Services & Organisation Committee - 11 March 2025
Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2025 at 1:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 00:39:33
Synopsis: Public Art Policy adopted: 1% provision, governance, lifecycle, deaccessioning, Disaster Management: report adopted, upgrades, readiness validated, collaboration, comms gaps, Meeting Access: time/venue moved, livestream.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Karen Finzel Jessica Phillips Frank Wilkie Nicola Wilson Non-Committee Members
Executive Officers
Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Community Services Kerri Contini Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Karen Finzel: Committee unanimously adopted a new Public Art Policy to strategically grow and manage Noosa’s public art collection (Item 7.1) (02:56–06:40; 17:37–19:09). Paul Brinkman: Policy includes a 1% public art provision for eligible civic projects over $2M, excluding utilities repairs and disaster-funded works; integration can be modest (e.g., fixtures) (06:54–08:23) (Item 7.1). Kerri Contini: Policy formalises selection, maintenance and decommissioning, addressing past ad hoc acquisitions and community sensitivities (03:20–04:57; 08:57–11:12) (Item 7.1). Shaun Walsh: Endorsed policy flexibility to fund utilitarian and ephemeral art (e.g., stages), noting whole-of-life management needs (16:40–17:35) (Item 7.1). Frank Wilkie: Noted 40 existing artworks; policy codifies criteria already informally applied, improving transparency and durability/safety assessments (08:57–16:40) (Item 7.1). Karen Finzel: Council adopted the 2024 Annual Disaster Management Report and thanked LDMG members and advisors (Item 7.2) (19:31–35:53). Sue Lowry: 2024 outcomes: LDCC opened at Noosaville Depot; disaster dashboard/Guardian upgrades; Pomona community sub-plan; recruitment; statewide coordination (20:49–22:27) (Item 7.2). Shaun Walsh: Recent cyclone readiness validated “back-to-basics” approach; Guardian enabled rapid intel-sharing and comms (e.g., wind thresholds from Sunrise Beach/Tewantin feeds) (24:51–27:10) (Item 7.2). Jessica Phillips: Highlighted Get Ready Schools, aged-care workshops, dashboard utility, and SES’s ~90 volunteers; praised inter-agency collaboration (32:03–34:50) (Item 7.2). Larry Sengstock: Ordinary Meeting on 15 May 2025 moved from 10am Tewantin to 5pm Cooroy Memorial Hall; will be advertised, community engagement beforehand, livestream and recording planned (Item 7.3) (37:06–38:30). Councillors: Change of time/venue carried unanimously; aim is broader community access (Item 7.3) (38:33–38:54). Committee: All items carried unanimously; no presentations, deputations, or confidential session; meeting closed 2:10pm. Contentious / Transparency Matters Public Art Funding: The 1% set-aside applies only to specified eligible projects; clear exclusions reduce ratepayer risk of cost-creep yet require diligent scoping to avoid misapplication (06:54–08:23) (Item 7.1). Deaccessioning: Policy codifies artist-first refusal and documentation to mitigate disputes when removing beloved works; sensitive but transparency-enhancing (10:57–12:27) (Item 7.1). Panel Governance: Internal panel with option for external experts, Director decision-making for routine works, Council for major works; balances efficiency with oversight (18:35–19:09) (Item 7.1). Meeting Accessibility: Time/venue shift to Cooroy with advertising and livestream improves public participation; ensure disability access and audio quality meet standards (Item 7.3) (37:06–38:30). Sandbag Misuse: Staff flagged significant, possibly non-intended uptake; clearer eligibility guidance and tracking could curb diversion without chilling preparedness (26:23–27:15) (Item 7.2). Data Transparency: Disaster dashboard upgrades and fast intel dissemination cited as high-value; continue publishing methods/thresholds to sustain public trust (24:51–27:10) (Item 7.2). Legal / Risk Statutory Compliance: Disaster report aligns with Disaster Management Act 2003 obligations across prevention, preparedness, response, recovery; LDMG structure and annual reporting noted (20:49–22:27) (Item 7.2). Meeting Law: Change to meeting time/venue resolved under s 257(3)(b) Local Government Regulation 2012; CEO tasked with suitable advertising; livestream/recording planned (Item 7.3). Art Governance: Policy addresses IP/artist rights, maintenance, safety, and deaccessioning procedures; mitigates liability from unsafe/durable materials in public realm (11:52–16:40) (Item 7.1). Procurement/Allocation Risk: The 1% mechanism must be integrated with procurement and project governance to ensure spend is within scope and delivers public value (06:54–08:23) (Item 7.1). Operational Communications: Identified vulnerability when power outages cripple mobile networks; Council exploring VHF, satphones, and LEO satellite options; GPS/duress in vehicles raises privacy and data-handling considerations under QLD IP Act (28:55–31:02) (Item 7.2). Third-Party Installations: Clarified boundary between Council-commissioned public art and private murals in public view; maintenance liability rests with property owners, reducing Council risk (12:36–14:32) (Item 7.1). Disaster Management & Community Resilience Shaun Walsh: Rapid Guardian-tasking example: within six minutes intelligence on unsafe wind speeds sourced from Sunrise Beach hang-glider station and Tewantin BoM site, informing comms (24:51–27:10) (Item 7.2). Sue Lowry: Technical improvements included recognition of permitted burns and a recovery module; LDCC operationalisation improved deployment (20:49–22:27) (Item 7.2). Inter-Agency Scale: Core agencies span QAS, QFES, QPS, SES, National Parks, Energex; advisors include Health, TMR, Seqwater, Unitywater, Red Cross, education, surf lifesaving, tourism bodies (23:22–24:34) (Item 7.2). Community Uptake: 890 new Noosa Alert subscribers during event week; record traffic at Resource Recovery pre-cyclone indicates messages landing (28:13–28:25) (Item 7.2). Lessons Process: Live “lessons learned” board and post-event feedback loop to Councillors/LDMG embeds continuous improvement (28:25–28:55) (Item 7.2). Councillors: Bipartisan commendations for staff/volunteers and community compliance; emphasis on preparedness culture (31:15–35:53) (Item 7.2). Public Art Policy Implementation Highlights Paul Brinkman: City Deal program drew 65 applications; policy will channel proposals strategically and document assets to prevent orphaned works (05:00–06:40; 11:12–12:27) (Item 7.1). Kerri Contini: Prior 1% practice yielded integrated art across Shire (e.g., Cooroy seats); policy guards against unsafe, maintenance-heavy installations (08:23–16:40) (Item 7.1). Examples: Bunya/Bunyanup sculpture refurbishment and Indigenous “bubble gum” bubbler repaint exemplify lifecycle costs and artist permissions (12:36–14:32) (Item 7.1). Governance Flow: Expert panel recommends; Director Community Services decides for routine; Council decides major works—clear escalation path (18:35–19:09) (Item 7.1).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Tuesday, 11 March 2025 1:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Karen Finzel (Chair), Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson “Noosa Shire – different by nature” SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 MARCH 2025 1. DECLARATION OF OPENING The meeting was declared open at 1.30pm. 2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY Noosa Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters of the Noosa area, the Kabi Kabi people, and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. 3. ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Karen Finzel (Chair) Cr Jessica Phillips (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Frank Wilkie Cr Nicola Wilson NON COMMITTEE MEMBERS Cr Tom Wegener EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Community Services Kerri Contini Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh APOLOGIES Nil. 4. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Nicola Wilson The Minutes of the Services & Organisation Committee Meeting held on 11 February 2025 be received and confirmed. Carried unanimously. 5. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 6. DEPUTATIONS Nil. SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 MARCH 2025 7. REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE 7.1. PUBLIC ART POLICY Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Karen Finzel Seconded: Cr Nicola Wilson That Council note the report by the Arts & Culture Manager to the Services & Organisation Committee meeting dated 11 March 2025 and adopt the Public Art Policy provided at Attachment 1 to the report. Carried unanimously. 7.2. 2024 ANNUAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT REPORT Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Jessica Phillips That Council A. Note the report by the Disaster Management Officer, Disaster and Disruption Resilience Officer and the Disaster Reconstruction Officer to the Services & Organisation Committee meeting dated 11 March 2023 providing an update on disaster management, resilience and reconstruction activities; and B. Thank the members and advisors to the Noosa Local Disaster Management Group for their participation. Carried unanimously. 7.3. CHANGE OF TIME & VENUE FOR ORDINARY MEETING DATED 15 MAY 2025 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Karen Finzel That Council A. Note the report by the Chief Executive Officer to the Services and Organisation Committee Meeting dated 11 March 2025 regarding the 15 May 2025 Ordinary Meeting and B. Pursuant to Section 257(3)(b) of the Local Government Regulation 2012, resolve to 1. Change the commencement time of the Ordinary Meeting dated 15 May 2025 from 10am to 5pm; and 2. Change the venue for the meeting to Cooroy Memorial Hall, 23 Maple Street Cooroy; C. Request that the Chief Executive Officer ensure suitable advertising is undertaken to promote this community based Council Meeting; and D. Note that Council plan to livestream the meetings and place a copy of the recording on Council's website. Carried unanimously. SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 11 MARCH 2025 8. REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE Nil. 9. CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 10. MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 2.10pm
Meeting Transcript
Karen Finzel 00:00.000
Meeting Tuesday the 11th of March 2025 starting on time at 1:30pm. I'd like to declare the meeting open and acknowledge the Kabi Kabi country on which we live, work and play and our values of their inherent connection and wisdom to the land, earth and sky. I'm noting that we have the mandatory councillors present at the table. Welcome Councillor Wilkie, Councillor Nicola and we've got Jessica Phillips online. Welcome. We have no caregivers. Karen, I just noticed that Tom has just jumped on the line. Yes, thank you and welcome. We have Tom, Councillor Tom Wegener in the room. Welcome Tom. Welcome, thank you. You're welcome. Thanks for joining us. We have the CEO with us. Welcome today Mr CEO and some of the executive staff. Do I have a confirmation of the minutes? I'll move it Madam Chair. Thank you. Do we have a seconder? We have a seconder? Thank you. Would you like make a comment? No thank you Madam Chair. Would you like to hold your right of reply Sir? No. Let's get it done. We'll take it to the vote. All in favour? And that's unanimous. Oh Jess? Yes. That's a yes from Jess. Tom doesn't have to vote. Tom's an observer. Tom you're an observer. You don't need to vote. But I love your enthusiasm. Thank you. Okay so we're moving on. We've got to item 5. There's no presentations, no deputations. We're coming up to item 7. Reports for consideration of the committee. Item number 7.1, public. Policy. Welcome to the staff to the table. We have the author of the report, Mr Paul Brinkman with us. Paul Brinkman 02:04.354
Thank you. Welcome councillors. Good afternoon. So this report is for the new Public Art Policy. I'm seeking for endorsement. Through Noosa Council's cultural plan 2019 to 2023, council recognised or the recognise value of art in the public domain. To promote and celebrate the community's identity, values and aspirations. Best practice public art provides a sense of place, enhances the vibrancy and character of the urban environment and engenders a sense of civic pride. You can also highlight stories and heritage of a community for residents and visitors. So the adoption of this Public Art Policy will enable council to strategically and transparently grow the valuable public art collection for future generations and so we seek endorsement of this that sounds fantastic, Karen Finzel 02:58.412
Thank you. Welcome Kerri Contini to the table as well. Just a question to Kerri, you've been on this journey for a long time, since I think I've come off the campaign in 2020. Can you just tell us a how you see the value of the public art infrastructure contributing to our communities? Kerri Contini 03:19.281
Sure. As we move through the development of the cultural plan process, the concept of art in public places really came home to us through that engagement because it enabled enables people to engage with art, connect with the history of their area, understand them, resonate the values through a creative form without actually requiring people to, for example, go to an art gallery who might feel a bit, you know, that that's not a place for them. But it's certainly what we've got is that it encourages people to have real civic pride in their community when there's public art. It helps people in terms of when they've got visitors come and they get really excited about showing them around town and showing them the pieces of public art. And they, pieces of public have strong attachment, those become part of the narrative of a community. We can certainly see that for example with the bunya sculpture that's in Cooroy, much loved piece of public art that went in now about 12, 13 years ago. So through that journey the cultural plan we identified the importance of an actual policy to be able to do two things: to manage the existing public art that we had, to make sure that it goes through a good selection any new public art, that we're able to decommission public art, that it's reached its end of life, and to be able to have a mechanism to partially fund future public art. Karen Finzel 04:58.113
Paul, I have to acknowledge it was a Paul Brinkman 05:00.890
Thank you. Look, I definitely think that Noosa is needing a Public Art Policy, particularly with the city deal program, which we've released recently. We've had 65 applications to that program, which we're working through at the moment. And so that really does show just how many fantastic, a lot of those local artists, just how fantastic an arts and creative community we have. So it'll be fantastic through that city deal program to see some really high quality public art starting to be seen around and added to our urban environment. Karen Finzel 05:37.450
Fantastic. And do you see this as like a legacy opportunity? Paul Brinkman 05:41.033
To certainly and I think there's examples in smaller towns but also in large cities of how public art has made difference community bonding. We had Kendal Henry from the US come over recently and provide a talk to our creative community and he was fantastic talking about the New York public art initiatives. Which of a few more zeros on the end of the budget but certainly talked about the value of public art to build resilient communities particularly in times of stress and of course we've recently gone through a bit of a time of stress at the moment and it's interesting to see how our public art initiatives can bind together. A community in those times of stress and identify you know the things that they love about their community and that's what public art can do it's very enthusiastic and excited about showing the outcomes of city deal public art initiative that we're about to roll out Karen Finzel 06:40.392
Yeah fantastic just one more question before I open it up I'm really interested in the infrastructure with the up to 1% that's locked into future projects. Can you talk us a little bit through that Paul Brinkman 06:53.821
Yes so within the policy we've written 1% of city projects above two million dollars would go towards a public art fund or go towards a part of public art being a part of that civic infrastructure project. It is only limited to specific projects so it's not all projects and within the policy it's quite descriptive about the kind of projects that initiative so repairing civic works like pipe work and things like that would not apply any sort of major projects or civic projects of building projects that we have that are funded through disaster recovery money or anything these are really the projects that our community needs and this is really a way in which we can ensure that the civic infrastructure that we build does more than just a single purpose there are more aspects to it where we can bring in our Noosa Design Principles some public art installations within that work we're not talking about large sculptures or anything like that it could be integrated into door handles of toilet blocks designed and fabricated locally by those kind of things, just to add another dimension. To some of those civic works that we undertake Kerri Contini 08:19.005
And we start with pre-amalgamation had a similar arrangement in place at the time and it was very successful in being able to have art public art across the Shire show. Rather than just in several large pieces of sculpture that it was integrated into capital works around the Shire and it fit the nature of the community that was going into it. Fantastic. Karen Finzel 08:49.410
Thank you. Any further questions? Thank you Madam Chair. You're welcome. Frank Wilkie 08:56.146
I think a lot of people would be interested to read in the report that there are 40 existing pieces of public art already in Noosa Shire and I think it's testament merseyshire, to criteria against which they've been assessed that they don't jar with the landscape and they fit with their setting. So which indicates that there has been some sort of criteria applied already and there's obviously a lot that's been learned through that process but how much of that learning has gone into informing this Public Art Policy and guidelines. Kerri Contini 09:35.361
I can talk certainly Frank about historically in selecting public art we've actually had a strong process in selecting it because you know we've got um really good expert knowledge on within council and externally to be able to select the advantage of the policy is that that's then it is an external face to that so we often get approached Paul Michael etc with great ideas for public art a policy helps them understand well what the council actually consider importantly for us what the policy enables us to do is deal with maintenance and the very sensitive aspect of decommissioning a piece of public art can often be problematic in a community that's very attached to it and this ensures that we go through a process that's a considered process that the rights of the artist but also understands there's a point of time and which some pieces of public art can't be maintained any longer might need to be removed so the you know Paul used the word transparency think that's really important in terms of a selection process that people really understand that there's a process that we work through it doesn't mean to say that because a piece of public art wasn't selected that there's an issue with it either artistically it just means that it's not right for Noosa in the project that we're undertaking. Do you have any more to add to that Paul? Paul Brinkman 11:12.566
No, it's very important to have this policy to as you say for de-accessing. We have over since the 70s pieces of public art have come to council in a whole range of different ways through other departments, through donations, through just community goodwill. The issue with that is that it the. Comes into council through those lots of different channels and so we don't have a strategic approach to it so this policy aims to funnel those proposals not to dissuade them but to make sure that we've got a proper strategy moving forward and also to actually properly them because often I'll be approached to say hey you need to fix this piece of public art and I may not even be aware that it exists because our records are pretty poor historically on those and when it comes to deaccessioning the first right should go back to the original the work should be offered that's just good practice and that hasn't necessarily always been the case so this policy puts that into a policy where if we do choose to remove something we will find that artist and we will offer to them first before we remove Frank Wilkie 12:27.370
And just in regards to those 40 pieces of public art, could you talk us through some of the more major pieces that come to mind? SPEAKER_05 12:34.990
Do you want to check through some of those? Paul Brinkman 12:36.591
Well certainly the Bunya sculpture is probably our largest piece of public artwork and interestingly. Recently had to refurbish the base of that so the when we talked before about the 1% money that's not spent on that can't be spent on particular civic works for whatever reason can then go into a public art fund and that can be drawn on for these kind of works as well to help us maintain works other works what you see in the junction there are a number of sculptural pieces in the junction in fact probably the junction is our sort of epicenter of public art for Noosa there's a lot of pieces the council has commissioned but also the local junction traders association have commissioned a number of murals on private sites through that space as well and that's where there's that intersection the intersection between public art works that are commissioned by local government authorities and private works on private walls that are still in the public domain but they're not the responsibility of council they're the responsibility of the property owners so this also goes towards that as well other pieces of public artwork we recently restored or repainted one of the bubblers on Hastings Street in front of the visitor information centre. Bubble gum yeah, it's multi-coloured. It's actually by an indigenous artist that originally painted that but we had to go through a lot of process to get back in touch with her to get authority to repaint that or restore that work but interestingly that was a piece that was originally done through Unitywater and it was a good test case of how probably public art could be done better around that kind of process so that's another reason why the instigation of this policy sort of came about from those kind of situations. Frank Wilkie 14:32.809
And you were saying it will help us avoid this ad hoc approach to public art because Unitywater did arguably a fantastic job in the public art enshrouding bridgette water tower in galveston. And engaging engaged in the community, local artists, and then this. Kerri Contini 14:52.217
We generally find, yes, we generally find there's very good intent. It's that moving through the process. Without that expert advice, there are a range of things that people may not think about. So artist rights are one of these. The durability of a piece of public art is another issue that we really seriously consider. Safety. Recall a couple of years ago now there was a strong push from our hinterland community around a piece of sculpture. Now that piece of sculpture was a fabulous piece of sculpture, but it would not have been able to stand up to the in a public space, it would have absolutely had children climbing on it. Just invited that, and the materials were quite unsafe. So it enables us to actually work through that process, and if we are, we do have other agencies that are looking to put public actually help and guide them about what's going to be a great, fabulous piece of public art that we can celebrate, rather than something that actually, hang on, we've now got some maintenance and safety, et cetera, issues around it. Terms of the pieces, you know the seats in Cooroy, they're public art, they might be seats, but they are also a piece of public art. Now we've had some maintenance challenges around those over the last years, and so that's the sort of thing that this policy helps us with. Frank Wilkie 16:28.823
So you mentioned the intersection between functional utilitarian infrastructure and public art, so the infrastructure department. Will have had strong input into this policy, I'd imagine. Kerri Contini 16:40.152
They certainly did. Shaun's here with us now, he might want to be able to provide some comment on that, Shaun. Shaun Walsh 16:46.112
Through the Chair, so I commend Paul on his engagement through the preparation of the policy, and raised, you know, we had some really good discussions about how we make it work, and I've been in a space management at south bank of roma street where I've had to inherit and manage public art, so I know the challenges that are out across the longer term. I think the nexus between the funding stream through public spaces is appropriate, and I also like that the really broad because it's not just static objects it can also it can also apply to utilitarian objects and also to ephemeral objects like stages that can be used for performing arts. So we can actually look at the merits of how we use the fund and what the community wants of a particular space. So it's a very broad spectrum so I think rather than a very narrow prism it allows us to apply the policy appropriately. Karen Finzel 17:36.279
Thank you, sinead. Madam Chair, I gonna move-- oh Jess you've got your hand up? No. Well do you have a question? Thank you very much. Okay well I'd like to move the motion. I'll second. You go. No, you go. Thank you. Which one? Who got it? Nicola. Yes, thank you. So I think it's all been said. We did discuss the panel. I just quickly asked you to say a few words about the panel, which I think is really important around this process to you engender that trust that it's all you know, got a framework that can be trusted, and that everything is going to be done, you know, under, I don't want to say regulation, but you know, a process that, in my mind, elevates the opportunity it's for an opportunity the grow in a professional way, and I think the panel reflects that. Paul Brinkman 18:35.882
Certainly, and so we've got our panel of sort of external experts, our other core panel, but then we reserve the right to call on experts from external tools to come and advise that panel, and then through that process, the recommendation goes to the Director Community Services to make the call on those, and for major works within the policy, it says that then goes to council. For the main administrative kind of decision making, it sits within that panel, so we can get some continuity through that process. Karen Finzel 19:09.651
Fantastic. Well, I think we're in good hands and looking forward to a really exciting future around. We can grow that public art throughout the Shire. So thank you to everyone involved. Oh, we'll take it to the vote. All in favour? Yes. That's unanimous. Thank you. Older? Of them? So we're moving on to item 7.2, 2024 annual disaster management report, and we'll welcome the staff to the table this afternoon. Shaun Walsh 19:45.596
Through the Chair, I've got myself as the Local Disaster Coordinator, Sue Lowry is our disaster management officer, and Ian Williams as is our disaster disruption resilient and resilience officer. Karen Finzel 19:58.230
Well, thank you and welcome. What an amazing group of people we've got in front of us this afternoon. I'd like to take this opportunity to, you know, thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of our community for you and your teams and the amazing job you've done at looking after our community, sending out timely messages and working to the best of your ability to keep everyone safe through an extreme weather event. So thank you. Shaun Walsh 20:24.451
Thank I will note that this report was prepared prior to the recent disaster event and was meant to be a very routine report about some of the activities that we've been up to over the last 12 months to assist the Queensland disaster management committee meet their statutory obligations of preparing an annual report so and this feeds up change for them you know the tick the box in terms of things we've done so I'll get sue to read out the executive summary and then I'm happy to take questions Sue Lowry 20:50.513
Thank you Sir this report provides an overview of the work and initiatives developed in all areas of disaster management in compliance with local state and commonwealth legislative over the past year, being 2024. In accordance with the Disaster Management Act 2003 regulations and other disaster and recovery management doctrines, the Noosa Shire Council is responsible for multiple functions across the key pillars of prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Key initiatives for the 2024 year delivery of the extensive disaster reconstruction program across the Shire, review of the Local Disaster Management Plan, endorsement of a community sub-plan template that has now been applied to the first community sub-plan and endorsed by the LDMG for Pomona, opening of the dedicated Local Disaster Coordination Centre at the Noosaville Depot, technical improvements to the disaster dashboard and supporting Guardian system, including recognition of permitted fire burns and the addition of the disaster recovery module, and recruitment of the ongoing disaster and disruption resilience officer. It's quite mouthful and more recently, myself, to ensure effective delivery continuity. A key focus of the program moving forward is a focus on basics including effective functioning of systems, document and procedure review staffing and pertinent training and disaster support functions. The disaster resilience program will continue to focus in disaster preparedness or also undertake lessons learned exercise from the extended disaster reconstruction program to assist in informing of this magnitude. These focus areas will ensure optimal readiness for any future disaster event. Shaun Walsh 22:35.354
And if I could just note in closing, the report also references the work undertaken by community services in community disaster recoveries. Recovery, probably a it's the good neighbourhood event. And also our strategy environment in terms of climate resilience and readiness, as well as their fire program. So we touch on that, but the report is meant to focus on more our, you know, pertinent, you know, tick the box mentality of our functions under the Disaster Management Act. Yeah. Frank Wilkie 22:59.810
I note that you recommend that we note the report, but also thank the members and advisers to the Noosa Local Disaster Management Group for the participation, which is fantastic. A lot of people probably don't realise how many agencies are actually involved. Could you just speak a bit to that? Because they've been critical to what we've just gone Shaun Walsh 23:21.492
Through. I know that there's a distribution list of 91 people on our local disaster management group when I look at the emails, so do you want to go through the core agencies that are on the list? Sue Lowry 23:30.769
Yeah, we do have core agencies and then we also have the advisors group. So a core agency consists of all of our emergency services, which is ambulance, fire department, police. We also have Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, SES, Queensland education, they're one of our advisors, and Energex. Yeah, so they're essentially our core group, and then our advisors consists of Queensland Health, Noosa hospital, Red Cross, Transport and Main Roads, Coast to country, Queensland education. Surf Life Saving so I'm trying to go down the list visually. You're yeah. Seqwater, yes, Unitywater. Anyone who may have-- let's services may have an impact in Noosa and Tourism Noosa and Sunshine, Visit Sunshine Coast as well. Frank Wilkie 24:33.868
Fantastic. It's an enormous team effort. It certainly is. And how pertinent was it that the training exercise in October happened to be a cyclone, preparing for a cyclone? Shaun Walsh 24:50.853
One of the things that I'm really happy with that our focus back to the basics. Terms of document control and procedures has served us really well over the last week. Because we had people front up to the Local Disaster Coordination Centre and actually able to use Guardian, which is our system of managing information flows and within outputs really a quickly. Day of familiarisation of you know, we were actually by day two, I'd say we're optimally running at about 100% effectiveness of the people in the LCCC. And we have a lot of new recruits. So that focus on training is really good. And as an example, one of the tasks we had later in the week when we were concerned for the high gusts of wind, and it's unsafe for people to be outside in their normal cars about 70 7 o kilometers 'clock an hour. And one of the intelligence tasks are, what is the best way of getting current wind speed data in Noosa? And I put that task into the system. And within six minutes, I had answers from people in the intelligence unit to actually be able to inform all form our stakeholders and all staff and all our LDMG members about when wind gusts were getting to an unsafe speed. And then we could use that in comms messaging to the broader community. So we had wind recording devices that we found at Sunrise Beach, the Hang Gliding Association, that published their data. Publishes and then a link and a link to the Tewantin. Tewantin website measuring site, which are quite different. So trying to get two different wind speed. But that's how good Guardian can be as a key example. I think the other thing is our resilience program. We had, and Ian, you want to talk to the uptake sandbags and then about, do you think that was a good example of resilience working? Yeah. It's one of those things I think across the board where trying to see what the reflection of community is on our exercises and certainly the idea of how sandbags suddenly became the toilet paper of COVID very, very quickly in relation to those who wanting to use them in a certain way. There's also the usual challenges of major number of sandbags disappearing, not necessarily for the purposes that were intended. But I think the main thing there is as far as getting the messaging out was the concept, the points of delivery. Procedure we were recommending to happen and then the uptake. And then more importantly was how we were then able to move how many cubic metres? Sue Lowry 27:10.520
20,000 Cubic metres. Ian Williams 27:14.740
Yeah, and as far, and we know across the State, certainly across South East Queensland, how that was received in every community. Again, Kevin being our leader here in relation to how we pivoted with that fairly quickly, and it was how then we were able to use communication within our larger network of council-to-council relationships, which generally, you know, north and south and west. Susan, my ongoing work, and obviously shaun's leadership, so the sandbank, and today as we speak, the sand is now even being disposed of in a really well communicated way as well. Shaun Walsh 27:49.499
We also, I've just heard this morning, we had our largest visitation to the new Eumundi Noosa Road Resource Recovery Centre on Wednesday, with people preparing their yards in the event we did have a cyclone event, and to me that's another indication that our resilience program and its working and ensuring people are prepared for the consequences and feeling much safer very unsafe event which we managed to avoid largely. And part of ian's work with the emergency action guide we also had an uptake on our Noosa Alert system of 890 people. There are always lessons learned through exercises like this. So while we're actually undertaking the disaster coordination centre, running a whiteboard of lessons to be learned and we'll be actively working through those feedback, and then inviting councillors and also members of the LDMG to also fit it put in their feedback. And then we look forward to coming and giving a briefing to council about things that we've learned that we can improve on for next time. Frank Wilkie 28:55.297
One of the big vulnerabilities that came through being plugged into the Queensland disaster management group daily forums was that when power goes out, so does communications. People's mobile phones don't work, and communication is a huge issue. We were very lucky we didn't have that here, but what are your thoughts on strategies we can employ I and know I know you've got some ideas that are in chain about how we can mitigate against that risk, should we really suffer some damage and the cycle of power goes out. Shaun Walsh 29:30.075
In terms of the broader community, before we get to staff and our agencies, so the relevance of radios is still there. Transistors. And I know AM radios are harder to purchase but I do note that our national emergency broadcaster switched to FM for all its transmission and took over classic FM I think in the South East Queensland region so the importance and as part of our messaging to the community is keeping your radio so and that's something that we can do. We have started in terms of staff and exploring different measures of communicating to our staff and agencies so we have in the process of deploying GPS systems on all our vehicles so that we can actually track our staff movements and also having duress buttons in those vehicles so which will actually keep much safer but we're actually on the back of actually looking at new technologies to communicate in the field because mobile phones are unreliable when towers go down and also there's capacity issues in the network when the community were trying to use them so we need an alternative way now some of the things that we've looked at include VHF you know sat phones and then we're very interested in the deployment of low-level satellites which are you know immune from weather systems to see whether they've got veracity in our system so that's something we look forward to exploring further it's still a just being truthful it's still a key finding from the 2019 bushfire event that we've achieved some improvements but we still got a way to go in terms of communication with our staff and our agencies. Frank Wilkie 30:58.508
I'm happy to move the recommendation Madam Chair. Karen Finzel 31:00.908
Happy to second. I'll second. Know just got me oh that's all right you can put Councillor Jess down a second I know she's it passionate about her role in here. It'd be good to get it documented. Thanks Jess. Thank you very much for the report. Frank Wilkie 31:16.838
I know each and every one of you here have worked very hard to keep our community informed and prepared, and that's what the whole disaster relief plan is all about. Management team is geared towards, ensuring the community has the best opportunity to be informed and prepared. You know, when a disaster does threaten, all the agencies are poised to assist needs when they need we've been very fortunate this time, but the processes that we were able to improve as a result of the exercise, what I observed with everyone being so professional and focused was very reassuring. And I thank you for your work and please pass on my thanks to the agencies as well. Jessica Phillips 32:05.876
Thank you if I could just speak to it as well I didn't I made a lot of notes about this report not specifically on the week just gone because it was more around the 2024-25 so bear with me as some of I because I just wanted to bi do high the report and showing the commitment that this team has shown and demonstrated to safety and resilience and it is something that I'm very passionate about I just want to congratulate you know the team and the details. In council's adherence to the legislation requirements and the report also highlighted the proactive measures that have been taken across prevention preparedness response and recovery I also wanted to really highlight and celebrate the get ready schools program and the workshop for the aged care facilities playing that vital role in fostering the preparedness for those two separate sort of community groups I wanted to celebrate the opening of the Local Disaster Coordination Centre being a bit of a milestone for the council and in showing our response capabilities and that was demonstrated last week. I wanted to really praise that improvement to the dashboard, the disaster dashboard and that was certainly recognised last week and how many people spoke of the efficiencies in getting that up-to-date information which I think was really important. I really liked reading about the. Reconstructional authority collaboration and that really demonstrated to me how much working together with that regional network shows the strengthening in our disaster management strategy and then lastly I just wanted to also extend my gratitude to the three of you at the table and also the disaster management group members I look around that table last week and in the meetings that we've had and I just think we're so lucky that we've got such experience around the table and then my last shout out of course is to the emergency services and in the report something that I wanted to highlight was the 90 volunteers that we have in our SES and I think that we should be so grateful for them in their volunteer work not just in what we saw last week in natural disaster but beyond that to end that day ceremony. Christmas in Cooroy, the community events just so that last week doesn't overshadow any of the work that has been done in that last four months from everyone else so thank you. Karen Finzel 34:50.501
Thank you Jess. Yes Councillor Tom. Tom Wegener 34:56.550
I'd just like to back up everything that Jess said. Jess does a wonderful soliloquy. You're up to the right. Great work team. Thank you very much Ian and the team for your work with this. Really appreciate it. Watching from here from my bed watching the comments and everything go through I think that was a real good display for or our council just cancel and the they're whole in the whole team so I think we've we will all got did it really well you very much. Karen Finzel 35:23.879
Thank you and just before we close on that I'd like to give a big thank you to our community to our residents and our visitors alike who responded well to the work that the team put together. With early messaging and being prepared so I think it was a really good indication of collaboration through disaster management and building that resilience great team effort by everyone involved so thank you. Frank Wilkie 35:52.028
I will close. As it's been said there were lessons learned through the exercise in October and also the process we've just been through which is a testament to the group because it's always focused on constant improvement but ultimately as Councillor Finzel said it's to the type of community we have and they've proven themselves to be very receptive they kept themselves informed and were prepared. So thanks to them as well. Thank you. Karen Finzel 36:22.365
Thank you and we'll take it to the vote. All in favour? Yes. That's nil, nine, is it, what are we up to? Oh, I do apologise. This is important. And that's a very important one 7.3 they're all equally important thank you change of time and venue for the Ordinary Meeting dated 15th of May 2025 Mr CEO Larry Sengstock 37:06.052
Just very quickly the council was to take our council meetings out to the community at various times during the year in 2024 we held meetings in Pomona and Peregian due to our Standing Orders and our legislation and the sort of responsibilities in order to change that Ordinary Meeting we need to bring to a decision a decision made before, which do on when it comes to the first step of the Ordinary Meeting. We're looking to take the Ordinary Meeting from the 15th of May, on the 15th of May, out to Cooroy Memorial Hall and we'll be at 5pm. We have now normal meetings at 10am in the morning, but this one, because it's out in the community, we'll be at 5pm on the 15th of May at Cooroy Memorial Hall and as with previous meetings, we'll be having time before that. Be more open. We'll advertise and promote that further in terms of the timing of that, particularly a couple of hours before that. So we're councillors and senior staff will be out there to discuss, answer questions, chat to the community who wish to do permitting support. So we'll be there for that time, but it's the 15th of May, changing from 10am in the morning here at the camp, changes to 5pm at Cooroy Memorial Hall. You. It to councillors to decide. Karen Finzel 38:30.656
Thank you Mr. Secretary. Do we have any comments? I'm happy to move it. We to second. Do we need any further conversation around that? Council is online. No, I've got a footnote, thank you. Yeah, I'm fine, thank you. Okay, we'll take it to the vote. That's unanimous. Thank you. Thank okay, we'll get it up right now. You. Number eight, reports promoted by the committee, nil. Item number nine, there is no confidential session. And I'd like to report that the meeting closed at 2:10pm. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. For everyone in attendance, Mr. CEO and the staff that joined us today. Thank you. Thank we'll be right back. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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