentially, yes, yes. That would indicate that there isn't the volume that would normally be coming in. Obviously, it's all dependent on developers' appetite and demand for properties, so we have seen that flow, but we don't know happen. With CPI coming down, interest rates might fluctuate between now and the end of the year. It's not likely, maybe, to increase between now and June, but it's hard to say. Frank Wilkie 01:04:21.272
I'll move the motion. Moved by Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Joe. Brian Stockwell 01:04:26.912
I'd just like to congratulate the team. Thank you, Pauline. Thank you, Trent. I love the clarity. It makes it easy to not ask a lot of questions, because it's right there. So, yeah, thank you to the Anybody else? Clare Stewart 01:04:40.861
Councillor Stewart. Oh, I'm going to start crying. Please stop. So, thank you very much. You're always so comprehensive and great information. And I think they're really easy to read. I was actually going to put something. You put it in layman's terms and simple terms. And I think if you don't have, you know, a background in accounting or finance, you know, I think the way it's structured is really simple and straightforward to read and very comprehensive. So, I want to thank you publicly for all the hard work, Pauline and Andrea, and all the team that you do. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you. And as I said, I really appreciated all... the information you've given us, and the advice and support you've provided us. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:05:24.566
Thank you, Mayor Stewart. I put the motion. All those in favour? Carried unanimously. Thank you, Pauline. Thanks, Pauline. The councillors, with your permission, will have five minutes. Amelia Lorentson 01:05:35.866
Great idea. Thank you. Clare Stewart 01:05:55.095
Okay welcome back everybody declare the meeting open again we're now up to item 6.3 council emotions for submission to ALGA National General Assembly and we have a recommendation before before us us in two motions, one from Councillor Finzel and one from Councillor Lorentson. Larry Sengstock 01:06:21.195
I'm happy to give a quick introduction to it. I wish I had the same record as Laurie does, he's one of my champions actually. Is he really? Yeah. No way. Why? Anyway, we digress. He's one of my heroes. This is just a quick introduction, the Australian Local Government Association, ALGA. has a National General Assembly every year in July. We presented it last year. We do it quite regularly. The reason we're bringing this to the table now is because we don't have meetings in March and the deadline is in March for motions to go through to the General July, 2/4 of July. So we've brought this to the table now. The process that it goes through is that we agree the motions here at the table or the motions that are approved then go to the ALGA to get approved to go to the to the General Assembly. So there's no no direct path. It still has to be approved by ALGA and then it goes presented at the at the General Assembly and then if it gets approved there or gets supported there then it becomes something that the ALGA will push push through. So there's a there's a whole process so this is this is the first step in that in that process is what I wanted to make the point of. The theme this year The theme this year at Elgar MGI of the National Assembly is building community trust so we have two motions that that the councillors Finzel and Lorentson are bringing to the table I'm going to get them to summarise and provide a summary, but I'll just initially, in the report, there's a quick topics of those motions. Councillor Finzel calls on the Australian Government in establishing proactive steps core elements required to create a strategic, collaborative and consistent national approach and potentially policy changes in providing equal rights for elected representatives in relation to psychosocial safety legislation and workplace safety. And for Councillor Lorentson, it's causing the Australian Government to strengthen environmental initiatives and invest in waste water recycling and adopt a collaborative approach for trust and sustainability. So, we've got recommendations to take those too, but before going to that point, I thought it best if, in the initial summary, is we get the two councillors to summarise their proposals or their motions, if that's okay with you. Of course. Frank Wilkie 01:09:11.309
Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 01:09:12.329
Yes, Thank you, Mr CEO, through the Chair, and thank you. So, I think at the core, sitting at the heart of effective leadership sits trust as a fundamental building block of our nation's democracy at all levels of government. I thank LGAQ for reaching out to all councillors and inviting all councillors to put forward motions at the National General Assembly. This invitation This invitation resulted in me doing some research to put this together to help bring a national conversation around the opportunity to create a consistent national approach to closing the the gap and providing protection for elected representatives at local council and other levels of government to match that of employed staff and looking at ways that we could have that protection. To access fair work training, workplace health and safety in an effort to ensure that we are able to be fully trained and Timing is right for planning with a call to action for innovative approaches alongside contemporary and sustainable leadership, which through collaboration with our communities we can co-create capabilities effective in achieving profitable social capital thereby creating a comprehensive measuring stick showcasing new story telling resources and skills to support innovative change for our elected representatives, staff and community together. I believe social networks of trust have the capacity to grow our greatest return on investment. So I think at this point in time in 2023 to also have good fiscal management to stem the flow of people leaving government positions and also with the changes in the office of independent assessor that's being looked at that came through I think it was towards the end of last year to I believe social... Then look at ways of delivering training in the workplace for our elected representatives to help contribute a positive and meaningful contribution to a safe workplace. The significance of the matter strategically sits alongside those recent changes and I think this affects all of Australia because there's local council government. Australia intrinsically the nation is aimed at addressing the identified gap for elected representatives who under legislation are seen as the other. In relation to psychosocial hazards legislation to support equity and protection for elected representatives. Being the same as those given to employees for example through the fair work system. When entering a When entering a workplace environment to promote the continuous improvement of the removal of identified barriers to ensure safety at all times in a supported working and decision-making environment, where a wide range of views are encouraged and respectfully listened to, without fear of harassment and intimidation, and in And in support of mental health and wellbeing and reducing those costs back to all levels of government. Thank you for listening. Frank Wilkie 01:12:42.031
Question, Mr. CEO, if enacted, would this protect councillors when their work interacting out in the community? Larry Sengstock 01:12:55.405
It depends on where this goes. I think this is the start. It's basically recognising that, from my understanding, psychosocial safety is a major workplace health and safety initiative across all organisations now. So it's got a higher profile with our staffing. So we are doing a lot of training last year, this year, coming in terms of our staff. What's been identified is that councillors come under other. So it's really saying, well, where do they fit? And if that gets changed, then that training would be afforded, and it should be afforded to all. And then those legislative protections would then be in place for all. So that's really where it's going, but it's still got to go through that path. So all I think Councillor Finzel is saying is, we've identified it, let's address I was just wondering about the scope of it. Joe Jurisevic 01:13:57.882
I think the point was there, and I think you've reiterated on it, that councillors are not viewed in the workplace health and safety legislation in the same way that council staff are. No, that's right. Amelia Lorentson 01:14:08.442
Can I step in? Oh sorry, Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 01:14:11.522
Thank you, Mr Chair. Just in respect to your question, when I raised this motion previously at the this motion previously at the LGAQ last year, during that time I had some conversations with LGAQ staff and we did talk about mandatory training to keep councillors safe with more and more outward facing to community post disaster management. For example, I went to a lot of homes that were flooded in that recent flood event. And then looking at councillors volunteers that go in and do clean-ups or other working groups. So yeah, that is also part of the conversation, so I think this is a a really timely opportunity to just start those narratives and then just see where that moves. It's a really early working space. As you know, we got a report back the other day from the lawyers in regard to the Office of Independent Assessor and how we're changes that are going to be coming through the pipeline over the next couple of years to look at how we could be more effective and proactive in delivery of training as opposed to relying on Office Which is under-resourced, which led to the changes. And then looking at ways to better, I guess, start at the beginning instead of trying to close the gate at the top. Amelia Lorentson 01:15:35.783
Thank you. Councillor Lorentson. Totally support the motion. Thank you, Karen. I do want to add that the workplace health and safety, although we're not employees, does capture other persons at a workplace under section 29. Other persons at a workplace is us councillors and members Members of the gallery and so we are actually owed a duty and that's imposed by section 29 that a person at a workplace whether or not the person has another duty under this part must be take reasonable care that his or her acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons and the work health and the Work Health and Safety Act also further defines health as meaning physical and psychological health. So there is some protections by virtue of section 29 of the Work Health and Safety Act. Yes, thank you. Karen Finzel 01:16:33.941
Yes, thank you. I'll turn to the chairman. Yeah. So I have a question back to the Councillor Lorentson and thank you for the clarification. Is there anything in my motion that you would like to amend? No, but I'd like to discuss maybe a little bit, Karen, to help you get it across the line, but I love where you're going with this. We're not employees and it's more in terms of mandatory training and I think that is what needs to be really emphasised in the motion. Joe Jurisevic 01:17:01.892
Yeah, thank you. The other element of that is that our workplace isn't behind a desk. The workplace is out in the community as well so ensuring that we have adequate cover for those sort of things and understanding what our obligations are when we're out and about. And I agree. should be considered. Amelia Lorentson 01:17:25.026
Section 8 of the Work Health and Safety Act actually defines workplace in your right, Joe. Chambers would fall under that definition but outside possibly not. Councillor Wegener. Wegener. Brian Stockwell 01:17:38.628
Yeah, I actually really support this. I think that I look at, I just wonder who would want to be a councillor knowing that we know, you know, like seriously, I don't, I just wouldn't, I can't imagine like saying to my best friend, oh, you know, you should go. So, and I think that the vaccination that, yeah, the Yeah. COVID really brought out a new wave of dangers to being a councillor. And I think it's even less, you know, appealing to be this, you know, knowing what you're, you're going to go into in this, in this new world of social media and kind of a different place than we expected that we grew up. Our world is gone. So, so I think that we need that kind of behalf training to step into the next the next version of what a councillor actually is, as a job, as a contractor, I guess. Frank Wilkie 01:18:30.923
Look, we're Amelia Lorentson 01:18:31.563
Just, Councillor Lorentson, do you wish to talk about your motion? Sure. My motion, and I'll read what it is, I'm calling for the National General Assembly to recognise the urgent challenges facing Australia in wastewater recycling and to issue, it's imperative that the Australian Government makes significant investments in wastewater recycling, which is crucial for environmental sustainability. The investment is essential to progress overdue water sector reforms, innovation and research to address forever chemicals like PFAS and other emerging contaminants of concern. This holistic only promotes sustainability but also fosters trust within communities. The motion and summary key arguments are in the report so I won't go over that. I will note that I've brought forward this motion as part of my ongoing advocacy and dedication to our community and also to clean oceans. I will continue emphasise that our oceans should not serve as dumping grounds for treated wastewater and stormwater. I've pursued this advocacy both at state and national levels over the last four years seeking this policy policy reforms, investments and funding to address what I consider a critical issue. I'd like to give everyone an update because my efforts have not gone unnoticed. At the moment my ALGA motion from last year ocean outfalls and for wastewater reuse, it's currently sitting and waiting for a response from Minister Catherine King and I've also spoken to Josephine Rapady from LGAQ who is in total support of this motion and she's also given me an update with lots of promises that again my efforts haven't fallen There's going to be lots in terms of reform in this space. So again, as long as I'm in council, we've got to do something more. We recycle 0.86% of treated wastewater. It's just simply not good enough and I understand the funding and complications and we need all tiers of government to come on board. know, in Europe, and I won't rave, but in Europe they have targets, the European standards, they have targets by 2027 that all wastewater treatment need to be upgraded to what's considered cunary treatments. That actually captures your PFAS and all those microplastics and all these emerging contaminants of concern. just a few weeks ago, they actually banned, the EPA actually banned PFAS from cosmetics. In New Zealand So there are countries and councils across Australia and across the world and in Europe are taking a stance for best environmental practice and I think this is an opportunity for a council like Noosa that's different by nature to start leading the way. Murdoch. Karen Finzel 01:21:53.549
I'll second it. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:21:56.769
Alright Councillor Finzel you have the floor. Karen Finzel 01:21:59.889
I really have not thought about it but I do think it's a really fantastic opportunity for councillors at a local government level to be able to advocate and raise the issues that Councillor Lorentson and myself have brought to the table. There's a lot more of course out there but I think it's really timely and as Councillor as Councillor Tom brought to the table, like given post COVID, post the disasters, I do believe our role as local council elected representatives is in a transition, it's definitely changing, I think even when we talk about our work being out of the office, I mean, everyone here, we all see each other, how much time we spend on emails in the office, phoning people, you know, it's And to support sustainable leadership and look after our environment and our people. Frank Wilkie 01:23:05.735
Thank you. Joe, you had a question? Sorry, I had a question for Councillor Lorentson. Sure. In what you just said then, promotion refers to wastewater. And in your statement then, you statement then, you added stormwater. Stormwater and treated wastewater are two completely different... I did, and my focus on all my motions are wastewater. I threw in stormwater because that's specific... That's why I'm being very careful with the language. Absolutely. That's specific to Noosa. Very different channels. I'm happy to talk to her. I must admit, I had concerns when admit I had concerns when I read Councillor Lorentson's motion, only in the language, in the last sentence, collaborative approach for trust and sustainability, but I didn't get it when I first read it until I read the major crunch. the reasoning behind it. I understand the reasoning behind it, but whether that could be worded a bit differently or a bit better is about the only negative I've got in regards to it. I support both motions. Councillor Finzel showed Finzel showed me her motion and I handed it back to her and said I'd get it immediately, it was as clear and concise and as clear cut as I've ever seen something that had meaning and substance, so I appreciate where that comes from and where your motion comes from. Also Councillor Lorentson, she's been championing the, you know, trying to get state and federal State and Federal Government to look at wastewater recycling and I know there is a lot of talk through Seqwater about re-channelling wastewater recycling and I know it's been a challenge for the State Government to even consider that because there was a lot of backlash in that regard. But we've got to be aware that provided it's been processed and processed correctly and that the contaminants are ready for it, that it is a resource, not a waste product and should be, opportunities to utilise should be looked at at every opportunity. It's a long way to pump at places if it can be used locally as well. So the opportunities that it presents are far greater when we produce a product that the community can have trust. trust in. Trust. So that's where the cross part comes in. Amelia Lorentson 01:25:17.667
I'd like to move an amendment through the chair please. So D, I'd like to move an amendment D. Authorise that the CEO... make minor amendments to the submission prior to submitting to ALGA. Clare Stewart 01:25:34.225
Are you before you? Oh sorry. Amelia Lorentson 01:25:36.365
I'll second it. Councillor Frank Wilkie 01:25:37.905
Stockwell second it. Yes, my apologies. Amelia? Only the... Amelia Lorentson 01:25:43.463
I've made some very minor adjustments to my key arguments and motion. I submitted the motion last week very, very quickly. So I'd like to have just an opportunity just to clean it up a little bit. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:26:01.423
Any further discussion? for commercialising I'm a member in favour. That's unanimous. Becomes part of the original motion. Any other councillors wish to speak to the original? Councillor Stewart. Clare Stewart 01:26:12.607
I'm just going to say, I mean, they'd much like to cancel this conference, but if you go on there... This is a really good thing to attend, you know, 500 councillors at the National General Assembly, it's really worthwhile, it's an opportunity to have your say, to advocate on a national level, at a national stage. all those hundreds and hundreds of councils in attendance, and also government ministers, which is who you really need to get to. So, I think it's great, I think they're incredibly worthwhile motions, both of them, both extremely, you know, very different, but certainly incredibly worthwhile, and I think a Noosa Council should be really proud to have them, to have both councillors and whoever else chooses to attend at So question through the chair. So the motions are being ratified through council. They still need to seek support and ratification through ALGA. So not necessarily, they don't necessarily have a ticket as yet. Frank Wilkie 01:27:23.294
Look, I'm more than happy to support this motion. Both those motions involve, if successful, means more training and education and safety and security for us as councillors and also those who come councillors across Australia. And also better practices in regards to how we treat our treated wastewater. So better environmental outcomes. So they're both very, very good initiatives to support. Thank you. Anybody else wish to speak? Karen, do you wish to close? Karen Finzel 01:27:59.278
No, I think everything's been you for the feedback. It feels good to be supported by the councillors around the table and, you know, work together to achieve these outcomes that affect all levels of government. And hopefully these are effective for future people that are elected to positions across all levels of government. And also help to, we all work hard hard to get to these tables and these decision-making places to also help in some way stem the number of people that leave for all sorts of reasons once they get in the Senate. Thank you, everyone. Frank Wilkie 01:28:33.545
Put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, Larry. The last item on the agenda today is the operational plan quarterly report. Deb, welcome. Amelia Lorentson 01:28:54.100
Can you give us a bit of an overview, please, Deb, for the operational plan 2023-24, second quarterly report? SPEAKER_03 01:29:02.840
Yes. Thank you, Councillor. The report covers the progress of implementation of operational plan initiatives from the 1st of October to the 31st of December, and although we're now in February, it is It is only until the 31st of December and then consequently where we're at now will be reported in the next quarter. The reason I raised that is there have been some recent developments which actually have impacted on some of the initiatives to actually improve the progress of them but unfortunately they weren't captured in that by the 31st of December so I just wanted to bring that to your attention. So the majority of are progressing well with 117 or 79 percent either completed or on track and 23 percent 23 or 15 percent are experiencing a minor disruption and nine a major disruption. So we've seen an increase in completed tasks, we've seen a decrease of in initiatives that are on track with some of those moving to a major disruption but very minimal. The attachment one to the report outlines the the actual figures and provides some explanation as to why there have been these movements. The first first part of the attachment looks at overall progress where and then that goes into detail by each theme and as we have reported previously we've taken an exceptional approach where we've provided an overview to give council a easy sort of vision if you like of how we're progressing and there is further detail though against each initiative's progress in attachment to and that's this document here so we thought it was important to provide that especially at q2 because we're six months into the year and you would want to be reassured that progress projects are progressing because you wouldn't We have provided the level of detail there and if necessary council directors can talk to the specific items if you have any questions. that looks at performance. The other attachment to this report is in relation to our key performance indicators and these are the indicators that we've been reporting over the last few years and it shows movements in various like average lost time injury, development approval, timeframes etc so happy to take any questions in relation to to those or the attachments. Clare Stewart 01:31:37.548
Councillor Stewart: Thank you. Again, really easy to read. This is so well done because initially your eye goes to the red. Yes. Just a question on that, the main construction seems to be that the holder seems to be the trend with it. We're waiting It's really staffing for a transport and traffic coordinator and infrastructure planning designers and re-managers. So are we in the process of procurement for those two positions? SPEAKER_03 01:32:12.628
Was Shaun going to be available too? No, unfortunately Shaun had to take off to another appointment. I can answer some of that if it's okay. From a traffic and transport coordinator position, we've struggled to attract at the right skills that we think we need for this position. The traffic and transport is such a major piece of where we're at and there's so many ideas and plans and thoughts and our whole strategy. So we're back in, or we will be back into the market shortly, but we've made some adjustments within our own staffing to try to redirect people's focus. focus of existing staff into that area. So we're back on track to some degree in terms of some of the things that we've unfortunately had to sit on for a number of months. So we're back trying to-address some of that and certainly for the next cycle of council we'll be very focused on those areas in particular. From a delivery and infrastructure point of view, we've had had some slight disruptions there but we think we're back on track there as well in terms of making sure that that we're delivering to the level that we need to deliver in the current circumstance or current market and you know you've seen the reports and different reports that we are we are tracking very very well in terms of delivering the massive. massive capital works programs that we've got. Through the chair as well I'm just reading some notes you have to forgive me that Shaun actually prepared and the BRT process is also seen as clarify the availability of some additional funding to be able to move through those tasks associated with the transport strategy action plan and parking plan so that's good news. Amelia Lorentson 01:34:11.940
I have a question. The environment and sustainability roundtables. I'm not even aware that that exists and is there a council representative on the roundtable? Through the Chair. Kim online? Kim are you there? Larry Sengstock 01:34:30.900
Yeah, I am Did you hear the question? Did you hear the question? Yes, yes I did, yes. Through the Chair, thanks Councillor Lorentson. We have over the years had a number of environment sustainable roundtables. Kim Rawlings 01:34:44.575
It's not a- ongoing formal group. What we do is we pull together a range of organisations, community based organisations around particular issues. So we have a series of environmental roundtables to input it's we had round tables to input into the environment strategy. We also had round tables to input into the environment grants process. So the concepts worked really well in the past, so it's been included in our operational plan to reinvigorate the idea of round tables on an issues basis. We haven't held one yet, but it is the intention to do so in the coming months. When the new council is in place. All councillors will be able to attend those. Amelia Lorentson 01:35:29.861
Excellent, thank you. Joe Jurisevic 01:35:31.121
The same project will be initiated at the end of early 2024 and will coincide with the beginning of the environmental strategy review and other discussions on the redevelopment plans. Frank Wilkie 01:35:40.561
Thank you, Kim. I have a question and you might be able to answer it, Kim, on page 126. page 127 there's a graph, it's the number of planning applications decided within statutory timeframe and it looks like we're struggling a bit there. What are the ramifications when applications are not decided within the statutory timeframe? Larry Sengstock 01:36:02.724
Frame no no Kim had fog Richard sorry Kim Richard is here I didn't see him up What graph are you looking at there? Richard MacGillivray 01:36:14.352
Page 127. So the number of planning applications decided within the statutory timeframe Here we go yeah yeah so this all this this graph highlights to you is I guess the numbers decided each month and obviously we've got a whole lot that are in basically are in basically currently being assessed that are within statutory timeframes. So they're obviously not decided applications. They're still being processed. So I guess what this graph is just showing is of the green ones, how many that we we have decided per month and how many we're actually holding. So it probably highlights quite clearly that we've got a large number of applications that we're actually currently processing. We're deciding a number of them and some of that has been due to some staffing issues we've had in the past where we haven't had a 25% reduction in staff numbers in that team. We're recruiting at the moment to fill all those vacancies to help get a lot of those current and active applications decided so we can meet meet those statutory timeframes, so that's been a bit of a problem for us. Frank Wilkie 01:37:20.501
What happens if we don't meet the statutory timeframes? Richard MacGillivray 01:37:23.641
Deemed approval. Correct, yeah. So for code-accessible applications, they can become the deemed approval. We're very We don't get many, if any, of those at all because we work quite closely with the applicants to ensure that we keep timeframes current. So often that is they'll agree to an extension of time by agreement if we're still negotiating at at particular elements of the proposal they'll extend and we'll work through those issues. So quite often we'll get an agreement to extend timeframes. Also when we issue information requests and request for further information the clock stops again clock stops again to allow them to provide that up to three months so and we work quite closely with the consultants to ensure that we've got sufficient time to be make sure we can decide those within time frames but yes you're correct that there is a risk of deemed approval approval with code accessible applications that's why we really need to be ultra vigilant for impact accessible applications if we don't decide within time frame they can become a deemed refusal so you don't often see too many applicants applicants seeking those as that's not the outcome often they're seeking no thank you I just have a question, mainly directed at Kim. Karen Finzel 01:38:38.379
On page 110, we've got a major disruption to community strategy is resourcing is not available to undertake your work as proposals take place in the 24/25 budget. Kim are you, through the chair, are you able to just give us a little overview of what sort of resourcing we're looking for in that space around the community strategy? energy. Yes I am, yes. Kim Rawlings 01:39:10.620
Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Is Kerry in the room? Kerry is online as well. Kerry, would you like to jump in here? I'm happy to, but you might want to. I don't know. Joe Jurisevic 01:39:25.836
You should better go on. I'm not sure Kerry's online. Just send me a message and say she's back online. Okay, but I She's don't see the online but she wants us to let her know. Shall I let her know? I might start to keep things moving. Councillor Finzel, the community strategy isn't actually planned to be initiated until 2024/25. Kim Rawlings 01:39:56.299
We are doing some initial work though to prepare for the community strategies so we are scoping up an audit of community facilities at the moment and that's been done through Kerry's team and we'll also be scoping up a process it'll be a very highly engaged strategy as you can as you can imagine, it's the updating and replacing and more broad of the social strategy that currently exists which is a number of years old so there'll be a combination of resources that are required around dedicated staff to work on it, funding for a highly consultative process to inform the strategy and some and then some technical pieces around understanding infrastructure and needs and things like that. Kerry has just jumped online if you wanted to add anything. about the resources required for the energy strategy. Apologies to that council that has had some technical issues but yes the resourcing issues that we've got at the moment particularly within our community development team given the given the operational workloads with supporting the community is not leaving the time required for the dedicated work that goes into research and preparation to undertake a strategy, large pieces of work like this need dedicated resources and they're not just not able to find the time because the day-to-day requirements naturally take priority and as Kim mentioned we will be scoping that up for next year's budget because it's going to be dedicated resources. Karen Finzel 01:41:43.742
MS EASTMAN: Thank you. And through the Chair, is part of that dedicated resource Kim Rawlings 01:41:58.474
It would be more that we would, you know, There's, you know, specific pieces of work that need to be undertaken. A social infrastructure audit which normally we outsource. There's consultants that have very good models that undertake that work. So some of it would be undertaken externally and then there'd be a project officer internally to run through the process. Thank you. the impacts on the ability to start this is that and you might have seen in the other comments that we were not successful in being able to appoint a contractor to do the cemeteries plan and so that we made that decision to largely do that piece of work in-house that there That's taking priority because of the land use implications and using the same staff that would have been doing the work on the prep work for the community strategy. Frank Wilkie 01:43:02.650
I have a question probably for Kim. Clare Stewart 01:43:05.370
Thank you, Karen and Kim. Frank Wilkie 01:43:07.070
It says finalised green economy industry development plan. It looks like it's been done. It sounds like there's quite exciting material that could come from that. When is that going to be presented and understood? And forgive me if I've missed a report on that. Kim Rawlings 01:43:28.937
No, Councillor Wilkie, you haven't missed a report on that. That has been finalised at the moment. We're just doing some final tweaks to it. And yes, there is really, really exciting information and actions proposed from that. So once we finalise that, and at this point, new council is established, we'll bring that forward to council, once we can get onto a council agenda in the coming months. Frank Wilkie 01:43:56.377
Likewise, complete Shire wide employment land review. I assume that would incorporate the... John's Landing. John's Landing, the industrial land at Cooroy and elements like that. And I see a final report received 10th of the 1st. I'm assuming that's by staff and a report has yet to come to council. Kim Rawlings 01:44:14.609
The employment land review really looks at the future needs of core employment, industrial and employment land of our Shire. some separate work being done and if Trent's in the room you might want to talk to it through our commercial property unit that's actually looking at council owned assets and how they're best utilised. utilised? Like you mentioned Councillor Jurisevic, John's Landing and when that might be appropriate for Activation, Carpenters Road, things like that. So they are two slightly separate pieces of work. Joe Jurisevic 01:44:52.032
Okay, so that's not, the Employment Land Review covers something slightly different. Kim Rawlings 01:44:58.412
That's correct. Okay. Frank Wilkie 01:45:00.152
Councillor Stockwell. Brian Stockwell 01:45:01.792
My query, I think probably Deborah is the correct person, in the KPI report you measure of staff turnover rate as a percentage of establishment level. The comments appear to say something different to what the graph says. So the comments talk about a 16.56% October to December. On the graph you've SPEAKER_03 01:45:27.568
My interpretation of sorry these figures come from the system but my interpretation of that was this that was the difference the actual difference was the 10% so which was the percentage increase for the quarter so the 10% is actually the increase the amount of increase for the quarter. Brian Stockwell 01:45:48.632
1%. Can you, can we just, because it is a statistic that is of considerable interest. If it's 16.56, we're not going well. If it's 0.1, we're going well. SPEAKER_03 01:45:58.912
Yeah, well, yeah, no, look, I'll take that back and clarify that. But the way that I interpreted that, it was the 10% increase. So, yeah, I'll double check that and I'll come back to you for Thursday. Frank Wilkie 01:46:11.272
Thank you. Amelia and Karen, you had questions? Amelia Lorentson 01:46:11.968
And this might just be wording, but on page 110, 2.4.8, sorry, 2.5.8, Deb, deliver an accessible adult change facility under changing place program on the Noosaville foreshore, and the funding was diverted to Ed Webb Park. Yes. I'll ask, I'll throw a question to you, Deb. Can you just provide some clarity? Are we still accessible adult change facility at the Noosaville foreshore and are we still diverting some funds to Edweb Park and where are we with that? SPEAKER_03 01:46:59.691
I would have to refer that to the director or to the Amelia Lorentson 01:47:07.907
And I and I think it just reads it's just doesn't read well because I'm looking at it going we didn't put our hand up to you know cancel an changing place facility to spend on a park I think it's more just wording playing with words through the through the chair through the budget this year as you know we get a lot of grant money coming through for various sources we did did receive receive a grant allocation for $790,000, which we initially earmarked for a change in place of the facility. Given the timeline on that grant that we had to acquit the grant money by 30th of June, and just the expediency of where we're at with the projects, we redirected the grant allocation monies to Ed Webb Park. Because that was a project that was already underway and further down the track. In terms of the Changing Places facility itself, our understanding is they're continuing to progress the design work, and as we know integrating that with the Noosaville foreshore master plan as well at the same time. So that work's continuing and you'll see that come through in the 10-year capital program for next year's budget. I don't believe you've made a determination on exactly where that facility is going to be provided, have you? No, and that's why it was diverted. It just doesn't read on the page. Fantastic. Thank you very much for that. Appreciate it. Karen Finzel 01:48:27.914
Just a question for Trent. It might not be the place for a report like that coming. Just in relation to the industrial sites review. Is that completed? SPEAKER_10 01:48:39.990
Through the shareware, we're part way through the project. It's under theme five for excellence is the strategic property review. We're progressing well with it. There's a few stages with that. Obviously the first part of the primary output part which is about the review of the land stock that we currently have. And the second part of the exercise through our commercial property advisor is developing a that will also give us a framework to guide future decisions with land as well. So you'll see that come through towards the end of the financial year. Karen Finzel 01:49:22.342
Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you. Anyone care to move the report? Moved by Councillor Finzel, seconded by Councillor Stewart, Councillor Finzel? Well, yeah, firstly I'd like to thank Deb. It's a really good report, easy to read, and thank all the staff that contributed all the data that has to go into it. know it's a big job. It's been really easy to read. It's really succinct, which is great, and it helps us when we're going to make decisions to look up, you know, key indicators and data. It just puts it really firmly...fingertips, and it's easy to collate all that and inform moving forward. So thank you to the council and all the staff. Clare Stewart 01:50:04.921
Deb, thank you. It's my last one. I know. Stop. I'm getting tissues, Clare. You're going to make me cry. But thank you. Again, really easy to read. Read what the council said. The traffic light and light and how that's done is great because you might, you know, you straight away, you focus on what needs to be achieved and then you can ask questions from there. So thank you. Great report. It just shows how much. I think I did a radio interview this morning or something about we've got 73 capital works... in the pipeline and other massive record in terms of expenditure and recovery and as well as everything here which is substantial. So thank you to the team and really the whole staff Larry because this is a snapshot of so much Snapshot of so much work, so thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:50:52.125
I'll just quickly, Councillor Wilkie, it's really quite interesting so, you know, whether we've got a capital works or whether it's our financial reports, all these reports that come to council, when we look at risk and opportunity, it's always risk is always human resources and I think the operational plan actually translates that into you know what happens delays and and yeah just just puts that in perspective so thank you again and good work team. Joe Jurisevic 01:51:45.061
If anybody wants to understand the goings-on in your council, take a look at the number of initiatives here that are trying to be implemented under an operational plan. The day-to-day operations, day-to-day activities, business as usual, plus all of these additional bits and pieces, plus the capital works program. Guys, there's a lot of work goes on in this place and this just shows how much, and these are only The devil's in the detail of the Noosa and the amount of work that goes into each of these initiatives that we're trying to do year on, year out, so I just thank the staff for their time and effort, their dedication and devotion to what we, as councillors, throw at you year in, year out to try and achieve and try to keep this council and this community being served. Clare Stewart 01:52:33.060
And just building on that, the sheer volume of work that is underway, the sheer volume of projects that are underway, I want to commend the staff for successfully masking their grimaces when in meetings like this we pile more work on because all this work is set at the budget during the budget process and throughout the course of the year during meetings or amendments or slip whatever we can add and extra work and I appreciate the patience and the forbearance of staff when they take that on board thank you on top of the heavy workload and I'm sure the CEO will pass that on to us. I might just also take the opportunity if I may in addition work there's other work going on about in relation to our business improvement we've got business improvement running through our ICT area we've got all managers now looking at their service profiles and reviewing their service levels and standards so when it comes time to discuss the budget we've got a really clear picture on those and and that they're up to date so this is the additional managers are taking on at the same time as delivering their projects and business as usual and other reporting requirements so yeah so it's um yeah it's a lot happening. Frank Wilkie 01:53:58.008
Put the motion, those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, this is the last item today and thank you councillors that's the last general committee meeting of the term. I thank you all for your discipline and your patience and your contributions it's been very Related Noosa Council Meetings
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