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00:00:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the Services and Organisation Committee meeting for Tuesday the 8th of June 2021. Before we begin I'd like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which we meet, the Kabi Kabi or Kabi Kabi people and pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. Attendance and apologies, we're all in attendance, there are no apologies. Can I get a confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting please? Moved Councillor Wilkie, seconded Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Thank you. Any deputations today? We'll start with item 5, reports for consideration of the committee. Item 1, the Regional Arts and Development Fund grant recommendations for 2020-21. Speaker 1: We're just waiting on the staff now. Would it be okay if we deal with item 2 first? Councillor Jurisevic: We could jump to item 2 if we're, we've got a delay there. Item 2 is the, no objections from councillors?
00:01:00 Councillor Wilkie: No. Councillor Jurisevic: Item 2, amendments to commercial use of community land policy. I believe this has been requested to go to the general committee. Councillor Wegener made that request. Speaker 1: Oh okay. So, that's exactly where I was heading Mr CEO. Councillor Jurisevic: So in that regard, is there any questions? Mayor Stewart: Yes, I've only got two questions. Mr Chair, I'm not here Monday, so I guess I've just got two. In regard to three to five years, that's terrific, so that's to provide more certainty, more structured planning for the businesses to have an opportunity to really get their ducks in a row, I guess, and to make it work their while. Speaker 6: Yes, yes, so we were finding that for both staff and the permittees, that the three years was coming around pretty quick. So, some of the permits have quite significant investment in violence, so it's to provide that surety primarily, yeah.
00:02:00 Mayor Stewart: And just in regard to the amendments you've made to the commercial use of community land, the council policy, on page 12, just a commercial high use permit point for applications received outside, we've crossed out expression of interest and we've crossed out a number of words and added in some, what was the rationale behind that, Dennis? Speaker 6: So this is really changing the framework for how we receive and assess commercial high use permits. Whilst we have had ad hoc applications over the years, we've never, or during the time of Noosa Council, we haven't added to our suite of commercial high use permits. And what this is really doing is seeking to entrench the sites that we do support within the policy.
00:03:00 We've never added to our suite of commercial high use permits. And what this is really doing is seeking to entrench the sites that we do support within the policy. And not deal in a piecemeal way with applications outside that time. So from a policy standpoint, we have our permits, locations and activities that we support. And then if an application or an idea amongst council for an additional site were to come forward, then we would effectively amend our table within the policy. So the previous wording was around receiving ad hoc applications, whereas this is now saying, you're unlikely to be supported outside that framework, but there is the opportunity to amend this policy. And the process that we're going through today is relatively straightforward. Councillor Lorentson: Okay, thank you. Dennis, I've got a few questions. The document was endorsed in May 2014. Just going to throw this at you. Does the policy need more of an overhaul?
00:04:00 I've just got a whole list of things that I'd love for you to consider, maybe adding to the policy. Speaker 6: To answer that question, I think we would in time, but because we've just been through the tender process, there was some elements of that that needed to go in this policy because there was a... Speaker 1: Three to five years in particular. Speaker 6: Yeah, in particular. So the resolution that we made last month. Okay. In relation to the tender called for this update. And I think we could take on board your suggestions for broader changes. Councillor Lorentson: Oh, they're just small additions and more clarifications. So in regards to some of the changes you've made on page 12, table one, permitted commercial high use activities and locations, just so that it's clear, can we maybe add 2021, 2026 approved activities and locations?
00:05:00 I just think I'd like some clarity that these were just the approved activities for this five year period, that it's not set in stone that these are the activities that will continue after 2026? Speaker 6: Well, again, if we're going to vary those from 2026, we would amend this policy and it's a fairly straightforward process to do that. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. So that's what's meant in one of the changes you made, amend this policy. Speaker 6: That's right. Yeah. Okay. So that can be... That's not an issue for council to do. It's just a matter of... Speaker 1: Council changes. Sure. You know, what activities in different places through a tender process if they change quality at the same time. Speaker 6: Okay. Councillor Jurisevic: Given that the tenders only apply from, I'm sure, from 2031 to 2026, I question the need to do that because it will change as of the next tender when the next tender's due. But I take the point, but I'm just sort of... Councillor Lorentson: Well, if the last one was endorsed in 2014, we're now 2021. So my concern is that if the document's not...
00:06:00 If the document's not endorsed after five years, I'm concerned that this policy will set the parameters or framework of the activities. It does. It does, yeah. Speaker 6: But if you have a look at some of our other policies, you know, they've been amended 12 times. Yep. So it's fairly straightforward. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. Would one... Would it be safe to assume that in five years' time, if one of these uses ceased to operate and another use was put in there, the policy would come back and be reworded with those new uses on it? Speaker 6: Yeah. And I'd anticipate that would be in the lead up to going out to a tender. Okay. Councillor Lorentson: With guiding principles, there's no mention that the commercial use activity should align to council's corporate plan. The Noosa Local Economic Plan, the Noosa Cultural Plan, Human Rights Act Climate Change Emergency Response Plan, is that stuff that should be considered and added to this document? And I'm not the expert, Dennis, I'm going to just throw that at you.
00:07:00 These are all notes that I've made after, you know, sitting in council for 12 months and being at the beginning and end process of the issue of the permits. I don't know whether there should be any... Speaker 1: I actually think some of those suggestions are really good, to incorporate that, and whether we... And there's two ways we can do it, and both work, both are fine. Yep. One is to put this through as proposed and come back and do a broader review of bringing that sort of stuff. Okay. That's one option. Yep. Or the second is to defer it and do it in one hit. It doesn't really worry me either way. It's probably the easiest. I think they're really good suggestions. Councillor Lorentson: Because again, I'm going back to lessons learnt over the last 12 months. Something I would like added again for clarity is that the applicants need to be made aware
00:08:00 that the permits that are issued don't grant exclusive use to the land, nor existing use rights. I think I would love that communicated as part of the policy. And the part of the local economic plan, I think that part's really quite important. Because it recognises our role and responsibility in supporting new and emergency businesses, and supporting innovation and growth within the community. And again, I'd love that highlighted, given it's 2021 and these are big issues. And again, open to discussion and your thoughts on this, Dennis. You're the expert. Speaker 6: Yeah. I guess I'd potentially turn that round to say, do you identify... Yeah. Strategies or plans? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. Or just some references given to... No, I'm asking you. Oh, excuse me. Speaker 6: Do you see that there's a way in which the policy is inconsistent with those plans and
00:09:00 Councillor Lorentson: strategies? Oh, not at all. I don't think they're inconsistent. And I think that the criteria reflects everything that I'm mentioning. It's just not stated in the document. I just think just more for clarity. But no. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. Just cross reference. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah, just cross reference. But our criteria addresses all this. Yeah. Can I just clarify? Councillor Jurisevic: Does any of that get covered in the tender document? Speaker 6: It does. And it's... Councillor Jurisevic: That's where I would have assumed it would have been captured as part of the tender. Speaker 6: The permits have now gone out. So it sits in those permits. And there's a draft permit that's part of the tender material as well. Councillor Jurisevic: It's in the document they signed. That's right. Councillor Wilkie: So I guess the question comes down, to follow up on Amelia's questioning, is who is the principal audience for this document? Who sees this document? Speaker 6: We would direct people that come to us with commercial ideas for community land to the policy if it were needed.
00:10:00 So, yeah. Mayor Stewart: Interesting. Yeah. Speaker 6: Yeah. I mean, some of the workshops that we ran around the range of permits, we do get some wild and wacky proposals for, you know, the Spit Beach and the river and so forth. So it's good to be clear on the types of commercial activities we do support. Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: And my last point is on page 11, under guiding principles, the community's use and need for the land take precedence over commercial activities. Should we be including the commercial operators' need? Should we be including the community's use and the uses of the land, which include, I would say, the residents and visitors? Again, just small little things that I've just picked up. First line, under guiding principles. Under guiding. So the community's use and need for the land. Mayor Stewart: Are you defining community there? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. Okay. Yeah. And uses of the land. Again, I just wonder whether we should make that clear that that refers to residents
00:11:00 and visitors? Speaker 6: Yeah. That's the way I read it as currently. You read it as currently. But I'll take your point. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Thank you. That's all. Councillor Jurisevic: Anything further, councillors? Councillor Wilkie: I'm happy to move it, councillor. Councillor Jurisevic: Moved and seconded. Moved and seconded. Seconded. Seconded, councillor Stewart. And we're back to the Regional Arts Development Fund, which is commonly known as RADF, Grants and Recommendations 2021. Councilors, any questions for or any conflicts? Speaker 1: The fact that you're a chairperson, if you're appointed as a council representative on a group, if you're a council representative, you don't have a conflict with the VAT appointment.
00:12:00 Councillor Wilkie: I only have a question. The recommended recipients look very interesting and worthy. Some of the ones that weren't successful also do. Was it simply a matter of available funds or the quality of the ideas itself? Can you just talk us through the reasons why they fell below? Speaker 3: A bit of both. Yeah, so absolutely. So obviously we've only got a set amount of money that we can spend. 50% of that are actually funded by Arts Queensland and 50% by Council. So we've only got that set amount of budget. And some of those applications as well fell short in terms of their application and the level of detail that they put into their application. So certainly someone like Linda would work closely with them to ensure that their application is better next time and that it could be funded. So we've got quality applications that we're funding this time around. Councillor Wilkie: And when will they be contacted? Speaker 3: Yep, as soon as this goes through Council. We'll make contact with all the successful and unsuccessful grant applications.
00:13:00 And then either work with them through the RADF program here or other external grant opportunities. Councillor Wilkie: And perhaps help them get up to the required standard. Yes. Next time. Speaker 3: Yep, yep. Thank you. So some applicants, you know, the day before they've rung up and said they were wishing to apply, put in poor applications and obviously that's the result of this. Yep. Councillor Jurisevic: Alright, Linda. Speaker 4: And we offer support but we can't make people take on that support. Yeah. Yeah. So we do try to support people as much as possible. Councillor Wilkie: Is there anything further, Councillor? No. And just for people who may be listening, is it a total of 50 grand a year? Speaker 3: 20. 20. For the funding itself? The funding pool. Or what we actually get from Arts Queensland? Councillor Wilkie: Well, the funding pool itself in total. Speaker 3: Total funding pool is 50,000, yes. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, 25 from Council, 25 from State. Speaker 3: Correct. Councillor Wilkie: Are there any plans to increase that? Speaker 3: Yes. We actually have put a budget bid in for further funds next time around. Yep. So again, matching it with Arts Queensland as well.
00:14:00 Councillor Jurisevic: And just to clarify, do we have one or two RADF rounds a year? Speaker 3: We have two RADF rounds per year. Councillor Jurisevic: That means this is the first round and this is the second round. This is actually the second round, actually, because it's the end of financial year. Yeah. Speaker 3: It's over the last financial year. Councillor Jurisevic: This is the remaining funds for the financial year with the new grants process in the next financial year. Speaker 3: And we hope to hear from Arts Queensland probably August, September, whether we're successful with our application. Councillor Wilkie: Wonderful. So and then will a budget bid to Nursa Council follow that? Speaker 3: Yes. Yes. Well, it already is in place. Okay. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Nothing further? No. Can I have a mover? I'll move it. Councillor Wilkie, seconded Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Councillor Jurisevic: We've done item two. We'll move on to item three. That's the competition policy. The competition policy. One due tomorrow. Councillor Wilkie: I think I ask this all the time, Trent, but the way the report's written, it's as though we have the discretion not to apply full cost pricing or not apply the Code of Competitive
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00:15:00 Conduct. Is that correct? Speaker 2: Councillor, the idea of the National Competition Policy is that once any business activity, revenue generating business in particular, once its expenditure and its revenue hit a certain threshold, we're required as a council to apply it. We're required as a council to assess how we should treat that business in terms of pricing structure and how much regulation we put around that internally to prepare budgets and documentation and process behind that. The idea is so that we aren't unfairly pricing against commercial businesses. So when we first established upon the amalgamation, we assessed those two businesses in the report. We assessed them to determine how we should treat them. So we elected at the time to apply that level of pricing, pricing structure, and we haven't changed that since the amalgamation.
00:16:00 So we can reassess that at any point in time. We obviously can't go back and unwind their recognition at the very least at full cost pricing because they've already exceeded the threshold and we're required to recognise them. Speaker 1: I can probably answer your question by going to a bit of history if you'd like to. It'll take a few minutes but it's probably worthwhile. So the national competition obviously came around in the late 1990s. Professor Fred Hillman did a report about government business and the impact on the private sector. What they were looking at was trying to get an even playing field between different elements. So how did the government use some of the good commercial principles and conversely how did they not use their market share or market size to impact negatively on business? So these types of reforms came about to say that for councils or state government or whatever, when you're running a business that had a commercial element, how do you make sure you don't use your overall size and power to impact on other activities? For example, the holiday parks, how do we make sure that we don't? So everyone studying in the council holiday park pays $5 and what would that do to private
00:17:00 businesses around? So it's designed to make sure that there's a level playing field and to answer your question, theoretically we could. The trouble then is that Queensland Competition Authority, which had the oversight of this type of stuff, can come in and say, well, therefore you're not doing the right thing. You're not making those right decisions. So the whole idea, as I said, is to have those reforms in and give you that confidence that there's a level playing field and that we're not using our market size to distort it. Councillor Wilkie: So would there be penalties if we didn't apply these? Speaker 1: We can get complaints, yes, through the Queensland Competition Authority. Then we'd be investigated and say we're not using our market. Councillor Wilkie: So I guess my question then is if it's something we always must do. Speaker 1: It must be reviewed on an annual basis. It's a statutory requirement to review on an annual basis about whether your threshold will change. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, so the threshold could change to the point where we may not need to apply the policy. Speaker 2: Correct. So the department puts out an updated schedule of thresholds each year just before budget
00:18:00 adoption. So it aligns so that you will see this report come up in the June round every time so that if we do need to change our approach with the budget, it's adopted as part of the budget process. Okay, thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: We're no longer in the business of operating our holiday parks or our waste management services. They'll no longer be applicable. Great. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Any other questions? Councillor Jurisevic: We'll move on to item four. Trent again. Fees and charges 2021 and 22. Mayor Stewart: Trent. Councillor Jurisevic: Questions. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, thanks Trent. This is extensive. What would you say are the most significant changes or increases in fees and charges that we're looking at in regard to this? Speaker 2: Sure. So I think the most significant changes or increases in fees and charges that we're looking at are in terms of new fees and charges applicable for the next financial year.
00:19:00 I suppose first and foremost is there is now a paper fee associated with printing of rates and notice charges which will be applied for those non-pensioner rate pays that are left in paper issue of rates and notices. In terms of other fees and charges, there's been some changes in terms of referring to the refining of the development assessment fees to ensure there is a category for short term accommodation. It was previously bundled in with other types of commercial accommodation. So that's been clearly separated. There has been some change to the structure of temporary events in terms of a differential price for late notice emergent applications versus a standard application time to allow for the additional resources to process those applications in a short term period in the two months.
00:20:00 The other main change would be in relation to ferry fees. We've done some work to restructure the ferry fees and to some extent simplify the larger vehicle charges because for those that aren't aware, there's a large tier of structures for buses, caravans, etc. So we've simplified those and increased the base fees. That would be for a standard vehicle from $8 to $10 per crossing. That would be, in a nutshell, probably the key big changes. Everything else beyond that has been, we go through and reassess the full-cost pricing in most of them for within the bounds of CPI in terms of a price increase. Councillor Wilkie: Wasn't there also an increase for non-compliant development applications? Speaker 2: Correct, councillor. Yes. I do apologise. Yes. So for development applications that are non-compliant, there is now a multiplier applied to that. Multiplied by three.
00:21:00 Councillor Wilkie: Correct. That's to accommodate the extra staff time it takes, the back and forth time it takes to deal with a non-compliant application. Correct. Yes. Speaker 2: Which is very different in terms of resource and required to a standard application. Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: Any further questions, councillors? Speaker 1: The reason we adopted this now into the budget is so that we can be ready to go and advise businesses. A lot of businesses do their fees based on what we're going to set from 1 July. Building certifiers or whatever, they need to get all that in place. That's why we adopted this ahead of the budget. Councillor Jurisevic: But also this applies from 1 July as well. Yes. So it gives them a two-week head start. Correct. Councillor Lorentson: Yes. More lead time. Okay. Councillor Jurisevic: All right. No further questions? Councillor Lorentson: One quick question. Trent, just for an example, can you explain how an event such as the Noosa Tri, how that gets priced against an event that's got a smaller scale? I've noticed on page 32 there's an additional 50% application fee charged if events are
00:22:00 lodged less than six months prior to the proposed event date. Are there any more additional fees when an event on such a scale which needs more processing? Are there added fees to that or not? Speaker 2: Not that I'm aware of. Obviously, the high use permit fee is the primary fee. Is the fee. Speaker 1: Okay. Sometimes, this might sound counterintuitive, but the larger events tend to provide better documents. So, it's more of an implementation. Totally. Yes. More organised. Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Okay. I don't know if you can operate from professional basket. Councillor Lorentson: And my other question is in regards to the increase in ferry services. I know that some time ago there was discussions that perhaps the increase in fees might go towards a slip lane. Is that, can we designate where the increases in fees go towards Trent or not a conversation
00:23:00 for this? Yes. Speaker 2: I'm happy to obviously take that on notice. At this point in time, all the ferry fees form part of Council's general revenue funding. Yes. So, any investment in capital works or infrastructure isn't constrained or held aside separately. Yes. So, at this point in time, it's part of the total Council funding stream. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. As far as the collection of those sort of fees, are there ongoing discussions for ferry operator in that regard? Speaker 2: I don't have to take that one on notice. Can I stop? Just a minute. Just coming back to your question, Amelia, about the permit fees. Yes. Now, in terms of application, obviously that application fee is the only fee incurred. Just worth a note that there are fees and charges in our schedule for any staff time incurred during the event for any call out or any work required for local laws or environmental health services.
00:24:00 Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: No further questions. Can I have a movement? Councillor Lorentson, seconded by Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Thank you, councillors. Thank you, Trent. We'll move on to the final item on the agenda. That's item five, Go Noosa 2020-21 Peak Period Traffic Management Evaluation. Joe and Adam. Well done again on a comprehensive report and understanding of the historical information. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: I just have a few comments and questions. It's great to have this data to see how we're tracking. It's really valuable. And noting that 253,647 passengers use the bus, including the Loop bus, which is enormous. And of them, consistently over the last three years, the vast majority seem to be Noosa
00:25:00 Shire residents. Have I read that correctly? Speaker 4: So this year, it's slightly changed. But again, it's just based on people that are filling out the survey that this year it was more visitors than locals. Councillor Wilkie: Hang on. It says Noosa Shire, 43%, Sunshine Coast, 7.5%, Queensland, 19%. Speaker 4: So it used to be something like 60% Noosa and 68% Noosa. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Well, on page 25, in my reading these figures, it says customer survey, and consistently the Noosa Shire is at the top of those columns at the bottom. So does that mean that Noosa Shire residents consistently are the largest cohort of bus users? Of the free bus? Yes. Of the free bus? Speaker 4: Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. Jo, do you know what I'm talking about? Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah. I don't have the same page numbers as you. Councillor Jurisevic: 25 in your report.
00:26:00 Councillor Lorentson: So not compared to last year's data, but because there was number one on the list. No, there's a drop. There's still a drop. There's still a drop. Councillor Jurisevic: There's still significant use of the service. Speaker 6: Very bottom line. Speaker 4: Yeah. So 43% Noosa Shire this year. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: 68% last year. 59% the year before. But every year, Noosa Shire residents are the highest cohort of users for the free passenger bus. Compared to others, yes. Councillor Jurisevic: Compared to other people. That's responding to the survey. Councillor Wilkie: So that includes visitors, obviously. Yeah. Because if they're a visitor here, they may be from Brisbane or Queensland or other areas of the state. Does that fly in the face of common... I think that's the problem, that the transport levy is funding services not enjoyed by Noosa Shire residents. Whereas this clearly shows, the data clearly shows that Noosa Shire residents are the greatest
00:27:00 users of the free bus service. Well... The largest cohort. Speaker 1: Yeah. The other way to look at it is in previous years, I think that would have been the case. But in this year, 57% of people went from Noosa Shire. Councillor Wilkie: True. But that's another way to look at it. Yeah. Speaker 1: Whereas in previous years, it was 32%, 31%. Yeah. 41%. So it has changed in this last 12 months. But you'd expect that, because if you have a look at the internationals, two years ago it was 6.5, then 3.5. And I'm surprised it's 1.5 this year. So there is a change over time. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Yeah. So I just thought it was a really interesting fact. Speaker 5: The only thing that skews us is whether or not they're the ones, residents are more likely to fill out a survey because they want to give feedback. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. Speaker 5: That's how I only sort of skew possibly on the data. Oh, yes. Councillor Wilkie: The other thing that was really interesting was the 42% increase in motorbikes and scooters
00:28:00 use, people accessing Pasting Street by motorbikes and scooters this year, 42% increase. Speaker 5: Yeah. That was on that particular day of the count, which we use as our insights. But that's correct. It was a huge increase on that day. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. So it could be dependent on weather. Could be, yes. Previous years it had been wet and rainy. Do we know that? Do you know what the weather is? Speaker 5: No. It hasn't been comparably that different. Okay. Councillor Jurisevic: The interesting other step there, Frank, is the interstate has gone from 14 and a half, 14 to 29. And in Queensland, Queensland wide, 12 and a half, 8 to 19. So there's been an increase, as you would expect, with vehicular traffic of interstate and Queensland visitors. And pleasingly, they've jumped on the bus. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Sorry. I'll finish off and then I'll shut up. The interstate has gone from 14 and a half, 14 to 29. And the steady decrease in travel, bus travel time from Noosa Junction to Hastings Street started off at 8 to 10 and went to 7 to 14. Now it's down to 6 to 8. I know.
00:29:00 Why is, is that less traffic on the road or what's, is it the traffic control people? What factors are at play there? Many factors. Speaker 5: I mean, we would like to claim that it's the traffic control. I think you do. I think it does get, get that sort of work. We'd like to hope that that was a. Councillor Lorentson: At Easter, they were great. Yeah, I know. I just wanted to add. Thank you. Throw that. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 5: I think you do get more efficient. I think, you know, you'll probably get to a point where it'll be harder to actually improve on that. Yeah. So I think we'll probably hover around that. But 6 to 8 minutes is an acceptable amount of time. It is acceptable. Very good. Very good. You know, when it's 3 to 4 minutes unimpeded. Excellent. You know, given that it's only a short extra amount of time, it's, you know, it's a lot less time than it is to find a car park. Councillor Jurisevic: And that's just the junction of Hastings Street there. So the loop, being able to maintain the loop within that 15 minute loop. That's right. Is, is, is highly, highly dependent on how successful that trip over the hill is. Councillor Wilkie: Exactly. And then the last thing on page 28, the, do you think the traffic controller affected the prioritising movement of buses, pedestrians, and vehicle flow?
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00:30:00 63% said yes, 7% said a definite no, and 30% unsure, but that's still a positive. Speaker 5: It is a positive, but we still take the note from the previous council resolution that we'll do some community consultation on that process as well, though. Councillor Wilkie: Has that started yet? Speaker 4: Has this started yet? Has this part of that? I suppose this was the start, because we, that resolution came up for the Easter Go Noosa services, so we put that in the Easter Go Noosa survey, but we've still got more to do. Councillor Jurisevic: That sort of gives me an indication. 63% have used it in the past and are aware of what it's been like in the, in the past or have been caught up in the traffic in the past, and 32% are possibly new to the area and haven't necessarily familiar with the regular situation. Mayor Stewart: Sorry, Claire. No, no, sorry. I was just going to say, there's been a decrease in the park and ride by 27, 40% down to 27. Any explanation to that? Speaker 4: We're thinking that people are choosing to park where they want to and then hop on a free bus. We also, previously we found that sometimes people actually walk to their closest bus
00:31:00 stop. So those are possibilities. Mayor Stewart: Does that cost us anything? No. No. Okay. So that's, we're not incurring a cost there. That's right. Councillor Jurisevic: Familiarisation with the service is probably getting people to realise that the service goes close to, the service probably goes close to where they're staying and they don't have to, they can actually stay close and jump on the bus. It may be impressing on people to stay within the loop area rather than driving to it. Mayor Stewart: And interestingly, the request for the free buses during school holidays and weekends is recurring reports. Speaker 5: It was, yes. We've just come out of a meeting on the phone with TransLink about the future of smart ticketing as well. Councillor Jurisevic: I was going to ask you about that. Speaker 5: You're right. Yeah. Yeah. So they're going to, they'll give us some formal update on that soon, but I guess it's sooner probably than what we thought. Good. So that's something that we'll probably bring to a further workshop. Speaker 1: That'll overcome the problem with the Pre-G and looper. Speaker 5: That's our, all our intentions. So there's potentially a big saving there.
00:32:00 There's a potentially a big barrier removal as well by, you know, your credit, your card basically becomes your go-card, which is always a barrier for people. I don't have a go-card. It's confusing. I don't know how to get on a bus. They don't take money anymore, you know, so that barrier will go away. And if you go, I can go down to Hastings Street for $2.70 and I don't have to worry about a car park and you just flash, you know, your bank card, that will be a major step for all of us. Councillor Jurisevic: What is the frequency of that Peregian shuttle compared to the normal bus service that goes from Maroochydore through Peregian? Speaker 4: It's hourly. Councillor Jurisevic: So the shuttle is hourly? Speaker 4: Yeah, it's hourly and the 620 is half hourly. So the one that travels on to Maroochydore, the 620 is half hourly. Councillor Jurisevic: So when we get this smart ticketing, the Pre-G service will actually be a more frequent service than they're currently getting for free.
00:33:00 Speaker 5: Oh, they'll just use what is the existing service? Yeah, that's right. Councillor Jurisevic: They'll be able to use the existing half hour service instead of waiting on an hourly service. Correct. Unless they want to pay for the current service. And that'll be a significant saving in running that shuttle, won't it? Yes. Because it's probably the most expensive element of the service at present. Speaker 5: It is if you compare it individually. Yes. Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: Noosa Ferry. Passenger data not available due to commercial incompetence. Can you explain that? Speaker 5: So obviously we did promote the ferry service and it's something that communities always requested of us and we partnered with them this time and, you know, we did promote it. And I guess because we don't have a commercial or formal arrangement with them through their own prerogative, it's in the commercial nature of, I guess, the data. It wasn't proposed that they would provide it. It wasn't proposed that they would provide that to us. Councillor Jurisevic: But the anecdotal evidence is that there were no leaks and coughs. It was a much... Yeah. Speaker 5: Yeah. So they were happy in that... Steady of package. That's right. It wasn't the highest year from what I understand, but they didn't have the dips and the peaks,
00:34:00 so it was quite steady. Councillor Lorentson: So who subsidised that? So it was 50% discount? Speaker 5: Yeah. So we only promote. So it's only the cost of promotion. We're already putting promotion out anyway. So we would effectively say, you know, it's not costing us anything. Yep. But I think if anecdotally, if there's improvement, I think over time that we would hope to see community gets on board with that. Speaker 4: Okay. So we did have that data that showed that awareness of the frequent pass had increased by us promoting it. So I know it's not a direct comparison, but say 15% were aware of the pass at Easter, then by Christmas that had gone up to 35%. So from our perspective, as long as we've seen an increase in awareness that there's
00:35:00 this discount of ferry pass, we're hoping that that then translates to actually using it. Speaker 5: And this year we haven't got the complaints, why aren't you liaising with the ferry? Why aren't you doing something with the ferry? So that seems to have gone away. Councillor Lorentson: And the discounts for residents and visitors are excellent. Yeah. And real incentive to not try. So. And what a great way to. Mayor Stewart: Correct. Councillor Jurisevic: What a great way to get to Hastings Street. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. City cats. Speaker 1: Can I ask you a question? Councillor Jurisevic: Fire away. Speaker 1: I'm trying to get my head around the value in terms of how we've made a difference. Because obviously there's going to be a lot of people on buses. And what would happen if we had done nothing? So imagine that the, you know, the number of cars would have been going up like this. And if there's any way to actually say, well, the difference is being able to pull back here. What's the gap? You know, how we're getting. Yeah. People in there and some of them going by bus and cars. And I just never been able to get my head around how I quantify that. Because I could see the numbers we're getting on the buses.
00:36:00 Yeah. Yeah. And whatever it might be. But we don't necessarily measure whether the car number is still going up or what the total load is. Speaker 5: Yeah. Speaker 4: We have that 3rd of January day that captures that. So on that particular day, there was the decrease in car numbers. But yeah. We need to look at it over the whole period to really get a good. Speaker 5: So what we could do as an example is convert everyone who walked, rode, caught a bus. And then we can count those people and assume that it's 1.4 or whatever numbers took people to a car. Then add that to the percentage of cars that would have come in. You know, it's a theoretical exercise. Yeah. And you could have said, well, you would have had an extra 20% of cars coming in. Which meant your congestion, you would have gridlocked all through to the junction, past Manor Point Bridge. And that would have reduced the number of cars. That would have stopped. Councillor Jurisevic: Exactly. You'd have to be counting cars to travel. But you'd also have to have people counted to see how many people were actually travelling
00:37:00 up and down. That's right. You'd have to have people counting to see how many people were actually on the street or the beach. Or all those. Try to capture all of that pedestrian data. And one of the things we've listed. You know, historically facilitated. Speaker 5: That's right. We've listed as an opportunity in this report is better data counting system. So we currently only do the one day a year. We have to try and draw so many insights from that one day, which is very difficult. You can't really put your hand on your heart on all of it. That was my question for you. Councillor Jurisevic: Is really doing a one day capture, and we know this year it's on a Sunday, so it was skewed by that. Is that the way to do it? Or should we be doing it at least once a week or even on a daily basis? The ideal is that we move- How is the data captured? Speaker 5: Do we physically counting people? They do. They use cameras and they physically count it. So what we need to do really is to get into the technology game and actually start putting in proper counters. People counters. Every day. Where the shopping centres go. Exactly. That's it. Yeah. So you can take into account wet weather or the day of the week.
00:38:00 All those things can be understood properly. Councillor Jurisevic: And that was my next question. The sort of lessons that we've learned here, what, you know, we're doing things and we seem to be having an impact, but what are the next mechanisms that we'd like to see put in place or that we could propose to create some sort of the next level of impact? Speaker 5: So that'll be a future report to council. Has it a guess? I expect that we would start to look at whether we do improve. That information availability out to people, whether we get that in there by Christmas or a future time. But that's where we need to get to. Councillor Jurisevic: So costs are around people counting mechanisms and the like? Speaker 5: Exactly. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. Councillor Wilkie: Anything through the councillors? Just a general comment. This range of initiatives have really changed thinking about Pasting Street. Previously, access was dependent on the availability of car parks before these initiatives. Now, more people than ever are accessing this precinct by means other than a car, and that's just dependent on the availability of car parks.
00:39:00 And more people than ever are accessing it by bus and walking or cycling, which is great. And the question of congestion, when we started this journey about addressing it, it was about could we solve congestion? I think we've come to a realisation that because Noosa is such a popular place, there'll always be cars on the road. Yes. But we're able to dramatically increase the access. More people can get down there by means other than the car because of these alternatives. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. We're also restricted by the capacity to expand the road network. I mean, the road network is one road in, one road out. It's very difficult. And it's so wide. There's only such a corridor. Yeah, it is. It's constrained. The constraints are there, so there's little else we can do. Councillor Lorentson: I remind myself, transport strategy, one of the outcomes, and the one that I can make reference to, is to enhance the resident and visitor experience and result in sustainable
00:40:00 outcomes. So congestion aside, I think that the Go Niso strategy achieves those outcomes. And I'd like to look at success in those terms rather than congestion because it's... Speaker 5: That is our preference. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. I wish the state government would see the benefit of free buses and offer them on a statewide basis. I think that's the solution to congestion everywhere, to get more people onto public transport and make public transport the most efficient and effective methodology rather than the road network. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: That's it. Councillor Wilkie: I just had another question, Mr. Chair. The use of the Lion's Heads Park as a car park during all school holidays and long weekends, is that a good thing? We have made that resolution that that would extend to the end of the period of the public health declaration of COVID. I'm just wondering, I don't know if any of us agree that having a beautiful green space used as a car park is a good outcome long term, and I'm wondering if there's appetite
00:41:00 to revisit that decision to use it until the end of the COVID health declaration, because that could be years. Mayor Stewart: Would that be something we can do? I think the state government would take in consultation with the Hastings Street Association. I think so, yeah. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Man might be open to talking about that and reviewing it and maybe reversing it. Speaker 5: We probably have a steering group meeting on that and to see what the direction from the group, which includes Hastings Street Association, et cetera. Probably Tourism Newsom. Tourism Newsom, they're all on that steering group. Would you raise that next time? We can raise that as an item. Councillor Jurisevic: I think that's a good idea. Councillor Wilkie: And then demand for green space is at its peak during the holiday period as well, so it's a conflict. Do we make it available for families and people to use it to recreate or do we use it for cars?
00:42:00 It's a conflict and it would come down to a question of what are the values at play here? Councillor Jurisevic: The other question is how well utilised is the park outside of those times? Speaker 6: Yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Nothing further on that, I think. Councillor Wegener: I just had a meeting with Chris Bowden and with their vision for the smart biosphere is data and measuring and the low frequency internet system that they're going to put out throughout the biosphere through the Noosa Shire to primarily for hazard management and firefighters. But they just say we are creating a network that can measure unbelievable amounts of stuff, not get clogged up in four or five G and sensing. So we mentioned, you know, we want to we want to know how many people are on the street, how many people are in cars.
00:43:00 And it just says you have these sensors with batteries for five years. You can start counting stuff now. Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah. It's called the LoRaWAN system through a gateway system. It's yeah. Ten years. Some of those things will last as well. Very amazing what they can do. Councillor Wegener: So I think that, you know, we just have to use our imaginations to see what questions we want answered because we can answer them a lot easier now that somebody counting, you know. Yes, yes. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm wondering when smart technology within vehicles will be something that we can utilise from a data capture mechanism. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Can't they track mobile phones? Speaker 1: They can do that. Yes. It's very expensive to get that data from the mobile phone companies. They sell it and it's unbelievably expensive. Speaker 5: So I think we'll circumvent that system and use this LoRaWAN system in other ways. To get the data that we need for a lot less cost. Councillor Wilkie: Not that I'm in favour of tracking people via their mobile phone. It's very big brotherish for my liking. Yep. Councillor Lorentson: Tourism News have got a great database where they're collecting data from spent, like MasterCard, where our visitors are actually spending their money.
00:44:00 So they can sort of identify whether they're in the hinterland and whether they tick one of their strategic goals to ensure that tourism is accessible. It's dispersed. But they can, there's so much information I'm sure that they'd be looking to share. We do. Speaker 5: We nearly over contact with, yeah, work with them on their data and see how we can get insights from that as well into this report. Councillor Jurisevic: Fantastic. Yeah. Part of that, part of the solution. All right. Anything further councillors? I'll move it. We move Councillor Lorentson, the seconded Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Thank you councillor. Speaker 1: Excellent. Speaker 5: Yeah, excellent. Preempted, preempted me there. It's a lot in there. Sorry. Good work. And great work on the, on the Garnoosa work as a whole. Thanks to Jo. Councillor Jurisevic: She does the lion's share. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.