Pat Spicer

Question 1

While there were restrictions on releasing information to the public regarding the loss or $2.4 million through fraud in December 2024, were all staff in the financial department fully briefed on the contents of the Queensland Audit Office report immediately after the report was received as it explicitly warned about the fraud risk in "super master file" data changes and provided a case study of a recent council loss through such data changes being made to supplier bank account details?

Response from Acting Director Corporate Services Margaret Gatt

Firstly, I’d like to confirm that whilst the initial loss was $2.3M, through recovery by the bank and our insurers, the current figure is $1.7M. This is still a substantial amount and Council does not take this lightly. We are making a range of changes and additions to prevent this happening again.

Council was notified by QAO in March 2024 of the fraud event that targeted Gold Coast Council prior to the calculated attack on Noosa Council.

Also as documented in our previous reports to the Audit and Risk committee and Council, the recommendations from the 2025 QAO Noosa Shire Council Interim Audit Report have been implemented or substantially progressed. Specifically;     

Council has met all reporting obligations Council has conducted regular mandatory cyber-fraud training to better equip our staff for such activities Council has strengthened processes for updating, maintaining and securing the vendor credit Masterfile including the development of a Vendor Maintenance Policy Council is in the process of establishing an independent, risk-based financial accountability program to review and audit the accuracy and proper use of financial information Council has substantially progressed the implementation of third-party payment protection software (EFTsure) to validate banking information

Question 2

Why is Noosa Council taking on the state responsibility of providing housing by spending millions above grants to remediate and install all infrastructure for housing at 64 Lake Macdonald Drive Cooroy as well as entering into a contract with Coast2Bay to build 26 units when it is a fact that this site does not meet the housing strategy actions of ready access to services, transport and proximity to work?

Response from Director Strategic Planning & Environment Kim Rawlings

The housing crisis currently gripping Australia is one that neither the State or Federal governments are going to be able to solve alone in a short time. Rather than sitting back and expecting the problem to be solved by other levels of government, Noosa Council along with many other Local Governments has chosen to be part of the solution. Despite the belief by some that this is not a Local Government responsibility, Local governments have a responsibility to ensure their communities are places people want to live and families can thrive, with amenities and services critical to people’s livelihoods. Local Governments are specifically required to plan for the needs of its community under the Local Government Act, this could legitimately include land use and development outcomes to support housing. Many Councils across Australia are increasingly exploring how they can support affordable housing in response to local needs including Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay amongst others. Councils also have a critical role in enabling housing outcomes through planning, servicing and often land.

Noosa Council's 2018 Social Justice Charter commits Council to implementing policies and providing services that decrease inequality, to doing what it can to ensure Noosa is a diverse community where there are affordable places for people to live. At the 2021 Census there were 2,461 low to medium income Noosa Shire households in housing stress. Since then, the situation has only worsened. To illustrate, the median weekly rent for Cooroy has increased from $500 at the time of the 2021 census to $800 in the September 2025 quarter. That's a 60% increase in 4 years.

In endorsing the 2022 Housing Strategy Noosa Council committed to encouraging greater public and private investment in more social and affordable housing in the Shire and partnering with registered Community Housing Providers and others with the aim of providing more social and affordable. This included investigating Council owned land which might be put to the purpose of housing locals. The land at Lake Macdonald Drive was just one site subject to feasibility investigations with others being in the centres at Noosa Junction and at Tewantin. Thes actions are specifically listed in the Housing Strategy and therefore do meet the Housing strategy actions. A Guide for Local Councils in Delivery of Affordable Housing, produced by the ALGA, Housing Australia and Australian Community Housing has recently showcased Noosa Council's efforts, including the Cooroy land-based contribution to social housing delivery