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 Acting Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Acting Director Strategy & Environment Lynne Banford Meeting Transcript
Frank Wilkie 00:05.973
Trouble connecting. Brian Stockwell 00:10.457
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? No? So, I'll put to that the vote. All in favour? 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 longstreet Noosa Heads. So, you would have been explained to you, Susie, you have a maximum of 15 minutes. Suzie McDonald 01:01.719
Thank you for allowing me to speak today about the Delorme Street petition which was presented on our behalf by Councillor Lorentson at the Ordinary Meeting on July 18th, 2024. The opinions expressed today are my own. This is a deeply personal matter, not only for the community and 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 and shared with me the same. 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' futures. Is. Sorry. With the stroke of a pen changes our rights and our futures and our kids' futures. Proposed Amendment No. 2 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. We 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 tight-knit community, a mix of business owners, children and retirees, with deep roots and shared values, who are deeply concerned for our futures. 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 Noosa 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 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 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 doorknocked 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 ripe for renovation. I can't help but 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, some with 25 to 50 blocks of land over meet 600 square metres in a single street that also. Meets lanning's objectives, yet those streets remain to this day low density residential. This inconsistency raises serious questions about fairness in the decision making process. 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've 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 from the Council about the proposed amendments. However, that letter did not mention any changes within the medium density zone, which is the information he needed regarding his property, which is in a medium density zone. I have spoken to hundreds of I 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 to 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 that 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 a single dwelling house is 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 children through local 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 still call their family home so I certainly don't call myself 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 to do 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 this the to people who with our sit at this table, situation and grasp the gravity of this table to empathise with our what's at stake for many residents are confused and concerned the proposed amendments and 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 in 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 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. We would have given them more to learn, reflect, understand and provide their 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 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 community 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 community engagement tool 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 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. 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 amendments. 1 to 12. 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 No. 2 to the Noosa plan 2020 and determine what will work in reality and what will not. Engage with our communities before making final decisions so you can better understand the day-to experiences of people in 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 communities and community spaces and facilitate open, clear, easy to understand dialogue with 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. Fairly 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. 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. We want the status quo to remain. I urge Council to reconsider the implications of Amendment No. 2 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 communities 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 12:26.083
Thank you, and as with all the submissions made to the Planning Scheme amendments, your views and. Concerns are currently being considered and weighed up 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 the first one is Material Change of Use 22.02.0201 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. Oh, okay, we have a conflict. Unidentified Speaker 13:26.666
Sorry, we're having a late. Failure yesterday. Nicola Wilson 13:28.440
I, Councillor 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 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 14:11.692
So, Councillors, does anyone have any questions of Councillor Wilson, or does someone wish to move a motion? I- Frank Wilkie 14:17.571
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. I'll second. Brian Stockwell 14:33.373
Do we wish to talk to motion, Councillor Wilkie? I do not. Anyone else wish to? I'll put it to the vote. All those in favour? That's carried unanimously. And I would like to move an alternate motion. We- I'll normally have the staff to speak first. Thank you Chair. So if we can do an executive summary. Nadine Gordon 14:54.625
Good afternoon Councillors. We're dealing with this morning a 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 consideration. The applicant proposes a car wash on the site and a food and a food and drink premises on 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 there, Good Shepherd, has four car wash bays and two 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 for such 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 grounds and all grounds for supporting this application as well as reviewing other sites in the locality the process there was various information requests that were issued and further advices and it is noted that the applicant responded to all of those information requests and further advices and provided amended plans and further technical reports the desire in response to those information requests the design was altered several times to include further pitch roof and elements relating to the Cooroy character. The site is located in the Cooroy Local Plan area included in the district centre 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 is included in the industry activities group. A station which has been indicated by the applicant to the north of the site is included in the business activities group and it is also an impact 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 warehouses. Whereas business activities include things like, I'll miss the first, the adult store, but it thinks like bulk landscape supplies, food and drink, garden centre, markets, office shops, etc. The applicant has identified that this type 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 an enclosed car parking associated with the shopping centre. Morton it's located a car wash is assessable development code-assessable if it's in a specialised or more a centre precinct area and when you have a quick look at that precinct that about bulky goods and the car wash is to be located internally to that development. Gympie it's impact assessable Sunshine Coast centre and Sunshine Coast Council is code and Fraser Coast its impact as well. Noosa, Tewantin, Cooroy, Doonan, the application as a result of being impact assessable was publicly notified and there were over 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. Proposed car wash is not considered 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 this is 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 and street frontages with cars being highly visible. The car wash also results in lots of valuable district centre lines 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 the applicant hasn't satisfactorily demonstrated that access to the site is acceptable in terms of queuing and whether Diamond Lane exit could accommodate all the traffic. Is noted that the application was referred to the State, SARA, because of its proximity and that they had no objections and just included standing 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 uses. 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 Holts 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 this 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 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 achieved if the site was located in an industrial zone. In relation 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 visual streetscape impacts are considered to outweigh these matters and the application is not supported by staff. Brian Stockwell 22:34.205
Thank you. Now, Councillor Lorentson has indicated she'd like to move a motion. I might ask a question, Sir. Councillor Lorentson did get first and suggested 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 22:48.917
Council note the report by the coordinating planning to the Planning & 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 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 that the report is provided in accordance with section 63 of the Planning Act 2016 and D, find the following matters relevant to the assessment and sufficient reason to approve the application. One, there is a level strong level of economic, community and planning need for the development in this location. Two, there is no car wash currently provided within Cooroy and Noosa hinterland and no other suitable land available for that purpose. Three, the proposed development will provide substantial community benefit and will not cause any adverse impacts on the humanity and character of the area. Four, the proposed development accords with community expectations given the significant number of submissions in support that have been received. Five, 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. Six, 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 sharing of facilities and reduce traffic movements. Seven, conditions can be imposed to address any issues raised by submitters about the hours of operations of the development. Brian Stockwell 25:02.543
Okay, um, 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 25:12.739
Look, um, just a question about the availability of industrial land. You've mentioned Jarrah Street and also Holts 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 Holts Road, please. Nadine Gordon 25:33.334
Holts Road, there were two lots. Three two, three lots that are available, that are ready. They are vacant at the moment. Of Taylor Court, sorry. So it's Holts Road, Taylor Court. So is there land available for development at the moment? Jarrah Street has some. Council owns three lots at the end. They're not quite ready at the moment to go. There is some limited land available. There's another block that has not been developed as well, which is further southward of Council-owned lots. So there is vacant, undeveloped land at the end. I suppose will be to count. Ready soon to be developed. There are also four lots along Mary River Road which are undeveloped. They've got houses on them as well. So they could be converted to industrial uses. They're currently occupied? They are currently occupied, yeah. Frank Wilkie 26:33.270
Title the they're vacant. That's correct. And available for sale? Nadine Gordon 26:40.198
I haven't looked at that, sorry. I don't think so. Frank Wilkie 26:43.950
'Cause I'd like to test if there's a line in this. So, Councillor, are you asking the question or are you. 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 Gordon 27:06.897
Well, 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. Frank Wilkie 27:23.776
I mean suitable land available for a car wash. Nadine Gordon 27:26.910
There is land that is undeveloped. There is land that is in industry and that is undeveloped. So yes, I would say there is, yes, land appropriately zoned for that use. Frank Wilkie 27:39.525
Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 27:40.606
So could I, given it's not the second, could I make a minor adjustment and just add the word, okay, there is no okay, car wash currently and no other suitable land immediately available for that purpose. Fair, thank you. Jessica Phillips 28:12.157
I have a question, please. In relation to Jarrah Street, it is a cul-de-sac, is that correct? Nadine Gordon 28:21.600
It's a dead end of the road, yes, that's correct. Jessica Phillips 28:24.164
Is there an opportunity that they will be through a road at some stage? Is that what's predicted? Nadine Gordon 28:30.787
Council owns the land that's lot. To the north. That's 70 Carpenters Road. That's approximately 10 hectares. Council owns that land and currently there are plans. To get this 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 private area. So it's. At the moment it's in a holding pattern for industrial uses. Jessica Phillips 29:02.558
So I'm just a bit confused how Jarrah Street's then zoned or. Has been. What was your word? That it's appropriate. Nadine Gordon 29:10.803
There are three blocks at the end 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. Jessica Phillips 29:31.457
I'm just picturing a car wash at the end of a dead end street and wondering how it's perceived that suitable for a car wash. Nadine Gordon 29:41.013
There are also other sites which would be indicated, yes. The Mary River Road, there are four sites there that are zoned industry as well. And they are not at the highest and best use at the moment, they're residential. They could be redeveloped as well. They could be for car wash. Brian Stockwell 29:58.461
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 your commercial viability analysis, is that correct? Thank you, yes. Jessica Phillips 30:07.692
That's correct, yes. Okay, just a follow a-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? Nadine Gordon 30:21.940
It's not its own industry. So the four blocks along. Opposite the tennis courts are included in the industrial zone. Richard MacGillivray 30:30.123
Okay. It's been earmarked for industrial land for some time, so obviously from a land use perspective, the ministry in those houses. Get to end of life the is that they would be replaced with industrial land when there's a need for that. Brian Stockwell 30:45.683
Okay. Do we have more questions? I do. I'm going to cancel Wilkie, then cancel Lorentson. Frank Wilkie 30:51.652
Just consider. The accuracy of the statement. So, number five, 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. How will this development improve the quality of water entering local waterways is my question. Patrick Murphy 31:13.341
I think it's the assumption that. Frank Wilkie 31:15.464
Won't make it worse. People won't be washing their cars. Patrick Murphy 31:18.688
On their property and therefore won't be running down 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. They may not. My understanding is that car wash detergents remove phosphates some 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 outcomes. So this is providing what it needs to provide. It's not a benchmark for environmental performance in terms. Frank Wilkie 32:07.701
So would it be more accurate to say resulting in an opportunity for improved water quality entering local waterways? Amelia Lorentson 32:17.127
I'm happy with that change. Brian Stockwell 32:18.379
So, Councillor, Councillor, it's. Not a. It's a difficult. Start the question to our 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 the report that the site is not within the Lake Macdonald catchment area, is that right? That's correct. Frank Wilkie 32:42.558
So it's not accurate to say the water, entering the waterways including Lake Macdonald because. Amelia Lorentson 32:49.986
It doesn't go into Lake Macdonald? 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 the car wash. For those residents in the hinterland and Cooroy area that just 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 going through stormwater and then into lake refoulement and river glades. But I'll speak to that. Unidentified Speaker 33:46.717
I'll second. Brian Stockwell 33:47.302
Question cancelled. Karen Finzel 33:49.704
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 back, has there been an infrastructure agreement? The applicant and Council with regards to widening that infrastructure or how is that going to be managed as part of this? Nadine Gordon 34:12.100
The applicant is aware and as part of the proposal will be dedicating two metres across the frontage of that laneway. Oh, and has there been a formal agreement? There's no need for the agreement. We will condition it as part of any approval. Karen Finzel 34:24.717
Okay, so I just ask a question because I don't see, I there in point seven conditions can be imposed to address any issues about the hours of operation. Is there any other opportunity to talk about conditioning the development. Unidentified Speaker 34:41.425
A more broader sense? I guess that's a question to you. And B, yeah, reasonable. Richard MacGillivray 34:47.073
And relevant conditions, so a full suite of conditions. Okay. Full suite. Amelia Lorentson 34:54.473
That's your answer. Okay. All right. Questions? Yeah. So, in terms of what are the reasons for refusal, and you raised in the debate, if an unsustainable district centres on land that is intended to 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 underutilized land that could be better developed for retail or commercial use? Nadine Gordon 35:34.222
That's a huge question. I don't think I can answer that. Patrick Murphy 35:36.700
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 36:00.192
Just another question in terms of the existing development approval. I've got some drawings I think it's the 1970s. Tenancies, nine retail tenancies. Yeah. They're the MCU18. My understanding is that there was no uptake in any tenancies on the existing approval, and that was the one 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, I think Councillor Tom Wegener raised this at the Planning & 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 raised at the planning and environment meeting 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 would have been a consistent use, being an auxiliary to a service station. So, again, my question, is it correctly decided? Patrick Murphy 37:36.563
Well, the service station would not be able to develop a car 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 would be on 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 get what I say on their behalf, but there's a lot of documents in the scheme that talk about 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 can look at the zoning within proximity of the site, and there seems to be a logical component to having this. Zone as it currently is and if I might add Patrick to your comments, obviously the land use planning element is focused on the next 10, 20, even 30 years in time, and obviously as Cooroy grows, the population grows in Cooroy and greater connectivity occurs, there is a need identified in the plan to see if that long-term use, which is to create that village-like interface there, given it's obviously a highly utilised thoroughfare. Through the Elm Street, so. The long-term outcome is to see that is turned into a district centre as opposed to a sort of industrial interface that the community will use. Richard MacGillivray 39:21.378
We'll 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, the at other either end, the long a-term intention for that particular locality is to zone see a centre zone. Outcome, which is fairly well illustrated in some of the graphics and documentation of the plugins here. Question. Frank Wilkie 39:41.355
Item 3 says that the development will not have any adverse impacts on the amenity and character of the area. In your, on the amenity and character of the area in the graph in your report. You mention 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 and what you're trying to achieve by limiting the lengths because I understand this 17 metre long concrete wall will be facing the bowlers club? Nadine Gordon 40:24.356
That's correct, actually there is an error that has been found in the report. 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 of the volscom to 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 has also proposed. A Mayoral. The Planning Scheme does allow on side boundaries for development to go to the side boundaries, but the main reason for that 15 metre restriction is we're wanting. Smaller 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 smaller individual buildings at 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, so yes this doesn't comply with that 15 metre requirement. Frank Wilkie 41:41.415
And so a 19 metre long concrete slab wall is something you're more likely, you wish to an in industrial site, yes. And more consistent with the character and amenity of an industrial estate. Yes. You. Amelia Lorentson 41:54.825
Can I ask in terms of the wall, was that discussed with the applicant in the design? Nadine Gordon 42:01.687
It was brought up in the information request. Raised 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 those Cooroy comfy town characters. Amelia Lorentson 42:22.020
Characters especially for the front. So there would be an opportunity to condition the application so that it sits at say 15 metres or in a grid. Nadine Gordon 42:33.804
I'd like to just check in terms of what our noise consultant, whether that is a requirement. Patrick Murphy 42:39.787
Well, it's the length of the Superwash bays plus a 1 it's the length of the Superwash length bays of the Superwash bays plus I don't a 1.2-metre eternity the 15 metres wouldn't accommodate the Superwash bay for the. Sorry, it's the design. Amelia Lorentson 42:56.836
Yeah. So having 19 metres in here just to get some clarity, that also minimises any adverse impacts in terms of noise lighting with the adjoining residents or the bowling club next door. Is that correct? Patrick Murphy 43:15.241
Well, yeah, it provides a utility outcome because it needs the wall there to service, you know, the bay and then there is additional length, which I would say would provide some noise mitigation and a lot of spray. Amelia Lorentson 43:28.041
Et cetera. Frank Wilkie 43:29.161
You the 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 pitched roof but they'd have to raise the size of the building size of the building to accommodate the bays. Nadine Gordon 43:52.944
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 get the bigger vehicles and caravans through it. So if they, to achieve the height, they would have to just pop through the height limit. Frank Wilkie 44:13.366
But if that was in an industrial estate, the pitch roof would not be. I think uh, there's I think. Would it still apply in an industrial estate? No. No. And that's one of the reasons why it's going to suit him. Patrick Murphy 44:25.183
Yes. There's a number of character elements that raise concern from a street state you may recall the previous application, there was a lot of time that was spent getting, uh, suitable design outcomes. Yes. And, uh, in this. Instance, the design is of far less quality and, um. You're dealing with hard surfaces, car movement, it doesn't have the character provision, um, it doesn't comply with the character provision, so we would like to see. Frank Wilkie 44:55.179
Are you expecting more feedback from the traffic consultant about the impact on the side streets, or. Patrick Murphy 45:00.624
Um, well, we have received feedback and, um, as raised at the last meeting unfortunately we don't have received that final feedback on the morning of the meeting, but it does raise concerns with the queuing that can be provided within the site. Is there sufficient room for the queuing to occur and for other vehicles to manoeuvre through the site so it doesn't onto Opal Street? And there's also further material that hadn't been demonstrated 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 anonymous matter. Senate we'll have an grant amended of grounds for refusal and that included in it. Amelia Lorentson 45:51.376
Can I ask for the opportunity to respond to this last senate traffic assessment. I have here a. 2022.2022 was when traffic report had been available since 2022, SARA indicated that it was acceptable. Now we're introducing new material. Has the applicant had an opportunity to respond to that? Nadine Gordon 46:13.420
A copy of our comments from our traffic engineer to the applicant last week. Patrick Murphy 46:18.833
Yes. All right. 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 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 appeared and it was additional matters. 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 47:05.110
So my understanding is at the moment the car wash has the capacity to queue up to 16 which is significantly higher than most car washes. I'm sort of just trying to understand what are the specific concerns that the staff have identified with this queuing arrangement. That a traffic consultant? Nadine Gordon 47:29.472
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. So he's concerned if there's queuing here, if these stop here a bit of rigour. Patrick Murphy 48:05.556
Could you do an attachment it's page 31 in the package in the proposal plans or not the plans? It would be the proposed plans. Nadine Gordon 48:16.485
Should be attachment"". Unidentified Speaker 48:20.525
Two. Amelia Lorentson 48:22.685
One or two. Yeah, that would be. Unidentified Speaker 48:34.820
Thank you. Nadine Gordon 48:43.761
So on the right hand screen is the general department general the parking and queuing layout, and you can see if we've got the. Bottom one is the Superwash with the vans and the caravans behind the vehicles. Then we have. This is on the basis that all. There is a car in each of 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 area up. If that gets bogged in there, then we'll have troubles that we'll end up with queuing. Coming back on to focus on it. Patrick Murphy 49:20.229
I'd suggest it's also the super bays. The they've done all these pictures, you've got the car that's right up to the end here, and this vehicle's got to get in behind the other ute with the ____ _, 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 49:52.355
Can I ask, did the traffic consultant understand that the car 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? Nadine Gordon 50:12.143
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 with him as it comes. Brian Stockwell 50:24.099
Yeah. Okay, Councillor Phillips, you've got a question? Jessica Phillips 50:26.324
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 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 would that recommendation? Nadine Gordon 50:54.201
So there's a previous approval over the site, MCU18/0158, so that proposed, or that approved nine shops. Unidentified Speaker 51:03.993
Which were way down the I've got a question that follows up. Nadine Gordon 51:08.092
So yeah, it was shops with an internal layout of car parking. Jessica Phillips 51:11.479
Okay, so when we talk about car wash and the parts part of the road that we're discussing 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 surrounding. This. Than a car wash which is going through yeah so the three minute car washes. Patrick Murphy 51:51.704
The previous application was assessed by a traffic consultant as well and the provision of car parking on deemed to be suitable for the amount of four area of shops that was proposed I think it's a ratio of 1 to 20 square metres and that also looks at circulation throughout the site and in that instance the 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's a very limited amount of traffic that was going out to 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 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 car space and you're not causing a problem with queuing. Nadine Gordon 52:58.849
So so there's was an you could come in you can 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 and then you could be you know the queuing could have gone over the street. Jessica Phillips 53:16.369
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 could be a retail use? Patrick Murphy 53:33.299
So the scheme's looking low scale supermarket. A low scale supermarket that accommodates local need. So an IGA or? Potentially something similar. Jessica Phillips 53:47.859
But aldi could apply to a position there? Patrick Murphy 53:51.002
Small scale. Jessica Phillips 53:52.544
And so then I just start thinking 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 Gordon 54:09.570
So yeah, the Planning Scheme talks about servicing Cooroy and the hinterland. As I think even as I 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 54:32.702
So you're suggesting someone would come off the North Shore and use the car wash at Cooroy? Well that was one of the applications. Nadine Gordon 54:38.792
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, they need the visibility. I could be wrong on that? Patrick Murphy 54:53.226
Just to clarify the point about the supermarket, so there is a provision within our scheme, a strategic outcome that seeks for the eastern side of Cooroy, so specific to the district 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 area, Cooroy, envisage that there could be a small supermarket there. Brian Stockwell 55:30.656
Councillor Wilson, you had a question? Nicola Wilson 55:32.372
Yeah, so just back on this traffic flow central issue. And this information that councils 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 the flow and projection. Has she been given an opportunity to respond to. Nadine Gordon 55:58.065
This? As we said we did, this item last 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 did ask them if they wanted to defer to enable further discussion about that. Patrick Murphy 56:16.448
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. Nadine Gordon 56:27.218
That's part of the original report in the attachment? Yeah. So. Brian Stockwell 56:30.735
We so we had Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 56:33.942
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. But anyway, however, moving on, 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 managed when we talk about 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's that part of that bigger planning where is that currently sitting? Shaun Walsh 57:52.278
We've actually got our infrastructure services Director keen to jump in on that one. 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 walling street as well as the inadiquate footbridge across the railway line. So we have funding through the State government to actually design a transit centre which actually brings forward that. Active transport, the public transport and the road exchange. That will lead to address a 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 the Diamond Lane, Cooroy Noosa Road and know, through the myall street interchange that was profiled in the budget process for this financial year. Unfortunately, due to budget pressures, 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 issue that does the entire design process. Karen Finzel 59:02.449
So just a question through the Chair. Has that been progressed anywhere, that design element, or is it still a in very early stage? Shaun Walsh 59:09.887
It's a very early it's still in the early stages. It has not influenced this design, and we don't have enough information to influence it. Unidentified Speaker 59:18.550
Okay. Thank you. That's what I was after. Amelia Lorentson 59:20.113
Thank you. 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? Think I name is Diamond Lane, is that correct? Street? Patrick Murphy 59:40.472
That's right. You're correct. There's nine retail shops on this location and just in Diamond Lane there was another application that's been improved. It's got some supermarket stores supermarkets, small specialty shops supermarkets and I think there's some accommodation as part of that one as well. Amelia Lorentson 59:58.774
There is I think two units or something. Yes. Just around the corner. So there is an existing application at the moment for a supermarket in Diamond Lane and some accommodation. In terms of into queuing, is that something that can be conditioned if this application goes forward? Is it as simple as just conditioning 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, it something that can be conditioned? Richard MacGillivray 01:00:54.963
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 owners to demonstrate non-worsening or no adverse. Impact. On traffic. So, their 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 a normal. 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 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 could be satisfied that it can be contained within the site and not spill out to have queuing out onto the surrounding streets. Amelia Lorentson 01:01:52.120
Just my last question Councillor Lorentson. The Noosa car spar. It's a much smaller site. 1,200 to 1,400 square metres. 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. Brian Stockwell 01:02:18.462
So I'm going to call you up for your commentary, please, questions. Amelia Lorentson 01:02:21.548
Excuse me. So we drive past the car spa quite often. I've never seen. Brian Stockwell 01:02:28.008
I've never been to a I don't believe it's a question. I believe you're leading staff. So has anyone else got a question? No, I'm sorry. No, you were. You're being argumentative. 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 01:02:43.655
I believe there would always be a staff member on site during opening hours, so is that something, the queuing problem and the, particularly the big vehicles blocking the entrance, is that something that a staff member I've been reasonably much I'm not. Nadine Gordon 01:02:55.241
Sure 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, if you 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 till that vehicle goes, in front of you, goes through, so. Patrick Murphy 01:03:19.962
I don't think the manager would be on-site all the time. From the material that I've read, I don't believe that to be the case. Maybe on the peak periods? Certainly not. At all times. Brian Stockwell 01:03:32.868
So, Councillor Lorentson, did you have a. Amelia Lorentson 01:03:35.430
I do. So, you mentioned that the onus is back on the applicant to demonstrate that there aren't going to be any adverse impacts with queuing. My question is, with a comparative analysis of other car washes. Across the Shire, would that be part of that demonstration that, you know, car wash to car wash, what are the queuing impacts in other car washes of similar size? Sorry. Nadine Gordon 01:04:09.476
Basically, our traffic consultant. Needs to get together with their traffic consultant and review it and make sure they're both satisfied in terms of what happens. They might need to. Our consultant isn't satisfied that it works. I mean, there might be some further information they can provide exactly like that or maybe rearrange in the entrance. I'm not sure, but as I said, I think it's those consultants, those experts. Richard MacGillivray 01:04:35.561
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 roads during those high peaks of demand. So that would be a technical report. Councillor Finzel, you had a question? Karen Finzel 01:04:59.440
Yes, thank you Mr Chair. Please correct me if I'm out of order on this one. Just wondering on the corner of Opal Street and Elm Street, currently there is power available there for the breast screen van to come and service the community. I have been, that question has been raised as if the development goes ahead. Is there provision or has there been any consultation with BreastScreen Queensland to ensure that service can be adequately provided to women in our community? Patrick Murphy 01:05:35.007
We've had a representative from the BreastScreen Queensland ask us and they became aware of this application. We've connected them with an officer in our community services team and they're working with them, I believe, to go out to the sports ground.12. Oh, great. Yeah. So we have been working with them to Resolve that issue in the event that this proposal is supported. Amelia Lorentson 01:05:56.681
Fantastic, that's good news. I think I want 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 a matter of curiosity. Of queuing. So did you capture that? Frank Wilkie 01:06:21.289
I'll second it. Brian Stockwell 01:06:25.287
And while we're doing that, queuing the only issue traffic management was raised with me that the potential conflict between Diamond Lane, the exit of the service station and the merging of Dom and, from Dom street, is that also an issue to be discussed? Amelia Lorentson 01:06:41.509
And refuse as well. Brian Stockwell 01:06:43.113
And refuse? Yeah, how is it going to be adequately managed? Amelia Lorentson 01:06:46.999
Procedural motion to allow the applicant, to respond to the recent traffic assessment report. To respond? Yeah. To the traffic issues raised. Right now. Thank you, Richard. Frank Wilkie 01:07:22.602
Sorry, that wasn't the motion that I agreed to. It was something about traffic consultants meeting. Amelia Lorentson 01:07:28.940
Justice just to sort out this killing issue, it's just. Frank Wilkie 01:07:32.681
Yeah, so to go back to Councillor Lorentson and you mentioned that the matter be deferred, the Ordinary Meeting to allow time for the traffic, the applicant's traffic consultant to meet the Council's traffic consultant. Amelia Lorentson 01:07:44.915
That's what I was seconding. Frank Wilkie 01:07:46.153
No, I'm happy with that. Brian Stockwell 01:07:47.231
Yeah. So, just while you're there. Frank Wilkie 01:07:51.078
There, we'll to discuss the issue of &A. Kiln. Brian Stockwell 01:07:54.193
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, date 50, to allow the applicant's. Traffic consultant. To discuss with Council's traffic consultant issues. Related to kiln. I think it has to be bigger than kiln. Okay. Issues raised. To traffic issues. Raised. Are you happy to second that Councillor Wilkie? Frank Wilkie 01:08:28.594
Yes that's more along the lines of what I understood it to be. Brian Stockwell 01:08:31.277
Yep and if I just before we do just to note that we record on the moved motion above that the motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Didn't you second? I it. No there was no seconder. I didn't call for a second. Okay. We wouldn't have been able to ask all those questions if it was seconded. Right. You might have said you did but I didn't record that. Frank Wilkie 01:08:59.669
Yeah. I did hear you there. Brian Stockwell 01:09:03.014
Thank you. So now that's been moved and seconded. Council has the floor to talk to the motion. Amelia Lorentson 01:09:08.803
I just think there's a lot at stake here and given that the 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. Karen Finzel 01:09:25.121
Sure. Question you. So 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? It will be a challenge. So what would be an alternative to is it a 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. Patrick Murphy 01:09:54.277
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. If it, I mean, ideally, 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. I think, yeah, I think we can make the attempt of best endeavours that, you know, all parties go in good faith to make reasonable efforts to be able to come together and Resolve prior to the winery meeting, whether that's feasibly, you know, whether that's possible to get them in the same room or online together to nut these things out, noting there might be some technical elements that might need some time to prepare. Some analysis may need to be undertaken, so we're happy to come back and update Council, you know, at the Ordinary Meeting or prior to if these matters can be attended to and that, but I think best endeavours is probably what we can put forward is we'll try our best, but no no guarantees it will be able to be resolved by what we're meeting. Karen Finzel 01:11:16.054
So a question for the Chair to the staff then if there's no resolution and that comes to the meeting that there was no not enough time to reach those outcomes in the process what open is to Council or the applicant? At that point at the Ordinary Meeting what's the process then if nothing if you can find no resolution does that mean it just Council or the applicant at that point at the ordinary. Amelia Lorentson 01:11:49.672
Five days. Patrick Murphy 01:11:50.713
It's not a code, it's a situation so no risk of it going to the pre-rules. Unidentified Speaker 01:11:54.372
Yeah, okay, all right, yeah, yeah. Brian Stockwell 01:11:56.896
Okay. Jessica Phillips 01:11:57.600
Okay. Mr Chair, I just have a question about my original second, which would have been seen on the live stream and by the members of the gallery that I had seconded. The motion? Brian Stockwell 01:12:10.279
No, I didn't call out a second. Did you ever record a second? No, it was never recorded. I must have. Frank Wilkie 01:12:17.859
And the point you make about, it was question, were happening at that time. Could you explain when you've got a mover and questions, you have question time occurring with second, even though you might call, say that you're seconding it, questions still continue. Brian Stockwell 01:12:36.779
So if the rec, my recollection, I gave Councillor Lorentson the opportunity to move, Councillor Wilkie then immediately asked a question, okay, and that is possible. If I had acknowledged a second 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 01:13:02.210
That's right I that guess can I just ask 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 01:13:12.830
And he's been letting me know. Thank you. So Councillor Lorentson has spoke to the meeting. Motion does anyone wish to speak to the motion? Amelia Lorentson 01:13:22.010
I'll close. I'm sorry. Can't support that. Tom Wegener 01:13:27.712
Support this motion. We're going to go and vote at the Ordinary Meeting regardless. That's when we actually make the final decision. 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 the procedure. That's the standard way we do things. You have the General Committee, you vote on things, you can hash it out, rehash it at the Ordinary Meeting. But here, by. But 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 if they don't do it, well, then we're probably say, going to say, oh, well, let's kick let's it down the kick it down the road to the next meeting." These delays, I don't think, are counterproductive. In my opinion, the traffic management is pretty much obvious. Been addressing a number of they've been addressed thoroughly already, in my opinion, especially in the applicants' applicant's responses and as we've we all know about car washes and petrol stations, if there's a long line, you go to the next one and you go later on. That's the whole idea of it being there. Brian Stockwell 01:14:45.219
Is if there's a queue. If the Council is talking to the deferral, you're talking about the motion. I'm talking about the deferral. Frank Wilkie 01:14:52.955
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 01:15:17.470
We assuming would they do meet. 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 01:15:36.557
I also ask if the issue of traffic is not resolved between now and the Ordinary Meeting as a Council we can I still raise the alternate motion and we can still make a decision on the application. Brian Stockwell 01:15:53.156
Thank you so I'll talk to the motion. I have a different view to Councillor Wegener. If you're a Councillor who doesn't wish to support the staff recommendation it is an unnecessary delay and my understanding there are Councillors here who do wish to support an approval of the application. I think it'd be derelict of your 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 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 then 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 01:16:52.321
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. Next slide. So I would like to reach some sort of resolution by Ordinary Meeting this Thursday. I think what's in front of us just gives it's just 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 most informed decision. Brian Stockwell 01:17:27.051
Thank you. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Oh, look, I convinced you once. Okay, we then move on to the next item on the agenda. And it is a report. A direct to General Committee regarding the appeal relating to D96 of 2024 relating to refusal of MCU 24 triples three material changes used to sort material change used for short-term accommodation at 428 Cootharaba road, Cootharaba. Patrick, would you like to give us a quick heads up? Patrick Murphy 01:18:11.178
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. Proposal the was seeking to utilise a two-bedroom building, dwelling for the short-term accommodation. Overall zone property 3.16 hectares, there was a recommendation made by the officer, however at the Ordinary Meeting it was resolved to refuse the application. Accordingly, then the applicant is subsequently appealed that, but it's in order to defend the appeal. Brian Stockwell 01:18:45.446
So Councillor, just a reminder, being appealed, we can talk just to the item whether we defend or not, at any substance regarding the actual nature of the appeal. Would anyone like to move the recommendation? I have a quick question, whether this is allowed. Tom Wegener 01:19:03.184
I see in the summary here, it doesn't mention the Rural Activities Code, which says that it is inconsistent with the acceptable outcomes AO2.3, the four hectares. Rules say that that's the whole reason it was impact assessable in the first place. Brian Stockwell 01:19:22.178
So can I answer your question? Yes. The two hectares is in the table of assessment, not in the Rural Activities Code. Doesn't apply to this application. Tom Wegener 01:19:31.367
The tables of assessment are five. Where this is under 9. Brian Stockwell 01:19:34.880
3.53. 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 01:19:53.420
Yes. If it's impact assessable because of an inconsistency, then you look at the entire Planning Scheme. Isn't the quote the whole of Planning Scheme? It 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 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 it possibly come up with new grounds as well. Okay okay take care. Thank you. Jessica Phillips 01:20:48.424
Am I allowed to ask a question about how much it costs us to defend the appeal? Richard MacGillivray 01:20:58.197
This is unknown at this stage. This is so early in the process. 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 not happen. But there's no financial ability to cost out what that will look like from a price tag perspective at this stage. But certainly what we'll do is our through Case Management Working Group. Which is every two months on the progress of this and other appeals that Council is dealing with. Jessica Phillips 01:21:32.375
Okay, I have a second question to follow up then. Where does the funding come from? Defend an application like this, is it from our general rates? Richard MacGillivray 01:21:43.091
Yeah, yes, they do come through the general rates. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:21:47.275
Okay, I'll move the motion. Moved by Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. Do you wish to talk to the motion? Tom Wegener 01:21:52.921
Yeah, I just feel like defending this bill is question. Defending incredibly 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 hand and not hand it over to them 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 some amendments have not been passed yet and to me it's very very clear that when you look at the strategic intent of our Planning Scheme that short-term accommodation of the AirBnBs and the sort are not consistent with rural and several rural. Brian Stockwell 01:22:49.419
I don't need to fight the subject rather than the. Field, so. Tom Wegener 01:22:53.789
Object, yes, that's my. This is a very, very important decision that we made with long-lasting ramifications. Brian Stockwell 01:23:02.893
Anyone else wish to just talk? Jessica Phillips 01:23:04.375
I have another question. Sure. Can I land on the question? Yeah. What's our budget, overall budget for. Taking our--. Richard MacGillivray 01:23:16.074
Yep, the PL's budget, please. We currently have a budget of circa $1 million for the '24 / '25 financial year. Jessica Phillips 01:23:23.585
Okay, follow-up question. Last year. Did we exceed our budget? Richard MacGillivray 01:23:31.599
Last year we did. We had a number of large appeals that all sort of collided, I guess, in terms of airing dates as well, so it did exceed the budget from last year and we were able to reach a cost savings to fund the additional costs for defending appeals. Jessica Phillips 01:23:51.440
And for a tracted budget, where are we looking at the moment? Richard MacGillivray 01:23:55.098
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. Brian Stockwell 01:24:22.227
Thank you. Karen Finzel 01:24:24.177
Thank Mr Chair. Just a question following on from Councillor Phillips' 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 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 to avoid and eliminate some of these budget wallets. Brian Stockwell 01:25:05.075
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. Is something we can look at another time. Thank you, Mr Chair. We'll follow that up again. Thank you. Anyone else wish to talk? Councillor Wegener, do you wish to close? No. Thank you. 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 Phillips. The motion is carried. We have a similar matter being number two. Appeal 1997 of 2024 related to refusal.C.U. 230101 Material Change of Use for short-term accommodation at 561 Gympie Gympie Kin Kin road, Kin Kin. Patrick Murphy 01:25:58.907
Similar circumstances. To the previous appeal. This is an application for development of short-term accommodation in the rural zone. Four 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 the application. The grounds of refusal again included in this report. Again, it's in order for Council to defend its decision, to defend this appeal. Brian Stockwell 01:26:34.740
Okay, good. Councillor Wegener? I'll move it. Seconded by Councillor Finzel, we need to discuss this one. Tom Wegener 01:26:40.878
I might just make one more appeal. Have we learned nothing from our experiences from our own beach communities? And from around the world concerning short-term accommodation? We need to defend this appeal. Jessica Phillips 01:26:57.332
Can I please speak on behalf of just my opinion? I don't want it publicly seen that I would to see STAs 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 I don't avoiding this process that costs our ratepayers. So it is not that I support our community being inundated with STAs. I just want that very clear. Brian Stockwell 01:27:34.350
Anyone else wish to talk? Short and sweet. King needs a home. What else? Anyone else? Councillor Wegener, do you wish to close? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's Councillor Lorentson, Finzel, Wegener, Wilkie, Wilson and Stockwell. And those against? That is Councillor Phillips. Motion is obviously there carried. The third item for direct to committee is appeal 1998 of 2024 relating to refusal of MCU 2209 and four. 2, 09, 0, 9, and 4, four. Material Change of Use to Childcare centre at 28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville. Patrick Murphy 01:28:15.434
You might recall this was another recent refusal of a Childcare centre at Hofmann Drive on within the Noosa Business Centre. There are a number of reasons for it to be refused. Generally speaking it didn't provide a metre centimeter setbacks to Hofmann Drive and that was going that was a requirement of the reconfiguration approval. It failed therefore to provide the park like setting. The use is an inconsistent use within that major centre zone the business park precinct noting that there is available land suitably sown behind it there was issues with the location of the bio-retention basins accordingly it was refused recently appealed again it's in order for Council to defend it's a decision to defend the appeal. Brian Stockwell 01:29:06.859
Does anyone like to move it I'll move it second. Councillor Wilkie. So this is a different one and nature of appeal in response to, I suppose Councillor Phillips 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 the 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 carried unanimously are an hour and a half in, are we ready for a short break and when I say short are we doing five minutes or seven and a half given that it is not shown we'll come back at 10 ten past twelve are we ready for a short break and when I say short are we doing five. Brian Stockwell 01:42:14.945
Welcome back we resume the meeting and we're up to item four of the reports correct the General Committee and that deals with the register of delegations from Council to the CEO and we have yes and the manager of government Diane here to give us a short executive summary of what this report has in for yeah good afternoon. Jonci Wolff 01:42:42.775
Councillors this report is about the annual review of delegations Council to CEO 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 office are appropriately authorised to conduct their daily duties that Council provides efficient community services and that u.s Councillors can focus on high-level strategic matters the statutory powers required for Council to operate are assigned to Councillors by action 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 can then allow us 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 to see you the Local Government Act describes that this review must occur annually that's why you see us here 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 year and it also provides opportunity for council officers to request additional delegated powers were required if they discovered during the year that they do require additional powers. So as part of this year's review we've conducted two delegation workshops where we touch base on these three items. As part of the first workshop. And the second, the governance team presented Councillors with a legal update as received from the local government association and in consultation with U.S. Councillors we applied changes to 13 registers of our delegation register. 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 counselling in accordance with Councillor in community interests therefore in sum the recommendation today before you is that the a 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 government act 2009 to delegate the powers of the local government outlined in the register of delegations providing attachment one to the CEO. Brian Stockwell 01:46:49.786
Do we have any questions or would someone like to move the recommendation I'm happy to move it I saw Councillor Wilson first okay um we expect a five minute discussion and the move Councillor Wilson second the Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Wilson you have the floor. Nicola Wilson 01:47:10.367
Oh, you mean to say any of us have to commend the government's team on a very thorough process. Brian Stockwell 01:47:16.227
Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? Frank Wilkie 01:47:19.228
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 or vegetation management act perspective, to the disturbance of the habitat species listed under the nature conservation or environmental protection biodiversity acts. Three, 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. Four, to the removal or substantial alteration to a structure or place of heritage significance identified in Council's Planning Scheme or in an adopted study of Council. And five, a development where Council has a direct or indirect interest as a result of its involvement in previous or proposed land dealings. Now the last one is 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, endangered vegetation. Seeded 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. Karen Finzel 01:48:54.015
Yeah of course yeah I just want 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 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 we're going so I think it's great that we're meeting the legislative requirements to review that once a year and as we adapt and move forward 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 our community that we are working hard and listening to what they say and responding accordingly. So I thank you all the Councillors as well and the staff for their contribution. Amelia Lorentson 01:49:54.278
Thank you. Question to the staff. Wilkie mentioned Council request. There was also another Council request which I believe resulted in new conditions. Can I ask Jonci if you can run through them in terms of the Planning Act? That's right. 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. Jonci Wolff 01:50:28.182
Inconsistent use? So it's under 332 of the report? Amelia Lorentson 01:50:33.391
Yes. Do you want us to read it? Oh, I'm happy to read it out, but I just thought, if I can read that 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 notification part 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 is a resolution of Council to amend the Planning Scheme in a way that is relevant to the approval. E, an impact assessment 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. 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. Of the act, three, in exercising the delegated powers for a development application that's been decided by Council, the CEO must give due consideration to the materiality of the changes sought through 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 for the Councillor may request an application to be determined at a Council meeting, the request shall be made to the CEO with a request to be made before decision stage commences. Again great new conditions reflecting great consultation and collaborations with both Council and Councillors so thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:53:05.036
Thank you. And just for clarity 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 and I suppose I'll talk to it while I've got the floor. I do 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 an eight-year-old approval of a land that had high biodiversity significance. That land's now been developed but 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 glossies. 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 tag blitz, I can recommend the attachment. Okay, yeah. 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 01:55:31.642
Yes, I am. Good afternoon, Councillors. In accordance with Local Government Regulation, Council is required to undertake regular reviews. Frank Wilkie 01:55:39.449
Sorry, Pauline. Could you help me? I'm having trouble hearing you. Could you speak? Loud. And slow. Pauline 01:55:47.506
Sure. Good afternoon, Councillors. 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. In summary, this budget review operating position decrease 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 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 the budget in June. It should be noted that forecasting a deficit position at BR1 is not uncommon with the financial year 2024 BR1 moving from a $121,000 surplus to a forecasted $761,000 deficit. Dollar 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 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 for the new lock and weir system at Noosa Waters, a new fee for council officers to undertake private certification of building works where it's appropriate. The amendment of some rights to fees charged by Council so that they align with the legislated fees by the. 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 surplus ratio which 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. Frank Wilkie 01:59:24.157
Thank you. Any questions? Thank you, Pauline. That was beautifully articulated. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Can I ask a question? If you can. You mentioned that at this time in the last financial year, BR1, the predicted projected deficit was seven hundred thousand seven times seven hundred sixty thousand seven sixty thousand some six seven times what they're predicting you can tell me what processes and practices does this Council have in the place that enabled that to turn that from a seven hundred sixty thousand dollar deficit into a multi-million dollar surplus. Pauline 02:00:03.589
There's a number of different factors that impact on that. It can be additional revenue that we generate through sales, from holiday parks and waste if there's upside on those. We had additional interest revenue last year. It can be cost savings, so where we've not had to spend as much on projects that we had originally budgeted for, that will also offset on those particular deficit positions. Frank Wilkie 02:00:24.615
And conservative budgeting, could you explain the conservative principle? Budgeting, could explain the principle? When. Pauline 02:00:33.308
We build the original budget or the adopted budget that we adopted in June, we always take a conservative position so we don't, I suppose, forecast revenues to push them beyond where we believe they will achieve. That allows us to have upside during the year as well. But it is all dependent on market forces and demand as well. But we tend to do that so that we have this ability to catch up if we need to during the year. Frank Wilkie 02:00:56.671
Thank you. Other questions? Just one more. Could you speak generally about the importance of budget reviews for an organisation like ours that employ zero-based budgeting? Pauline 02:01:11.057
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 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 negating action with the executive team as to how we might address that if we're not going to achieve a surplus position. Or come back to Council to explain why that might be the case if we can't rectify that. Brian Stockwell 02:01:46.256
Thank you. So I will move a motion which adds to the staff recommendation if the addition is B, to identify the amount returned to unconstrained cash reserves from unspent budgetary allocations for the Zero Emissions Noosa program in the 2022-23 and the 2023-24 financial year as seed funding for the commencement of 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 seconder? 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 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 believe, that this Council really maintains its focus on what is the largest issue that faces this community and all councils in the world. Long term, the failure to act is likely to have huge costs to future generations. We have got a range of potential projects in the pipeline. Some of them we're already going out for grant applications. Are these are things like. Know, you turning our green waste and potentially food waste into a valuable resource for composting. It includes, you know, 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 land 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 set it up, what I'm suggesting is 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 we should 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 decades in state government and then coming to a local government it's really something that the level 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 02:05:41.944
Am I allowed to ask you a question about your recommendation please if not that I don't agree with a 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 a economic crisis with our cost of living. Brian Stockwell 02:06:20.354
Yeah so this is not money that's coming out of the rate pay 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 have asked 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 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 livable increased air conditioning there'll be nothing more costed to the ratepayers and the significant projected increases in coastal storm surges and coastal storms that will result in potentially making look the you know what the hundred and seventy five million dollars worth of flood damage which was a climate-related event, and 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 you know the 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 away from other programs we run. Jessica Phillips 02:07:38.851
Sorry- can you answer my follow-up question how do I answer if kids going to school without lunchboxes without any food? Brian Stockwell 02:07:47.411
I would answer them with a question because every young person I talk to realises that climate number one change the number priority in their life that they feel that we're frittering away the future so that's how I answer. Frank Wilkie 02:07:59.633
Question I think Councillor Phillips this question goes to asking what is this Council doing to address cost of living and homelessness in the community and we have our Director Community Services Kerri Contini online that's Kerri could you help answer Councillor Phillips's question in regards to what this Council is doing to support the most vulnerable in our community because there are resources allocated specifically. Kerri Contini 02:08:33.365
In that field thank you Councillors for the question. In terms of the services that we provide to help us we rely on our community and that ranges from direct officer support whether that is through our community development team or is that through them through else this thing is that there's offices in certain areas of the country that have been affected by the pandemic. So that's offices and services but we also provide grants to organisations. Frank Wilkie 02:09:05.076
Kerri you're breaking up could to the microphone please. Kerri Contini 02:09:12.301
Folks is that a little bit clearer much. Jessica Phillips 02:09:13.774
Clearer yeah sorry um we didn't. Kerri Contini 02:09:18.318
Hear didn't hear your last. Frank Wilkie 02:09:21.609
Um 30. Kerri Contini 02:09:24.231
Yes, Sir. Certainly so in terms of supporting um the most vulnerable in our community we provide a combination of staffing and services as well as grants so our staffing and services across 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 domestic violence situations then through to our services for example in Noosa Seniors where we're providing direct services to our older residents. We also provide grants and those grants go to not-for-profit community organisations who help the most vulnerable in our community. Jessica Phillips 02:10:09.275
So my question to you Kerry would it be beneficial for those organisations within our department that you're talking about, could they do with a cash insertion into their departments? Unidentified Speaker 02:10:22.725
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 everyone 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. Question? Yeah, along those similar lines, Councillor Stockwell. Karen Finzel 02:11:13.437
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 much interested in looking after the future and the 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 organisation. I 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 cash. Which at times then we can call on anything in an emergency to go, "We need to move this bucket here." Where's the pros and cons for going that we are creating another, you know, constraint? Constrained cash of money at the overall, you know, financial impacts of that, like, we're trying to, I believe, through the budget, we talked heavily about not raising levies, you know, getting rid of levies. We're looking at, like, how we're looking at our, what are they, our contracts with external organisations and addressing how we're managing that. I'm a little bit reluctant to support this unless we have some, 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, where I thought overall, for fiscal good financial management, we were trying to look a little bit of at being. Managing that better. I just have some reserves about that. So have you got any. Brian Stockwell 02:13:00.872
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 proceed with the futures fund. And you're right, before we before 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 rollout and consideration of this issue, my understanding is it's probably something that is going to start this financial this year, but. Trent Grauf 02:13:33.237
I think we'll speak to that, Councillors, through the Chair. This financial year, obviously following the adoption of your first budget for your election term in June, the work we're doing between now February and 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, and 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, and that covers a range of things, that at the moment is he's looking at the State Councillor Stockwell talks about in terms of futures fund but also what we talk also about how we would fund other infrastructure investments such as economic infrastructure or broader climate resilience infrastructure and there's a of work around the challenge 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 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 do decide to implement a futures fund model we then 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 that in the same as also said from our existing infrastructure the work that's occurring now in infrastructure planning is about what 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 infrastructure or is it for climate resilience or future infrastructure investment and that's a lot of discussion we'll have on the next 12 months as we come. Amelia Lorentson 02:15:47.083
To the next year's budget. In terms of the futures fund that is a levy, is that correct? That's the concept that it'll be a transport levy, a Heritage Levy, the concept is to tax. Trent Grauf 02:16:04.060
Through the Chair yes or no 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 there or other? So that's the conversation we 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 levies as well. Amelia Lorentson 02:16:58.493
And is that a discussion we should also be having with the community? Trent Grauf 02:17:03.201
Yes, in opinion only, that's for you to decide Councillors. So it's part of our budget review consultation. Amelia Lorentson 02:17:10.354
Process. It's something that we can raise as a discussion point and get feedback. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 02:17:17.143
Just on that budget, you mentioned preparing next year's budget. When will the work for involvement 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 from Councillors as part of putting together the 25.26 budget. Trent Grauf 02:17:43.428
Process starts for us internally now. There's no breather for Paul-Ann, she's smiling quietly in the corner there. But we start planning 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. We'll pick off the process and we'll work through probably two months of budget workshops and then the discussion is then should you wish elicit any engagement on some of the decisions through the process, does it occur at the start or at a draft holding point through the process? Frank Wilkie 02:18:26.374
We won't have a compressed timeframe after the election like we did in 2020 or this year, so we do have the time for consultation and we can ask questions about. Trent Grauf 02:18:36.599
Good correct Councillors and that falls within obviously the remit of competing priorities for getting the engagement of Councillors. Karen Finzel 02:18:45.839
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, whereabouts in the, you know, 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? What's. Larry Sengstock 02:19:12.421
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'll be discussing here is BR1. We're also looking at putting the money 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 02:19:34.552
Can I ask a question to the CEO? And I may have missed it. Have we, in fact, had one workshop on the concept of a futures fund? Because I can't recall any discussion. Jonci Wolff 02:19:46.900
I don't believe so either, so it's. OK, thank you. Do you want me to read that? Trent Grauf 02:19:50.565
To okay, just great. To 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 02:20:12.134
Am I right? I seem to recall in previous budgets, probably two or three of them, when we were looking at things like the bushfires etc. concept of a future fund was discussed at that point, but it was informally as part of the period of budget discussions. Frank Wilkie 02:20:28.079
Does this form part of the way we prepare for future disasters? The fund help us mitigate the impacts of future disasters? Trent Grauf 02:20:38.875
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 funding discussion as an organisation as to the remit of our levies. For example, the bushfire levy versus the general raid. What our funding opportunities are with state and that's why I mentioned earlier the first step in this entire process is to look at what funds, what we should be using our revenue sources for to be very clear about what we're using our general rate for and what does the remit of environment versus bushfire quality for example cancers. Frank Wilkie 02:21:25.838
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 by the QRA. Trent Grauf 02:21:47.684
Through the Chair, the challenge we face as a local government authority is for future tenures and election terms of state government based with. Similar funding constraints than what we do. The funding availability through QRA may become more constrained. It's not something we can speak to at this point in time. As disaster events become more and regular occurrences rather than black swan events, would that change their funding remit and their eligibility criteria for funding? That's not something we can. Speak to at this point in time. It's an ongoing discussion between state and tribal and local government levels, but there is a risk there. Absolutely. Brian Stockwell 02:22:37.943
Thank you. Question, or does someone else wish to talk to the matter? Karen Finzel 02:22:43.763
Yeah, it's 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, our mantra for the budget was, you know, business as usual. We'll 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, and doing that, 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 what you're trying to do here to raise that. I just think that, for me today, I think this is a little a bit premature. Given collectively even collectively that we decided to, you know, take that pause, let's take a breath, the organisation is already under duress, 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, know, putting a cash reserve that currently sits unconstrained and then locking that down when we haven't, like, really had these conversations. Just have conversations and I in depth. 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 look at this, you know, a bit more, like, set a timeline. And know where we're going and bring the community with us. Frank Wilkie 02:24:27.957
Just a question, Councillor Stockwell. You're not proposing this money be spent. You're proposing it be, it's money from, that was in 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-raised wood shops. And all it's doing is signalling to the community that it'll be put aside. We'll have a discussion about the future fund, that the money eventually will go towards projects for which it was originally intended. Brian Stockwell 02:25:01.673
Yes, that's correct. Accurate summation. Yes, and so what we found in the budget year one was that there was no money spent in accordance with our commitment to spend $400,000 for zero emissions and internal matters like the beach up 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 a administrative burden and so this mechanism was supposed to say well they're still committed but we'll make it easy, we'll just make sure 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 had generated good discussion I that's think talk got speak to the motion may. Tom Wegener 02:26:00.100
Talked about this at the budget meetings and I think it arises from our the frustration that things have not enough we that we actually didn't money on this very very important category of things zero emissions and 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 is one thing once that 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 that the community wants this demands this that we take action on 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 not actually in our regular program not our regular operation is not 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 it would be best if we push these projects I'm in favour of it because I don't like to have that obligation for us for the community disappear. And not fulfil it. Jessica Phillips 02:27:29.084
Can I please speak on to the motion I'll 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 like to see it part of the budget review next year. Amelia Lorentson 02:27:47.970
That's a lot of sleep we did speak about a futures fund as 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 community to see whether there is an appetite for it so 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 love 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 consult consultation with community and without understanding what are the immediate climate change risk that we should be addressing right now and no discrete catchment plan again something that I would identify still as an immediate risk. Nicola Wilson 02:29:27.172
I still support the original intent of the motion in terms of making sure that we don't just. Forget this important issue each year and down the road but listening to the views around the table, I do think we probably need to have a bit more time to actually establish everyone's views, get the community feedback and have a bit more detail about what that looks like. Brian Stockwell 02:29:50.643
Thank 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. It's 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 will be bringing to us in the next 10, 20 years, we're in quite a buoyant economic period. And it is something that every organisation 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. Now 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, you know, the projects out of the landfill alone are in the tens of millions. Each you know and but they're the sort of scale 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 as I use a futures fund as one of 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 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 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 of probably should say potential but I said proposed future fund therefore I will be supporting my own motion oh that's a good thing I'll put a motion. All those in favour? That's Councillor Wegener, Wilkie and Stockwell. Those against? It's Wilson, Phillips, Finzel and Lorentson. The motion has not been passed. So would someone like to move to staff recommendation? I will. Councillor Phillips and second Councillor Wegener. Would you like to speak to it Councillor Phillips? Jessica Phillips 02:33:14.023
No thank you for the report that even I could understand. That summarises it I think. Brian Stockwell 02:33:20.329
Does anyone else wish to talk the motion? I'll therefore put the motion those in favour? That's unanimous. Motions passed. We then move on to the Financial Performance Report for July 2024 and once again to Colleen. Pauline 02:33:36.923
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, holiday parks and Council facilities. Fees and Charges which are $81 budget but these have been offset by below budget rates and levies of $30,000 and that has resulted from the timing of some rebates and payment discounts with the July rates notices due on the 16th of August. In and there's also a timing some Unitywater distribution, which is shown in the budget. However, these distributions are fixed and so this variance is temporary. Operating expenditure is $324,000. On underspent with the with $83 $83,000 relating to employee expenses and $187,000 relating to materials and services. Capital revenue is showing $1.1 million of our budget due to the receipt of QRA disaster funding money and capital expenditure. $600,000 above budget year to date. As we've just talked about, budget review 1 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 deposits. At this early stage of the year Council's financial performance remains on track. Brian Stockwell 02:35:12.983
Thank you. Do we have questions? Councillor Wegener? Tom Wegener 02:35:16.329
In our money in the bank accounts here in Clifton redress, is it an interest rate stated about the same for the past year now? It hasn't got down yet. 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%. That's been for the day. A bonus for us over the past few years. Pauline 02:35:37.144
But as you can see our cash reserve, our cash balance is starting to decline as the construction of projects occur and capital gets delivered. Brian Stockwell 02:35:46.147
Yes and the fee. Frank Wilkie 02:35:47.384
Yes and the Fees and Charges, building and plumbing, property, local laws, development assessment, they're all above budget, oh sorry, executive development assessment below budget. A question about the building and plumbing, property and local laws 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? They're all above correct. So we were more conservative when setting those budgets. Pauline 02:36:24.005
However, building and plumbing have 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 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. Frank Wilkie 02:36:47.739
So I have a 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 factored, the assumptions that we factored into this year's budget and why are we below still? Richard MacGillivray 02:37:07.482
I was going to say, I'm happy to answer that. Frank Wilkie 02:37:09.884
Yeah, thank you, Richard. Richard MacGillivray 02:37:12.382
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 be far away from our previous budgets 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 that the shortfalls that were proposed for development assessment will not be nearly as significant as they were. This first month we've noticed that the revenue is slightly below due number of minor change applications so 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 of each financial year we only process basically how much of those applications progress and the amount released from those gets released in the earned revenue budget so you'll find when we wrap up the last financial year the gap I guess from to actually earned revenue won't be nearly as far as from those last time and to address some of this what we're going to do is every quarter now we're going to be looking at the unearned 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. Frank Wilkie 02:38:54.771
Yeah because I'm assuming that you've recalibrated your estimates based on what's happened the last six. Richard MacGillivray 02:38:59.575
Months 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 just sort of be around the 600 application. So we've factored in what our budget is going to be based on that. Frank Wilkie 02:39:20.325
Okay, thank you. Trent Grauf 02:39:22.047
Just a follow up. I was just going to clarify Councillor because it's probably really important also to be aware that this is the first month of the financial year so as we get halfway through three 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, out. The first few months you won't see that so all it takes is an application to be in the first week of August, first of last week July and it can move our forecast significantly in the first month. So it is very early stages for those Fees and Charges. Amelia Lorentson 02:39:57.348
Thank you. Just a follow-up from where Frank sort of left. In an ongoing looking at waste utility to waste management, holiday park revenue, sports facility revenue, etc. How accurate had Council's revenue forecasts been 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 02:40:33.945
Certain departments definitely generally waste while they pass the commercial business units review. There's kind of a like consistently. We don't necessarily make changes every month. We generally make those changes. Make changes as part of a budget review process, so we wouldn't necessarily reflect it straight away, and obviously, you've got to take into account the budget process. We just started last year, and there's all paths coming through. We're conservative, and so we're now into the first month of that year, don't so we will be reviewing them, but we don't. An adjustment until we get to a better review. Amelia Lorentson 02:41:03.760
And my last question. My last question is, how do we communicate financial performance and decisions to a 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? Yeah, in terms of. We get this information. Pauline 02:41:36.393
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 and putting it through the Council meeting schedule everyone. Month. Amelia Lorentson 02:41:49.313
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 in the Noosa Today or something monthly? Trent Grauf 02:42:01.329
One point that's something we can take on notice I think the most important part is the year-end wrap-up. Our financial performance can move during the year and as I mentioned before depending on Fees and Charges and timing and staff turnover and status of projects, etc. The most important part from the 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 Queensland 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 up at the end of the financial year that's the most important piece of financial reporting for the organisation to they're important and published. Brian Stockwell 02:42:48.819
Thank you so I'll go on first because it relates I may have learned something new if I understood what Richard said is what he said is when we receive 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 by how much of that application we actually have assessed to date. Pauline 02:43:21.127
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 by Council and what is potentially refundable by Council that adjustment gets made in June however I will caveat there was a very substantial development application received in June and we took the position to not put that through because it would distort it quite significantly so we put it's really just that inter-financial year. Correct. Richard suggested that they give us a look at that quarterly but the amount of work involved in assessing every month. Brian Stockwell 02:43:58.130
I'm just saying as a fellow planner, never say that planners don't earn their income. Trent Grauf 02:44:03.468
So Councillors, the biggest mover there is, a 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 DA fees. Pauline 02:44:20.311
Potentially if 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 02:44:26.414
Okay, thank you. Yeah, Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 02:44:28.579
I think you mentioned before that rates are due on the 16th of August, is that correct? Yes. Ratepayers 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 plan issues, which anyone reading the financial statements might be confused by, so in the and loss statement, we have recognised you today $48,514 in terms of rates, liabilities and charges. I believe that's because we issued the rate notices and we started to recognise that in July. However, we the cash. So at the moment we have a lower 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 receiving hall reduces and the cash amounts increase. We'll see our first pay-per-view in our cash balance in you. August. 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. Um recognise or allocate most costs evenly over the year, or do we allow for sort of the times when. Pauline 02:45:56.855
We expect the services to actually be. It's invariable. So the larger, a lot of the business areas do profile their 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 fall back to the workforce. But generally, yes, we look at profiling. Unidentified Speaker 02:46:23.127
I think that was it. Brian Stockwell 02:46:25.900
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 very favour? Much. That's unanimous. Can we move on to the next item? Which is. Thank you. Thanks. We invite Deb I-easy to the. Yeti. Hey, yeti, sorry. I know that, yes. I was just doing it phonetically, wasn't I? All right, thank you. All right, thank you. And she will talk through the annual performance report, including the fourth quarter operational plan for 2023-24. Deb 02:47:14.129
Okay, thank you, Council. This report 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 does 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 the. And 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, and skill shortages. Now on the positive side in response we've carefully monitored our project planning, we've continued to focus on developing our capabilities, with a focus on our people, financial sustainability, our business systems, and our community, and these are identified within the body of the report. It may not contain all of them, but it does actually highlight the more significant ones. Overall, we've made considerable progress in progressing the initiatives in 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 your listed in the operational plan, and 69% were either complete or on track, with 31% experiencing a minor or a major disruption. 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 themes, 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 may not necessarily be completed in that year. 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 actually notations against the relevant initiatives in that attachment one that I mentioned before. In addition this report provides an update on our operational KPIs which we routinely report on that's they're contained in attachment to two and an update on work being undertaken to review the performance measures in the Corporate Plan including the identification 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 in attachment three. We've still got some more work to do there to clearly align those performance measures with the outcomes for that we desired in the Corporate Plan but that is continuing and you'll see with an attachment three that we've actually identified some of the baseline data to give you an idea of how it comes up but again store what to be done in that space. So Councillors that's an overview to the report. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 02:51:07.093
Questions? Frank Wilkie 02:51:07.594
There is some a drop in time loss to injury very important probably the most 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 02:51:31.927
I can't answer in detail. 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 02:51:41.227
No, I can answer that through you. We get a monthly report from our health and safety. Offices and coordinator. 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, less, therefore less time off for injuries. So it's just, more of a, more of a concerted effort in that area. And it's, paying off. And we've had hundreds of days with no lost time injury over the course of the year, you know, in blocks where it's been, fantastic. And we get that report on a monthly basis. Real, a bonus to it. It's not to say that injuries and accidents will happen, won't happen, but we're certainly, we're very conscious and very strong in terms of workplace health and safety in this organisation. Does that involve a change in the culture? Frank Wilkie 02:52:36.494
Absolutely. Outside workforces, for instance, some of the older? Larry Sengstock 02:52:40.458
Yeah. Absolutely, keeping an awareness of that, keeping and making sure that we do look after our staff, but also there's always more work to be done too. I'm not saying that we're perfect at it by any stretch, but just doing things like taking time before we actually start. The project or start work, making sure we do the checks and balances beforehand and it's, showing good results. Deb 02:53:03.823
In addition, I'd probably add to that is our people and culture branch has put forward some various initiatives employee wellbeing, focusing on our health and issues and being conscious of that. So there is a concerted effort in that space as well. So, and when we have our appointment of our manager to the position too, which has created some stability. So things are continuing as well. So they're, just relevant factors. Frank Wilkie 02:53:27.268
Is demographics a factor? Like are they more of a high proportion of younger people in the workforce now? Larry Sengstock 02:53:33.668
No, I wouldn't put it out of that. I think again, it's more just being conscious and being, you know, having safe practices. That's very good. Thank you. Yeah, we're really happy with it. Credit the good at the staff, but good at the management in of the staff terms of. Amelia Lorentson 02:53:48.958
Turnover, the report says high employee turnover due to a competitive labour market and recruitment challenges. With it 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 02:54:15.916
If you look at government generally, 17% seems to be% a 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 permanent staff, we're 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 position, which we haven't been able to, do, despite several rounds and things. So there. Are some areas where there still are school shortages, and especially within the construction area as well, still encountering, you know, shortages in those in spaces where we're competing with bigger projects that are occurring around the State as well, so here. Brian Stockwell 02:55:20.754
Ms Wilson. Nicola Wilson 02:55:21.142
There are a couple of initiatives that are classified as complete. That I would have expected to see some ongoing or notation that they've been into the next year's planning and maybe that's just a. I'm sorry, I wouldn't, like, I don't know why that happened, but I have wouldn't, expected to see some ongoing or notation like, I know why that is. So it doesn't have to do with Noosa. 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. Unidentified Speaker 02:56:00.889
But I would expect that the initiative to continue to implement the local law. Deb 02:56:06.895
Yes, yeah, 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 our as business usual. As So so while that short stay-. Was a new initiative and we've implemented it, it's now part of our business as usual program in 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, 2.113, which is to support local and private organisations. Yes, definitely. And you will see, normally there is something either, 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 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. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 02:57:16.183
Delays, how do we capture the costs associated with delays, project delays? Is that captured or costed or reviewed? Depends on what, in frame you're talking. Oh, 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 it's not. Larry Sengstock 02:57:48.753
Necessarily. 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, but if one's delayed, we'll move our resources into another project, for management, for example. If the delay causes an increase in cost to the project itself, for the delivery, financial cost, then we capture that through our budgets and through our capital works program. So that gets reported back through, if there's a cost increase. If not, we try to limit that. If there's a lower cost increase, then we try to limit that through other savings. It doesn't necessarily get reported in the bottom line, but it is absolutely captured in our project. Amelia Lorentson 02:58:37.321
Capital works as an energy project. Yes. Okay. You. Frank Wilkie 02:58:44.042
Question. 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? That's one for our Director. 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. It's cash always an option, isn't it, Trent? Trent Grauf 02:59:17.739
Through the Chair, okay, there is 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 different types of payment mechanisms as we further progress our. Systems and enable people if they want to move on to direct evidence in those type of payment arrangements and certainly there is no intent to change the type of currency in terms of cash versus online or card payments at this point. Frank Wilkie 02:59:50.560
And further to that the hinterland service desk at the Cooroy Library is a trial to extend the services to the hinterland. Are you able to give us an indication of how it's going and how it's being received? Deb 03:00:04.679
We'd have to defer to Kerri Contini because the customer experience now falls within her directory and I know the business pilot. Larry Sengstock 03:00:12.245
So if it's Kerri online. I'd have to take that on notice. My understanding is it's been reasonably successful. There hasn't been a flood of people using it but it's certainly providing a service for the people need it and it's 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 risk to our staff so but you know that's something that we can look at in the future if the requirement or that, you know, the need is there but currently I think it's providing a service that people enjoy and it's working. Brian Stockwell 03:00:53.531
Alright. Great. Okay. We have Councillor Wilkie. I think Councillor Finzel got into the second being. And Councillor Wilkie. Frank Wilkie 03:01:05.866
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 what a small but ambitious Council and hard working Council can deliver for its community. So we're the ones that set the tasks and the objectives but you and your team are the ones that have to carry it out and we carry it out very well to a high standard so we owe you a debt of gratitude so please on behalf of the Councillors could you pass on our. To all thanks the. 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 03:01:52.539
We'll definitely do that for the CEO, yes. Larry Sengstock 03:01:55.741
It's a massive amount of work, as you say, a massive amount of work that we get through. And we keep on to it. We're very dedicated to the cause and there's things that, you know, they'd love to be able to get to sometimes but just can't, very but on positive on the whole. And we're doing some wonderful things for this community. Brian Stockwell 03:02:13.824
I'd also like to speak to it as well. I know you were expecting it. Firstly, the list of concisely put issues in the operating system put issues in the operating environment are really pithy. If you 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 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 is really important from an organisational point of view that we do spend time on. So reading out one 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 and Council's resourcing capacity. And then you have mentioned this briefly, but you go on to talk about refined, with all 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. That service level. However, what we don't see 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 to on what we want achieve, to 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 developing. How appropriate are the processes we're doing to achieve that outcome? Current investment of just putting away $400,000 a year for ZEN the right and appropriate way or is there a different way? So to me that is a challenge. It's one I know that we've had the conversations about by this time next year. 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 we done a project or not. Has that project achieved either the intermediate outputs or the intermediate outcomes? 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 03:04:56.148
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 we're 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 space of what those outcomes are to further support 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 define what those outcomes are so work in progress but yeah. Amelia Lorentson 03:05:55.677
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 our strategic priorities and. Deb 03:06:12.197
That and just to further just to discuss that it's and when we're talking financial sustainability going forward so that's still that's the you. Link there. All right. Larry Sengstock 03:06:27.305
Certainly that's part of our budget process to make sure that we do spend the money in the places that we think are our priorities and we. Deb 03:06:37.720
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 get better align that reporting as well so that's to come as well. Brian Stockwell 03:07:01.338
Okay so anyone wish to talk to motion? Councillor Wilson I think you moved it. Did you want to close? No I think you moved it. You're looking at me as if you moved it. Jonci Wolff 03:07:12.211
No it was Frank. It was Councillor Wilkie. You were the last motion sorry. No thank you. Brian Stockwell 03:07:18.480
I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Thank you. That's unanimous. Anybody think it was a long day? Okay. I see that our Acting Director Infrastructure Services is making his way to the table with Craig, his manager of design. Of the his water office. Or glass. Yeah, that's it. And they're here to talk about the Emu Mountain Road shared pathway. Shaun Walsh 03:07:50.833
Good morning, sorry, good afternoon, the report concerns are proposed shared pathway along Emu Mountain Road between our residents who live outside the Shire and Bridger springs locality to come through to the eastern shores to actually access both the Bridger village within Noosa Shire as well as facilities south such as Coolum village and the Coolum state school. The need for the link is without question. It's even shown on Council's own site when the walking strategy has been desirable. But the options available for actual construction have been subject to ongoing discussion between Council officers and Councillors now for over two years without a clear answer being provided um the ideal route does not have a perfect answer. So one option has a better environmental footprint but it is less than optimal from a safety perspective both due to the pedestrian crossing across the new mountain road as well as the septic issue. So the option that is sought by some central Coast Council has probably a more significant nature conservation footprint upon the road reserve adjacent to Noosa National Park that is optimal from both a usability perspective and being 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 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 north of the David Low Way roundabout as being part of Transport and Main Roads responsibility, de-risk for Noosa Council perspective, we note that there possibly could be congestion issues associated with the Peregian Beach roundabout. There already are. That is a long-term issue that we will all have to work towards with TMR to Resolve. So that's the summary of the recommended report. Thank you. Do we have any questions? Frank Wilkie 03:09:55.322
Sean, could you explain the funding arrangements in terms of the build and also ongoing maintenance and perpetuity? Shaun Walsh 03:10:02.701
Yes. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. The proposal is to be funded by Sunshine Coast Council, sending 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 of their cost on behalf of Noosa Council. Frank Wilkie 03:10:28.771
Could there be an indirect benefit for Noosa of Shire residents and particularly residents living in bridgin that more people may be accessing the village by means other than the car now? Shaun Walsh 03:10:38.160
Yeah, certainly it's consistent with Council's congestion reduction program so that we have residents who live in bridgin breeze who want to get to Peregian Beach village who won't have to use their car and can actually use a bicycle. It will benefit Peregian Beach residents as part of congestion reduction and there may be the occasional residents who has a friend or a relative who lives in bridgin breeze and they might want to go the other way so from the Noosa Council perspective. Amelia Lorentson 03:11:07.847
In terms of risk, the report says the main risk crossing point on the northern side of David Low 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 are. High vehicle speeds. Pedestrians and cyclists may not always be visible to drivers. And again, a point you made, the jurisdiction is managed by TMR, 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 numbers are really quite startling, and took me back a little bit actually. One death every 66 minutes, and that was in 2021. So my question is, how are we going to mitigate the risk? It's not an optimal solution. What can we do? And again, do the benefits outlay the risk. Shaun Walsh 03:12:29.522
So the chosen proxy point has because it is the lower speed environment compared to any crossings on Emu Mountain Road, so that's the first risk mitigation. The second risk mitigation is that Sunshine Coast Council and TMR are proposing an amendment to the lanes on the roundabout to create a deflection or a bump out which will actually require vehicles to slow down to navigate the roundabout. So that's risk mitigation two. The third risk mitigation to Noosa Council is in respect to the fact it's sitting under TMR jurisdiction rather than under Noosa Council jurisdiction. So 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 David Lowe roundabout is not dissimilar to the crossing environment that Council has rolled out on roundabouts on the Eumundi-Noosa Road, on Cooroy Noosa Road. It meets accepted 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. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:13:41.008
Move it. Brian Stockwell 03:13:41.709
Move Councillor Wilkie's. I'll second. I think Councillor Phillips or Finzel's got a hand up. You said thirdly. He's got a hand up. Frank Wilkie 03:14:00.597
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 environment. To a to changed a 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. My opinion to someone who's currently using the roadway to access the village, the school and the coastal bike 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 and 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 report on this show and your advice. Tom Wegener 03:15:22.428
This seems like it's going to be a very nice ride, actually, and when it comes to the safety of the umbrella, we roundabout, we just have to live in a 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 to get past this. Often notion you know, in Australia that the road is for cars and not for anybody else. And that's just not the case if you share it. Amelia Lorentson 03:15:53.647
To get past this often would just like to acknowledge Councillor Suarez, Deputy Mayor Maria Suarez, who's been sitting in the gallery all day waiting for this report. And I want to acknowledge and thank you for. All efforts. 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! Don't know about it. I'm sorry. All right. Jessica Phillips 03:16:29.540
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 stretch, in 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 03:16:46.228
Thank you. Brian Stockwell 03:16:49.452
I'll say one thing and that's a 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 down the highest percentage who walked or rode a bike was actually cool and high. That's because they've got very good pathways going out that way. And so this will create another opportunity for those in frigid breeze to also make that trip. And it's also instructional in terms of our own. Pathway network is we know, if I look at the school that has the lowest, 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. Terms of our own pathway you know, with any R2, crossing any arterial road network is a little bit fraught. The upside of this one also, if you like going for long rides and not packing forward along the coastal track, you can go down to Coolum, out the back of Coolum and come back through crittion springs and come back this way. It makes a very nice day ride. So that's something for those who like doing long rides. I see what I'm going to say. Councillor Wilkie, oh anyone else? I think everyone's had a go. Councillor Wilson, did you want to speak? Nicola Wilson 03:18:07.976
I'll just thank you for the report and thank you for the summit and first case. Karen Finzel 03:18:12.975
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. I think the most exciting thing apart from connectivity and safety is the collaboration with the Sunshine Coast Council and showing that, you know, regionally we can work together to get outcomes that benefit our community. So I think that's really good. Frank Wilkie 03:18:36.602
Yeah, I'll just close by thanking Councillor, Deputy Mayor Noosa Shire who's driven the project. Got us to the table. So please pass on our gratitude to your staff who have been part of that and our best regards to your Mayor and Councillors. Brian Stockwell 03:18:56.459
Is it possible for her to drive the pathway? Stop that now. All those in favour? That's unanimous. Okay, on a related topic. Can we have a five minute break, please? Jessica Phillips 03:19:14.463
Oh, sure. Thank you. Ten, maybe, would be. Five, okay. Brian Stockwell 03:19:20.949
Okay, 3:49. Yeah, we'll come back at four o'clock, on the dot. Brian Stockwell 03:29:11.320
Welcome back. So we're now on to the final agenda item for today, and it's the Go Noosa transport initiative 23/24 evaluation. And we have once again with us the Acting Director, Shaun and Craig. Who's giving the brief overview? Shaun Walsh 03:29:28.476
I'll be giving the brief overview as I've drafted the report, so um there's not significant issues in the report. So what's giving items of interest so I'll draft it by name I also want to introduce our Council's new Sustainable Transport Coordinator Dr Stephanie Bella and while Stephanie's only been on board two weeks may need to defer to her on some specific technical things as well as to pray as well as the report provides a very comprehensive overview of Council's going is a program which is a program to implement our Transport Strategy and a key reading a key of the of transport our Transport Strategy is about mobile shift you know with the number of visitors and residents you know needing to move around our Shire critical at holiday times you know private cars aren't the answer it has to be towards buses and active transport and ferries and the like because you get around which is consistent with an international approach so Council levies a transport levy upon residents which raises about nine hundred thirty seven thousand dollars of which we expend just over a million dollars tapping into general revenue to deliver a comprehensive suite of programs to 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 public transport to some of our 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 you know 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 the report goes through some of the behavioural training initiatives about particularly the go 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 so and that's largely due to people dropping off students in private cars so and we know that when we don't have holidays we don't have school on those congestion problems actually Resolve themselves. Today 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 example 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 car parks and getting an indication of how long they park and where they park and what the supply capacity is. That's fundamental data to actually help prepare a parking management plan. The report also goes into the overall Go Noosa free holiday bus program which includes Council paying for additional bus services which are particularly targeted towards people parking the satellite. Car parking stations and changing onto buses and coming into the Main Beach precinct. 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 then. Goes into a couple of really specific things concerning the Main Beach people of drupal zone 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 you know recommends that consistent with previous resolutions we don't proceed with use of the temporary overflow in 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 the Main Beach precinct safe and also reduce traffic congestion at the critical point of Hastings Street. I know this will be subject to significant discussion and debate and welcome your questions. Amelia Lorentson 03:33:24.190
I'd like to move an alternate motion through the Chair. Sure. You very much. Let's hear it again. At Council A, note the report by the Acting Director Infrastructure Services to the General Committee dated 12th of August regarding the. Go GoNUSA 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 Council for- Subtitles officers to undertake a review of the Boreen Point FlexiLink and Council CAV services and report back to Council. D, approve the use of the Noosa Heads blinds park for additional overflow parking in the period from Saturday 14 14th 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 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. Drop-off, pick-up, disability permit holders, scooter motorbike, Council lifeguards, emergency service vehicles, new year's Eve rapid response area and additional facilities such as waste collection, temporary toilet block, etc. G, note that a parking management plan including a local planning parking plan for Noosa Heads is under preparation 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 Park. The Noosa Heads bus station, the Maze Carpark 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. H, notes. 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 03:36:13.166
Just a question, Amelia. Yes. Um. Very 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 03:36:31.814
Referred. Excuse me, that yeah. 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 03:36:45.694
Yes. The other question I had earlier was part D, Tewantin nurse Lions Club, at their discretion. So the three words at their discretion. Shaun Walsh 03:36:57.976
Through the Chair I can probably respond to that. So the Tewantin nurse Lions Club have provided a proposal to actually use the park and there are some days they don't use it for car parking. Know because it's rainy 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 20. Thank you for your time. Thank you Chair. Jonci Wolff 03:37:32.702
So it's for you Chair as well. It could be at their discretion and in agreement with Council. Nicola Wilson 03:37:37.478
Yeah that's a good point. Want to raise some minor amendments to part D of that motion, just to get a bit more of that detail in that wording. Brian Stockwell 03:37:49.705
So just before you write that in, that was a CEO's suggestion, we don't put that in until it's elected. She works for things. We'll Wilson, back to you. Nicola Wilson 03:38:08.412
Cancel Wilson, are we able to pull this up as well? You in a minute. Brian Stockwell 03:38:13.497
No, it hasn't been seconded, so, Councillor 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 your bit- Yeah, after that. 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. Unidentified Speaker 03:38:37.781
Oh, I don't know find what means. It. Nicola Wilson 03:38:40.328
Was basically to give the CEO authority negotiate any fees and just for transparency of the fees. And the second one was that of any future decisions around this park be subject to the parking management plan. Brian Stockwell 03:39:03.492
Plans. So that would be an amendment to the Noosa. Jessica Phillips 03:39:06.095
Yes. 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. Brian Stockwell 03:39:16.329
If you 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 I don't get missed? Councillor Phillips wants to second, so now we go to Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 03:39:31.645
I'll start first with the page, with again, just a note report. I just believe it's important to formally note, the local loop initiative, on the resolution in Council, 13th of September '21, and have it recorded in Council meeting records. Documenting this, I believe will ensure that the initiative is recognised and potentially considered in our ongoing discussions and planning. Thank you to D and E, I'll speak to both of those now. Do you want to ask questions first? Good to see you. Jonci Wolff 03:40:21.149
I'm comfortable with that. Oh, that's good. I appreciate resolution to a meeting. Amelia Lorentson 03:40:26.583
I appreciate that and I respected your advice, Larry, beforehand. Thank you. Since 2021 I've been advocating opening Lions 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 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, but. Brian Stockwell 03:41:19.742
My understanding 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. Amelia Lorentson 03:41:28.809
I wasn't a question. So, 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 Lions Park will help mitigate this loss. The motion in front of you requests that holiday parking in continued in the Lions Park during Christmas as 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 that 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, Noosa 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 needs of our residents, businesses and visitors. For over 20 years the Lawrence club have managed parking during the Easter and Christmas school holidays. The report some highlights some stats which I'd like to present here today. Between 2018 and 2024 the Lions Club volunteers raised over one million dollars and parked fifty thousand seven hundred and twenty eight cars. The Tewantin Noosa Lions Club fundraising efforts directly support community projects such as the all-access beach mat at Noosa lane beach, the seahorse nipper program, personal care packs for those in need and sponsorships for many of our local sporting organisations. They sponsor red kite charity, our youth, and the lions mobility foundation, just to name a few. Managing the car parking at Lions Park represents the Lions Club. 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. 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 use of Lions for 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 Lions Club's 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 make any 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 of the park. Recent feedback on the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan, the river plan and feedback on the People's Park has clarified that the community does value its parking spaces. 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 Glew, 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 surfboards, trolleys, beach toys. We need to 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 they lose out? 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 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 is it to allow the alliance park to be used for. Brian Stockwell 03:46:42.547
Events like-- you have 30 seconds over your speaking time. Amelia Lorentson 03:46:46.312
I request through the Chair some consideration given how important and significant this matter is. I need one paragraph. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 03:46:53.629
I'm happy to continue. Amelia Lorentson 03:46:54.329
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? 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 Lions club to reopen for paid parking during these crucial times to help support the lines 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 are to allow the Tewantin the lines 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. I'll move them. Brian Stockwell 03:48:09.142
That's all right. Are we right for the amendment? Frank Wilkie 03:48:11.362
Right. 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, approve the use of the reserve for additional over-throw 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. Have a seconder for that amendment. Oh I'm Councillor not going to say wagenknecht that. Brian Stockwell 03:48:58.730
Councillor Gatt Wegener got your hand up first. Councillor Wilkie you have the floor. Frank Wilkie 03:49:03.029
Yeah thank you. Look in March 2023 the decision to discontinue parking in Noosa Heads Lions Park for school holidays and long weekends was based on this motion previously to allow it during the COVID declaration only. We were honouring the intention 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 of Noosa Heads Lions Park during peak periods is 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 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 what we said we'd do in the motion on March 16 2023 Now discussions about how much longer car parking can continue the independent engineer's report about it creating congestion adding to traffic congestion and so on and so forth I'll say for the when we debate the motion itself but this is about honouring what we told the community we'd do. I'm hoping you'll it support the amendment. Makes it clear why we're allowing car parking in the Lions Park to continue this Christmas and Easter. I hope you'll support the amendment. Karen Finzel 03:51:03.241
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? Cancel it. Brian Stockwell 03:51:21.310
Councillor- What have Wilkie: you said? Sorry? Councillor Wilkie oh, am I asking for the Chair? Councillor Wilkie no, Councillor, you're talking to the original motion, not to the amendment. So that will be a question once we've finished dealing with this amendment. Amelia Lorentson 03:51:33.883
Okay, 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 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. Brian Stockwell 03:51:58.956
And Councillor Wilson, you wanted to talk to it? No, I put my amendments on the same item. Yeah, so you have that one amendment. Minute at a time. Jessica Phillips 03:52:06.332
I have a question sure I can I ask specifically what the community engagement will look like? Frank Wilkie 03:52:11.725
Because it doesn't--- We don't know yet. Shaun? Shaun Walsh 03:52:16.479
Through the Chair, another part of the resolution is actually the idea of a movement-- space of 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 most car park, and then also the Main Beach reserve. So the best solution to this overall worry is actually looking at the holistic way, 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 with the Main Beach. 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 deliberated that could be repurposed for community and parking or other purposes. So the forecast is that would need to have the land to take an engagement process and get all the stakeholders involved. Do you want to add anything to that, Craig? Jonci Wolff 03:53:11.792
No, it's also looking at space for people as well. It's yes. Brian Stockwell 03:53:18.378
I'll 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. My recollection of events is that particular report referred to that this would occur as part of the destination management planning process. Now what did the Destination Management Plan Discussion Paper say? It said under the total parking congestion there are approximately 1700 car parks in the Hastings Street precinct. Adding additional parking spaces. High use areas has failed to minimise traffic congestion. Parking spaces are costly and paid for by residents. It then went on to list scenarios and the concept of not doing anything was to do nothing. Then the steady state current scenario was open space /parks in highly congested areas not utilised for parking. That was considered to be where we were at back then. In fact, less than 20% of the people supported that. 2/3rds of the population wants us to go further. 2/3rds of people when we asked what they want for the future of that area, not only didn't 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 also to 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 say that was a priority? 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 the Lions 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 not about putting cars in recreational areas. So I won't support the amendment. Amelia Lorentson 03:55:22.571
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 hold Council? Brian Stockwell 03:55:37.348
I can answer that. No, 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. Jessica Phillips 03:55:49.519
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 us? Would indicate that not everyone knows. Brian Stockwell 03:56:04.005
Well, if it's following the sentence that says 1,700 car parks in Hastings Street precinct and then it talks about additional parking space in high-use areas that failed to minimise traffic congestion and then it talks about protection of open from being used for car parking as a community priority. I think the logic is fairly clear what we're asking people. Do you think we should be putting car parking into space in Hastings strength pacing. I think it's fairly clear. Jessica Phillips 03:56:33.327
And my question is clear to you or clear to community? Brian Stockwell 03:56:36.853
I would think clear to the people who filled out that response and there's quite a lot. But that's my view. Obviously Councillor Wilkie has a different view, but that's 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 of the petition where people said they wanted the reverse to be the case. And I suppose answering the question is what. No, that will not answer the question. I'll wait until next time. Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? Unidentified Speaker 03:57:15.310
Just have a question then through the Chair of Council on Wilkie then. Council has yet to conduct a community engagement specifically for the future use of Noosa Heads. Karen Finzel 03:57:28.626
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, you know, 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, which, you know, that's normal. Your mandate is the 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 we're seeking to inform this decision. Frank Wilkie 03:58:15.356
I'll just make a point that in the body of the motion, this reinforces and sells out part E of the motion that says we need to conduct community consultation on the future uses of 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's the imperative. By agreeing to motion and this amendment you're saying to the community we're not going to make any final decision on the future uses of the Noosa Heads Lions Park until we've had some form of community consultation specifically on the future uses of the Lions Park as we promised because I have a 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 greens 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 specific consultation on the future uses of the Lions Park but what form that may take staff will 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 but it has to happen in my view. Karen Finzel 04:00:05.706
Yeah so then I guess that's through a question 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. In your opinion how do you think this is going to affect your staff that's brought the executive committee to the has 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 positive 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 04:00:47.201
To the Chair, so the report and the recommendation you have for reference is a financial year 25-26 and it that will occur after the meeting. Have for reference is a financial will occur after the Noosaville foreshore infrastructure master plan. 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. Jessica Phillips 04:01:07.554
Okay, can I speak to the motion? You may. Thank you. Sorry. That's okay. Jonci Wolff 04:01:13.210
I'll just put my hand up over the back seat. Brian Stockwell 04:01:16.837
Now I'll have Councillor Phillips first. Jessica Phillips 04:01:18.360
Thank you. I just want to support the amendment and the motion on the basis in my opinion that the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club provide fundamentally words can't describe support for our locals and therefore until I know more I support this motion. Brian Stockwell 04:01:47.144
So the next. Unidentified Speaker 04:01:49.307
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 learned anything from the 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 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, subject to Council as endorsement, in November. So we'll be asking more pointed, Yin and Yang questions. The community to get their actual response on Lions Park. Brian Stockwell 04:02:40.426
OK, that's good clarification. So November is the answer to your question, Councillor Finzel. Yes, thank you. Anyone wish to talk to the motion? I mean, that's no? It. That's it? I'm amended. It is the amended. No? Would you like to close, Councillor Wilkie? Frank Wilkie 04:02:59.012
Yeah, thank you. Look, this doesn't change the intent of the motion that was moved by Councillor Lorentson or seconded by Councillor Phillips. It just spells out the reason why more community consultation is required in this instance. And as I said before, in this age where people want to be consulted clearly about. And I want to know when consultation is happening, I want to know what it's about, and we have to be. We've heard the anxiety that consultation heralding any sort of change is causing in the community. We need to heed that and hold ourselves to a higher standard in terms of the way we honour also our motions and what and also what we put out to communities. Community in terms of the consultation, the structure of the consultation. We have to spell it out really clearly so there's no grey areas. If we were to just assume that everyone thought we meant the Lions Park by saying green spaces ought not to be used for car parks, which is a principle I support, but if we just proceeded on the basis and changed the use of that, I think I couldn't do it, I couldn't do it. Brian Stockwell 04:04:09.540
Lion's park on the basis of. Frank Wilkie 04:04:17.943
I couldn't do it in this current climate and also knowing what the original motion was back in March 2023. And it goes back to the reason why we discontinued parking in the Lions Park over school holidays because it was a motion that would end once the COVID declaration was over. So it's the same principle applies. That's it, but-- Brian Stockwell 04:04:43.605
Okay, I'll put the amendments, those in favour of the 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 04:05:08.240
Thank you. That's a couple of little details to add also to item D, which I don't think in anywhere any way negates what Council has already placed. And that's just two points to authorise the CEO to negotiate fees. And number two, to note that you should post April 2020-- 2025 holiday period is to be determined by Council's parking management plan. Do you want to speak to that first? Brian Stockwell 04:05:37.130
Yeah, I think you need a seconder. Would anyone like to second? I'll second that. Councillor Wegener, now you may speak first. Nicola Wilson 04:05:42.378
So the first one is 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% to the lions, 40% to Council, but I think Council incurs a cost of maintaining that land. Days, which last summer we had lots of, that Council pays the lions $1,600 per day even if there's no cars parked there. I think that's something that we might want to think about if we're to continue this use of the car park. So that's just to make sure that doesn't necessarily disrupt over on the current terms, but that we get a chance 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. 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. And anything that we raise as part of that parking management plan will have community consultation. But for the whole area, it's just not looking at that parking isolation. So I just think it's important that we kind of consider that bigger picture for the whole beach area, rather than sticking out long. Amelia Lorentson 04:07:13.003
Question to the staff. The original motion has a recommendation to note that a parking manager. 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 heads Lions Park, the Noosa Heads bus station, the Maze Carpark, 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 engagement. My question is, does Councillor Wilson's second amendment, is that captured under that recommendation? Shaun Walsh 04:08:03.325
Yes, it is, and I'm also concerned for just treating this headlines 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 news 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 facilities for everyone there, 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 to defer to the existing motion rather than point two on that. Brian Stockwell 04:08:50.620
So, it's been moved and seconded. Would you like to, the Council, to consider removal item two? Yes. So, is everyone happy if we remove item two because we believe it's already covered in the substantive motion? Yes. It's the whole Council. Okay, so that becomes the amendment. Would anyone else like to speak to it? Amelia Lorentson 04:09:15.993
I'll speak to it. The motion in front of us is for this Christmas and this Easter. That's it, 30 days. At the moment, I think the arrangement 60 is 64-40%. Percent 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 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 there's the same people, seven, eight 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 the future 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, it's 60/40 for these 30 days only. Frank Wilkie 04:11:04.558
Look, just listening to the comments, very original, I'm going to support it because within that is the capacity for the CEO and the Tewantin Lions Club members is the capacity 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 news alliance about what their financial what financial arrangements ought to be. Just gives them more latitude. All parties more latitude. Amelia Lorentson 04:11:56.880
Can I ask a question through the CEO? Is it likely that Council would agree to more than 60-40%? I think that's a bit premature. Have already undergone negotiations. And I just wanted, when we negotiated the 60-40%, that is after March, that's six. Larry Sengstock 04:12:22.799
From my understanding, this agreement is finished because we weren't going to use this park again, so. Jonci Wolff 04:12:29.518
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. Brian Stockwell 04:12:36.650
Okay. You get to finish if you've got a question. Anyone else wish to talk? I'll leave it to you, Councillor Wilson, to pose if you feel so. Unidentified Speaker 04:12:48.689
Do you want no, that's fine. Thank you. Unidentified Speaker 04:12:51.656
I'll the main reason I've raised this really is because for the last year lines were. Nicola Wilson 04:12:56.010
Able to make able to $19,000. Roughly from this and Council made 20. I'm just worried about there's a risk that if we get lots more rainy days in the next season that we're still paying that $1,600 per rainy day. We may end up having some sort of. Deficit as a result, which then can be modified like this, but I'm not using it. Jessica Phillips 04:13:22.044
I have a question now, sorry, because you prompted it. No? Okay. Good point. Brian Stockwell 04:13:26.230
So, those in favour of the oh, amendment? Those against? 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 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 04:14:13.909
That's correct, yes. Shaun Walsh 04:14:14.714
Through the Chair, I. 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 04:14:24.154
So, I'll ask the question. Can you. Through the staff, there has been amendments to 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 and I ask the staff to expand on that. Shaun Walsh 04:14:44.085
Yeah, so it is a very recent amendment. 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 reserves. 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 back that expresses those purposes. I think in this context, because it has been temporarily used as a temporary car park you for 20 years. A temporary car you know, over the Christmas period, and there is an intention to actually engage the community. I think it passes muster in terms of being a fair interpretation of the act, but I just want to stress it is untested. But I think that intention to engage with the community is appropriate. Brian Stockwell 04:15:38.599
Okay, we're back to the substantive motion. Councillor Lorentson has spoken to it. I believe we went straight into amendments after that, so everyone else can speak to it. Karen Finzel 04:15:50.327
Did you want to speak to the question? I just have a question. Coming back to that original question, I'm interested then in that it's part D. Councillor with the Noosa, Tewantin Lions Club at their discretion and communicate these intentions with the Queensland department, resources. I'm a little bit conflicted on that because I'm hearing they've said Council takes the lead, then we're saying Noosa Lions Club. They can directly with Queensland Department of Resources. I just want clarification on that process. Shaun Walsh 04:16:21.992
So on the err on the side of caution, Council would write to the department. Behalf. On 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. Unidentified Speaker 04:16:41.822
So I guess 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. Karen Finzel 04:16:52.869
Okay so based 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 need to change that. Amelia Lorentson 04:17:05.574
For clarity if you want to add at their discretion and that Council communicate these intentions with the Queensland Department of Resources to make that clear. Yeah I think that it would. I'm happy with that. Brian Stockwell 04:17:17.531
Everyone else happy with that clarification being added in? Amelia Lorentson 04:17:20.295
Yes, thank you. So have you got a question? I've got questions, yeah. In terms of the, so we're talking lines, I want to go back to the Main Beach drop off zone. I'd like to 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 compete to the last trial. Shaun Walsh 04:17:53.026
So there's 42 car parking spaces within the Main Beach Local Government Reserve so and I think there's three parking so last spaces which is three so so 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 will actually come back with a plan that actually you know some utility factors which is the drop-off zone, decided parking, scooter parking, cycle parking, 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 useful place for people to exchange goods the and people. Interface make their beachfront visit much more practical. Amelia Lorentson 04:18:45.299
I've been toying with you with the idea of starting the trial at nine o'clock and I respect the reasons why it can't happen. Not logistically sort of possible. What I've been thinking because I think one of the 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 70 year olds who ride skis. And it was a real nuisance to have to park at the police beat and cross the road with this massive surf crops, racing nails, now, so I don't know if you've ever carried a racing now. Yes, hello. Yes, you have. Excuse me. So I've been giving it a lot of thought because I really would love to return the car park to locals or whoever but open that up before the nine till three period. Again, I understand the reasons, but my question is, the lifeguard patrols start at seven o'clock every morning. Is. Can you consider maybe allowing those lifeguard allocated car parking spaces, say from before six o'clock to. Our residents. 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 space at a time that no one uses the park. I was there during that trial period and it was busy. You're talking to it now that you've asked the question. Can we have it from you? Excuse me, thank you. Shaun Walsh 04:20:35.460
The only point I'll make about that location where the life-saving spaces are is that critical interface between the public and the beach. And we already have safety issues with vehicles moving around. Area, particularly when we have large crowds of people. So, surf life save is a responsible entity and they drive through the space slowly and move to their particular places. You know, if we actually 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 meet them, hold the surfski available for them while they go and park. 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. Up, cleaning the site and making it available and maybe there's some sort of, you know, if you think about a hotel foyer and the entry to the beach, maybe that's something we can definitely explore. Fantastic. Jonci Wolff 04:21:42.723
I think the other concern would be the distinction between local and a. Tom Wegener 04:21:46.447
Tourist and how you verify that. How do you verify that at this stage we can't do that without number plate recognition. Jessica Phillips 04:21:53.532
A couple of questions please just in relation to the staff assisting with a surf ski. Are we not then kind of looking at how to lift it and all these other extra safety considerations on staff when their responsibility isn't probably to hold someone's property while they go and park. My second part of that question which is that given we've only had the park for one year is this not the time. Times the and see if as Councillor Lorentson has asked that the time changes for this year given it's the second time till we get it right. Shaun Walsh 04:22:33.445
So the problem is logistically and you know removing all them the objects. And moving 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. 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 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 in to collect their car, then we have to tell it. And the overall reputational. Damage associated with that, even with our best efforts of communication when 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 locals up until 9am. Then transition across. I can't see how we could do that within available resources and staffing. Jessica Phillips 04:23:37.575
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 04:23:44.795
Can thank you. Just plant this surf ski. I just drop off my racing belt on my surfboard outside the surf club and then park. Shaun Walsh 04:23:54.772
And I wasn't suggesting that they need to lift it or carry it. I just saying that the staff could keep an eye on it while they go and park their car and come back. Amelia Lorentson 04:24:04.012
Have little locks like for bikes I think that's a good option. Brian Stockwell 04:24:11.497
Okay we're going to move on. Member spud. So we are abating the substantive motion until only one person has talked to that motion. Frank Wilkie 04:24:29.374
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 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 doorstep of Main Beach, unload families, all their equipment and gear and drop off and pick them up as well. I really applaud the 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 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 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 get there no slower than a car but the time you spend in a car circulating looking for a park 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 now 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 100 people showed that well over half the locals that they really liked it 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 but people are still free to drive down and take their chances in finding a park or now that as now they can do use one of these six these drop-off zones 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 back up of vehicles onto the roundabout and congestion. Has been eased there. We won't totally get rid of congestion as long as cars continue to travel down there but we can make fact based smart decisions to reduce congestion where we can and 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 Council 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. Just but because it's a difficult, challenge and a problem doesn't mean we shouldn't keep trying. So thank you that's a wicked question. Mayor Wegener yeah, I'd like to echo what the Mayor says. Tom Wegener 04:28:21.358
So Mayor says so many times over the past year, I will say, you know, to people and they say, "Oh no, nobody's ever going to use the free bus." And I say, "I use the free bus." And I've timed it. My surfer buddies go there in a car and I stop. I even drove 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. Driven in and still beat my friend who left at the same time as me. He had a car park, so I was in the water first. 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 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 McAvish's book and going into Caloundra, you're back up to the Bruce highway on hot weekends. So, it's always been congested. It's a matter of how we deal with it. And so, I commend the bill and Noosa program. I commend the walking license 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 signs are working, everything. It's a work in progress. So, thank you. Very much. Nicola Wilson 04:29:48.161
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 a real positive for 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 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 the next day, rather than get stuck in that parking lot on eastern street. So just another positive to put there. Amelia Lorentson 04:30:25.569
I've got a question to the staff. I've 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 should be Main Beach drop off. Shaun Walsh 04:30:46.636
And that's really to do with the food collection and drop off. So to really assist with that, but we'll relevant be for Uber drivers as well. And some of those locations are really beneficial because if people are trying to park there, what they do is they stop and wait in their car. And that can create a five to ten minute delay, which makes all the way up here. So it's actually repurposing those spaces to fast turnover. Karen Finzel 04:31:12.157
I think it's a moving feast. I think it's great. I think these conversations around the table really, you know, open it up. And we can, you know, honour our past, we can acknowledge the work of the Tewantin lines, 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 future where everyone can live, work and enjoy this great place. So I just want to thank everyone, the staff, the lines, our community. The Councillors around the table. Let's keep having these conversations and work through these, yeah, challenges and get the outcomes that benefit everyone. So thank you. Brian Stockwell 04:31:54.523
Thanks. Councillor Phillips, did you wish to talk to the motion? Jessica Phillips 04:31:57.822
Not to reiterate what everyone said. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 04:32:03.228
I'll finish off. I make these decisions based on our policy. Has very clear. Our policy has principles. And it's reflected in the Transport Strategy and it says prioritise our 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. 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 we've sought to defer it. We've sought not to implement our principles. We've sought to extend it for COVID. Sought to extend it to do 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 a park to recreate in. To me this decision should be divorced of the wonderful work that the lions do as a result of the income on that site. No 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 a matter about a use that's inconsistent under the Land Act and inconsistent 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 again that they want this park as a recreational area. I think in 2023 I actually suggest we look at running community activities in the park. Get in there, have activities that they can use during these peak periods, so 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 points one point something percent of the cars that go there each day. Other than that, I think the Go Noosa Program has been very successful and the free buses and we should keep on it and I completely understand the desire in the current environment to double check. But to me, 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 04:35:38.108
I'd like to close, thank you. May. Okay, I'm first going to reference item H. Shaun Walsh 04:35:44.886
Excuse me, Chair, can I be excused for a second? Yes, you may. I'm a single parent, so. Thanks, you. John. Amelia Lorentson 04:35:53.344
It- And cracks Craig's the cat, cap, you know, that's my question. Very short. So I want to just speak briefly about the one-way local loop with bus priority lane from Noosa dry to Noosa Parade. Just listen to the conversation. Brian Stockwell 04:36:07.786
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. Amelia Lorentson 04:36:14.632
Excuse me, I did speak about it. Did you? Brian Stockwell 04:36:18.315
Okay, I apologise. It's okay. Amelia Lorentson 04:36:19.466
Just to add to the conversation that we're having around the table, Councillor Wegener referenced bus use, 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 our free buses is if we have a dedicated bus priority lane so that buses don't get stuck behind cars going down to Hastings Street and that's I've added that to the motion in front of us for further consideration. It'll work. When people know they can just fly down an express bus lane. Back to the motion with Lions Park, I won't speak much, everything's been said, but I will say this. What's in front of us is a motion that allows the Lions 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 not being used for commercial events or sport events or food and wine or car shows. A motion purpose of allowing the Lions Club, Tewantin is 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, a 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 04:38:41.136
I put motion. Those in favour? That would be Lawrence and Finzel, Wegener, Phillips, Wilkie and Wilson. And those against? Would be me. We need to thank you can put stock on it. And. 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. Thank you Mr Mr. Unidentified Speaker 04:39:12.420
CEO, thank you Craig. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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