Start of recording ¶
00:00:00 Speaker 4: Thank you. It's 6pm, so they'll open the meeting. Welcome to the opening meeting, Mr Council, everyone. We begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land that they're gathered on, and Kabi Kabi, the party-carving people, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Attendance-wise, we have the full complement, with Councillor Jackson joining us by the miracle of telephony. Before we go on, I'm going to begin by moving, and I apologise to anyone who's viewing the streaming service or the replay. Unfortunately, we're having a problem with our projector, so that screen at the end isn't working tonight. But look at this, I'm going to move that the operation of Standing Orders or Improvisioned Errors, will now be suspended in order to deal with Item 6 under the Services and Organisation and Committee Recommendations. Item 6 is the one relating to Councillor Jackson's participation in our meeting.
00:01:00 Seconded by Councillor Glasgow. I've got no need to speak to it, so Councillor Jackson, I think you've got to declare that as an object of interest. Speaker 5: Sure. Yes, I do. I declare that, as it's about my own participation, I'll declare that as a conflict of interest, and I shall comment on that. I can't kindly disconnect both of mine. I'm muted, muted, so that I'm not participating. Speaker 3: Okay, I'll just join that now, Councillor Jackson, and I'll flick that back on when we've finished this matter. Councillor Jurisevic: Clicks it. Point of order, Mr. Mayor. Can we confirm that Councillor Jackson is standing when she is speaking? Speaker 4: Okay, I don't think there's any need to speak to this. I'm going to click the notepad that's at the middle. Oh, I've got a point of order. I'm going to move that and second it. I was thinking that I'd already done it. Councillor Evans is leaving with it, that's it. Councillor Harding, seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. And now I'm going to speak to this. I'll take it, I'll move it. All those in favour?
00:02:00 Thank you, that's carried. We've got Councillor Jackson adjourned this. No, I'm standing, I'm going to move it. I think we've just finished that. Aye, I'm back. Okay, thank you. And I'll second this. Moved by Councillor Wilkie, that's standing orders have been made and stated. Seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. All those in favour? Thank you. You're allowed to say aye to that motion. Aye, aye, I'm in favour. So we now move on to the confirmation of minutes. We're back onto the agenda. The Minutes of the Urban and Urban Health 20th Agenda 2019. Yeah, move, Christine. Moved by Councillor Pardon, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. All those in favour? Aye. Thank you, that's carried. Aye. And now the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on the 28th of June 2019. Moved by Councillor Jurisevic, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. All those in favour? Speaker 5: Aye. Speaker 4: Thank you, that's carried. There are no more minutes, but we have some petitions. Let's start with your petition in a little bit of time. Sure, I will.
00:03:00 Speaker 5: Thank you. I have received a petition from Lou McCurdy, which has been signed by 1,154 people on change.org. And by the way, are you hearing me okay? Speaker 4: Yes, yes, we can all hear you, yes. Yes, I'm good. Speaker 5: Yeah, great. And the petition specifically says, as a concerned supporter of volunteer life-saving nippers at Puget Beach, I would like to say that I would like to say that I would like to say that I would like to request Music Council to reject any proposed EOI process to give away the upstairs section of the Puget Surf life-saving clubhouse for non-surf life-saving use, life-saving use. I support the upstairs section of the surf club being used to provide social opportunities such as family dining, bar and entertainment, for example, live music, and contribute funds to the local community, organisations, and most importantly, provide vital services to the local community.
00:04:00 So that's the petition, which 1,154 people signed. Of interest to me, I've had a look at the signatures, and I was interested to find that in addition to people from Cooroy and Beach, the Noosa Shire people who have signed the petition come from far, all over Noosa. Team Beer One, Federal, Ringtail Creek, Tewantin, Noosaville, Noosahead, some of the people from Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Castaways, and Marcus Beach. And it just reminded me that, of course, many parts of Noosa Shire don't have their own beach, and so coming to Puget Beach is one of their favourite activities. So I think we've got a petition here which suggests that 1,154 people are going to be happy with the recommendation we've put today to Council to give a permit to the council. Speaker 4: You're allowed to speak for a minute, and it's a minute and a half now. It's fine.
00:05:00 Councillor Jackson: Okay. All good. Speaker 4: Thank you. Moving that, the petition being... I'll read it, sir. Will it be... The petition will take... Yes. The petition will be taken. The petition being presented... Speaker 5: Received and referred to the CEO to determine appropriate action. Speaker 4: Thank you. Seconded by Councillor Jurisdict. I'll put the motion, and that is in favour. Thank you. That's carried. Speaker 2: Any other petitioners, folks? Thank you. Councillor Wilkie. Thank you, Mr Chair. A petition from the residents of River Cove regarding serious traffic issues. They are... The undersigned residents of River Cove, adjacent to the National Park, submit the petition seeking clarification for visitors of existing parking arrangements as detailed and changes to the permissive parking arrangements and two-street corridors to improve traffic safety. It involves the request to paint yellow lines across all the residents of the existing roadways. The trip-side parking is now limited to the one-minute margin of a solid cross-over.
00:06:00 Standard-sized parking days to be marked with yellow lines in the areas where parking is now limited in Pandanus, Millie Streets and Coorayda Avenue. Extension of the existing railway line from the corner of Coorayda Avenue and Pandanus Streets on the southern side of Pandanus Street. To be reduced by elimination of un-passed space from the south. It says that, while collected with a petition, each of these proposals should be viewed, assessed and actioned independently. They are related to residential energy, are looked by home visitors and some to their safety. None is depended on enough. We seek urgent attention. Second. A petition be received and referred to the Chief Executive Officer to determine the proper action, please. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Seconded. Seconded. Councillor Cardie. Thank you. I put the motion. All those in favour?
00:07:00 Thank you. That's agreed. Any further petitions? I have a petition which has 12 signatures and the petition relates to requesting Council investigate ways to slow drivers down on busy connection roads in Doonan, specifically Duke Road, Eumundi Noosa, Noosa Road, Sunrise Road, Beddington Road and Lenehans Lane. Of course, some of these roads fall in the Sunshine Coast. Thank you. I move that this be presented to the CEO of the Council in relation to appropriate action. Second. Seconded. Councillor Jurisevic. I put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you. That's carried. There are no notified motions, so we move on to the committee recommendations. We begin with the Planning and Environment Committee. Item number one is the Development Application for Operational Works Signage at 143 Eumundi Noosa Road.
00:08:00 Item number two changes to an existing approval to increase the use area at 88A Goodchap Street, Noosaville. Item number three on page 16 of the agenda is a minor change to a DIMCU for multiple housing at 186 Cooroy, Noosa Road, Toll Road. Item number four was referred to the General Committee and we'll deal with later. Item number five is the P&E Court Appeal relating to signage at 1-100 Rennie Street, Noosaville. Item number six is the P&E Court Appeal relating to an Enforcement Notice for Vegetation Clearing at Allura Place, Cooroiva. Item number seven is the Development Assessment Fees and Charges Variations for the period 1 April 2020.
00:09:00 Item number eight is the Healthy Land and Water Three Year Agreement for Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes, I'd like to declare a conflict of interest, a real conflict of interest, in that I subcontract Healthy Land and Water to provide services to myself as a consultant, trading as Watershed Australia, and I will leave room for the purposes of this debate and decision. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: So, Councils, we'll deal with this item separately, obviously. I'll move, Mr Chair. I move, Councillor Wilkie. Seconded, Councillor Jurisdict. Do you feel an urge to speak to it anymore? Councillor Wilkie: I do not, Mr Chair. Mayor Wellington: Okay, thank you. I'll put the motion, all those in favour? Councillor Jackson: Aye. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. The return, Councillor Stockwell, please. Speaker 4: Thank you very much, Chair. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Item number 9 is the change of the Plumbing and Drainage Act and Plumbing and Drainage Regulation.
00:10:00 Item number 10 was referred to General Committee. Item number 11 was referred to General Committee. The recommendation is that all those P&E Committee recommendations be adopted except they're dealt with. I'll move that. Move Councillor Glasgow. Councillor Jackson: Oh, I'll second. Mayor Wellington: Second it. Thank you. Well, I think... Councillor Jackson. Yeah, no, that's fine. All those in favour? Councillor Jackson: No. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: That's carried. We move on to the Services and Organisation Committee recommendations. The first item was referred to the General Committee, so we'll deal with that later. Item number 2 is proposed 10-year renewal status update for community organisations. Item number 3 is referred to the General Committee. Item number 4 is waste disposal fees and charges for concrete. Item number 5 is adoption...
00:11:00 Item number 6 has already been dealt with. Item number 7 is the appointment of the 2020 show holiday. It's like a show holiday with excellent vision, isn't it? Item number 8 is the outcome of the Queensland Treasury Corporation credit review. The recommendation is that Services and Organisation Committee recommendations be adopted. I see where you're going with this. Second. Second. Seconded, Councillor Pardon. I'll put the motion all those in favor. Seconded. Councillor Jackson: Thank you. Mayor Wellington: We now move on to the General Committee recommendations. And number 1 is a minor change to a DA to reconfigure a lot at 191 Pollock Road, Noosaville. Item number 2 is the Coastal Hazards Mapping Refinement. Item number 3 is the Climate Emergency Declaration. Item number 4 is an Events Policy, Public Consultation Outcomes and Amended Policy for Adoption. Item number 5 is Expressions of Interest for Community Activation Level 1 of Peregian Beach Beach Surf Club.
00:12:00 On this matter, I would like to declare a conflict of interest, or a perceived conflict of interest, I should say. This is Barry Cottrell. Mr Cottrell was a contributor to my 2016 election campaign to the tune of $200 on 17 March 2016. I can confirm Mr Cottrell is not on the current committee of Ocean Life Saving Association Inc., one of the submitters on the EOI. I understand that he may have once held a position on that committee. Mr Cottrell does not appear to be directly a submitter on the EOI process. However, he is, I believe, a committee member of Peregian Beach Beach Community Association. That association appears to have some affiliation with Ocean Life Saving Association Inc., which is one of the submitters for the EOI. As far as I can tell, there is no direct or indirect pecuniary benefit to Mr Cottrell arising from the decision regarding the EOI. I am aware that Mr Cottrell has written to Council seeking information about the EOI, particularly in regard to process.
00:13:00 I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of Ocean Life Saving Association Inc., nor Peregian Beach Beach Community Association, nor Surf Life Saving Queensland. I believe I can make an impartial decision on the matter before Council, and I seek a decision by my fellow councillors as to whether or not I remain in the room for the debate and vote. Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilkie: Mr Chairman, I too would like to declare a potential perceived conflict of interest due to the receiving of the EOI electoral donation from resident Mr Ray Cottrell for the 2016 election on the 12th of February 2016. Mr Cottrell is the President of the Peregian Beach Beach Community Association. Peregian Beach Beach Community Association. Peregian Beach Beach Community Association did not provide a donation to my electoral campaign. Peregian Beach Beach Community Association was not an applicant in the EOI process for the Peregian Beach Beach Surf Club. Ocean Life Saving Association, ALSA, is an applicant in the current Expressions of Interest process. Mr Cottrell is not a current executive member of ALSA. ALSA did not make a contribution to my campaign.
00:14:00 PPCA is noted on the ALSA website as a supporter of the ALSA Alliance. I am not a member of the PPCA or the Ocean Life Saving Association or Surf Life Saving Queensland. I believe I can make an impartial decision on the matter before the Council. I seek a decision by councillors as to whether I remain in the room for discussions on this matter or not. Mayor Wellington: The councillors will deal with this one at a time. I am going to cede the Chair first because the first matter to deal with is my perceived conflict of interest. Councillor Jurisevic: I would like to move that Councillor Stockwell be appointed as the Acting Chair. Second Mr Chairman. Mayor Wellington: All those in favour? Aye. Sorry. Speaker 1: Just to explain the process councillors. Obviously if the Mayor can't take the Chair of the meeting it would be the Deputy Mayor who would take it. But obviously with Councillor Wilkie making that declaration they are of a similar nature. So you should not take the Chair to consider that. In fact Councillor Wilkie or Councillor Wellington can't consider each other's declarations.
15 minutes in ¶
00:15:00 So it would be appropriate to appoint another person as the Chair. I will probably go back and call for that nomination. So can I ask the councillors who are present other than Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Wellington to nominate someone to be the Chair of that meeting for the purpose of this item. Councillor Jurisevic: I will move that Councillor Stockwell be appointed as the Acting Chair first. Speaker 1: Is there a seconder for that? Yes. Second Mr Chair. Okay. Does anyone wish to speak to that? No. I will put that motion. That Councillor Stockwell chair the meeting for the purpose of considering the conflict of interest declarations from Councillor Wellington and Councillor Wilkie. All those in favour? Councillor Jackson: Aye. Speaker 1: That's carried. It's all fine. Okay. So I will hand the Chair over to Councillor Stockwell to consider these matters and as councillors are aware the process is that you make a determination as to whether or not it is a perceived conflict, a real conflict. And then secondly. Whether or not you believe that the councillor can stay in the room or should leave the room.
00:16:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So councillors we'll deal with these one and by one. We'll do Councillor Wellington's declaration first. Does anyone have any questions in regard to this matter? No. It hasn't changed since Monday's meeting. Would anyone like to move a resolution in regard to this matter? Councillor Pardon: I'll move that the councillor be allowed to stay in the room. Speaker 1: Well you need to define whether you believe it's a real conflict of interest or not. Oh well. Councillor Jackson: Sorry I missed that. Which person are we talking about? Speaker 1: Which councillor? Tony. Councillor Wellington. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So you need to define whether you're moving that. A perceived. Okay. Perceived conflict. Yep. Just okay. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So the implied motion by Councillor Pardon is written up on the wall. Yeah. So just maybe. The councillors note the perceived conflict of interest declaration of Councillor Wellington. Yes. And resolve that this represents a perceived conflict of interest in this matter.
00:17:00 And Councillor Wellington may remain in the meeting room to participate in the debate and vote on this matter. So councillors. Speaker 1: I'm moved. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Well. It's moved and seconded. So those in favour? Yep. Councillor Jackson: Aye. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Those against? Okay. So we'll move on now to Councillor Wilkie. Does anyone have any questions in regard to this matter? Councillor Jurisevic: No. I'll move. I'll move that the councillors note perceived conflict of interest in this matter. Decline for Councillor Wilkie and resolve that this represents a perceived conflict of interest in the matter. And Councillor Wilkie may remain in the meeting room to participate in the debate and vote on this matter. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Do we have a seconder for that motion? Yeah. Absolutely. Seconded by Councillor Pardon. Do we have any debate on the motion? So councillors. Councillor Jackson: I'll just mention that. I'll just mention, Mr Chair, that I will be voting consistently with what I did in the general committee. And as a result of the statements I had, or the information I had provided.
00:18:00 So I'll be voting against this particular motion and I request that my name be recorded with my vote. Thanks. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you, Councillor Jackson. Okay. Those in favour? Those in favour of the motion? Those who. Oh, yes. Thank you. Okay. I would say that those against the motion raise their hands, but you can do that with an aye. An aye. Councillor Jackson: It's me. An aye. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. And we've recorded Councillor Jackson's vote against the motion and the ayes have it. So I'll now move out of the chair and hand that back to the Mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Okay. So we are dealing still with the expressions of interest for community activation at the Bridging Bridge Surf Club. Moved. Councillor Wilkie. I'll second that. Seconded. Speaker 1: Ingrid Tull seconded. Mayor Wellington: Ingrid. Ingrid was first. So Councillor Jackson seconded the motion. Councillor Wilkie, do you wish to speak to it?
00:19:00 Councillor Wilkie: Yes. Thank you, Mr Chair. Today's decision brings some direction and clarity for the Bridging community after six years in uncertainty. It's been a long time since I've sat in Queensland for a dream last year to take over the Surf Club permit to help campaign to build a bigger building on the dunes. The upper floor of the building has been largely vacant for many years now with councillors and staff receiving many requests and speculative ideas as to how it could be used. For this reason, I also commend the staff and fellow councillors for hosting our expressions of interest process as the fairest and most transparent way to bring forth and identify the groups with the will, resources and capacity to activate the Surf Club building in the region on the existing Bridging Surf Club lease site for the benefit of the Bridging community. Offering SLSQ's Sunshine Coast branch a permit with conditions reflecting their stated commitment to move rapidly towards re-establishing and affiliating a new Bridging Beach Surf Club entity, offering nippers and volunteer life savings, which all the community supports,
00:20:00 will deliver benefits the community collectively wanted all those years ago and still do. But it's SLSQ's generous commitment to offer community groups like the Ocean Life Saving Association access to the top floor as operations allow, that on face value, offers a great opportunity to heal the rift in the community and guarantee the long-term success of the club. It gives SLSQ the opportunity to embrace and be embraced by the heart of Peregian Beach with the Ulster Alliance, supported by many long-standing Peregian Beach businesses, marine life carers, coastal clean-up and re-vegetation groups, academics and the community kindergarten, all dedicated to supporting the nippers and fostering a more sustainable, sustainable and sustainable integrated understanding of Peregian Beach's magnificent beach and ocean environment in the next generation. Some may lament the time it has taken to get to this point, but over that period the Peregian Beach community has become more aware of how critical the beachfront surf club is to the cultural life of the Peregian Beach village, and more informed about the safety that professional council-funded
00:21:00 lifeguards provide all year round and the valuable role the volunteer life savers have played on the weekends during the season from September to May. This unprecedented issue has also created the time and space to allow the rise of an extraordinary alliance, which has the potential to make Peregian Beach Surf Club the hybrid model other coastal communities may wish to copy in a time when we'd never know more about climate change and the impact of humans, especially our plastic waste, on marine repair systems. The invitation and hope extended years ago that all parties and council work together to create an inclusive village-scale club on the existing site for the betterment of the Peregian Beach community still remains. Because of what happened in the past and the community's collective hopes for the future of Peregian Beach, there will be considerable interest in how the club will be run. I pledge full support to all parties who are genuinely committed to working together in good faith to make all aspects of this new arrangement succeed and prosper. I fully support the motion. Mayor Wellington: Thank you.
00:22:00 Anyone else wish to speak to the motion? Councillor Jackson: Yes, I'd like to speak. Mayor Wellington: Yes, Councillor Jackson? Councillor Jackson: No. I'd like to say I'm very pleased with the decision made. I'm very pleased with the decision to give a permit to Surf Lifesaving Sunshine Coast Branch. And this allows the great Australian tradition of Surf Lifesaving to live on at this beloved beach. It's been a long period of uncertainty, as Councillor Wilkie has pointed out, about the Surf Club building use. And I'm satisfied now that the best solution has been found. I'd like to thank Surf Lifesaving Queensland, the Sunshine Coast Branch, the Noosa Heads Surf Lifesaving Club also, for the commitment they've made to this project. And I'd also like to thank the Alliance of Community Groups who expressed their interest and enthusiasm. The willingness of Surf Lifesaving Sunshine Coast Branch to commit to a permit with the aim of re-creating a successful and productive surf club is an exciting challenge.
00:23:00 It will require a lot of dedicated work, in addition to the usual work of saving lives and training nippers and lifesavers. And it will require a lot of commitment. It will require a lot of community input and goodwill. So from now on, it's all hands on deck. I'm delighted with the outcome, and I applaud and have high hopes for the Peregian Beach Surf Lifesaving Club, the Surf Lifesaving Community, the Peregian Beach Community, and all the people who love coming to Peregian Beach for a swim and a surf. So surf's up, and so let's dive in and do it in harmony. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockwell. I will briefly, because I think this matter's about an expression of interest about the use of community facility over which there has been contested positions in the community. I think, as the two previous speakers have mentioned, that now is the time for a truce
00:24:00 to be called between the sides. Even the icon of Peregian over there is recommending the truce. That's right. That's right. That's right. That's right. And I think- Question. Councillor Wilkie: Is that an emu on the tree holding a white flag? It is. Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think it's important to recognise that while there might be contested positions about development potential in public land, there's no contested position about the role of surf lifesaving and the education of youth in the NIPDAs. I'm involved in two youth organisations, one quite large and one quite small. Both had a large number of young people coming from just across the border in Bridgian Springs, Bridgian Breeze area and we have to realise that's a reality and that will be I believe the essence of success for this club is that this facility is used as a centre for the young families that are located in and around the village of Bridgian and to me that's important to understand that this is about getting a community
00:25:00 asset used to its fullest extent and I only wish that when I was a member of a surf club that we could have a group like Ulster, the applicants who weren't successful in the building because then I would have probably stayed along but I've tried twice to become a surf lifesaver and both times I hopelessly failed the bronze medallion. Mayor Wellington: Thank you councillor. Anyone else wish to speak? Wish to close councillor Wilkie? No thank you. I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Councillor Jackson: Aye. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. The motion is carried. We go on to item 6 from the general committee and this is the LGAQ conference proposed motion for utility relocation costs. We'll deal with this separately because it was referred from the general committee to the ordinary meeting. We have some new words and I'll read those out given the screen's not working and because it's not in the agenda the words are different to those in the agenda.
00:26:00 It states that the council note the report by the project manager to the general committee meeting dated 15 July 2019 and approved the submission of the following motion to the Local Government Association Queensland 2019 annual conference for consideration and debate. That the Local Government Association of Queensland lobby the state government and public utility infrastructure owners for the development of a protocol that A ensures equity and efficacy in the relocation or replacement of utility infrastructure arising from local government works and B establishes a framework to achieve 1 arrangements for mutually agreed delivery timeframes 2 appropriate and equitable proportioning of costs based on the remaining life of the asset and 3 any capacity upgrade costs to be borne by the relevant utility not the local government.
00:27:00 Looking for a mover, move Councillor Jurisevic. Seconded by Councillor Scottwell. Who's to speak to it? Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Jurisevic. Yes please. Look, the reason I requested that this come to the general committee is to look at the rewording of the recommendation. I think the recommendation is now far more clear and succinct and more pertinent to and precise on the message of the recommendation. One of the challenges for local government with regard to utility services is that we are required to bear the costs of not only any relocation or any changes in relocating infrastructure but also the costs of upgrading that infrastructure which is an unfairly cost upon the ratepayers and our community or any community for that matter. It should be that upgrades are at the cost of the utility because they are the ones that benefit from this and they should be the costs of any element of upgrade required in relocating services.
00:28:00 Also what we've been challenged by is an ability to have these utility services deliver timely timeframes that can be managed. And the challenge there is if a timeframe is given and not delivered on that that bears an additional cost to not only council but the community as a result of contracts potentially running over time. And of course frustration by the community in not having works delivered on time. So I believe that our approach to the LGAQ in this matter in regard to costs and timeframes is a timely one. Given that some of the challenges we've had on some of our recent projects. We've had capital works projects and I applaud the council on putting this forward for all councils to consider and become a collective force to approach where there is no current ombudsman that these entities answer to.
00:29:00 Thank you councillor. Councillor Pardon: Councillor? Yeah Mr Chairman. Endorse those comments and we're heading for the local government association with this motion and hoping for support. What we've found is on Hilton Terrace, we're trying to build a roundabout there. We've found that the big monopolies, I'll call them, Telstra, MBN, Unity Water a little bit in amongst it, have found a new business model. And that business model means that being monopolies, I'm not playing that game. Monopolies, I found that in the business model I'm talking about is we're held hostage to them virtually. And councillor Jurisevic spoke about timelines.
30 minutes in ¶
00:30:00 Well when you approach them, it's within their time they'll come and move their utility. Which for us is a disaster because they can say 20 weeks whatever fits their contractors to fit the work in. And we're trying to build a roundabout. We have certain obligations to people where we're from within our community, be it development industry or just be it our own community. Speaker 3: So these costs have pushed the roundabout that we budget for. And most roundabouts about $500,000 these days. And I forget the exact figures but I think these odd so monopolies have pushed it. They want the million dollars that we've got in amongst it. Are they close Carl? Very close. So this is why we feel that if they're caught in the crux of monopolies here, just pay up or they don't get the job done.
00:31:00 What's happening in Brisbane? City, towns, cairns, drive costs, the state. You would think that many of them are getting, it's breaking rip off. That's what it is. And you would think they're getting ripped off as well. So I think we'll get good support for this. It needs work to look at. We don't mind paying our fair share to move those, the infrastructure that's under the ground. But those prices, when it comes to virtually almost travelling a roundabout price, it's a lesson learned for us in Council. Because we're going to have to re-look at all the intersections we're doing up. And the current infrastructure under the ground, we're going to have to look at these charges virtually first. Get the quotes. And then the construction costs. And then we'll have a real cost. But if we take this across our board in a couple of works, the cost of these jobs is just right out of proportion.
00:32:00 And quite frankly, we'll go broke trying to do our normal work if we don't get some action here. So I really hope we get the support for this. Thank you, Councillor. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockwell. So, as was quite well introduced by my fellow Councillor, what we're dealing here with is a game being played by Monopoly. Can I give you the boot? I like the boot. And it might be light-hearted, but when you look at the pricing, I reckon that some of these monopolies, being the utility providers, not only are they the electric company where you roll the dice and you have to pay how much, but I think they're holding the chance card. And the chance card tells you if the monopoly is owned, the utility is owned, throw the dice and pay the owner ten times the amount owed. So that's what they're doing. They're saying, oh, here's what it really costs. And they throw the dice, oh, two or three times more. That's what it appears to be how you price it. It's got no real link to what the cost of the job is being done.
00:33:00 And I think that's number one, about an equitable apportionment of the cost. Now, I was talking to a developer recently from outside the Shire, and he's actually taken one of these big monopolies to court on a charge, and they quoted $200,000 and he got it done for $50,000. Okay, so it's not just local government where this pricing regime appears to be out of sync with market price. I think the other thing we need to look at there is about when they require as a result, a lot of us are in work, and they try and get us to upgrade their infrastructure while we're there. And I think the example may be the bridge that we replaced in Cooroy at Maryborough Road. It had overhead power, but a significant cost in that job was putting the power below, beside the bridge. Huge cost. And I think that is really serious. And I do think it's time that these entities take a good, hard, long look at themselves. I know by corporatising them, they do have a profit motive,
00:34:00 but the purpose that they were constituted in the first place is to provide a public service, and it's not to gouge local government. Thank you, Councillor. Mayor Wellington: Any other Councillor wish to speak to this? Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Jurisevic, do you wish to pause? Yeah, look, I think Councillor Stockwell raised a good point. This isn't only local government that is at the mercy of the monopoly that these utility infrastructure entities hold. It is other developers as well. And I think the fairer and more efficient way of doing it and the more equitable playing field can be attained for all, with a realistic timeframe and realistic costings and not an initial cost and suddenly a substantially increased cost when we come down to pin them down for their final costings. The costings in the beginning should be indicative of the costings at the end, which is what we found is not . So I fully support the motion. Mayor Wellington: To the LGAQ. Thank you, Councillor. I'll put the motion. All those in favour?
00:35:00 Speaker 5: Thank you. Mayor Wellington: The motion is carried. Speaker 4: I'll raise and top that, please. Mayor Wellington: We go back to the General Committee recommendations. Item number 7 is another proposed co-sponsored motion for the LGAQ conference to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Item number 8 is the Alliance and Funding Agreement between Noosa Council and the Nature Conservancy. Item number 9 is the appointment of an external member to Council's Audit and Risk Committee. Item number 10 is the Financial Performance Report for June. Interim position. Item number 11 is a Planning and Environment Court Appeal. Negotiated decision notice with regard to infrastructure charges and reconfiguring a lot at 8th Street and Eagle Drive, Tewantin. New Councillor Wilkie. Second. Seconded by Councillor Jurisevic. This is a General Committee. Let General Committee recommendations be adopted, except they're dealt with otherwise. Anyone wish to speak? No? I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Thank you.
00:36:00 That's carried. We have one report direct to the Ordinary Meeting, which is somewhat unusual, and that is the Noosa Fishing Futures. Any questions for staff on this? Okay. Thanks. I'm looking for a mover then and a seconder. Moved by Councillor Glasgow, seconded by Councillor Pardon. Do you wish to speak to it, Councillor Glasgow? Councillor Pardon. Do you wish to speak to it? Councillor Pardon: Yeah. I'll move, Mr Chairman. Speaker 3: That's carried. Councillor Pardon: Thank you. Yeah. I'm very excited to see this put together with the consultants as a way forward, a submission that Noosa Council have a look at the Noosa River and the beach, and fishing in general, sustainable fishing for Noosa. So I guess with regards to this particular project and a series of projects, I've been on about a 20-year journey.
00:37:00 I've been on about a 20-year journey here in Noosa to have a look at the sustainable fishing, and I suppose over the years I've focused on the beach, actions on Tiwara Beach, and some of the feedback I got in the previous council and also this council, and some of the activities that were happening on the North Shore, interaction. The North Shore has declared a RAM area, recreational area management. There was a lot of planning. I went into that. And the interaction these days between fishing people, just recreational people on the North Shore throws up a conundrum for the council. And I guess state governments, being where they are in Brisbane, are not aware of a lot of issues that this council's aware of. But going forward with the paper, and the discussions that we've had now, some of the
00:38:00 stuff we've talked about in the green paper, and I'll just read a couple of things out here. So things that we're looking at, a reduction in the length of nets in the Noosa River. We found out through the consultancy some of these nets are 1,500 metres long that can be used in the Noosa River. This has jumped out at us. I wasn't aware of this particular issue. But in this day and age, to have nets 1,500 metres long, and it's only this system where it's allowed to happen, nets of that length, is quite a shock. But that's just one issue. If we look at a raft of issues in here, we're looking at things like closing the North Shore at weekends. Weekend closures. That align on Tiwara Beach, et cetera.
00:39:00 Now, that aligns with closures in the river at weekends. We're looking at code of practice for the mullet fishery, which I think is long overdue, especially on the North Shore. Not so much in the river. I don't think there's a lot of issues there. But on the North Shore, we know. We get the complaints. We know about the issues over there. We're never against commercial fishing per se, but this is about sustainable fishing. I've said to pro fishers over the years, when you can't catch a fish in your net, no one will catch a fish. So you won't do any good, nor anyone else. So that's always been the starting point. Now, I know Mullet's sustainable, because they run up the coast from the south, and
00:40:00 New South Wales have done a fantastic job buying out a lot of licences, Richmond River, Clarence River, et cetera, and you can't net around Bodley Bay, et cetera, in Sydney. Done some fantastic stuff. But as the Mullet run up here, is it fair that the Queensland fishers just knock them off? Well, I don't think it is. They've got a sustainable fishery. We just catch them up here. So some of the quotas that we're looking at in this paper, I think, will help a lot for that fishery. But my main concerns have always been, as well, the other fishers that are caught in the bycatch. We know, as amateurs who have fished that beach for over 50 years, the tail, the brim, wide, and flathead. The depletion of that seabed. That was caught as bycatch in mullet nets. Nets don't discriminate when you chase a mullet, so you catch all the other species with it.
00:41:00 And that's been a great concern to the people, the fishers, especially amateur fishermen, who's entitled to catch a fish. Who owns the fish out there in the ocean? Well, nobody. Nobody. And when you get a licence to fish, that doesn't mean you've got a licence forever and to take everything. It does not. It is a licence to fish. Nobody owns that resource. People think they do, but they don't. So, they're shared amongst everybody. So, in the big picture, going forward, I'm just hoping that some of these recommendations, the state will listen. Now, we know we've got to get up to consultation with the professionals, and that's fine. And there's already been a lot of consultation done with the professionals. And a lot of the professionals have said, well, we've got to get up to consultation with the fishers. They're happy to go too. But they also support what we support, the stone fishery.
00:42:00 They're not silly. If there's no fish, we catch them all. Well, they're not going to do anything with it, as I said before. Councillor, you've got over the five minutes at the moment. You should keep going. I'll put it to the meeting if you do. No, I'll just sum up. If you give me one minute. Mayor Wellington: Less than that. Councillor Pardon: Okay, okay. I'll sign. 50 seconds. So, I think some of these recommendations, if we can get ... It's the beginning of a journey here that we're on, and I think if we get some of these recommendations through the state, I think we'll end up, over a long period, it's going to take a few years, we'll have a sustainable fishery. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Anyone else wish to speak to this? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockwell? Mayor Wellington: I feel ... Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So, Councillor, this is an interesting month in the number of enrage and diversity of big picture policy issues, and as Councillor Pardon mentioned, this is probably your most significant foray into council's being involved in the sustainability of a resource controlled by the state.
00:43:00 So, why are we doing it? The purpose was to look at, give us information about the river, the estuary, the lakes and the beaches, and to look at what are the current regulations? What are the current regulations? And we've actually, you know, both staff and ourselves have learnt a lot, and we probably now know more about how this works than most councils in Queensland. It was focused on the commercial fish catch history, and how we can influence commercial fishery. But it's important to say that sustainable fishing won't occur by just looking at commercial fish catch. Is that what we need to look at is total fishing pressure, and the mechanisms to bring that total fishing pressure, both commercial and recreational, down to a sustainable limit, so that in the long term, the river and our near shore environment continues to provide the bounty of the sea. So, I think it's important to realise that there was a good degree of stakeholder engagement,
00:44:00 that the consultants in delivering the report that's informed our response to the state paper did a great job of going out and talking to both commercial and recreational stakeholders. And they reported, they said, there's a consistent message from the stakeholders, I've identified time and time again, and that is that there was recognition that the waterways are under significant pressure for multiple user groups. However, there was some strongly held and divergent views over the activities currently committed on the Noosa River estuaries and beaches, and we can't shy away from it. It is going to be a somewhat contested position moving forward, but it's going to be a contested position to a point where the responsibility for managing the river for its ongoing ecological sustainability, but also its ongoing productive sustainability, is done hand in hand with the
45 minutes in ¶
00:45:00 state government. So, there was one comment captioned, which the consultant thought represented the views of many, and it said, the river is being loved to death, and it's time to give it a break. And I agree with that. And I think that while we say it's time to give it a break, it has to be a break from total fishing pressure. I think it's really important to say that the ongoing presence of some of the historic fishing families and commercial fishing in Noosa is an important part of our heritage, and it's important also to recognise that we have to be prepared for those shifts that came from when licences were eaten up further south, or become more difficult to serve the people coming into the river. And it's important, I think, as we have tried to communicate in our response to the discussion paper, that people with... The settings, the new settings should in some way give people with a demonstrated catch history in our area to have the first bite of the cherry in terms of whatever quota is available.
00:46:00 I think one of the key things that has been recommended that is probably going to be controversial relates to the trawl fishery, okay? And it's important we understand that the skill to report... The skill to report... The skill to report... Needs to be reported. And these groups all form a critical component of the Estuarine environment due to their role as food for fishes, crabs and prawns. They both also do a lot of ecosystem services, turning over and aerating the mud and stabilising the sediment and also in that process capture carbon. So they also looked at extensive trawling they did in this skillet report. In the main regions of the Estuary showed that there were very few prawns present in the sediments and these were found in only a few places.
00:47:00 Abundance of other nekton, fish and crabs are also small. And given the critical role of the benthos in sustaining fish populations and catch, it indicates that regardless of fishing pressure, past fish catch rates are unlikely to be sustained. They did give us an indication of some of those catch rates. So in terms of the trawl fishery, in 1991, which is probably a high, 26 licenses recording catch for a total of 1,103 days. And the lowest point where hardly anything was caught was just fish, 50, 63 fishing days recorded in 2014. Between 2013 and 18, the catch varied from about zero to three tonnes up to just under 11 tonnes. So, Council, I believe that it is time to take action, but it has to be together with the State Government. It has to be that we are looking at what is the best way that local government, State Government, industry and the community can work on it together.
00:48:00 And I believe what doesn't go to the State Government goes to the reverse. So I think it's important to have a good overview of our Noosa River Management Plan and how we come out of that with something akin to an integrated and collaborative Natural Resource Management Group that guides locally is, I think, important. Thank you, Councillor. Anyone else wish to speak on this? Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Wilkie. Thank you, Mr Chairman. Just to reinforce what Councillor Pardon and Mr Stockwell have already touched on, and that is that the strength of this Noosa Fishing Futures Paper that underpins these submissions to the State Government is that it captures the expertise and advice from people working in this industry and who are interested in having a sustainable fishery. And a lot of the submissions are informed by feedback from commercial fishermen, commercial fishing families. And I think that's a strength of the submissions to the State Government. And also, I commend the Noosa Fishing Futures Paper to anyone who has even a passing interest in the facts about the Noosa River system, in terms of the data relating to catch, the catch rates of all the recreational species, the mullet in particular,
00:49:00 where the mullet goes after it's captured. I was very interested to learn that there are two major processes in Markwell, from the Tweed Shire, and Superfin from Brisbane, who take the bulk of the, if not all, the mullet caught in the Noosa River system and they distribute that around Australia, some to abate outland in Noosaville, some to Sunshine Coast based fishing. Seafood Outlet is just chock full of very, very good information regarding the type of licences, what it entitles the licence holders to do, the catch rates for all those particular licences, the particular areas they're allowed to fish in. It's very good, very good information in the Noosa Fishing Futures Paper. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic? Councillor Jurisevic: First and foremost, I'd like to thank the consultant, Winston Harris, for his comprehensive report. I had a vague understanding of the fishing industry in and around the Noosa region.
00:50:00 I have a far greater understanding now. It's a very comprehensive report that explains so much about fishing, not only in our region, but across Queensland in general, to get an understanding of what all of these terminologies of N1 and the different categories of fishing that are and are permitted within the region. I think the... The proposals going forward are going towards the Queensland Government Discussion Paper. It should be remembered that this isn't what Noosa Council is implementing. This is what we're putting forward on a discussion paper to the Queensland Government, who are the ultimate entities that make decisions on this area. But the reforms requested in here are, I think most importantly, one, there's no mention in here of wanting to cease commercial fishing in the Noosa River. I think that's a very important point in there. There is a mention of trying to reduce or eliminate one type of particular methodology of fishing with regard to...
00:51:00 Mayor Wellington: Beam trawling. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, beam trawling. And also, again, Councillor Pardon alluded to discrepancy that we have here. We're the only area still utilising up to 1,500 metres of... Of netting when no other area in Queensland has permitted that. So there are some overhauls that are well and truly overdue with regard to fishing management and the like. The important part of this is what the recommendations going forward are for... To sustain commercial fishing in the Noosa River in the long term. The reforms that are... Some of the reforms that are being proposed are consistent with reforms that have been implemented in other areas in Queensland. And those seem to have come to the betterment of the fishing industries in those areas. Where it's not a free-for-all and not a fight, but a better managed process and an opportunity for all to actually make a sustained living at this for the long term.
00:52:00 And I think that's a very significant outcome of what we're proposing going forward. The other reports in there are equally as important. I mean, the reference to Dr Ruth Thurston's report and the reports on the business. I mean, they show the depth and the understanding that we're trying to achieve on our river system. And the challenges that that provides to maintaining a healthy river for years to come. So I commend all those that had a hand in this. I thank those for the added information and knowledge that it now provides for councillors around the table and for the community as a whole. And I commend the report going forward to the Queensland Government Discussion Paper for their consideration. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: I'm just going to speak very briefly. And that is, firstly, I think it's important to note that this report to Council actually offers us two opportunities.
00:53:00 One is to respond to the State's Discussion Paper on Fisheries Reform. But more importantly, perhaps, it also informs the new Noosa River Plan. And we'll be going back out for public consultation on that Noosa River Plan. With the plan having been informed by the work that the consultants have done for us. And I agree that Winston Harris in particular, the consultant, has done a terrific job in putting some very complex material together. And in speaking to a very wide range of stakeholders in this industry. I want to particularly congratulate Kim Rawlings for her steerage of this process. And for recommending Winston Harris to the Council. And Craig Doolin, our Environment Manager, who's done a terrific job of putting all this material together, making it digestible. And indeed, he's been on a steep learning curve himself.
00:54:00 Because I know that his preferred habitat is terrestrial, not marine. Being a bit of a twitcher. Nevertheless, he has an incredible grasp of the complexities of commercial fishing now. And he does us all credit. The Fishing Futures discussion paper, by the way, it's worth noting. And again, this is at the instigation of the Director for Environment, Kim Rawlings, has been peer reviewed by no less than four scientists. So, you know, this is a robust process that we've been going through. Well supported by experts in their field. And I think we should, all of us, be very proud of the efforts that this Council has put in to this difficult and delicate matter. Thank you. Anyone else wish to speak? Who hasn't spoken? Ingrid? Councillor Jackson: No, but I certainly support all the good things that other Councillors have said.
00:55:00 Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Councillor Glasgow, you wish to close? Councillor Glasgow: Yeah, we'll just close briefly. I think we've just talked about it all. We're all very passionate around the table about what's happening with this. Response to the state. And I think we're forgetting we've got the Noosa River Plan at our cusp right now. And any information is good information when it comes to this hand. And this is paramount in building a sustainable and liveable future for both this generation and many more generations to come when it comes to our river system. So, I wholeheartedly support it. Mayor Wellington: Thank you. Councillors, I'll put the motion. All those in favour? Councillor Jackson: Aye. Thank you. Mayor Wellington: The motion is carried. There's no confidential session. The next meeting is on the 15th of August 2019. Thank you for your attendance, everyone. The meeting is now adjourned.