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Services & Organisation Committee
Tuesday, 6 August 2024 @ 1:30PM - #706
Meeting Duration: 54 minutes
This Noosa Council meeting contains very poor audio quality. This may have affected the transcription below and is beyond our control.
Holiday Parks deliver strong revenue and plan expansion, Infrastructure program progresses, FireTech trials and supplier panel approved, Confidential tender awarded, Coastal nourishment adopted, Transparency improved.
Key Decisions & Discussions • Nicolas Wilson: Appointed Acting Chair; meeting proceeded with full quorum except Cr Finzel on leave (00:09–01:06) (Attendance & Apologies). • Robyn Mercer: Holiday Parks FY23/24 results: revenue $4.53m (+1.8%), visitation +5.6%, nights sold +1.35; 294 sites across three parks; strong FY24/25 forward bookings >$2.6m (02:44–05:02) (Item 6.1). • Robyn Mercer: Business moving from “growth” (pricing/ops gains) to “expansion” (increasing inventory) as occupancy approaches ceiling; expansion options include adjacent parcels and other sites (05:29–06:40) (Item 6.1). • Trent Grauf: John’s Landing was acquired using a mix of environmental reserves and general funds; intended blended use (environmental plus potential activation such as a holiday park); feasibility pending in Strategic Land Review and revenue diversification work (11:01–12:20) (Item 6.1). • Council: Noted the Holiday Parks report; emphasis on low-cost family stays and modest profit assisting ratepayers (13:09–13:44) (Item 6.1). • Chris Bowden: Approved refresh of Register of Prequalified Suppliers for FireTech trials; 8 new firms added to existing panel; CEO authori
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Key Decisions & Discussions • Nicolas Wilson: Appointed Acting Chair; meeting proceeded with full quorum except Cr Finzel on leave (00:09–01:06) (Attendance & Apologies). • Robyn Mercer: Holiday Parks FY23/24 results: revenue $4.53m (+1.8%), visitation +5.6%, nights sold +1.35; 294 sites across three parks; strong FY24/25 forward bookings >$2.6m (02:44–05:02) (Item 6.1). • Robyn Mercer: Business moving from “growth” (pricing/ops gains) to “expansion” (increasing inventory) as occupancy approaches ceiling; expansion options include adjacent parcels and other sites (05:29–06:40) (Item 6.1). • Trent Grauf: John’s Landing was acquired using a mix of environmental reserves and general funds; intended blended use (environmental plus potential activation such as a holiday park); feasibility pending in Strategic Land Review and revenue diversification work (11:01–12:20) (Item 6.1). • Council: Noted the Holiday Parks report; emphasis on low-cost family stays and modest profit assisting ratepayers (13:09–13:44) (Item 6.1). • Chris Bowden: Approved refresh of Register of Prequalified Suppliers for FireTech trials; 8 new firms added to existing panel; CEO authorised to extend up to July 2027 (14:24–21:15) (Item 5.1). • Chris Bowden: FireTech focuses on early detection, behavior prediction, responder safety (robotics), and safe drone use alongside crewed aircraft; funded by NEMA and QLD grants; “living lab” trials in Noosa (14:50–20:58) (Item 5.1). • Chris Bowden: Drones used under trial SOPS in recent SW QLD bushfire; detection cameras effective but triage/characterisation is next focus; collaboration with QFES and CASA ongoing (21:43–27:55) (Item 5.1). • Chris Bowden: Global interest (NASA/XPRIZE) in solving shared airspace problem; aim to set a national model (29:01–30:31) (Item 5.1). • Infrastructure Team: Capital Program FY23/24: $45.9m budget (incl. $19.5m carryover); $33.2m expended (72%) + $5.9m committed; reseal program fully delivered ($5m) (31:14–32:23) (Item 6.2). • Infrastructure Team: 146 projects with 53 multi-year; delivery impacted by many small projects, staff turnover, weather, and environmental/event windows; staffing now near full complement with strong grad pipeline (32:24–34:40; 36:49–38:34; 46:16–47:10) (Item 6.2). • Mel/Team: Noosa Drive/Mays car park lighting and CCTV replacement completed; insurance recovery being pursued for accident-damaged assets (35:33–36:39) (Item 6.2). • Infrastructure Team: Proactive asset inspections (stormwater CCTV, bridges, footpaths, roads) aim to pre-empt failures; some emergent works unavoidable (e.g., buried pipes) (47:33–48:59) (Item 6.2). • Committee: Entered confidential session under s254J(3)(g) LGR 2012 to discuss tender pricing for CN00644 Pathways Package 3; awarded to The Trustee for Integral Concreting Services Family Trust; CEO to finalise; to be ratified at next Council meeting (50:55–54:01) (Item 7.1). Contentious / Transparency Matters • Nicola Wilson: Proactively explained to public why Item 7.1 was confidential (commercial-in-confidence tender prices), improving transparency without breaching LGR 2012 (50:55–52:44) (Item 7.1). • Discussion: Potential expansion of Holiday Parks to new sites (incl. John’s Landing) may raise environmental vs. commercial value trade-offs; officers flagged need for due diligence and strategic review before decisions (06:21–12:20) (Item 6.1). • Councillor query: On operational integration of drones with frontline fire crews; Bowden emphasised “common operating picture,” unified comms, and CASA-guided incremental trials (25:24–28:16) (Item 5.1). • Community impact: Staffing turnover and weather delays acknowledged; resequencing and multi-year profiling used to manage delivery expectations (32:24–33:13; 37:08–38:34) (Item 6.2). Legal / Risk • Procurement law: Use of a prequalified supplier panel for FireTech fits collaborative R&D-style trials while maintaining probity via ITQ vetting and CEO extension authority (14:50–21:15) (Item 5.1). • Confidentiality: Closure under Local Government Regulation 2012 s254J(3)(g) to protect tenderers’ commercial info; decision re-opened and resolved in public once discussion concluded (50:55–54:01) (Item 7.1). • Aviation regulation: CASA oversight of drone/crewed aircraft integration; trials require strict SOPS, deconfliction software, shared comms; mitigates public safety and liability risk (25:24–28:16) (Item 5.1). • Financial risk: Capital underspend vs. commitments managed; insurance claims pursued for accidental asset damage; emergent works funding balanced across depreciation, grants, and rates (35:33–36:39; 47:33–47:58) (Item 6.2). • Environmental risk: Dog Beach nourishment chosen over hard structures; monitoring with trigger thresholds to prevent breakthrough and protect Noosa Sound/Main Beach (39:09–42:18) (Item 6.2). Environmental Concerns • Infrastructure Team: Dog Beach nourishment uses river-mouth sand to reinforce the spit and reduce risk of breakthrough; ongoing maintenance preferred to rock walls; monitoring program in place (39:09–42:18) (Item 6.2). • Team/Larry Sengstock: Acknowledge vulnerability to cyclones; adaptive management and periodic top-ups planned; channel changes communicated to boaters, though groundings persist in dynamic conditions (41:44–45:12) (Item 6.2). • Programming constraints: Environmental windows (e.g., fish/birds) drive multi-year staging and timing of capital works (38:05–38:34) (Item 6.2). Short Stay & Visitor Economy (Holiday Parks) • Frank Wilkie: Noted national trend of councils divesting campgrounds; Noosa’s parks provide affordable family accommodation and modest profits easing rate burden (13:09–13:44) (Item 6.1). • Robyn Mercer: Noosa North Shore growth linked to 2019–20 $2.5m refurbishment and improved amenity; out-of-region visitation growing per postcode analysis (07:05–09:58) (Item 6.1). • Trent Grauf: John’s Landing options will weigh financial, social, and environmental value via Strategic Land Review before any activation for tourism use (11:01–12:20) (Item 6.1).
Official Meeting MinutesRead minutes ↗
MINUTES
Services & Organisation Committee Meeting
Tuesday, 6 August 2024
1:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin
Committee: Crs Karen Finzel (Chair), Jessica Phillips, Frank Wilkie, Nicola Wilson
“Noosa Shire – different by nature” SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 AUGUST 2024
1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Nicola Wilson (Acting Chair) Cr Frank Wilkie Cr Jessica Phillips
NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Tom Wegener Cr Amelia Lorentson
EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director Strategy and Environment Kim Rawlings Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh
APOLOGIES Cr Karen Finzel (Chair)
Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Cr Nicola Wilson be appointed as Acting Chairperson for this meeting. Carried unanimously.
2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips The Minutes of the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting held on 9 July 2024 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously.
3. PRESENTATIONS
Nil.
4. DEPUTATIONS
Nil. SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 AUGUST 2024
6.1. NOOSA HOLIDAY PARKS UPDATE
Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council note the report by the Commercial Business Advisor to the Services and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 August 2024 providing an update on operations of the Noosa Holiday Parks Business Activity to 30 June 2024. Carried unanimously.
5. REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE
5.1. CONTRACT NO. T000078 – REGISTER OF PRE-QUALIFIED SUPPLIERS FOR PROVISION OF FIRETECH SERVICES {REFRESH}
Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council note the report by the Director Digital Hub and Innovation to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 August 2024 and A. Approve the award of Contract No. T000078 for the Register of Prequalified Suppliers for the Provision of Firetech Services {Refresh} for a period of twelve (12) months effective 1 August 2024 to the following suppliers that will be in addition to the existing list of suppliers on this ROPS: Australian Uav Technologies Pty Ltd Covey Associates Pty Ltd Cwift Pty Ltd Fliight Technologies Pty Ltd Kablamo Pty Ltd TTF Richlauren Trust t/as Larnach Ventures (Apac Surveillance) RPS AAP Consulting Pty Ltd MS&C Group Pty Ltd t/as Watchtowers Networks B. Subject to satisfactory performance of the suppliers, authorise the CEO to approve the option to extend the contract at the expiry of this term for a further two (2) terms of up to twelve (12) months each ending on 31 July 2027. Carried unanimously.
6. REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 6 AUGUST 2024
6.2. CAPITAL PROGRAM 2023/24 DELIVERY STATUS
Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council note the report by the Infrastructure Planning Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting dated 6 August 2024 providing an update on the delivery of the 2023/24 Capital Program as at 30 June 2024. Carried unanimously.
7. CLOSED SESSION
7.1. CONTRACT NO. CN00644 – CONSTRUCTION OF PATHWAYS - PACKAGE 3
CLOSURE OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That the meeting be closed to the public pursuant to section 254J(3)(g) of the Local Government Regulation 2012 for the purpose of discussing potential commercial negotiations in relation to a contract for Item 7.1 - Contract No. CN00644 – Construction of Pathways - Package 3. Carried unanimously.
RE-OPENING OF THE MEETING TO THE PUBLIC Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That the meeting be re-opened to the public. Carried unanimously.
Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Graduate Engineer to the Services and Organisation Committee dated 6 August 2024 and A. Award Contract No. CN00644 for Construction of Pathways 2023-24 Package 3 to The Trustee for Integral Concreting Services Family Trust as outlined in the report; and B. Authorise the CEO to negotiate and finalise contracts on Council's behalf with The Trustee for Integral Concreting Services Family Trust.
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