Environment & Climate Change Response Grants - Environment Project Grants (Round 21), Climate Change Response Grants (Round 6)

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.

Jessica Phillips179:17

Okay, firstly, I appreciate the diversity at this table. I think that it shows democracy. At its best and I also think that it's important so we land in the middle somewhere every time the dial is too far either way. I don't think we get great outcomes so I appreciate the conversation firstly. I think it was perfect timing although I didn't, we plan it. Hayley's question time at the commencement of this. I firstly want to acknowledge that you know as a long-term resident I never came and did a question time and I've probably sat back and had issues but never spoke up so coming and spending the today to actually sit in chamber I think it's really commendable. It's easy to probably sit online and make a comment but you've come out and put it on notice so thank you for that. I also want to make points to make a point of why I was grateful that we were able to separate the two grants from Monday because it gave us the opportunity to look at this one with a little bit of a different lens and I want to be really clear from the offset that supporting and protecting noosa's unique environment is one of our greatest assets and I will always support Council in investing in projects that genuinely improve environmental outcomes build resilience and leave lasting legacy for our future generations interestingly I had a company come around to look at solar panels and battery on my house I have a four-bedroom house two children a mortgage and you know my income because you will have the same income you don't need to know my husband's but let me tell you where we represent many people in this Shire that are feeling the cost of living hurting so the quote for my solar and battery on my home was onwards $30,000 and I don't have the financial I don't have that money sitting in the bank to invest in that so over the past two years I am probably becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the way the climate change response grants are being funded from general rates without meaningful consultation we are spending our ratepayers' money and I think that every time we should be questioning is this probably not so much about is this project worthwhile I think you could probably argue through the criteria that it is but is it the best way to invest limited public money it's time that we start thinking about the way we're spending as Councillors we have a responsibility to every ratepayer to ensure every dollar collected delivers the greatest possible to our community that responsibility is even greater following the significant rate increases in mortgages and cost of living I'm increasingly concerned that we've probably reached a point now we need to ask ourselves whether each investment delivers measurable outcomes does it represent value for money and does it provide the greatest benefit for our environment and our community also like see Councillors be provided with more meaningful information during the assessment process greater transparency about how projects are prioritised a comparison of value for money and long-term measures just then we worked out that whilst we sit and look at 50,000 on paper in six rounds it's 300,000 so that adds up really quickly and I don't want the future Councillors to who are warming the Chair for four years to look at it at two million dollars especially since we had a fair bit of robust conversation around spending two million dollars on Tourism Noosa so how quickly will that escalate to future councils sitting here going why did we spend two million dollars without questioning public funds so it's not about reducing our commitment to the environment today for me it's about ensuring that every environmental dollar we collect from our community is invested wisely transparently and that the projects are going to deliver the greatest possible benefit for Noosa both today and into the future and if we talk about good governance that requires us to continually review our policies and our guidelines and our funding frameworks so I'm going to believe today that grants have now reached a point where it is warranted that there is a review.

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?

Tom Wegener188:55

The climate change response plan and these grants are to help noosa's vision to address climate change into the future and years ago under the Tony wellington Council they recognise the climate emergency and this is was a long sweep of go in that direction perhaps that era is over I'm so happy that these grants will be approved today this is wonderful for these communities as a councillor Lawrence and says that is our community doing the thing that is our resident working hard for a positive future but I'm a little bit pessimistic especially with the you know have having the next round of grants preconditioned on some sort of consultation and guidelines being revisited so I think I'll just enjoy that the celebration today because these are wonderful grants going to wonderful groups.

Jessica Phillips154:20

Yeah, okay. So it'll be that Council undertakes a review of the climate change response guidelines and conduct public consultation on any proposed changes to prior to the next round of grant funding being opened because that means the consultation happens. And supports the amendments or consultation happens to help the amendments not the other way around.

Frank Wilkie155:24

It be helpful if it said undertake a review of the climate chance change response grant guidelines involving public consultation any proposed changes prior to the next round of grant funding? I was trying to make it shorter.

This is I believe the sixth round of the climate change community grants and it is $50,000 every year. So it's exciting. Thank you.