Special Meeting

Key Decisions & Discussions
• Frank Wilkie: Council moved to approve release of the Draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) for Phase 2 community engagement for six weeks, with dates corrected to 6 Aug–14 Sep 2025 (00:00; Item 4.1).
• Frank Wilkie: Resolution delegates the CEO authority to make minor edits before engagement commences (07:37; Item 4.1 D).
• Amelia Lorentson: Amendment adopted adding that community input will define “success” and inform a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to be delivered with the final DMP in Nov/Dec 2025; carried unanimously (13:46–15:53; Item 4.1 E).
• Kim Rawlings: Phase 2 engagement methods include info sessions, “coffee chats,” postcards to every household/business (~40,000), Your Say page, surveys, fact sheets, social media, print/radio, and stakeholder meetings (00:44–07:16; 36:09–38:29; Item 4.1 B–C).
• Kim Rawlings: Draft DMP reflects Phase 1 (Oct–Nov 2023) feedback; elections in early 2024 and Noosaville Foreshore work delayed Phase 2 to 2025 (00:44–02:32; Item 4.1 background).
• Frank Wilkie: DMP framed by four principles: respecting community, living our values, leading the way, tourism for good; actions span STA limits, funding pilots (paid parking with resident considerations; visitor levy), stewardship council, surf management, disaster readiness (08:40–13:46; Item 4.1).
• Kim Rawlings: Interactive digital platform (Genially) will let the community click into principles, actions, measures, and implications; fact sheets include dynamic parking and sustainable carrying capacity (16:33–18:20; Item 4.1 C).
• Lynne Banford: About 70% of community-suggested actions already underway in other plans; the remaining ~30% (more controversial) inform guiding principles (19:06–20:55; Item 4.1 context).
• Nicola Wilson: Community will get an overview distinguishing the 70% vs 30% via engagement materials (18:40–19:06; Item 4.1 C).
• Kim Rawlings: Implementation program will accompany the final DMP, with short/medium/long-term timing (38:43–39:46; Item 4.1 E intent).
• Karen Finzel: Council and partners (RTO/LTO) coordination and accountability discussed; commitment to KPIs and reporting reinforced (31:45–34:16; 39:52–45:10; Item 4.1 E).
• Jessica Phillips: Applauded novel engagement to reach time-poor residents and new voices (01:01:57–01:02:41; Item 4.1 C).
Contentious / Transparency Matters
• Amelia Lorentson: Sought clarity that the public can provide specific feedback (and effectively “vote” sentiment) on controversial proposals like congestion levies, paid parking, or access restrictions; staff confirmed detailed and short surveys plus further locality-based processes if ideas proceed (28:50–31:25; Item 4.1 B–C).
• Amelia Lorentson: Pressed for explicit KPIs, baseline data, and targets; amendment E ensures KPI design is co-developed with the community and published alongside the final DMP (14:39–15:53; Item 4.1 E).
• Kim Rawlings: “Managed access” to iconic sites is framed as sustainability-based capacity management, not exclusion, with methodologies and implications to be published (25:10–27:07; Item 4.1).
• Nicola Wilson: Emphasized clear, accessible data online so the community can interrogate details and implications (53:49–55:21; Item 4.1 C).
• Karen Finzel: Called for assurance on timelines, delivery risks, and ongoing reporting back to the community to maintain trust (35:35–36:09; 36:09–38:29; Item 4.1 E).
• Frank Wilkie: Date shift acknowledged due to IT readiness; submissions now accepted through Sunday 14 Sep to maximize participation (07:37–08:33; Item 4.1 B).
Legal / Risk
• Visitor contribution/levy pilots depend on State partnership; any charge on visitors likely requires State legislative enablement, aligning with the DMP’s “work with State” framing (08:40–13:46; 29:29–31:25; Item 4.1).
• Paid parking is within Council powers under local laws, but must comply with Local Government Act 2009 (Qld) processes and be supported by transparent cost–benefit and equity settings for residents (08:40–13:46; 28:50–31:25; Item 4.1).
• “Managed access” and carrying capacity controls must align with coastal, environmental and transport regimes (e.g., Coastal management and Maritime interfaces), ensuring lawful, non-discriminatory public access (25:10–27:07; Item 4.1).
• Surf management plan and river use implications will involve State agencies (Maritime Safety Qld) and require evidence-based safety/access rationales to withstand challenge (08:40–13:46; 25:10–27:07; Item 4.1).
• STA controls rely on planning scheme, local laws, rating and advocacy; enforcement must remain consistent with existing statutory instruments to avoid procedural unfairness (08:40–10:30; Item 4.1).
• Robust KPI framework with baselines mitigates judicial review risk over arbitrariness, and supports consistent decision-making and reporting duties (14:39–15:53; Item 4.1 E).
Tourism Funding & State Alignment
• Karen Finzel: Queried Queensland’s Destination 2045 funding; State has announced $1b over four years, incl. $446m new funding for product/aviation/events/TEQ support, potentially benefiting Noosa operators (21:21–22:38; Item 4.1 context).
• Kim Rawlings: LTO (Tourism Noosa) and RTO (Visit Sunshine Coast) collaborate on co-marketing, airport/industry initiatives; differing local vs regional priorities justify council’s direct LTO support (32:03–33:02; Item 4.1).
• Lynne Banford: Noted Noosa’s distinct values vs broader “supercharging the visitor economy” rhetoric; collaboration occurs where interests intersect (33:02–34:16; Item 4.1).
• Kim Rawlings: Council memberships: Caravan Parks Association of Qld and Ecotourism Australia, tied to council-owned holiday parks portfolio and sustainability practice (34:19–35:33; Item 4.1).
Carrying Capacity, Access & Environment
• Kim Rawlings: Carrying capacity assessment to preserve experience and ecosystems at iconic sites, drawing on established methodologies (e.g., Gari/K’gari precedent) and Noosa’s historic “population cap” concept (26:42–28:33; 25:10–27:07; Item 4.1).
• Frank Wilkie: Environmental stewardship central; joint custodian programs, disaster preparedness, plastic/water/energy reduction, and alignment of marketing to respectful audiences (08:40–13:46; Item 4.1).
• Tom Wegener: Framed DMP as “eternal vigilance” to avoid degradation seen in other destinations, leveraging Noosa’s biosphere credentials (51:21–53:33; Item 4.1 purpose).
• Brian Stockwell: Advocated a wellbeing/regenerative economy lens beyond GDP/GRP metrics, consistent with “managing success” and steady-state roots in Noosa policy history (45:31–50:44; Item 4.1 narrative).
Short Term Accommodation (STA) & Community Liveability
• Frank Wilkie: Priority actions include using planning scheme, local law, rates and advocacy to further limit STA spread in residential areas and support residents in high-demand areas (10:30–11:18; Item 4.1).
• Amelia Lorentson: Community concerns include congestion, overcrowding, too many events, and too many short stays; plan seeks balanced management with locals first (55:24–01:01:42; Item 4.1).
• Nicola Wilson: Stressed equilibrium between resident liveability and visitor economy, urging detailed public interrogation of data and proposals (53:49–55:21; Item 4.1).