Deputations and public questions to council, each opening on what council's minutes record of it.
2024-10-17
Public question
Ordinary Meeting
Craig Vella
Heard at the meeting. Council's recording has these questions from 2:57:10; our transcript is below.
▶ Hear it — council's recording, from 2:57:10
The feed timestamps the whole public question block rather than each speaker, so this starts at the top of that block.
What the minutes record
Question 1
Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan (NFIMP) Project news Phase 1 March 2024 stated that 70% of 542 community favoured 'preserving or enhancing the relaxed atmosphere and amenity' of the Noosaville foreshore. The draft shared vision stated, “Our vision is for the Noosaville Foreshore to be retained as a peaceful, relaxed, and naturally beautiful public space that is easily accessible for all” & "while keeping built form structures to a minimum". Has the Noosa Council worked out how the NFIMP 80% Draft Plan ended up so far off course given all this information gathered from the community in phase 1?
Response from Acting Director Infrastructure Services, Shaun Walsh
Thank you for the question and interest in the Noosaville Foreshore. The community had differing reactions to the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan. Most certainly did not appreciate the loss of carparking, overly modern design approach, concerns for the erosion management techniques as well as concerns for proposed changes to the tennis court and other spaces. Others in the community appreciated the widening of footpaths to make them safer, the new proposed toilet block, refreshed playground equipment and the natural approach to Chaplin Park.
It is noted that whilst the design approach of the draft was modern, it did embrace a significant increase in open space through repurposing of carparks, improved accessibility with improved cycling and walking paths, and any new structures were limited to parks shelters and playground. Ultimately it is noted the proposal to increase open space through repurposing of carparks has not met community satisfaction and this in being addressed in the revised Master Plan.
Master Planning can be a difficult process to ensure appreciation of the issues and community consensus on the design direction moving forward. Council deeply respects the strong community sentiments surrounding the proposed draft Master Plan. Council have listened and acknowledge that an updated draft is needed that responds to community views, and are using the feedback to draft a revised Master Plan, in particular a strong desire to maintain the relaxed Noosaville vibe we all know and love.
Question 2
Did the Noosa Council use the same consultants to produce the redrafted Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan, and did the consultants, provide a discount, given the original had to be redrafted?
Response from Acting Director Infrastructure Services, Shaun Walsh
Noosa Council used the same consultants, Tract Consultants, to continue the ongoing work. Tract Consultants were originally selected for the project following a competitive pricing process. Their price for the ongoing work was determined following a period of commercial negotiation, and is considered to be a competitive market price.
This is council's own minuted record, in council's words. Nothing is reworded: the questions, headings and bullets are laid out as the printed minutes set them. Left out are the speaker's name (it heads this page), the minutes' page-header dates, and any “meeting adjourned” line the extract caught. Where an officer answered, the answer is minuted with the question and appears above.
Transcript of the recording
What this is. Transcript of council's recording, produced by automatic speech recognition and not checked line by line against the video. Names and figures are where this kind of transcript fails first. It is our transcript, not council's record. Recording © Noosa Shire Council. Council's own recording is linked above; where the two differ, the recording governs.
2:57:10 Mayor Wilkie: The first is with two questions is from Craig Vela. Mr Vela is again not in attendance, so our CEO will read the questions which will be answered by Shaun Walsh, the Acting Director of Infrastructure.
2:57:28 Speaker 2: Okay, yes, Mr Vela is not in attendance and he's in his submission has asked that I be the proxy for his question. Question one is Noosaville foreshore infrastructure master plan project news phase one March 2024 stated that 70% of 542 community favoured preserving or enhancing the relaxed atmosphere and amenity of the Noosaville foreshore. The draft shared vision stated our vision is for the Noosaville foreshore to be retained as a peaceful, relaxed and naturally beautiful public space that is easily accessible for all. And while keeping built form structures to a minimum. To a minimum. Has the Noosaville Council worked out how the foreshore management plan, 80% draft plan ended up so far off course given all this information gathered from the community in phase one? Thank you, Shaun. Thank you.
2:58:19 Director Walsh: The answer to Craig.
Also by Craig Vella
Others who spoke that day