General Committee - 12 August 2024
Date: Monday, 12 August 2024 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 04:39:23
Synopsis: Cooroy Car Wash deferred over traffic, Council defending STA appeals, Delegations tightened, BR1 adopted but Futures Fund rejected, Go Noosa endorsed incl. Lions Park overflow parking.
Meeting Attendees
Councillors
Brian Stockwell Karen Finzel Amelia Lorentson Jessica Phillips Tom Wegener Frank Wilkie Nicola Wilson Executive Officers
Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Director Community Services Kerri Contini (Via Teams) Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Director Strategy & Environment Lynne Banford AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Cooroy Car Wash (MCU22/0201) : Approval motion lapsed; matter deferred to Ordinary Meeting to allow applicant’s and Council’s traffic consultants to resolve queuing/access concerns (Item 5.1; 45:51–1:09:36). Short-term Accommodation appeals : Council resolved to defend three Planning & Environment Court appeals: two STA refusals at Cootharaba and Kin Kin (6.1–6.2), and a Noosaville childcare refusal (6.3) (1:17:24–1:29:14). Delegations to CEO : Annual Register of Delegations adopted with strengthened planning triggers ensuring contentious applications (e.g., inconsistent uses, biodiversity clearing, heritage removal, >30 submissions) come to Council (6.4; 1:42:41–1:53:05). Budget Review 1 (2024/25) : BR1 adopted; initial Futures Fund “seed funding” proposal using unspent Zero Emissions allocations failed (For 3–Against 4) (6.5; 2:02:11–2:33:13). Financial Performance : July 2024 tracking slightly ahead on revenue and underspent on expenses; cash reserves ~$95m; rates due 16 Aug will lift cash (6.6; 2:33:36–2:46:25). Annual Performance Report : 69% of 2023/24 operational initiatives complete/on track; focus to sharpen outcome measures and align spend to strategic priorities (6.7; 2:47:15–3:07:19). Emu Mountain Rd Shared Path : Supported Option 1b on north side; Sunshine Coast Council to fund, build and maintain; TMR to manage roundabout crossing risk (6.8; 3:08:02–3:18:55). Go Noosa 2024/25 : Program endorsed incl. free buses, tech trial for parking data, and Main Beach Drop-Off Zone over peak; review Flexilink/Council Cabs (6.9; 3:29:28–4:38:40). Noosa Heads Lions Park : Approved overflow paid parking for 14 Dec–28 Jan and 2–21 Apr; CEO to negotiate fees; intent to consult DoR and the community and fold future determinations into Parking Management Plan (Amendments carried) (6.9; 3:48:54–4:13:32). Delorme St Deputation : Residents object to Planning Scheme Amendment No. 2 making houses/duplexes “inconsistent” in medium/high density zones; allege inadequate consultation and economic impact gaps (4.1; 01:12–12:25). Contentious / Transparency Matters Suzie McDonald (Delorme St) : Cited Minister’s Guidelines requiring direct notice to each affected owner; argued 2020 Plan adopted amid COVID with low awareness; sought independent economic analysis and genuine engagement (4.1; 01:12–12:25). Car Wash process : Late traffic concerns surfaced “on the day” of prior meeting; deferral granted to allow right-of-reply and expert-to-expert discussion (Item 5.1; 45:51–1:09:36). Lions Park parking : Sharp split on whether prior consultation sufficed; majority insisted on specific engagement before any permanent change, while one view held community already opposed open-space parking via DMP/liveability inputs (6.9; 3:55:36–3:58:14, 4:02:40). Futures Fund : Debate framed between climate action urgency vs. cost-of-living optics and levy risks; motion lost; transparency requested on policy design, funding sources, and community input (6.5; 2:05:41–2:32:49). Legal / Risk STA litigation posture : Council to defend three appeals; budgeted P&E litigation ~A$1m FY25; past overruns met via savings; costs depend on duration/mediation (6.1–6.3; 1:20:57–1:23:30). Planning Act 2016 : Delegations refined to ensure Council decides inconsistent uses, significant biodiversity/heritage impacts, superseded-scheme extensions, and high-submission matters—mitigating legal/reputational risk (6.4; 1:50:35–1:53:05). Car Wash consistency : In Noosa Plan, car wash is impact-inconsistent in District Centre; staff warned loss of centre-zoned land, character/streetscape conflicts, and unresolved queuing/access; SARA had no objection subject to standard conditions (Item 5.1; 14:55–51:11). Lions Park (Land Act) : Historical DoR view deemed parking inconsistent; staff noted recent Land Act changes place onus on Council to engage and manage uses in public interest, suggesting a land management plan and consultation (6.9; 4:14:13–4:16:42). Emu Mountain crossing : Safety risk acknowledged; TMR jurisdiction reduces Council liability but necessitates interagency mitigation (6.8; 3:12:53–3:13:40). Conflicts of Interest Nicola Wilson : Declarable COI on Cooroy car wash (partner lodged one of 520 submissions); Council permitted participation, deeming public interest trust maintained; she did not vote on the COI motion (Item 5.1; 13:09–14:42). Planning Scheme & Zoning Changes (Delorme St) Suzie McDonald : Opposed making houses/duplexes “inconsistent” in medium/high density zones; alleged fairness issues vs. nearby low-density streets; called for economic impact assessment and inclusive, timely engagement (4.1; 01:12–12:25). Response : Brian Stockwell confirmed submissions will inform staff report with suggested amendments (12:25). Short Term Accommodation / Litigation Tom Wegener : Framed rural STA refusals as protecting hinterland residential amenity; Council majority voted to defend (6.1–6.2; 1:21:52–1:27:33). Jessica Phillips : Opposed inundation by STA but urged reconsidering assessment approach to avoid costly appeals (6.2; 1:26:56–1:27:33). Transport, Parking & Go Noosa Main Beach Drop-Off Zone : Endorsed for peak period; improves safety/access regardless of parking fullness; staff to optimise disabled, scooter/bike bays, and consider temporary toilets (6.9; 4:17:53–4:18:44, 4:24:19–4:28:22). Lions Park : Parking allowed for specified peak dates; CEO to negotiate fees; Council to notify DoR; future use subject to specific consultation and Parking Management Plan (6.9; 3:48:54–4:13:32). Data-led management : Car-park tech trial and VMS boards to inform drivers and feed Parking Management Plan; free buses and loop bus validated by resident uptake (6.9; 3:29:28–3:36:12, 4:24:19–4:28:22). Local Loop (bus priority) : Noted for workshop referral to encourage bus usage/frequency (6.9; 3:36:12–3:36:46). Budget & Financial Sustainability BR1 outcome : Shift to a modest forecast deficit (-$140k); capital carryovers raise program to ~$132m with QRA projects; aim to return to surplus via emergent savings (6.5; 1:55:31–2:01:10). Futures Fund debate : Climate-action reserve proposal (using prior ZEN underspends) failed; staff to develop long-term funding strategy incl. levies/visitor charges/alternative models before consultation (6.5; 2:13:32–2:21:24). Environmental & Active Transport Emu Mountain Rd Shared Path : Benefits Peregian Breeze–Beach connectivity and congestion reduction; Sunshine Coast Council funds and maintains; environmental mitigation to include revegetation/offsets (6.8; 3:08:02–3:15:22). Car Wash environmental claims : Staff cautioned benefits are contingent on behavioral shift; site not in Lake Macdonald catchment; accurate framing is “opportunity” for improved water quality (Item 5.1; 32:08–32:51).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES General Committee Meeting Monday, 12 August 2024 12:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Brian Stockwell (Chair), Karen Finzel, Amelia Lorentson, Jessica Phillips, Tom Wegener, Frank Wilkie, Nicola Wilson “Noosa Shire – different by nature” GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 1. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COUNCILLORS Cr Brian Stockwell (Chair) Cr Karen Finzel Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Jessica Phillips Cr Tom Wegener Cr Frank Wilkie Cr Nicola Wilson EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Corporate Services Trent Grauf Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Director Community Services Kerri Contini (via Teams) Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Acting Director Strategy & Environment Lynne Banford APOLOGIES Nil. 2. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie The Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 15 July 2024 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously. 3. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 4. DEPUTATIONS 4.1. DEPUTATION - PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENTS RELATING TO DELORME ST, NOOSA HEADS APPLICANT - SUZIE MCDONALD SPEAKERS - SUZIE MCDONALD GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 5. ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES 5.1. MCU22/0201 APPLICATION FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR CAR WASH AND FOOD & DRINK OUTLET AT 34 ELM STREET, COOROY In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Nicola Wilson provided the following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter: I, Cr Nicola Wilson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as my partner, Roy Vanderberg, made a submission to this application when it was notified for 15 business days in 2023 in accordance with the Planning Act 2016 and received 520 properly made submissions. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias because this is one submission of 500 and neither Roy nor myself have a financial interest in the outcome. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Cr Wilson and determine that Cr Wilson participates and votes on this matter because Council believes that a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Carried unanimously. Cr Wilson did not vote on the above motion. Motion Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Nil That Council note the report by the Co-ordinator Planning to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 6 August 2024 regarding MCU22/0201 for a development permit for material change of use for a Car wash and Food and drink outlet at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy, and: A. Approve the application. B. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer to issue a Development Permit for material change of use for a Car wash and Food and drink outlet at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy, and impose reasonable and relevant conditions on the approval. C. Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016. D. Find the following matters relevant to the assessment and sufficient reason to approve the application: 1. There is a strong level of economic, community and planning need for the development in this location. 2. There is no car wash currently provided within Cooroy and the Noosa Hinterland and no other suitable land immediately available for that purpose. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 3. The proposed development will provide substantial community benefit and will not cause any adverse impacts on the amenity and character of the area. 4. The proposed development accords with reasonable community expectations, given the significant number of submissions in support that have been received. 5. There will be significant environmental benefits for a car wash to be provided in the location, resulting in an opportunity to improve water quality entering local waterways, including Lake Macdonald. 6. A car wash is for the commercial washing of vehicles, which is a complementary use to the existing service stations in this location, which will result in the sharing of facilities and reduced traffic movements. 7. Conditions can be imposed to address any issues raised by submitters about the hours of operation of the development. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Procedural Motion Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That the matter be deferred to the Ordinary Meeting dated 15 August 2024 to allow the applicant's consultant to discuss traffic issues raised with Council's traffic consultant. Carried unanimously. 6. REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE 6.1. APPEAL D96 OF 2024 RELATING TO REFUSUAL OF MCU24/0003 MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION AT 428 COOTHARABA ROAD, COOTHARABA Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Development Planner to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 regarding Planning & Environment Court Appeal D96 of 2024 and agree to defend the appeal. For: Crs Lorentson, Finzel, Wegener, Wilkie, Wilson, Stockwell. Against: Cr Phillips Carried. 6.2. APPEAL 1997 OF 2024 RELATING TO REFUSUAL OF MCU23/0101 MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION AT 561 GYMPIE KIN KIN ROAD, KIN KIN GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Tom Wegener Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Senior Development Planner to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 regarding Planning & Environment Court Appeal 1997 of 2024 and agree to defend the appeal. For: Crs Lorentson, Finzel, Wegener, Wilkie, Wilson, Stockwell. Against: Cr Phillips Carried. 6.3. APPEAL 1998 OF 2024 RELATING TO REFUSUAL OF MCU22/0094 MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR CHILDCARE CENTRE AT 28 EENIE CREEK ROAD, NOOSAVILLE Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council note the report by the Coordinator Planning to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 regarding Planning & Environment Court Appeal 1998 of 2024 and agree to defend the appeal. Carried unanimously. 6.4. ANNUAL REVIEW - REGISTER OF DELEGATIONS - COUNCIL TO CEO Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council A. Note the report by the Governance Officer to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 regarding Council's Annual Delegation Review; and B. Adopt the Register of Delegations – Council to Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to section 257 of the Local Government Act 2009, to delegate the powers of the Local Government outlined in the Register of Delegations provided in Attachment 1, to the Chief Executive Officer of Council Carried unanimously. 6.5. BUDGET REVIEW 1 (BR1) FOR THE 2024/25 FINANCIAL YEAR Motion Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Nicola Wilson That Council A. Note the report by the Financial Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 and approve the proposed GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 changes to the Budget and Schedule of Fees and Charges for the 2024/25 financial year as outlined in the Revised Budget Financial Statements provided in Attachments 1 - 5 to the report; and B. Identify the amount returned to unconstrained cash reserves from unspent budgetary allocations for the Zero Emissions Noosa program in the 202223 and 2023-24 financial years as 'seed funding' for the commencement of the proposed "Futures Fund", noting that the intent of the fund is to generate a reserve for potential large scale climate action projects and to demonstrate Council's ongoing commitment to reducing the emissions from its operations. For: Crs Wegener, Stockwell and Wilkie Against: Crs Phillips, Lorentson, Wilson and Finzel Lost. Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Jessica Phillips Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That Council note the report by the Financial Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 and approve the proposed changes to the Budget and Schedule of Fees and Charges for the 2024/25 financial year as outlined in the Revised Budget Financial Statements provided in Attachments 1 - 5 to the report. Carried unanimously. 6.6. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – JUL 2024 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Financial Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024 outlining July 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. 6.7. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT INCLUDING Q4 OPERATIONAL PLAN 2023-24 PROGRESS REPORT Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the General Committee dated 12 August 2024 regarding the Annual Performance Report and: A. Note the progress report outlining Council's performance over 2023-24 financial year and detailing the status of initiatives in the 2023-24 Operational Plan to 30 June 2024 provided as Attachment 1; and GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 B. Note the status of Council's Key Performance Indicators as provided as Attachment 2. C. Note the development of indicators which support the Corporate Plan performance measures as provided as Attachment 3. Carried unanimously. 6.8. EMU MOUNTAIN ROAD - SHARED PATHWAY Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council A. Note the report by the Director Infrastructure Services to the General Committee Meeting dated 12 August 2024; B. Support a shared path and cycleway along the northern side of Emu Mountain Road described at Option 1b to be funded and constructed by Sunshine Coast Council including the submission of grant applications by Sunshine Coast Council; C. Request Sunshine Coast Council liaise with environmental agencies and stakeholders to mitigate environmental impact of Option 1b including revegetation of batters and consideration of offset planting; D. Note that Noosa Council will refer any ongoing issues or concerns about performance of the crossing on David Low Way and / or vehicular congestion arising from modifications to the David Low Way roundabout to Sunshine Coast Council and TMR for their attention; and E. Authorise the CEO to execute an infrastructure agreement with Sunshine Coast Council for their ongoing maintenance of the proposed shared pathway including pavements, embankments and boardwalks. Carried unanimously. 6.9. GO NOOSA TRANSPORT INITIATIVES 2023/24 EVALUATION AND 2024/25 IMPLEMENTATION Motion Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council A. Note the report by the Acting Director Infrastructure Services to the General Committee meeting dated 12 August regarding the Go Noosa Initiatives; B. Delegate authority to the CEO to approve the ongoing implementation of the Go Noosa initiatives as outlined in this report, subject to Council’s budget processes; C. Note the proposal for Council Officers to undertake a review of the of the Boreen Point Flexilink and Council Cabs service and report back to Council; D. Approve the use of the Noosa Head Lions Park for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 14 December 2024 to Tuesday 28 GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 January 2025 and Saturday 2 April 2025 to Monday 21 April 2025 by the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources. E. Seek community feedback on the future use of the park. F. Approve the temporary use of the "Main Beach Local Government Reserve”, adjacent to the Noosa Heads Surf Club, as a “Main Beach Drop Off Zone” for the peak Christmas /New Year’s Eve two-week period including drop-off/pick-up, disability permit holders, scooter/motorbike, Council lifeguards, emergency services vehicles, NYE rapid response area, and additional facilities such as waste collection, temporary toilet block etc. G. Note that a Parking Management Plan, including a Local Parking Plan for Noosa Heads is under preparation and a Movement and Place study is proposed for the 2025/26FY, that closely considers carparking and circulation in the Main Beach locality including future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park, the Noosa Heads Bus Station, the Maze Carpark and the Main Beach Local Government Reserve which will wholistically consider the uses, design and circulation within these critical spaces for Noosa Heads and will be subject to community engagement; and H. Note that Council’s resolution on 13 September 2021 that referred the concept of a one-way "Local Loop" with Bus Priority Lane, from Noosa Drive to Noosa Parade be referred to a Councillor workshop to encourage bus usage and frequency. Amendment Number 1. Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That Item D be amended to read: D. Note that, as Council has yet to conduct community engagement specifically on the future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park Reserve during peak periods as per the Motion of 16 March 2023, approve the use of the reserve for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 14 December 2024 to Tuesday 28 January 2025 and Saturday 2 April 2025 to Monday 21 April 2025 by the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources. For: Crs Lorentson, Phillips, Finzel, Wegener, Wilkie and Wilson Against: Cr Stockwell Carried. Amendment No. 2 Moved: Cr Nicola Wilson Seconded: Cr Tom Wegener That following item be added to Item D: 1. Authorise the CEO to negotiate fees For: Crs Wilkie, Wilson, Wegener, Stockwell and Finzel Against: Crs Lorentson, Phillips Carried. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Amelia Lorentson Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council A. Note the report by the Acting Director Infrastructure Services to the General Committee meeting dated 12 August regarding the Go Noosa Initiatives; B. Delegate authority to the CEO to approve the ongoing implementation of the Go Noosa initiatives as outlined in this report, subject to Council’s budget processes; C. Note the proposal for Council Officers to undertake a review of the of the Boreen Point Flexilink and Council Cabs service and report back to Council; D. Note that, as Council has yet to conduct community engagement specifically on the future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park Reserve during peak periods as per the Motion of March 16, 2023, approve the use of the Noosa Head Lions Park for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 14 December 2024 to Tuesday 28 January 2025 and Saturday 2 April 2025 to Monday 21 April 2025 by the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club at their discretion and that Council communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources; and 1. Authorise the CEO to negotiate fees. E. Seek community feedback on the future use of the park; F. Approve the temporary use of the "Main Beach Local Government Reserve”, adjacent to the Noosa Heads Surf Club, as a “Main Beach Drop Off Zone” for the peak Christmas /New Year’s Eve two-week period including drop-off/pick-up, disability permit holders, scooter/motorbike, Council lifeguards, emergency services vehicles, NYE rapid response area, and additional facilities such as waste collection, temporary toilet block etc; G. Note that a Parking Management Plan, including a Local Parking Plan for Noosa Heads is under preparation and a Movement and Place study is proposed for the 2025/26FY, that closely considers carparking and circulation in the Main Beach locality including future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park, the Noosa Heads Bus Station, the Maze Carpark and the Main Beach Local Government Reserve which will wholistically consider the uses, design and circulation within these critical spaces for Noosa Heads and will be subject to community engagement; and H. Note that Council’s resolution on 13 September 2021 that allowed the concept of a one-way "Local Loop" with Bus Priority Lane, from Noosa Drive to Noosa Parade be referred to a Councillor workshop to encourage bus usage and frequency. For: Crs Lorentston, Phillips, Wegener, Wilkie, Finzel and Wilson Against: Cr Stockwell Carried. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 12 AUGUST 2024 7. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 8. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 5.10 PM
Meeting Transcript
Brian Stockwell 00:09.980
So welcome to the August general committee. We have all councillors in attendance and we have a rather full gallery so welcome to those of you in the gallery. We being all here we don't have any apologies. We do have the confirmation of the minutes. Would someone like to move? That's moved Councillor Wilkie, seconded Councillor Lorentson. Did anyone wish to discuss anything? So I'll put that to the vote all in favour? No? And that's unanimous. Okay we have no presentations but we do have a deputation so if I can invite Susan McDonald to the lectern and she is talking about the planning scheme amendments relating to the Delorme St Noosa Heads. been explained to you Susie, you have a maximum of 15 minutes. Suzie McDonald 01:12.449
This is a deeply personal matter not only for the community in our street but also for the hundreds of residents who I have spoken to across the community over the past five weeks who have supported We have supported and shared with me the same sentiments they have in relation to their streets. The reason we submitted this petition was to say to council that you can't just identify a street on the map that meets your objectives and with the stroke of a pen, our rights and our futures and our kids' Proposed amendment number two to the Noosa Plan 2020 threatens not only our rights as landholders but also the very fabrics of our communities by making a single dwelling house or a duplex inconsistent in medium and high density residential zones. I want to be very clear the issues we have raised concern the diminution of rights, appropriate planning, maintaining socially cohesive fabrics within our communities. Lack of community consultation and unknown economic consequences. The issues we have raised are not about affordable housing. We all recognise the importance of those issues and we commend council and acknowledge your efforts towards finding solutions. Our concerns are certainly not to dismiss this vital work, rather to foster collaborations between council and residents. If you know Delorme Street or have had the pleasure of meeting any of the residents, you would know we are a street of hard-working Australians, full of ordinary down-to-earth people. Our beloved street has its own identity, one defined by safety, security and a strong sense of community, and one that we cherish and wish to preserve. are not simply a collection of old houses on good-sized blocks which are ripe for renovation, to quote what I was told by the Planning Department. We are simply a type of community, a mix of business owners, children and retirees, with deep roots and shared values who are deeply concerned for our futures. For decades our street has been characterised by single dwelling homes with no holiday rentals or units until Council planning changed us to medium density when it rolled out the Plan 2020 in the middle of a pandemic when our focus was on survival, remote work and navigating overwhelming amounts of information and misinformation. With fear, social isolation, education disruption difficulty accessing essentials, financial stress, stress and emotional well-being as well as being separated from our loved ones. Is there any wonder the Noosa Plan 2020 went through with seemingly little objection? In my recent In my recent submission, I personally invited all the councillors to our street to meet with the affected residents and listen to what we genuinely have to say and understand our real issue, which is potentially losing our fundamental rights to do what we want on our own land. Today, Councillor Lorentson is the only councillor who has taken me up on that invitation and actually drawn off our street. I learned from the planning department in a recent meeting that they identified Delorme Street to be changed to a medium density zone under the Noosa Plan 2020 because they looked at old houses which were on good sized blocks which were right for renovation. can't help but ask why us, we only have 13 blocks over 600 square metres, yet there are so many other streets directly around us, also easy walking distance to Noosa Junction, start with 25 to 50 blocks of land over 600 square metres in a single street In a single street that also meets planning's objectives, yet those streets remain to this day low density residential. This inconsistency raises serious questions about fairness in the decision making process. I coincidentally joined the Noosa Chamber of Commerce just days before their monthly meeting on the 25th of June during which Russell Green and Ralph Rogers raised these proposed amendments. This was the first time I had heard about them. This information should not have been a coincidence. It should have been communicated directly to every single resident of the Noosa Shire. To date, I have only spoken to one resident who told me he received a letter from the council about the proposed amendments. However, that letter did not mention any changes within the median density zone, which is the information he needed regarding his property, which is in a median density zone. I have spoken to hundreds of people who did not receive a letter, and yet under the Minister's guidelines and rules, the State of Queensland, the Department of Housing, Local Government, Planning and Public Works, July 2024 document, it says: addition to the public notice requirements prescribed in the notice about the process given by the Chief Executive under Section 18A or B of the Act or in Part 4 of Chapter 2, the Local Government must give notice every property owner affected by the proposed planning change. Housing solutions were discussed by a councillor during the election campaign who responded to the question about population growth by saying, "We can accommodate population growth in the current town planning settings because of changes to state government legislation around secondary dwellings. However, it's curious the proposed amendments initiated in January 2023 and now viewed by council as a solution to the housing crisis were not mentioned in that interview. Council fact sheet number three states that the medium density residential zone is for medium density development, i.e. dual occupancies and multiple dwellings and zones development for single dwelling houses inefficient and inefficient and unsustainable. I take this opportunity to remind you that I have raised my three children in my home spent years working for local businesses and in recent years running my own business contributing to the local economy by shopping here putting my my children through local schools, dining in the local restaurants, supporting the local sports clubs, paying rates to Noosa Council for 23 years. Now my children, their partners and my five grandchildren get to come home on weekends and holidays to enjoy what they steal from all their So I certainly don't call my single dwelling house inefficient or unsustainable. You cannot stop changing their lives and there are hundreds of scenarios I suggest council hasn't even begun to consider. Where these proposed amendments may significantly and financially impact people. One of which I raised in recent meetings was if a house burns down and a growing family needs to increase the scale and intensity of their home, would they be able that under existing use rights or would it trigger a multiple change of use which could potentially risk their application being declined? What would happen to the residents then? I urge the council, the people who sit at this table, to empathise with our situation and grasp the gravity of what's at stake for many residents. Residents are confused and concerned. The proposed amendments have instilled fear and uncertainty in us all. This is why residents are seeking greater transparency and meaningful consultation and engagement with the council. These issues are not just about property, they are about people and our futures. I stand here today not only to represent the support I have received from the community on our street, but also the support I have received from the hundreds of residents I've spoken to or engaged to or engaged with over the past five weeks, and the hundreds of people who have signed out online petitions. Those petitions were started because my neighbour and I recognised that many others, just like us, were unaware of these proposed amendments. We believe this would be the quickest way to raise awareness within the wider community. Those petitions have gathered 950 signatures in three weeks, which clearly shows, despite limited... exposure, many people have taken the opportunity to oppose these amendments. Imagine how many more residents might have voiced their objections to the increased community consultation that would have given them more time to learn, reflect, understand and provide feedback. the State of Queensland Department of State Development Infrastructure Local Government Planning December 2020 Community Engagement Toolkit for Planning emphasises the importance of community engagement which involves involving people involves involving people in the decisions that affect them. It highlights key elements of accessibility, timing and transparency. Noting that engaging communities early in the policy or project life cycle can lead to better outcomes by allowing for diverse communities. Input and understanding of trade-offs. Additionally, the toolkit references a 2015 framework by Consult Australia and IAP2 Australasia, the International Association for Public Participation that quantifies the value of stakeholder engagement in infrastructure projects. The six core principles outlined in the community engagement toolkit kit for planning are: engagement focuses on the best outcome of the community, engagement is open, honest and meaningful, approaches to engagement are inclusive and appropriate, information is timely and relevant, information is accurate, easy to understand and accessible, decision-making Decision making is transparent. Councillors, the economic consequences of these proposed amendments must be understood and quantified before these regulations are submitted to the State Government for consideration. I urge you to consider these principles and the following points. There needs to be an independent economic analysis of the impacts of all the proposed amendments to ensure no harm is done to the economy, including a full economic assessment of proposed One to twelve. Ensure all proposed amendments consider and support the development plans including the endorsed economic development plan, the endorsed housing strategy and the outcomes adhere to the principles of the council endorsed small business charter. Reject proposed amendment number two to the Noosa Plan 2020 and determine what will work in reality and work in reality and what will not. Engage with our communities before making final decisions so you can better understand the day-to-day experiences of people and communities. Take adequate time to consult with all stakeholders across the Noosa Shire. This process does not have to be rushed. Allow sufficient time for the community to consider information and then make a meaningful contribution to the plan making or development assessment process. Facilitate open forums and community spaces and facilitate open, clear, easy to understand dialogue with the residents to inform the public of the potential impacts. Make sure the approach to engagement is inclusive and appropriate and engagement is open, honest and meaningful. Clearly published and easy to understand language, assessments detailing what outcomes these amendments will achieve as the public have the right to know. Encourage the community to be involved in discussing planning and development issues that affect their lives, making sure to seek out diverse voices and perspectives. In closing, it is my belief that the residents of Delorme Street want to retain our rights to build a single dwelling house or duplex on our own land, as do many of the residents I have spoken with in the medium and high density areas across the Noosa Shire. I urge council to reconsider the implications of amendment number two and to engage with the residents transparently and collaboratively. There are some incredible minds across the Noosa Shire, so let us work together to protect the essence of our We want the status and ensure that our future is determined by the voices of those who truly call this place home. Thank you for your time and your consideration. Brian Stockwell 12:25.386
Thank you and as with all the submissions made to the planning scheme amendments your views and concerns are currently being considered and weighed on by staff and we will receive a report in the future looking at suggested amendments to what was advertised. We now move on to item five which is items referred from committees and first one is material change of use 220201 for application for a car wash food and drink outlet at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy and we welcome Director Richards, Manager Patrick and Reporting Officer Nadine. Nicola Wilson 13:09.633
Oh, okay. I, Councillor Nicola Wilson, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as my partner, Roy Van Der Berg, made a submission to this application when it was notified for 15 business days in 2023 in accordance with the Planning Act 2016 and received 520 properly made submissions. Although I Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person will have a perception of bias because this is one submission of over 500 and neither Roy nor myself have a financial interest in the outcome. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room however, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Brian Stockwell 14:11.251
So, councillors, does anyone have any questions of Councillor Wilson or does someone wish to move a motion? Frank Wilkie 14:17.231
I move. that council note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Wilson and determine that Councillor Wilson participates and votes in this matter because council believes that a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in public interest. Jessica Phillips 14:31.798
I'll second. Brian Stockwell 14:33.618
Do we wish to top the motion, Councillor Wilkie? I do not. Anyone else wish to? I'll put it to the vote. All those in favour? That's carried That's carried unanimously. Amelia Lorentson 14:42.763
And I would like to move an alternate motion. We normally have the staff to speak first. So if we can do an executive summary. Nadine 14:55.257
Good afternoon councillors. We're dealing with this morning an application for a material change of use, MCU 22/021 for a car wash and food and drink premises over at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy. This application was considered at the Planning Committee meeting and has been referred up to general for further discussion. The applicant proposes a car wash on the site and a food and drink the corner. The car wash comprises two auto bays, two manual bays, two super bays as well as three vacuum bays and a dog wash area on the northern side of the site. Just as a comparison the Noosaville car wash next to the Bunnings has four car wash bays and vacuum bays whereas the other one down near Good Shepherd has four bays and four car wash bays and two auto bays. Two pre-lodgement meetings were held with the applicant and whilst these pre-lodgement meetings indicated that there was some need a use as there wasn't a car wash in the Cooroy locality, any application, the applicant was advised that any application would need to clearly demonstrate a need and outline all and all grounds for supporting this application as well as reviewing other sites in the locality. During the process there was various information requests that were issued and further advices and it is the applicant responded to all of those information requests and further advices and provided amended plans and further technical reports. In response to those information the design was altered several times to include further pitched roof and elements relating to the Cooroy character. The site is located in the Cooroy local plan area and is included in the district centre zone. A car zone. A car wash is detailed in the assessment tables for the district centre zone as an impact inconsistent use. Inconsistent uses are defined under the Noosa Plan as a use that is strongly inappropriate in the relevant zones because it is incompatible with other uses generally expected in that zone. The Noosa Plan also has a list of defined activity groups and a car wash and a car wash is included in the industry activities group. A service station which has been notified indicated by the applicant is to the north of the site is included in the business activities group and it is also an inconsistent use in this zone. So just as an aside on that in terms of industry activities and the groupings under the planning scheme we do have things such as a car wash, extractive industries, high-impact industry, medium industry and houses. Whereas business activities include things like, I'll miss the first, the adult store, but things like bulk landscape supplies, food and drink, garden centre, markets, office shops, etc. The applicant has identified that this of use is generally consistent in other schemes. Just for comparison, I've had a quick look. Brisbane City Council, it's accepted development, a car wash is accepted development in their business zone, but it's to be located in association with an existing service station and then there are caveats around within an enclosed car parking associated with a shopping centre. Morton, it's located, a car wash is accessible development, code accessible if it's in a specialised or more a centre precinct area and when you have a quick look at that precinct that talks about bulky goods and the car wash is to be located internally to that development. Gympie, it's impact accessible. Sunshine Coast Centre, Sunshine Coast Council, it's code. Fraser Coast, it's impact, as well. The application, as a result of being impact accessible, was publicly notified and there were over 520... 520 submissions received, 498 were received in support and over 19 against. Unfortunately, it's been hard to actually identify where all of those submissions were because a lot of people did include just an email address. The district centre zone is intended to cater for commercial development with the Noosa Plan indicating that development is to maintain a traditional town centre design with development addressing the street and providing active street fronts. The proposed car wash is not considered considered to meet the intent of this zone and locality. The car wash is considered to reinforce the partially established industrial character of Elm Street, which is created by the existing historic service station. The zone seeks active street funds with car parking not to dominate the frontage. The proposed car wash provides limited street buildings to the street frontages, with cars being highly visible. The car wash also results in loss loss of valuable district-centred zoned land, which is intended for commercial retail uses. As previous outlined, at the time of writing this report, which was several weeks ago, the original report, our traffic consultant had indicated that things were okay with it. Upon further investigation, the traffic consultant has come back and indicated to us that he has some concerns. He believes that the applicant hasn't satisfactorily demonstrated that access to the site is acceptable in terms of queuing and where the Diamond Street exit could accommodate all the traffic. It is noted that the application was referred to the State, SARA, because of its proximity and that they had no objections and just included standard conditions relating to impacts making sure there's no impacts on their infrastructure. When we're looking at this application we also considered need and there are three key aspects when we're considering need. There's the economic, community and planning need. The Strategic and Environment Department have advised that there is limited centre zoned land in Cooroy compared to that in the industrial land and that we should be retaining this land for commercial use. I'm sure they'll come up later, there is sufficient, there is other land available in Cooroy capable for development in Jarrah Street and also out at Hobbs Road. The applicant has raised that there's significant employment benefits from this development, noting we've got four to six attendants over seven days, the food and drink has two people and it can generate up to 20 people in a part-time or full-time basis. It is agreed that site will have some employment opportunities, however, we still believe this would be less than a commercial activity on the site. Staff also agree that there are benefits benefits associated with the car wash in terms of water conservation, reducing waste water running into the environment. However, I would note that this could also be achieved if the site was located in an industrial zone. to need, it is agreed that Cooroy and the surrounding area do not have a car wash and that many residents are supportive. However, on balance, the loss of the district zone land, the limited employment opportunities and the the visual streetscape impacts are considered to outweigh these matters and the application is not supported by staff. Brian Stockwell 22:33.713
Thank you. Now, Councillor Lorentson has indicated she'd like to move a motion. I might ask a question if it's not... Councillor Lorentson did get first and... Lorentson did get first and suggest she wanted to move a motion, so I'll give her the floor in a few seconds and we can then go on to questions if she wants to proceed. Amelia Lorentson 22:48.280
That Council note the report by the Coordinating Planning to the Planning and Environment Committee meeting dated 6 August 2024 regarding MCU 22/0201 for a development for a development permit for material change of use for a car wash and food and drink outlet at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy and approve the application. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer. Officer to issue a development permit for material change of use for a car wash and food and drink outlet at 34 Elm Street, Cooroy and impose reasonable and relevant conditions on the approval. C. Note that the report is provided in accordance with Section 63.5 of the Planning Act 2016 and D. Find the following matters relevant to the assessment and sufficient reason to approve the application. 1. There is a strong level of economic, community and planning need for the development in this location. Two, there is no... There is no car wash currently provided within Cooroy and Noosa hinterland and no other suitable land available for that purpose. 3. The proposed development will provide substantial community benefit and will not cause... adverse impacts on the humanity and character of the area. 4. The proposed development accords with reasonable community expectations given the significant number of submissions in support that have been received. 5. There will be significant environmental benefits for a car wash to be provided in the location resulting in improved water quality entering local waterways including Lake Macdonald. A car wash is for the commercial washing of vehicles which is a complementary use to the existing service stations in this location which will result in sharing of facilities and reduce traffic. 7. Conditions can be imposed to address any issues raised by submitters about the hours of operations of the development. Brian Stockwell 25:04.384
Okay. Councillor Wilkie, you can ask a question if you wish or we can second it. We can get a seconder so it's up to you. Frank Wilkie 25:13.269
Just a question about the availability of industrial land. You've mentioned Jarrah Street and also Hobbs Road. Yes. Could you just explain the suitability of the land of Jarrah Street? How ready is that to go? And also the lots at Hobbs Road, please. Nadine 25:32.789
Hobbs Road, there are two lots, two to lots that are available, that are ready. They are vacant at the moment of Taylor Court, sorry. So it's Hobbs Road, Taylor Court. So is there land available for development at the moment? Jarrah Street has some, there are council owners three lots at the end. They're not quite ready at the moment to go. There is some limited land about, there's another block that has not been developed as well, which is further southward of council owned lots. So there is, there is vacant undeveloped land at the end. It's, I suppose council's land is ready, it will be ready soon to be developed. There are also four lots along Mary River Road which are undeveloped. They've got got houses on them as well, so they could be converted to industrial uses. Frank Wilkie 26:28.514
They're currently occupied? They are currently occupied yeah. The Hobbs Road, Taylor Court, they're vacant? vacant, that's correct. Available for sale? Nadine 26:39.560
I haven't looked at that, sorry. I don't think so. Frank Wilkie 26:43.820
I'd like to test if there's a line in this. Brian Stockwell 26:49.319
Councillor, are you asking a question? Yeah, the question, there is no car wash currently provided within Cooroy, true, and the Noosa Hinterland, and no other suitable land available for that purpose. Is that a true statement? Nadine 27:06.260
Well there's no there is no car wash in Cooroy. There is land zoned. There is zoned land available. I suppose that's going into a real estate realm, sorry Councillor. I mean land, suitable land available for a car wash. There is land that is undeveloped that there is land that is zoned in industry and that is undeveloped so yes there is I would say there is yes land appropriately zoned for that use. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 27:39.973
So could I, I'm giving it a second, could I make a minor adjustment and just add the word there is there is no car wash currently and no other suitable land immediately available for that purpose. Thank you. Jessica Phillips 28:10.954
I have a question please in relation to Jarrah Street it is a it is a cul-de-sac is that correct? It's a dead end of the road yes that's correct. Is there an opportunity that they will be on through road at some stage is that what's predicted? Council owns the land that slot to the north that's 70 Carpenters Road that's approximately 10 hectares Council owns that land and currently there are Council staff are currently developing a strategy to activate Council land holdings so I understand that will be looked at in the future so it's owned industry as well and it's got some it does have some constraints over it in terms of riparian so it's it's, at the moment, I suppose, a holding pattern for industrial uses. So I'm just a bit confused how Jarrah Street's then zoned, or has been, what was your word, that it's appropriate? There are three blocks at the end end that that council owns land at the end as well, and they're currently zoned and they've been subdivided off. So there are three lots there that could be in the future available on the market. And there's another block off Jarrah Street which is undeveloped as well. I'm just picturing a car wash at the end of a dead end street and wondering how it's perceived that that would be suitable for a car wash. Nadine 29:40.505
There are sites which we've indicated. Yes, the Mary River Road. There are four sites there that are zoned industry as well and they are none of the highest and best used at the moment. They're residential. They could be redeveloped. could be redeveloped as well. They could be for car wash. So my question to that... If I could just clarify. When planners talk about land being suitable, they're talking about in the land use context, not necessarily the commercial... Thank you, yes. Is that correct? Jessica Phillips 30:07.914
That's correct, yes. Okay, just a follow Okay just a follow-up question then around Mary River Road residential land when we're talking about housing crisis nationwide why would we be saying that residential land would be repurposed for industrial? It's not, it's zoned industry. Nadine 30:24.143
So the four blocks along opposite the tennis courts is not included in the industrial zone. Tom Wegener 30:29.603
Okay. Okay. It's been earmarked for industrial land for some time. So obviously from a land use perspective, initially when those houses get to end of life, the intention is that they would be replaced with industrial land when there's a need for that. Brian Stockwell 30:45.276
Okay. Do we have more questions? I do. Okay, cancel Wookiee, then cancel Lawson? Frank Wilkie 30:50.356
Um, just... The accuracy of the statement, so number five, there'll be significant environmental benefits for a car wash to be provided in the location, resulting in improved water quality entering local waterways, including Lake Macdonald's. How will this development improve the quality of water entering local waterways is my question. Patrick Murphy 31:15.034
Won't it make it worse? Well, people won't be washing their cars on their property. Yes. And therefore won't be running out of driveways or running into waterways through that process. It also makes an assumption that all those people who are currently washing their cars are going to use the car wash. Yes. They may not. I mean, my understanding is that car wash is that car wash detergents remove phosphates some of the time ago, so some of the environmental impacts were addressed through that mechanism. Any development, whether it's industrial or a warehouse in an industrial area, will have to do with water quality sensitive design. So this is providing what it needs to provide. It's not a benchmark for environmental performance in terms of water quality. Frank Wilkie 32:08.916
So would it be more accurate to say, resulting in an opportunity for improved water quality entering local waterways? Amelia Lorentson 32:16.516
I'm happy with that change. Brian Stockwell 32:23.793
It's a difficult question to ask staff because you're dealing with someone else's motion, so I'm not going to accept it. Just one point of clarification, did I read in the report that the site is not within the Lake Macdonald catchment area, is that right? That's correct. Frank Wilkie 32:42.013
So it's not accurate to say that entering the water, entering the waterways including Lake Macdonald because it doesn't go into Lake Macdonald. Amelia Lorentson 32:51.082
Can I respond? So that references not only the car wash but also households. So people that would don't have access to a car wash that actually travel 20-25 minutes either to Gympie or Noosaville to use a car wash. For those residents in the Hinterland and Cooroy area that would normally wash their car and I will speak to that. I've got some numbers and references so that's not specific to it's the benefits of car wash. It stops people from washing their cars at home and if they washed it at home there are detrimental or adverse impacts in terms of contaminants stormwater and then into lakeland and river glades, but I'll speak to that. I'll second. Nicola Wilson 33:50.452
I have a question regarding when we talk about traffic entering and out of the site, traffic exiting the site with the lane going up the bark. Has there been an infrastructure agreement between the applicant and council with regards to widening that infrastructure or how is that going to be managed as part of this? The applicant is aware and as part of the proposal will be dedicating two metres across the frontage of that laneway. And has there been a formal agreement? There's no need for the agreement, we will condition it as part of any agreement. Okay so I just ask questions I don't see I say there in point seven conditions can be imposed to address any issues about the hours of operation is there any other opportunity to to talk about conditioning, the development in a more broader sense. Councillor Wilson, I guess that's a question to you for the... And B. Tom Wegener 34:46.531
And B, yeah. Oh, B? Reasonable and relevant conditions, so a full suite of conditions. suite of conditions. Okay, yes, a full suite. That's your approach. Amelia Lorentson 34:55.975
Okay, all right. Questions? Questions, yeah. So, in terms of what are the reasons for refusal, Andy raised in the debate, if an in-state or district centres own land that is intended to be used... be used for commercial, community and entertainment-related use. My question is, what is the current retail floor space capacity within the Cooroy district zone, and is there underutilised land that could be better developed for retail or commercial purposes? That's a huge question. question. I don't think I can answer that. Patrick Murphy 35:36.645
Well, I don't think we'd be able to give you the number of capacity. That would take quite an analysis, but there certainly would be sites that have development potential within the district centre. That may not be at their full potential at the moment. It would be reasonable to say that. Amelia Lorentson 35:59.260
And just another question in terms of the existing development approval, and I've got some drawings somewhere. I think it's nine tenancies, nine retail tenancies. Yeah. The MCU18. My understanding... My understanding is that there was no uptake in any tenancies on the existing approval, and that was one of the reasons why the previous owners sold to the Kings Group. From a planning perspective, given the location of the site, is it possible that the site, and I think Councillor Tom Wegener raised the Planning and Environment Committee, is there a possibility that the site is actually incorrectly zoned, given that it is located between two service, industrial service petrol station. We also We also raised the planning environment, meaning that if there was a different owner, say for instance one of the owners from one of the service stations, then the application for a car wash would have gone through as it Consistent use being a funcillary to a service station. So again my question is it correctly zoned? Well the service station would not be able car to develop a wash on this site and it just goes straight through. The business activity the service station is allowed to have as an ancillary component a shop or a car wash so it would be expected it the same site as the service station and it would be a minor element probably just a little drive-through bay that you may have in a service station so certainly not a car wash to the extent that's proposed in these circumstances. The other question around whether the land is suitably zoned, I mean there's a lot of documents within the planning scheme and I'm not part of our strategic planning department so I'll keep what I say on their behalf but there's a lot of documents in the scheme that talk about about how it's envisaged that Cooroy will be developed, and how the commercial area of Cooroy will be developed, around its character, the types of uses that are to occur, you look at the zoning within proximity of the site, and there seems to be a logical component. Tom Wegener 38:52.194
Grows in Cooroy and greater connectivity occurs. There is a need to identify with the plant and see if that long-term use, which is to create that village-like interface there, given it's obviously a highly utilised thoroughfare. So the long-term outcome is to see that that is turned into a district centre as opposed to sort of an industrial interface that the community will utilise over time. So whilst it might at this point in time look like it's heavily dominated by service type industries and service stations obviously at either end, the long-term intention for that particular locality is to see a centre zone outcome which is fairly well illustrated in some of the graphics and documentation buttons here question um item three says that will not have any adverse impacts on the amenity and character of the area in your graph in your report you mentioned a non-compliance with the planning scheme which is a 17 metre long concrete wall whereas a shorter distance being allowed under the planning scheme could you explain why that is considered an important point of non-compliance planning scheme Nadine 40:27.696
It's actually that wall is 19 metres long, whereas the planning scheme dictates a maximum length of the wall of 15 metres, so it does extend beyond that, mainly to provide some protection for this adjoining land use. In terms of, I suppose, visibility, noise, overspray and things like that. I do know it is offset off the boundary and that there is that connecting walkway through to the site and the applicant is The planning scheme does allow on side boundaries for development to go to side boundaries but the main reason for that 15 metre restriction is that we're wanting small built forms, we're wanting things that reflect the character and generally when you look at the character of these areas, there's smaller lots which might have, which generally might have a lot of maybe 20 metres wide, but you have individual buildings that might be attached. So there's that differentiation in scale, amenity, you've got vertical and horizontal elements that come out and you've got breaks and setbacks. Frank Wilkie 41:37.092
So yes, this doesn't comply So a 19 metre long concrete slab wall is something you wish to see in an industrial estate, and more consistent with the character and amenity of an industrial estate. Yes. Amelia Lorentson 41:54.288
Can I ask, in terms of the wall, was that discussed with the applicant in the design? Nadine 42:01.328
It was brought up in the information request. It was raised and... They didn't really sort of further address it. We were looking at a lot of the requirements relating to the quite visual aspects to the street and trying to get an improved outcome and reflecting character those Cooroy especially country for the front. So there would be an opportunity to condition the application so 15 metres are already agreed. I'd like to terms of what our noise consultant, whether that is a requirement. Patrick Murphy 42:39.118
Well it's the length of the superwash bays plus a 1.2 metre eternity of the site. So I don't, the Amelia Lorentson 43:00.076
Just to get to get some that also minimises any adverse impacts in terms of noise lighting with the adjoining residents or the bowling club next door. Is that correct? Yes. It requires a utility needs outcome the wall there to service, you know, the bay and then there is an additional length which I would say would provide some noise. Frank Wilkie 43:29.236
12 Degree pitched roof which is a character element of the Cooroy area. I understand you put the request to the design team and they said that they could accommodate the 12 degree pitch roof but they'd have to raise the... size of the building to accommodate the bays. Nadine 43:52.592
That's correct. That was mainly on the superwash. That's the big one at the back with the wall. That one doesn't have the 12 degree roof pitch. But yes, they said they couldn't reduce the building height because Patrick Murphy 44:30.102
State point of view, you may recall the previous application, there was a lot of time that was spent getting suitable design outcomes, and in this instance the design is of far less quality. And you're dealing with hard surfaces, car movement, it doesn't have the character provision, it doesn't comply with the character provision, so we would like to see it. Frank Wilkie 44:54.848
Are you expecting more feedback from the traffic consultant about the impact on the side streets? Patrick Murphy 44:59.408
Or um well we have received feedback and um as raised unfortunately we don't have received that following feedback on the morning of the meeting but it does raise concerns with the queuing that can be provided within the site to is there sufficient room for the queueing to occur and for other vehicles to manoeuvre through the site so it doesn't impact out onto Opal Street and there's also further material um well it hadn't been demonstrated that cars that were that cars that were going to leave by Diamond Lane would have a satisfactory area and also that it would work from a practical point of view, noting the vehicle movements that come out of the service station. So from our point of view, it's an unresolved believe an addendum prepared an amended set of grounds of refusal and they have that included in it. Amelia Lorentson 45:51.030
Can I ask for the opportunity to respond to this last minute traffic assessment. I have here 2022 was when traffic report had been available since 2022, SARA indicated that it was acceptable. Thank you very much for your time, and I look Now we're introducing new material. Has the applicant had an opportunity to respond to that? copy of our comments from our traffic engineer to the applicant last week. Patrick Murphy 46:19.234
So September 2023 they responded to the information request and they had some traffic elements that they responded to that Nadine had raised in the initial information request. Yeah it's it's a disappointing outcome for the applicant and for ourselves that it was on the day of last week's meeting that these matters were raised but notwithstanding they weren't matters which changed an approval to a refusal. There was a refusal that was being prepared. Certainly it would have been our preference to give the applicant the opportunity to respond to those matters. We have spoken to them about that and said would you like to defer a decision on this application until such time as you have the opportunity to do that. They said at this point in time they would like to proceed through the meetings. Amelia Lorentson 47:05.796
So my understanding is at the moment the car wash has the capacity to queue up to 16 vehicles. Which is significantly higher than most car washes and we're sort of just trying to understand what are the specific concerns that the staff have identified with this queuing arrangement? So is that a traffic consultant? consultant, he has identified those concerns. It is to do, as we've mentioned, he's come back and said that the inadequacy of the queuing on the approaches of the various car wash components of the development. drawing shows the maximum queuing that can be accommodated on the approach to each component of the development upon entry to the site from Opal Street without that queuing impacts on the ability of vehicles to access other adjacent components of the car wash. he's concerned if there's queuing here, if these stop here, could you do an attachment? Tom Wegener 48:08.432
It's page 31 in the package. Deb Iezy 48:11.832
In the proposal plans or not the plans? Tom Wegener 48:14.532
It It would be in the proposed should be attachment. Attachment two. Amelia Lorentson 48:22.690
One or two? Yeah, that would be... I don't think Tom Wegener 48:29.750
I'm going to try to take those. Nadine 48:43.188
So on the on the right hand the screen is general parking and queuing layout and you can see if we've got the the bottom one is the super watch with the vans and the caravans behind the vehicles then we have this is it on the basis that all of there is a the car wash bays so you can queue behind them then there's the next row of queuing what he's concerned about is basically the third third area up if that gets bogged in there that will have troubles troubles that will end up with queuing and coming back on I think Patrick Murphy 49:19.694
I'd suggest it's also the super base at the at the um the way they've done all these pictures you've got the car that's right up the end here this vehicle's vehicle's got got to to get in behind the other ute with a caravan or whatever it might be, so I think if that's back further, what's the capacity for this vehicle to get in? Or if these vehicles are back, are they going to potentially block other vehicles? From even getting into the other parts of the site, so they just feel that it hasn't adequately been demonstrated at this point in time. Amelia Lorentson 49:51.582
Can I ask, did the traffic consultant understand the car wash design ability wash design ability to process cars, I think in two and a half to three minutes, so my understanding, normal car washes are up to five to six minutes per wash. This one's almost half the time. Has that been factored in? He's been given all the information that was provided by the applicant, so he's been given all the reports and the further information, but yeah, we can clarify. Okay, Brian Stockwell 50:24.636
Councillor, you've got a question? Jessica Phillips 50:26.216
Thank you, just two actually. I just want to read the report, the recommendation to refuse the application for the following reasons. With question section B where it it says that it fails to provide, sorry it's not consistent, but suggestion from Council that it would meet more a supermarket based retail use envisioned for the zone. What would that look like? what that recommendation? Nadine 50:52.188
So there's a previous approval over the site MCU 18/0158 so that proposed or approved nine shops. I've got a question that follows up. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, it was it was shops with an internal layout of car parking. Jessica Phillips 51:11.014
Okay, so when we talk about car wash and the part of the road that we're that you're discussing and to respond to Councillor Lorentson, when we talk about a supermarket retail what sort of parking and did the traffic consultant us an indication of what that would look like for community over a car wash? Does that question make sense? Because in my mind all I can see is more traffic for parking for the community. for the community surrounding this, then a car wash, which is going through three-minute car washes. The previous application was assessed by a traffic consultant as well, and the provision of car parking on site was be suitable for the amount of four area of shops that was proposed. I think it was at a ratio of 1 to 20 square metres. And that also looks at circulation throughout the site, and in that instance, the vehicles had vehicles had to leave back out by Opal Street. They weren't to go out to Diamond Lane. The only vehicles that were allowed to go out by Diamond Lane were the service vehicles. There was a boom gate, so there was a very limited amount of traffic that was going out to... to Diamond Lane. And in this instance, all vehicles are going out to Diamond Lane, so that's one of the elements that the traffic consultant has issues with, is the capacity to accommodate those vehicles in Diamond Lane and the practical implications, but also... But also, I mean, this is different to the supermarket, because vehicles, people still sitting in their cars, they're actually queuing, waiting to use the service, whereas the supermarket, you go and actually park in your, in your car space, and you're Nadine 52:58.426
So there was an entry, there was a two-way entry. So you could come in, you could turn around and you could, if there wasn't a car park, you could drive out again. Whereas if you get stuck here, you drive in, you could get stuck. then you could be, you know, the queueing could have gone over the street. Jessica Phillips 53:16.332
Okay, so my question specifically is what, if this wasn't approved, and then we see another application for a supermarket. What supermarket could potentially look at going in that when it's suggested that that could be a retail use? Patrick Murphy 53:33.590
So the scheme's looking for a low scale supermarket that accommodates local meat. Jessica Phillips 53:41.828
So an IGA or? Tom Wegener 53:45.908
Potentially, something similar. But Jessica Phillips 53:47.908
Aldi could apply to a position there? It is small scale. And so then I just start thinking of of the Aldi that we have in Noosa. Anyway, my second question, sorry, is see services a larger catchment than envisioned by the Noosa Plan strategic outcomes. What does that mean, a larger catchment? Nadine 54:09.000
So yeah, the planning scheme talks about servicing Cooroy and the hinterland. As I think even the applicant said, they're catering for people who are coming off the North Shore to come through town. So this is a local service centre. Cooroy, it's a district centre. It's supposed to be servicing the residents of the locality. So rather than catering for people coming out from outside areas. Jessica Phillips 54:32.498
So you're suggesting someone would come off the North Shore and use the car wash at Cooroy? Well, that was one of the applicants. They're going to drive past the Noosa ones? Well, I think the applicant put that down, that this would be, did they say it? I think there were comments about that, that they need the visibility. I could be wrong on that. Patrick Murphy 54:52.656
Just to clarify the point about supermarket. So there is a provision within our scheme, a strategic outcome that seeks for the eastern side of Cooroy, so specific to centre on this side, retains its service role to support the district centre by providing small-scale local convenience goods and services for nearby residents, which may include a small-scale supermarket, provided that the need can be economically justified. So again, part of that vision for the development of this side of Cooroy. could be a small supermarket there. Brian Stockwell 55:30.144
Councillor Wilson, do you have a question? Nicola Wilson 55:32.104
Yeah, so just back on this traffic flow central issue, and this information that councillors are just seeing for the first time today. It's my understanding that the designers designed over 300 car washes, and it's quite familiar with flow and projection. Has she been given an opportunity to respond to this? Nadine 55:57.700
As we said, we did...this item came up late last week, and we have provided those comments to the applicant last week as well, so it did come up late in the process, and we them if they wanted to defer to enable further discussion about that. The designer would have been involved in the process all the way through, and just to clarify, these plans actually form part of the agenda today, so it's not the first time that they've been put before council. That's part of the original report in the attachment. Brian Stockwell 56:31.948
So we had Councillor Finzel. Nicola Wilson 56:33.668
Yes, thank you. Just in response to that, before the meeting I did speak to the designer, and she is happy to enter any conditions for agreement. But anyway, however, I have another question. My apologies if I was out of order. Back to staff member Richard's response around the future planning of this area, I'm interested in, when we talk about traffic, I'm interested in pedestrian traffic. So when we look at Elm Street and we've got the car wash here, and we're saying it isn't the right zone, I'm interested in further development, who is designing this area, including TMR in conjunction with Noosa Council to look at foot traffic and how the access across the railway line and everything, over the two things, is going to be is going to be managed here because when we talk about, you know, queuing or other matters around traffic that seem to be concerns around the table, where in this plan, further down the track, are we envisaging foot traffic to safely cross Elm Street in conjunction with, you know, what we're doing with the corner there, with the island in the middle and that, that's part of that bigger planning. Where is that currently sitting? Tom Wegener 57:51.848
We've actually got our infrastructure services director keen to jump in on that one. So there's two initiatives underway. The first one is the transit centre design. Do you remember the land around the train station? Yes. Which is also adjacent to the bus stop on Elm Street, as well as the, the footbridge across the railway line. So we have funding through the State government to actually design a transit centre, which actually brings forward both active transport, the public transport, and the road exchange. That will lead to a direct crossing to that transit centre. So we've actually engaged consultants who are working towards that. We've also forecast an infrastructure planning process for process for the Diamond Street, Cooroy, Noosa Road, Elm Street, you know, through the Mile Street interchange that was profiled in the budget process for this financial year. Unfortunately, due to the budget process, it was delayed to the next financial year. But we see Council working with TMR and the community to actually resolve, you know, what is its desired position on all these intersections around here and the ability for pedestrians to cross and also character of the streets there is a critical It's a critical issue that does the entire design process. Nicola Wilson 59:01.760
And also just a question through the Chair. Has that been progressed anywhere, that design element, or is it fairly early stages? It's still early stages. Shaun Walsh 59:10.620
It's still in the early stages. It has not been first. this design, and we don't have enough information to influence it. Nicola Wilson 59:18.486
Okay. Thank you. That's all I was after. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 59:20.866
Okay. Another question? Just a couple of questions. You mentioned before about the supermarket being ideally sort of located in this area. Is there an existing development application for a supermarket in the core, I think, of Diamond Street? Is that correct? Patrick Murphy 59:39.992
That's right. You're correct. There's nine retail shops on this location and just in Diamond Street there was another application that's been approved that's got some supermarkets. It's a small specialty shop supermarket and I think there's some accommodation as part of that one as well. There is, I think, two units or something. Yeah, just around the corner. So there is an existing application at the moment for a supermarket on Diamond Street and some accommodation. In terms of queuing, is that something that can be conditioned if this application... Is it as simple as just conditioning it? My understanding is, you know, that if there's a queue and there's road obstruction, people don't wait. What they do is they fill up petrol, they go home and they come back another time. No one waits because it's an absolute process to unload. And take the caravan off or the trailer off. And when you know it's there and you're available to go any time, you're not going to be queuing. So my question is, is it something can be conditioned? Tom Wegener 01:00:54.314
I mean, from my perspective, it's not something that can be conditioned. I guess what we need to do is the applicant is the onus to demonstrate non-worsening or no adverse impact on traffic. So our preference would be that they demonstrate that there's no adverse impact from the queuing in terms of the functionality of traffic entering and exit and obviously backing up. So in normal circumstances, circumstance the applicant would go through a process of demonstrating there will be no adverse impact from queuing onto those joint road networks and they would need to proof that up so that let's say in peak period demand when there's demand, when there's the maximum number anticipated of vehicles, is that likely to spill out and how is that going to be managed and the applicant would need to demonstrate that before we can be satisfied that it can be contained within the site and not spill out to have queuing. Amelia Lorentson 01:01:50.986
Just my last question, Councillor Wilson. The Noosa Car Spar, it's a much smaller site, 1,200 to 1,400 square metres. It's got It's got a very good car washing system that I believe it's like five to six minutes. I drive past it almost every day. My husband half-built Bunnings, so we're at Bunnings... So I'm going to call you up for your commentary, please, questions. Excuse me. So we drive past the car spa quite often. I've never seen... I don't believe it's a question. I believe you're leading staff. So has anyone else got a Excuse me. Brian Stockwell 01:02:33.440
No, I'm sorry. No, you were being argumentative there. So I'm going on to another question. If you can think of a short one, I'll come back to you. So Councillor Wilson, do you have another question? Nicola Wilson 01:02:43.160
I believe there would always be a staff member on site during opening hours. So is that something, the queuing problem and particularly the big vehicles blocking the entrance, is that something that a staff member could reasonably manage? Nadine 01:02:55.820
I'm not I'm not sure how they'd manage that, because once the vehicles are on, as we know, it's quite difficult to reverse, and that's our concern, that they might, that they could block up that intersection by coming on a new driver. drive on inappropriately? You could just block it up, and I don't know how you get out of that. If someone's behind you, what happens? You've got to wait until that vehicle goes, in front of you, goes through, so. I don't think the manager would be on site all the time. From the material that the material that I've read, I don't believe that's really the case. Maybe on the peak periods, but certainly not at all times. Brian Stockwell 01:03:32.416
So, Councillor Lorentson, did you have a question? Amelia Lorentson 01:03:34.816
I do. So, you mentioned that the onus is back back on the applicant to demonstrate that there aren't going to be any adverse impacts with queuing. My question is, would a comparative analysis of other car washes across the Shire, would that be part of... part that demonstration that, you know, car wash to car wash, what are the queuing impacts in other car washes of similar size? Sorry. Nadine 01:04:08.614
Basically, our traffic consultant needs to get together with their traffic consultant and review it and make sure we're both satisfied in terms of what happens. They might need to... Our consultant isn't satisfied that it works. There might be some further information they can provide exactly like that or maybe rearrange in the entrance. I'm not sure. I think it says, I think it says, I don't don't think a comparative analysis is necessarily required. It's more around what is the peak demand looking like for this location and have they adequately demonstrated that the vehicles can safely queue without spilling out into the adjoining Thank you Mr Chair. Nicola Wilson 01:05:00.720
Please correct me if I'm out of order on this one. Just wondering on the corner of Open Street and Elm Street, currently there is power available there for the Breast Green van to come and service the community. I have I have been that question has been raised as if the development goes ahead is there provision or has there been any consultation with Breast Green Queensland to ensure that that service can be adequately provided to women in our community? Patrick Murphy 01:05:34.508
We've had a representative from the Breast Green Queensland ask us and they became aware of this application we've connected them with our with an community officer services team and they're working with them I believe to go out to the sports ground oh great yeah so we have been working with them to resolve that issue in the event that this proposal is supported. Amelia Lorentson 01:05:56.444
Fantastic that's good news. I think I want you to raise a procedural motion to defer this decision until the ordinary meeting to allow the applicant's traffic consultant to discuss with our traffic consultant the matter of queuing. Frank Wilkie 01:06:19.107
Did you capture that? Brian Stockwell 01:06:25.340
And while we're doing that, was queuing the only issue of traffic management? It was raised with me that the potential conflict between Diamond Lane, the exit of the service station and the merging of Diamond, from Diamond Street. Is that an issue to be discussed? And refuse? Amelia Lorentson 01:06:41.200
And refuse as well. Just yeah how is it going to be adequately managed? Procedural motion to allow the applicant to respond to the recent traffic assessment report. Tom Wegener 01:07:06.320
To respond? Amelia Lorentson 01:07:08.680
To respond yeah. Tom Wegener 01:07:10.300
To the traffic issues raised. Amelia Lorentson 01:07:15.780
Thank you Richard. Frank Wilkie 01:07:21.960
Sorry that wasn't the motion that I agreed to. Something about traffic consultants meeting. Amelia Lorentson 01:07:28.880
Just to sort out this queuing issue it's just. Yeah so go back go back, Councillor Lorentson, and you mentioned that the matter be deferred to the ordinary meeting to allow time for the applicant's traffic consultant to meet the council's traffic consultant. That's what I was seconding. Brian Stockwell 01:07:49.275
So, just while you're there. To discuss the issue of kiln. Okay, so we can fix this one up and then we'll fix the second up. So, that the matter be deferred to the ordinary meeting to allow the applicant's traffic consultant to discuss with council's traffic consultant issues. Frank Wilkie 01:08:12.035
Don't mind the Related to Q and A. Brian Stockwell 01:08:15.509
I think it has to be bigger than Q and A. Issues raised. Are you happy to second that Councillor Wilkie? Frank Wilkie 01:08:28.483
Yes that's more along the lines of what I understood it to be. Brian Stockwell 01:08:31.003
Yep and if I just before we do just to note that we record on the moved motion above that motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Frank Wilkie 01:08:44.776
Didn't you second? I seconded it. Brian Stockwell 01:08:46.696
No there was no seconder. I didn't call for a second. We wouldn't have been able to ask all those questions if it was seconded. So you might have said you did but I didn't record that. Frank Wilkie 01:09:00.811
I did hear you. Thank you. So now that's been moved and seconded, Councillor Lorentson has the floor to talk to the motion. Amelia Lorentson 01:09:07.871
I just think there's a lot at stake here and given that the traffic assessment report was only ascertained in the last week, I think it's only fair and equitable that the applicant has an opportunity to respond. Questions through the Chair to the CEO or staff. Does this provide enough time to actually have a meaningful meeting that's going to provide us with the outcomes? Patrick Murphy 01:09:36.202
It will be a challenge. Nicola Wilson 01:09:38.302
So what would would be an alternative to this? Is it to stop the clock or what's the alternative to giving it time for meaningful engagement to get, you know, the outcomes that people are seeking to facilitate? Well, it relies on the willingness of the applicant to engage in part. They haven't indicated that at this point, but hopefully today's resolution will assist with that. Our traffic consultant, I know, is very busy and I'd likely say that theirs is as well. It may make some time for it to be complete. If there's issues, it may not be resolved. Um, if it, I mean, The recommendation we had to the applicant was to defer it to the next round of meetings, whether we come back to you on Thursday and say that's what's happened and suggest that it be deferred at that point in time might be a path forward. I think, yeah, I think we can make the attempt of best endeavours that, you know, all parties go in in good faith to make reasonable efforts to be able to come together and resolve prior Some analysis may need to be undertaken, so we're happy to come back and update Council, you know, at the Woodbury meeting or prior to if these matters can be attended to and that, but I think best endeavours is probably what we can put We'll try our best, but no guarantees that we'll be able to be resolved by Woodbury meeting. So a question for the Chair to the staff. Then if there's no resolution and that comes to the meeting, that there was not enough time to reach those outcomes, in the process what is open to Council or the applicant at that point at the ordinary meeting? what's the process then if nothing if you find a resolution? Does that mean it just? It's a bit of a jump back to the position we were in. But it can be deferred to the ordinary meeting if no resolution has been made. made within the next five days. Patrick Murphy 01:11:50.429
It's not a code accessible application, so there's no risk of it going down into pre-reg? Nicola Wilson 01:11:54.429
Yeah, okay, it's alright, yeah. Brian Stockwell 01:11:57.329
Okay. Mr Chair, I just have a question around my original second, which which would would have have been been seen on the live stream and by the members of the gallery that I had seconded the motion? No, I didn't call that a second. Did you ever record a second? No, it was never recorded. I must have. Frank Wilkie 01:12:16.828
And the point you make about, it was question, questions were happening at that time. Could you explain when you've got a mover and questions you have, question time is occurring, the second, even though you might Brian Stockwell 01:12:47.722
Possible. If I acknowledged a seconder, none of those questions could have occurred. So once it's moved and seconded, it has to go back to Councillor Lorentson to speak to the motion. So that's why I'm confident I didn't acknowledge a seconder because I wouldn't have had those questions. You might have said it and I might have missed it. Jessica Phillips 01:13:03.644
That's right. I guess can I just ask that since I'm down here on the corner that you swing slightly this way to see that I have had my hand up a couple of times. The CEO has acknowledged that. Thanks. Brian Stockwell 01:13:12.884
And he's been letting me know. Jessica Phillips 01:13:14.524
Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:13:16.324
So Councillor Lorentson has spoke to the meeting. Motion. Does anyone wish to speak to the motion? Amelia Lorentson 01:13:21.997
I'll close. Tom Wegener 01:13:25.337
I can't support this motion. We're going to go in and vote on the at the the at the ordinary meeting regardless that's when we actually make the final decision this is is meaningless in that if we vote on it today we have a good understanding of where we're going towards the ordinary meeting that's that's the procedure that's the standard way we do things you have them you have the general meeting you vote on things you could you can hash it out rehash it at the ordinary meeting but here by by wanting to wait for the consultants to meet with each other in the next couple of days is again micromanaging staff which I have got a problem with because you're all of a sudden telling them they've got to do something and our staff they've got to do something and Bye. Don't do it well then we're probably gonna say oh well let's let's kick it down the road to the next meeting it just keeps in just these delays are I don't think are counterproductive and in my opinion the the traffic management is pretty much obvious If they've been addressed thoroughly already in my opinion that they're especially in the in the applicants responses when we and as we all know about Brian Stockwell 01:14:49.393
I'm talking about the deferral. Frank Wilkie 01:14:52.123
Question for staff. Assuming that the applicant's consultant, the council's traffic consultant, do get together to discuss these issues. We come to Thursday night's ordinary meeting. You'll be giving us a report on the nature of the discussions and the applicant's response to the issues raised. Would that be the correct summation of what we can expect? Patrick Murphy 01:15:17.117
Assuming they do meet. We would be able to come back to you and provide you with an update of what's transpired and whether that issue is still a live issue or otherwise. And that would potentially maintain the amended grounds of refusal that Nadine has prepared or would remove those traffic elements. Amelia Lorentson 01:15:36.737
Can I also ask if the... If the issue of traffic is not resolved between now and the ordinary meeting, as a council, we can... I can still raise the alternate motion and we can still make a decision on the application. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:15:55.164
So I'll talk to the motion. I have a different view to Councillor Wegener. If you're a councillor who doesn't... who wishes to support the staff recommendation, it is an unnecessary delay. My understanding, there are councillors here who do wish to support an approval of the application. I think it would be derelict of your duty to put through a motion when staff have already indicated that there is a query raised by the expert in the field. We as councillors haven't got expertise. We can only assess things from our own understanding. I think if there is a possibility for more information to either rule out or rule in concerns about traffic movement, I think that is preferable than to debate something where we have partial understanding. Anyone else wish to speak to the motion? Councillor Lorentson, do you wish to close? Amelia Lorentson 01:16:51.860
No, the only point I think I really want to make is that there's holding costs associated with delayed decisions and I just want to acknowledge that this is a four and a half year project for the applicant. So I would love to reach some sort of resolution by ordinary meeting this Thursday. I think what's in front of us just gives due process, due diligence and to ensure that all the councillors have as much information as they can before ordinary meeting to make the best decision and the most informed decision. Brian Stockwell 01:17:24.947
Session thank you I'll put the those in favour okay we then move on to the next item on the agenda and it is a report direct to general committee regarding the appeal relating to D96 of 2024 relating to refusal of MCU 240003 material change used for short-term accommodations at 428 Cootharaba Road, Cootharaba. Patrick Patrick, would you like to give us a quick heads up? Patrick Murphy 01:18:10.904
Yeah, quick heads up. As you'll be aware, this was a recent decision of council to refuse an application for short-term accommodation at 428 Cootharaba Road. The proposal was seeking to utilise a two-bedroom dwelling for the short-term accommodation. A rural zone property, 3.16 hectares. There was a recommendation made by the officer, however... at ordinary meeting it was resolved to refuse the application. Then the applicant has subsequently appealed that, but it's in order to defend the appeal. Brian Stockwell 01:18:48.035
Talk just to the item whether we defend or not, not at any substance regarding the actual nature of the appeal. Would anyone like to move the recommendation? Tom Wegener 01:18:58.875
I have a quick question, whether this is allowed. see in the summary here, it doesn't mention the rural activities code, which says that it is inconsistent with the acceptable outcomes, AO 2.3, the four hectares. Rules say that that's the whole reason it was impact assessable in the first place. Brian Stockwell 01:19:21.654
So can I answer your question? Yes. The two hectares is in the table of assessment not in the Rural Activities Code. The Rural Activities Code doesn't apply to this application. Tom Wegener 01:19:30.814
The tables are of assessment five where this is under 9.3 Brian Stockwell 01:19:36.798
53. Do you wish to confirm that the Rural Activities Code does or doesn't apply to this application being a short term accommodation in the Rural Activities? That's correct. The code doesn't apply. Are there any questions being asked? Have you got another question? Patrick Murphy 01:19:53.058
Yes. Tom Wegener 01:19:54.878
If it's impact accessible because of an inconsistency, then you look at the entire planning scheme. Isn't the quote the whole of planning scheme? Patrick Murphy 01:20:05.234
Is, but what you've got in front of you, the grounds of refusal that were sought and approved by council are contained within the report. There's no new grounds that grounds that have been included. There's a bit of a summary at the start but you'll find on page 3 of the report it goes through all the grounds that were put forward by Council. And that they're in the report in its entirety. And noting that an appeal starts anew and that the experts may refine those grounds and possibly come up with new grounds as well. Jessica Phillips 01:20:47.149
Am I allowed to ask a question about how much it costs us to defend the appeal? Tom Wegener 01:20:57.069
This is unknown at this stage, this is so early process. It comes down to how long it may take to resolve the issues in dispute and whether a trial can be listed and when that may or may not happen, but there's no financial ability ability to cost out what that will look like from a price tag perspective at this stage, but certainly what we will do is update through our case management working group, which is every two months on the progress of funders and other appeals that councillors did. Jessica Phillips 01:21:32.008
Okay, I have a second question, a follow-up then. Where does the funding come from to defend an application like this? Is it from our general rates? Tom Wegener 01:21:42.688
Yeah, yes, They do come through the general rates. Thank you. Okay, I'll move the motion. Brian Stockwell 01:21:48.196
Moved by Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. Do you wish to talk to the motion? Tom Wegener 01:21:52.736
Yeah, I just feel like defending this bill is incredibly important. important. The decision to refuse the applications is so historically important for the hinterland. It was a moment where we decided that we were going to save the hinterland for residents and not hand it over to the government. and not hand it over to the short-term accommodation industry and I think it's an absolute line in the sand that we have to support ourselves. I know that the planning scheme will attempt to or will make it... consistent use with all the rural residential and rural areas however the planning of amendments have not been passed yet and it's to me it's very very clear that when you look at the the strategic intent of our intents of our planning scheme that short-term accommodation and airbnbs and the sort are not consistent with rural residents. is a very, very important decision that we made with long-lasting ramifications. Brian Stockwell 01:23:02.431
Anyone else wish to do this talk? Jessica Phillips 01:23:04.171
I have another question. Sure. Can I land on the question? Yeah. What's our budget, overall budget? overall budget for taking our, yep, the PL's budget please. Tom Wegener 01:23:17.451
We currently have a budget of circa $1 million for the '24 / '25 financial year. Jessica Phillips 01:23:24.241
Okay, follow up question. Last year did we exceed our budget? Tom Wegener 01:23:30.258
We had a number of large appeals that all sort of collided I guess in terms of hearing dates as well, so it did exceed the budget from last year and we were able to reach our cost savings Last year we did. to fund the additional costs for defending appeals and protracted budget where are we looking at at the moment? Hard to define It's hard to define how much it may cost us, but obviously we're budgeting and hoping to stick to our budget anticipated this year. We don't envisage there being any prolonged hearings listed for this financial year, so hopefully that will significantly reduce likely costs and hopefully we might be able to budget this year. Thank you. Nicola Wilson 01:24:23.093
You, Mr Chair. Just a question following on from Councillor Phillips's question. Other councils, including Sunshine Coast Council, they, from my understanding, engage design advisory panels in the hope that I guess that there can be some strong collaboration with the hope, I guess, to keep us out of P &E courts through the... through the chair and the CEO. Is there any something in the pipeline where Noosa, I don't know whether the staff currently engages with the design advisory panel or there's plans moving ahead to, you know, look at doing this practice? So, I'm going to rule the question as being out of order. It is about a totally separate matter. It's not related to this appeal or whether we defend it or not. So, it is something we can look at at another time. You, Mr Chair. We'll follow that up again. Anyone else wish to talk? Brian Stockwell 01:25:22.761
Councillor Wegener, do you wish to close? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's Councillor Lorentson, Councillor Finzel, Councillor Wegener, Councillor Wilkie, Councillor Wilson, Councillor Stockwell and those against? Councillor Councillor. The motion is carried. We have a similar matter being number two. Appeal 1997 of 2024 related to refusal MCU 230101 material change of use for short-term accommodation at 561 Gympie Kin Kin Road, Kin Kin. Patrick Murphy 01:25:58.828
Similar circumstance to the previous appeal. This is an application for development of short-term accommodation in the rural zone for bedroom homes to be used for short-term accommodation. Matter was put to council by the officers with their recommendation to approve the application. After much debate at the council meeting, it was resolved by all councillors to refuse. Matter was put to council by the officers with their recommendation to approve the application. After much debate at the council meeting, it was resolved by all councillors to refuse. Tom Wegener 01:26:47.291
Are experiences from our own beach communities and from around the world concerning short-term accommodation. We need to defend this appeal. Jessica Phillips 01:26:56.371
Can I please speak on behalf of just my opinion. I don't want it publicly seen that I would like to see SDAs riddled in our community. That is absolutely not what I want to see. I'm just very, very conscious of perhaps we need to reconsider how we are looking at STA applications, therefore avoiding this process that costs our ratepayers. So it is not that I support our community being inundated with SDAs. I just want that very clear. Brian Stockwell 01:27:33.718
Anyone else wish to No one else? Councillor Wegener, do you wish to close? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's Councillor Lorentson, Finzel, Wagener, Wilkie, Wilson and Stockwell. those against? That is Councillor. Okay we move on to the next, that motion is obviously there carried. The third item for direct to committee is appeal 1998 of 2024 relating to refusal relating to refusal of MCU 22094, material change of use to childcare centre at 28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville. Patrick Murphy 01:28:14.809
You might recall this was another recent refusal of a childcare centre. At Hofmann Drive, within the Shire Business Centre, there were a number of reasons for it to be refused. Generally speaking, it didn't provide a 10 metre setback to Hofmann Drive. That was a requirement of the reconfiguration approval. It failed, therefore, to provide the parkway setting. The use is an inconsistent use within that major centre zone, the business park precinct. that there is available land, suitably sown land, just behind it. There was issues with the location of the bioretention basin. Accordingly, it was refused, recently appealed. Again, it's in order for Council to defend its decision to defend the appeal. Brian Stockwell 01:29:14.432
Of appeal, in response to, I suppose, Councillor' concerns with any appeal, you first have to agree to defend the matter. Otherwise, you've got no ability to affect an outcome. But there is generally a court-imposed mediation process where they see whether, after the receipt of expert opinion and expert witness statements, whether matters that are in dispute can be resolved without the costly court hearings. So that may be something that occurs in this instance. Anyone else wish to speak? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's We are an hour and a half in. Are we ready for a short break? Amelia Lorentson 01:30:06.476
And when I say short, are we doing five minutes? minutes? Or seven and a half? Frank Wilkie 01:30:12.968
Seven and a half, given that it is lunchtime. Brian Stockwell 01:30:17.188
We'll come back at ten past twelve, by that clock. Two. Tom Wegener 01:42:14.023
Welcome back. Brian Stockwell 01:42:15.783
We resume the meeting and we're up to item four of the reports for the general committee and that deals with the register of delegations from council to the CEO and we have And the manager of government, Diane, here to give us a short executive summary of what this report has in for us. Larry Sengstock 01:42:41.238
Yeah. Good afternoon, councillors. This report is about the annual review of delegations. Council to CEO. The review register of delegations is attached to the report. Item number one. It's 550 pages strong. Apologies for that. As you are aware, the delegation of powers is required so that council officers are appropriately authorised to conduct their daily duties, and count that council provide efficient community services, and that you as councillors can councillors can focus on high-level strategic matters. The statutory powers required for council to operate are assigned to councillors by acts and regulations. This is the whole register here. And the local government act allows council by resolution to delegate these powers to the CEO. Subsequently to that, the local government act can then allow the CEO to further delegate these powers to appropriately qualified employees or contractors. This stage of the review and this report is only in relation to delegations from you as councillors to the CEO. The Local Government Act describes that this review must occur annually, that's why you see us here every year, and that is required to maintain currency of delegations in response to changes to state or commonwealth law, also provides opportunity to councillors to make changes to the register of delegations or conditions of delegations, what we've done this delegations, what we've done this year. And it also provides an opportunity for council offices to request additional delegated powers where required if they discover during the year that they do require additional powers. So as part of this year's review we've conducted two delegation with a legal update as received from the local government association PDC and in consultation with US councillors we applied changes to 13 registers of our delegation register. The governance team presented to you also detail of two new registers, which are requested by our local laws team to manage stock where required, likely a rather infrequent item, but for that reason, to minimise risk, we've also added to the register the stock management act and regulations. And the planning and development assessment team also facilitated a review of the conditions pertaining to planning legislation as requested by council resolution 69B for the ordinary meeting held on 15 June 2023, last year's annual review. As a result, the conditions of delegation of the Planning Act 2016 the Development Assessment Rules and the Planning Regulation 2017 were modified in consultation with you as councillors to ensure that development matters are referred to councillor in accordance with councillor in community interests. Therefore, in sum, the recommendation today before you is that a the council The Council note the report to the General Committee dated 12 August 2024 regarding Council's Annual Delegation Review, and B. Adopt the Register of Delegations, Council to CEO, pursuant to Section 257 of the of the Local Government Act 2009, to delegate the powers of the Local Government, outlined in the Register of Delegations, providing attachment 1 to the CEO. Brian Stockwell 01:46:49.310
Do we have any questions, or would someone like to move the recommendation? I'm happy to I saw Councillor Wilson first. We expect a five minute discussion. Moved Councillor Wilson, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. And Councillor Wilson, you have the floor. Nicola Wilson 01:47:12.317
To commend the government's team on a very thorough process? Brian Stockwell 01:47:16.257
Thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:47:17.277
Anyone else wish Just to note that in consultation with councillors, staff have recommended that there will be some planning matters that will be referred to the council, full council, and they are where a matter relates to the clearing of remnant of concern or endangered vegetation from a Biodiversity of Vegetation Management Act perspective to the disturbance the habitat of the species listed under the nature conservation or environmental protection biodiversity acts. An extension of an approval that was made under a superseded planning scheme and or where there is a resolution of council to amend the planning scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval. To the removal or substantial alteration to a structure or place of heritage significance identified in planning scheme or in an adopted study of Council. 5. A development where Council has a direct or indirect interest as a result of its involvement in previous or proposed land dealings. about ensuring that Council is held to the same standards as any other applicant in terms of development applications and also the others reflect what we've learned from other development applications involving biodiversity, endangering vegetation, superseded reactivation of the extension of existing applications made under superseded planning schemes. We're trying to learn the lessons as we go along and these changes to the delegation triggers reflect that. Nicola Wilson 01:48:54.011
Yeah of course yeah I just like to reiterate and thank the governance team the workshops were really informative and gave us a really good opportunity to drill down and you know get some good insight into what was happening I think it's great it aligns with you know our goals for excellence in gender trust in our community but also like what Councillor Wilkie just raised is the flexibility and agility to learn where we've been and where we are currently and where we're going so I think it's great that we're reading the legislative requirements to review that once I think it's really good that we can have confidence in our governance team, our CEO and our organisation and align with our community to see we are listening and that we are taking these opportunities seriously not only to fulfil regulation but actually prove to our community that we are working hard and listening to what they say and responding accordingly. So I thank you to all the I thank you all the councillors as well and the staff for their contribution. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 01:49:54.708
Question to the staff. Councillor Wilkie mentioned council request. There was also another council request which I believe resulted in new conditions. Can I ask John C if you can run through them in terms of the planning act? If something is deemed approval, inconsistent use, and that we as councillors, for example, can bring a matter to full council for approval, I think that's a really important new condition. Larry Sengstock 01:50:28.201
Inconsistent use? Nicola Wilson 01:50:29.441
Yeah. Larry Sengstock 01:50:30.381
So it's under 3.3.2 of the report? Yes. Amelia Lorentson 01:50:35.991
I'm happy to read it out. The Chief Executive Officer may exercise the powers of the Council under the Planning Act 2016 for an application other than the following: a an application for a variation request mentioned in section 61 of the Planning Act 2016 to vary the effect of the planning scheme b an application which is for an inconsistent use as defined in the planning scheme c an application for a proposed development where more than 30 submissions have been received during the objecting to the proposed development d an extension of an approval that was made under a superseded planning scheme that is pre-Noosa Plan 2020 and or where there a resolution of council to amend the planning scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval. an impact-accessible application involving the clearing of vegetation which is mapped as being in an area of biodiversity. Significance on the biodiversity's waterways and wetlands overlay map and containing an endangered regional ecosystem except in circumstances where the clearing is exempt. the removal or demolition of a structure or place identified within the planning scheme's heritage and character overlay map. G, a development where council is the applicant requiring impact assessment. And two, however, the chief executive officer may exercise the powers of the local government under the Planning Act for an application where the application has the potential for deemed approval in accordance with section 64 of the Act. Three, in 3. In exercising the delegated powers where a development application has been decided by council, the CEO must give due consideration to the materiality of the changes sought through a negotiated decision notice, other change or minor change application, and consult with all councillors where those changes would have a material impact on the outcome of the original decision. And four, the councillor may request an application to be determined at a council meeting. The request shall be made to the CEO with the request to be made before the decision stage commences. Again, great new conditions reflecting great consultation and collaborations with both council and councillors. So, Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:53:05.077
And just for clarity, the list the list that Councillor Wilkie read out was actually the list that was in the previous resolution and embedded within the list that Councillor Lorentson read out was the response to that request. Yeah. And I suppose I'll talk to it while I've got the floor. I too think the revised settings for planning gets it a bit better. There will always be room for improvement. The key learnings came out of a 2017 decision to continue a eight year old approval over land that had high biodiversity significance. That land's now been developed. there was many years of community angst and activism around the Save the Sunrise Glossies movement. What we now have is that those sort of decisions would come to council. So that it's made in the public eye and so that we really consider. current community sentiment around Gloss, we're in that one. The biodiversity value had been identified at a higher level than was existed at the time when the original approval was made and that's the sort of thing that the triggers now will pick up. Anyone else wish to talk? Would you like to close, Councillor Wilson? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? And that's unanimous. Thank you. Anyone who's run out of sleeping taglets, I can recommend the attachment. Okay, yes, it's a very detailed document. So, next item five is Budget Review One for the 2024-25 financial year. And we welcome our Manager of Finance, Pauline, and... Trent, her Director. And Pauline, are you speaking to this item? Pauline 01:55:31.296
Yes, I am. Good afternoon, Councillors. In accordance with local government regulation, Council is required to undertake regular reviews... Sorry, Frank Wilkie 01:55:39.636
Pauline. Could you help me? I'm having trouble hearing you. Could you speak... Loud. Speak loud. And slow. Pauline 01:55:46.874
Good afternoon, Councillors. Good afternoon. In accordance with local government regulation, Council is required to undertake regular reviews of the budget to ensure it remains reflective of planned activities. The first budget review of the year, BR1, addresses the carryover of unfinished capital and operating projects, where works have commenced and expenditure has been committed. BR1 also addresses any new or emergent actions arising from council resolutions, executive team meetings or the capital works executive. BR1 also Sure. In summary, this budget review is proposing to decrease council's operating position by $258,000 from $118,000 surplus to $140,000 deficit. This decrement has occurred primarily due to many of the submissions relating to new or existing grant funded projects where funding has already been received but the associated expenditure falls into the following financial year. An amount amount for disaster management and resilience projects, as well as several emergent temporary positions have also been included. Note, as these are temporary positions, there has been no change to Council's full-time equivalent establishment position that was adopted at budget in June. It should be noted that forecasting a deficit position at BR1 is not uncommon with the financial year 2024 BR1 moving $121,000 surplus to a forecasted $761,000 deficit. Capital projects which have been committed to commence in the 2024 financial year amounting to $13.7 million which had already had funding allocated and had commitments against them will be carried over to financial year 2025. A further $5.2 million relating to two multi-year projects has been reforecasted to FY2026 and $145,000 in emergent works has also been included. This brings Council's base capital works program from $45.2 million to $53.8 million. A further $78.7 million in QRA funded disaster projects that are currently committed and under construction have also been carried over taking the total capital works program to $132 million. There has also been a number of minor amendments to propose 2024-25 fees and charges. These include a new fee for a remote access bulb for the new lock and wear system at Noosa Waters, a new fee for council offices to undertake private certification of building works where it's appropriate, the amendment of right to information fees charged by council so that they align with the legislative fees by the Office of the Information Commissioner, a tennis court hire fee which is set at an hourly rate. And amendment of two fees for Noosa seniors so that they align with the domestic assistance fee. Council has continued to meet all financial sustainability ratios with the exception of one, the operating surface ratio, which has fallen just below a zero, and that's due to the forecast deficit position. Future budget reviews during the year will capture emergent savings and additional revenue to mitigate this deficit position and achieve a surplus by the end of the financial year in line with Council's financial sustainability policy. Thank you, Frank Wilkie 01:59:25.340
Pauline. That was beautifully articulated. That was very clear. I may ask a question. You mentioned that at this time in the last financial year, BR1, the projected deficit was $700,000. Yes, $760,000. $760,000, some six or seven times what was predicted. Can you tell me You can tell me what processes and practices does this council have in place that enabled that to turn that from a $760,000 deficit into a multi-million dollar surplus? Pauline 02:00:03.154
There's a number of different factors that impact on that. It can be additional revenue that we generate through sales, sales from holiday parks and waste if there's upside on those. We had additional interest revenue last year. It can be cost Always take a conservative position so we don't, I suppose, forecast revenues to push them beyond where we believe they will achieve. We always take a That allows us to have upside during the year as well. But it is all dependent on market forces and demand as well. tend to do that so that we have this ability to catch up if we need to during the year. Frank Wilkie 02:00:56.266
Thank you. Other questions? Just one more. Why just could you speak generally about the importance of budget reviews for an for an organisation like ours that employ zero-based budgeting? Pauline 02:01:10.460
So budget reviews are important so that we're actually assessing where we're at and how we're performing against budgets and we can adjust and make, I suppose, amendments to cater for any unforeseen or emergent issues that come out. It also means that we're planning ahead to compensate for those things. So if we have, I suppose, let's say we had a large expense that we hadn't expected in council, then we can adjust those forecasts and take Brian Stockwell 02:02:11.105
On air to air as seed funding commencement of the proposed Futures Fund. Noting that the intent of the fund is to generate a reserve for potential large scale climate action projects and to demonstrate Council's ongoing commitment to reducing emissions from its operations. Do I have a Thank you Councillor Wilson. Thank you Councillor Wilson. So Councillors, I'll explain the addition. We have since we set ourselves a target of being a zero emissions entity by 2026 allocated $400,000 per year in each budget to undertake projects such as putting solar on the roof of this building, on the depots etc. So there was a $400,000 allocation to reduce the emissions coming from Council's own operations. Last year none of that was spent and the year before there was a significant underspend as well. Now there were genuine reasons why that occurred. Part of it is that as is that as the acting director of infrastructure intelligence, it's not good practice to actually budget a set amount without having the plans on how you're going to spend it first. But it is important, I this council really maintains its focus on what is the largest issue that faces this community and all councils All councils in the world in the long term. The failure to act is likely to have huge costs to future generations. We have got a range got a range of potential projects in the pipeline. Some of them we're already going out for grant applications. These are things like, you know, turning our green waste and potentially food waste into a valuable resource for composting. It includes, potential for solar farms on the landfill, waste to energy. It also includes options of changing the way we look at buying land and putting carbon plantings onto council Or perhaps, you know, programs putting carbon plantings onto other land to sequester the fugitive emissions from our economy. So the Futures Fund is something that's not ready to announce yet, but once we what I'm suggesting is that the amount that we haven't spent and we had committed to goes into that bucket rather than remaining in unconstrained cash reserves. And it's, to me, a way of Councillors just reminding staff that while we've been very busy and we've been focused on very urgent matters, that always have in mind that the strategic is something that has requires our continual attention. In the top part of it, I'd just like to thank staff. The diligence with which our finance team really undertakes both budgeting and budget review is something that always is something that surprised me after a couple of after a couple of decades in state government and then coming to a local government, it's really something that the level of detail and hence the level of efficiency from ratepayers' money as a result is something that I'm always very thankful for, so well done. Jessica Phillips 02:05:41.345
Am I allowed to ask you a question about your recommendation? You may. Please. Not that I don't agree don't agree with the Futures Fund. I just want to ask you how I explain to approximately 800 people each night that are needing food and shelter in our community. Why we wouldn't be passing on unrestrained cash reserves to our community and push this a little bit further down when we're not in an economic Yeah, so this is not money that's coming out of the rate pay. Brian Stockwell 02:06:22.441
There's money that's sitting in cash reserves, unallocated cash reserves. So it's money that's in the bank that could have, and I would argue should have, been spent in the last two years. So there is a commitment. In terms of the cost of living crisis, it will continue It will continue to get worse if we don't pay our part in reducing the impacts of climate change. There'll be nothing more significant than the rise in energy bills as we're trying to keep our homes liveable through increased air conditioning. There'll be nothing more costly than that. costly to the ratepayers than the significant projected increases in coastal storm surges and coastal storms that will result in potentially making, look, the $175 million worth of flood damage. was a climate related event. Make it look small if we have a similar event that affects the coast. It might be, you know, the cost may be ten times larger. So the reason we are in such a challenging state is that we've always put it off. Climate change is just a story of putting off the future in preference of the current. It's not one that will be taking anything. be taking anything away from other programs we run. Jessica Phillips 02:07:38.105
So, sorry, can you answer my follow-up question? How do I answer? As kids going to school without lunch boxes, without any food, how do I explain to them? My answer to them is a question, because every young person I talk to realises that climate change is the number one priority in their life. That they feel that we're frittering away the future. So that's our answer. Frank Wilkie 02:07:59.825
Question, I think Councillor' question goes to asking what is this council doing to address cost of living and homelessness in the community? And we have our Director of Community Services, Kerri Contini, online. Perhaps, Kerri, could you... Kerri, could you help answer Councillor' question in regards to what this council is doing to support the most vulnerable in our community? Because there are resources allocated specifically in that field. Well, thank you, councillors, for the question. In terms of the services that we provide to all of us, we will follow that range as well. from direct officer support, whether that is through our community development team or, for example, through this thing as well, helping people. So that's officers and services. But we also provide grants to organisations as well. Kerri, you're breaking up. Could you speak closer to the microphone, please? Nicola Wilson 02:09:11.540
Sorry, folks, is that a little bit clearer? Jessica Phillips 02:09:15.200
Yeah, sorry. I'm in the outpost, so... We didn't hear your last 30 seconds. Nicola Wilson 02:09:23.700
Yeah, certainly. So in terms of supporting the most vulnerable in our community, we provide a combination of staffing and... combination of staffing and services, as well as grants. So our staffing and services cross a number of areas in community services, both, for example, in community development, when we're helping, for example, our homeless or people leaving family and domestic violence situations, then through to... cross a number of areas in community development, both, for example, in community development, when we're helping, for example, our homeless or people leaving family and domestic violence situations, then through to... ices cross a number of areas in community development, both, for example, in community development, when we're helping, for example, our homeless or people leaving family and domestic violence situations, So my question to you Kerri would it be beneficial for those organizations within our department that you're talking about could they do with a cash insertion into their departments? Every council team in that area would say they could benefit from more resources. Certainly when we went through that budget process we identified a number of areas that required additional resources we have obtained some grant funding to support us in that space however it won't be a surprise to anyone that as we cycle around through the budgets again that there will be those requests for additional resources will be repeated, yes. Some of those services require not just capacity but specialist skill sets which we currently don't have. Brian Stockwell 02:11:09.260
Question? Nicola Wilson 02:11:10.060
Yeah, along those similar lines, Councillor Stockwell, given we're looking at levies and the impact of constrained cash to the overall budget, you know, I could read into this a future fund levy because it's going to be constrained cash. I'm very interested in looking after the future and the, you know, impact of climate change and our approach, including I believe we need to look at the actual realistic dates that we've set ourselves as an would prefer to see that we have some more information from, you know, the financial mob to let us know like what would this look like when we're taking unconstrained unconstrained cash which at times and we can call on anything in emergency to go we need to move this bucket here. Where's the pros and cons for going that we are creating another, you constrained cash of money at the overall you know financial impact so that like we're trying to I believe through the budget we talked heavily about not raising levies you know getting rid little bit reluctant support this unless we have something like some workshops about what does this actually look like when we're looking at taking you know these cash reserves and making them a constraint, when I thought overall the fiscal good I'll answer my part but I will pass it over so first thing this would have no meaning if we don't agree if we don't decide to to proceed proceed with the Futures Fund and you're right, before we do, we do have to have workshops and understanding how that's going to be funded and at the moment they will sit in unconstrained cash until that decision is made. In terms of the potential... potential rollout and consideration of this issue, my understanding is it's probably something that is going to start this financial year, but... Trent Grauf 02:13:32.325
I think we'll speak to that, Councillor, through the Chair. This financial year, obviously following the adoption of your first budget for your election term in June, the work we're The work we're doing between now and February, as we come through very quickly, as we do every year through the budget, is pulling together a new long-term financial plan or more of a long-term financial strategy. There's a lot of work underpinning that. some of the work we're working on in the background at the moment is looking at, as you'll see in the corporate and the op plan, there's a strategic land review, there's a revenue diversification plan. And part of that is, and also the other one is about alternative funding models. models and that and that covers a range of things that kind of covers what Councillor Stockwell talks about in terms of futures fund but also what we we talked also about how we would fund other infrastructure investments such as economic infrastructure broader climate resilience infrastructure and there's a lot of work around the challenge of of limited funds and a risk of you know that competing priority as to where those funds are occurring so the starting point for us through the budget is looking at where should at where should we be funding and what should we be using to fund all of our activities across council that'll help us get to a point of at least having an informed discussion about what a futures fund may look like and what it should fund. At some point in the future if you if you do decide to implement a futures fund model we then look at what look at what that investment would need to be in terms of setting cash aside for the long term and how much that would need to be and the same is also said for our existing infrastructure. The work that's occurring now in infrastructure planning is about is our future cash needs to support future infrastructure investment in our roads and bridges and stormwater and open space and that's a competing priority between, for the unconstrained reserves, is it for existing Or is it for climate resilience or future infrastructure investment? And that's a lot of discussion we'll have over the next 12 months as we come into next year's budget. Amelia Lorentson 02:15:48.070
In terms of the futures fund, that is a levy, is that correct? That's the concept that it'll be like a transport levy, a heritage levy, again the concept is to tax. Trent Grauf 02:16:03.589
Through the Chair, yes and no. The ultimate goal of the futures fund is about building a fund, a revolving fund of cash. If you think about some of that major climate resilience infrastructure, it could be in the tens of millions of dollars, for example, 5, 10, 20 years down the track. The types of funding mechanisms that we use to fund that is the key discussion point. Is it through a levy? Is it through a mechanism through our fees and charges? Is it through a visitor charge of some description? Or others? So that's the conversation. We need to have about how that's structured and what does that mean for your existing levies? What's the remit of those? It's not just a discussion on a futures fund in isolation, it's about a discussion about what are the remits of your existing remits of your existing levies as well? Amelia Lorentson 02:16:58.332
And is that a discussion we should also be having with the community? Yes. Yeah, great. Trent Grauf 02:17:03.652
It's an opinion only? That's for you to decide, councillors? Yeah, so it's part of our budget review consultation. The consultation process, it's something that we can raise as a discussion point and get feedback. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:17:16.612
Just on that budget, you mentioned preparing next year's budget. When will... When will the work for involving councillors begin with that? When will you be seeking our input on? I guess you're open to it already, but when will you formally be requesting input? councillors as part of putting together the 2025-26 budget? Trent Grauf 02:17:42.283
The budget process starts for us internally now. There's no breather for Paul-Anne, she's smiling quietly in the corner there. But we start planning now. now. We will start and we start working internally within the executive team and management on their priorities over the next six months with the aim of commencing workshops with yourselves, councillors, early in the new year, likely February, to pick off the process. And we'll work through probably two months of budget workshops. And then the discussion is then, should you wish to elicit any engagement on some of the decisions through the process, does it occur at the start or at Or at a draft holding point through the process? Frank Wilkie 02:18:26.022
We won't have the compressed time frame after the election like we did in 2020 or this year, so we do have the time for consultation. A consultation. And we can ask, we can ask questions about... Correct councillors gift funds Trent Grauf 02:18:38.462
And... And that falls within obviously the remit of competing priorities for getting the engagement councillors. Yep. Nicola Wilson 02:18:45.061
So then I just have a question about that and I might have missed it. Do we have a policy or does a policy have to be developed to inform this futures fund or where does that sit? Or maybe a question, CEO, where... Whereabouts in the workflow or the model of policies informing action, where do you think this future fund fits? Is it already written somewhere? Is it in the pipeline? Larry Sengstock 02:19:11.881
It still is, it's still very much a discussion point, in my opinion, so we've got work to do on it and we'll be bringing that back to council. So this is, you know, to be honest, what we're discussing here is VR1, we're also... also looking at putting the money aside until we have that further discussion and then decide where it goes. So it'll be back to you to decide on where that goes. Amelia Lorentson 02:19:34.468
Can I ask a question to the CEO? And I may have missed it. fact, had one workshop on the concept of a futures fund? Have we... Because I can't recall any discussion. I don't believe so either. Okay, thank you. Trent Grauf 02:19:52.596
Just to support the CEO's response, the conversation has only been internally within senior offices about concept and preparation. At this point, we haven't reached a point of any engagement with workshops with yourselves at this point. Brian Stockwell 02:20:11.592
Am I right? I seem to recall in previous budgets, probably two or three of them, when we were looking at things like bushfire, the concept of a future fund was discussed at that point, but it was informally as part of the broader budget discussions. Frank Wilkie 02:20:26.939
Does this form part of the way we prepare for future disasters? The future fund help us mitigate the impacts of future disasters? Trent Grauf 02:20:38.239
Through the Chair, it's complex. Obviously climate resilience contributes towards mitigating the long-term impacts of disaster events, but in terms of disaster recovery and resilience and the impact on its community, that's part of that broader That's part of that broader funding discussion as an organisation as to the remit of our levies for example the bushfire levy versus the general raid and what our funding opportunities are with state and that's why I mentioned earlier the first step in this entire process is to Frank Wilkie 02:21:24.474
And in your opinion will the amount of money available through bodies like the QRA, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, continue to be at similar levels or is there an expectation that councils continue to provide this sort of cash reserves that normally will be covered by the QRA? Trent Grauf 02:21:48.481
Through the challenge we face as a local government authority is for future 10 years in election terms of state government faced with similar funding constraints than what we do, the funding availability through QRA may become more constrained and it's not something we can speak to at this point in time and as disaster events become more and more regular occurrences rather than black swan events that would that would that change change their funding remit in their eligibility criteria for funding and that's not something we can we can speak to at this point in time it's an ongoing discussion between state and federal and local government levels and there is a risk there. Absolutely. Brian Stockwell 02:22:41.860
Question or someone else wish to talk to the motion? Nicola Wilson 02:22:44.060
Yeah just you know I welcome the opportunity to have conversations around the future funds I think you know like today might be a little bit premature given you know mantra for the budget was you know business as usual finish what we started let's take a breath let's have a cause so in terms of like leadership and decision-making and bringing our community along with the story I think at the beginning very proactively then at the end I really welcome the conversation I think also we need opportunity to talk about where we're looking at to meet our targets like is the target we've got is that really realistic or do we need to have a conversation about where we push that through to really celebrate reaching realistic targets you know I welcome trying to do here to raise that I just think that for me today I think this is a little bit premature given collectively that we decided to you know take that pause let's take a The organisation is already under community is looking for you know better governance and you know meaningful engagement I think let's just have this on the table have the workshops but yeah I think to talk about you know You know, putting a cash reserve that currently sits unconstrained and then locking that down when we haven't like really had these conversations in depth. And I understand you've probably given a lot of thought. I respect that. You've been in this space for a long time. But I think for me personally, it's like I'm going to take the pause and let's just You know, a bit more set a timeline and know where we're going and bring the community with us. Frank Wilkie 02:24:27.637
Just a question, Councillor Southerland. You're not proposing this money be spent. You're proposing it be- it's money from- that was was this year, sorry, previous year's budget set aside for zero emissions projects and that weren't spent for operational reasons such as the solar on the roof of their sun lighted shops and all it's doing signalling to the community that it'll be put aside. We'll have a discussion about the future fund so that the money eventually will be going towards projects for which it was originally intended. Yes, that's correct. Brian Stockwell 02:25:03.199
An accurate summation. Yes, and so what we found in the budget review one was that there was no money spent in accordance spent in accordance with our commitment to spend $400,000 for zero emissions and internal matters like the Sunrise Beach Shops. There was two options. One, we could ask for it to be carried over, and as a number of projects did, staff indicated that might have been an administrative burden. And so this mechanism was both to say, well, we're still committed, make it easy, we'll just make sure that that amount of money, which we initially allocated for this purpose over the last two years, can go into other projects in the future, and the notion of putting it into a future fund is something that I think has generated good discussion. Can I speak to the motion? You may. Tom Wegener 02:25:59.466
We talked about this at the budget meetings and I think it arises from our frustration that things have not enough, that we actually didn't spend the money on this very, very important category of things, zero emissions. Zero emissions and we're responding to climate change and it is a little bit frustrating that we actually didn't spend that money because it's such a bloody huge important thing. So I see this as it's not out of sight, out of mind. It's one thing that disappears back disappears back into the general pool of money. Then it's just disappeared. We lose sight of it. Where this kind of says, no, look, this is right here. We need this, then this. We've allocated for it. The community wants this, demands this, that we take action Climate change, they've expressed so many times before. So I support this because I think we need to do to support zero emissions and the community demands it, but it's in our regular program, not our regular operation program, it's not a part of our depreciation program. These are some things that we actually have to forcefully forge head on and I think it's kind of the councillors that need to, would be best if Jessica Phillips 02:27:31.348
Keep it very short and sweet. There is a lack of trust from community in local government and many households having zero savings in their household budget and therefore I can't support unrestrained cash in our council at this stage and would like to see it part of the budget review next year. Amelia Lorentson 02:27:52.140
Catalogies? Firstly we did speak about a futures fund as part of just open discussions in budget. What we didn't discuss is the detail and the implications. What we didn't do is have a discussion with the community to see whether there is an appetite for it. So that's the part that I think is lacking in the motion in front of us. I also... The motion references unconstrained cash reserves to be... dedicated for a future fund related to climate change. My question is, rather than a future fund, we have immediate climate change risk. Stormwater infrastructure, sewerage infrastructure. I'd like to see our unconstrained cash reserves going to immediate risk. Clean waterways, shade, shelter. So, you know, I'd like to continue discussing this with the community and I respect the intent of the motion but I can't support it not without proper discussion and consultation with community and without understanding what are the immediate climate change risks that we should be addressing right now. And no discrete catchment plan, again, something that I would identify as an immediate risk. Brian Stockwell 02:29:51.343
I'll close. I agree with everything everyone said, those who support and those who don't. It would have been easy to do this without mentioning a Futures Fund, but I thought it was time to raise it in the community. definitely time to raise it with staff, and Councillor Wegener's quite right, it comes from a deep sense of frustration. This, in 2018, when we declared a climate emergency, that's what it is. Flooding disaster relief is minor. If you think cost of living puts pressure on your household, if you understand what climate change bringing to us in the next 10, 20 years, we're in quite a buoyant economic period, and it is something that every organisation has to keep forefront, and that's why I always bring it up. And yes, there are a range of funding options. One is as a levy. Another one, for example, we probably are well into the millions of dollars saved by the existing solar panels on the roof of council buildings. One of the options to put in the future fund is all the savings we've got from the previous projects. And if we do get grant funding for a large solar phone, where is the profits from that going? Is it going into general revenue, or is it going into doing more of the same, or funding it? And that's the conversation we have to have, is how do we get revenue streams for... The projects out of the landfill alone are in the tens of millions each, but they're the sort of scale of project we need to achieve the ambitious targets. And yes, we may have to review where we set our zero emissions target, but if we use a futures fund as one part of internal offsetting rather than buying offsets, it may be that by 2026 we can claim to have some carbon neutrality because we've allocated in the futures fund a bucket of money which we will use to build our own future mitigation. their own future mitigation projects or offsets of council funds aren't going to an overseas project they're going into projects that will occur in the in the Shire for multiple benefits so yes I do think it's time to make sure that staff realise that we want to see this money used in future yes I think it's time to start talking about how we fund it and I still think it's quite okay to say that it be used that amount be used for seed funding or the commencement probably should say potential but I said proposed future fund therefore I will be supporting my own motion. Nicola Wilson 02:32:44.624
Oh, that's a good thing. Maybe it probably won't. Brian Stockwell 02:32:49.599
I'll put a motion. All those in favour? That's Councillor Wegener, Wilkie and Stockwell. Those against? It's Wilson, Phillips, Finzel and Lorenton. The motion has not been The motion has not been passed. So would someone like to move to staff recommendation? I will. Councillor. And second, Councillor Wegener. Would you like to speak to it, Councillor? Jessica Phillips 02:33:13.315
No, thank you for the report that even I could understand. That summarises it, I think. Brian Stockwell 02:33:20.095
Does anyone else wish to talk to the motion? I'll therefore put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous, motions passed. That's unanimous. We then move on to the financial performance report for July 2024 and once again to Pauline. Pauline 02:33:36.369
Okay, financial performance for the month of July 2024 is slightly higher than the year-to-date budget at this early stage of the new financial year. Operating revenue is $358,000 above budget which is comprised of sales of goods and services. From waste management, whole air parks and council facilities. Fees and charges which are $81,000 above budget but these have been offset by below budget rates and levies of $30,000 and that has resulted from the timing rebates and payment discounts with the July rates notices due on the 16th of August and there's also a timing in the receipt of some unity warded distribution which is shown in the budget however these distributions are fixed so this very Expenditure is $324,000 underspent with $83,000 relating to employee expenses and $187,000 relating to materials and services. capital revenue showing 1.1 million dollars of our budget due to the receipt of QRA disaster funding money and capital $600,000 above budget year to date. As we've just talked about, budget review one will actually resolve a lot of these variances once they're reflected in the financial statements. Council is currently holding $95 million in cash reserves with $40 million invested in high yield term in deposits. At this early At this early stage of the year, Council's financial performance remains on track. Tom Wegener 02:35:19.860
Stayed about the same for the past year now. It hasn't gone down yet. Pauline 02:35:23.760
So it's softening, definitely softening. We're still achieving over 5% at this stage, but we are seeing some of the other banks lower than 5%. Tom Wegener 02:35:32.979
Yes, so that's been a bonus for us over the past few years. Pauline 02:35:36.719
Yes, but as you can see our cash reserve, our cash balances are starting to decline as the construction of projects occur and capital gets delivered. Frank Wilkie 02:35:47.079
Yes, and the fees and charges, building and plumbing, property, local laws, development assessment, they're all above They're all above budget. Sorry, executive development assessment below budget. A question about the building and plumbing property and local rules being above budget. That's a direct turnaround to the last six consecutive months, if I remember rightly, where they were all below budget so does this reflect new projections or Correct, so we were more conservative when setting those budgets however building and plumbing have done got through a bit of backlog of some work that they had on their plate so that's helped to bolster some of their revenue and local Local Laws has obviously got their camera car starting up as well, and we had quite a substantial provision last year for that. It's only just really started now, so that's probably why you're not seeing that significant decrease that we saw last year against budget. So that brings me to development assessment. That's been consistently below for quite some time as well, and it's now below again. So what can you tell us about the projections that we've factored, the assumptions that we've factored into this year's budget, and why are we below still? I was going to say, I'm happy to answer that. Yeah, thank you, Richard. Tom Wegener 02:37:11.991
So, we're still going through a process at the moment of reconciling our unearned revenue from last financial year, so potentially when we get to the end of the wrap-up for the last financial year, we'll reconcile a lot of our unearned revenue, so we actually won't won't be far away from our previous budget. It's just that the large fees that we get, we hold over some of that revenue from previous financial years. We had some large application fees that were held over. So we'll find that when we get to the wrap up to the end of financial year. You'll see the shortfalls that were proposed for the development assessment will not be nearly as significant as they were. This first month we've noticed that the revenue is slightly below due to a number of minor change applications. we're getting lots of smaller applications rather than the ones that are proposing large fees whereas last year we did get a number of applications that incorporated large fees but because of the large volume of revenue generated they were held over because each at the end it's it's released in the earned revenue budget so you'll find we wrap up the last last financial year the gap I guess from projected to actually good revenue won't be nearly as far as it was projected from those last and to address some of this what we're going to do is every quarter now we're un going to be-earned looking at the revenue and moderating that to release it into earned revenue so that it gives a more accurate picture periodically for councils around revenue coming in through development assessment because I'm assuming that you've recalibrated your estimates based on what's last six months. Correct, correct. We've done a lot of work based on what's happening in the market and what our fee recovery structure looks like. There's still more work to do but we're just making sure that we're not overshooting given the market has flattened out a little bit and we're sort of back to sort of be around $600 application so we've factored in what our budget's going to be based on that. Frank Wilkie 02:39:20.174
Okay, thank you. Trent Grauf 02:39:21.714
Just a follow-up. I was just going to clarify, councillor, it's probably really important also to be aware that this is the first month of the of the financial year. So as we get halfway, three quarters of the way through a financial year, we get to see those trends unfold, particularly just buffering some of the ups and downs that might occur month in, month out. The first few months you won't see that, so all it all it takes is an application to be in the first week of August versus the last week of July and it can move our forecast significantly in the first month. So it is very early stages for those fees and charges and payment revenue. Amelia Lorentson 02:40:00.996
Where Frank sort of left, in terms of looking at waste utility to waste management, holiday park revenue, sports facility revenue, et cetera, how accurate had Council's revenue forecasts been compared are the forecasts being compared to actual revenues and what adjustments and revisions have been made to revenue forecasts throughout the year? We just heard Richard explaining it in context of planning. Does that happen with every department? do they review their forecasts? Pauline 02:40:33.887
Certain departments definitely generally waste all their passive commercial business units review. There's kind of like consistently and we don't necessarily make changes every month. We generally make that those changes as part of a budget review process so we wouldn't necessarily reflect it straight away and obviously you know you've got to take into account the budget process. We've just started last year and there's all parts coming through we're conservative and so we're now into the first month of that year so we will be be reviewing them, but we don't make an adjustment until we get to a better review. Amelia Lorentson 02:41:06.334
My last question is, how do we communicate financial performance and decisions to the community? Again, just running off what Richard said, that you're planning just to communicate that information to the public. Is that something we as a council are looking at doing better? Pauline 02:41:28.873
Terms of how we do our financial performance... Yeah, we get this information. So that's obviously available publicly and it is available on the website for council. We don't really do anything else other than making it available... putting it through the council meeting schedule every month. Maybe a snapshot or something where like there's a lot of information in the reports. Can we look at maybe doing like, you know, a one-page snapshot to put in have your say... Trent Grauf 02:42:02.599
That's something we can we can take on take on notice. I think the most important part is the year-end wrap-up. We get our financial performance can move during the year and as I mentioned before depending on fees and charges and timing and stuff. status of projects etc. The most important part from a financial performance perspective is the year-end wrap-up and the team are working right at the moment through preparing the financial statements and our independent auditors from QA and Audit Office will be here in the next month and then what you will see is bundled in that annual report that Finance and Governance bring through in October is the wrap-up in terms of where we end in terms of where we end up at the end of the financial year, that's going to be the most important piece of financial reporting for the organisation to ensure they're reported on and published. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 02:42:51.366
So I'll go on first because it relates. I may have learned something new if I understood what Richard said. said, is what he said is, when we received get figures about revenue for development applications, we aren't actually getting the figure of what's being receipted over the counter or in the bank account. We're actually getting a smooth figure that in some ways... ways adjusted by how much of that application we actually have assessed to date. Pauline 02:43:21.152
So generally no, you will see what's being received but annually we do a calculation for the annual financial statements to determine at the 30th of June what has been earned council and what is potentially refundable by council. That adjustment gets made in June. However, however, I will caveat there was a very substantial development application received in June and we took to not put that through because it would distort it quite significantly, so we put that to final revenue. So it's really just that end of financial year here? Correct. Richard suggested that they give us a look at that quarterly, but the amount of work involved in assessing every month... I was just saying, as a fellow planner, never say that planners don't earn their income. Trent Grauf 02:44:03.210
So councillors, the biggest mover there is, is there a likelihood any given year for us that we are receiving a very significant... development application towards the end of the financial year and that will make the difference between your DAVs. Pauline 02:44:20.097
Potentially that's going to be challenged and might get reduced. We don't want to recognise that too early, particularly at the end of the year. Brian Stockwell 02:44:26.097
Okay, Thank you. Yeah, councillors. Yeah, Councillor Wilson. Pauline 02:44:28.485
Hello. Nicola Wilson 02:44:30.625
I think you mentioned before that rates are due on the 16th of August, is that correct? Yes. So rate payers have three more days to get their early payment discount, as a reminder, everybody. Thank you. Just looking at, similar to Councillor Stockwell's point on clarifying some family issues, which anyone reading the financial statements might be accused by, so in the... profit and loss statement, we have recognised you today $48,514 in terms of rates, levies and charges. I believe that's because we issued the rate notices and we started to recognise that in July. However, we haven't yet received the cash or monthly received the cash. So at the moment we have a lower than normal cash. than normal cash balance in the balance sheet, but we have a receivable of $53,658. So by the end of August we expect to see that shift that the receivable reduces and the cash balance increases. Pauline 02:45:32.866
Our first peak of view in our cash balance in August. Great, thank you. Nicola Wilson 02:45:38.326
That is obviously recognised at the time the rates notice goes out. For our other items in the budget where we're saying we're on track for budget or behind or ahead, do we... Do we recognise or allocate most costs evenly over the year, or do we allow for sort of... How do we expect the services to actually... It's invariable, so the larger... A lot of the business areas do profile their budgets out, some probably in some of the smaller areas, maybe not so much, and so I wouldn't say that they're evenly spread, they are definitely profiled, but there are probably smaller areas that maybe aren't as profiled as they could be when they actually call it. But generally, Brian Stockwell 02:46:25.176
If there's no other questions, would someone like to move the recommendation. Moved by Councillor Wilson, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Would you like to talk to the motion, Councillor Wilson? Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? Those in favour? That's That's unanimous. Can we move on to the next item, which is... Thank you. Deb Iezy 02:46:48.963
Thanks. Brian Stockwell 02:46:52.323
We invite Deb Iezy to the... It's okay. Amelia Lorentson 02:47:00.023
I know that, yes. Brian Stockwell 02:47:01.463
I was just doing it phonetically, wasn't I? And she will talk through the annual performance report, including the fourth quarter operational plan for 2023/24. Deb Iezy 02:47:15.474
Okay. Thank you, Council. This report provides provides an overview of the organisation's performance over the 23-24 financial year. It actually builds on the quarterly report that we normally do on the progress of the operational plan, so this report include progress and commentary against all initiatives to provide you with a fairly detailed understanding of how things have progressed and how particular projects have progressed. It also highlights our operating environment and some of the factors that have influenced our progress and highlights 13 initiatives which give a sort of a spectrum of the types of projects that we work on and start both in extent and in in type so over 2023-24 there were several factors in our operating environment which posed both opportunities and challenges and I mentioned that just briefly before these factors were things like our local government elections which where we which resulted in us deferring some decisions a very hot construction sector cost increases sector cost increases and skill shortages now on the positive side in response to these we've carefully monitored our project planning we've continued to focus on developing our capabilities for the focus on our people financial sustainability our business systems and our community and these are identified within the body of the report I'm not it might not contain all of them but it does actually highlight the more significant ones overall ones overall we've made considerable progress in progressing the initiatives and the 23 operational plan but also in the normal routine delivery of our business as usual services to the community and these are highlighted in the report there are 149 initiatives listed in the operational plan and 69% were either complete or on track with 31% experiencing a minor or major disruption and these initiatives are listed in attachment one and a comment made against the progress against each of them and then also overall to give you a very good understanding across the various things The initiatives which are aligned to the various themes in the corporate plan. Now when we consider these results it's really important to note there are initiatives which are phased or planned to be undertaken across more than one financial year and so therefore they There are also initiatives which have encountered disruptions which have extended project timelines and in these situations they've been relisted in the new operational plan. 24/25 which has already been adopted by Council or they've been incorporated as part of our business as usual program delivery and where this has occurred there are actually notations against the relevant initiatives in that attachment one that I mentioned before. before in addition this report provides an update on our operational KPIs which we routinely report on that's they're contained in attachment two and an update on work being undertaken to review the performance measures in the corporate plan including the identification of of supporting indicators which we will continue to refine and monitor the corporate plan identified 65 performance measures which did require us to do some unpacking of those and we've done quite a bit of work in that space and that work is actually identified attachment three. We still got some more work to do there to clearly align those performance measures with the outcomes for the that we desired in the corporate plan but that is continuing and you'll see with in attachment three that we've actually identified some of the baseline data to give you an idea of how things are progressing but again still more work to be done in that space. So councillors that's an overview to the report. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 02:51:07.183
Questions? Frank Wilkie 02:51:09.363
There is a drop in time loss to an injury. Very important. Probably the most important thing. Looking after the health and safety of the staff. What's happened since last year to improve the health and safety of our staff? Or see that figure move in the right direction? What are we doing differently? Deb Iezy 02:51:31.726
I can't answer in detail, though. I might refer that to the CEO, or if not, if we can't, if that's okay, or if not, you can ask for more information before you think. Larry Sengstock 02:51:41.126
No, I can answer that through you, too. We get a monthly report from our health and safety offices and coordinator, and... And I can say that it's due to training, it's due to more awareness, it's due to the fact that the staff are just far more conscious of safety, and in doing that, then there's less injuries, therefore less time off for injuries. So it's just more of a concerted effort in that area, and it's paying off. And we've had hundreds of days with no lost Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, Kabi Kabi, Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, Kabi Kabi, Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, Kabi Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, Kabi Kabi, Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, Kabi Kabi, Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Deb Iezy 02:53:03.506
Doonan, Kabi In addition I'd probably add to that is our people and culture branch has put forward some various initiatives around employee well-being focusing on our health and issues of being conscious of that so there is a concerted effort in that space as well so and when we have our point appointment of our manager to the position too which has created some stability so things are continuing as well so they're they're just relevant factors. Is demographics a factor like are they more of a high proportion of younger people in the workforce now? I wouldn't put it at the end of that. I think again it's more just being conscious and being, you know, having safe practices. That's very good. Yeah, we're really happy with it. Credit the staff, but credit the management of the staff as well. Amelia Lorentson 02:53:48.124
In terms of turnover, the report says high employee turnover due to a competitive labour market and recruitment challenges. We've been taking longer to recruit key people. 12.7% is the turnover rate over a 12-month period. How does that compare to other local governments? Is that high or standard? Deb Iezy 02:54:15.127
If you look at government generally, 17% seems to 17.17% seems to be a common figure. When we have reported these, in the past we've included casuals and temporary were included in those percentages. So that's why we thought it was just really important to note that in our permanence permanent staff, in our turnover rates, it's actually around that 12.7% figure, so that has actually declined, so that's improved for us, but it is still increasingly hard to recruit to some positions. In finance, for example, we've been trying to recruit to an accountancy. an accountancy position, which we haven't been able to do, despite several rounds and things. occupation you can moonlight that's right so there areas where there still are school shortages and especially within the construction area as well still encountering you know shortages in those spaces where we're competing with bigger projects that are occurring around the State as well so Nicola Wilson 02:55:20.907
There are a couple of initiatives that are classified as complete initiatives that I would have expected to see some ongoing or notation that they've been items that the next year is finding, and maybe that's just a, I'm sorry, I followed. I know why that is. So there's 2.1.2. Continue to implement the short-stay letting local law to manage the impacts of short-term letting, including increased resources towards compliance. So I know that the comment there says that the team resourcing is complete, but I would expect that Yes, it is and it may be that if it's not actually picked up as an initiative in the operational plan it's now part of their business as usual so while they're short short stay was a new initiative and we've implemented it, it's now part of our business as usual program and the delivery of our services, so it may not be featured as a specific initiative in the operational plan, but definitely part of our ongoing service delivery. And that will probably be the same answer for the next one, 2.1.3, which is to support... Yes, yeah, definitely, and you will see, normally there is something, if it's not listed in the new operational plan, it's very, there's a similar initiative, because the bottom line is, we do continue to provide an annual program of work, and by work and by identifying it allows us to feature the specific things that we're doing in that year. So the operational plan is a mix of new initiatives as well as some of our program delivery and then we highlight what we do throughout the year in our reporting to you. Amelia Lorentson 02:57:11.102
In terms of delays, how do we capture the costs associated with delays, project delays? Is that captured or costed or reviewed? Depends on what, in what frame you're talking. From, you know, there's a human resource implication, a service implication when something's delayed. And what I want to understand is how that's captured in our operational plan and how that's communicated to the community. Larry Sengstock 02:57:47.937
It's like the story from an From a human resource point of view, it's not always captured because we turn them into another project. So there's plenty of projects for them to do. So if one's delayed, we'll move our resources into another project, for project management, for example. If the delay causes an increase in cost to the project itself, for the delivery, if it's financial cost, then we capture that through our budgets and through our capital Amelia Lorentson 02:58:41.250
Question, Frank Wilkie 02:58:44.290
One of the graphs shows that it looks like almost about 97% of all payments to council are electronic. Are there any plans to make it 100% electronic? Can we give reassurances that the 3% that like to pay by cash will always be able to continue to do so? Larry Sengstock 02:59:05.064
That's one for our director. Deb Iezy 02:59:08.544
I know that I can say that we have encouraged electronic payments as a service to the community but I'll let Trent talk about that. As long as cash payment is always an option isn't it? Through the chair our character has no intent to change our cash handling policy at this point in time. The intent of anything is to try and give a broader opportunity for... opportunity for different types of payment mechanisms as we as we further progress our systems and enable people if they want to move on to direct efforts in those types of payment arrangements. But certainly, there is no doubt But certainly, there is a lot of work to be done. is no intent to change the type of currency in terms of cash versus online or card payments at this point. Frank Wilkie 02:59:49.855
And further to that, the Hinterland Service Desk at the Coor library is a trial. It's a trial to extend the services to the Hinterland and you'll have to give us an indication of how it's going and how it's being received. Deb Iezy 03:00:04.378
We'd have to defer to Kerri Contini because the customer experience now her directory. Yes. And I know the business pilot. So if she's... It's Kerri online. I'd have to take that on notice. Larry Sengstock 03:00:19.305
My understanding is it's been reasonably successful. There hasn't been a flood of people But it's certainly providing a service for the people that need it. And, and I think it's been successful. We, as you know, we don't take cash through that because it's from a security and safety point of view only. No other reason. It's just that holding cash there is a, is a risk to our staff. So, but you know, that's something that we can look at in the future if, if the requirement or that, you know, the need is there. But tainly, I think it's, it's providing a service that people enjoy and it's working. Brian Stockwell 03:00:55.424
Great. Okay. I think Councillor Wilkie, I think Councillor Finzel got into the second. And Councillor Wilkie. Frank Wilkie 03:01:06.084
Look, thank you, Deb, for the report. We always say it's exhausting just reading what happens in the course of one year. And it's amazing. Thanks to all the staff. to all the staff through all the departments for the extremely hard work they do every day of the year on behalf of the community and this council. Deb Iezy 03:01:52.285
We'll definitely do that for the CEO. Larry Sengstock 03:01:55.385
It's a massive amount of work as you say, a massive amount of work that we get through. And we keep adding to it. We're very dedicated to the cause and there's things that they'd love to be able to get to sometimes but just can't but on the whole. Brian Stockwell 03:02:29.623
Look at how this organisation is going and where the hard surfaces are grinding together and you look at that list, there's no real surprises. There is nothing in there that screams out as a wonderful opportunity at the the current operating environment other than perhaps the funding for disasters. It is all challenges. Having said that, you've identified some ways forward which I think it's really important from an organisational point of view that we do spend time on. So reading out part, you talk about going forward the opportunity exists to review and better define some project scopes with greater consideration of project timeframes or the staging of projects in Council's resourcing capacity. then you have mentioned this briefly, but you go on to talk about refine, while the focus of the review of performance measures has been to further refine those within the corporate plan, a review of service profile for all council services has recently been undertaken, which includes the identification of efficiency and effectiveness performance measures, which is really important at that service level. However, what in our annual report is progress towards our outcomes. And he also mentioned that. And that's, I think, the key area. If we do that project planning and the program planning better, we'll have a really clear focus on what we want to achieve, when we want to achieve it by, how we do it effectively and efficiently. And there's some other measures we could also put in there in terms of what we're going to do. How appropriate are the... processes we're doing to achieve that outcome, you know? Like, is our current investment of just putting away $400,000 a year for ZEN the right and appropriate way, or is there different ways? So, to me, that is a challenge, but it's one I know that we've had the conversations about by this time next year. I would expect this report actually to have a fair bit of information about where we're tracking on those key outcomes we've set by strategy, not just have we done a project or not. Has that project achieved either the intermediate outputs or the outputs or the intermediate outcomes and how's that tracking towards long-term outcomes. So we know that what we're doing is not just timely, efficient, effective, but it's achieving the impact that we want it to. And that's the key thing for me. Deb Iezy 03:04:54.952
And in response to that, one of the things that we need to further refine is that the corporate plan is a great document and it's got some goals that aren't necessarily core goals, but they are goals and there's objectives. But what we do need to just distil from that are those outcomes and some work has been that work has progressed with doing that so that we're really clear about what those outcomes are to be able to report against. So work has started in that space. We have got to a position of a draft in that what those outcomes are to further support the corporate plan, but also to clarify what those outcomes are. And look, there's no doubt when you read the corporate plan that, you know, the main pieces come through. It's very much flavoured that way. But from a clarity point of view, I think it's important that we do actually... need to actually define what those outcomes are. So, work in progress, but Amelia Lorentson 03:05:54.428
Yeah... Can I just add to what Councillor Stockwell said? It would be great to also understand expenditure and to see whether our expenditure actually aligns also with our strategic priorities. Yeah. Deb Iezy 03:06:15.600
And that, and just to further, just to discuss that, it's, and when we're talking financial sustainability going forward, so that's the, that's the link there, yeah, yeah, thank you, alright. Larry Sengstock 03:06:26.900
But certainly that's part of our, our budget process if we do, is to make sure that we do spend the money in the places that we, that we think are our priorities. That's, that's part And we are looking at how we can improve this reporting, for example, we're having some discussions from, with the infrastructure services about, because there are separate reports coming forward on, for example, how the capital program is progressing, for example, whereas it would be nice to have a complete picture in this space. So we are looking at how we can better align that reporting as well. So that's to come as well. Okay. Brian Stockwell 03:07:01.918
Does anyone wish to talk to motion? Councillor Wilson, I think you moved it. Did you want to close? No, thank you. You're looking at me as if you moved it. No, it was Frank. It was Larry Sengstock 03:07:13.058
Councillor Wilkie. You were the last motion, sorry. No, thank you. Brian Stockwell 03:07:19.898
I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Thank you. That's unanimous. That's favour? Okay. I see that our Acting Director of Infrastructure Services is making his way to the table with Craig, his manager of design. And they're here to talk about the Emu Mountain Road shared pathway. Shaun Walsh 03:08:02.206
Thank you, Mr Chair, and thank you, Mr Chair, and thank you, Mr Chair, and thank you, opportunity. The need for the link is without question. It's even shown on council's own cycle and walking strategy. It's been desirable. But the options available for actual construction have been subject to ongoing discussion between council officers and councillors now for over Is optimal from both a usability perspective, being, you know, the direct route, you know, for cyclists and walkers. Has the least crossing points at the lowest speed environment, adjacent to David Low Way. But, you know, it's not... you know, it's not optimal from the natural environment perspective. So we've analysed it and we consider that option 1B, as recommended by Sunshine Coast Council, is the optimal outcome. We consider the risks associated with the crossing point... point north of the David Low Way roundabout as being part of Transport of Main Road's responsibility, de-risk it for Noosa Council perspective. We know that there possibly could be congestion issues associated with the Bridge and Beach roundabout, there already are, that is a long That is a long-term issue that we will all have to work towards with TMR and so on. So, that's the summary of the recommended report. Thank you. Do we have any questions? Shaun, could you explain the funding arrangements in terms of the build and also ongoing maintenance and perpetuity? Yes. Thank you, Councillor Loeppie. proposal is to be funded by Sunshine Coast Council but they are seeking grant funding from state and federal funding partners to actually execute the works. They are prepared to execute an infrastructure agreement with Noosa Council because even though the route is within Noosa Council, it doesn't serve our residents by and large. So they propose that they will undertake the ongoing maintenance at their cost on behalf of Noosa Council. Frank Wilkie 03:10:28.467
Could there be an indirect benefit for Noosa of Noosa Shire residents, particularly residents living in Bridgham, that more people may be accessing the village by means other than the car now? Shaun Walsh 03:10:37.898
Yeah, certainly it's consistent with Council's congestion reduction program, so that we have residents who live in Peregian Breeze who want to get to Peregian Beach Village who won't have to use their car, they can actually use a bicycle. So it actually will benefit Bridgham It's part of congestion reduction. And there may be the occasional residents who has a friend or a relative who lives in Peregian Breeze and they might want to go the other way, so from the Noosa Council perspective. Amelia Lorentson 03:11:07.241
In terms of risk, the report says the main risk at the crossing point on the northern side on the northern side of David Lowe Way involves the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Despite being considered the safest crossing point due to the lower speed environment, there are still concerns and it's listed what those concerns High vehicle speeds. Pedestrians and cyclists may not always be visible to drivers. And again, a point you made, the jurisdiction is managed by TNR, not council. What safety or roundabout modifications are being introduced to mitigate that risk? And my other question is, do the benefits outweigh the risk? I looked and did some stats at how many pedestrians were killed on our nation's roads in car accidents and the numbers are really quite startling. Shaun Walsh 03:12:53.364
Some risk mitigation too. The third group of risk mitigation to Noosa Council is in respect to the fact it's under TMR jurisdiction rather than under Noosa Council jurisdiction, so if there is an incident that it won't be ours to actually resolve. I do point out that this crossing environment on the day below roundabout is not dissimilar to the crossing environment that Council has rolled out. On roundabouts on Eumundi Noosa Road, on Cooroy Noosa Road, it meets accepted standards from TMR engineers and Sunshine Coast Council engineers, but of course it's not without risk, so there's risk on anyone who rides anywhere, you know, or drives anywhere, but in consideration of those risk mitigations we think it's appropriate. Frank Wilkie 03:13:40.380
How do we move it? I think council will move it. Brian Stockwell 03:13:43.960
I think council will move it afterwards. Lynne's not going to hand up, you said you were going to hand up. Anyone wish to talk Thank you for the report, Shaun. This is a very important project. It represents a new level of inter-council cooperation that places the safety of residents and children regardless of where they live as a priority. Schoolchildren are already riding on Emu Mountain Road on their bikes or walking beside it to get to school and the village. This project will take them off the road into a safer To a changed northern crossing at the roundabout, which would be safer than currently where they're crossing. The risk is if we don't do it, it's more highly likely that something will happen, in my opinion, to someone who's currently using the roadway to access the village, the school and the coastal pathway. There's no financial risk to Noosa Council. The project is entirely funded by Sunshine Coast Council and there will be ongoing maintenance funded. provided by Sunshine Coast Council. I think it's a great, as I said, a great example of inter-regional cooperation. It's the responsible and the right thing to do and thank you for your your report on this and your advice. Tom Wegener 03:15:22.100
It just seems like it's going to be a very nice ride, actually. And when it comes to the safety of the roundabout, we just have to learn how to drive slower, don't we? Just put a speed bump or a race, you know, something there so that cars like say hey we actually share the road. We have past this often notion in Australia that the road is for cars and not for anybody else and that's not the case if you share it. Amelia Lorentson 03:15:54.875
Would just like to acknowledge Councillor Murray, Deputy Mayor Murray Suarez who is sitting in the gallery all day. It's quite a busy report, and I want to acknowledge and thank You've been here from day dot with this project, and it must be really quite rewarding for you to see it through, so congratulations. Nicola Wilson 03:16:23.347
Point of order, you know that talking gallery in Noosa? Jessica Phillips 03:16:26.387
I'll just say one thing, very quick, short and sweet, as a police, previous police officer that's been to many accidents on that, in that that area, safety first, which is really exciting to see that we've put that at the forefront of our decision making, this gets up. Amelia Lorentson 03:16:46.497
Thank you. Brian Stockwell 03:16:48.317
I'll say one thing, that's, interestingly, when I used to do a bit of talking for the Noosa Environment Lead Hub, I always used to start off with how did you get to school, and did you walk, did you ride a bike, did you get driven, did you catch a bus, and hands highest percentage who walked or rode a bike was actually Kulin High. That's because they've got very good pathways going out that way, and so this will create another opportunity for those in Fridge and Breeze to also make that trip. It's also instructional in terms of our own pathway network. We know, if I look at the school that has the lowest, it's also the school It's also the school that has the least safe connectivity for walking and cycling and that's Good Shepherd. So it is important to look at these measures that you know with any crossing any arterial road network is a little bit fraught. The upside of this one also if you if you like going for long rides and not packing forward along the coastal track you down to Kulin, out the back of Kulin and come back through Criddian Springs and come back this way it makes a very nice day ride. So that's something for those who like to do long rides. That's about all I'm going to say. Councillor Wilkie, oh anyone else? I think everyone's had a go except for Councillor Wilson. Did you want to speak? Nicola Wilson 03:18:08.448
Thank you for the report and thank you to the Sunshine Coast Council. Yeah, just to reiterate everything that's been said. Thank you to the staff. It's good to see that those safety risks have been mitigated to the best of our abilities. But I think the most exciting thing, apart from connectivity and safety, is the collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council and showing that regionally we can work together to get outcomes that benefit our community. So I think that's really good. Frank Wilkie 03:18:35.828
Yeah, I'll just close by thanking Councillor, Deputy Mayor Maria Cyrus who's driven the project, got us to the table. So please pass on our... Gratitude to your staff who've been part of that and our best regards to your mayor and councillors. Brian Stockwell 03:18:55.818
Is it possible for her to drive the pathway? Stop it. Stop that now. Subtitles those in favour. We have once again with us the Acting Director, Shaun and Craig. Who's giving the brief overview? Shaun Walsh 03:29:28.346
I'll be giving the brief overview as I've drafted the report, so there's quite significant issues in the report, so lots of different items of draft it in my name. I also want to introduce Council's new Sustainable Transport Coordinator, Dr Stephanie Bullock. And while Stephanie's only been on board two weeks, I may need to defer to her on some specific technical things as well as to Craig as well. The report provides a very comprehensive overview of Council's Go Noosa program, which is a program to implement our transport strategy. A key area of our transport strategy is about mobile shift. With the number of visitors and residents needing to move around our Shire, critical at holiday times, private cars aren't the answer. It has to be towards buses and active transport and ferries and the like to actually get people moving around, which is consistent with the international approach. Council levies a transport levy upon residents which raises about $937,000 of which we expend just over a million dollars tapping into general revenue to deliver a comprehensive suite of programs actually work towards better congestion management and better environmental outcomes in terms of carbon emissions the report first of all goes through the sort of the more routine or the everyday matters which is you know providing a transport to some of their more remote communities such as Boreen Point in Kin Kin through the Boreen Point flexi link service and the council cab service which are those communities don't have any access to public transport at the moment. The report also goes through the more routine Go Noosa weekends program which is free buses on the weekend to get people moving around particularly focused at residents on weekends and then And then the report is about some of the behavioural training initiatives, about particularly the Go Noosa Schools program, which is really aimed at congestion reduction around our schools, because as we're all aware on our non-peak holiday times, the worst congestion we experience in Noosa is around our schools at Sunshine Beach, Noosaville, Tewantin and Cooroy. And that's largely due to people dropping off students in private cars. And we know that when we and we know that when we don't have holidays or we don't have school on, those congestion problems actually resolve themselves. The report then also outlines a new initiative which is the car park tech trial which is funded through the levy. This is the first time that we've actually done a comprehensive examination of the use of car parks in and around the main beach precinct using new technology and actually helping to direct people actually using those going to be using those car parks and getting an indication of how long they park and where they park and what the supply capacity is. And that's fundamental data to actually help prepare a parking management plan. The report also goes into the overall Go Noosa pre-holiday bus program which includes council paying for additional bus services which are particularly targeted towards people parking in satellite car parking stations and changing onto buses and coming into the main beach precinct. The report goes The report goes into more routine matters such as traffic control at Main Beach, trying to get people moving around the roundabouts. And then really goes into a couple of really specific things concerning the Main Beach people. people of Dropplesone and Noosa Heads Lions Park. Now these are matters which have created significant community discussion and debate and that's why they're being prioritised as separate sections in the report. And the report recommends that you know recommends that consistent with previous resolutions we don't proceed with use of the temporary overflow Noosa Heads Lions Park for car parking and does recommend we proceed with the use of the main beach drop-off zone because it provides significant operational benefit to actually keep the main beach precinct safe and also reduce traffic congestion at a critical point at Hastings Street. I know this will be subject to significant discussion and significant council discussion and debate and we'll open with your questions. Amelia Lorentson 03:33:23.712
I'd like to move an alternate action through the Chair. Sure. Council A, note the report by the Acting Director Infrastructure Services to the general meeting dated 12th of August regarding the Go Noosa initiatives. authority to the CEO to approve the ongoing implementation of the Go Noosa initiatives as outlined in this report subject to Council's budget processes. note the proposal for Council offices to undertake a review of the Boreen Point FlexiLink and Council CAV services and report back to Council. approve the use of the Noosa Heads Blinds Park for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 14 December 2024 to Tuesday 28 January 2025 and Saturday 2 April 2025 to Monday 21 April 2025 by the Tewantin Noosa Blinds Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources. e seek community feedback on the future use of the park. f approve the temporary use of the main beach local government reserve adjacent to the Noosa Head Surf Club as a main beach drop-off zone for the peak Christmas, New Year's Eve two-week period including drop-off, pick-up, disability permit holders, scooter, motorbike, council lifeguards, emergency service vehicles, New York... New Year's Eve rapid response area and additional facilities such as waste collection, temporary toilet block, etc. Note that a parking management plan including a local planning parking plan for Noosa Heads is under And a movement and place study is proposed for the 2025-26 financial year that closely considers car parking and circulation in the main beach locality including future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Noosa Heads bus station, the Mace car park and the main beach local government reserve which will holistically consider the uses, design and circulation within these critical spaces for Noosa Heads and will be subject to community consultation. Engagement. Engagement. H, note that council's resolution on 13 September 2021 that allowed the concept of a one-way local loop with bus priority lane from Noosa Drive to Noosa Parade referred to a council workshop to encourage bus usage and frequency. And that's all. I don't want to add I. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:36:12.399
Just a question, Amelia. Yes. Number H. Yes. Note the council's resolution on 13 September 2021. Would the word 'allowed' be synonymous in your intention to 'referred'? Amelia Lorentson 03:36:31.604
Referred, excuse me, that referred the concept. It's just simply and I really want to make clear my intention with that noting. It's only a noting recommendation. Frank Wilkie 03:36:46.703
The other question I had from you was Part D, Tewantin Noosa Lions Club, at their discretion. So the three words, at their discretion. Shaun Walsh 03:36:58.183
Through the Chair, I can probably respond to that. So the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club have provided a proposal, you know, to actually use the park. And there are some days they don't use it for car parking, you know, because it's or wet or the like. Or they might have staffing issues, or we might have an operational issue that we can't allow them to use it. So, and there's an ongoing, as part of the operating arrangements, there's a daily conversation about the operation of the park. So it's really, rather than putting the whole of the proposal in there, it's really consistent with the proposal by Tewantin Noosa Lions Club. Thank you. Chair? Sorry, it's for you, Chair, as well. It could be at their discretion and in agreement with Council. Yeah, that's a good point. Nicola Wilson 03:37:39.296
I want to raise some minor amendments to Part D of that motion, just to get a bit more of that detail in that wording. Amelia Lorentson 03:37:49.216
So, just before you brought that in, that was a CEO's suggestion. That was just my suggestion. We don't put that in. Oh, okay. Sorry. Brian Stockwell 03:37:55.816
Until it's elected. Cancel, we'll send it back to you. Nicola Wilson 03:38:13.427
No, it hasn't been seconded, so Councillor Brian Stockwell 03:38:16.067
Wilson, you can suggest to the mover that you, some amendments, either that or you could move an amendment after it has been seconded. And then you add Generally, if it's just clarification and wording, you do it now, but if it's change in any degree of substance, then you move it as an amendment. Nicola Wilson 03:38:44.828
To negotiate any pleas and the second one was that any future kind of decisions around this park be subject to the parking management plans. Brian Stockwell 03:39:03.195
So that would be an amendment to the motion. Yes. Jessica Phillips 03:39:06.215
Can I please ask a question if I second this motion is that saying we're not asking questions is that I don't want to make the same if If you had had seconded it already then we'd have to go straight to Councillor Lorentson's first speech and then questions come later. If you'd like to second it. Can I second the motion? So now we go to Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 03:39:31.051
I'll start first with the page... with page and again just a noting report. I just believe it's important to formally note the local loop initiative from the resolution in council 13th of September 21 and have it in council meeting records. Documenting this I believe will ensure that the initiative is recognised and potentially considered in our ongoing discussions and planning. To D and E I'll speak to both of those now. Do we want to ask questions? I'm comfortable with that in terms of taking that resolution to a meeting. I appreciate that and I respected your advice Larry beforehand. Thank you. Since 2021 I've been advocating Opening Minds Park for paid parking during long weekends and school holidays on behalf of the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club, our residents and our local businesses. We all know the intense pressure holiday periods place on our infrastructure, especially parking. Removing 239 parking spots during these peak times, in my opinion, would only worsen the situation. Further, the report that we've got in front of us, and I'll ask questions to understand exactly what the people, the main beach drop-off zone trial, how many car vehicles... are displaced. Excuse me, Councillor Lorentson, if you start to ask questions, that means you have stopped talking to your motion, so you either have to continue to talk to your motion, or ask a question. Okay, it wasn't a question. So, further, the report... further, the report recommends that approving the temporary use of the main beach drop-off zone, which will, again, reduce some prime parking spaces for the community, so allowing car parking at Lyons Park will help to mitigate this loss. The motion in front of you requests that holiday parking be continued in the Lyons Park during Christmas as Easter, as has been Easter, as has been the practice for the Lions Club for the past 20 years. A total of 30 days of car parking is requested only. Further, the motion requests that any decision regarding the future use of Lions Park undergo public consultation to allow the community to express its views. Arguably, Lions Park might not be the perfect long-term solution, but it offers a practical option for now, for the present. The Noosa Shire Local Economic Plan emphasises the importance of considering the needs of our local business community within our transport strategy. It's crucial that we ensure that our essential infrastructure meets the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors. For over 20 years the Lorentson Club have managed parking during the Easter and Christmas school holidays. The report highlights stats which I'd like to present here today. Between 2018 and 2024 the Lyons Club volunteers raised over $1 million and parked 50,728 cars. The Tewantin Noosa Lyons Club fundraising efforts directly support community Directly support community projects such as the all-access beach mat at Noosa Main Beach, the seahorse snipper program, personal care packs for those in need, and sponsorships for many of our local sporting organizations. They sponsor Red Kite Charity, our youth, and the Lions Mobility Foundation, just to name a few. car parking at Lion Park represents the Lions Club's largest contribution to its fundraising efforts, and we cannot simply cut off their primary source of fundraising. without first consulting with the community. We made a promise to the Lions and we made a promise to our community in March 2023. In March 2023, Council decided by resolution to consider public consultation on the issue of paid parking during long weekends and school holidays and to seek community feedback on the future use of the Lions car parking. We promised to consult the community but for reasons that are already stated in the plan, it hasn't happened yet. Therefore, it's only right to allow car parking during the Christmas New Year period in 2025 and Easter, preserving a Lions Club 20 year tradition. We must then commit to consult with the community as we promised back in March 2023. Until then, we must maintain the tradition and not decisions. To do otherwise in my opinion would be neither equitable nor fair. We serve the community and they should have a say in the future on the park. Recent feedback on the Noosaville foreshore infrastructure management plan, the river plan and feedback on the people's park has clarified that the community does value its parking spaces. We must therefore We must therefore commit to consultation before deciding about the park's future and not make that decision around the table. We need to understand and balance the broader Noosa community's need for access to public parkland with the request for paid parking on this reserve but we can't do this without consulting with the community first. I've spoken with Michael Roach, president of the Lions Club and past president Ian Glue who are both with us today. They have emphasised that without parking the community and local businesses will suffer. As they pointed out buses aren't always practical for everyone particularly those with prams, young children and those with beach gear, surfboards, trolleys, beach toys. We need consider and understand the impact of losing 239 parking spots on everyone. What is the cost to residents? What is the cost to businesses? Who loses out if we leave this space unused? And what about our community? What is the cost to the community which directly benefits from the funds raised by the Lions Club? What are the unintended consequences? Where will the cars go? Will there be an overflow parking in residential areas along Noosa Parade? Will there be more competition for the already limited parking spaces? And what will be the impact on traffic? How will this affect Hastings Street workers, the lifeguards, the volunteers? Again, my question, who suffers? And why And why? Is it okay to allow lines to be used for events like this? You're already 30 seconds over your speaking time. I request through the Chair some consideration given how important and significant this matter is. I need one paragraph. Frank Wilkie 03:46:54.287
Again, who suffers? Why is it okay to allow lines parts to be used for events like the Noosa Tri, car shows and it's not okay for community service? And I will reference also the cost to the businesses on Hastings streets which pay premium rent and rely on peak holiday sales for the profitability and survival. I have a letter of support from the Hastings Street Association advocating for the Tewantin Noosa Lines Club to reopen the the paid parking during these crucial times to help support the Lions Club fundraising and they've also requested thorough community consultation regarding the park's future use. Councillors, the 30 days that have been requested in this motion for paid parking aren't allowing Tewantin Noosa Lions Club Club to perform community service, unpaid work that benefits others. By supporting this motion, we preserve a 20-year Lions Club tradition. I ask that you support the motion in front of us. Brian Stockwell 03:48:10.000
Are we right for the amendment? Frank Wilkie 03:48:13.640
Change to item D to be changed to read, but note that as Council has yet to conduct community engagement specifically on the future use of Noosa Heads Lions Park Reserve during peak periods as per the motion on March 16, 2023. Approved the use of the reserve for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 4th of December to Tuesday 28th of January 2025 and Saturday 2nd of April 2025 to Monday 21st of April 2025 by the Tewantin and Noosa Lions Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with the Department of Resources. Brian Stockwell 03:48:54.920
We have a second for that amendment. Councillor Wegener got your hand up first. Councillor Wilkie you have the floor. Yeah thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:49:03.480
Look in March 2023 the decision to discontinue the parking in Noosa Hex Lions Park for school holidays and long weekends was based on this motion previously to allow it during the COVID declaration only. We honouring the intention of a motion and a resolution of this council what we're doing here today by continuing parking in Lions Park until we've had community consultation specifically on the future use of Noosa Hex Lions Park during peak periods is honouring what we had in honouring what we had in the motion on March 16, 2023. We don't make changes without community consultation. Even though, as the report states, during the first phase of the destination management plan, there was a general sentiment that green space not be used for car parking as a principle. We hear that, but specifically for the Lions Park, we haven't done specific consultation on that, and I think we have an obligation to honour. we said we'd do in the motion on March 16, 2023. Now discussions about how much longer car parking can continue there, given the independent engineer's report about creating congestion to traffic congestion and so on and so forth, I'll save for when we debate the motion itself. But this is about honouring what we told the community we'd do. I'm hoping you'll support the amendment. It makes it clear why we're allowing car parking in the Lions Park to continue. continue this Christmas and Easter. I hope you'll support the amendment. Nicola Wilson 03:51:02.196
Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. I just have a question with the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with Queensland Department of Resources. Does that mean there's going to be a change in the process where Council doesn't manage any of that funding? Brian Stockwell 03:51:25.343
Councillor, you're talking to the original motion, not to the amendment. So that would be a question once we've finished dealing with this amendment. Amelia Lorentson 03:51:34.294
I'm happy to support the motion of the amendment in front of us, Mayor Wilkie, and I think it just makes it clear why there is a motion in front motion in front of us to approve the overflow parking for the Christmas period and it is consistent with our motion from March 2023, so happy with the additional words. And Councillor Wilson, do you want to talk to it? Nicola Wilson 03:52:00.966
No, I put my amendments on the same item. Brian Stockwell 03:52:03.406
Yeah, so you have that one amendment at a time. Jessica Phillips 03:52:05.826
I have a question. Sure. Can I ask specifically what the community engagement will look like? We don't know yet. Because it doesn't... Frank Wilkie 03:52:15.533
Shaun? Shaun Walsh 03:52:16.273
Through the Chair. Another item of the resolution is actually the idea of a movement in space and place study. It actually looks at the Noosa Heads Lions Park, the bus station, and the initial work on the bus station indicates a very wasteful facility with unnecessary circulation. That's, you know, the ugly structure which is coming to Hastings Street. The maze car So the best solution to this is actually figuring out what is the best circulation, what is the best parking, what is the best places for buses to go, what is the best interface. We can't solve one without the other. And then, you know, as a result, the wasteful use of land around the Noosa Heads bus station, there's actually land to be liberated that could be repurposed for community parking or other purposes. So the forecast is the forecast is that that would need to have them undertake an engagement process and get all the stakeholders involved. Do you want to add anything to that, Craig? Larry Sengstock 03:53:11.123
No, it's also looking at space for people as well. Brian Stockwell 03:53:18.243
Speak to the motion because I don't agree with the amendment. I don't agree with the supposition that we haven't discharged our responsibilities that we did in March 16, if my recollection of events is correct. And my recollection of events is that that particular Two-thirds of people, when we asked what they want for the future of that area, not only didn't want parking in the green space, they wanted us to do more to reduce parking congestion. So you can't tell me we haven't honoured it. It's important note that this is not the first time we asked in general terms. Protection of open spaces from being used for car parking is a community priority. This is in the destination management plan. This is what we went out to the community with. And why did we Because that's what the community told us when we did the Noosa Shire liveability study. So I don't think we can hide behind the fact that we haven't asked specifically about Lyons Park because everyone knows what they were talking about. There's not more parks in Hastings Street that are used for car parking. The community has loudly and clearly told us where they want to go and it's to go and it's not about putting cars in recreational areas. So I won't support the amendment. Amelia Lorentson 03:55:21.847
Can I ask a question? Is the destination management plan in draft form? Has it gone out to community consultation and has it been ratified by whole council? Brian Stockwell 03:55:36.094
The discussion paper where we put the scenarios has gone out and the statistics I'm using are in the report from staff about the results of that community consultation. Amelia Lorentson 03:55:36.107
I can answer that, no. Jessica Phillips 03:55:48.834
Can I please ask you to clarify what you mean by everyone knows given the past lot of consultation we've had over the last topical reports before? Brian Stockwell 03:56:03.917
Well, if it's following a sentence that says 1700 car parks in Hastings Street Precinct, and then it talks about additional parking space in high use areas that fail to minimise traffic congestion, and then it talks about protection of open space from being used for parking as a community priority. I think the logic is fairly clear with what we're asking people. We're asking people, do you think we should be putting car parking into open space in Hastings Street Precinct? I think it's fairly clear. Jessica Phillips 03:56:32.773
And my question is, clear to you or clear to community? Brian Stockwell 03:56:36.333
I would think clear to the people who filled out that response, and there's quite a lot. That's my view. Obviously Councillor Wilkie has a different view but that's my view. My view is the community has on a number of occasions indicated very strongly what their preference is and I understand that there's a balancing one of a petition where... said that they wanted the reverse to be the case and I suppose answering the question is... now I think that will raise the question back to the next one Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? Nicola Wilson 03:57:15.425
I just have a question then through the Chair of Council on Wilkie then Council has yet to conduct a community engagement specifically for this future use of Noosa Heads When do you propose that might be, if it's specifically for that, given we've already done some engagement and results back from the vulnerability, given our comms program, we've got a heavy schedule, just given we've supported that and we've, you know, in your words, let's take a pause, let's finish what we've started, you know, that's your mandate as a leader, where do you envisage We're going to put this community engagement so that it is meaningful and it does give us data back that is, you know, clear, that we've engaged, you know, in the right manner. to elicit the responses from the community that is seeking to inform this decision. Frank Wilkie 03:58:14.847
I'll just make a point that in the body of the motion, this reinforces and spells out part E of the motion that says we need to conduct community consultation on the future uses of the park. the park? This echoes that. In terms of when and where that consultation is going to happen, Shaun made some suggestions. I would say it would be a council group decision when it comes to spacing out the community consultation. So we haven't had that discussion yet. We haven't had that internal briefing yet. But we know it has to happen. That is the imperative. By agreeing to motion and this amendment, you are saying to the community we are not going to make any final decisions. the future uses of the Noosa Heads Lions Park until we have had some form of community consultation specifically on the future uses of the Lions Park. As we promised. I have a different view. I don't believe that we specifically have. We've had general consultation in phase one of the DMP about use of green spaces. We've got feedback saying that green spaces ought not to be used as car parks. But my belief is we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard in this current climate and have have specific consultation on future uses of the Lions Park. But what form that may take, staff will make some suggestions and every councillor's input will be critical to that. What you're agreeing to is the principle. But in terms of the detail of when it's going to happen, Karen, I can't answer that at the moment. I guess But it has to that's a question through the Chair to the CEO. I support the intent, but in terms of staff and impacts, we've had a lot of debate and extra meetings and things to address our meaningful communication with the community, which I highly value and appreciate. appreciate in your opinion how do you think this is going to affect your staff that's brought the executive committee to the table that have actually identified some significant impacts and issues and I want to ensure that when we do go out to community engagement that it is meaningful and we support that process that you know is positive we don't want to We don't want to do it, you know, a half-hearted approach. How do you think that is going to go through your staff? Shaun Walsh 04:00:47.763
To the Chair, so the report and the recommendation you have for reference is a financial year 25-26 and it will occur after the Noosaville foreshore infrastructure. So that's in terms of chronology of when we start that process within existing resources and we have capacity if we sequence it in that way Can I speak to the motion? Jessica Phillips 04:01:09.610
You may. I'm sorry. Sorry. Larry Sengstock 04:01:15.976
Now I'll have Brian Stockwell 04:01:17.096
Councillor first. Jessica Phillips 04:01:18.116
Thank you. I just want to support the amendment and the motion on the basis in my opinion that the Tewantin Tewantin Noosa Lions Club provide fundamentally, words can't describe support for our locals and therefore, until I know more, I support this motion. Nicola Wilson 04:01:48.440
So the next stages of the DMP, as you rightly said, it was identified as a priority in the DMP not to use green spaces, but if we've anything from the foreshore master plan is that what we say and what we mean may not always be the same thing, so the intent of the DMP is that we actually test the scenarios, the pros and cons, to get a more clear get a more clear direction on what exactly. So if you're saying no, then this is what happens. Are you still saying no? So it's that push and pull. And we're scheduled to go out at this stage, subjecting councillors and November. So we'll be asking pointed questions of the community to get their actual response on Lions Park. Brian Stockwell 04:02:40.104
That's good clarification. that's good clarification. So November is the answer to your question? Yes, thank you. Anyone wish to talk to the motion? That's it? I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, amended, it is the amended. No, would you like to close, Councillor Wilkie? Yeah, thank you. Frank Wilkie 04:02:59.629
Look, this doesn't change the intent of the motion that was moved by Councillor Lorentson or seconded by Councillor. It just spells Think with I couldn't do it I couldn't do it in this current climate and also knowing what the original motion was back in March 2023 and to it goes the reason why we discontinued parking in the Lions Park over school holidays and because it was a motion that that would end when once the COVID declaration was over so it's the same principle applies that's it I think I've said enough Brian Stockwell 04:04:44.399
Okay I'll put the amendment those in favour of the amendment amendment? So that's Councillor Wilson, Wilkie, Phillips, Wegener, Finzel and Lorentson. And against? That would be Stockwell. The amendment becomes the motion. Councillor Wilson, you are now open to move further amendments. Nicola Wilson 04:05:09.689
A couple of little details to add also to item D, which I don't think in any way negates what council has already placed. And that's just two points to authorise the CEO to negotiate fees, and number two... two, to note that music post-April 2025 holiday period is to be determined by council's parking management plan. Do you want to speak to that first? Brian Stockwell 04:05:37.008
Yeah, I think you need a seconder. Would anyone like to second? I'll second that. Councillor Wegener. Yeah, you might speak first. Nicola Wilson 04:05:44.367
So the first one's really about transparency for the community. So it is noted in this report that at the moment, all our money that comes from the $20 parking fees per day is divided 60% for lines, 40% to council, but I think council incurs across the bank in maintaining that plan. There's also an There's also an agreement that on rainy days, which last summer we had lots of, that council pays the lands $1,600 per day, even if there's no cars parked there. I think that's something that you might want to think about if we're to continue this use of the car park. So that's just to make sure that that doesn't necessarily just roll over on the current terms, but that we get council to really appreciate that. The second one is that in the last few months we've been hearing about initiatives on transport and parking have been delayed due to lack of resources. We're now very lucky to have an expert on staff and I think it's prudent to give time for due process before making decisions on this one car park in isolation when we're committed to preparing council's parking management plan. anything that we raise as part of that parking management plan will have community consultation. But for the whole area, just not looking at that park in isolation. So I just think it's important that we kind of kind of consider that bigger picture for the whole beach area, rather than speaking out at one point. Amelia Lorentson 04:07:12.661
Question to the staff. The original motion has a recommendation... a recommendation to note that a parking management plan, including a local parking plan for Noosa Heads, is under preparation, and a movement and place study is proposed for 2025 that closely considers car parking and circulation in the main beach locality, including future use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park, the Noosa Heads bus station, the Mace car park, and the main beach... local government reserve, which will holistically consider the Noosa design and circulation within these critical spaces for Noosa Heads and will be subject to community engagement. My question is, does Councillor Wilson's amendment, second amendment, is that captured under that recommendation? Shaun Walsh 04:08:02.601
Yes, it is. Yes it is and I'm also concerned for just treating the Noosa Heads Lions Park in isolation for a parking management plan because we need to, you know, some ideas like, you know, could the main beach reserve 42 car parking spaces be relocated, you know, to part of the Noosa Heads Lions Park, that there's a trade-off in terms of open space. How we can condense the bus station or actually liberate space which might provide, you know, better drop-off So, I'm just concerned by just looking at one aspect of it, which is, you know, timed parking, you know, location of car parks. We're actually not engaging in the broader topic about the way all those spaces are used. So, my recommendation would be would be to defer to the existing motion, rather than point two on that, yeah. Brian Stockwell 04:08:50.062
So, it's been moved and seconded. Would you like the council to consider a move on item two, or...? Yes. So, is everyone happy if we remove item two, because we believe it's already covered in the substantive motion? Yes, the whole council. Okay, so that becomes the amendment. Anyone else like to speak to it? Amelia Lorentson 04:09:15.764
I'll speak to it. The motion in front of us is for this... this Christmas and this Easter. That's it, 30 days. At the moment, I think the arrangement is 60-40% with the Lions Club. And where I'm sitting, given there's uncertainty what the future use is, that's got to come out to public consultation, I I probably would sit comfortable to allow the current existing ratio to sit as is. Again, understanding that there is no certainty whether this is going to be a continued practice or not, and understanding that every cent that the Lions raise comes back to the community. This is not a commercial venture, this is a community service. A bunch of volunteers who give up 8 o 'clock in the morning till 5 o 'clock at night. I go and visit them and people 7-8 days who are probably the best steward and welcoming committee to our visitors that I've ever seen. You feel loved when you walk through that door. And I think that's why the Lions Club are so loved. So I am not going to support this, I think this is quite, this is a really good amendment Nicola, but let's consider it when we understand what use is. This is one of 30 days and we've put the Lions Club under a little bit of stress. I just think it's the right thing to just continue as we have agreed at a 60/40 for these 30 Look, just listening to comments, very original, I'm going to support it because within that is the capacity for the CEO and the Tewantin Lions Club members to have a discussion about whether they want an increase or not or whether they want to keep it the same. There's no implied predetermination that we're going to decrease the fees or anything. It keeps it open and it gives latitude to both parties to arrive at an agreeable outcome. So I support it in principle. I think the CEO ought to be able to negotiate with the Tewantin Lions about what their financial What their financial arrangements ought to be. Just gives them more latitude. All parties more latitude. Can I ask a question through the CEO? Is it likely that Council would agree to 60, 40%? Frank Wilkie 04:12:06.775
I think that's a bit premature. Amelia Lorentson 04:12:10.135
Oh, no, they have already undergone negotiations. And I just wanted to, when we. Negotiated the 60, 40%, that is after March. Larry Sengstock 04:12:21.134
I understand this agreement's finished because we weren't going to use this park again. So it's, everything's back on the table. Not to say that we wouldn't do 60, 40, but I'm saying it's a new negotiation. Okay. Brian Stockwell 04:12:38.074
You get to finish if you've got a question. Anyone else wish Anyone else wish to talk? I'll leave it to you, Councillor Wilson, to close if you feel so. Jessica Phillips 04:12:49.123
No, that's fine. Thank you. Nicola Wilson 04:12:54.605
Last year, lines were able to make $19,000 roughly from this, and the council made $20,000. I'm just worried about there's a risk that if we get lots more rainy days in the Brian Stockwell 04:13:32.837
Those against? Oh, sorry, I didn't read out the names. It was Wilson, Wilkie, Wegener, Finzel and Stockwell were four, and against was Phillips and Lorentson. So that now becomes part of the substantive motion. I have a question, and I'm looking at the staff present, and Craig, you may have been the only one there and you may not have been involved. I believe it was 2019 where the State Department of Natural Resources wrote us a letter and clearly identified that, in their opinion, car parking in the Noosa Heads Lions Park was an inconsistent use and they wouldn't approve it going forward. Is that correct? Frank Wilkie 04:14:13.549
That's correct. Shaun Walsh 04:14:15.389
Through the Chair, there's actually been some very recent amendments to the Land Act. I'm aware of that. I didn't ask that question. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 04:14:24.149
So I'll ask the question. Through the staff, there has been amendments through the Land Act and the onus, I believe, is being placed now on Council to manage the land appropriately on the basis that it will not affect a public interest. Shaun Walsh 04:14:40.936
Can I ask the So it is very recent amendments and it's untested, if you like, that's how hard it is to press, but they've very clearly stated that they would desire council to take charge of uses within... It's no longer governed by what the reserve status is, recreation reserve, but if council wants to approve an inconsistent use, it should go down an engagement process with the general public and ideally have what's called a land management plan under the Land Act that expresses those purposes. I think in this context, because it has been temporarily used as a temporary car park for 20 Nicola Wilson 04:16:11.962
Than we're saying no solution. Noosa Lion Club, they communicate directly with Queensland Department of Resources. I just want clarification on that process. Shaun Walsh 04:16:21.424
So you're on the side of caution. Council would write to the department. behalf. On behalf and say that, you know, that subject to council resolution intends to use it temporarily again as a temporary car park, but committing to a future more formal engagement process. So we would undertake that. Frank Wilkie 04:16:42.150
The discretion is if it's a wet day or there's people not available, the discretion is whether they open or close on a particular day, not whether they engage with them. Nicola Wilson 04:16:55.184
On that, I guess that's back to Councillor Lorentson if she's happy with that word and how it reads. I just see there's a... Amelia Lorentson 04:17:03.044
I would, yeah, for clarity, if you want to add, at their discretion and at Council... Yeah, I would agree communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources to make that clear. Yeah, I think that would be it. I'm happy with that. Yeah, thank you. Is everyone else happy with that clarification being added in? Yes. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 04:17:22.099
So, have you got a question? Amelia Lorentson 04:17:24.119
I've got questions, yeah. In terms of the... so we're talking lines, but I want to go back to the main beach drop-off zone. I'd like to understand... understand what is the total loss or gain of particular parking spaces? There's gains, I think, in bicycles, scooters, disability, lifeguards. I'd like to understand what is the loss, what's the gain, and how does that compare to the last trial? Shaun Walsh 04:17:53.395
So there's 42 car parking spaces within the main beach local government reserve, and I think there's three local car parking spaces. Three. So last year... last year we removed the car parking spaces, but we provided four disabled car parking spaces, and significant areas of scooter and bicycle parking. If council endorsed this proposal, we'd actually come back with a plan. That actually, you know, bumps up the utility factors, which is the drop-off zone, disabled parking, scooter parking, and cycle parking, and explore the provision of temporary toilets. So we're focusing more on the utility and the functionality of the space, and making it a very for people to exchange goods and people at the beach interface and make their beachfront visit much more practical. Amelia Lorentson 04:18:44.686
I've been toying with you with the idea of the trial at nine o 'clock and I respect the reasons why it can't happen. It's not logistically sort of possible. What I've been thinking because I think one of the biggest biggest criticisms was that we have a community that wake up at four or five o 'clock most mornings. They swim, they run. I know elderly, you know, six, I won't call elderly 60, but over seven year olds who ride skis. And it was a real nuisance to have to park at the police beat and cross the this massive surf crux. Racing nails. I don't know if you've ever carried a racing nail. Yes, hello. Excuse me. So I've been giving it a lot of thought because I really would love to return. return the car park to locals or visitors or whoever. But open that up. The question for the nine till three period. Again, I understand the reasons. Cancel the question. Okay, my question is. The lifeguard patrols start at seven o 'clock every morning. Can you consider maybe allowing those lifeguard allocated car parking spaces? Say from before six o 'clock to our residence. For those who do wake up at four o 'clock during Christmas period, go out for a surf run and there's lots of them. I'm just trying to think of a way to allow them car parking there during that trial period, and it was busy. You're talking to her now that you've asked the question, can we hear it from you? Excuse me, thank you. The only point I'll make about that location where the life-saving spaces are, is that interface between the public and the beach. And we already have safety issues with vehicles moving around in that area, particularly when we have large crowds of people. So, and Surf Life Save is a responsible entity, and they drive through the space slowly and move to their particular places. You know, if we allow, you know, less qualified or less considerate people to use their parking spaces, I think we are not fulfilling the overall intent of the space, which is to make it safer for everyone. And, you know, there's also the opportunity for these people who have their surfskis, you know, to actually drive into the drop-off zone, unload the surfski, and we can explore the availability of staff there to meet them, hold the surfski available for them. So if you think about the idea of it being a concierge or a drop-off service, let's explore that and embed that in, because we usually have staff available at that time anyway, setting up, cleaning the site and making maybe there's some sort of, you know, if you think about a hotel foyer and the entrance to the beach, maybe that's something we can definitely explore. Fantastic. I think the other concern would be the distinction between the local and the do tourist, you verify that? and how Brian Stockwell 04:21:49.371
At this stage we can't do that without number plate recognition. Councillor? Jessica Phillips 04:21:53.431
A couple of questions please, just in relation to the staff assisting with a surf ski, are we not then kind second part of that question, which is that given we've only had the park for one year, is this not the time to negotiate the times and see if, as Councillor Lorentson has asked, that the time changes for this year, given it's the second time, until we get it right? So the problem is logistically, you know, removing moving all all the objects and moving them around to change from a drop-off zone to a gathering space and the like, and the deployment of a large amount of council staff and plant equipment to do that. Christmas New Year is an incredibly busy period and we might need those staff to be deployed to other sites and they have other priorities they're attending to. And also that transition period of where you're getting people to park and then they have to move out, you know, it could be a move out. You know, it could be a two-hour delay. And that's at the peak time of arrival where people need to drop off and pick up. And then I'm also concerned that if someone doesn't come back and collect their car, then we have to tow it. And the overall reputational damage associated with that, even with our best efforts of communication. we set up this zone, I think we still had three cars that had to be towed at the start of it. So because they might be visitors or the like. So it's, you know, it's not an easy thing that you can swap in and out of easily to actually allow parking for up until 9am and then transition across. I can't see how we could do that within available resources and staffing. I'm just trying to get my head around how it's going to look for my husband passing a surf ski to a staff member and then going on parking and how that actually looks in real life. Amelia Lorentson 04:23:44.783
I can just plant this scape. I just drop off my racing belt on my surfboard outside the surf club and then park, but it's... Shaun Walsh 04:23:54.183
And I wasn't suggesting that they need to lift it or carry it. I was just saying that the staff could keep an eye on it while they go and park their car and come back. And little locks like for bikes. Amelia Lorentson 04:24:05.183
I think that's it. a good, I think that's a good option. Okay, we're going to move on. Members, pardon. Frank Wilkie 04:24:19.022
So, we are debating the substantive motion until only one person has talked to that motion. Look, I'd like to thank the staff for the work done on this, the Go Noosa program, the holiday program. It's an integrated system. Not one element of it is the magic bullet. It's all elements work together. The free buses, the loop bus, which is a new addition, the drop-off zone, The drop-off zone, which means that, I support it because it means that no matter how full the road network, no matter whether all 1,600 car parks in that precinct are full, people will still, up to six vehicles will be able, at any one time, will be able to pull in right up to the doors of the main beach, unload families, all their equipment and gear, and drop off, and pick them up as well. really applaud the trial done with the VMS boards, which gave you real-time data, gave motorists real-time data on which car parks are full at any time, and allows motorists... motorists to make a choice as to whether they continue to drive down and circulate and get a park, or make an informed choice and catch a bus. We know that it's not a choice between no... no cars or buses. Cars will always be part of the equation unless we block traffic going to Hastings Street. People will always have the option to travel down there in a car. Currently the advantage of a bus is that if you travel in a bus you'll get there no slower than a car, but the time you spend in a car circulating looking for a park, if If you're on a bus you could have had a swim, had a coffee and be on your way back out. It's about options and the complete suite of Go Noosa initiatives offers options and allows access a range of ways in which people can access Main Beach and if I understand correctly record numbers are accessing Main Beach because they can get down there by electric bikes. electric scooters have changed the game. The free buses are extremely popular. I was really heartened to see that the survey done even though it only involved a hundred people showed that well over locals that they really liked it. That they would have caught a car, a private vehicle, or a cab, or an Uber if the free bus hadn't been available. So we know it's working. We know it's giving people options. people are still free to drive down and take their chances in finding a park, or, now they can do, use one of these six, these drop off zones to... But... To unload their passengers and their gear. And also, we know that because the Lions Park, sorry, the surf club is not going to be used as a car park anymore, there won't be that backup of vehicles onto the roundabout, and congestion has... the use of the drop-off zone achieves that. So thank you for your work. It's not easy. There'll be criticism as there has been since the 70s when we've all seen that editorial that if Noosa doesn't do something to address congestion in Hastings Street, there won't, no one will be coming to Noosa anymore. Well, they're coming in greater numbers than ever. But we, just because it's a difficult, a difficult challenge and a problem doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying. So thank you. Tom Wegener 04:28:22.798
Many times over the past year, I will say, you know, talking to people and they're saying, oh, no, nobody's ever going to use the free bus. And I say, I use the free bus. And I've timed it. You know, my surfer buddies go there in a car and I stop. I even drove during my surfboard down, dropped it off in front of the surf club, turned around, drove back through the traffic, hopped on the bus to not have to park to not have a park and driven in and still beat my friend who left at the same time as me to get a car park, so I was in the water first, so it amazes me when I tell people that I use the free bus and I love it and then they tell me that nobody uses the free bus and I just go, that's our problem, isn't it, because you're in so many people's headspace that they don't people's headspace that they don't want to use it, they don't want to recognise it, they want to go back to a 1960s past where there wasn't congestion, well you read Bob McTavish's book and going into Caloundra, you go back up to the Bruce Highway on holiday weekends. it's always been congested, it's a matter of how we deal with it. And so, I commend the Noosa program, I commend the walking-wising strategy, I will commend the transport strategy, and as I said before, keep doing it, don't wait for the DMP, just keep doing it, because it's working, I believe, and the site's working, everything. It is, it's a work in progress. So, thank you. Nicola Wilson 04:29:48.338
Just briefly, I wanted to touch on something that isn't in the report, that hasn't been talked about yet, and again, it's to do with the main beach drop-off zone, and that is... people coming to the beach or to the restaurants on Hastings Street by Uber. So, at the moment, if somebody tries to stop in an Uber to get out, that obviously causes a congestion issue and pedestrian safety issues, actually, as well. So, that drop-off-off zone will help to take those stationary cars off the street, put them in a drop-off zone, and it also really helps the Uber drivers to get back out again to get their next fare rather than get stuck in that parking lot on a piece of street. So just another positive deployment. A question to the staff. Clive understood from the report that we're actually taking three car parkers in the taxi zone and allocating them specifically for Uber and DoorDash. So that's a separate drop-off point? Yeah, that's what we're proposing. That's separate to the main beach drop-off. And that's really to do with the food collection? Shaun Walsh 04:31:03.367
I think it's a moving feast. Nicola Wilson 04:31:13.847
I think it's great. I think these conversations around the table really, you know, open it up and we can, honour our past, we can acknowledge the work of the Tewantin Lions, the 20-year history there, we can, you know, address what's happening now and everybody's working together collaboratively to try and, you know, mitigate these issues and, you know, work towards a sustainable sustainable future where everyone can live, work and enjoy this great place, so I just want to thank everyone, the staff, the Lions, our community and the councillors around the table. Let's keep having these conversations and work through these challenges. Brian Stockwell 04:31:54.198
Thanks. Councillor, did you wish to talk to the motion? Jessica Phillips 04:31:57.558
Not to reiterate what everyone said. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 04:32:05.200
I make these decisions based on our policy. Our policy is very clear. Our policy has principles and it's reflected in the transport strategy and it says prioritise our focus on moving focus on moving people and goods rather than on moving cars. Provide infrastructure and services that are designed to give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, scooters and public transport over private cars. Improve the safety and amenity of pedestrians and cyclists in our transport infrastructure. Address peak time traffic conditions by reducing traffic rather than increasing road capacity. Those principles have been in place for seven years. We first, as a council, moved to stop car parking in the Lions Park in 2019. That decision was made. It was a council position and on four occasions since then we've sought to defer it. We've sought it. We've sought not to implement our principles. We've sought to extend it for COVID, the illogical one. We've sought to extend it to consultation. We've sought to extend it to do more specific consultation. If I looked at the Land Act both then and how it's amended, it's still really quite clear that that's a park for people to recreate in. It's got, to me this decision should be divorced of the wonderful work that the Lions do as a result of the income on that site. one's going to argue that they don't play a very useful role, but putting that into our consideration really takes it outside of this consideration of what it is, which is a land use planning matter about a use that's inconsistent under the under our planning scheme and is, as we say, a traditional use that we choose to continue if this motion is passed for yet another delay and I represent all those people in the community that have said over and over again that they want this I think in 2023, I actually suggest we look at running community activities in the park. Get people in there, have activities that they can use during these peak periods. it's actually energising the space, activating it rather than turning it into a car park. And we hear in this report that the four times we've done this, it's to increase, to provide parking for one point something percent of the vehicles that travel there each day. So by supporting this, you're abandoning the principle set down and providing an option for one point something percent of the cars that go there each day. Other than that, I Go Noosa program has been very successful and the free buses and we should keep on it think and I completely understand the desire in the current environment to double check. But another thing I hear in the community all the time is council keeps on consulting, keeps on producing plans and never puts it on the road. And once again, they're pushing off the hard decisions. Amelia Lorentson 04:35:37.620
I'd like to close. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. Thank you. I'm first going to reference item H. Shaun Walsh 04:35:44.945
Excuse me, Chair, can I be excused for a second? Yes. I'm a single parent, so. And Craig's all the Amelia Lorentson 04:35:57.046
So I want you to just speak briefly about the one-way local loop with Bus Priority Lane from Noosa Drive to Noosa Parade, just listen So councillor, I don't believe you talked about it, I don't believe anyone else has talked about it, so in closing you can't raise your business. Excuse me, I did speak of another thing. Did you? I meant to say it. Okay, I apologise. That's okay. It just is, just to add to the conversation that we're having around the table, Councillor Wegener referenced bus use, you referenced... You referenced the transport strategy, Go Noosa initiatives, which encourages free bus travel. The local loop bus priority lane, to me, the best way we're going to get high usage of of our free buses is if we have a dedicated bus priority lane um so that buses don't get stuck behind cars going down to Hastings Street and that's why I've added that to the motion in front of us for further discussion um it's it'll work it'll work and then people know they can just fly down an express bus lane um back to the motion with Lyons Park I won't speak much everything's been said but I will I will say this what's in front of us is a motion that that allows the Lyons Club to continue a practice that they've had for 20 years. It's 30 days. The remainder 335 days of the year that park remains open space. Those 30 days are are not being used for commercial events or sport events or food and wine or car shows. The purpose of allowing the Lions Club, to want to use the Lions Club to manage the car parking, the purpose, they've only got one purpose. To raise funds that directly go back into the community, you know, I actually looked up the definition of community service. It's unpaid work that benefits others. We've got a bunch of volunteers that work tirelessly for this community and most of the work, like I said, full shift, you know, 10 hour days, five, six days a week. I thank them for putting their hand up to want to do this. I thank them for their tireless work and I think today we've got an opportunity to thank them the way they would like to be thanked by being acknowledged of this. 20 year tradition so I hope everyone is supportive of the motion in front of us today. Brian Stockwell 04:38:40.397
I put motion those in favour that would be Lorentson and Finzel, Wegener, Phillips, Wilkie and Wilson and those against would be me. and that brings us to the end of the meeting. Thank you all for your patience and politeness during the meeting. Thank you, Mr Chair. Related Noosa Council Meetings
← Browse all Noosa Shire Council meeting transcripts
