Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

Key Decisions & Discussions
• Karen Finzel: Committee unanimously recommended extending Audit & Risk Committee Chair Timothy Cronin to cover the rescheduled 12 Dec 2025 meeting and appointing Christina Wyer as an independent member for 15 Dec 2025–14 Dec 2028 (Item 7.1).
• Nicola Wilson: Confirmed participation on the EOI selection panel that shortlisted from 29 applicants and recommended Wyer as the preferred candidate (Item 7.1).
• Frank Wilkie: Supported the extension and praised Cronin’s six years of service; welcomed Wyer’s appointment (Item 7.1).
• Larry Sengstock: Noted four Noosa-led motions were carried by strong majorities at the LGAQ 2025 conference: youth prevention programs, increased State investment in community dispute resolution, urgent action on plastic pollution/national plastics plan, and trial of non-lethal shark mitigation during whale migration (Item 8.1).
• Frank Wilkie: Advised there was no debate on Noosa’s motions; they proceed to LGAQ Policy Executive for advocacy to higher government (Item 8.1).
• Amelia Lorentson: Sought follow-up advocacy to the State Minister and potential joint letters with Gympie and Sunshine Coast councils to advance the non-lethal shark mitigation trial (Item 8.1).
• Frank Wilkie: Agreed to write again to the Minister and coordinate a joint letter with neighbouring mayors (Item 8.1).
• Chris Steele / Mel Sheppard: Reported 2025/26 capital budget of $65m (incl. $13.4m carry-forwards), Q1 actuals $5.5m (9%), commitments $13.1m (cumulative 29%); $16.4m grants with $17m Council co‑contribution; 106 projects, 8 not commenced (Item 8.2).
• Jessica Phillips: Requested clearer multi‑year capital program visibility (5–10 years) to improve public understanding, beyond annual accounting constraints (Item 8.2).
• CEO / Sean: Explained annual budget cycle limitations, but outlined work to spatially map a 10‑year program in TechOne for public‑facing transparency, with clearer flags for multi‑year projects (Item 8.2).
• Chris Steele: Advised successful recruitment: additional project officers and a graduate commencing within weeks, strengthening delivery capacity (Item 8.2).
Contentious / Transparency Matters
• Audit & Risk membership selection: Inclusion of a current councillor (Nicola Wilson) on the selection panel for an “independent” oversight committee member is lawful but invites perception risks; the record notes a multi‑member panel and an EOI with 29 applicants (Item 7.1).
• Capital works clarity: Councillors acknowledged public confusion caused by annual budgeting for multi‑year projects; administration committed to clearer multi‑year labelling and spatial mapping to improve transparency (Item 8.2).
• Shark mitigation advocacy: Renewed lobbying to the State Minister and joint-council action were discussed in open session, demonstrating transparent escalation after prior ministerial refusal (Item 8.1).
• LGAQ motions: No debate at conference may indicate broad acceptance, but also limited scrutiny; Council noted strong majorities and will rely on LGAQ’s policy executive for follow‑through (Item 8.1).
Legal / Risk
• Audit & Risk appointments: Extending the Chair and appointing an independent member by Council resolution aligns with the Local Government Regulation 2012 framework for audit committees; continuity to finalise 2025 financials is a prudent control (Item 7.1).
• Selection probity: Given a councillor helped select an independent oversight member, Council should document conflicts checks and panel rationale to meet governance best practice and mitigate apprehended bias risks (Item 7.1).
• Capital delivery risk: Q1 spend at 9% with 29% committed suggests back‑ended delivery; schedule slippage risks remain due to design/procurement lead times and recruitment dependencies, potentially increasing carry‑forwards (Item 8.2).
• Grant dependency: $16.4m in grants with $17m co‑contribution requires strict milestone and acquittal compliance to avoid clawbacks and reputational risk (Item 8.2).
• Public communication risk: Without clearer multi‑year disclosures, routine carry‑forwards may be misconstrued as under‑delivery; mapping and multi‑year flags should reduce misinterpretation (Item 8.2).
• Advocacy boundaries: Proposed ministerial letters and joint-council lobbying on shark mitigation remain within local government advocacy functions, but must avoid implying operational control over State shark control programs (Item 8.1).
Environmental & Public Safety Initiatives
• Larry Sengstock: LGAQ motions supported urgent action on plastic pollution and acceleration of the national plastics plan/roadmap, reinforcing Noosa’s liveability and environmental priorities (Item 8.1).
• Amelia Lorentson: Pressed for a trial of non‑lethal shark mitigation during whale migration, seeking ministerial reconsideration and regional partnerships to advance innovative, non‑net solutions (Item 8.1).
• Councillors: Emphasised youth-focused prevention and early intervention as a strategic public safety and social cohesion investment endorsed statewide (Item 8.1).
Capital Works Program Delivery & Community Transparency
• Chris Steele / Mel Sheppard: 106 projects managed across planning/design/delivery; Infrastructure Planning & Design is enhancing project management frameworks and has boosted staffing to lift throughput (Item 8.2).
• Jessica Phillips: Sought a clearer public‑facing 5–10 year view distinguishing single‑year vs multi‑year projects to reduce confusion around carry‑forwards (Item 8.2).
• Sean: Outlined work to publish spatial maps and categories via TechOne, first tested internally, to show locations, types and investment scale for proposed capital works (Item 8.2).
• Frank Wilkie: Queried commencement status and staffing; officers confirmed only eight projects not commenced and three further hires imminent, with broader recruitment over the last eight months (Item 8.2).
• Karen Finzel: Stressed equitable distribution of works across the Shire and commended staff performance amidst disruptions to residents (Item 8.2).
Intergovernmental Advocacy & Follow‑Through
• Larry Sengstock: Confirmed LGAQ has already written to relevant Ministers and Director‑Generals outlining resolutions; Council to continue parallel advocacy (Item 8.1).
• Amelia Lorentson: Requested Council lead with Gympie and Sunshine Coast on coordinated lobbying for shark mitigation trials; Chair recorded consensus to proceed without amending the noting motion (Item 8.1).