Deputations and public questions to council, each opening on what council's minutes record of it.
2026-04-16
Public question
Ordinary Meeting
Ken & Desley Nixon
Heard at the meeting. Council's recording has these questions from 15:59; our transcript is below.
▶ Hear it — council's recording, from 15:59
What the minutes record
Applicant Ken & Desley Nixon
Question 1
Will Noosa Shire Council, as part of its Budget considerations, include a raised boardwalk (approximately 25 metres) on flood prone section of Beach Access 55, noting that we are not seeking replacement of the existing concrete path but only an elevated structure over that section (Case RM2024/10901)?
Response from Shaun Walsh, Director Infrastructure Services
Council’s has recently completed a Strategic Beach Access Renewal Plan, which captures existing asset data across Council’s 70 beach accesses. This asset plan provides the Infrastructure department with clearer guidance and prioritisation for longer-term renewal planning and works scheduling. Beach Access 55 (Kingfisher Dr, Peregian) has been assessed as a Medium priority (Categories are Low, Medium, High and Urgent), with the overall condition considered fair. It is acknowledged that the primary driver for future renewal is the infrequent inundation of the pathway during high rainfall events, which can temporarily restrict public access. In terms of budget provision, Council allocates an annual capital budget provision of $240,000 for renewal of beach accesses & showers, and this budget will be prioritised towards completing Urgent and High priority upgrades at other Beach Access locations. No funding is currently proposed to be allocated toward design or construction of a raised boardwalk through the flood prone section of Beach Access 55.
Question 2
Can Council please clarify the statement in the 28 January email (from the A/Executive Officer) referring to the existing path and railing being "at the end of its service life", and explain what this means in practical terms and when it will be scheduled for repair or replacement (in relation to the existing concrete pathway at Beach Access 55)?
Response from Shaun Walsh, Director Infrastructure Services
To clarify previous advice provided 28 January in terms of Council's current capital funding prioritisation process, Beach Access 55 has been assessed as a Medium priority (Low > Medium > High > Urgent), with the overall condition considered fair. It is acknowledged that the primary driver for future renewal is the infrequent inundation of the pathway during high rainfall events, which can temporarily restrict public access. At this stage, no delivery timeframe has been scheduled for Beach Access 55, as Council’s current program is prioritised for more urgent and high priority beach access works across the Shire. It is noted that the adjacent beach access points Beach Access 54 (approx. 350m north) & Beach Access 56 (approx. 300m south) aren't impacted by inundation and are available as alternative access points during periods of prolonged inundation of Beach Access 55. All beach accesses will continue to be evaluated on an annual basis.
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.
15:59 Mayor Wilkie: The first application with two questions is from Ken and Desley Nixon. Mr and Mrs Nixon couldn't be here today, and they've requested that Councillor Lawrenson read their questions, which will be answered by Shaun Walsh, Director of Infrastructure
16:12 Councillor Lorentson: Services. Councillor Lawrenson. Question one. Will Noosa Shire Council, as part of its budget considerations, include a raised boardwalk, approximately 25 metres on flood-prone section of beach access 55, noting that we are not seeking replacement of the existing concrete path, but only an elevated structure over that section? Case RM 2024, 10901.
16:41 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Director Walsh.
16:50 Director Walsh: Thank you for the question. Council has recently completed a strategic beach access renewal plan, which captures existing asset data across council's 70 beach accesses. This asset plan provides the infrastructure department with clearer guidance and prioritisation for the longer term renewal planning and work scheduling. Beach access 55, which is a Kingfisher Drive bridge area, is a strategic beach access priority. Categories are low, medium, high and urgent, with the overall condition considered fair. It is acknowledged that the primary driver for future renewal is the infrequent inundation of the pathway during high rainfall events, which can temporarily restrict public access. In terms of budget provision, Council allocates an annual capital budget provision of $240,000 for renewal of beach access and showers, and this budget will be prioritised towards completing urgent and high priority upgrades at other beach access locations. No funding is currently proposed to be allocated towards design or construction of a raised boardwalk through the flood-prone section of beach access 55. Thank you.
17:54 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you.
17:55 Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Can Council please clarify the statement in the 28th January email from the Executive Officer, referring to the existing path and railing being at the end of its service life? And explain what this means in practical terms and when it will be scheduled for repair or replacement in relation to the existing concrete path of Beach Access 55.
18:22 Director Walsh: Thank you for the question. To clarify, previous advice provided on the 28th of January in terms of Council's current capital funding prioritisation process, Beach Access 55 has been considered as a medium priority against the categories low, medium, high, urgent, with the overall condition considered fair. It is acknowledged that the primary driver for the future renewal is the infrequent inundation of the pathway during high rainfall events, which can temporarily restrict public access. At this stage, no delivery timeframe has been scheduled for Beach Access 55, as Council's current program is prioritised towards more urgent and high priority beach access routes across the Shire. It is noted that the adjacent beach access points, Beach Access 54, approximately 350 metres to the north, and Beach Access 56, approximately 300 metres to the south, aren't impacted by inundation and are available as alternative access points during periods of prolonged inundation of Beach Access 55. All beach accesses will continue to be evaluated on an annual basis.
19:21 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Director Walsh. The second question request is from Pat Spicer, who has two questions. Mrs Spicer, you can come to the lectern and read your questions please, which will be answered by Kim Rawlings, Director of Strategy and Environment. Welcome.
19:36 Pat Spicer: Thank you. Through the Chair.
Also by Ken & Desley Nixon
Others who spoke that day