General Committee, 15 September 2025
Date: Monday, 15 September 2025 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers , 9 Pelican Street , Tewantin , QLD 4565 , Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 01:17:20
Synopsis: Parking Law adopted, penalties up, AI enforcement, Finance surplus, Cash reserves prompt QTC review, Capital lags, WHS reporting improves, Appeals maintained.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Brian Stockwell Karen Finzel Amelia Lorentson Jessica Phillips Frank Wilkie Nicola Wilson Executive Officers
Acting Ceo / Director Community Services Kerri Contini Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Director Strategy And Environment Kim Rawlings Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Apologies (Did Not Attend)
AI-Generated Meeting Insight
Key Decisions & Discussions Council corrected an error in the July 2025 delegated planning decisions report, changing one listed “approval” to “refusal,” with totals adjusted accordingly (00:36–01:23; Item 7.1, amended Attachment 1). Council noted the August 2025 Financial Performance Report, recording a net surplus of $38.5m vs projected $35.6m and operating surplus of $34.8m vs projected $33.8m (02:13–06:40; Item 8.1). Waste operations contributed ~$4.4m to the operating result; new grants (Resilient Rivers, illegal dumping, food organics) will be incorporated at the next budget review (05:30–06:40; Item 8.1). Capital delivery was $4.9m (5.1%) of the $95.8m program by end‑August; developer contributions ~$0.4m and capital grants ~$3.2m received (15:18–18:05; Item 8.1). Cash reserves stood at $137.3m (vs $123.1m prior year), with noted ebb/flow from rates timing and capital delays; discussion flagged potential QTC review of surplus cash and debt (07:45–11:28; Item 8.1). Employee costs were under budget largely due to higher vacancies (~$1m), offset by lower capitalisation (~$337k) and overtime (~$186k), with vacancies concentrated in Infrastructure Services and Corporate Services (06:48–20:05; Item 8.1). Unitywater distributions are tracking to ~$5.95m (budget), with an accrual of ~$0.93m at year end and receipt timing around 30 Sept (16:13–17:44; Item 8.1). Council resolved to make Parking (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2025 and adopt a consolidated Subordinate Local Law No.5 (Parking) 2015 after 21‑day consultation (58 submissions; 38 properly made) (22:08–23:52; Item 8.2). Community feedback supported stronger deterrents for overstaying, disability bay misuse, and illegal overnight camping; concerns noted about enforcement capacity, cost-of-living, and perceived revenue raising (22:08–28:47; Item 8.2). Enforcement capability improvements highlighted use of a “parking car” with cameras/AI for intel and targeted patrols, including pre‑scouting illegal camping hotspots for joint patrols with QPS (24:14–26:02; 36:18–37:11; Item 8.2). WHS 2024/25 Annual Report noted transition from LGW to WorkCover QLD with premium savings; 157 suitable duties completed; 13 LTIs; near‑miss reporting increased; 250 corrective actions; ~800 health appointments (52:34–55:42; Item 8.3). External WHS audit last completed around 2022 with a pass (~71/100); external audits are periodic due to intensity; internal inspections ongoing; plans to upgrade WHS systems and role‑specific training delivery (58:20–01:09:05; Item 8.3). Contentious / Transparency Matters Amelia Lorentson questioned whether $137.3m cash reserves indicate under‑utilisation of public funds and over‑reliance on QTC; officers proposed a QTC surplus cash/debt review for assurance (07:45–11:28; Item 8.1). Discussion acknowledged capital delivery delays as a driver of high cash balances and the need to align cash holdings to delivery capacity and 10‑year major projects (esp. waste) (10:21–10:46; 20:28–21:34; Item 8.1). On parking penalties, officers rebutted “cost‑of‑living” claims by noting charges apply only upon infringement and are subject to an internal appeals process for fairness (27:28–29:46; Item 8.2). Jessica Phillips sought clarity on legal vetting and public notification; officers confirmed legal review by King & Co, human rights and anti‑competitive checks, Gazette notice, and website publication (30:08–33:25; Item 8.2). Revenue transparency: infringement revenue goes into Council’s budget/reserves; intent is to reinvest into proactive patrols/education to achieve behaviour change, not revenue raising (33:48–35:36; Item 8.2). WHS reporting drew requests for deeper benchmarking, audit cadence, and clearer context for statistics to avoid misinterpretation; officers committed to provide additional sessions/data (55:45–58:03; 01:09:22–01:10:44; Item 8.3). Legal / Risk Monthly finance reporting provided under s 204 of the Local Government Regulation 2012; adoption noted without issues (02:13; Item 8.1). Parking amendments progressed per Local Government Act 2009 processes, including s 32 adoption of consolidated law, human rights assessment, and anti‑competitive provisions review by King & Co (30:44–32:03; Item 8.2). Appeals pathway for infringements maintained with separation to an appeals officer, supporting procedural fairness and transparency (28:42–29:37; Item 8.2). Illegal camping enforcement sits under Local Law No.4 with different evidentiary thresholds than vehicle parking; any uplift in penalty units requires a separate local law amendment process and consultation (39:42–43:36; Item 8.2). Cash coverage exceeds State’s 3‑month target (officers cited 6–9 months as prudent), mitigating liquidity risk in extraordinary events (12:45–14:34; Item 8.1). WHS regulator oversight noted; increased incident reporting reflects improved hazard capture rather than deterioration, but system modernisation is needed for nuanced risk analytics (01:03:24–01:09:05; Item 8.3). Parking, Camping, Disability Access and Enforcement Brian Stockwell noted most penalty increases are ~$41, with disability bay penalties rising substantially (by two penalty units; cited ~$668), to deter misuse that harms vulnerable users (47:41–48:56; Item 8.2). Signage: Updating signs with dollar amounts is problematic as penalties change annually; officers to consider alternative messaging (e.g., periodic public updates, targeted comms) (48:31–49:00; Item 8.2). Technology: camera‑equipped parking car and AI enhance hotspot identification and time‑limit monitoring; used to pre‑plan joint QPS camping patrols (24:14–25:51; 36:18–37:11; Item 8.2). Education before enforcement: planned comms post‑Gazettal; locality‑based parking management plans and signage reviews underway with Traffic & Transport team (44:28–45:34; Item 8.2). Behaviour change measurement: officers open to periodic trend reporting on infringements/overstays, noting precinct differences and confounding factors (37:19–38:50; Item 8.2). Illegal camping complexity: overnight occupation proof is required under camping provisions; future review may consider higher penalty units under Local Law No.4 to reflect greater amenity/environmental impacts (39:42–43:36; Item 8.2). Finance, Reserves, and Investment Posture Amelia Lorentson pressed for diversification beyond QTC; officers said QTC is government‑backed and currently higher‑yielding, but supported a QTC surplus cash/debt review to validate settings (07:45–11:28; Item 8.1). High cash linked to capital underspend and rates cycle; if capital delivery lags, cash accumulates, suggesting the need to re‑profile works or reconsider funding mix (10:21–10:46; Item 8.1). Brian Stockwell cautioned that looming waste capital projects in the 10‑year program could rapidly draw down balances, tempering calls for immediate debt paydown or reallocation (20:28–21:15; Item 8.1). Operating variances favourable across employee costs, materials/services, and finance costs; ICT underspend driven by invoicing/profiling timing, not structural savings (15:18–15:46; Item 8.1). Workforce vacancies impact overtime and capitalisation rates; risks to delivery/corporate knowledge were raised for separate organisational response (18:30–20:05; Item 8.1). Workplace Health, Safety, and Psychosocial Risk Premium savings from moving to WorkCover QLD; LTIs = 13, with reductions in longer‑duration claims vs prior years; near‑miss reporting increased, and property/vehicle incidents decreased (52:34–55:42; 01:02:16–01:03:24; Item 8.3). Incidents rose to 243 from 189, attributed to improved reporting culture; 157 suitable duties facilitated safe return to work; 250 corrective actions completed (55:42–01:04:12; Item 8.3). System limits obscure severity and role‑relevance of training/inspections; leadership plans to procure smarter WHS analytics and deliver role‑specific modules (01:04:42–01:09:05; Item 8.3). Psychosocial hazards addressed via “Wellbeing at Work” survey action plans, executive monitoring, and “Thrive at Work” initiatives; a further update is due by end‑December (01:10:47–01:13:29; Item 8.3). Benchmarking against other councils and deeper briefings were requested to contextualise metrics and guide resourcing (55:45–58:03; 01:09:22–01:10:44; Item 8.3).
Official Meeting Minutes
MINUTES General Committee Meeting Monday, 15 September 2025 12:30 PM Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin Committee: Crs Brian Stockwell (Chair), Karen Finzel, Amelia Lorentson, Jessica Phillips, Tom Wegener, Frank Wilkie, Nicola Wilson “Noosa Shire – different by nature” GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 1 DECLARATION OF OPENING The meeting was declared open at 12.31pm. 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 Brian Stockwell (Chair) Cr Karen Finzel (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Amelia Lorentson Cr Jessica Phillips (via Microsoft Teams) Cr Frank Wilkie Cr Nicola Wilson EXECUTIVE Acting CEO / Director Community Services Kerri Contini Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Director Strategy and Environment Kim Rawlings Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh APOLOGIES Cr Tom Wegener 4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES 4.1. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 18 AUGUST 2025 Committee Resolution Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson The Minutes of the General Committee Meeting held on 18 August 2025 be received and confirmed. Carried. For: Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None 5. PRESENTATIONS Nil. 6. DEPUTATIONS Nil. GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 7 ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES 7.1. PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY – JULY 2025 The following material was presented to the meeting in relation to this item: Refer to Attachment 1 to the General Committee Minutes - Amended Delegated Report - July 2025 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Development Assessment Manager to the Planning & Environment Committee Meeting on 9 September 2025 regarding applications that have been decided by delegated authority for July 2025 as per Attachment 1 to the Report. "Attachment 1 to the General Committee Minutes Amended Delegated Report - July 2025" (with amendments, as tabled at the meeting). Carried. For: Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None 8 REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE 8.1 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – AUGUST 2025 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Nicola Wilson That Council note the report by the Acting Financial Services Manager to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 September 2025 on Council's financial performance for the period ending 31 August 2025. Carried. For: Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None 8.2 PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SUBORDINATE LOCAL LAW NO. 5 (PARKING) 2015 - PUBLIC CONSULTATION OUTCOMES Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Brian Stockwell Seconded: Cr Frank Wilkie That Council A. Note the report by the Acting Local Laws and Environmental Health Manager to the General Committee dated 15 September 2025; GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 B. Resolve to make Parking (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2025 as advertised (refer Attachment 1); and C. Resolve to adopt, pursuant to section 32 of the Local Government Act 2009, as provided at Attachment 2 to the Report, a consolidated version of Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2015. Carried. For: Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None 8.3 WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25 Committee Recommendation Moved: Cr Frank Wilkie Seconded: Cr Amelia Lorentson That Council note the report by the Workplace Health and Safety Co-ordinator to the General Committee Meeting dated 15 September 2025 regarding Workplace Health and Safety Annual Report 2024/25. Carried. For: Cr Brian Stockwell, Cr Karen Finzel, Cr Amelia Lorentson, Cr Jessica Phillips, Cr Frank Wilkie, Cr Nicola Wilson Against: None 9 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION Nil. 10 MEETING CLOSURE The meeting closed at 1.49pm.
Meeting Transcript
Brian Stockwell 00:00.241
Can someone wish to move the confirmation of General Committee Meeting on 18th August? I'll meet you second. By Councillor Lorentson. No need for discussion, I presume. All in favour? Any if online? Thank you. Yes. That's carried unanimously. We have no presentations and we then have neither have we got deputations, but we have got one matter referred from the Planning & Environment Committee, and that's the Planning Applications Decided by Delegated Authority – July 2025, which was referred here to affect the minor change. Patrick Murphy 00:36.484
That's correct. There is an amended attachment to the report. I think, Cathy, do you have a copy of that? So, there was one matter that was identified as being approved, but it actually had been refused. Accordingly, the attachment has been updated to reflect that. You'll see there on the screen, the summary table identifies the changes. Still showing the 63 applications that were decided through the course of the month, but just reducing the numbers of approval by one and increasing the refusals by one. And further, in the body of the report, the actual item has been identified as being refused. As opposed to approved. I think it's nearly the last page that's in there. Brian Stockwell 01:24.460
Okay, and we have an amended recommendation. I'm happy to move it Mr. Moved. Councillor Wilkie, seconded. Happy to second. Councillor Lorentson, Lorentson, do you wish to discuss? No, thank you, Mr Chair. Wish to discuss this matter? Okay, I shall. Okay, thank you. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Yes. That's carried unanimously. Thank you, Patrick. Now we bring up our Acting Director Corporate Services and Acting Manager of Finance to deal with the Financial Performance Report for August 2025 Margaret Gatt 02:02.747
Good morning good afternoon good morning, good afternoon, Councillors. I'll hand over straight over to Dave to take us through the monthly finance report. David 02:14.099
Afternoon, Councillors and through you, Mr Chair. This report presents a summary of council's financial performance to the end of August under section 204 of the government regulation 2012, as would be expected at this point in the financial year, there are no issues of financial concern from our perspective with how the organisation's tracking financially. Council's overall financial performance was a net surplus of 38.5 against a projected net surplus of 35.6. And our operating result was 34.8, again favourable against our projected surplus of 33.8 million dollars. There are a number of attachments to the report, including statement of income and expenditure statement of financial position, a little bit of a change in the way we're presenting our financial reports with a traffic light focus on the units across the board, both in terms of operating and capital. And then a capital financial performance graph with, I do note that details on our financial performance of our capital program was given under separate cover through the infrastructure services group. It's worth noting that our waste operations contribute about 4. Million of that operating surplus to our general operating results and details of the major variances in terms of both revenue and expense. And expenditure given in the attachments to the report. The trend that we reported last month in terms of rates, levies and charges continue with higher than anticipated waste charges of 106,000 and offset by lower than anticipated discounts and rebates. Again there's no other points of concern but it's worth noting that there are a number of other new grants that are being, that the organisation has of managed to procure and they will be subject to further amendment in the next budget review. They include the Resilient Rivers, illegal dumping and food organics programs. In terms of operating expenditure, again, there's a lot of work to be favourable were under budget. Employee costs, materials and services and finance costs. Employee costs are under budget. And that's mainly due to, well, there's across the board savings in nearly all the branches we've got in Council. And thank you to our Acting CEO for highlighting it. Accruals at the end of the month. And so we had to rerun some journals. But again, all favourable variances. And you would expect that there is a slight negative in that space with lower than anticipated capitalisation rights, the slow take rates. And that's mainly due to-out of the capital works program. And that will be adjusted as the profiling for that program comes to fruition. So that's about it for operating in terms of capital, year-to-date revenues of 3.7 and that's mainly made up of 0.4 in developer contributions and capital grants of 3.2. I guess it's worth noting that the timings of those revenue streams is closely aligned to the delivery of the program and develop the contributions it really are hard to forecast. In relation to our capital program at the end of August we completed or managed to complete 4.9 million or 5.1% of capital's 95.8 million in the previous financial year and that was a hundred and twenty three million dollars. So I'm happy to take any questions. Brian Stockwell 06:34.689
We've got questions. I'll start off and it's just maybe it's right you Amelia Lorentson 06:41.386
Can left also Councillor Stockwell that's right I have my hand up. Oh no no just to let you know I'm sitting next to you. Brian Stockwell 06:48.461
The commentary on employee costs I couldn't quite work out how it got to 282 but it talks about employee costs are under talks by 282, then they're mainly due to lower than anticipated vacancies at 1 million so the result is 1 million so that's a certain amount below what we. So basically there's a million dollars David 07:10.015
Of vacancies across the board and they're being offset by lower capitalisation rates which is about $340,000 or $337,000. There's some associated higher employee costs of $193,000 and the overtime costs of $186 and the overtime costs of $186,000 can be directly attributable to the lower levels of. Brian Stockwell 07:37.112
So if we took those last three figures off, the million dollars would come up. Yeah, that's Lorentson: basically how it works. Thank you. Amelia Lorentson 07:43.845
Councillor Lorentson I've got a few questions, but I'll start with the cash reserve $137.3 million. So every sort of report, we see it growing. My is really question to yourself, Marg, or possibly even to Kerri. At what point does growing our cash reserve, now at $137.3 million, shift from prudent financial management to potentially underutilization underutilisation of public funds? And I ask the question just, and I go back to our capital works program delays. I also went and had a look at our strategic investment policy, and there's no cap on how much we can invest with QTC. So great but at what point are we putting too many eggs in one basket? So question to mark, maybe to Kerri or David. David 08:54.955
I'll probably start with the last point, QTC is our highest secure investment strategy so that's in some respects that's why under the investment policy we don't cap how many dollars we can have with that institution, effectively government backed. So and it's at the moment we're drawing funds back from alternative institutions. Because we're getting higher rates of return with QTC. The other issue of the higher cash balances is largely attributable to the fact that we've got delays in our capital program and as we move through the financial year. Would expect those cash balances to decline. The other contributing factories we've just issued our rates. So our rates, our cash balances would have ebb and flow across the financial year. But you're right at some point in time, Council will need to have a discussion about how much cash it is holding. Amelia Lorentson 09:59.863
Yeah, because there could be almost an over reliance and it might stop us really actively getting into the space of diversification when we know that we're getting this passive income by just putting as much as we want into QTC and other banking institutes. David 10:21.737
Yeah, that's right. Our cash balances too are largely attributable to what we said we were going to deliver in the budget. So if we said we were going to deliver $95 million, we work out funding sources and strategies to fund that body of work. And if we don't deliver that body of work in both operating and capital, our cash reserves will continue to grow. Margaret Gatt 10:47.304
And Through the Chair, I could just make a comment there. Councillor Lorentson, it's common practice as well for councils at particular junctures through a term that if they feel can seek QTC's advice to do a surplus cash and debt review. It's something that I've led in other organisations and it just gives that very high level strategic review and advice and potentially provide Council and the community that appropriately. We are managing our cash. Excellent. And also to Council. To give Council and the community confidence that we're doing it appropriately and as you said with the high level responsibility of spending public funds from the community. Amelia Lorentson 11:28.227
Thank you very much mark. We can do that. - That'd would be great, thank you. Frank Wilkie 11:32.799
Yeah, I'd just like to reiterate something that David said quite softly but it's very important. And that is that the cash at bank is constrained cash. It's there for the delivery of the capital works program, staff wages. It is essentially constrained cash and allows this Council to do what it's set out to do when we unanimously endorse the budget. Is there a question here? David 11:59.047
No, there is not. Brian Stockwell 12:00.503
You might we leave it to you. Have the motion. Frank Wilkie 12:05.553
Sorry, is that correct? David 12:07.174
Now there's a question. Technically from, if I put my accounting hat on, it's not constrained. The component rests with what's in trust or what is unspent levy. Pre-allocated, but dose. I should say. But there is pre-allocated dollars. You are correct in that we need to have sufficient reserves. And typically what we would like to see through the year, the target is three times our operating expenditure. But that's based on a yearly trend. You so are you right, are is it is what you expect. We need to constrain. To maintain operations. My time operations, maintain Frank Wilkie 12:51.163
Including a, is it, sorry, question. Does this include a reserve that's imposed by the State government as well? Is it three free talents? Three times? David 13:01.430
No, there's no reserve mandated by the State. It's stated it's a recommended targets. But Council, through its own processes, determines that it will constrain further sums of cash. It constrains a certain percentage of its operating board rates revenue for disaster management purposes. So I think there's about three or four million dollars in that figure that is constrained. So of the 134, you can see that there's. Around six in trust, there's another three or four in disaster the cost of management, so that figure starts to whittle down. Margaret Gatt 13:44.100
And Through the Chair again, if I just make another comment, is that our sustainability ratios were. Terms of prudent financial management, having six to nine months cash cover is an excellent sustainability ratio result for our Council. So that's in the event that we have something untoward or unplanned that we're able. So the worst case scenario. Something happens ensure with our system and we can't issue our rates, as an example. We've got six months cash cover allowance there to continue our operations in the event of something extraordinary happening to our revenue sources. Frank Wilkie 14:21.273
The State require a minimum cash cover? Margaret Gatt 14:23.958
Yes, three months, so we will exceed the local government 8 yep, great.7. David 14:32.443
If they're targeted pressures. Frank Wilkie 14:35.086
Yes, yeah. I had a question, just to go back to the one about the employee costs that Councillor Stockwell raised. If employee costs are under budget, due-anticipation to lower than anticipated vacancies. Sorry, higher than anticipated. Okay, yeah, so higher than anticipated vacancies. I thought it would be the opposite. I knew I had, there was something. The opposite to what is written, yeah. Thank you. Oh, apologies. That's all right. The other question I had was in the summary of key materials and service expenditure variances, could you explain the 115,000 variance for communications and IT? Yeah, that's mainly it. Telecommunications charges, our ICT contracts with our service providers. They're over one? David 15:26.761
No, they're under a hundred. Okay, so what, why is that? It's mainly, it's, I believe it's mainly a time issue with the way the budget's been profiled against the actuals. And a lot of the variances we're getting at the moment are due to the fact that we, have yet to finalise our profiling of our budgets. Frank Wilkie 15:46.285
Okay, thank you. Margaret Gatt 15:48.685
Sometime through, the Chair again, just to add to those comments, sometimes it's very difficult. To control how our vendors actually invoice us and the timing of when they invoice us. So that's, again, if we have a budget profile because we expect to be invoiced at certain periods and frequencies and then that doesn't eventuate, then that can cause those variances as well, so it's not an actual variance in expenditure, it's a timing issue. Frank Wilkie 16:14.769
Final and question, final question, Mr Chair. When do we expect to receive the Unitywater dividend? What time of year is you use pay? That paid? David 16:23.657
I think the final dividend has been declared. I think we budgeted for 2.1. I think it's come in at 1.95. We'll do an accrual at the end of the 25 financial year for 932. We've already received 1. Million to date. We will expect that in the next. It may have already been if my awarding thing was saved but I got it I'd have to take that on notice as to when we actually receive the final payment that they have declared their values in their financial statements and we're looking to accrue. As I said 930,000 at the year-end for that payment. Frank Wilkie 17:05.768
And if I read the budget documents correctly we're predicting 5.95 million from Unitywater Interest. That's right. Are we close to that target? David 17:22.693
Yes we received I think we received just over the 5.9 budgeted financial year and we're anticipating that we will receive the same amount for the 26 financial year. Margaret Gatt 17:36.894
Thank you. Through the Chair I do believe that it is 30th of September when we will receive that additional revenue. Thank you. Jessica Phillips 17:50.329
I did, I'll take it off the line. It's a question for Director Gatt but it's fine thank you. Brian Stockwell 17:56.075
Okay and Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 17:58.137
Just back on the employee costs again, the lower capitalisation rates, is that a timing thing again or is it capitalisation? David 18:05.445
It's through you Mr Chair. Basically it is. Because we've only spent a small amount of our budget on capital to date. We assumed that we would get certain rates of interest from operating to effectively capital. That hasn't happened to date. We're expecting that will pick up as the year progresses and that variance will mitigate that. Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 18:32.584
Again employed again employee costs and workforce pressures. I note that they're not listed under risk and probably just going to just start go back a little bit. So overtime and other employee costs were higher than expected and employee costs were under budget and correct me if I'm wrong but I've understood that's because there's higher vacancy and turnover. So my question are what risk does high staff turnover pose for service delivery, financial performance and more importantly retention. Corporate knowledge and are there any specific departments that are experiencing higher turnovers or vacancy rates than others and again same question what risk to the organisation does that pose. Brian Stockwell 19:40.623
Ones that are broader than a financial report and asking finance staff about matters that are probably organisation wide. I think if we can respond on those matters that do have finance and take the others on notice. Through you Mr Chair, the main vacancies are within infrastructure services and corporate services, thank you. Let me a that. Happy to work with you, move it Mr Chair. Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Wilson. Frank Wilkie 20:15.109
You very much. Thank you for the extensive and detailed financial report. I'm glad to have you on board with that. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 20:23.864
You're welcome. Councillor Wilkie. All right. That's it. Others wish talk to the motion? Actually, just the query about, or the questions regarding the level of surplus cash. There's obviously, you know, in the 2016-20 could we can do one of the reviews and came up with that was prudent at that stage with high interest rates to actually pay down $10 million in debt. No problems with doing it again. I suppose what we do need to consider if we look at our 10 year capital works budget, there's certainly some very significant expenditure proposed particularly around that would see that balance quickly come down if we were to proceed with some of those larger projects. Anyone else wish to talk? Amelia Lorentson 21:16.423
Just a shout out to Marg and your team. Guys do a lot and these reports don't just happen so I just really want to acknowledge the hard-working team that bring these reports to us every month thank you. Brian Stockwell 21:38.244
Those in favour? Yes. That carries unanimously. Thank you. We then move on to the next item which is proposed amendment to Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2015. Public consultation outcomes. And we have the acting manager and the Director here to run us through the outcomes of that process. Clint 22:17.962
I'll just read the executive summary as written, if that's okay. So the Special Meeting on the 3rd of June 2025, Council Resolve to propose to make parking amendments subordinate local law number 1, 2025. Council also Resolve to commence community consultation with the intent of amending Subordinate Local Law No. 5 (Parking) 2015. Accordingly, community consultation was undertaken on proposed amendments to schedule 3, infringement notice penalty amounts for certain minor traffic offences over a 21 day public period from the 25th of July to the 15th of August 2025. A total of 58 submissions were received with 38 considered properly made. Feedback revealed community support for the proposed amendments particularly in relation to discouraging understaying, misuse of disability spaces and illegal overnight camping. However, some concerns were raised regarding council's enforcement capacity, cost of living impacts and perceived revenue raising nature of the changes. However, given overall positive feedback, we however, given overall positive feedback, it is proposed Council proceed to Resolve to make parking amendments subordinate local law number one 2025 as advertised and adopt the consolidated version of subordinate local law number five parking 2015 as outlined in the report. Frank Wilkie 23:53.130
Thank you. Questions for thank you the report. In some of the submissions you mentioned that there was concerns about council's capacity to enforce. Could you talk us through some of the improvements that have taken place in council's capacity regarding parking enforcement involving technology? Clint 24:14.028
Yeah, so, some of the technology that we're using has been very beneficial to us. So, at the moment, we're using a lot of our, I guess, local intel. Shaun Walsh 24:33.149
We're also using more of the technological advancements that we have made, and particularly the parking car is probably a primary example of that. Clint 24:44.363
The parking car has been using a very good tool for us at the moment in terms of monitoring particular zones and providing a lot of intelligence on where the problem areas are within the Shire. And there's so much more to Resolve from that too, through the use AI. Of AI as well, which those cameras are. So that's really at the start of things for us. That's probably the major example that we have. But there's a lot of potential utilise for us to utilise that technology to a lot more intelligence around the Shire in terms of the infringement areas, the hot areas. In terms of monitoring before we do camping patrols. Example, the car has been really good in terms of seeing the potential problem areas. So we know the areas that we're going to hit when we undertake the camping patrols with the police. So that's the probably primary the example that we would have Frank Wilkie 25:52.772
Could you qualify in terms of number of complaints received about how illegal camping has driven this some of these changes Clint 26:03.749
Well Through the Chair illegal camping has been an issue across all coastal councils and this has been no exception but it's very a topical and it's a very visible issue so it is a component of the changes. These changes have been coming at us for quite some time and don't just refer to camping we obviously have we get a lot of feedback. Around the misuse of disability, car parking spaces that's a big one for us. A lot of frustration in the vulnerable segments of the community about misuse of those spots. We get feedback from the business community around loading zones and how those zones are misused as well obviously for vital deliveries and whatever else when you have normal cars parked camping in there so camping is a very very it's visible part of the overall package it's a very important part too because it does tend to if not managed very well or poorly can correct create poor outcomes in terms of community and whatever else and bad outcomes for the for residents and tourists so it's a part of the overall package but not the over, the only component. Frank Wilkie 27:28.481
Thank you and final question in the submissions cost of living impacts was raised as a concern would you place that concern in some sort of context please about how these laws actually work? Clint 27:45.686
Through the Chair the cost of living expenses it was raised but I think it's important to identify that this is not the same these proposed changes are not the same as say increased utility charges say water electricity or even registration so it doesn't apply to every motorist within the Shire every motorist within the State every motorist within Australia these charges apply to people who are infringed and that's quite a different scenario to applying it across the whole community and we're not saying for a moment that there's not an impact when you are infringed obviously it's not pleasant however it's in context it's not the same as the charge that everyone bears in the community. Thank you. Frank Wilkie 28:42.228
Thank you. Processes in place should someone feel aggrieved? Clint 28:47.349
Yes they are and there is and they they're important processes Through the Chair because they people who are aggrieved by receiving the infringement they can set out the reasons why they think they shouldn't be infringed and then it's up to a separate process for our appeals officer to look at that so that stands aside in terms of good governance and transparency so that's quite important process and then you know sometimes those appeals are upheld and sometimes they're the other way where they are they go through so I mean that process is very important that will say. Stay. Frank Wilkie 29:37.956
So similar in principle to incurring a speeding ticket? You only incur it if you're infringed and then you have appeal. Clint 29:46.686
Yeah I mean Through the Chair it only applies if you're a speeder. Um if you if you're not infringed then it just it doesn't apply so it's quite different as we said to registrations and whatever assuming that your own vehicle. Brian Stockwell 30:02.230
Thank you. Any other questions? I do. Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 30:10.218
Thank you just a few questions. Thanks for the report. Just checking how it goes through a legal review. Is that internal? Just to ensure that the local laws is always consistent, I guess consistent across the board. Is that how it normally goes to review without balance? Through the Chair. Councillor do you mean in terms of this amendment process or is that what you're talking about? Yeah. Yeah. It's through the amendment process. If you, does this just get a legal overview? Please clear away. Clint 30:44.633
Yeah okay so Through the Chair it does get a legal overview and we've used King & Co which you see in that report there. They're the kind of preeminent lawyers for legal law review within Queensland and if not further afield. So the specifically the wording around the recommendation the format of the attachments, the wording of sections, say the human rights section, they've all been subject to legal review. So there is a specific process that we need to go through, Councillor, Councillor to make sure. Councillor and also looking I'm looking at the anti-competitive- provisions there, item number six. So there is a specific process that we need to go through. And I'd also mention as well, we referenced the local law making process within the report as well, Councillor. So that process is made in accordance with the Local Government Act. So there's quite a bit of legal oversight and procedural process, if I can put it like that, to go through when you're proposing to amend a subordinate local law. Jessica Phillips 32:03.889
Okay, yeah, this is just, I've got a few for life. Do you want me to go through all mine or don't you? Fire away. A lot of them will be from just looking from a community perspective, so even I probably understand exactly. You're saying, so my questions are just to make it really transparent. What's the plan, what's the council's plan to communicate the parking, what the local law that's coming to us today, how will that now go out to the public? Clint 32:33.160
Yeah, thank you, Councillor, Through the Chair. So it's in the report on the eight under next steps, so there's a notification process that we need to undertake now and assuming that these are adopted, so that's a notice within the Queensland Government Gazette and also there's a posting on council's website, a posting a notice I should say on council's website and obviously there um with these public access to that law and there's a whole procedural process there but to answer your question in short Councillor, yes there is a public process, a notification process that needs to be undertaken. Jessica Phillips 33:25.442
Okay great, thank you. Just a follow-up question then when it comes to the revenue from local laws, where does that go in our budget? Where does the revenue generated from local laws, where does that sit? Through the Chair. This goes into the general cash reserve? Yeah, it sits within our budget and under the reserve, so that's where it sits. Okay yeah, I guess my intention was to see like how the money's spent back into, say, the camera car and education. That was really more trying to align the community to understand where the revenue goes. Is that clear? Clint 34:13.025
Yeah yeah, that's fine. So Through the Chair, and we make reference to that too, Council, within is that if there is any in. Revenue and that's on the assumption that there's no behaviour change I mean ideally for us Councillor we would have behaviour change and there would be no revenue emanating from these changes that would be a great thing but if there is revenue coming in from this we'll be using that to hit some of those or more proactively patrol some of those problem areas and the Mayor mentioned before around illegal overnight camping for example we get that pop up you know in all areas of the Shire to be honest but particularly the coastal areas so any real any realised revenue will be put back into those patrols improving behaviour and trying to enhance the community amenity and liveability so it'll be put to good use. Jessica Phillips 35:34.117
Okay, and does any of that go into our signage, just so I'm thinking about making sure that do to we're trying deter. Brian Stockwell 35:43.232
Councillor, we're going into very general discussion about our Council budgets, we're not talking about the subordinate local law, so I'm not going to allow you questions. To that's Jessica Phillips 35:55.523
Fine, I've got one more around local law. Apologies, I'll take that one offline then. Just in relation to QPS information sharing, if there was complaints that come through them around parking spots that they've identified, has that information been shared back with our local laws to make sure that they're targeting the same complaints that might come through a different process. Clint 36:18.611
So Through the Chair, Councillor, we meet with QPS quite regularly on a quarterly basis. So we've got, so we do that formally at that stage. But we've got also got very good lines communication. Of So they're communicating with us constantly on problem areas and issues within the Shire. So, and also, we want to take those Queensland Police Service compliance inspections, particularly around the illegal camping. So there's another opportunity there, where the two agencies get together to try and produce some better outcomes from that perspective. So yeah, in short, we make formally communication lines of meet are very much open, so we're in a very good information sharing space at the moment. Jessica Phillips 37:12.574
Thank you, Councillor Wilson, do you have a question? No, I was just pointing to something. Brian Stockwell 37:18.272
Oh, okay. Amelia Lorentson 37:21.058
Just a couple of questions. Clint, you mentioned the ideal. The outcome would be changing behaviour, which means less infringements. Are we expecting then to get a 12-month review to actually measure that behavioural change? Will you at some point come back with a report and just let us know, is it working? Clint 37:48.174
Has it, sorry, Through the Chair, has it changed behaviour? Amelia Lorentson 37:51.431
Yeah. And I know it's not one in isolation, but given that the drive. Councillor, I'm happy to report on anything. Clint 38:03.693
Can do behaviour change you're talking about a trend that's lots of things that can happen where people would argue then that behaviour hasn't changed because in this area, it's come up again. But I mean, with I'm happy to come back to Council and report on overall trends on how things are going as an updated report. Perhaps we can do that via some other mechanism rather than a report, maybe quarterly reporting in Council. I don't know. As a broad, in the context, I'm happy to report on these matters. It's just probably going to be precinct specific as well and we may not be able to put down to a specific issue. Amelia Lorentson 38:50.229
I think my question was maybe a little bit leading Clint and there was a reason for it and it's probably going to lead into the next question. So behavioural change in terms of illegal camping and we had the discussion beforehand about whether as part of future local law changes that we should actually be considering creating a different category for illegal camping that it's not just a vehicle and shouldn't be treated as a vehicle. The impacts whether it's environmental and amenity are greater for a camper three, four people parked alongside the national park than someone who's had a big night out and left their car at the national park. So can you explain to me, is that something that we will consider? Clint 39:42.410
Yeah, so Through the Chair, I do appreciate the pre-question because I'm now prepared. So the camping side of things is contained within Local Law No. four. So there's a penalty unit that applies or two penalty units that applies to camping in there. So if we wanted to, you know, increase would come under another level. That would come under another local law's review. So it doesn't sit within parking, it sits within local law number four, which is there's a as a within the local law, within local law Local Law No. four. So, um, what it means though, in terms of this, while we can't make the amendment here and now, we can do it as part of a future local law review. So if the Council feels that the infringement amount is not enough for it camping, it can increase those number of penalty units. Because the, sorry, a penalty unit is $166, we can, the number of units that apply, we can increase. Amelia Lorentson 40:55.900
That, I actually that, I think it does fit into this local law, Clint, if you can just sort of bear with me. So parking a vehicle for the purposes of overnight accommodation. So the issue I think we have with parking a vehicle as opposed to parking a person is really different. It's easier for it for us to infringe a vehicle. It's safer for local laws officers just to drive past and infringe them. At the moment the issue with infringing an illegal camper is that you physically need to get the person out of the camper van in the middle of the night and hand them over the fine. So I'm wondering under this local law, which is parking, whether we can create a category for vehicles that overnight and then to find define what that looks like. I guess we're off, okay. Sorry, do you know? Clint 41:55.150
Well, I kind of do. So I guess what I'm saying, just to go back to the. Basics here with this. For this report, the amendment is. Proposed amendments are as we. As put on the screen. What I'm saying is, that. And it goes, doesn't matter about where it kind of sits, I guess what I'm outlining as a process is that these amendments are as they sit, if we want to make future changes to them, we can certainly look at how we do that, and I'm happy to take legal advice, process advice about how we get the right outcome for the community, so I'm not saying no to that. At all. Richard MacGillivray 42:37.425
I just add, and further to your point, Amelia, I think the challenge with trying to fit in that differential that you're stating is that there's still a need for entry requirements even if there's a person in the vehicle, you still need to understand were they, you know, occupying it overnight, so I guess that's where some of our other tools like our signage and parking management plans and the like can help to assist to deter those sorts of practices as well the challenge at the moment as you pointed is for camping controls there's a requirement there to essentially obtain evidence regarding the person there overnight sleeping as opposed to just parking the vehicle so so that's you know currently asked that based on those two evidentiary elements one is it purely the vehicle based the one is the actual camping activity so but we can take it on board for local review rounds, absolutely. Unidentified Speaker 43:29.740
I appreciate it thank you just any amendment would have to follow the same process which is a Amelia Lorentson 43:37.540
Very big process I understand that public interest. Brian Stockwell 43:41.763
Councillor Finzel you've got your hand up if you've got a question. Karen Finzel 43:46.166
Yes thank you Mr Chair a lot of them have been answered around the table thank you everyone for your input and for the staff of the reports given the need for alternative solutions was raised post the community feedback and given the conversation give them a around the table what is the plan towards investing in further education around these issues to the public around, you know, like things we've discussed around with the stuccus around the camping for example as opposed to like a parking violation is there an intention to be providing further education and how is that to be managed Richard MacGillivray 44:28.535
I'm happy yeah I'm happy to answer that Councillor so we obviously with this piece of work itself we will publicise it so obviously it goes through a gazettal process and then we will push out some comms as well around this particular change there's also mention and then we're working closely with our traffic and transport team who are undertaking a lot of work at the moment regarding parking management plans and looking at locality based parking management and making sure it's fit for purpose and effective at regulating and managing behaviour and parking that meets the needs of our community and businesses so that work is sort of underway and this is I guess one small piece of a bigger piece of work that Council is undertaking regarding managing and dealing with congestion and parking more broadly so will that there'll be ongoing work be undertaken with Local Laws but also with our traffic and transport team to really spend a lot more focus and education and awareness and obviously things like signage will be looked at as part of the upcoming and ongoing reviews across the Shire. Amelia Lorentson 45:34.852
Okay sorry I've got a question still. Brian Stockwell 45:39.023
I'll talk first and then ask the question. So the amendments as proposed are there to increase the deterrence and to try make us equipped. With like councils. It was interesting about the concept of the-of is cost of living and crisis in fact not enforcing parking regulations and not increasing the deterrence is probably having an impact on cost of living. Not only is it more difficult to find a car park if people are overstaying and people are spending extra on petrol, but it's also the fact that if we're not raising the revenue through enforcement, we're not paying for the staff. Therefore, the general rate payer has to pay for them. So, in fact, to me, if you're looking at reducing the cost of living, you want to make sure you comply with the effective, and so what this does for the majority of the offences, it increases the penalty cost of about $41. Now, it would be interesting to monitor, see. If that $41 is a neck-free deterrent, or if it's a deterrent in some areas, say the hinterland versus Hastings Street, because the anecdotal advice is that a number of people get a fine in Hastings Street, and they say, "Well, that's how much it normally costs me to park anywhere." So, increasing it by $41 doesn't make a difference. The big one that does change, obviously, is parking in the disabled zones, and that's gone up by two penalty points, or over $360. So, that's obviously to really reinforce that we have a lot of need for those disabled spots to be kept for the right places. So, I support the amendments. I think they go in the right direction. I think it would be interesting to see if we can plot a percentage or increase decrease. Or there will as you said, there be will other factors beyond our control that may influence there's a number of visitors in town, for example, but there may be ways to just assess if the dollar figure and any advertising as a further deterrence. Of such does act differently. Amelia Lorentson 47:37.854
Yeah, it sort of ties in with what you just said, Councillor Stockwell. So, the submissions really highlighted the shortage of disability bays and the fact that they're being misused. In terms of signage, the increase, the penalty is actually $668, which is dollars it would be really great to have that actually on the signage because I think that would be probably one of the major deterrents, $668, whether you're going for a surf or Hastings Street shopping is $668. It's a lot of money so just a question, will you be considering putting the actual amount on the signage? Clint 48:31.624
Through the Chair, I would have to think about that because the penalty unit changes every year. Richard MacGillivray 48:37.700
I was going to add that Councillor yes the challenge would be every year we would need to increase and change all the signage across all disability parking bays to have the amount, so that's I guess the challenge. The penalty units change every single year. Amelia Lorentson 48:55.113
But I agree with you around. A removable waterproof sticker. Removable peel it off. Richard MacGillivray 49:00.240
Yeah, yeah. So we'll have to think about the ways in which other messaging that can be used to help deter Unidentified Speaker 49:08.391
People who do targeted focus areas. Clint 49:11.094
We probably, Through the Chair Councillor, we I mean, probably. I mean, off the back of the notification period of this, we would probably get into a more periodic, yeah, but a more regular kind of advertising, you know, updates around, did you know parking here could. I think that's probably a more efficient way of us, you know, getting the message out perhaps than the signs. I'm not discounting the signs, it just comes to my mind that maybe we should do more updates and it's something that Richard and should all be talking about in here too to be a bit more proactive as we talked about earlier today about what we're doing in these spaces and around the education because it's not just the compliance part, you know, it's education before compliance so kind of going along with what it's saying. I think there's probably a suite of different things that we can do that would probably be quite effective so we could probably take that offline, have a look at that suite of alternatives as well. Excellent, Amelia Lorentson 50:16.750
Thank you Clint. Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 50:24.150
My apologies I can't get my hand down. Brian Stockwell 50:26.303
From now on you on in the meeting just let me know if you've got a question. Do other people wish to talk to the motion? Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 50:36.252
Just very very briefly I'm going to say I support the recommendation and I'm just noting that these fees are avoidable Frank Wilkie 50:48.092
Not going to speak now because Councillor Wilson has shamed me by her brevity. I support the amendment. But- What he said is a better three minute question than you said it in five seconds here. Brian Stockwell 51:02.214
I was, I will. Others? I will close it. I actually was thinking about the idea of signing, but I would think that had a few strategically located signs about illegal camping. Camp here, $666. Camp at one of council's caravan parks, $35. And let them make the decision, no? Jessica Phillips 51:23.165
But, yes, I think okay, Brian Stockwell 51:27.588
Oop. Okay. So that's all I have to say. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Yes. Oh, thank you. That's carried unanimously, so Thank you. Thanks, Clint. Thank you, Hayley. See you. So the next item is. Next item. 3, workplace health and safety and reports 24/25. And we have Director Gatt and two workplace health and safety-looking people. With woodby, I'll let you introduce our. Margaret Gatt 52:08.757
Thank you, Through the Chair. Good afternoon, Clint councils. We have Julianne Hoban and the manager of community and culture with us today. We also have Craig Hodgson. Both Julianne and Craig will take you through the annual workplace health and safety report. Brian Stockwell 52:29.389
Take up a half question for you. Craig Hodgson 52:34.671
So this report provides a summary of the health and work health place health and safety activities undertaken by Noosa Council through 2024 and 2025. Council transitioned to workers compensation insurance provided from local government, LGW, over across to WorkCover Queensland. We completed this in November last year represents a cost in the savings to Council. The achievement is 1.6% reduction to percent which is based on your table work wages and from the Councillors it's down to 0.5% so you came from 3.2% down to 0.5% and the WHS team completed 157 suitable duty plans for work and non-work related injuries. This assists employees to return to work reducing lost time. There were 13 LTI's in the financial year. Most of them were repetitive movements, strains, cuts to hands and required medical attention and they were off to work. Also in that point, we reduced our MTI's by 3 MTIs increased our near-miss reporting, which is great, it prevents injuries, which is a very positive event. As a consequence to health and safety, reps leading at toolbox stores that highly they valued the reporting of near misses. We also reduced the incidences involving property to Council and cars and the rest of them were about the same. We're making action. Remediation from the WHS to reduce LTIs included rotating of tasks between employees, awareness of to awareness of repetitive injuries and training in PPE equipment and manual handling training which is ongoing. Council has not received any notification incidents or notifications from WHSQ or the Electrical Safety Office. WHS are working to reduce outstanding actions down from 189 to 63. WHS team continues to close out the remaining actions in cooperation with the respondent areas. The inspections, there was 250 corrective completed in the year 2025 and 150 an increase of 152 in a year. The WHS team completed flu vaccinations, hearing tests and speaker medicals, skin checks and mask fitting, The each year. The WHS team has coordinated approximately 800 appointments across Council to ensure compliance with the WHS Act, health and wellbeing thank you. Of our Council employees. Brian Stockwell 55:43.488
Questions? I'll start. Amelia Lorentson 55:48.553
Just in terms of how we're going compared to other Queensland councils, have we benchmarked? I'd really love to understand, you know all sorts of things. Claim costs. What are our claim costs compared to other councils? What's our LTIFR compared to other councils? Just to really see how we're faring and Council with similar tiers as Noosa Council. Margaret Gatt 56:20.786
Through the Chair I'm happy to answer that. Thank you. Whilst we don't have that detail in this report, we usually do extract that from our insurer. Excellent. They provide that detail and it's a public record. So we can take that question not on notice, I'm partially responding Amelia Lorentson 56:37.986
It and I can provide that information to you at a future date. Thank you. And there was a lot to unpack in this report. Will there be an opportunity for the Councillors maybe to unpack some of this information? Just to understand, you know. And, someone that's absent for an injury, is it a major injury or not such a significant injury, can that opportunity be afforded to us at some stage soon? Margaret Gatt 57:10.277
Through the Chair, I've had a conversation with the CEO and the Acting CEO around providing some more background data to assist the Councillors in understanding what the data is telling us. Obviously, we keep confidential information. Of, you know, staffing names and et cetera, So, just as an example as well, we've probably been a little bit remiss of myself not to explain what the acronyms stand for. We just assume that everybody knows what an LTI is and what an MTI is. So, lost time injury and a medical time injury, et cetera, and things like that. So, yes, we'll take that request on notice and I'll work with the Acting CEO to see when we can schedule that in to provide you a little bit more understanding as to what's behind the metrics. Appreciate it. Amelia Lorentson 58:03.360
And I've got a lot, I'll just ask one more for now. The first thing that sort of stood out when I opened the report is Council has had no WHS audits this financial year. Is, why not, is probably the question. Margaret Gatt 58:20.308
I can actually hand that over to Graeme. Answer that question. Thank you Craig. Craig Hodgson 58:24.773
So before we came over to Council, LGW did a OIR audit, so WorkCover came in and did an audit on Council in 2022, I think it was off the top of my head. Council scored 71. Great. Is 70. The last time they did the audit, it's only four Councillors in Queensland passed. So we did quite well. And the year before, four years back, we passed again with around 71, 72. I'd have to go and look at the numbers, but it's around that point um last year was a big e year with the workers' comp, getting trans-overed and all those sort of things. So no, we haven't looked at doing another. We do internal audits all the time, but we don't do an external. Kerri Contini 59:12.088
External audits typically are only done periodically, because they are expansive. They come in and they audit all of our documentation. Margaret Gatt 59:20.808
Very resource-intensive. Kerri Contini 59:22.908
Right through to. They're very thorough to on-the-spot site visits, where they will. Go around and visit all of our sites, ask staff questions. So they're very, very thorough. So typically, in the past, they've always been done every three or four years, because they can't possibly do every Council every year. But we are always appreciative of an audit. You know, we have a very strong workplace health and safety culture at Noosa Council but there's always room to improve. And we always get valuable learnings out of those audits. Amelia Lorentson 59:58.043
Fantastic. So there was significant savings from just switching our insurance providers. Did that savings get reinvested in what you just said Kerri? Margaret Gatt 01:00:11.097
I can respond to that. We don't, other than user charges, similar to the questioning before. Savings, but that revenue doesn't come into the line item in people and culture, if that makes sense. It does. Thank you, Matt. Thank you. I just wanted to ride Through the Chair again to give you some confidence around auditing as well so the office of justice attorney in general which is where workplace health and safety as a department sits under they will regularly review any even such as this Council meeting and the report that's tabled with the Minutes they have operatives that regularly scan Council meetings and also would look at our annual report and any of the statistics with LGW if they ever saw anything of concern then they would as the regulator initiate an audit now we've not had that in my understanding of Council so but just to give you some confidence that there is a regulator will that's good their eyes so there is oversight there and if they have an issue then they will and it will be a compliance order we won't have any opportunity to say we can't participate because we're too busy that will just be imposed upon us so that does that yeah that's there Brian Stockwell 01:01:52.998
Great. I couldn't think of a hard question. I think I'll give a straightforward one. I think I've identified a typo in the table. Thank you. That had duration, band days, aids lots, much. I'm pretty sure it's most to admit that the final break column should be greater than 52, not less than 52. Margaret Gatt 01:02:14.310
Thank you, Through the Chair, for picking that up. Brian Stockwell 01:02:18.335
But when we look at that table, it's probably the core of what we have to consider. As councils, is when you compare to 2020, you see significant, '21, '22, significant reduction in total claims. In the last two years, we've had no claims that had a lost day greater than 26 days. And we see even in the eight, to 26 weeks, only one in two just reported here. So, if any other organisation does a report like that, showing that level time, of change, would they be happy? I don't- Sure. Know. I don't know. Should make sense. Think that's something to celebrate. Margaret Gatt 01:02:55.143
Thank you very much. Nicola Wilson 01:02:57.943
On the converse, though. Just to allow that in part five. There were 243 incidents in the 25 years compared with 189 in this year, an increase quite sharp in the injury incidents and requiring first aid. Do we have any sort of trends that we're aware of? Unidentified Speaker 01:03:19.799
And I will come back to you. There particular types of injuries that we're aware of? Margaret Gatt 01:03:25.416
I'm Through the Chair yet, but Craig can respond in terms of the first aid. What are types of Craig Hodgson 01:03:30.434
Hematoma they might be hands and cuts and things like that sprains and cuts sprains and cuts. A lot of injuries. We did a big push this year and last year to get people reporting because we weren't getting reports through. ELT. They've been helping us to get people to report things. The injuries were probably there but they weren't being reported before. Where now is we're getting them reported and we're foot so and we're getting on the front so we're cutting down the injuries also. A lot of new misses have been reported now and we're on top of those before they become an injury, if that makes sense. Kerri Contini 01:04:13.265
Typically in the past we would have people quick and thorough about reporting. Major injuries or that required further medical attention, but minor things people would just say "oh it's alright, we'll just keep on going with the flow" and we've encouraged. That's the sort of thing that's actually important to report because we can learn from that to make sure that it doesn't turn into a more serious injury. So we've seen an uptake in that reporting. Margaret Gatt 01:04:43.203
And Through the Chair, if I can just highlight on that, the increase that you will see in that area. Five on near miss reporting. Craig did mention that earlier on in speaking point, but I just wanted to highlight that for the community as well. That's a very positive increase. So that's an increase of 34. And that's as a consequence of the health and safety reps leading toolbox tours, so that they highlight the value of reporting near misses. And that's critical in identifying potential hazards before they lead to injury. So it's almost like a converse. It's an increase, but it's very positive. And I suppose the other one I wanted to emphasise as well is the reduction in incidences involving property by 11 in relation to Council and private vehicles. Yeah, I just thought I'd make that point. And the other one that I just thought I'd point out, under workplace health and safety training, so whilst that does not look particularly positive under section 7 of the report, where it's saying we've only averaged 64%, which falls below expectations, what happens is with our current system, it issues out Take 5 training requests across the whole organisation. So as an example, it will issue one to say the Acting Director of corporate that might be related to working at heights or confined space training. Silica dust training. Now that's related. Not to my role. Yes, I could undertake that training so that I'm aware of what the code of practice is saying, but I probably wouldn't prioritise that. Conversely, there might be some office-based training that is distributed to an external staff member that's not relative. So that's how those statistics get a little bit blurred, but we're looking at a potential alternative data capture and reporting system for workplace health and safety moving forward that we hope has got a lot more smarts and analytics in it and that we can provide more clarity in our reporting. I appreciate it. Kerri Contini 01:06:42.863
You're going to look for any area of significant improvement it's in our back end workplace health and safety system which yes which was like a good when we put it in but it is now well outdated and it makes it difficult for us to really interrogate data it produces kind of bulk data not nuanced data that helps us really identify where the gaps and opportunities are where the problems might be that would be I think our next maturing as a workplace health and safety culture Amelia Lorentson 01:07:18.435
And I appreciate that because I think when I first read the report I was a little bit concerned you know total incidences rose from 189 to 243 61 243 out 61 out of 107 inspections seven inspections were completed the take five completion rates at only 64% but when I got context around that made me feel really well assured that we're in a really good space should so any further information or detail and or how we can improve the report really really recommend it Frank Wilkie 01:07:56.961
Thank you just to follow up on that does that mean you will be able to send appropriate training modules to staff that are roles specific to staff that would Through the Chair back that's what city Acting CEO was referring to Margaret Gatt 01:08:16.382
Yes that's the aim Kerri Contini 01:08:19.606
And for example at the moment it's very difficult in our system so if you look at the hazard inspections it doesn't differentiate between whether that is something very minor like a paper sign needs to be updated or something major victims list them all as things that need to be rectified but similarly to first aid instances it doesn't mention whether that's some it doesn't cat categorize this is somebody needs a band-aid putting or someone he had to be taken to hospital the system just simply doesn't allow us for that kind of detail and that's where we need to go to get better rigorous data and better ability to target training and target actions where they need to go. Yeah. Brian Stockwell 01:09:06.060
Hmm. I'm happy to hear learn it Mr Chair. Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Lorentson. Jessica Phillips 01:09:10.784
Excuse me Mr Chair. Brian Stockwell 01:09:12.360
I've it's been moved in the and seconded. That you can ask questions after the head talk. Thanks Councillor to you, too? Finzel. Yeah. Frank Wilkie 01:09:22.949
Work. We've received workplace health and safety reports before. This to my memory is the most detailed and extensive I've ever seen. It has a lot of data in there that I, too, would appreciate an extra session to unpack to understand the training and that you've got underway or plan to implement to mitigate these risks. A so I really appreciate it, there's a lot of things I do not understand that you're doing at an operational level and I would like to, because I know it's important work. And Craig, I would thank you for your report. It is, as I said, the most comprehensive WH &S report I've seen. And you perhaps have the most important job in the organisation because. Your role is about ensuring that our employers are kept safe and that they go home safely to their families. And I know that everything in this report, from what I've read, is geared towards lowering that lost time to injury rate, which is the most important. Sure getting it as close to zero as possible. But in order to do that, I would appreciate another session, because there's a lot of really great programs underway and proposed, and thank you very much for the work you're doing. Brian Stockwell 01:10:43.937
Okay, thank you. Karen Finzel 01:10:45.240
Now, Councillor Finzel. Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you for the report. I have some questions around psychosocial hazards in the workplace regarding strategic support and governance moving into the future. I guess perhaps maybe staff could give us some further information. I know there's comments around health and wellbeing initiatives and for the future to address potential hazards and there's also support for staff to raise work related or personal concerns. The in the report or moving forward, is there going to be opportunities to address some examples of psychosocial hazards like high job demands, work overflow, low job control, lack of role clarity or poor organisation how are we planning to address that and report that Margaret Gatt 01:11:46.255
Moving forward? Through the Chair, Councillor Finzel, I can respond to that. As you'd be aware and the other Councillors, we have had that wellbeing at work survey which was in essence a high level risk assessment of the psychosocial hazards contained within Noosa Council and the organisation has responded by multiple action plans address those concerns such as those themes that you raised Councillor Finzel, like high job demands, lack of clarity and organisational justice August, just to identify a couple, those action plans those action plans continue to be monitored and reported on through to the executive team but it's certainly an ongoing piece of work and I would suggest that between now and December at the end of December of is the commitment I gave to Councillors when I and the CEO Larry provided an update to the Councillors on that well-being at work survey we did give a commitment that we would come back and provide a further report on that in terms of the status of the action plans and the effectiveness of those action plans and further mitigation strategies moving forward thank you oh sorry thank you and an acting state yeah acting see I was just mentioned as well report we also have another wellness initiative called the thrive at work program which I'm sure some of you are aware of which are fitness activities and other mental health initiatives that people can participate free and during work time Karen Finzel 01:13:30.205
Thank you, that's great in terms of reporting is this something that will become like something embedded in this report moving forward is that the plan Margaret Gatt 01:13:40.419
Through the Chair Councillor Finzel I can take that on notice and I'll have the discussion with Julianne as the manager of P&C around where the appropriate forum is for that reporting such as that well-being at work, ongoing reporting, whether we incorporate it into this or we keep it as a standalone report Karen Finzel 01:13:58.198
Thank you that's encouraging I look forward to the reply to that question thank you and keep up the good work okay does anyone else wish to talk to motion Councillors Nicola Wilson 01:14:09.411
Thank you for the report it's really good to see the ongoing training the toolbox talks the encouraging that culture reporting I think that's really important and reading this report took me back to my days at Caltex where I was the head of management reporting there and that was such a big topic a big focus there and also my work at Qantas as well so it was really a reminder that used to be front and centre of pretty much everything that started with a safety topic and just having that culture embedded in the organisation is so important it's probably something that we as a Council haven't seen too much on so far. I think we've had a presentation to the auditing risk committee last year but otherwise we kind of don't see these stats too often so I think it is great to actually highlight that this is so important and to keep track of where we're at. Amelia Lorentson 01:15:08.503
And thank the WHS team. Thank you very much. I think my take home when I read the report and I've been doing this job now five years is Council is really serious about safety and you know I'm a big believer in continuous improvement and we as Councillors have that opportunity to help helping support your team whether it's extra staffing or more finances so please talk to us this is really important you know happy staff happy community it's important that we keep our staff safe and supported so thank you for your excellent work. Brian Stockwell 01:15:59.246
Brought him back by now previously if we had to. We have some guest speakers on workplace health and safety issues like ex-Bronco player Shane Webcke if any of our staff are sharks supporters or raiders supporters you might want to make a special effort this week. Would you like a glass? To close? Nothing. No, thank you. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Yes, both people? We'll make that unanimous. Thank you for your report and that brings us to the end of the agenda. There have been no confidential sessions. Meeting closed at 1:49. Thank you guys. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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