FURTHER REPORT - CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE GRANTS (ROUND 6) (referred from General Committee dated 9 June 2026 Item 7.14)

Frank Wilkie225:07

Welcome back everybody we resume at 1:46 we're up to item 12.3 which is a further report the Fees and Charges which was referred from the General Committee date on the 9th of June and we have found the financial services manager Zach Morton-Ayr and acting corporate services Director Margaret Gatt here for this report. Zach or Margaret please give us summary of the report please.

Frank Wilkie121:11

Thank you Councillor Stockwell. I think it has to stop May does anybody which else wish to speak? Councillor Stockwell are you happy with everything you said? I'll put it as a vote. A fact, vote, that's unanimous thank Pam you, Ben. All right. We now move to 12.2, which is a further report of climate change response grants. Referred from the General Committee dated 9th of June. Councillor Stockwell, I believe you have a conflict of interest. I do.

Frank Wilkie114:09

Councillor Finzel, seconded by Councillor Wegener. All in favour? That is carried unanimously. And can we have Councillors Wilson and Stockwell back in the meeting room, please? Thank you. 11.2.5, 20, 26, 27, Community project grants program equipment. 11.2.6, community progress grant program events. 11.2.7, community grants program three year signature community event grants. 11.2.8, legacy plot reservation management policy. 11.2.9, support for all access and inclusion program. 11.2.10, was referred to the Ordinary Meeting for a further report and we will deal with at item 12.3 on the agenda, which was Fees and Charges. 11.2.11, Noosa Botanic Gardens master plan. 11.2.12, further report, Tourism Noosa funding and performance deed. 11.2 master plan.13, Noosa biosecurity plan. 11.2.14 was referred to today's Ordinary Meeting for two further reports, which we will deal with at item 12.1 and 12.2 on this agenda, which is environment and climate change response and environment project grants, round 21, climate change response grants, round 6, 11.2.15, planning applications decided by delegated authority, April 2026, and 11.2.16, planning applications decided by land rationalisation, Lanyana Way lot 2 on authority, thank you, Ben. Could you give us a summary of the report, please?

Brian Stockwell121:47

I'll start. Under the normal section of the act, I have a prescribed conflict of interest. In regard to, Matt, item 12.3, environment and climate change response grants, environment project grant, round 21, climate change response grants, round 6. Ooh, is that the right is that the right descriptor? Or does that refer to heaven? Refer to how it was referred to in the general? Yeah, so it'll be just, sorry, it'll be in regard to item 12.2 of the Ordinary Meeting agenda yeah and as I am the current president of Noosa Lions Football Club who I'm aware a grant response climate although I take out that is this the title of the one? Yes. Out the I declare a conflict of interest take out everything that follows that. I just want to say I declare. Right then second last line. Oh okay. Although I take out although. Okay. Hang on. Actually take out that whole sentence and say I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered as I have done.

Chair, thank you for the opportunity. Noosa Council's climate change response grants aim to advance the implementation of the climate change response plan, the coastal hazards adaptation plan, and the regional climate action Roadmap, as well as the objectives in the Corporate Plan related to climate change response. Subject to budget outcomes, the current total financial year 26-27 budget for the response grants is $50,000. The climate change response grants are funded by general rates and this is the sixth round of annual grant funding to date. Nine applications were received for the current round for funding requests totalling $145,753.06 and a total combined project value of $269,000 two hundred and sixty nine thousand fifty four dollars and six cents. These figures illustrate the strong desire for community support for as well as the willingness to co-invest in measures that reduce emissions which cause climate change and adapt to growing climate change impacts by building resilience. It is noted calibre of grants received in this round was strong and represented actions across emissions reduction and climate change adaptation. The projects all reflected well against the themes of the climate change response plan. Applications were open from 9th of February 2026 until 23rd of March 2026.2026. Applications were then evaluated internally through a more robust governance process this year to improve the sensibility, objectivity, and transparency of the evaluation process as mentioned by manager of environment services Ben Derrick. Four projects have been recommended for funding based on a thorough assessment against the evaluation criteria, community benefit, and Council priorities. The funding requests across the four projects totals forty eight thousand eight hundred and sixty nine dollars and six cents. Staff have also identified a number of minor conditions that would be required for each successful applicant to implement during project delivery. Would be included in the notice of successful grant outcome. Further information regarding the applications and individual funding recommended are provided in attachment one. Council staff plan to reach out individually to the successful so applicants. Let them know should they be approved by Council as well as the five unsuccessful applicants in this program and work with them on their projects to improve the identified gaps in their applications and see how they can be supported through existing programs and opportunities to meet the need that has been articulated. Overall, most applications worked highly against the relevant grant criteria, and we are incredibly grateful for the time invested by all applicants and community groups to apply for the climate change response grant. Thank you. Any questions for Cheyenne?