General Committee Meeting, 16 February 2026
Date: Monday, 16 February 2026 at 12:30PM
Location: Noosa Shire Council Chambers, 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin, QLD 4565, Australia
Organiser: Noosa Shire Council
Duration: 02:11:31
Synopsis: Affordable housing MCU approved, Budget review: small surplus, capex cut, transparency queries, Major events funding split, Ops plan mixed, .7m fraud controls, ALGA motions.
Meeting Attendees
Committee Members
Brian Stockwell Karen Finzel Amelia Lorentson Jessica Phillips Frank Wilkie Nicola Wilson Executive Officers
Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock Director Community Services Kerri Contini Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt Director Development & Regulation Richard MacGillivray Acting Director Strategy And Environment Anita Lakeland Director Infrastructure Services Shaun Walsh Apologies (Did Not Attend)
Meeting Transcript
Brian Stockwell 00:01.181
And we acknowledge their elders past, present and emerging. We do have five, six Councillors in attendance with Councillor Wegener, an apology for today. The next item we have is the confirmation of minutes. Would someone like to move the General Committee Meeting of the 19th of January? We had a mover of Councillor Wilkie and second of Councillor Lorentson. I presume there's no debate, all those in favour? And that's unanimous. We have no presentations, nor do we have deputations. We have one matter referred from committee and that's regarding MCU 25.0118, application for Material Change of Use for multiple dwellings, affordable rental premises. And that's at 64 Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy. We welcome, to Coast2Bay. And just a reminder Councillors, today we're assessing this application not as the landowner, nor as the setting of the policy. We're here as the assessment manager. So our role is that's actually one of assessing compliance against the Planning Scheme. So, so, Georgina, would you like to give us an executive summary, please? Georgina 01:18.992
Thank you. Good afternoon, Councillors. So the application that we have today is for a Material Change of Use consisting of a multiple dwelling development in the form of affordable rental premises. The form of 25 small dwellings. And it's recommended for approval subject to conditions. Sorry, Cathy, would you be able to pop up that page for me? So I imagine we're all relatively familiar with this site as it is part of a larger Council project which included the approval of a subdivision for one into six lots. For clarity, we will be located on a future lot one which is at the front of the site here today. For, um, so for, so it was one to six lots, sorry, and that included a drainage reserve as well as a park lot. The recommended condition of approval is that no works are to commence until the title of future lot one has been created. So that essentially means that the road will be constructed, the park lot will be created, the drainage reserve will be created, as well as the landscaping will be in ground and planted along the common boundary. Of note, the proposal proposed development does consist of an affordable rental premises, so this is a new definition that's been introduced in the latest scheme amendment, which essentially means that the land use is secured as affordable housing and will be managed by a registered proper housing provider for the life of the development for clarity um I suppose we can go down and break into what an affordable rental premises is so that is affordable housing it consists of affordable housing entirely small dwellings so that means than each unit here 100 square metres in size it is owned and leased by a registered provider which in this instance is Coast2Bay and is meant and is managed by a registered community housing provider as a long-term rental housing for a minimum of 20 years the development the has development has been for clarity the development has been described correctly in a multiple housing development consisting of affordable rental premises while the Noosa Plan does not specifically refer or define social housing for clarity the proposal does meet the social housing requirements under the capital funding agreement. The proposed development in this location and in this zone being community facilities is a consistent land use the development was required to follow an impact consistent application pathway required a public notification which was over the course of 15 business days over that period 53 submissions were received and have been summarised within the report so you'll see that in a table format in terms of the compatibility of the development with this with the scheme and there are some minor variations to the acceptable outcomes which will start talking through if we can pop to the next slide please this is an area of variation which refers to the height so we are compliant with the CH required eight metre building height limit however we do have a three-story component in terms of where this is going to be seen on the site this is going to be limited to I suppose the construction of the new road so this render is taken in between the adjoining residential property to the east and it's limited to this elevation on the other elevation because the site isn't cut it will not be visible. This takes us to car parking layout so the Planning Scheme where it stipulates the number of car parking spaces that is to be provided per unit which is one per unit we have 25 units as well as one space per four units for visitor spaces so this results in a total demand of 25 spaces and 25 spaces and seven visitor spaces the development consists of six visitor spaces so in this instance we are short one car parking space in consideration of the site the constraints of the site this has been recommended for approval despite this area of variation this is noting the extent of communal open space available on the site our third point of variation is our building so as we can see on the screen it's quite limited it's the area that's shaded in red the area of variation on the east relates to roof form no impacts at ground level and this is a setback of five point six metres with the remaining of the building set back five metres area to the south of development that you can see is highlighted so that sort of requires a required setback of six metres as it adjoins another reserve they're seeking a varied setback within this location as well noting it will be joining road reserve which will also be landscaped this has been considered part of the assessment and negligible so be quite well screened um yes and then to our next point so we have unit 15 so the reason this one's in front of us today is because it is has a short full of private open space accessible from a little living room so the Planning Scheme requires a 20 square unit per at ground level in this instance with 17 we're short 33 square metres and that's why this is I suppose a relaxation in this instance again noting the extent of communal area available on the site this has been considered appropriate despite this and our next area is relates to the roof form along the Lake Macdonald frontage so while the roof form of the development does not replicate the traditional residential character that's sought by the local planned code design of the development has been considered in regard in respect of the history for Cooroy so the building has been designed to reflect a saw blade which is in reference to the region's history of timber milling industry so again this isn't a flat roof we're not going to be I suppose we're not supporting I suppose a parapet it's like a skillion roof it's a saw blade that's following the Lake Macdonald frontage the roof form style that is I suppose desired by the scheme typically does refer to single dwellings and duplex developments it'd be I would imagine be quite difficult to get a traditional Queenslander style roof for a building of this size without while I suppose upholding the integrity of the scheme and maintaining compliance with our eight metre height limit summary despite these areas of non-compliance with the acceptable the development does uphold the relevant performance outcomes and strategic framework of the scheme and delivers significant community benefit through the providing of much-needed housing within the Shire and has been recommended for approval again of note as this site is under the ownership of Council prior to this application being put in front of us today the application was reviewed by an external consultant whom agrees with the recommendation of the report for approval thank you for approval do. Brian Stockwell 09:34.372
You have any questions no. Amelia Lorentson 09:37.735
Yes just through some questions to Patrick over the weekend and Richard and I just want to just reference just one in terms of cumulative impacts can you explain so so I think that my questions were sort of dealing whether or not we should be straight to the question please counsel. My question was to have Council considered the cumulative impacts of shared infrastructure stormwater and roads not only on lot one but of the whole subdivision and that's when I look at the Planning Act. Brian Stockwell 10:25.734
The questions at this item can only relate to lot one we're not dealing with the whole subdivision so if you'd like the question about lot one. Amelia Lorentson 10:34.924
It is about lot one through the Chair my question is did Council consider? Did consider cumulative impacts of shared infrastructure on the whole subdivision not just solely on lot one. Patrick Murphy 10:50.515
The reconfiguration was assessed the provision of suitable infrastructure was considered that time notably the bio-basin that has been approved on a separate lot has been determined to be of a suitable size to accommodate development across the entire site. In terms of the roads meet our engineering standards in terms of suitability their access and the road into the new internal road provides opportunity for any future development to also achieve suitable access from it there's also I mean additional infrastructure in terms of footpaths within the site for pedestrian movement additional footpaths on Dianella Court and across the frontage of the site a new pedestrian crossing in that regard of the channel for pedestrians to move into the then a safety aisle within the middle of the road for pedestrians to take refuge or and connect to other areas within proximity of the site. Richard MacGillivray 12:12.290
And may I just add in addition to Patrick's comments Councillor that each site or lot gets assessed on its individual merits as well so any future development applications will be subject to the performance requirements of the scheme and if there's additional infrastructural requirements relating to that type of use and that lot then they'll be required to demonstrate that as part of any application so therefore in relation to this one it's obviously focused on can this proposed proposal meet the scheme requirements for the development that's being sought out of the Planning Scheme. Brian Stockwell 12:50.503
Thank you. Okay well I'm happy to move the start of the amendment. Councillor Finzel. Yes Councillors this is a straightforward question. Fairly straightforward application when viewed in the light of the report. The proposal is a design by one of Noosa's long-term leading architects and while we've noted there's a few areas where we don't need acceptable solutions, are just one way to meet the performance outcome and as is clearly identified in the report the development as proposed clearly meets the performance outcomes because we are the landowner we have gone to that extra extent of getting a peer review and the peer review clearly said that the assessment inclusions are considered reasonable relevant and supportable and accordingly the report provides an appropriate base for Council decision and goes on to say the identified matters of non-compliance and that's with acceptable solutions are limited in nature and do not result in unacceptable planning, amenity or land use impacts when assessed in accordance with the performance-based framework of the Noosa Plan 2020. I do note that there was a large number of submissions, many identifying concerns and I think the report and the peer review recommendation does answer those in an appropriate format. Being an impact assessable application we consider everything from the strategic framework down and I think the report gives us a good basis to say that this particular development is not only consistent with the strategic framework within the planning but Council's higher-order Housing Strategy. I can therefore recommend its approval. Thank you. Who else would like to talk to the motion? Nicola Wilson 14:45.231
I will. Thanks for the report and the overview. I'm just going to gonna make note some of the submissions that were raised by community members and thank them also for their time in making those submissions. A few of those concerns were that the development is not in keeping with the character of the town. It's not. Close to the centre of town, it's not walkable to shops and services and particularly on hot or rainy days. Not near a bus stop. The land was planned for cemetery use and having these extra units will put increased pressure on Dianella Court which is currently a. Quiet cul-de-sac and already has some challenges to add as well that it's a shame that this site couldn't have been found closer to the centre. It is a small lot that's being allocated to this development and we've seen that there are now issues with the size of that block meaning that some of the setback requirements in the Planning Scheme can't be met due to that size and the plan that's been given to us. Council determined the size of that lot and yet it's a lot now that doesn't actually quite fit the 25 units and all the different requirements. It's also a shame that the site wasn't somewhere that didn't need to be remediated at expense to ratepayers and the time that it's taking for these 25 units to be able to be built. That's all I'm going to say. Thanks. Brian Stockwell 16:17.224
Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? I will close. The issue of setbacks are ones that have been considered well. The ones to the new internal road are just basically the Eaves. It that has got two road frontages and a park area going beside it so it is very common for relaxations in those sort of situations to be granted. The overall result of this development is one that maintains and enlarges the normal setback to the most important frontage which is to the main road going along the front on the drive and the landscaping and the way that the architect has designed the units would mean that there would be no perception of that this particular development wouldn't meet the performance outcomes of the scheme. I put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. The motion's passed. Thank you we. Move on to section 8 is reports direct to the General Committee and the first item is the Financial Performance Report. And we welcome the acting manager and Acting Director to the table and I presume Zac you're going to give us a brief overview thank you. Zach Morton-Adair 17:55.970
You so through the Chair I'll take the report as read in front of you which is the Financial Performance Report for January 2026 the January report provides us with 58% of the financial year's data for context there has been no significant changes to the previous comments provided in the report other some re-profiling of the capital works program just like to note in regards to the report in front of you that it does use budget review one as the underlying budget for comparison noting that the subsequent report today's General Committee will be around budget review two from an operational point of view for context there isn't a significant change to the underlying operating position or movements so there can still be provided reliance of the data included in the performance report in front of you as noted in the report Council's current operating position to the 31st of January shows a 3.2 million dollar variance against its operating surplus budget I just would like to draw attention to this today because of the nature of how we ultimately prepare our underlying budgets and recognise rates so in the January 2026 report we have revenue recognition or recognise the January rates levy and its totality so six months worth of rates revenue which shows up in our operating surplus and what we will look to actually provide over time is that Council receives its rates in January and over the preceding five months expenses will be incurred that's why our operating result shows a slightly different level to what was in the December 2025 report. Provide a simplest simplistic view of how this works and relating it to a household if you happen to be on a wage and you receive your wage for two weeks over the preceding two weeks you then spend your expenses or your household expenses and ideally at the end of that period break you either even or you have some savings left. Simplistically that's what our Council does with its rates. We collect in January. It just happens to be over the preceding six months that we actually incur it. So it's a balancing effect of our expenditure. Will look to bring in some graphs and illustrations to outline this because when you look at the finance report it does show quite a significant surplus but it is simply a timing difference to date. I would like to draw your attention to elements of the report. So on the top of page two there is a table that outlines at the highest level both our operating revenue and our operating action expenditure. That reports both aspects actually reporting within two percent of the budgeted level so our budget and our year-to-date expenses and operating revenue are tracking very closely. The table also illustrates the 2.5 million dollar positive variance today in terms of revenue. Now we historically have shadowed questions as to whether the operating surplus is driven primarily by rates. I address that today. So the 2.5 million dollars of additional revenue is primarily actually driven from our interest revenue, which is a result of more cash holdings than we expected at this time of the year, primarily related to a slower-than-anticipated delivery of the capital. Program, noting that the cash review will be done by QTC, which will inform our budget 26/27 procedures around cash holdings. There is also another $500,000 variance, which relates to rates, levies and charges. Notably, the biggest portion,000 that relates to waste utility charges. Is $400 So as to the question as to whether general rates or are too high and is driving the surplus, across our $106 million budget for rates, we are only tracking about $100,000 over the budget. It is not a material aspect as to the operating surplus today, if that makes sense. In terms of our operating expenditure, we currently have a $800,000 underspend as it relates to the major employees benefits or employee benefits. To provide some context, to how this works, that $800,000 variance can sell material as an outlier when we don't provide the supporting context. So our employee benefits year to date spend is $33.4 million. So we are currently only at an $800,000 underspend or less than 2% of the $33 million budget. So it doesn't help to explain the variance that when helps you look at it at an overall perspective that it is between one and five positions that have possibly been held over the course of the year on a rolling basis. So it doesn't compel a significant material underspend to that expense. One of the questions that previous was monthly finance report was a question as to what made up the other materials and services category. So this ultimately ties to our financial statements and how we draw individual cost categories together. The so other the materials and services category is primarily made up of our cost of goods sold, materials which can cover aggregate, landscaping, sand, general, concrete and timber, venue hire, and it also includes our state government waste levy and waste levy subsidy. So it's a bit of a catch-all category in some ways. So that gives you the information for how it's built up. If there is a drive to a further analysis, I understand that we can also provide that. But that was one of the questions we did take on those in the previous monthly finance report. In regards to capital revenue and expenditure, I won't make any significant comments here, noting that the BRT report will follow this report, which has further commentary as to our budget review position, which will probably provide some more salient information to Councillors around that. In regards to our cash management and investment performance section, just building on what I said earlier have slightly higher cash reserves than we intended at this point in the year, about 18.4% higher than we were tracking in January 2025 today, primarily driven by slower-than-expected spend in the capital works program. Council investments is a general comment of performing well against industry benchmarks, but we do anticipate to provide a much more consolidated update to Councillors through budget proceedings around our cash position, investment position, and when we see ourselves going into the future. In regards to the rate arrears, on page 7 on the report we provide our summary as at the 31st of January 2026, noting that as of January we are in rate arrears of 5.8% having received around $400,000 in payments in the January month. Noting that you always hear me paragon around the idea of it being cyclical in nature and that in any January and July period we have a rates revenue. So our January rate arrears do not include the January arrears that are outstanding because technically they are not in arrears until February. This is the most valid indication of kind of where our absolute truest form of rate arrears sit. Knowing that Councillors have made common as to trying to get that under the five cent benchmark. So this is our truest form of where we sit with our arrears. Noting that this is why we have our debt and charges policy that we are looking over to time we encourage ratepayers to bring their rates arrears down and actually actively work with my team downstairs to actually look at how we can deal with the rate arrears to bring that down one final comment noting that there's no section in this report as to questions taken on notice which had been in previous reports because the AMOM was covered naturally through the contents of the report. Thank you. A lot of detail. Happy to take any questions. Brian Stockwell 25:58.832
Thank you. Do we have any questions? Councillor Wilkie. Frank Wilkie 26:06.888
Thank you, Zach. Forgive me if you've covered it in the report and you may have referred to it under the work in progress section. We just have a question about property, plant and equipment and the statement of financial position under non-current assets. If I'm reading it correctly, there's been a drop of. Brian Stockwell 26:27.883
The value of. Frank Wilkie 26:29.064
About $3 million from the value of our property, plant and equipment from the end of last financial year to date. Why are we selling off any equipment? What's going on there? Zach Morton-Adair 26:47.203
Through the Chair, to provide you the exact detail, I'd probably need to take that question on notice. There's probably a couple of different factors that would make that up. Of them's can be evaluation. That factors into there, but into the specific difference of that. If you're happy, I'll take it on notice. I can get back to what makes it up. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 27:03.949
The question is to Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 27:06.206
In terms of the $1.7 million fraud loss, has that been fully dealt with and recognised in the 2025 audited financial statements? And are there any remaining financial exposure related to this matter? Margaret Gatt 27:23.587
Through the Chair, I'm happy to take that question. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. It has been dealt with in the '24 / '25 financial year. That's why it's not referred to in our monthly finance report or in our BR2 document. A BR2 report further it has been subject to the Queensland Audit Office review through our financial statements and we received an unqualified and an unmodified audit opinion. It does stand out in our materials and services part of financial statements as a fraud-related loss and it also is mentioned in our annual report. Amelia Lorentson 28:01.144
And, sorry, just the second part of that question, Marg. Are we satisfied that the lessons learned have been embedded into policy or process? Margaret Gatt 28:10.926
Thank you for that question. Immediately that the we were aware of the fraud, a number of processes, procedures, and other operating aspects were put into place, as you would be aware, and reported through to Council and through to the Audit and Risk Committee, every one of the Queensland Audit Office recommendations as a result of the fraud event have been implemented. The last part of those recommendations or was at our own initiative was the independent third party software which verifies our vendor master file or any changes to that. Our timeframe for complete implementation of that. Is due in the middle of March but we're on track to achieve that timeframe. Thank you very much. Brian Stockwell 29:06.212
Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 29:07.597
Hi thanks. Just a couple of questions in relation to the corporate services department. Is there any gaps in resources or are we at full capacity now? Margaret Gatt 29:25.321
Thank you Councillor Phillips. So there's four areas in corporate services. I'm assuming or can that you're referring to financial finance okay so in finance financial services we have full complement of staff except for one and we've got interim stock place. Gaps in place with contract and labour hire to assist us with our BAU and making sure we're ready for our next set of financial statements. Jessica Phillips 29:56.896
A bit of a follow-up question then, if you were to identify three financial sort of business risks to the organisation now that would impact our community would you be able to give me those or do you want to take that on notice? Margaret Gatt 30:10.959
I think I'll take that one. It's very broad but maybe just it can be specific around the very model. Jessica Phillips 30:14.950
Broad but maybe just it can be specific around the monthly financial reports and I'm just really interested to see if every month there's just three things that stand out or one thing that stands out the most would be really handy to know. Margaret Gatt 30:29.673
Thank you, Councillor Phillips. We'll ensure we take that up for our next monthly finance report. Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 30:37.329
Thank you. I'm just looking at the balance sheet. I only just noticed, sorry, so I haven't raised it. Some of the balances are the same, like January 26. As they were at June 25. So I'm looking at the non-current liabilities. Nothing's moved there. Is that normal? Zach Morton-Adair 30:56.970
So through the Chair, the statement of financial position is probably one of the outliers in terms of our monthly reporting. It's a periodic statement as opposed to being a monthly statement. So some of the aspects of that will be updated. You will see a full update for the current new position as of BR2 because that's one of the requirements under that. But in regards to I think it's the contingent liabilities, that would be the balance as at the 30th of June and when we look to compile the financial statements at the end of the year it will be updated. So it's a nature of the report not being a live report if that makes sense. It's only kind of done concurrently throughout the year. Brian Stockwell 31:35.572
Councillor Lorentson? Amelia Lorentson 31:35.572
Question possibly to the CEO. In terms of the $15 million reduction to the capital works program, how confident is management in delivering the revised program? Thank you. Brian Stockwell 31:58.366
Mentioned in this report, so, yeah. Zach Morton-Adair 32:01.226
Through the Chair, so where it is mentioned in the report, sorry to interrupt just for context, is we allude to the fact that there was an additional commentary provided in this report because the BRT report that comes out immediately after this to General Committee provides more support in detail. To answer that question. Okay. Brian Stockwell 32:22.012
If we're happy we can deal with that in BRT. Jessica Phillips 32:27.136
Up question if that's right around and it might be to the CEO in relation to the contract services for tree works probably given the extensive rain that's still occurring outside what have the in the background where there's is consideration to you know the more rain the more tree works we're gonna have so I'm trying to work out how to question this as like as straight as possible you know to me there's only going to be more and ongoing tree works can you tell me if there's ever revision around having internal staff with arborists and is this an expense that's going to continue to. Larry Sengstock 33:10.226
Grow so currently yes we are reviewing that and we've got plans to bring more internal staff to deal with that because we recognise that even the weather we've had over the weekend even though we have huge amounts of rain it still creates more work for our existing workforce as well as our contractors so we're looking at better ways to are reviewing and putting up proposals for additional staff to help us to cater with that but we have to go out all the time and you know the issue we've got with external workforce as well contractors is that everybody's using them when this happens it's not just us that calls on their services so yeah we're looking at that at the moment. Jessica Phillips 33:51.341
And then one last allotment will be around asset management then because I see the weather is something that will continue to impact that so where are we at with our asset? Brian Stockwell 34:01.945
So I'm not going to allow that because that's not related to the. Jessica Phillips 34:04.464
It's okay, I'm happy with that. Nicola Wilson 34:05.474
Happy to. You. Brian Stockwell 34:07.242
Yeah, offline. Frank Wilkie 34:09.622
Okay, it will be? I guess it's a question about the amount held in the disaster management reserve. Thank you. What is that amount? Can you refresh my memory, was it 2.6 million? Just through the Chair, I could ask for some context as to where. Under risk and opportunities, what are the threats to Council's finances of and functions is a natural disaster. And we resolved, I think back in 2014, to put money set aside in the disaster management reserve, which you referred to under risks and opportunities. I'm just wondering, what is that amount? It could be a question or notice. Margaret Gatt 34:55.979
Used to be. Through the Chair, Councillor Wilkie, I can answer that. I'm just referring to our audited financial statements in a separate document. Natural disaster rehabilitation, we have, as at the end of 2025, 3.5 million. 3.5? Yes. That has increased. Thank you. I have increased. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 35:15.486
Okay, would anyone like to move the motion? Move Councillor Phillips, second Councillor Lorentson. You've got the floor, Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 35:22.855
I'm just going to be very brief on the continued improvement of the reporting. Thank you. That makes it very clear for the everyday. Person so thank you to the team for that. And I just want to also make note around the rate arrears reduction and give that some credit where it's due and hope that continues to see people paying off fund rates and debt so that's a really positive thing for Council and yeah I probably moving forward for me it's going to be more around how community can see the big picture through financial reporting like the month-to is great but it feels like if you were someone that missed a month or two it's really sort of gauge a really good understanding of the big picture stuff so it's more around making a comment that I might be focusing more around how it all sort of fits together now because I've got my head around the month-to because of how the reporting is being presented so thank you. Brian Stockwell 36:33.014
Others wish to take the motion, Councillor? Karen Finzel 36:34.651
Yeah, I'd like to thank the staff for the report and also the verbal overview today is bringing more clarity to the table and I'd like to note that the financial impacts of the reclassification of the works in progress projects and they're quite significant and how they've been recorded I'm satisfied that you know they're my questions that I've raised for a long time and I'm really satisfied that there's clear reporting on that and we're seeing that progressing so thank you for that, that's great. Amelia Lorentson 37:07.942
Others? Councillor Lorentson? Hey Zach and Marg, you're probably tired of us commending you on your reporting but I just I do really want to note that in terms of us discharging our obligations in terms of good governance your reporting allows us to do that it's clear it's simple it's transparent and there's accountability and it also gives community confidence that we are really you know adhering to our principles of sound fiscal management but thank you makes our jobs so much easier. Frank Wilkie 37:47.329
Would just like to echo those sentiments the better the understanding of the scheme just the like to echo those better sentiments the confidence the community can have in the reporting as well. So thank you would. Brian Stockwell 38:05.757
Like to close Councillor Phillips? Nicola Wilson 38:07.301
I think we have an expensive. Brian Stockwell 38:08.846
Okay, I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's carried unanimously. We then move on to item 8.2, which is Budget Review 2, 2026. And is this, once again, you, Zac? Zach Morton-Adair 38:23.199
I just happen to take a thank you through the Chair. So again, I'll take the report as Ezra, a reminder that Council has underlying requirements under both the Local Government Act and Local Government Regulation to look at its adopted budget, where it believes there is material differences or needs to reflect its position as of the 30th of June, 2026. Budget Review 2 provides with a chance to incorporate any new or emerging actions, any additional grants or subsidies and also any other movements during the year that weren't understood or forecast at budget review 1. Noting that budget review 1 was adopted at Council's Ordinary Meeting on the 21st of August 2025. At a conceptual overall level, BR2 seeks to modify Council's operating result by $140,000 from a $232,000 surplus to $92,000. It also looks to recast and re-profile the capital works program by $15 million in forecasted delivery to the 30th of June 2026. Overall this still projects a modest operating surplus today, broadly in line with both of the previous original budget and review one. For contextual, context around the BR2 process itself, staff make submissions for consideration as part of budget review. Finance team then works with budget holders to review submissions for accuracy and to arrive at an initial draft position for consideration. The executive team then reviews that in complex and completeness to understand where we sit at an organisational perspective. Workshops have helpful. Been held with Councillors eventually coming to the purpose of the report that sits in front of you today. Just to reiterate kind of the approach that we take to. Project reviews as Council. The key criteria that need to be met in amending the budget include our alignment with our own financial sustainability policy, the requirement for eligible operating and capital projects to be delivery ready with a commitment to complete by the 30th of June. Capital submissions are to be reviewed and authorised by the Capital Works Executive before inclusion in any budget review and all operating capital submissions are then confirmed by the executive team. To Council itself. I would like to just draw attention to a couple of aspects to the report specifically. Page 2 of the report provides a table summary of this like a review position and proposed amendments for your Budget Review 2 eventual position of the budget itself. Page 3 outlines additional operating grants. It's important to understand where Council has received an operating grant likely there is expenditure attached to that so they are provided in the report but eventually come back to a nil position because of a contra item as it relates to an expense. Attachment 6 of the report highlights in its totality the summary of operating adjustments that form the basis of the $140,000 net change to the operating surplus. Page 3 also includes re-profiling of the capital works project today with attachment 7 providing the full breakdown of our capital works program in its totality. It's the full uh this can this conveys re-profiling from a 94 million dollar to 79 million dollar overall program with no adjustment to the QRA program itself. The primary drivers between the change in the re-profiling itself is the Tewantin Doonella Bridge renewal which has carried four balances of 7.8 million that will be deferred into the next financial year. This is primarily driven to an extensive design review process, the need to Resolve utility impacts and finalise the design. There is also notably a $1.8 million reduction to the Noosa Aquatic Centre, the 50m-25m filtration system upgrade. There this has simply just been delayed and is delivered to be in the winter months to have less impact on our revenue line-up and associated with that. One last thing, I'd just like to draw attention to attachment five, which is our financial ratios. In that report itself, the assets sustainability ratio comes back with an orange line on it, saying that it is below the 80% threshold. This is simply difference, as is to re-profiling through BR2, and this will be omitted once we do our budget proceedings for 26/27. So this isn't actually an issue outside of threshold, it simply will be cashed as a result of when we profile next year's capital spend. I also would like to draw attention to the liability net ratio. It currently sits in a negative ratio which is in contrast to how you would expect it to be. The rationale behind it or the context is that our current assets on hand, which is our cash that we hold primarily, is actually greater than our liability. So there's holding as a negative ratio, a negative percentage, that actually in the case means it's positive that we have a greater couple of current assets than our liabilities associated with that. Thank you. We'll be happy to take questions. Brian Stockwell 43:56.733
Thank you. Questions? Amelia Lorentson 44:02.973
In terms of the, and we've just had the application in front of us before, the Lake Macdonald Drive residential subdivision. In terms of the loan, how will the loan repayments be funded and have the total cost of the loan including interest and fees and the cost of the loan over its life, has that been factored into the amount that's presented on attachment 7 revised capital works program budget review? Zach Morton-Adair 44:33.547
Happy to do that. Cheers. So the loan balance there is the sheer and total cost as it relates to the program, project itself. There are some pluses and minuses as it relates to it. Some other aspects. It wasn't a confidential report. So I want to talk to that. So just in terms of what's in front of you today itself, we do a whole of life costing. So interest and everything else that is associated would be built into the costings around it. So there should be the 6.2, 6.3 million dollar figure will be the total cost of the project and the loan will be the true cost of everything related to that's built in. Knowing that we always procure our loan assets through the same providers that we do and it will be built in over time and then into the eventually built into the total cost of the project. Sorry, a bit wordy there, my apologies. Does that make sense, my apologies? Yeah, it does. Brian Stockwell 45:25.258
Cancel that. At the end, I'll go to the next. Amelia Lorentson 45:29.822
She's here a lot, sorry. Thank you, Councillor Jess. No, it's okay, you can move forward. Jessica Phillips 45:36.140
Can you expand or define what you mean by re-profiling? I don't know if it's just not clear to me. What do you mean by re-profiling amendments to the. Delivery of the capital works? Zach Morton-Adair 45:52.686
So through the Chair, I'd be. I can defer to the Director Infrastructure Services, please, if she needs me. Jessica Phillips 46:00.232
It's not a Facebook profile, so I'm just trying to work it out. Brian Stockwell 46:05.375
Not re-profiling the road, either. Shaun Walsh 46:09.078
Thank you for the question, Councillor. So basically what we do is we look at the ability to deliver the program within a year, and sometimes projects are delayed, so we then park that expenditure into the subsequent financial year. So as a result of working with the team to really realistically profile the projects and when the expenditure amounts will actually budget, it's become quite clear that we won't get through the 63 million dollars, it's actually our 50 million dollars that we're confident we're spending this year. Now I just note, taking on board Councillor Lorentson's question earlier in the early part of the agenda about confidence in that expenditure amount, in the in service organisational committee report that was presented earlier this. Late last week, we indicated that of the $50 million, there's $24 million that are actually profiled both in existing expenditure and committed amounts that we've actually got under contract. So that represents 50%.% of the actual $50 million as of December the 30th. And that's actually the best result we've had in the last number of years because normally our expenditure actually accelerates from this point forward leading up to the end of financial year. And that's as a result of the increasing resources that Council have deployed. But also I want to appreciate the re-profiling work undertaken by the finance team, so we actually have a much clearer goal of what we're trying to achieve. Brian Stockwell 47:26.776
So it's the profile of expenditure that changes over different financial years? Different financial years, yes. Thank you, Councillor. Okay, Councillor Lorentson, do you have another question? Amelia Lorentson 47:35.698
I do, and thank you mark for meeting with me beforehand. Of the ICT software maintenance, there was a $600,000 increase. Just an interesting conversation that we had prior to this meeting. If I can ask you, can you give all the Councillors a brief overview of what's driving the $600,000 increase in ICT software maintenance? And the question I really want to ask is, are you anticipating this level of increase to continue in future years? Margaret Gatt 48:10.202
Thank you, Councillor Lorentson, through the Chair, as reported to Councillors at the BR2 workshop, was it last week or the week before? I've forgotten, I'm sorry. Yes, I did make comment on that $600,000 increase. That's at the upper limit of what we do expect. Those, just to clarify, it's not software maintenance, it's actual increases in software contracts. So that, yeah, so it's increases did that not foresee. On reflection, given the, one would call the, I don't know, volatility is the right word, of the world economic market. So also at a national level and international level, we deal with those headwinds, for want of a better word, and we could have anticipated those increases at an earlier stage. Potentially at BR1. We didn't, but at least we've caught them now at BR2. We do believe that will be the upper limit, and I'm hoping to report through the end of the financial year that the costs will be less than that. Not a huge amount less, but I'm hoping to around 450 max is what the extra will be. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 49:40.011
Councillor Wilson. Nicola Wilson 49:40.932
Thank you. Just back to the capital works and the Lake Macdonald Drive subdivision. Could you please explain what the unapproved emergent amount of 1.095 million is that's coming into BR2? Zach Morton-Adair 50:00.753
The Chair, and just can I briefly go back, my apologies to Councillor Lorentson, I didn't distinctly answer that question, I was a little bit worried on that, so my apologies. Regarding the loan, I had two matters to conflate myself. Apologies on that. I'm happy to take that question on notice and provide you a much better response if you have time to consider it, and I will take that on notice and come back to you if that's all right. Thank you very much. Say excuse my apologies there. In regards to the 1.9, I would have to take that on notice myself, noting that the Director in question isn't within the room, so if comfortable I could take that on notice and then provide it as part of the overall summary. Back to that position. Nicola Wilson 50:41.129
Not really comfortable with that. Is it something if that we're voting. Shaun Walsh 50:44.616
I could provide some context, I understand it's a reconciliation and I encourage reconciliation between the amounts that we've provided and then the actual budget that's actually for the project and the interrelationship between the two. Those are applies and the amounts reported to CWE don't quite reconciliate with the grants that are provided today and the actual project process team costs are similar and I think that's reflected in the projects. But I would like further detailed advice, but that's my understanding. Zach Morton-Adair 51:20.613
Yes, so through this year, having reflected on the original confidential report that was provided, which we can't talk about in detail. Is approved with MPI, so it was within the constraints of the overall funding packet that was approved, so there was no change to the overall funding that was included in the original approval by Council itself. I believe that this is again to. The Director of infrastructure's point of reconciliation to make sure the actuals reflect the underlying funding as it's attributed, but the amount that's noted with loan, there are some pluses and minuses that need to be worked through in terms of the ultimate funding. Of that. Yeah, it's immaterial. So, sorry I'm being cautious just as I know the report that was taken was in a confidential system and I can actually begin by asking my apologies on that. Does that answer or read to answer some of your questions? I think so, thank you. Nicola Wilson 52:10.998
But another couple of things. Sure. In the statement of financial position, so attachment two, just between the original budget and revised budget there's a lot of movement in contract liabilities and provisions. Could you give us a bit more detail on what's happening there? And it's both current liabilities and non-current liabilities. Zach Morton-Adair 52:39.055
Good issue. Again, to take it on point, specifically if I have to take it on, there's a number of factors that make that up. So I can speak to you. Should I go somewhere? Nicola Wilson 52:47.495
It could be the previous question about whether to answer that at the moment. And one more is the ratios, which is attachment 5. The asset sustainability ratio is 223% of the hiring community and then is likely to drop significantly in the following years. Zach Morton-Adair 53:12.416
Yes, through the Chair, if I didn't convey that early enough in my opening statement. So as a result of BRT we've found the current year ratio is up. What we expect to do once we capture the re-profiling as we've alluded to will carry forward balances and go through budget 26-27 proceedings. That's 69.7% will come back materially above the threshold. As a result of BRT we don't actually re-profile the subsequent years. So it's a timing difference of anything and once your budget proceedings will actually come they will correct itself. It's a timing issue. Brian Stockwell 53:46.849
A couple of. Jessica Phillips 53:48.219
Questions around the NAC filtration. Me correct me if I'm wrong I thought it was like last year it was already for winter but now it's put off for another winter. So can you just say that to me. Margaret Gatt 54:02.188
Councillor Phillips is that okay if I just defer to the Director of communities to respond to that? Thank you. Kerri Contini 54:18.061
Thank you Councillor Phillips. So in terms of the deferral it's really a matter of just a month and a half but because of so it's the same winter it's this winter but instead of it falling the expenditure falling primarily in this financial year it shifts to next financial years and the is to go ahead this financial year and this winter it's just it's a timing issue that pushes the expense into another financial year so work is undergoing at the moment it's just around when the expense occurs. Brian Stockwell 54:55.980
In. Amelia Lorentson 54:59.545
Terms of our sealed roads network we've had quite a few deputations in terms of sealing of gravel roads and I note that the program does list gravel road network renewals. Are there plans for sealed gravel road upgrades in the near term or is that something that we just park for now and discuss as part of our budget? Deliberations. Margaret Gatt 55:24.187
Maybe a question to the Director of infrastructure. Shaun Walsh 55:28.533
Thank you for that question Councillor. That cover, that budget cover is the renewal of existing gravel roads and the re-sheeting with gravel to get them into a reasonable setting. We have known from Councillors, some Councillors and community requests to expand the seal road network and we'll be considering that further as part of the budget process between the 6th and the 7th. Jessica Phillips 55:49.001
Thank another question now, thank you, around CWA, Capital Works Executive. I'm probably just interested, especially now I'm hoping to get on that committee as well, how decisions are made by Council's CWA committee. Compared with. Those made through budget reviews. I'm just interested in understanding the decision-making process and how they each connect. Margaret Gatt 56:17.307
Thank you, Councillor Phillips, through the Chair. We can, Shaun and I can both respond to that. But in terms of the capital works, terms of reference, specifically, has the CEO able to make under delegated authority those decisions for emergent works to ensure more efficient delivery of capital works as they are emergent and needed. And then the report that Director of infrastructure referred to that came to last week, Services & Organisation Committee reports on what have been made at the capital works committee. Jessica Phillips 56:53.873
We have a follow-up question there to. Shaun Walsh 56:55.358
The CEO, if I could respond to it, there's a full terms of reference I was prepared for this Capital Works Executive about what's in scope and what's not in scope, and very happy to take any answers through those terms of reference. They're reviewed every time there's a new term, and we've always received good feedback to ensure that those delegations are really clear. Jessica Phillips 57:16.242
Full-up question then to the CEO around the terms of reference. Reviewed in the new term, is there any possibility we could bring it mid-term, or is that just something that. Larry Sengstock 57:32.410
That's the cycle we run. To change that cycle, I'm happy to, as you say, we can bring to Council, you can look at it if you think that there's a need as a group to review in more formal circumstances, I'm happy to look at that, but at the moment, to me personally, it works, the process works, I think, to have the Councillors on the CWE. Again, the CWE is. As Shaun said, is really about emergent works, so we've got a process to keep the wheels rolling, and it's emergent works that sit within my authority to approve. If it's over my authority, then it obviously has to come to Council. For further deliberation and approval. Brian Stockwell 58:13.989
That so it's clarifying the nexus between the items we've currently got. So it's emergent works approved by capital works executives that will be reflected in the budget? Larry Sengstock 58:22.136
Yes, and that's the reason for BR2 is to capture those so we can make sure we can afford them. Or we can afford them, but they're captured within our financial statements. Because we're also very cognisant of, you know, not just really approving them. Again, any Councillors that have been on that committee would back that think as well. It's just something where things come along and, you know, a roof blows off or something breaks and something needs to be fixed immediately, we need to have that capacity to bring it to somewhere that gets that authority and it doesn't just come to me, it comes to a group, we agree it, and then it's up to me to basically sign it off. So, again, it's another check. And I believe that it works very well at the moment. Okay. Brian Stockwell 59:13.899
Thank you. Would someone like to move? I'll move. Thanks I'll second. Thanks for this, you know, we have been well briefed. Larry Sengstock 59:25.881
Sorry, who's seconded it? You have two other seconders. Brian Stockwell 59:28.280
I can't move. Larry Sengstock 59:29.841
I reckon Councillor Wilson was first, but I'm looking for. Who's the Chair? Brian Stockwell 59:34.689
Oh, did you? If Councillor. Moves Councillor Wilson, second Councillor Wilkie. It's all good. I'll let you talk to it. Much more convincing than me. Nicola Wilson 59:46.148
Thank you for the report and all the questions that you've been able to answer today. I just want to actually highlight something in the reporting that I think is new and worked really well for me. It's in attachment 7, the revised the right hand side of the page where we've got how each project or program is being funded, I find that really useful. So we've got whether it's grant funding, loan, levy reserves, other reserves, depreciation, general rates, cash. I find that really good to look through and see how much is funded by depreciation, so yeah, just a little note there that I enjoyed that part. I'm happy to support the recommendation. Thanks for all your work on this. You very much. Amelia Lorentson 01:00:33.161
Just a suggestion. Zach and under risk and opportunities, the reports are often just referred to the Council's risk register, that it identifies the number of risks that could impact ongoing financial sustainability. It would be really great to have the top five risks, and I know I'm sitting, doing the course at the moment, and across all local governments, those risks are from top of mind, cyber security, climate change, human resourcing, et cetera, but it'd be really great to have just a small chart. What have we identified as high risk? Thank you. And thank you again for excellent reporting and making our jobs so much easier. Jessica Phillips 01:01:23.862
I would like I'd like to speak to it. I was a bit nerdy as well. Attachment seven was even printed out and highlighted for me, so that was step even more than I expected. It's actually really great for the community to see a document like that and because of the lens of just the household budget or the everyday resident, I think that was a really great attachment, so thank you for that. I guess sort of back to similar what I was saying before, my concerns are more around not individual line items, but just how it all comes together as one. I think unless you're watching every monthly meeting, reading every report, it really is hard to capture where money is spent, and in the first month term one of the things I wrote on the board was build trust with community and gain confidence from them to see what was being decisions in the room and so that's why know I'm probably going to continue on about the CWE even though I have confidence in the process I think it would be really important that community probably get more insight into how that connects with our budget review because for me that's something that I've been learning so it's really not about yeah each line item for me it's been more around how you put it all together. I really want to reiterate that community expects public money to be managed really well and this Council has done it for years I've you know lived here my whole life and watched it from a distance but now I'm in the room I really want to see more understanding level on of putting it all together for them so yeah I think we're nearly there I can see already that there's changes in the reporting but if you can just take more of my points around I probably disappointed in just the lack of visibility over the big picture stuff and how it all comes together and how things are prioritised I think that can get really misunderstood and shake public confidence. So I will probably be raising more and in the budget reviews and coming into good timing into the budget for this year that I'd really like to see it all connect a little bit more for me but I'm already appreciative that we're getting closer to that so yeah again I don't need to say any more about the reporting is already so much more clearer for people but if we can continue that I think that will really really help build that confidence back in community as to where it's all going, where their money's being spent and how it's being prioritised, thanks. Brian Stockwell 01:04:27.276
Councillor Wilkie? Frank Wilkie 01:04:28.349
Yeah thank you, just building on what Councillor Jess has said, every term Councillors make requests of the corporate finance staff about their reporting what they would like to see in it. What we've seen here with the budget review and the monthly financial reporting is the accumulative effect of that over many, years. So thank you for being open to taking on board our suggestions and making it as clear as possible. I'm finding more and that but the reporting answers more questions and raises them, but you're always open to taking questions, so that's a really good sign, so thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:05:18.675
I think one thing that we is just don't do enough reiterating how fortunate we are as a Council to be in such a strong financial position. To have to explain why the net liabilities ratio is a negative is not something very many councils have to do. At a low level of debt, even though we're spending 79 million dollars worth of capital works in the regards revised the you know you I always refer back to when I first got into Council. It was well below 20 million dollars a year in capital works. So that has increased. The fact that we're in surplus, the fact that we try and manage it so it is not, you know, the cash reserves aren't. Greatly increased by having excessive great prices so we're now you know basically break even in terms of our surplus you know less than a hundred thousand dollars from memory. That's very tight for a huge budget of ours you know so the fact that we do manage it and yes we have got some good cash reserves and the one thing that I suppose another sort of message to the community if we spend all that cash reserves on capital works this year then the pressure on the operating budget next year to have raised rates because we'll have the increased depreciation. So that link between how much new stuff we build to increase and depreciation is the real balancing act in terms of local government budgets but overall this review is a worthy one. It isn't one where we've looked at new initiatives but there may be one of those reviews before the end of the financial year if we're sailing well. Should speak. Councillor Wilson, do you want to close? No, thank you. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. So. Next item is the operational planning plan 2526 quarter two quarterly report and we have a executive up here, Jonci Wolff, here to give us an overview. Good afternoon Councillors. Jonci Wolff 01:07:46.769
So this noting report provides a quarter two progress update on the delivery of the 2526 operational plan. Overall performance remains positive with 77 of the initiatives on track or completed. Sixteen initiatives experienced a minor disruption and five a major disruption. For the major disruptions it's the Kabi Kabi engagement commitment plan however as you would be aware being addressed through the budget review process. Then we have the progression of stage four for the regional art gallery but the report is now scheduled for April 26 to come to Council. Then we have a scoping of a workforce planning model. It has experienced a major delay as well. However draft plan and scope are anticipated for March 26. Then we have the finalisation of the Boreen Point Campground master plan. This is a bit unclear because there is a bushfire risk. This has not been resolved yet. Some of the key achievements: Destination Management Plan, as anyone would remember. It's a great achievement for Noosa. The Tourism Noosa Roadmap as well. The associated Tourism Noosa DEET is now scheduled for delivery in March. It's requested by Tourism Noosa. We also saw the successful trial of a community engagement panel which is fantastic. And initiation of the engagement phase two for the draft Noosa Botanic Gardens Master Plan. We also saw the implementation of a sports development grant program to support local athletes and coaches competing nationally and internationally. Quite timely with all the exciting we're going to do a little piece things happening at the Olympics at the moment. Addition to that, in attachment two, this report provides an overview of Council's current key performance measures. Overall, the majority of these measures performed in line with targets, in line with previous reporting periods. You will notice, though, that there was a 10% increase in requests received, which caused a decrease in the number of requests completed within target date. This was likely caused by the storm event late in November, which saw a huge increase of requests coming in, obviously for tree removal, vegetation clearing, and so forth. As you would be aware, the Council crews are still working through the backlog of that work. That is the high level summary. Any questions, happy to take them. Brian Stockwell 01:10:26.377
Councillors, Phillips is Mr Chair, you may. Jessica Phillips 01:10:30.098
Just a quick question around the, minor disruption of the bushland reserve strategic fire management plan. That one, I just want to know, given all the rain we've got, it means we'll come into a hotter summer. So can we just see if, can I know a little bit more about when that will be finished. Jonci Wolff 01:10:53.896
Uh the initiative number. Jessica Phillips 01:10:55.441
Yeah the pro uh well, the strategic fire management plan 2021. Yeah. Deliver plan burns and mechanical fuel reduction when conditions allow. I would imagine the disruption is because of the rain but I'm going to assume that but I'm guessing I just want to know what happens after this as to how it gets back into on track. Margaret Gatt 01:11:19.156
I'm going to take question. Jonci Wolff 01:11:19.372
I'm going to take that uh question on north of the bride after the meeting considering that the directives I'm going to take that question. Brian Stockwell 01:11:27.987
That's awesome. Nicola Wilson 01:11:29.086
North of the bride after the zero emissions for Council services. I just want to know on what basis has that been determined to be on track given we haven't had any draft Roadmap, we haven't talked about any future targets and we haven't had any talk about the investment plan yet. So while it says as a report coming to Council in April, the January workshop was cancelled and so far all those seven workshops have been backward looking and we haven't talked about anything future oriented yet. So I just want to know how that is. Being measured there. What's being measured there because we've just barely done track. Jonci Wolff 01:12:09.544
Yes, again, I apologise I would have to take a little notice and reach out to the team to get some advice in that matter. I do understand that we obviously go through regular workshops in that matter and there's progress there on an ongoing basis. And it would obviously then relate to the key milestones of the project. Some of these projects are obviously not just annual, like one-year projects, there are multi-year projects and I have to trust that the Director against those milestones provides an appropriate assessment of the initiatives where there's a minor or major delay. But I'll you. Confirm it. Brian Stockwell 01:12:49.855
Any further questions? Councillor Lorentson, can you. Amelia Lorentson 01:12:53.183
And maybe, I'm not sure whether you can answer this, Jonci, maybe this is a question to people and culture when we get more deep dive, but in terms of staff turnover rate, do we have any data in terms of how our 19% compares to other local. Councils of similar size? And I've just got a few questions around that: is the staff turnover, the vacancies, voluntary, involuntary? There emerging themes when people leave the particular departments? Is that information separate? Yeah, that's what I. Can I. Brian Stockwell 01:13:37.297
So, Director Gatt, is this something that a future briefing on the workforce plan and things like that might address? Margaret Gatt 01:13:44.806
Yes, thank you. Through the. Councillor Lorentson, as previously reported, we are with our new manager of people and culture. We are working on having. We're actually working on a project management plan for the development of the workforce capability plan, which will talk about employee lifecycle, talk about how we compare with other councils, also what's contextually relevant just for our Council, and where the other outliers are. So we're hoping to have the draft PMP through to the executive for consideration and endorsement by the end of March, and we're hoping to have a draft by the end of this calendar year, because it's quite a large body of work that obviously requires consultation in quite a detailed way with all levels of management and other levels across the organisation. Amelia Lorentson 01:14:35.072
And a very important document. In terms of the key performance measures, when was the last time that was reviewed? Jonci Wolff 01:14:46.915
The key performance measures were implemented as they are right now, but we obviously are looking into reviewing those key performance measures. We have used them for maybe one and a half years to my understanding, and we are receiving our feedback from some of the operational teams in terms of what else they would like to report and what they do not like or what they like about the current performance key measures. Obviously, we also want to look across the organisation what they report, so that is basic work that's coming up, and this is part of our ongoing improvement of the corporate reporting system that we actually are reaching out to the teams to see how can we improve what else do we want you to see here and but once we do a proper review this will obviously also draw two Councillors, in terms of seeing what Councillors would like to see here as well. Brian Stockwell 01:15:40.246
Thank you very much, Johnson. Johnston. Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 01:15:43.323
This one might be for Director Contini, community services. It is a little taken on notice in relation to another minor disruption around progress of asset management planning for Council's community service buildings, community infrastructure to ongoing sustainability to meet the functional needs of current and future users. It says building condition assessment reports to be 70% completed, but I guess my biggest one is just understanding the risk to Council and community with 28% of comprehensive asset management plans near completion. Kerri Contini 01:16:22.376
Thank you, Councillor Phillips. I'm happy to take that question now. It's one of the big pieces of work that we all acknowledge needs to occur, and that's having asset management plans for all classes of our assets. Including community facilities, both those under Council owned and managed operations, and those under community organisations. So this is a piece of work that there wasn't funding. Available, or resources available, through infrastructure services, so we have taken that on board in community services, and have a staff member working patiently through this, and with the support of infrastructure services helping to do the condition assessments, which are critical. So we've started on the high risk, high value assets, things like the big, you know, Noosa Library with all its complexities, the aquatic centre, and then that will gradually work its way down through to simple ones like halls. So it's a long piece of work. Our goal is to get a model so that the first couple take a very long time and then that should simplify things. Going forward. Jessica Phillips 01:17:41.527
Probably a follow-up question then, because it did sit with infrastructure didn't it, so can I maybe understand how the determination that it went to community services, only because in my mind it's infrastructure, but I probably. Kerri Contini 01:17:54.765
Will sit down and yeah, see. I agree. I mean, we have a lot. Of assets that need asset management plans and I was conscious that we were bringing up emergent requests for funding that should have been identified through an asset management plan and given the workloads on the asset management team, we took it on board to start to address this ourselves but it's in partnership with infrastructure services. One of the issues that we've had is the model around condition assessments so some of the condition assessments that we had that were contracted out gave us very high information that might have said for example this component is poor but no information or for example this component such as a roof is in fair and yet we're having to we're finding emergent issues so we decided to take a different approach and actually use the incredible skills within our building facilities team who know those buildings really thoroughly. To get their perspective on condition assessments and that's given us much greater detail and confidence in what the conditions are. Still using external technical experts where we need them but really grounding those condition assessments to understand you know what parts of our facilities are actually in fair and good condition and where we need to spend the money to address significant issues. Jessica Phillips 01:19:33.956
Okay, so is the technical assessment done through infrastructure or external? Kerri Contini 01:19:38.822
External uh some of it is done externally um the we've had some things where we're, for example, looking at the State of something that an internal team member can make comment on. Some has to be external. If it's, for example, assessing the condition of a. Technical thing at the NAC, you need the expert to do that. Or if it is an air conditioning system, you want the air conditioning experts to do that. So it depends on what it is. But if it was, for example, the external condition of a wall and it's paint, you know, you might be able to use an internal staff member to do one. Jessica Phillips 01:20:15.415
Final follow-up. So then how, through that, will it come into the ARC or budget review? Because I would suggest that it would come through as a submission from staff to executive. So how do I then feel confident? It's, yes. Confident that it then will come to Council to determine when? Kerri Contini 01:20:38.603
So I can comment first and then I'm sure Director Walsh will fill in any gaps. But we use asset management plans in two ways. The first is to guide our annual renewal program. So our general maintenance program around the walls might need to be painted, etc. so that gets built in and you can then develop a planned renewal schedule over the next 10 years. The advantage of that is that we could for example say so at the moment if we need lighting done in a building we're handling them one by In an ideal scenario we should know when the lighting needs to be changed so major lighting across a 10-year period and have a contract rolling each year so we get efficiencies and we get certainty in programming that so annual renewals will make a big difference the next is understand understanding what the significant issues are whether it's roofing that needs replacing whether it's air conditioning that needs replacing and you would see that come through in a funding submission through the capital works program at budget time yeah. Shaun Walsh 01:21:56.336
Yeah I think I can I totally concur with everything Kerri said probably what you'll see in the evidence in the 26-27 is a re reinvigorated asset renewal program for community services buildings so that figure will increase to reflect real data so because the renewal program is under invested at the moment so and historically it's from de-amalgamation we were provided very a poor asset base yes and the priority to date until very recently has been on the high cost assets such as roads and pathways at the expense of the less but community sensitive assets of community buildings we need to profile so in the last six months I've put a briefing note to the executive about the more mature model for asset management in the organisation and we're currently working through those steps and I would be pleased to advise of a new in the future. I would also note that infrastructure services have also been impacted by that previous prioritisation in the ground of playgrounds because playgrounds were relatively low cost. We had playgrounds that were up to 40 years old that were actually profiled and the system was only 10 years old. From the asset hangover from Sunshine Coast Council and that's led us into disrepute with the community. So I just want to note that it's not just community services, it's almost these public sensitive assets that require additional focus to ensure that we're looking after a very unpopular community. Kerri Contini 01:23:21.009
One of the issues, Councillor Phillips, is that when we de-amalgamated we did not get a full and complete list of what our assets were. So, you know, obvious assets, the ones that we operate were very clear. But it's taken a long time and that still isn't clear on exactly the assets that we have in our portfolio. Councillor Finzel. Yeah, thank you. That's given us some good eyes on that. When we talk about disrepute with the community, working closely with our community groups, this has affected a lot of them very closely. Karen Finzel 01:24:01.286
Do you guys work, how do you work with properties and managing the arrangements of the lease in terms. Our community groups that have to apply through that grants process to have buildings fixed so they can progress like even putting solar on their roof. So can you talk to me a little bit about how property is engaged in this process? I can talk generally about the process. Brian Stockwell 01:24:31.209
It is very marginal to whether it's part of the operational report. Kerri Contini 01:24:35.306
I can certainly take that question on us and step you through practically the process after this, Councillor. Because it is very significant to our community groups. Shaun Walsh 01:24:47.586
I'm also happy to volunteer. I'm very a briefing to the Councillors in the near future about a revised, more mature approach to asset management and where we're heading towards. Brian Stockwell 01:25:02.614
So we are dealing with the operational performance report, or the report, have we got any other specific questions, or would someone like to move? Councillor Lorentson? Amelia Lorentson 01:25:12.642
Just a thought. I would love, as part of the reporting, to understand when these projects begin. Began, a lot of these have been going on and to me, it's, you know, when we look at, and the report states ambitious priorities within 2023 to 2028, I refer to like the work in progress. Is there a point when we decide, well, this has been, you know, this hasn't been addressed for the last five years, maybe there's a point when we just sort of park it, or it's no longer, the data or the reporting is no longer relevant in 2026. So just an idea, Jonci, if we can just get an idea of when the project started, and to give us a little bit more information. Jonci Wolff 01:26:07.774
Yeah, for the Chair, so obviously this, the report and the reporting system is under constant development and improvement. So that is definitely something which is on our radar that we, because we obviously know that there's quite a few initiatives contained within the report, are which multi-year, and for us to better represent these multi-year projects and how they're tracking over those years. There's also quite a few initiatives contained in this report that are ongoing. We don't necessarily expect that they will ever disappear unless we decide so, pretty much. Obviously, providing some more visibility in terms of the timeline of those initiatives or the categories, I can work on that, of course. Amelia Lorentson 01:26:50.651
Thank you very much, Councillor. Brian Stockwell 01:26:53.439
Do you would you like to move? I'm happy to move. I'll second. Councillor finnesworth? Finzel moved and seconded by Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Finzel, you have the floor. Karen Finzel 01:27:04.003
Well, I think it's really excellent to get this reporting and this update. It's a great, you know, bird's eye view, an overview of where we're going. It's really good for the community to see how we're tracking and hold us to account. Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing how we progress the matters raised through the report and around the table today. Looking forward to Director Shaun bringing back that report to us. And thank you, Director Contini, for answering questions at the table today. You know, it's a collaborative approach. How we work together to get the best outcomes for our community. So thank you for the report, Jonci. It's a good overview and it's encouraging to see how we're incrementally progressing forward to get the best outcomes for our beneficiaries. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:27:53.555
Okay, anyone else wish to talk? No? You want to close and argue with yourself, Councillor Finzel? I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, John, to you both. We now move on to item 4, which is proposed motions for submission to ALGA National General Assembly. Now, let's get out are of here. You going to give the overview? Larry Sengstock 01:28:27.203
Well, I guess I'll give the overview. Every year, there's the opportunity to provide motions to the Australian Local Government Association, similar to the LGAQ, where we also provide motions. To highlight. Aspects that we believe, as a Council, need to be highlighted and need to be provided, or the attention provided to it, so that some action may be taken. The LGAQ is a body that then takes. Almost once they accept the motions, if they go to the. Once they go to the conference, they get accepted, and then they go forward to whatever level, in terms of. To get. I'm trying to get some activity or action associated with those. Lorentson, do you have a Councillor Lorentson has provided these six motions. And I think it's probably best to. I think your paper was read rather than go through them, but if you want to go through them one by just in highlighting, Councillor, so that we can make sure that we've. You've provided a little bit of background on each one. Amelia Lorentson 01:29:41.824
I'll just give you a quick summary. Again, I'm going to assume this is as read. Also reiterating what the CEO has just said, that once this actually goes to the Australian Local Government Association. Some may actually not get accepted, and some may. So I have six motions, and I'll just read the titles, reducing. No surprises with what I'm bringing forward. Reducing microplastics in waterways. Motion number two, recycled wastewater for emergency firefighting. Motion number three, emergency medical workforce support. Motion number four. And cyber security, fraud controls and information sharing in local government. Motion number five, national youth employment and training pathways in local government. And number six, a national framework to improve construction and demolition waste recovery. So this year I'm bringing forward a series of motion that I believe align with our Corporate Plan and community priorities. They centre around. Community. Our environment and youth. These issues are not new and they won't fix themselves and that's why I keep going year after year. I think I've gone six years in a row to Canberra advocating. For them because without continued pressure we won't get the national support and most importantly we won't get the funding that we urgently need as small local governments. I've got a couple of environmental motions that one focuses on reducing pollution before it reaches our oceans and waterways and one motion calls for Federal investment as in funding in advanced wastewater treatment so we can stop microplastics and emerging contaminants at the source. Clean oceans and clean waterways matter deeply to this Council and also our community. Places like Burgess Creek remind us how fragile these systems are and why best practice treatment essential. This motion pushes for stronger product stewardship so producers not councils carry the cost of managing problematic waste like micro plastics and textiles again local governments should shouldn't be the ones that are absorbing these costs. Two of my other motions relate to emergency management. One seeks support to use recycled wastewater for firefighting, just so that it just reduces the strain on potable supplies. And the other motion calls for the creation of an Australian medical reserve. So senior and semi-retired doctors can volunteer during disasters. That motion has actually been brought to me by the AMA and by our retired doctors that are here in Noosa. Both the motions there aim to build stronger safer and more resilient communities that can respond effectively when emergencies hit. The cyber security motion, that's another area where I believe needs national support and in light of recent incidences here in Noosa and the Gold Coast, my motion for a local government cyber security and forward resilience program would help us upgrade our systems, strengthen staff training and most share real-time threat intelligence. Again councils especially the small ones can't face cyber threats alone. But another motion in environment that's to improve construction and demolition waste recovery. That one excites me a little bit. Construction waste is a major contributor to our landfill volumes and resource loss. A national focus or requirement for source separation. You know separating construction and demolition waste at the source would help us reduce our landfill pressures and improve recycling rates and cut back illegal dumping. And finally I've got a motion on our being the most important people in our, not the most important, but one of the most important sectors in our community and the age group I think 18 to 24 that we see are leaving Noosa. So that motion focuses on youth employment and it asks the commonwealth to establish a youth employment and training pathway program with each Council. So the is idea are, that we as a Council, one of the largest employees, especially here in Noosa, but we are a key employer. So councils should almost mandate mandatory youth apprenticeships and internships, and it should be proportionate to its population. And that just means that we ensure that our young people across Australia have access to careers in local government. With major shortages in planning, engineering, surveying and digital roles, I think it's really important that we get the funding but also we get support in terms of our regional training pathways and national recognition that local government is a key employer. In summary, the motions and that I've put forward reflect the issues that I personally care deeply about and again issues that matter to this community. And this Council. Our environment, our community and our youth deserve strong advocacy and that's why I keep going to Canberra and bringing these motions forward each year. Local governments can't do this work alone. We need meaningful support and funding from every level of government. If we want cleaner waterways more resilient emergency systems, stronger cyber protections and a pathway for young people to secure local government careers, we must keep pushing. Advocacy is how we make noise. We stay on the national agenda and how we secure the change our Noosa community needs. Frank Wilkie 01:36:49.392
Happy to move it, Mr Chair. Brian Stockwell 01:36:50.267
You can't, because the recommendation has an insert names. I'm going to move that and it can be amended. I wouldn't accept a motion. You can't have approved Councillors, insert name as a motion. Frank Wilkie 01:37:06.276
No, I'm going to move that. As written by approved Councillors. Councillor Lorentson. Yep. To attend. Blah blah yeah and that's if Councillor Lorentson will accept and will attend. Amelia Lorentson 01:37:23.526
I'm happy to accept and attend on the provision that there is no other Councillor. That wants to go because I have attended over the last few years I think under mandatory so I think in terms of equity I really would love to throw it at the table if anyone wants to take my spot. Brian Stockwell 01:37:43.288
Is it one Councillor allowed? It's normally two or more. It's actually two. It's not mandatory, it can just be approved. Okay. And it says should they wish to attend so it's just if they decide to attend. So what Councillor Wilkie is suggesting is that he puts Councillor Lorentson in there. We can proceed with that or if there's another Council that wants to be considered. Amelia Lorentson 01:38:07.627
Through the Chair, there was two last year and in previous years. Brian Stockwell 01:38:16.237
So is there another Council or what? Well, Councillor Wilson the would put a name up. Is there any other councils who wish to be considered? So Councillor Wilkie, are you happy for that amendment to include Councillor Wilson? Yes. And if any other Council wish, if this was to proceed, any other Council wishing to attend would then do it under their discretionary budget. Are we clear on that one? Yep. Okay, do we have a second for the motion? Councillor Finzel. Councillor Wilkie, you should talk to the motion. Frank Wilkie 01:38:49.837
Look, this represents a considerable body of work by Councillor Lorentson and I have to admire work that's gone into it and the passion with which she's pursued over many years now, several years now, some of these issues. As Councillor Lorentson said, it ALGA that decides which ones make it to the floor for debate, but also nominated to attend because she's put in the work and would be the best advocate on the floor to deliver those motions. She'll have the best knowledge of those motions and the background to those motions. I also think it's a very good idea for other don't believe Councillor Wilson has attended before. Very good experience, but should there be any change to the number of Councillors or the Councillors that wish to attend between now and Thursday, we can have that discussion. To attend. But I as I say, well done Councillor Lorentson and I wish you all the best in Canberra. Larry Sengstock 01:40:03.749
Lorentson: thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:40:07.106
Anyone else wish to talk to the motion? Are you happy not to close Councillor Wilkie? I'll put the motion. Those in favour. That's unanimous. And we move then to item 5 which is a major event funding proposals and while the relevant staff come to the table just to remind the Council that the attachment to this report is confidential. We wish to discuss matters relating to that we will need to go into closed session. Frank Wilkie 01:40:39.644
Can we just clarify why those amounts are confidential Mr Chair, because they could be amended? Brian Stockwell 01:40:47.759
Yes. So reason they're put in confidential is that it's because at this stage they're commercial in confidence and we've made prejudice putting that information out before the motion is agreed to. My understanding is once the decision is made at the ordinary. Is made at the Ordinary Meeting then those amounts then become public, is that correct? That's correct. Yeah. Have we got the manager of economic development who's going to give the overview or we must have an Acting Director that we can ask hard questions to? Woloski 01:41:20.848
Yes. Thank you, Councillors, through the Chair. This report presents the recommended Major Event Sponsorship Funding allocations for events to be delivered during the 2026-27 financial year as the event portfolio transitions from tourism. Noosa to Council. From the 1st of July this year, 2026, Noosa Council will assume responsibility for funding major tourism events following extensive community consultation through the Destination Management Plan process and subsequent engagement. With event rights holders. This transition represents a significant shift towards a community-led, values-aligned approach to events in Noosa. The DMP feedback highlighted a strong for Council to provide clearer oversight of events, ensure better alignment with community outcomes, sorry, community expectations, reduce negative impacts and strengthen sustainability and accessibility outcomes. Transitioning funding to Council supports this direction by enabling improved governance, strategic alignment and consistent decision making across the organisation. It is also a direction supported by the events industry. A 12-month transition period is required to allow existing contractual obligations by Tourism Noosa to conclude. This period also provides Council with the necessary time to establish the internal processes, assessment tools, relationship structures and policies. Framework to effectively manage major event investment as a component of the Noosa Council Sustainable Events Strategy which is currently under development and will direct future from funding decisions. July 2026 onwards it is anticipated that funding decisions will prioritise events that deliver tangible community benefits, demonstrate strong environmental responsibility, enhance accessibility and minimise impacts on residents and contribute to a more balanced distribution of activity across the Shire. Still while still recognising the importance of economic and visitation outcomes. The events have long played an important role in Noosa's culture, economy and community. In response to community feedback received during the development of the DMP, Council is creating a new Sustainable Events Strategy and accompanying guidelines. These documents will shape Noosa's future events portfolio including tourism, community and arts and culture events, ensuring alignment with the principles and objectives of the DMP. The strategy will also guide future event funding and sponsorship, provide clarity certainty and for event organisers and be directly informed by community feedback gathered throughout and I would ask that Council notes the following recommendations. And also an amendment to recommendation A. As the report was delayed, we didn't take it to the S &E, Services & Organisation Committee, it came straight to general. So we ask that Council approve the Major Event Sponsorship Funding for a transition year being 2026 to 2027 as outlined in confidential attachment one. Major event funding recommendations. Confidential IAW with S254D3 of the LG Reg 2012. Subject to sufficient funds totalling 230,000,000. Being allocated in the adopted 2026-27 Council budget. And note that the new Sustainable Events Strategy policy and assessment criteria under development and will guide future processes. Brian Stockwell 01:45:48.126
Thank you. Do we have any questions? Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 01:45:51.610
Thank you. Just in relation to the resources that are sort of holding now, it says responsibilities, it's with us, AU's futures and Noosa, but are we now. Do have someone with this portfolio, or is it still with futures and Noosa? Woloski 01:46:07.146
It's actually in a transition, so it's sitting within the Dev team, but we're working on it together. So the reason we're we've taken the funding over first is so that the contracts will be seamless for the event organisers, but we're using internally the same processes that Tourism Noosa have used as an interim measure for this transition period only, until our new event guidelines are all ready to go. Jessica Phillips 01:46:37.628
We subcontracting some work back to Tourism Noosa throughout that partnership? Woloski 01:46:43.382
No, it's a part of the Roadmap, the Tourism Noosa Roadmap. We've been working together. They've known that this was coming, our primary objective is to make it as seamless as possible for the event directors so that they know that they've still got their 18 months lead time for future planning. Kerri Contini 01:47:05.348
We're using existing resources in the team to actually do the assessment and do the work and develop the strategy. Jessica Phillips 01:47:13.891
One last question. So because I haven't had it before. So we're adopting allocated funds before the 2026/2027 budget. Is that a normal process or just a normal process or just this is different because of timing? Woloski 01:47:28.748
It is timing, Councillor. It's the events need an 18 month lead time to be able to plan and execute their events. So we've brought the funding over, but it's almost coming in to go back out to fund the existing events that we assess. So we went through a process of assessment. Where we got a panel of you know experts in events across the organisation and we did do the assessment to make sure that there was no other events sitting there outside of the ones that had previously been assessed. And we did that assessment and came up with events totalling the 230,000. Of assessment. Brian Stockwell 01:48:19.811
Was there wasn't. Nicola Wilson 01:48:24.267
Was there any consideration given to when selecting which events to fund in trying to make sure that there were event free months in or will that be part of the future strategy? Woloski 01:48:40.270
So through the Chair, that will be part of the future strategy. This year was all about trying to maintain consistency for the events as DMP took longer than we had envisaged. That had a bit of a knock-on effect just at the timing when Tourism Noosa, had they still been running events, would have gone out with an Expression of Interest. To make sure that again the event organisers and directors weren't impacted, we agreed to have almost status quo with the exception that we had an assessment period in case there was any that we weren't aware of. So it's almost been we've kept everything pretty much as it was to allow us to do our event criteria and guidelines. Brian Stockwell 01:49:33.770
Councillor Lorentson. Amelia Lorentson 01:49:33.770
And for once the sustainable. Event strategy is adopted. Do we expect the number of events and the level of funding required for the major events to increase, decrease or remain stable? Question. Woloski 01:49:54.761
That will be brought back to Councillors as part of a workshop because we could potentially write it in a way that any one of those scenarios could be the outcome, you know, if you wanted us to go and pitch for events, for example, then it would be higher. If you're happy with the status quo, then it will be status quo budget. Amelia Lorentson 01:50:21.797
And just my last question in terms of staffing levels. So you mentioned. That our staffing levels at the moment is sufficient to manage this transition period. Looking down the track, do we have an estimate of the internal costs to run and events portfolio once it transitions to Council on the 1st of July 2026? Woloski 01:50:54.174
We don't as yet, Councillor. Sorry, through the Chair. What we can do is come back to you with those broken down. Again, it depends on the level that we want to take the events portfolio moving forward, and same answer as previously, depending on that, we could require an extra resource. Or if we don't, we may be able to manage it internally on the existing resource that we have, given that the DMP now is across the line, we have more capacity because some of those actions will be delivered by other parts of the organisation, and we become the keeper of the strategy and making sure we stick to timelines, so there may be that additional capacity. Amelia Lorentson 01:51:44.529
So in terms of the 230,000 that was transferred from Tourism Noosa, and my understanding that was the cost that was calculated or Council taken on its major event funding. How was that amount ascertained? How did you guys work out that cost? Woloski 01:52:08.669
So we worked with Tourism Noosa to look at what their existing portfolio was and how much it would cost. We also looked at an additional resource, but that didn't come across. We just worked on what it would take to fund this portfolio. And it was a similar portfolio for a number of years, so again, we've kept it very status quo for this financial year, and we have had many discussions with the event directors that just because this financial year it's a certain level that they may expect change when we have our new criteria. So it was a like for Does that make sense, Councillor? Amelia Lorentson 01:52:52.876
Yeah, it does. I'm just concerned that if we aren't. Brian Stockwell 01:52:55.734
No, we're commenting now. I think the CEO had something to add. Larry Sengstock 01:52:59.124
Wanted to probably clarify. The 26-27 budget, which is what this money is used to be used for, the major events. Remember, it's just major events. We have hundreds of minor events that we manage and deal with in a separate department within our organisation, sitting with property. So across they'll board. The whole gamut. So my understanding is that we've got, resource to deal with the 26, 27. So there's 230 to manage that, portfolio of major events, we can, cater for that internally with what, with the resources that we have going forward, depending on what the, stable of events are and how they're, you know, how big, small or to want manage it and then we would have to then look at what resources are required to do that and whether we consolidate our resources within the organisation and that's a, discussion that's, is being had currently because we have a number of resources in the smaller event grants and in the larger ones is how we manage that. So it's a transition period but I think currently over next 12 months or 26, 27, we've got the resources to manage this work like. Nicola Wilson 01:54:17.734
I just want to clarify, please, the use of-- status quo, was that in terms of the amount that's being funded or which? Woloski 01:54:25.501
Yes, so status quo, we originally thought we should just go status quo, but because there is a higher level of scrutiny, because it's moving across the Council, and we were concerned about public funding, we went out and did an assessment period to look for an Expression of Interest, sorry, to look for any other events may be sitting there that justifiably may want to put in an application. So we did have, I think it was 15, Andrew? 15 events that put in, and it was almost double what was asked for. But those that we eventually did fund, the funding was status quo, so we didn't go over the 230,000. It may have been apportioned slightly differently. Frank Wilkie 01:55:20.609
It will be as part of the streamlining process, can you, did you have regard for which recipients were already receiving grants from Council in terms of like a signature event or a three-year alliance grant? Does yes. Apply into the. It does. On a lot. Woloski 01:55:38.400
Andrew, do you want to come up and just talk as having sat on the assessment panel? Jonci Wolff 01:55:46.901
Thank you, Ms. Woloski. Through the Chair, absolutely, yes. What we will be doing going forward until we get an endorsement adopted strategy. To really set the plan for that, which will negate what we call double-dipping. What we have is we're taking into consideration that some events within the existing portfolio got major event funding and some of them got signature community funding, and so what we did is we tried to move. Take out a portion of the major event funding and slowly what we might call a drip feed or slowly reduce the reliance on the double funding pool. And so some of that funding we were able to allocate into other events that we thought were meeting all the DMP criteria. Get a little bit more of their funding. And we tried to slightly reduce some of the allocation of those events that are getting funded from two sources within Council, noting that once we get an adopted strategy and with more communication and as well as collaboration with those events, we will reduce that. Completely, the double funding. Thank you. Brian Stockwell 01:56:58.522
And I wish to move the motion. Councillor Lorentson, senator, Councillor Phillips, Councillor Lorentson. You have the floor. Amelia Lorentson 01:57:07.238
Yeah, just thank you to the development team for the work that's gone into this. I think it's clear and I think the aim is that we are going to be moving, well, we are going to be moving to a more community-led and values-aligned approach to events, which is exactly what came through our Destination Management Plan. I'm supportive of the direction and appreciate the transparency in this transition process. Again, my only concern, and that sort of centres around the questions that I ask, is that we just make sure that we understand the true internal costs. Cost of this portfolio in-house, given the 230,000 shift from Tourism Noosa, which I understand actually doesn't cover staffing. I mean, that's just the allocation of funds. So as we build the new strategy and systems, again, it's important that we're properly resourced and that our governance processes stay strong. Overall, really positive step and appreciate the work that's behind this. So thank you. Frank Wilkie 01:58:16.154
Just a clarifying question Councillor Lorentson and rose is a good point. If you reduce the Tourism Noosa funding from 2.5 to 2,230 is the amount given to the events. Is it is the rest of the 500,000 given up to a resource to assist? Woloski 01:58:42.566
No it hasn't come across to us it may well be sitting I know we've got in our budget they do not touch scenario so yeah it's sitting there but the rest the 230 send the 230 was the one that came across the one that came across to us I'm sorry I'll need. Brian Stockwell 01:59:02.772
To take that off when you're saying us you're talking about your particular team economic development sorry you didn't receive any additional stuff. Start funds we're just working you harder which is good to see the. Larry Sengstock 01:59:15.824
Other the allocation has come back into our budget so it's not allocated for this 2027 year so the total amount allocated to tourism and events is less than it was last. Frank Wilkie 01:59:28.708
Year. So that 270 though is not the 230 from the 500 that came across. Is that being used to fund a resource? Larry Sengstock 01:59:37.506
Sorry, it doesn't exist as such. Amelia Lorentson 01:59:43.609
Sorry, through the Chair, can you just clarify the amount of funding that we, that Council has allocated to Tourism Noosa? My understanding it's about 2.1, not 2 million as the Mayor has indicated. Can you? 2 million. 2? Okay. Brian Stockwell 02:00:06.955
So, we're debating a motion. We've had Councillor Lorentson talk to us. Anyone wish to talk to the motion? Kerri Contini 02:00:15.268
No? Yep, I want to talk to it. Yep. Thank you to the staff for the report. Karen Finzel 02:00:23.336
I'm satisfied that we're taking steps to become more efficient in this process and wish everybody all the best in those outcomes. But personally, I won't be supporting it because I do not feel comfortable with the strategy coming after we've allocated funding. I think we had enough time. This has been raised for such a long period and I know the report addresses that, but for me personally. I have concerns around this process that I don't feel comfortable with. I'd rather have policies and strategies in place to inform allocation and decision making prior to that. But this is where we find ourselves and I'm glad that there's process and movement to try and address the issues moving forward around destination management to ensure our community and our environment are looked after. But yeah, I'm not comfortable with that. The process as a Christian. Amelia Lorentson 02:01:36.956
Question to start through the Chair. In terms of delaying the process for the Sustainable Events Strategy policy to be developed, what risk does that pose to the does that event organisers that are waiting for a response in terms of funding? Woloski 02:01:58.113
I am going to defer. Andrew has been quite heavily involved in those discussions. Already there's a little bit of stress but I will. Jonci Wolff 02:02:06.592
Absolutely, it would pose for some of the small events a very big risk. Andrew 02:02:12.028
They need some certainty to understand their own budget and work for their own budget particularly because you know the expressions of interest came out in November and they were notified early this year for that and these are for events that will start from July the 1st. So if we could delay that funding. Announcement much longer, those earlier in the financial year events would not have an idea or they would have certainty around their events. Amelia Lorentson 02:02:41.073
Thank you and would there be a risk that some of the events may not. I'm not supposed to know, I'll have to withdraw that question. That's asking me. Opinion. Brian Stockwell 02:02:50.701
Okay. Can I ask you to speak, Councillor Wilkie? Frank Wilkie 02:02:53.998
Yeah, look, I support the change to the major event funding. As said, this is a significant change from having Tourism Noosa assess funding for these events, the intention in bringing these events back into Council is to streamline the assessment process. As mentioned, some are already also receiving signature event grants, alliance grants, and there will be more work done after this year, which is a holding pattern for these events, more work done with all Councillors and stakeholders to come up with policy, sustainable events strategies. Strategy policy assessment criteria, which will be a new way forward. I commend the staff for the work we've done in managing this change. And I support the recommendations. Jessica Phillips 02:03:55.929
I'll just speak to it quickly. I think my understanding to get to this point has been prior to this, like the organiser had to go through. Some parts of Council for say a permit for the road or different. It was a bit clunky because they'd go through Council for some things and then through Tourism Noosa for others. So I was always supportive of this I step. Just I probably just want to make sure that Councillor Finzel's concerns are raised as well because I certainly am one to feel that strategy and policy should come first. So I don't want to get in the habit of this but I also appreciate why it's come this way this time. I don't want to see delays but I'm really interested to see in like the community consultation for what they want to see with events leading into the future before we make any sort of further decisions around resources or funding but I understand that this is a year to keep. Things moving along so yeah I'll support it but with the proviso that we start getting in a habit of making sure that strategy and policy is always what guides us and this would sit under it. Comfortably. So that's all I have to say. Thank you. Nicola Wilson 02:05:22.615
Well actually this is a year. Woloski 02:05:31.068
So we should be starting to workshop very very very soon and seeking direction from your Councillors on what ways you want to go. Amelia Lorentson 02:05:45.332
Just a quick question. In terms of the Destination Management Plan, was ratification of that plan critical? To progressing the strategy? Or could the strategy have been done before the Destination Management Plan was ratified through Council? Woloski 02:06:02.800
From a resource point of view, the DMP took up a lot of internal resource to be able to do this. We tried our best to pull the policies together, but really the DMP, to your point, Councillor, the DMP was the big one that impacts on everything else. So, yes. That. Ideally should be the way that we do it. So, yes, we put all our resource into getting the DMP across the line so that we could pick up and run, which caused the time, lag for the EOIs. Jonci Wolff 02:06:45.942
I just click through the chat? And also with that extra round of community engagement really is helping us to shape the event strategy. So, you know, the community engagement with the data that came out of the DMP community engagement is really, really important for us to use for this. There's one. Yes. Brian Stockwell 02:07:03.231
Councillor Phillips. Jessica Phillips 02:07:03.840
Question, there will be, there be, community consultation on the sustainable table events strategy there. Woloski 02:07:11.886
It up at this stage, we hadn't planned for we have consulted with event directors, but that will be something that we can bring to you in the future for workshop sessions. Brian Stockwell 02:07:27.936
That's something for councils to decide, is that what you're thinking? If we've got enough information through the DMP process or whether we think we need more. Have I spoken to this? No. Oh, I'll speak to it. You? Did I? Okay. Apparently I did. Was really, it was really, I was going to add something, but I've spoken. Oh, you have. Lucky the chairman's on the board. You shouldn't have asked me to speak. I think I'm the only one who might not have spoken. It is a small step towards the DMP this year. There is maybe not coming out of the motion and report in front of us, there is the work behind the scenes in terms of tweaking conditions to start reflecting some of the aspirations within the DMP. It is just basically a transition step and we have to really appreciate that while it goes to economic development, and the events are one mechanism to support our local economy. A lot of these events are greatly appreciated and high participation rates of locals as well. So having a, while I understand Councillor Finzel's position having a gap year would likely have a significant social impact for those people who do really appreciate the events we have in our community and it would ruin my preparation for the hundred year, 100km hundred kilometre run next year. I'm yet to start. That's all I've got to say. Councillor Lorentson, would you like to close? Amelia Lorentson 02:09:13.806
I will, I'm going to. Just mention, I think it was about four years ago that we did a round table with all the event organisers. And this was something that was actually brought forward by our community. I will, I'm talking small community events from the Noosa tri to, you know, Noosa alive, and we all sat around a table and it was possibly one of the most proactive exchange of an open and honest of feedback. So I'm really excited with the direction that this is taking and I also want to acknowledge that the Destination Management Plan took its toll on staff and resourcing so I respect this transition period is critical getting things right in terms of the Sustainable Events Strategy but also acknowledges that you know we have staff that are working overtime in this space so you know the Roadmap is looking really great and I know those people that sat around the table four or five years ago are really quite excited I think this Council needs to be very clear and articulate the importance of events to this community and the Destination Management Plan you know allows gives us those guiding principles that those events have got to align with. Demonstrated community benefit and streamlining and cost-saving and you know when we refer to continuous improvement that's exactly what we mean so again excited that this is actually happening and I think you know if a year means we're going to get it right then let's do it right. Brian Stockwell 02:11:16.143
Okay I put the motion. Those in favour? That would be Councillor Wilkie, Phillips, Lorentson, Wilson, Stockwell. Those against? Councillor Finzel. The motion is passed. And that brings us to the end of the meeting at 2. Related Noosa Council Meetings
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