Public Question Time

Frank Wilkie48:37

Madam to the call. Can I have a move for a second for the motion please? Moved by Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Phillips. All in favour? That's carried unanimously. Please invite Councillor Stockwell back to the meeting. Okay, that's where I for to go. Item 7.1, which was a confidential item, which is not for public release, contract number RP00637, Register of Prequalified Suppliers for the plant, hire of plant and equipment, commonly known as dry hire. Item 6, 7.2 was confidential, not for public release, contract number RP00436, Register of Prequalified Suppliers for the hire of plant and operator, commonly known can as wet hire. Can I have a mover and seconder for the General Committee recommendations to be adopted except if dealt with separately. I'll move it just to prove I was here and get on the record. Can I have a seconder please, Councillor Wilson? All in favour? That's carried. Amelia? Yes. Well, carried unanimously. We have no reports direct to the Ordinary Meeting. We have no confidential items. That brings us to public question time. We have four formal submissions to public question time. Item 11.1 is from Mr Craig Vella. Mr Vella is not here tonight. So I ask our Director Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings, to read his question one and provide council's response. And I ask our Acting Director of Infrastructure, Shaun Walsh, to read Mr Vella's second question and provide the response. Thank you, Kim and Sean. Shaun, if you'd like to come over to the. Kim? Can you project?

Thanks for the question Shirley. The first question is I am an 81 year old local resident who has lived in Noosa and paid rates since 1969. I enjoy spending time at the Noosaville waterfront every week and many times during the year with my family for picnics and barbecues. Why as part Noosaville Foreshore Master Plan does the Noosa Council want to use our own rates to limit residents access to the river by taking away over 100 riverside car parks. Does this action reflect a covert Noosa Council policy to reduce the car numbers at key locations around our Shire as Council did at the surf club at Christmas. So thank you for the question Shirley. So the answer is as follows: Council has prepared the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan for community consultation. Council welcomes diverse views from the community as part of the consultation program for the draft plan to help set the optimal direction for this cherished foreshore and will certainly consider these views as part of its final deliberations. A key consideration for the community and Council is the opportunity to create more green space along this beautiful water edge for community enjoyment which it can achieve through relocation of car parking spaces from the foreshore to nearby locations. The draft master plan proposes several locations for the relocation of car parking spaces but it is noted the drop-off areas and disabled car parking spaces will need to be provided. In terms of the broader Noosa Council program about car parking management, Council is committed to encouraging all residents and visitors to embrace public and active transport to reduce congestion as part of its indoors transportation strategy. Rather than trying to accommodate peak time car parking demand which would be at the loss space and further exasperate traffic congestion. Council is also committed to ensuring all our foreshores and public spaces are as attractive as possible as part of our Noosa character and experience which is coveted by residents and visitors. The second question by Shirley is as follows: I was lucky enough to live opposite the Lions Park in Noosaville during the 1970s and my family has been fortunate to grow up around a beautiful river during that time and since. Why does the Noosa Council plan to forever ruin the feel and soul of this special place, our beloved Noosaville Foreshore, with its overly elaborate plans including fake sand dunes that will take up valuable picnic areas and separate the grass and riverbank spaces, making it impossible for parents to keep an eye on their kids? Doesn't Council believe that our Noosaville Foreshore is beautiful as it is and only requires the lightest touch? Thank you Shirley for that question. So the answer is Council has prepared the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Masterplan for community consultation. Welcomes diverse views from the community as part of the program for the draft plan to help set optimal direction for this cherished foreshore and will certainly consider these views as part of its final deliberations. A key challenge for the foreshore is increasing erosion and tidal inundation arising from climate change. Early feedback from the community sought nature based solutions to enhance the parklands and the draft plan proposes naturalised coastal protection barriers such as low sand mounds and living sea walls to help protect the public areas of foreshore from ongoing erosion in the future, whereas do nothing increases the risk of loss of this valuable community space. Council already undertakes sand nourishment along the foreshore to halt erosion and this is an extension of that program. The draft program plan also proposes wide beaches, lookout points and improved graded entries to the beach areas to maximise access. Low planting is proposed on the land's low sand mounds to maintain visibility and provide resilience to the river's edge. In terms of foreshore planning it is noted that the current landscaping, pathways, beach shelters and seating walls now so valued and accepted were established by Council 25 years ago as part of an infrastructure planning process. It is hard to imagine the foreshore now without those facilities. It is time for Council to plan for the future, that help manage coastal and tidal issues, plan more green space community use, plan for new and replacement toilets, playgrounds and shelters, as well as locate wider paths that better manage the significant number of residents and visitors now using the foreshore.