Nick Hluszko

Question 1

Conservation Park FAQ: If Noosa Council did not ask the Department of Environment and Science (DES) to indicate support or otherwise (for the Conservation Park) as was reported at the Ordinary Meeting of May 16, 2024, why then had Noosa Council already prepared and submitted a 2 page draft Factsheet titled 'Conservation Park FAQ's' to DES on 27 September 2023 seeking assistance with the content of the factsheet that included the following notation '... such as Local Laws officers supporting Maritime Safety Queensland as registered Shipping Inspectors', in circumstances where Noosa Council had not consulted with Maritime Queensland about the issue nor had disclosed to Noosa ratepayers that Noosa Council would be asking them to pay for Local Laws officers to be registered shipping inspectors particularly during the cost of living crisis.

Response from Director Strategy & Environment, Kim Rawlings

Firstly, let's be clear and accurate about the question asked at the Ordinary Meeting on 16th May – It was "Has the Council contacted the relevant state authorities to see if they would approve a Conservation Park over the Noosa River". As previously stated, the answer was no as this would have been pre-emptive to the process required to explore and consider a Conservation Park. So in saying that, given the community confusion about the Conservation Park concept at the time and the misinformation that was being shared, Council at the time thought it would be useful to draft a fact sheet on what a Conservation Park is and what process would be required to be undertaken if this idea was to be considered at some stage as part of the overall River Plan. To ensure the Draft Fact sheet accurately reflected the required process, Council of course sought input and advice from the relevant State Government Department on its drafting. As a result of the deferral motion this Draft Fact Sheet was not completed at the time.