2026-2027 Community Project Grants Program - Equipment

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. I don't know what that was, but it was 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 3 a further report and we will deal with at item 12. 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 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 on authority.1.7 is the General Committee recommendations on. Block. We have a move and a second for the General Committee that Councillor Wilson is off the mark. We have a second. Thank you, Councillor Finzel. All in favour? That's unanimous. We now move to the Ordinary Meeting report. We have a further report, the environment project grants round 21, which is referred to the General Committee from the 9th of June. And we have Ben Derrick here. Thank you, Ben. Could you give us a summary of the report, please?

Frank Wilkie108:38

Councillor Stockwell, for chairing. We're now at item 11.2.2, which is the 26-27 community grant program, community project and signature community event grant summary, 11.2.3.2026-27 community project grants program projects, 11.2.4 26-27 community project grants program facility development, and we have a few.Councillor Wilson? I'm already up. Oh, sorry. I've got a conflict of interest.

Brian Stockwell109:10

Please declare. And it's in accordance with the relevant section of the act. I wish to declare a prescribed conflict of interest. Sorry, I didn't mean to cross this. Yeah, I'm up for that. For item 11.24, for the community grants program, community project to be developed on this agenda, as I am the current president of Noosa Lions Football Club, who I recommend it for funding. As a result of my conflict, I will now leave the meeting while the matter is considered and voted on.

Nicola Wilson109:51

In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I, Councillor Nicola Wilson, inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in relation to item 11.2.4, 2026. Grants program, community project grants, facility development, as Noosa Arts Theatre has been recommended as a recipient of a facility development grant. I am the senior vice president of Noosa Arts Theatre as a result of my conflict of interest, I'll now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered to end.

Frank Wilkie110:23

Thank you, Councillor Wilson. I also have a conflict of interest to declare. In accordance with Chapter 5B of Local Government Act, I, Councillor Frank Wilkie. Inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in the matter, community grants program, community project grants facility development, on this agenda in relation to the application for Noosa Arts Theatre. While I am no longer in a decision-making position on the Noosa Arts Theatre committee, I continue to volunteer my time in productions at the theatre. Although I am making a declarable conflict of interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias, because Noosa Arts Theatre is a not-for-profit group and I am participating in. An unpaid capacity and am not involved in any decision-making capacity. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room, but I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision.

Nicola Wilson134:12

I'm a bit concerned with some of these recommendations and have asked that we revisit the assessment criteria for future rounds. My intent, of course, is always to the public interest. And I'm not sure that ratepayers paying for solar for 10 property owners is in the broader public interest, regardless of income. I do support the work zone does and know how hard the volunteers work. I do think the e-bike library is a good idea. However, I'm not sure it should draw on Council grants to fund its ongoing operations. This is a long-term project and was set up with state government funding to acquire the bikes and other equipment. At that time. ZEN should have had a plan to fund its ongoing operational expenses and I don't think that should be done by entering a competitive grant process each year. Council already funds ZEN's operating budget and I believe this should be covered as an ongoing BAU expense. And other if we fund this year does that mean that we're now expected to fund it every year across the life of the project? If this is the expectation it should have been agreed with Council as part of the project plan. It seems poor process to start a capital project and not have an ongoing plan to fund its operations. Well I like the idea of the bike library a lot. There is no evidence that the bike loans have reduced or replaced car usage, that they have led to significant purchases of e-bikes, based on participant feedback it's less than 30% went on to actually buy an e-bike, and a two-week loan has minimal impact on emissions. If the loans had a servicing charge of $50 per week or $100 per fortnight loan, this project could be self-funded. If people are really in the market to spend thousands of dollars on an e-bike, I think they would welcome the chance to try before you buy at a cost of $100. It does not need to be free. If they can't spend that $100, then they're really not in the market to buy an e-bike. If they can afford an e-bike, I don't see why ratepayers should pay for the loan.