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 00:00.000
Can someone wish to move the confirmation of General Committee Meeting on 18th August? I'll meet you second. Seconded by Councillor Lorentson. No need for discussion, I presume. All in favour? 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 00:36.264
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 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 to approve things nearly the last page that's it there Brian Stockwell 01:22.139
Okay and we have an amended recommendation wish to discuss this matter okay I shall shall thank you I'll put the motion those in favour yeah yes that carried unanimously thank you Patrick now we have bring up our Acting Director Corporate Services and Acting Manager of Finance to with the financial deal performance report for August 2025 good Margaret Gatt 02:04.647
Good morning, councillors I'll hand over straight over to Dave to take us through the monthly finance report. David 02:13.410
Good 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 year there are no issues of financial concern from our perspective with how the organisation is tracking financially. Council's overall financial performance was a net surplus of 38.5 against 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 change a 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 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 $106,000. 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 managed to procure. And they will be subject to further amendment in its budget review. They include the Resilient Rivers, illegal dumping, and food organics programs. In terms of operating expenditure, again, all 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 with our 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 rates. And that's mainly due to the slow take 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 point 7 and that's mainly made up of 0.4 into 5. 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 developer contributions are really 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% 95.8 million dollar capital works program in terms of cash we were sitting on had 137.3 million of cash reserves and that compares favourably to what August. In previous financial year and that was 123.1 million dollars. So I'm happy to take any questions and Brian Stockwell 06:33.757
You've we've got and it's just maybe it's right Amelia Lorentson 06:41.037
You left also Councillor Stockwell that's right I have my hand up that's okay oh no just to let you know I'm sitting next to you Brian Stockwell 06:48.081
Yeah the commentary on employee costs I couldn't quite work out how it got to 282 but can you it talks about employee costs are under 282 then 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 of David 07:09.941
Vacancies across the board and they're being offset by lower capitalisation rates, which is thousand remember for 337 there's some associated higher employee costs of 193 and overtime costs of 186 and you have the overtime costs of 186 can be directly attributable to the lower levels of um so if Brian Stockwell 07:37.241
We took those last three figures off the million dollars would come up yeah that's how it works thank you basically Councillor Amelia Lorentson 07:44.020
I've got a few questions but I'll start with the cash reserve 137.3 million so every of report we see it growing my question's really probably a 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 underutilize. Public funds and I and I asked the question just and I go back to our capital works program delays 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 David 08:55.708
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 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 Frank Wilkie 09:35.587
To decline David 09:36.327
The other contributing factories we've just issued our rates so our rates, our cash balances would have an 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 09:57.391
Yeah because there could be almost an over-reliance and it might stop us from really actively getting into the space of diversification when we of diversification when we know that we're getting this passive income by just putting as much as we want into QTC and other QTC and other banking institutes David 10:20.515
Yeah that's right the our cash balances too are largely attributable to what we said we were going to deliver in the budget so if we said we're 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 continue to grow Margaret Gatt 10:44.171
And Through the Chair I could just make feel necessary we 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 in the community that we are managing our cash appropriately. Excellent and also 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 thank Amelia Lorentson 11:29.601
We can do that that'd be great thank you Frank Wilkie 11:31.979
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 an essentially constrained cash and allows this council to do what it set out to do when we unanimously endorse the budget David 11:56.590
No there is not you Brian Stockwell 12:01.130
Might leave it to you have the motion uh believe me Frank Wilkie 12:05.202
Sorry is that correct David 12:06.402
Now there's a question um technically from if I put my accounting hat on it's not constrained the constrained component rests with what's in trust or what is unspent leaves pretty technically 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 um the target is three times our operating expenditure but that's based on a yearly trend you are right it is what we need to constrain to maintain operations Frank Wilkie 12:48.482
Including a is it sorry question does this include a reserve that's imposed by the State as government well is it three times David 13:00.790
No it's there's no reserve mandated by the State it's recommended targets and but council through its own processes determines that it will constrain further sums of cash like it constrains 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 management so that starts to whittle down Margaret Gatt 13:42.578
Yeah and Through the Chair again if I just like 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 with our system we can't issue our rates as an example we've got six months cash cover ratio allowance there to continue our operations in the event of something happening to our revenue sources. Director Gatt, does the State require a minimum cash cover? Amelia Lorentson 14:23.530
Yes of three months so we will exceed the local government 8.7 yep. David 14:32.482
They're targeted pressures. Frank Wilkie 14:34.521
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 to lower than anticipated vacancies. I'm 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. Apologies. That's all right. The other question I had was the, in the summary of key materials and service expenditure variances, could you explain the 115,000 variance for communications and IT? David 15:18.657
Yeah, that's mainly, that's mainly. Telecommunications charges, our ICT contracts with our service providers. They're over one? No, they're under a hundred. Okay, so why is that? It's mainly, 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 15:46.385
Okay, thank you. Margaret Gatt 15:48.705
Sometime through the charity. Chair again, just to add to those comments, sometimes it's 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. Not an actual variance in expenditure, it's a timing issue. Frank Wilkie 16:14.189
And final question, Mr Chair. When do we expect to receive the Unitywater dividend? David 16:20.609
What time 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 received, but I don't know. I'd 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 a, 000 at the year-end for that payment. Frank Wilkie 17:05.352
And if I read the budget documents correctly we're predicting 5.95 million from Unitywater in kittiland, texaco, and that's a good one, seminole. You want an interest? That's right. Are we close to that target? David 17:22.440
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 17:36.344
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 17:49.548
I did, I'll take it off the line. It's a question for Director Gatt but it's fine thank you. Brian Stockwell 17:54.928
Okay and Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 17:57.848
Just back on the employee costs again, the lower capitalisation rates, is that a timing thing again or is it capitalisation? David 18:05.488
It's through you Mr Chair. Basically it is. Because we've only amount spent a small 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. Brian Stockwell 18:30.244
Council Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 18:34.684
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 Brian Stockwell 19:36.102
You answer there's quite a few questions there ones that are broader than a that. Financial report and asking finance staff about matters that are probably organisational-wide. David 19:48.008
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 Amelia Lorentson 20:00.888
Services, thank you. Brian Stockwell 20:03.494
And let me take the rest of the knowledge. Thank you. Happy to Chair. Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Wilson. Frank Wilkie 20:20.074
Thank you for the extensive and detailed financial report. I'm glad to have you on board with that. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie. That's it. Brian Stockwell 20:28.380
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 we could do one of the reviews and came up 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 the waste area that would see that balance quickly come down if we were to proceed in with some of those larger projects. Amelia Lorentson 21:11.098
Just a shout out to Marg and your team you guys a lot and these reports don't just happen so I just really want to do acknowledge the hard-working team that bring these reports to us every month. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 21:37.788
Those in favour yes that carried unanimously thank you we then move on to the next item which is a proposed amendment to support local law number 5, parking, 2015. We and we have the acting manager and Director, to run us through the outcomes process. Clint 22:17.481
I'll summary as written. That's okay. The Special Meeting on the 3rd of June 2025. Resolve. Council to propose to make parking amendment subordinate local law number one 2025. Council also Resolve to commence community consultation with the intent of amending subordinate local law number five parking 2015. Accordingly community consultation was undertaken on proposed amendments to schedule three 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 conceded. 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. Given overall positive feedback, however, it is proposed council proceed to Resolve to make parking amendments subordinate to 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. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 23:46.377
Questions? For the Frank Wilkie 23:53.130
Thank report. In some of the submissions you mentioned that there was, 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 24:13.447
Yeah, so some of 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. 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. The parking car has been 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 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. There's a lot of potential for us to utilise that technology. Utilise 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 probably the primary problem example that we would have. Frank Wilkie 25:52.326
You qualify in terms of number of complaints received about how illegal camping has driven this some of these changes Clint 26:02.295
Well legal Through the Chair illegal camping has been an issue across all coastal councils and this has been no exception but topical issue and it's a very visible issue so it is a component of all 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 in there so camping is a very 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 residents and tourists so it's a part of the overall package but not the Frank Wilkie 27:28.656
And final question in the submissions cost of living impacts was raised as a concern would you place that concern in context please about how these laws actually work Clint 27:43.261
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. 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 it's not pleasant however it's in context it's not the same as the charge that everyone bears in the community. And there are appeals processes in place should someone feel aggrieved 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 yeah I mean that process is very important to us so and that will stay. Yeah so similar in principle to incurring a speeding ticket. You only incur it if you're infringed and then you have appeal. Yeah I mean Through the Chair it only applies if you're a speeder. Um if you 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. Frank Wilkie 30:01.701
Thank you. Brian Stockwell 30:02.681
Any other questions? I do. Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 30:09.601
Thank you just a few questions. Thanks other 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? Yes. Yeah, it's through the amendment process. Does this just get a legal overview? At least a clearer way. Clint 30:43.580
Yeah, okay, so Through the Chair, it does get a legal overview and we've used key in code, 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 and 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 to make sure also I'm looking at the anti-competitive provisions there are the item number six. Need to go through and I'd also mention as well we referenced the local law making process within the report as well Councillor. 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 largo law. Jessica Phillips 32:03.668
Okay yeah this is just, I've got a few for life. Do you want me to go through all mine or 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 32:32.882
Yellow yep 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. 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 the 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 33:24.641
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 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 34:12.627
Yeah, that's fine. So Through the Chair, and we make reference to that too, council, within the report. 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. The and Mayor mentioned before around illegal overnight camping, for example. We get that pop up in all areas of the Shire, to be honest, but particularly the coastal the area of the realised revenue will be put back into those patrols, improving behaviour and trying to enhance the community. Amenity and liveability. It will be put to good use. Jessica Phillips 35:35.377
Okay. That go into our signage? Just so I'm thinking about making sure that we're trying to deter. Brian Stockwell 35:42.889
Councillor, we're going into very general discussion about how council budgets. We're not talking about the subordinate local law. So I'm not going to allow you to question. Jessica Phillips 35:54.969
That's fine. I've got one more around local water, 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 shared back with our local laws to make sure that they're targeting the same complaints that might come through a different process. Clint 36:18.008
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 also got very good lines of communication. So they're communicating with us constantly on problem areas and issues within the Shire. So, and also, we also 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 meet formally, communication lines are much open, so we're in a very good information sharing space at the moment. Jessica Phillips 37:12.051
Thank great. Brian Stockwell 37:14.011
Do you have a question? No, I was just pointing to something. Oh, okay. Amelia Lorentson 37:20.551
Just a couple of questions. Clint, you mentioned the ideal. 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? Brian Stockwell 37:48.370
Sorry, the Chair. Has it changed behaviour? Clint 37:53.190
And I know it's not one in isolation, but given that that's the drive. Councillor, I'm happy to report on anything. Can do. Look, behaviour change is you're talking about trends, 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. 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 may not be able to be put down to a specific, you know. Issue. Amelia Lorentson 38:50.127
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 yeah. The impacts, whether it's environmental and amenity, are greater for a camper. Or with 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 39:42.209
Yeah, so Through the Chair, I do appreciate the pre-question. I'm now prepared. So the camping side of things is contained within Local Law No. 4. So there's a 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, that would come under another local laws review. So it doesn't sit within parking, it sits within local law number four, which is related as a camping provision within the local law within Local Law No. 4. So 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 camping it can increase those number of penalty units because the pet sorry the penalty unit is $166 we can the number of units that apply we can increase Amelia Lorentson 40:54.667
That I actually 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 that we can create a category for vehicles that park overnight and then define what that looks like I guess we're okay so sorry do you know what I kind of do Clint 41:56.246
So I guess what I'm saying is 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 is that it doesn't matter about what 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 how we do that 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 Richard MacGillivray 42:37.365
Just add in further to your point Amelia I think the challenge with trying to fit in that differential what you're stating is that there's still an evidentiary requirements even if there's a person in the vehicle you still need to understand where 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 in it as opposed to parking the vehicle 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. Amelia Lorentson 43:29.740
I appreciate it thank you just any amendment would have to follow the same process which is a very big process I understand that public interest. Brian Stockwell 43:41.380
Councillor Finzel you've got your hand up if you've got a question. SPEAKER_03 43:45.145
Yes 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 Karen Finzel 44:00.125
And table what is the plan towards investing in further education around these issues SPEAKER_03 44:10.009
To the public around you know, like things we've discussed 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 44:27.975
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 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 there'll be ongoing work will undertaken with local walls 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 45:34.571
Okay sorry I've got a question still. Brian Stockwell 45:38.851
I'll talk first and then ask the question. So the amendments as proposed are there to increase the deterrence and to try with like councils. It was interesting about the concept of the cost-of-living crisis is 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 and 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 is for the majority of the offences it increases the penalty cost of about $41. Now it would be interesting to monitor to see if that $41 is an extra deterrent and or if it's deterrent into 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 to for the right places so I support the amendments I think that they go in the right direction I think it would be interesting to see if we can plot a percentage increase or decrease as you said there will be other beyond our control that may influence the number of visitors in town for example but there may be ways to just assess if the dollar figure and any advertising of such does act as a further deterrence. Amelia Lorentson 47:38.098
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 is substantial. Which it would be really great to have that actually on the signage because I think that would be probably one of the most 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 question will you be considering putting the actual amount on the signage Clint 48:30.592
Through the Chair I would have to think about that because it changed the penalty unit changes every Richard MacGillivray 48:37.374
I was going to add that Councillor yes be every year we would need to increase and change all the signage across all disability parking bays to have the amount yeah so that's I guess the challenge the penalty units change every single year but a removable waterproof sticker just peel it off yeah so we'll have to think about the ways in which other messaging that can be used to help deter people will do targeted folks here is Clint 49:10.758
We probably Through the Chair Councillor we 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 or you know updates around did you know parking here could I think that's probably a more efficient way of us 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 here to 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 now it's education before compliance so kind of going along with what it's saying there's a sweden 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. Amelia Lorentson 50:17.523
Councillor pindell. Finzel. SPEAKER_03 50:23.647
My apologies I can't get my hand down. Brian Stockwell 50:26.527
From now on in the meeting just let me know if you've got a question. Do other people wish to talk to the motion? SPEAKER_03 50:35.507
Councillor Wilson 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 50:47.572
I'm not going to speak now because Councillor Wilson has shamed me by but all right, I support the, uh. Amendment. Brian Stockwell 50:56.214
What he said is a better three minute question than you said it in five seconds here. Others? I will close it. I actually was thinking about the idea of signing, but I would think that. We've 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? Thank you. Okay, so, that's all I have to say. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? Yes. Oh, that's carried unanimously, so thank you. Thanks, Clint. Hayley. See you. Next item is three, workplace health and safety and reports 24/25. And we have Director Gatt and two to workplace health and safety looking people. With woodby, I'll let you introduce our councillors. Margaret Gatt 52:08.426
Thank you, Through the Chair. Good afternoon, dear councillors. 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 52:29.308
Take up a half question for you. Craig Hodgson 52:34.008
So this report provides a summary of the 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 it represents a cost in the savings to council. The achievement is 1.6 percent reduction to our premium 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. WHS 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 three. Increased our near-miss reporting which is great it prevents injuries which is a very positive in it as consequence to health and safety reps leading at toolbox stores that highly value the reporting of near misses. We also reduced the incidences involving property to council and cars and the rest of them are about the same. Remediation we're making action. 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 responded areas the inspections there's 250 corrective were completed in the year 2025 and an increase of 152 in a year the WHS team completed flu vaccinations hearing test and speaker medicals skin checks and mass-feeding testing over the thornage. Phone financial injury year, the WHS team has coordinated approximately 800 phone entry appointments across council to ensure compliance with the WHS Act health and well-being of our council employees. Brian Stockwell 55:43.254
Thank you. Questions? Amelia Lorentson 55:45.627
I'll start. Just in terms of how we're going compared to other Queensland councils, have we benchmarked? I'd really love to understand, you know, 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? Through the Chair, I'm happy to answer Margaret Gatt 56:22.305
Thank you. Whilst we don't have that detail in this report, we actually 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. Amelia Lorentson 56:36.585
I'm partially responding to 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. 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 57:09.155
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 in terms of, you know, staffing names and et cetera, 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. Amelia Lorentson 58:01.506
Appreciate it. 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 58:20.548
I can actually hand that over to Chris. You can answer that question. Thank you Craig. Craig Hodgson 58:24.708
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. Each of us is 70. The last time they did the audits, 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. Last year was a big year with the workers' comp getting trans-overed and all those sort of things. So no, we haven't looked at doing another. SPEAKER_03 59:10.618
We do internal audits all the time, but we don't do an audits external. Typically are only done periodically because they are expansive. They come in and they audit all of Margaret Gatt 59:19.168
Our documentation. Very resource intensive. SPEAKER_03 59:22.628
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 59:57.681
Fantastic. So there was significant savings from just switching our insurance providers. Did that savings get reinvested in what you've just said Kerri? Margaret Gatt 01:00:09.186
I can respond to that. We don't other than user charges similar to the questioning before. Around parking fines, that revenue will just come back into consolidated revenue or that savings. It's not like it comes then directly or we take a clip and bring it over to workplace health and safety. We would just go through the normal budget process through the year and if we've identified that we needed a obviously that would be offset then by those savings, but that revenue doesn't come into the line item in people and culture, if that makes sense. Thank much. I just wanted to ride Through the Chair again to give you some confidence around auditing as well. So the office of our 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, 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. 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 scan 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. Great. Brian Stockwell 01:01:51.836
Day so, I couldn't think of a hard question. I think I've, I'll give you a straightforward one, I think I've identified a typo in the table that had duration, band days, lots. I'm pretty sure it's much to admit that the final break column should be greater than 52 not less than 52 thank you Through the Chair for picking that up we will right but when we look at that table it's probably the core of what we have to consider when you compare to 2020 you see 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 8th and the 8th 26 weeks only one in two just reported here so if any other organisation does a report like that showing that level of change would they be happy we think that's something to celebrate yep thank you council listen SPEAKER_03 01:02:57.236
On the converse though, just below that in part 5 there were 243 incidents in the 25 years compared in this year, so there's an increase quite sharp in the injury incidents and requiring first aid. Do we have any sort of trends that we're aware of there or kind back to you Margaret Gatt 01:03:20.994
On that? Are there particular types of injuries that we're aware of? I'm through the G, but Craig can respond in terms of the first aid. What are the types of? Craig Hodgson 01:03:30.594
They might be hands and cuts and things like that, sprains and cups. 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 getting on the front foot 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 01:04:12.984
Typically in the past we would have people quick and thorough about reporting. Major injuries or injuries 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 right across the board to say 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 01:04:42.681
And Through the Chair, if I can just highlight on that the increase 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 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 one that I other 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 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. Or silica dust training. Now that's not related 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 cap 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. SPEAKER_03 01:06:43.001
Going to look for any significant improvement it's in our back end workplace health and safety system which yes which was it was a good system when we put it in, but it is now well outdated. 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 I work myself into agriculture. Is that the right last system? Amelia Lorentson 01:07:17.835
EASTMAN: 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 out of 107 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. Information or detail on how we can improve the report, really recommend it. Frank Wilkie 01:07:57.724
Thank just to follow up on that mean. You will be able to send appropriate training modules to staff that are appropriate roles specific to staff? That would, Through the Chair? What the Acting CEO was referring to? Margaret Gatt 01:08:16.043
Yes, Mayor Wilkie, that's the aim. Kerri Contini 01:08:18.901
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 sign that needs to be updated, or something major. It just lists them all as things that need to be rectified. But similarly to first aid instances, it doesn't mention whether that's, it doesn't categorise it as somebody needs a band-aid put in or 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. Brian Stockwell 01:09:06.380
I'm happy to be here, moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor Lorentson. Excuse me, Mr Chair. It's been moved and seconded. You can ask questions after the hit talk. Thanks, Councillor Finzel. Yeah. Frank Wilkie 01:09:22.069
We've received workplace health and safety reports before. This, to my memory, is the most detailed and extensive I've ever seen. A lot of data in there that I too would appreciate an extra session to unpack to understand the training and training that you've got underway or plan to implement to mitigate these risks. So I really appreciate it. There's a lot of things I do and I understand that you're doing it at an operational level and I would like to because I know it's important work. And Craig, I want to thank you for your report. It is, as I said, the most comprehensive WH &S and you perhaps have the most important job in the organisation because. 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 01:10:43.916
Okay, now, Councillor Finzel. Karen Finzel 01:10:48.097
Mr Chair. Thank you for 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 further information. I know there's comments around health and wellbeing initiatives and initiatives for the future to address potential hazards and there's also support for staff to raise work related or personal concerns. 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 organisational how are we planning to address that and report that Margaret Gatt 01:11:45.608
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 at work survey which was wellbeing 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 just to identify a couple. 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 wellbeing at work survey we did give a commitment that we would come back and provide a further report on that the action plans 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 Kerri Contini 01:13:52.198
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 Brian Stockwell 01:14:05.758
Okay does anyone else wish to talk to motion councillors Nicola Wilson 01:14:09.278
Thank you for the report it's really good to see the ongoing training the toolbox talks the encouraging that culture very 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 so important is and 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 01:15:05.435
I'd like to acknowledge 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 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 say our staff safe and supported so thank you for your excellent work Brian Stockwell 01:15:55.751
I'll talk. I think we may have him back but I know previously we had 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 special efforts this week. On the flip side I'm sure they support the broncos as well. Got to say. Would nothing. No thank you. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? And no-line. 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. Our meeting closed at 1:49. Amelia Lorentson 01:16:49.260
Thank you guys. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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