2025-2026 Community Grants Program – Community Project Grants (Program/projects)

Brian Stockwell28:46

Okay. I put the motion. All those in favour? That's carried unanimously. We then move on to the second of which is what is one of the specific grants, which is the 25/26 community grant program, community project grant events. Do we have a mover for that?

Jessica Phillips29:14

Thank you. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I form the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter, item 8 2025-26, community grants program, community project grants events. In this matter, in relation to the funding, recommendation. Relation to the. Funding, recommendation to the Hastings Street Association, as my sister-in-law, Joyce Phillips, is on the committee of the Hastings Street Association. Although I have a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias, because my sister-in-law does not stand to receive a personal benefit. 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 Stockwell35:04

Wish to talk? No? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? We move on to the fourth item which is 2536 community grants program, community project grant infrastructure. Do we have any declarations on this one? No. Do we have any questions or someone willing to move it? Happy to second. Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Councillor Wilkie? I wait my right to speak. Anyone else wish to speak to this one? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. And we move on to the fifth item which is community grants program, community project grant. For equipment. Do we have any declarations to be made on this particular item? It looks like we do. Councillor Wegener. The wingnut.

Tom Wegener35:56

Okay, yes, I thought it was the next one. In accordance with chapter 55B of the Local Government Act, I am from the meeting that I have prescribed conflict of interest in relation to item 8.5, the 2025-2006 community grants program, community project grants equipment, in relation to the funding application to Pomona arts, the Majestic Theatre, on this agenda as I am a community member of the Pomona arts incorporation, and as a result of my conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted off. You, Councillor Wegener.

Frank Wilkie375:20

Okay others cancel things well hang on I will say look impressive what's about this report is that it shows that council's operating at a very high level of efficiency at not only the strategic but also the operational level for those uh strategic policies and projects like the Yurol Ringtail forest which is a huge initiative where 2,400 hectares are being preserved as conservation estate linking Tewantin to Cooloola national park by contrast the Noosa National Park is 240 hectares the Noosa head section of the Noosa National Park this is 10 times that funding secured for the Resilient Rivers program dda compliance audits for all the community halls which will inform the resources that we give to those facilities the housing monitoring programs has been established to give us the data so we can make informed decisions about a housing available. Availability and affordability. The new Public Art Policy, finally, Noosa Council gets one, well done Councillor Finzel. The revised Community Grants Policy, it's been revised after maybe a good part of a decade. Very important strategic decision. Noosa Aquatic Centre Upgrade Plan, which allows to attract the funding to make this facility even better than it is and ready for Olympic teams that use it as a training venue. Noosa Plan 2020 Amendment No. 2, despite long delays at the State level, we got that across the line and that contained very pivotal changes to our planning scheme that allow us to further limit the spread of short-term accommodation through our residential neighbourhoods, provide incentives to private industry, to provide affordable housing and play our part in the housing affordability and availability crisis. The Pomona place program plan. First for Noosa Council. A shared vision for a vibrant livable Pomona and the Integrated Compliance & Enforcement Policy which hadn't been, we inherited one from the Sunshine Coast Council but this is through the work of all councils made this. Our own and the Council website has been transitioned there is but you can see all the KPIs there's a lot being happening a lot happening at the operational level as well now we can track the improvements and the challenges that we're facing there is some delays fortunately um thanks Councillors for the Noosaville foreshore infrastructure management plan being endorsed today that's one more we can tick off the list as a commitment we made to the community to get done so congratulations everyone on that next up is the Destination Management Plan and the Noosa River Catchment Management Plan is on the way as well this is um a really good document anyone who wants to know how their rates money is spent this will give them a sense of how we're tracking and thanks mainly to the staff because you're doing the hard work thanks for the recording this Jonci. Excellent. That's all.

Very good question, Councillor, Through the Chair. So we have a very transparent and consistent approach when talking about the assessment and allocation of our grant funding. For community projects, I was for community projects, each application is evaluated on its individual merit against the set criteria. So that set criteria for community projects includes demonstrated need, benefit to the organisation and wider community, alignment to strategic goals and key initiatives, contributions, so what the contributes, whether it's financial or in-kind contributions, and organisation's capability to actually deliver the event or deliver the project. Once scored by the actual officer, we then take it to a moderation panel, which is made up of senior staff for the actual moderation. It's actually been presented to the Councillors as part of a workshop. To the equity and fairness, consideration is also given to the geographic distribution of the grant funding across the Shire as well. So we do look at that in terms of our community project grants. And the other consideration that we always look at as obviously the grant availability in, sorry, the budget availability allocated to grants. So we are working towards a proposed budget as such for '25, '26, and that's the budget we work towards.

Brian Stockwell33:54

Okay, we'll move on to the third item in this section, which is community grant programs, community project grant programs and projects. Do we have any questions is or someone willing to move the recommendations? This is number three, let's check. Thank oh, look,

Karen Finzel12:22

Thank you. Following on from that, how is Noosa Council addressing red tape reduction across our community grants program to help support our volunteers who spend considerable hours working diligently on their applications to Council?