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00:00:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the Services and Organisation Committee meeting on the 27th of September. Before we begin, I'd like to pay our respects to all the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet, the Kabi Kabi or Kabi Kabi people, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging. Item 1 on the agenda is attendance and apologies. Everybody's in attendance. Confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting. We'll have a mover. That's Mr Stewart. Seconded by Councillor Wilkie. All in favour? Thank you. No presentations today, Mr CEO or deputations. We'll move on to item 5, reports for consideration of committee. Item 1 is to go Noosa peak period traffic management for Christmas 2021-22 and Easter 2022. Councillor, is there anyone who's been to Noosa? Mayor Stewart: Can you do it in different grades from last Christmas? I'll defer to Jo on that one. No, so it's business as usual. I'll defer to Jo on that one. No, so it's business as usual.
00:01:00 Councillor Jurisevic: What we have said in the past though, is that we tried to, if there were any new initiatives or at least go back and revise any of the other initiatives, is there any changes to the way we're doing anything? Is it just business as usual? Are there any modifications? So there's modifications to any of the processes that we've been implementing. Speaker 5: There's obviously everything we're doing we're constantly trying to make. There's obviously everything we're doing we're constantly trying to make. That's what I'm looking forward to, see if there's any tweaks or enhancements. The traffic control, we're constantly tweaking that in situ and prior to, so we'll be trying to look at how we can streamline that a bit. Everything else is pretty much the same, we're looking at a couple of extra little things. Councillor Jurisevic: These are the sort of things I'm trying to allude to, what are the tweaks that we're adding? Speaker 5: Yeah, so those are the two minor tweaks, it's extra parking and scooter parking. Yeah, so those are the two minor tweaks, it's extra parking and scooter parking, and just looking at any potential existing sites where you could have extra parking or support storage.
00:02:00 So that's something that we're working on. But everything else, you know, the same, the park and ride, the move bus, that sort of thing. Councillor Wilkie: Jo, the Noosa Ferry, here we go. The Noosa Ferry is, here we go. I know there might be commercial requirements for a number on that, but what can you tell us about, there must be some success associated, there must be some benefits that might have traveled, some benefits, measurable benefits. Speaker 5: Yes, so as many options as possible is what we're aiming for, and the feedback we got from the operator was that whereas previously there'd be a spike just at the peak, Boxing Day, 10 years day, this time around he had a prolonged high usage, so that's what we
00:03:00 Councillor Wilkie: were hoping to keep going with. So we don't have exact numbers, but we do know that more people, at least previous years, over the last 10 years, as opposed to previous years. That's it. And also just raising awareness of that frequent traveler's pass for locals. Speaker 5: That's it. And also just raising awareness of that frequent traveler's pass for locals, so that applies all year round. So by getting people's awareness at Christmas and Easter, they can take advantage of that all year round. Councillor Wilkie: Part of the recommendation, aiding the authority of the CEO, part of the recommendation that delegates authority to the CEO to cancel and stand down and recommence the bus services, depending on if the services are discontinued, what happens to the charges that the council Speaker 5: actually pays for that full service? I think it's 72 hours notice.
00:04:00 The TransLink services, they're already in existence. So whether we do it or not, the public transport continues to operate. And TransLink, we would still have to pay for that loss of revenue. Councillor Wilkie: Or just the 72 hours? No, the 72 hours only applies to the two that we actually fund in full. Speaker 5: Whereas the TransLink services are operating regardless now, and we still would have to pay regardless, because we've now committed to that in service for those days. Councillor Wilkie: So we're one week into this six-week period. So we're one week into this six-week period. Do we have to pay for the main services? Speaker 5: Not the 064 and the 065. Mayor Stewart: No, not the 064 and the 065. Speaker 5: If we give them 72 hours notice. We have to pay TransLink. We would have to pay TransLink for those services, although they still operate. And I think we could have some sort of agreement with TransLink, but when asked, they said, well,
00:05:00 you're signing up for that period. So that's what we're paying for, but we would have to negotiate if we cancel. Speaker 3: And that's what happened in Easter last year. And that's what happened in those Easter last year. Easter last year, we wouldn't need those services. So we didn't have to pay for the Noosaville Plus at all. So we provided given-up notice. We found again that TransLink provided given-up notice. The difficulty is that it's in the middle of the scenario you gave. The difficulty is if you've been hardwired through the six-month period. The difficulty is if you've been hardwired through the six-month period. Councillor Jurisevic: We've seen the advantage to get through some of the latest outbreaks. We've seen the advantage to get through some of the latest outbreaks. The need to continue. Councillor Lorentson: I have a few questions.
00:06:00 So I'll start with the additional bus service, the 064. In order for us to offer a free service to residents and visitors between the region, there's an additional bus service recommended, 064, at a cost of, I think, about $70 million. My question is, have we considered or explored alternative options, for example, issuing alternative cards to communities, for example, with the issue of free credit cards to communities with boner risk of $72,500? Yes. Speaker 5: This has been a headache for a number of years. And we've had an issue and quite high-level meetings with TransLink on that very issue. And can we just hang up go cards on that? We're not the driver that we're allowed to do that. We're not the driver that we're allowed to do that. That person would have to get the go card from council. It was just getting really complicated.
00:07:00 So the best thing that we're getting from them is when they bring in the smart ticketing, anyone who's got a credit card in their back pocket have got a go card, essentially. So then we'll be able to use the existing bus service and people can just tap on it. So we tap on, tap off, but there'll be no charge. But it'll be free for the Noosaville component. Yes. So that is the scenario that we've been told is our best bet. We have tried a number of it. We've even looked at purchasing event tickets. Councillor Lorentson: Wouldn't it just be easy, if you want a free card, wouldn't it just be easy, if you want a free card, would you please pick one up? Speaker 5: We also did a little bit of cost modelling on that and the go card. I think it has to have a minimum of $20 or $10 on it. And it worked out. It's still quite up there. So even if we sort of looked at the passenger data, apparently people captioned 6064.
00:08:00 So we did look at that option. Councillor Jurisevic: Doesn't every user have to register for the go card? Speaker 5: And they have to actually be registered. And they have to actually be registered as well. So there's a second step. Speaker 3: The right to terminate. If you have a little bit also of cost exposure for us, if you have a little bit also of cost exposure for us, the Christmas is about $169,000. The Christmas is about $169,000. That's what we can give the 72 hour for and actually make sure we can minimise that impact. There is more exposure on the smaller amount, the $113,000. The bigger cost risk we can manage, the smaller one. The bigger cost risk we can manage, the smaller one. That's probably a bit of comfort there. We do have that really good command there that most of the controls are going to be able to manage. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm just giving you a sip. Councillor Morrison has tried to find a way of reducing the 72 hour amount from a usage perspective. Speaker 3: I'll just come back to you. Councillor Lorentson: A couple more questions, Joe.
00:09:00 A couple more questions. One of the recommendations of who the continued promotion of the Noosa Fairing goes to marketing as an alternative mode of travel. Can we add to that recommendation bike hire shops as an alternative mode of travel? Speaker 6: As an alternative mode of travel. Councillor Lorentson: We've got Trilogy Cycles. We have also signed with Tewantin, Cooroy, Cooroy, Cooroy, Cooroy, and I just can't wait to support those businesses as well as Noosa Perry. Councillor Jurisevic: I've got the idea to actually promote the facility that those are provided. If we're dealing with a ferry which is an alternative mail, the Aboriginal operators could be there. Councillor Lorentson: So I'd like to see that in the recommendation. Also in relation to the loop bus. I've had a look at the Noosa loop bus map. I've had a look at the Noosa loop bus map. It doesn't go through the industrial enterprise process. It doesn't go through the industrial enterprise process.
00:10:00 I don't know how, but that is, I understand when I look at the executive summary the plan is to, the purpose is to manage traffic congestion. But it's also there to support small business. And it's also there to support small business. I don't know how to see that loop bus. I don't know whether that's present. Speaker 3: I don't know. Councillor Lorentson: No, it's got the AT partner. No, it's got the AT partner. It's got the AT partner. It's that loop bus. We've got Noosaville, Noosa Junction, Hastings Street. And we've got business precinct, enterprise precinct. Which we've identified as an enterprise precinct. And I'd love to see an enterprise precinct. And I'd like to see the directions. Speaker 3: I'm not sure it does work as well as the other sections. I don't know. No, it's not coming as well. Councillor Wilkie: It's actually a small loop. Speaker 3: Get around and hide and park.
00:11:00 Get around and park anywhere. And get around and hide and park. And get around and park anywhere. And get further out of that loop. And get a chance at the dynamics of that. And taking it off that loop. And the more logical one, whoever extended it. But the more logical one, whoever extended it has to come along there. It was already based in 66 and 67 it had to come along there. So you've changed the nature of the loop bus. You've changed the nature of the loop bus. The question is how can people get the public transport and the precinct. The question is how can people get the public transport. Can you look at the links and the connections with the other bus services. Councillor Lorentson: So in the little bus service, so in the little bus precinct, again, small businesses in the precinct, they seem to always be in doubt of business conversation. It would be just great to have that option. So rather than change the loop, we'll just promote the existing traffic services to that.
00:12:00 Just to let people know that it's there would be fantastic, Jo. Thanks. Speaker 3: I'll come back to your question before, about the bike car one. Let's have a conversation about any other issue, bike car one, about whether it needs to go to the general committee, if that's a new issue or whether it needs to go to the general committee. Well, that's why I was the one in charge. Let's already talk about it going to the general committee. Let's already talk about it going to any other council. Maybe any other questions or issues. Any other council members? It's a good idea. Well, I'm sorry. Councillor Jurisevic: I mean, we've always had, we've had the discussion as to whether it could go up to Mary Street. Well, no, we've always had. We've had other services. I was talking about the bike car issue. The bike car issue. Yeah. Other services. The bike car issue. Separately. Speaker 3: In fact, it's about public transit. It's about public transit. It's about public transit. It's about public transit. Councillor Jurisevic: It's about public transit.
00:13:00 I think about how they can connect with that and have services operating that link with that bus service. So there's, it could operate two ways. Anybody else got any questions? Speaker 5: I think that was sort of tying in with when the most parade is done. Yeah, then we can promote all the electric bikes. Councillor Jurisevic: I think we've had a commercial operator that's operating something along those lines now that has taken up that opportunity. Speaker 3: Operating something along those lines now that has taken up that opportunity. Councillor Jurisevic: An electric vehicle of some sort, some sort of small catered. Mayor Stewart: An electric vehicle of some sort, some sort of small catered. Councillor Jurisevic: My understanding was there was someone that sat up commercial operations to facilitate that.
00:14:00 There was someone that sat up commercial operations. I haven't seen much of it. Oh God, I did see the initial map. From a finance perspective, just clarifying. The costs that have been estimated there are out of the levy as it stands, but there is still levy for the July rates not being collected, is there? So the entire year's rates of transport levy have or have not been included in this? Or is that it? Speaker 3: Look down the bottom, Joe, just above the paragraph, increasing opportunity. Look down the bottom, Joe. Councillor Jurisevic: So what about the following rate status? Do we levy the transport? So there should be two lots of $460,000 for the year? So there should be... No, it's not a fake, it's not a fake. So there should be $950,000 not included for the year. Okay, which isn't included. That's all I wanted to clarify. It wasn't just $460,000, it wasn't fact-filed. I know that we should cover the bulk of the costs for the following year.
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00:15:00 All right, that's it for me. Anybody else got a question? Councillor Lorentson: I have a couple more questions. Keep going. In regards to the Tewantin and Salinas Club car parking at Christmastime, it's anticipated that it's going to be a wet Christmas. Speaker 6: It's anticipated that it's going to be a wet Christmas. Councillor Lorentson: The grounds are going to be wet. If the grounds won't be wet, then nothing in our pocket of eight will be wet. Speaker 3: And visitor numbers will also be wet. And visitor numbers will also be wet. Councillor Lorentson: It does offset that. Consultation, external consultation, community and stakeholder on page 10. Hastings Street Association, transit 10 to New Zealand. Hastings Street Association, transit 10. Can we include in that the residents that live within that precinct
00:16:00 and are residents from Noosa Sound, Noosa Hill, Little Cove and the Seed Club? Noosa Hill, Little Cove and the Seed Club. So how would that work? Could that survey? Speaker 3: But this is what I would like to do. It's just what I would like to do. Consultation will be done today for this report. Councillor Lorentson: But this is what I would like to do. Consultation will be done today for this report. It's just what I would like to do. Councillor Jurisevic: You mean from a feedback perspective after the event to see how it's gone or? Councillor Lorentson: You mean from a feedback perspective after the event to see how it's gone or? Well, I know Little Cove is an association being together and Seed Club would be great to have Ross Fisher sitting at a table. These are people that are directly impacted by these decisions and it would just be great that they partake in the conversation given that these people, residents, you know, four members, five members, they're the ones that are entering in and out threeちょっと times a day. They're the ones that are entering in and out three quelque times a day. They're the ones that are entering so – My suggestion is – My suggestion is the next time the council has a look at their membership Speaker 3: over the the successful is the next timeots,
00:17:00 would I. Yeah, possibly in that case, raised, that might be a more effective estimate. Yeah, possibly in that case, raised, that would be a more effective estimate. Councillor Jurisevic: There's a new residence for four minutes specifically for that area, to be pertinent. Anything further? Another mover? I'll suggest we move it to a second chair. Speaker 5: Can I just comment on that one? So previously we had promote who said or investigate local bike hire. We've actually promoted that rather than specifying bike hire companies.
00:18:00 Speaker 3: I don't think we're going to like it here. Do you advise bike hires? Because you're missing one out here. Is it like the list of the remittance or like you're not promoting one business? Councillor Jurisevic: We're promoting commercial activity with the ferries. I mean these commercial activities are in line with the transport strategy and alternative uses of the postal car, so it's not a lot to promote. Are there options that are available or better options available? There are options that are available. Consideration? Speaker 3: No, perfect consideration. As you said, it's going to go to General Committee can have a mover. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Lawthorpe is seconder, Councillor Stewart, all in favour? Thank you.
00:19:00 Item 2, change in Use and Tenure part of Lodge 69 RP41223 and part of Lodge RP839677. 2, 3. We probably won't meet a lot of people out there, but it will become a bit more obvious as we go into this when it refers to some relocations of our Noosa community gardens and some changes to the land where the community gardens currently sit. Councillor Wilkie: Good news. Councillor Jurisevic: Councilors, any questions? Mayor Stewart: So there's two things here. Speaker 6: First, there's the community garden have probably, about the past six or seven months, have been reporting to council that they felt not comfortable on the land.
00:20:00 They felt a little bit unsafe because there was more people accessing the services, the specialist homelessness services at U2 and next door. And our social services hub, so they're providing services for people who are experiencing vulnerability or having trouble accessing mainstream services, and there have been more people on the site. The community gardeners felt that that was a conflict for their membership, and it actually was helping to, for members to reduce their activity on the site and losing membership over that. So that's one part of why the community garden we've found a location. And I think that's why we believe it's a much better location for them to operate from. The other part is that U2 and next door, who operate the social services, have come to council with a request to put two tiny homes on the site near their main facility so that they can have youth transitional housing.
00:21:00 So that's supported accommodation for young families, and that's because of the increased need in the cost of housing, particularly for them. In all aspects across the country. Speaker 2: This is a pilot project to particularly target this gap between crisis accommodation and independent living, and there's really nothing here to, at the moment, to support that. And we see this as a critical project to support that, and we'll have lots of ripple-on effects, both in terms of the young people that transition through, but our hope is that through the learnings of this project, other organisations might be able to see that it's a good place for them to live. Councillor Jurisevic: It's really going to be seen as a means of just propping people up to get them through that critical time, and that understanding from crisis into, until, you know, better, more... Speaker 2: A hand-holding and a gradual letting go, rather than at the moment they reach the end of crisis accommodation and are expected then to somehow cope on their own, and that's when the evidence shows that that's such a vulnerable time, and they can easily then slip back, but even further back.
00:22:00 Back to you. Back into the actual very damaging situation that they'd initially come from. So we see this as quite critical to support. Councillor Jurisevic: I guess it also gives an opportunity for crisis, a little bit of pressure off crisis accommodation as well, because people won't have to stay there if there's nowhere else to go. Correct. At least this gives them that transition option as well, to step out of crisis accommodation, and free that crisis accommodation of someone that may need it. Speaker 2: I think the benefit too is in supporting you two, and who've done an amazing job in fundraising with this. But it also demonstrates the role that council can play in facilitating projects like this without necessarily having to construct something, or manage it, or deliver the service.
00:23:00 Councillor Lorentson: So to clarify, there is no financial contribution made to this project? There is no financial contribution made by council to the tiny house project. That's correct. Great. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, because it's not a space that council is delving into. It's just a support with the land of our living and facilitating there, and the transition of one community entity from one location to another to help facilitate. Speaker 3: This is a really good example of what I was talking to council before about the different roles we can play. We can be an advocate, and we can be a partner, a facilitator, right down to the doing. This is sort of towards, yeah, well, we've got to get an outcome for the community, and that's partnering by putting land forward. Speaker 2: I think the other key role that we've played is, you know, councillors, particularly our new councillors, would appreciate you coming to council. It's very complex. And one of the key roles, and particularly that Kylie's played in this space, is helping
00:24:00 with what needs to be followed, what needs to be overcome. So we don't, you know, we don't necessarily, in projects that have to contribute cash, it's expertise and knowledge to be able to facilitate an outcome. Mayor Stewart: And they were very, I sort of missed that, they were very grateful, Kylie, to all the hard work you've done. Speaker 6: It's going to be a really great outcome for the community garden too. Yes. Because they're going to be in a precinct that they feel that they have the ability to expand, and to have a greater profile from the community, because they're more visible there, and they have more opportunity for expansion, so they're very happy about that as well. So it's a project that has two really good outcomes for the community. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. I'm assuming there'd be scope for doing more than just veggies and the like, and maybe the other areas of Wallace Park will be looked at to facilitate for maybe some native plants or something around some of our buildings and that, if they want to get involved in
00:25:00 that sphere or something perhaps. Speaker 6: I'm sure there'll be lots of opportunities in that precinct. Particularly with community support as well. Yeah, with lots of community support. There's already been some really good discussions around some collaborative projects there. We've got the seed library at the library. So that's another really nice collaboration. Councillor Jurisevic: A nice synergy between the two potentially then. Yeah. Yeah. With seed collection and seed utilisation. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: So after this is ratified next Thursday night, how soon will we see the community garden shift to Wallace Park, and two tiny homes being constructed or moved to that, and connected to services on that site? Speaker 6: We're working really hard at the moment with the community garden to look at a project plan for what they want to do, auditing their plants, what they want to keep, what they think can be relocated, how we can relocate. So we're working on that at the moment. We're also working with Noosa Community Training Centre to schedule in their next construction crew, which has just started this week, to do some of the relocation work and assist
00:26:00 in some of the labour. So that's a critical bit of timing in there too. The tiny houses are in construction at the moment. So we're looking at possibly October. We're hoping to have some reasonable action. Speaker 2: So we're talking this side of Christmas as well. Yeah. If everything was to go to plan, we're looking at this side of Christmas. Councillor Lorentson: So this pilot project is successful, which it will be, I'm hoping. Is there any indication that there'll be more tiny houses built in this precinct, or is there any indication that there'll be more? Speaker 6: Not on that site. Councillor Lorentson: Not on that site. Speaker 6: No. We believe that two on that site is adequate, but we will be looking at other sites across council that might be supportive of another two tiny homes going forward. Speaker 2: And there are other organisations that are looking closely at it too. Everybody's, I guess, watching this to see, is this a creative way of filling this gap?
00:27:00 And key to that will be the learnings that come out of it, the sharing of the learnings to see, particularly there's other not-for-profit organisations looking to see, is it something that they could adopt as well? But in terms of your earlier question, we think two on the site is something that within that precinct is manageable. What we don't want to see is that there are too many on the site that there start to be concerns, perceptions, that it's been turned into, for example, a relocatable home site or something like that. So we think two is appropriate. Councillor Jurisevic: One of the things about this site that makes it such a functional facilitation is the proximity of the support services there. Yes. Absolutely. We've also got showers, toilets, washing, drying facilities, and all the rest of it that have been facilitated in U-turn. I mean, there's a lot going on. I mean, do those sort of things exist in the tiny house themselves?
00:28:00 Speaker 6: Yeah, the tiny homes are fully self-contained. So they're fully self-contained. So they're two bedrooms, two bedrooms, showers, toilets, everything in there. Speaker 2: So there would be more drawing on U-turn for guidance and support, et cetera. Councillor Jurisevic: And that's what I'm thinking about, where these, you really need an element of that connectivity to facilitate that. Yes. It is a supported service. You don't want them out in the middle of nowhere. No. You want that element of connectivity there, so that where support is needed, that it's close at hand. Speaker 2: And a key aspect of this trial is to see, well, how much support is required? And if, for example, it was on a location where somebody was at, say, a phone call away, would they still be able to have the same sort of outcome? Or does it need somebody that's in close physical proximity? We also really think the value of this site is that it is very close to public transport, so that the young people are able to either connect in with employment or connect in with
00:29:00 education, if it's Soviet. And it's within a good community space, so that there's a sense of connection to community. Councillor Lorentson: Very good. Can we, and this is just something I'm thinking about now, as part of the recommendation, Kerry, request that you turn report to council, say, within 12 months and give us an update on progress and whether the pilot project is meeting their expectations. I would be really interested in seeing. Speaker 3: I don't think that needs to be a part of the recommendation. Speaker 6: No. Councillor Lorentson: Can that be done? Speaker 6: Yeah. They are funded under our community alliance grant, so every year we do an interview with them as part of that. And they will report back. That's fantastic. It would be just great to understand what's successful. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. It would be good to understand the successes and challenges that the Tiny Houses project creates. Speaker 2: We expect that this will get a lot of attention.
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00:30:00 It's a unique way to solve this particular gap without requiring significant capital investment. So we expect that there will be, not only for us, looking at it from the perspective of getting updates, but externally as well. Councillor Lorentson: And as part of also the housing option report that we've requested the CEO to come back to council with, I'd love this to be factored into that report. Yep. Speaker 3: Kerry's not writing it, so I think it will be. Councillor Lorentson: Excellent. Thank you. It's just such an exciting space. They're cheap and within six months. They're not that cheap. No. They're not that cheap. 100 grand each. Mayor Stewart: They are unique in what they offer. They're unique. Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, full credit to U-Turn for conceiving of this concept and then going to all the hard work to raise the funds.
00:31:00 It's a real credit to them to be stepping into this space. Yep. Absolutely. Councillor Jurisevic: There's no further questions. I'm having a moment. Seconder? Councillor Stewart? All in favour? Thank you. Anonymous? Mayor Stewart: Thanks, Kylie. Councillor Jurisevic: Yee-haw! Proposed new lease, Shop 8 Sunrise Neighbourhood Shopping Centre. A blast, a blast, a long, long blast. How long's it been since we haven't had a tenant in Shop 8? Speaker 1: Early to mid-2018. Councillor Jurisevic: Three years now. I've had a couple of days at all. Yeah, I know. Speaker 1: Not for lack of trying. COVID didn't help. There is a typographical error in the report that I believe I need to draw attention to now that can't be changed. There's a line in the second paragraph under the main part of the report that says subsequently Tanglewood provided notice that it did seek to continue lease negotiations.
00:32:00 That should say did not. Councillor Jurisevic: I was going to ask that because I read that. Speaker 1: Page one. Hang on. Councillor Jurisevic: Didn't we turn around and say that's what we were going to do? I was going to ask that question. Thank you for clarifying. Councillor Lorentson: No problem. I'll start with questions. So this council has agreed to expand the shop with an increase of nearly 200 square metres. Does that trigger a requirement for 20 extra car spaces? Speaker 1: So we've had a pre-lodgement consultation. We've had a pre-lodgement consultation with planning because the planning approval will be required. The ratio of parking there at the moment is quite strong, but that will form part of the planning approvals is working out the car parking requirements. Councillor Lorentson: Fantastic. So there will be an increase in car spaces or an expectation, yeah?
00:33:00 Speaker 1: Not necessarily because it depends on the way that the expansion occurs into the existing car park and then how we look at the configuration of the space that's there. Of course, we'll look to optimise the car parking spaces and will be governed to a degree by planning. They have ratio requirements, so I think I'd be hesitant to say that there'll be extra parks. What will be, yes, how many will be there will be subject to planning approval. Councillor Jurisevic: So there may be a revision of the existing parking and seeing whether it can be? Speaker 1: Correct. Absolutely. Yes. Better facilitated. We'll look at that and the configuration, looking at the space and how it can be utilised. Mayor Stewart: Rob, just in the indicative commencement date, 1st October 2022, that's in 12 months, why so long? Is that because of the renovation that needs to be done? Correct. Speaker 1: Yes. So that allows, it's indicative, but we've worked out that's probably a reasonable amount of time for planning approvals, concept designs, detailed designs.
00:34:00 Finding a builder. Quality surveying, going to market, getting a builder and that construction space at the moment, there is some risk with materials and timelines at the moment. Councillor Jurisevic: Well, I think there's a really great risk with the finance aspect, $700,000. What we found with Capital Works at the moment is, Larry, what are we finding? 20, 30, 50% with bridges? I mean, what's the likelihood that $700,000 is going to be enough to cover this? Speaker 1: When I did the analysis, I factored up the construction cost by 20% and 30%. So I applied a factor of 1.2 and 1.3 in the sensitivity. Councillor Jurisevic: And has that gone through infrastructure for clarification? Speaker 1: Yes. The base assumption for the construction cost of dollars per square metre was run through infrastructure, and then I factored it up as part of the analysis. Councillor Lorentson: So with the lease agreement, are we commencing the lease after the rent-free period, or does the lease begin and then we add 12-month rent-free to that lease? Speaker 1: The lease will commence at the start of the rent-free period, and it will be written in
00:35:00 as a clause that the first 12 months are rent-free. Councillor Lorentson: So why don't we, for purpose of certainty, start the lease after the 12-month rent-free period? Speaker 3: Because there's a lot of other issues in the lease besides the payment of rent. Okay, so we're just covering the payment of rent in the first year of the lease. We still need to have a contract in place. Okay. Insurance and all those other things that need to be publicised. Councillor Lorentson: So if it gets signed up and it's a 10-year lease. Councillor Jurisevic: I was hearing that indicative commencement date is when we believe that the building works will be completed and the fit-out will have been undertaken so that they can move in. Speaker 1: Correct. We've run some timelines, as I said, with planning, getting the design completed. Both parties need to agree to the design and then going to market, and then the actual construction period. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll clarify that. So fit-out would commence once the lease has begun, and their fit-out, because it'll be their... Yes, we're really responsible for fit-out. We're only responsible for the external building structure.
00:36:00 Speaker 1: Correct. What we'll proceed to enter into from a contractual space now is like a Heads of Agreement, and that will be a governing document, and under that will sit the plans, the planning approval, and the actual lease itself. And that Heads of Agreement will be executed at the point where the construction is completed. Then we execute the lease, and the lease commences. So it's all risk managed in terms of both parties having obligations to proceed to enter into agreements, but when you have a lease that doesn't commence until after a construction and a fit-out, that's the accepted way of doing it. You have a governing contract that sits over it. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. So we've increased the GFA by 60%, 70%. Is that reflected in the rent? Speaker 1: So the rent is worked on dollars per square metre. Square metre? Yes. So the rental figure is based on the 500, and the rental amount, the dollars per square
00:37:00 metre, is in alignment with the valuation that was undertaken. Councillor Lorentson: So I think I worked that out at about $250 a square metre, which is very fair market value. Speaker 1: Right, $260. Councillor Lorentson: $260, yes. Have we considered, so our objective as a council is we want this to succeed, and all the other businesses in that precinct want to see the success of the centre. Have we looked at proposing turnover rent to IGA? Is that something that was done in negotiations or discussed as an alternative to a fixed rate? 3% or 4% turnover rate, which is, to me, a win-win. A, if they're doing poorly in the first two or three years, COVID, sunrise development impacts their trade,
00:38:00 they pay a percentage of turnover, and if they're very successful, that's reflected. It's a win-win for both of us. Speaker 1: Correct. So, as we've worked through the process with Colliers, there's a number of mechanisms within a deal to achieve the outcome that both parties desire. I guess once you've introduced turnover rent, then you do introduce a level of risk and uncertainty for both parties as well. The mechanism to, I guess, a turnover rent incentivises the operator to try and maximise their sales. However, they will be doing that regardless. So, I think in this instance, it was determined that a turnover rent wasn't necessary. I think in different scenarios, it can play a strong role in incentivising strong operations. But here, we apportion the risk around the rental width and the increases each year and making sure that both parties continue to get a good outcome through fixing annual increases
00:39:00 and then having them variable on other years. There's mechanisms like market reviews that occur throughout the 10-year period. Where we can recognise the strong upside that's been achieved by having the anchor tenant there. So, it was considered, but it wasn't desirable for either party in this case. Councillor Jurisevic: Given that it's a food outlet and food outlets haven't closed through, food supplies haven't closed through COVID, none of the supermarkets have shut down through shutdown. So, food and essential supplies have been, you know, is an essential service. So, it continues to stay open and available to everybody. So, it continues to stay open and available to everybody to access, so. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. In regards to the expansion, does training in bigger space mean an increase in business? Is it proportional? I'm just trying to understand why they've asked for an extra 200 square metres.
00:40:00 Speaker 1: The fundamental reason for the increase is that IGA's and the different types of marketing, market offering that they have, they just don't fit in that size store anymore. We've seen that with the one in Tewantin that they've expanded. They were at about 300 square metres, maybe five or six years ago, and they undertook one increase of about 200 square metres and they've done that again. So, IGA has certain types of offerings that can be put out to market by the operators and 300 square metres is just too small. Councillor Jurisevic: That happened in Pushlands as well. The space there ended up being too small to be viable for an operator, so. Speaker 3: Each of those operators have their own model, which works on a particular footprint of it. Yeah, Aldi had a certain model of the number of metres and that's what they work to. The IGA has got theirs as well, so that's what they know and what they work to. Councillor Jurisevic: So, they can fit the volume of products and the variety of products in there to make it viable. Speaker 1: Correct. Councillor Jurisevic: And that's probably one of the reasons why it struggled there in the past, is the shop.
00:41:00 Whilst there have been good operators there in the past, some of the new operators have struggled with the space there at 300 square metres, I would suggest. Councillor Wilkie: Robin, in April we agreed to, in turn, to a lease with Tanglewood. Yes. They subsequently pulled out. What can you tell us about the reasons why Tanglewood withdrew and the reasons why this arrangement will be different? Speaker 1: Tanglewood, post the Council meeting in April, Tanglewood came forward and they'd done some further due diligence and had some different terms and a different offering, which we subsequently started to consider. Then they determined that they didn't want to proceed with that business opportunity. In this case, until we actually have a signed contract, we're of course at the mercy of an operator not wanting to move forward. So, whilst we have great confidence, that this operator will want to proceed and still is, it's very much interested
00:42:00 and we're moving through all the necessary steps, we, it's a variable that we can't control. Councillor Wilkie: What we can do is ingratiate them with that. Correct, yeah. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: In regards to the expansion, would we be asking IGA, when they're doing their fit-out, to maybe use their builders to do the expansion, and if there's any cost saving in that? Speaker 1: The fit-out will be the responsibility and the cost will be borne by the lessee. Councillor Lorentson: Lessee, so in regards to the $700,000 that we're spending on the expansion, will we get a quote from their builders, from the IGA fit-out? Speaker 3: It's the other way around. So, what will happen is the Council will build the external first before they do their internal segment. Before they do their internal. They'll be out, us doing the external works will be the first thing that'll happen. Correct. We'll then, you know, build a bigger building, so to speak, and then they'll have to bear out within 20, 20 and a quarter. And they're often different types. Mayor Stewart: Like building a house and doing the interior design afterwards. That's right.
00:43:00 Speaker 1: And we do need to consult because things like your plumbing outlets and electrical outlets and things like that do need to be set up for the fit-out. Councillor Jurisevic: The IGA may tender for the work if they work in that field and that's an opportunity for them and they can see the synergy there to, you know, work in one field and that's often happened. I've worked with builders that do the initial work and then get the contract again for the fit-out and they're already in situ there. So, that's happened over time. Speaker 1: And of course, we'll work with procurement to identify the best way to approach the market and achieve value for money. Councillor Lorentson: My last question. This is again, just something to help reduce risk for council and also for IGA. Did we ever go back to the applicant with this sort of option?
00:44:00 We reduced the annual rent, so to $90,000 without the expansion with the, with the option of expanding the shop later on, but tell him to move in straight away. See how it goes. And if you want to expand, we'll expand and review the rent. Were those sort of options presented? Speaker 1: The space was talked about in detail. The increase of the floor space and wanting to commence the business with that in place was driven by the operator. Right, OK. Councillor Jurisevic: That's the IGA moment for that footprint. Speaker 1: Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: With regard to... the expansion, $130,000 now being the annual rent, what was... Another question I notice here, you might not have the answer off the top of your head. What was the rent previously... About $90,000. ...being sought for for the $305,000 square meter? Speaker 1: Prior to the, when the last lessee was in, I apologise, I don't know.
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00:45:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Is that something you're going to let me know? Mayor Stewart: Joel, I think it was around $90,000. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, I can't remember the figure off the top of my head. It's been a while since I've seen it. It's been a while since I've seen it, so I don't know. I remember, you know, the successful operators that have operated out there. We've had a few changes since then. I don't know what the rents were after that. Speaker 7: That was a few years ago, too. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. That's about the only question from me. Does anybody else have any questions? Speaker 7: I just have a question. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Finzel from the floor. Speaker 7: Thank you. Thank you for the report. It was well done. Talking about opportunities in the report and employment opportunities, anywhere during the discussion with the expansion of the site, was it ever considered for accommodation for key workers to... It's not in the bill to add an extra story and discuss key worker accommodation. It's not in the bill to add an extra story and discuss key worker accommodation. And considering council is investing heavily in the build of the... Was that ever discussed?
00:46:00 Speaker 1: Accommodation? No. Just to clarify. Do you mean accommodation for the employees of the company that is awarded the construction contract? Speaker 7: Not necessarily. And give it also the geographic location to the potential field of the... Speaker 1: I think we do have some space limitations at the site with car parking and the existing footprint of the building. It quite likely hasn't come up because there isn't space to house any temporary accommodation. Councillor Jurisevic: Just to clarify, you're talking about something like what's permitted in Sunshine Beach and on Sunshine Beach Road with shop-top housing and that sort of thing. One of the challenges that we present is the car parking issue with regard to that.
00:47:00 So adding 200 square metres is going to have car park challenges already. Adding shop-top housing in there may push that even further. So that would be potentially even more challenging to add accommodation into the mix. That would depend on the overall footprint as to what the space available would be and how you would accommodate car parking on site if that was to be something that Council ever considered. Speaker 1: The structure of the building doesn't preclude further expansion to a second storey, but our focus in this instance was securing a strong commercial tenancy. Speaker 7: I understand that. I just wondered if that came up through any of the discussions as an opportunity. Okay. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Mr Chair, just to clarify your question, December 2019, the supermarket was currently advertised for lease for $85,400 plus outgoings and GST. Councillor Jurisevic: I didn't think it was $90,000. I didn't think it quite got to $90,000. Mayor Stewart: Well, plus outgoings and GST.
00:48:00 So it was over $90,000. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll second it. Councillor Lorentson: I'd like it moved to the General Committee, if that's right. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Is there anything that you need covered or any further clarification you need to wonder? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. I actually want to explore maybe adding an amendment. I think this is an opportunity for Council. We own the centre and I think there's an opportunity for us to ... I'd like to explore and investigate whether it's a feasibility study. I want to have a look at it. A shopping centre ... I think if I can find a local architect who can have a look at ... redesigning, re-looking at that precinct. There's opportunity there. We're about to spend $700,000 to help IGA. I'd love to know what's the cost of putting on in some street frontage, clearing that green area.
00:49:00 I want to think about this. I just would like to have her think about whether, obviously, it's a parallel matter, This is not going to be a missed opportunity for us to actually help benefit all the businesses at that precinct, not just IGA. Speaker 3: In that consideration, you might want to think about whether you want to do that, hold up this tenancy, potential tenancy, or push the tenancy through and do a further study. Two different scenarios. Yeah, I'll talk to you about it if that's okay. Because I think one of the risks for councillors, if we hold up and do some more work at this point, we might lose potential. Councillor Lorentson: Oh no, this will be just almost an advisory note or just a request to investigate just opportunities to enhance that precinct. Speaker 3: For the precinct. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah, for the precinct. Speaker 3: I think you've got to be very careful at this point. We've got a potential tenancy on the hook. We can't let it go and we want to make sure we get that across. Councillor Jurisevic: Well, that'll be an interesting debate because I've got a very different view about the shopping
00:50:00 centre. Councillor Lorentson: Well, it's about convenience and visibility. And I think at the moment there is no visibility. So that's something that I'm sort of processing at the moment is there an opportunity in this that we can add some benefits to the IGA tenant and other tenants. Councillor Jurisevic: So is there further information you require before Monday's meeting? Or is it you'll just have a look at what you think you'd like to add or amend? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah, I just want to process some information if that's okay, yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: All right, thanks. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie, are you prepared to support that? Second that? I second that. Thank you. Just clarifying what you're seconding, that's all. No, it was up in the board. All in favour? Okay, general committee it is. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you, Robin. Councillor Jurisevic: Ash. Item four, the Nurser Aquatic Centre full year report to the 30th of June.
00:51:00 Welcome to the table Ash Sayward, manager of this area of council's business. Questions? A better than expected year, considering where we were at the beginning. Speaker 4: Better than expected when we developed the budgets initially, certainly, obviously periods of uncertainty throughout the year, but probably overall you'd say it panned out better than we probably expected. Councillor Jurisevic: There's a statement in the report. It's not in each of the ones coming forward, and I'm just trying to find the wording so that I don't misquote, with regard to the budget and the expenditure for the year, it's not that the budget wasn't right, where's the word, ah, was more indicative of inaccurate budgets rather than true overspec, yes, that was the wording? Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, I wanted that clarified too. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. Would you like to clarify what's meant by indicative of inaccurate budgets rather than true overspec?
00:52:00 It's on, well, it's in each of the next reports, it's stated for each of the entities, and this one's on page 28 in the fifth paragraph, yeah, thank you, just counting them, expenditure finished the year approximately $143,000 budget, which was more indicative of inaccurate budgets rather than true overspec. Speaker 4: Yeah, so I guess, yeah, the expenditure budgets at the time, also, thank you. Yeah, I think, yeah, the expenditure budgets were impacted in the expected impacts of COVID at that point, so when you're not operating, there are lower levels of expenditure in some areas. So when our operating periods extended beyond what was expected, then the expenses also exceeded those budgets, which weren't amended as part of BR3, we amended some of the revenue budgets. We didn't amend the expenditure budgets. We didn't amend the expenditure budgets, I don't believe. So, yeah, not inaccurate.
00:53:00 I guess at the heart of that statement what we're saying is yes there was an overspend against budget but it wasn't through poor management of the facility. It's just a reality of the budget wasn't sufficient to cover what was in the end required to operate during that period. Councillor Jurisevic: And it really went hand in hand with the increased revenue that resulted us. Speaker 4: More than offset by the additional revenue, yep. Mayor Stewart: Ash, just on that, top paragraph expenditure was over budget by 5%. Was it mainly staffing, increased costs and staffing that was the cause of the expenditure increase? Speaker 4: Yeah so the table at the top of page 27 gives you a bit of a breakdown there. So employee benefits,
00:54:00 oh sorry the expenditure budget was actually adjusted a little bit but probably not as much as required. In the end so the amended employee benefits budget was 1.222 million dollars. We ended up spending 1.325 so about a hundred thousand dollar overspend or eight percent overspending employee Mayor Stewart: benefits there. Materials and services a bit of an overspend yeah because of the increases everywhere? Speaker 4: Yeah so within materials and services we have things like fitness instructors so some of the group fitness classes they're actually contractors rather than employees. There would have been some cleaning costs built into that, some of the utility costs. So when we at the very start of the of COVID I guess when we were setting the budget for this financial year FY21 we factored in periods of closure and some of the savings that would be expected there and they sit within materials and services and then yeah ultimately that didn't come to fruition. But sorry to clarify my comment
00:55:00 earlier we did actually amend some of the expenditure budgets as well as revenue. Councillor Jurisevic: I was going to say they did change from the original one. Speaker 4: I don't think they I don't think we amended them in BR3. I think they were amended earlier on so we actually had an original budget which was effectively the one that the management team agreed upon kind of February 2020 then went through the adoption process as it does with council so the start of financial year that's what we had. By that point I think we were already considering or had made some adjustments very soon after. And then in BR3 as we could see our progress throughout the financial year and that revenue in particular was tracking a long way ahead of that budget that was readjusted again. But tricky to get it right because we knew we still had a few months and the potential for closures. The last thing we wanted to do was push the budget up to a really tight level and then find out the way to close for the last three months of the year. Or raise expectations and then find out how to close.
00:56:00 That's right so it was a very tricky year to get budgeting accurate I guess is the short story. Speaker 3: A bit like remember the last month we looked at the revenue from the holiday pass where revenue was up therefore the expenses were up because that was the cost of that. A bit similar here where you've got the revenue up which means more people coming in than originally anticipated whether it's going to group businesses therefore you've got more people going group business you'll have to bring in more contractors that are on the program so there's a correlation between the expenses going up and the revenue falls. Revenue has gone up by 17% above what you thought and some of the expenses gone up by 8%. Speaker 4: Yeah but I mean you can see the original budget which was that kind of starting point that we as a management team were considering kind of January February 2020 total revenues less than a million and it ended up being 1.8 so big variances there. Speaker 3: I think that across all of our facilities I'll put program parts in this as well I think that conservative budgeting approaches
00:57:00 served us well we were a bit cautious we didn't know what COVID would look like there was multiple lockdowns but the numbers you see on the original side on the original budget is what the numbers and councils in Sydney and Victoria would have ended up with yeah so we were probably planning for that as well but we ended up with better figures as a result we didn't have the same impact of COVID. Councillor Jurisevic: Well with an unknown you're always better to be conservative with your budgeting and have a pleasant surprise at the end of the year than a scrambling fine you know finances yeah. Mayor Stewart: Ash I just want to commend you I was at the NAC with my kids on the weekend you run such a good show it's so good and what you did with the career league and the welcome home last week it's just you and Donna it was just terrific so you know hats off to you that and the team it's a really great community asset yeah a great team and a great facility and Councillor Jurisevic: absolutely I've definitely passed it on to everyone yeah it's fantastic yeah thank you and functioning well to be able to continue to deliver services through the unknowns of COVID so well done to you
00:58:00 Mayor Stewart: yeah your swim school there is going from strength to strength yeah it's just so good yeah yeah Councillor Lorentson: that has been um can I point out the squad revenue oh my god 184 000 it's increased from 2016 from 97 000 to 184 000 and it just keeps going from strength to strength um and I don't I want to pay credit to the squad masters Max Pettigrow, Nick, um uh Jan and beautiful self-taught Charlie down there that's a reflection of some seriously um good coaches yeah they do do a Speaker 4: wonderful job it also takes into account a bit of a change in how we deliver the junior squad program as well so previously when that was run by an external contractor they collected a large portion of the revenue directly and then the kids paid us entrance fees on the way in that's
00:59:00 shifted to be an in-house model now because the contractor decided to walk away from that contract so those that portion of revenue that was previously going to a contractor is now coming into us effectively so it's not it's not like the light growth okay um for the standalone adult squad program but um that that too has grown but it's hard harder to see the breakdown of that in this Councillor Jurisevic: table while we're on the subject of revenue there I mean I'm looking at miscellaneous fees and charges there have been nothing for the last two years rent revenue has basically been stagnant over the last five years with the last two years I could understand some some um some questions with covert and the like but I'm guessing we would expect to see at least some modest increase in rent revenue and lease revenue the lease revenue seems to have been going in the opposite direction Speaker 4: yes why is lease revenue decreasing the lease revenue uh is attached to the cafe there um so
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01:00:00 the rent revenue is actually for the residents that we have on site that is occupied by a coordinator um and that's part of an employment contract with fixed um terms around it uh so the lease revenue is what is attached to the cafe uh in 2018-19 there was a little bit of disruption and tail off as we came into our maintenance shutdown there um so it was reduced slightly to reflect that and then in 2019-20 that's when we had major disruption from COVID and then again in 2021 disruption from COVID so reduced lease fees during that period to make it more viable for the operator so okay it makes a bit more sense thank you now that we did tender that service during this financial year um FY21 and the terms of that during non-COVID affected periods were similar a little bit lower than what it had been previously I think off the top of my head it was about uh 55 or maybe increasing to 55 over a period of a couple of
01:01:00 years taking into account the disruptions from COVID at the moment so that rings a bell um whereas previously we had been receiving around sixty thousand dollars a year but when we put it out to market um the respondents actually had the opportunity to put forward to us what they were willing to offer um and that was what was on the table and we actually only had the one response so Councillor Jurisevic: it'd be interesting to see all those figures in a non-COVID year when we get back to full you know Speaker 4: full operation again yeah yeah and I think as you know Claire we you know we'd rather have a great operator that's able to keep their head above water and and service our customers really well and chase every last dollar yeah okay well done um actually this is a as it's been said it's a well Councillor Wilkie: loved beautiful run leading up facility yeah and uh your report is is very detailed and as usual and we've acknowledged that the revenue growth appears to have plateaued and operational
01:02:00 expenses have continued to increase so that's a real challenge but then you've gone on to say you're going to undertake a master planning process to identify some opportunities could you perhaps talk us through what you hope to get in the master planning process and also tell us where the standalone multi-purpose room for good fitness program might go yep sure uh so master Speaker 4: plan might be um the wrong term it might be more kind of an options paper for future development there um so I guess we know there are elements of the facility that um at the time of construction in 1999 um were in line with expectations at the time we're now you know more than 20 years down the track so things like the change facilities we we basically have a typical traditional mail female change area one small change room that can be used by family whereas if you go to newer centers now they have things that they might call a change village or a family change space
01:03:00 where you have a series of smaller cubicles that families can go into or people that just aren't comfortable going into a traditional male or female gendered change room can access there might also be spaces that can be used separately by schools or large sporting groups so the impact of those groups on site doesn't have a big impact on um on the other users of the facility at the time so I guess in terms of that options paper when we did a service review a few years ago we flagged some of those possibilities so I think certainly the change space and a family change space would probably be right at the top of the list there and we had previously applied for some funding externally that's been unsuccessful and then looking at a shared multi-purpose room space which would give us as operators an opportunity of running more group fitness classes which would allow growth in membership numbers and revenue so I think in terms of return on investment that would be quite attractive at the moment group fitness classes or dry land classes so the ones that aren't in the pool are squeezed into the gym
01:04:00 in amongst the equipment it's already a pretty small space so having a bigger space that we could program similar to something like the group fitness room at Nusa Leisure Centre I think would be really valuable and then that would double up as a space that could be used by user groups and community groups for meetings or events or functions when we had a carnival there you know it could be room for marshals and all that kind of stuff so those two elements when we've looked at the concept would basically be added to the if you picture that kind of looking at above at the moment it's a bit of an L shape it would be extending from the change rooms and the creche area for the moment continuing along the 50 meter pool there in between the pool and the car park Councillor Jurisevic: what about the opportunities of things like allied health services that would use you know water as a yeah so that as a means of recovery yeah so I guess that's that's some of the stuff Speaker 4: that we would look to explore in the options paper so potentially allied health probably
01:05:00 redoing the kids water play area so again a more modern facility would probably have a zero depth kind of splash pad type area things are a lot more interactive but also safer for kids because they're not in deeper water so from a supervision point of view I think that would be a really good thing to look at and then from a safety perspective as operators that would be quite beneficial then we've had some inquiries about hydrotherapy falls yeah hydrotherapy or warm water is that is Councillor Jurisevic: that something that we could look at and yeah I think again it'd be something that we would go Speaker 4: into a level of detail in this options paper or possibilities paper whatever you want to call it I think we'd look to give an overview of the things that we should at least be thinking about um come back and have that discussion and that may then lead to a more detailed piece of work around like well let's really drill into the costs of doing this and the revenue and the you know patronage numbers all that kind of stuff so correct me if I'm wrong because even the change Mayor Stewart: rooms I remember we went to that family change rooms when we were on the tour they're like half million dollars just in yourselves yeah so it's an expensive exercise yeah and that's something
01:06:00 Speaker 4: that's going to need to be considered along the way there are heaps of things you can do in terms of you know cost benefit and other priorities across the organization the benefit of doing this sort of Speaker 3: work though is you can get your plans put them on the shelf and wait for the funds to come along absolutely the family rooms you know we've had one or two cracks of that yeah a little bit more Councillor Lorentson: money coming out so that's so that's my question what do we need to do and I would like to see that there's a master plan not an option paper I've had a lot of sporting groups talk to me about you know masters swimming club there's a board riders club that are sitting waiting for um works to be done in this precinct so what can we as a council do to fast forward this uh I guess how it's Speaker 3: engaged with all the other projects we've got down here um it's about priorities I guess Councillor Lorentson: at what point do we talk about this is is my question Councillor Jurisevic: um well the other the other question that goes with that is expansion with expansion comes parking I mean how do we facilitate all of this in the limited spaces there and still have enough
01:07:00 car parking space to accommodate all of these activities as well I mean you know all of that's Speaker 2: going to be looked at so an options paper would provide you with a pathway forward because it would look at if we were going to just look at some quick short-term options what would be achievable in the short term if we were looking at something significant then there's a lot of process to go through and that that that's an option that full-blown let's re-look at the whole facility understanding though that we're sitting on an extensive um lot of capital works at the moment and other things in the wings so um I I think the options paper at the first step is a good step to see what is it that could be done now because a full extension Councillor Lorentson: is a significant piece absolutely but the opportunity is there knowing that we've got the olympics and there'll be funding coming our way within the next 10 years so that's the
01:08:00 and and no urgency I agree but um it'd be great to start the process and being mindful Speaker 2: that our external facilities are the facilities that are really having to feel the impact of the current lockdown shutdown reopen changing rules um and that that's likely to continue particularly for example one of the things we're watching at the moment um is the space that's happening overseas the conversations are starting to happen in south wales about you can only come if you've got a vaccination so there's more challenges ahead in terms of pure operation for our staff at the moment very good any other questions councillors no well well done Mayor Stewart: again great great thank you can I move with the report be accepted
01:09:00 Councillor Jurisevic: second thank you councillor wilkie all in favor thank you councillors item five we'll move on to nursing community support four-year report to the 30th of june ash surprise you're still here I stick around for a while I find it all right Mayor Stewart: any questions fresh I've just got one ash look I just constantly we hear back just such positive um I guess reinforcement about our connecting noosa programs and that that they're full and that you know people want booking they're just so good yeah and I'm seeing that they're you know certainly that the nurse community support we've had to I guess minimize activities because of covert in the actual center yeah is there an opportunity to extend those outreach programs and I guess yeah I understand everything has to do with that but I think it's important that we're very focused on the health budget constraints but they're just so popular and the LDS is love it not even the LDS you know Speaker 4: yeah yes certainly to a degree so we've been playing a role obviously in the aging wellness
01:10:00 program together with community development and then some of our other facilities as well so some of the sessions have been held at the leisure centre and then some of the others are out in other community assets around town so that side of things yes absolutely we see that being a growing We have a lot of space in the program that we can all collectively continue to work on and council just recently appointed a project officer to really drive that ageing well Noosa side of it. So they will work really closely with Noosa community support and community development and our facilities to see how far we can drive that program. I think in terms of the other kind of outreach programs in lieu of being able to operate sessions at our own centre, some of those restrictions still apply regardless of the setting. So there's some potential for potentially outdoor events or smaller groups or facilitating some social catch-ups and that's I guess what we've tried to do where possible.
01:11:00 I think the reality though is that those group programs in general, have had to be either stopped or capped at lower numbers more often than not in the last 12 months just because of the changing restrictions and also the vulnerability of our client group. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, I understand. They're very popular though. Councillor Jurisevic: Over the last couple of years we've talked about the changing nature of these sort of services and the funding models that are there, the introduction of NDIS and the like. I haven't seen too much mention in the report of any likely changes in the wind from a financial or from a funding perspective. Is anything changing or anything likely to change at this point in time? Speaker 4: Yeah, there is a final dot point under section four, systems, processes and other matters on page 36. Councillor Jurisevic: I must have missed the page. Speaker 4: That's okay. Yeah, it has just a little bit of detail there. So we have recently found out a little bit more about the future of the Commonwealth Home Support Program, which is our major funding stream.
01:12:00 So we generally call that CHSP. So it's been announced that the funding that we have currently runs through to June 2022, so middle of next year. They've announced a 12 month extension of that, but with a bit of a shift in the funding model. So we get bulk funding upfront for an agreed number of services. So they say here's a couple of million dollars every year in exchange for delivering this number of outputs across these types of services. But then there's a degree of flexibility around delivering those services. So you might do more in one area or less in another, and that's okay. Or there's kind of a plus or minus 20% flexibility provision, depending on the circumstances, et cetera, particularly in the current environment. The model that they're proposing to shift to is actually a payment in arrears model. So we wouldn't get that bulk funding upfront. And instead, you would deliver services and then claim payment at the end of the month based on the number of services that you've put in.
01:13:00 Councillor Jurisevic: It's called a transition from having the money upfront to then suddenly having to fund everything. Speaker 4: That's right. Yeah, upfront and cash flow perspective. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, that changes the cash flow completely. Speaker 4: So that's just come out recently. And then beyond that, so that's proposed to be a 12 month interim arrangement. And then beyond that, they're talking about shifting to a model called support at home, which would start to get much closer to a package type program where each individual is assessed. And then they determine that you're eligible for $20,000 worth of services across the year. Yeah. And then it's up to the client or the customer as to where they go to receive those services. So we're trying to understand that at the moment. It's still, there's not a lot of detail around it. There should be more over the coming months. But we're certainly looking at that and trying to understand what it will be and then what it will mean for us and how do we operate in that space and what will it mean for us.
01:14:00 Councillor Jurisevic: The NDIS is a very challenging environment with anybody that tries to get funding out of that for all of the services that they require. And it's usually very limiting in that regard. So we'll see how that goes. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Any further questions, Councillor? Yeah. Ash, there's some disturbing findings in the Royal Commission into aged care about the treatment of our elderly. And also a lot of concerns raised with the way COVID moves through aged care facilities. Yeah. And there's general information out there about the growth in demand for in-home services. Forgive me if I'm missing this report. Has there been a quantifiable growth in the demand for in-home services delivered by our staff? Speaker 4: Um. The demand is still very strong. We're only funded for a certain number of services. So it's not something that we could see 40% or 50% growth in because we just simply don't have the funding to meet that need.
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01:15:00 And I think the assessors are mindful of that as they're granting packages to people or pushing them our way after their assessment. But, yeah, definitely the shift in the – the industry, I guess, is to try to keep people in their homes for as long as possible. So the demand for in-home services and then also the maintenance and modification services in people's homes to make them safer spaces for people to live in for longer is also very strong. So, yeah, I think it's a fair summary to say that whilst our group activities at the centre that we traditionally run have dropped off because of the restrictions, the demand for in-home services and home maintenance and modification has still been very strong. And we would expect that to continue to be so. But we have to work within the funding parameters as well, yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Is there any – is it – is it any great difficulty in the future of wanting to compare the last year's figures with this year's?
01:16:00 They've done it for expenditure and – Speaker 4: Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Because, like, services provided. Or are they a static number? Speaker 4: They're not static. I guess with the big disruptions the last couple of years with COVID and changing in the funding models as well. Because we've lost some state-based funding. We've had changes in different services we're funding for. It probably wasn't that meaningful. Councillor Jurisevic: I guess that would have stopped a lot of people coming to the centre as well with lockdown and things. Speaker 4: Does that mean more services – Yeah, there's a different nature of services. More services delivered at home as a result of that? Yeah. Telephone support, you know, just checking in or delivering somebody shopping and having a chat to them at the door as opposed to them coming on the bus, which, you know, used to be part of the transport service. And then a service delivered at the centre. So I think if we presented it at the moment it would look pretty messy. But we can certainly look at a way to give you some indication of one year compared to the next. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. So you're saying that the Aquatic Centre, the tracking of the different services provided over the years is very useful? Speaker 3: Probably the more useful one would be, you know, we're quite dependent on state and
01:17:00 Commonwealth funding here. This Commonwealth funding provides 40% of our revenue and it's going to expire in June 2023 or wherever it might be. So you can see what that looks like in terms of a forward pathway. And I actually look at that all the time. Yeah. That gives our council an idea about what our responsibility is. What if we lose, don't get that Commonwealth funding? What's that going to mean to the service? Or if the state funding is 20% under this program, which is due in 2025, what happens if we don't get it? So that sort of pathway I think would be quite useful for the council to understand as well. Well, it's also, you know. Hash lives and dies by these numbers. Councillor Jurisevic: I think at least where the council continues to stay in this space and deliver, you know, are we the purpose should be the service provider in this space or is that something that... Speaker 4: Yeah. I guess as things change, council need to have a look at how we go about things. As you know, it's certainly not my call to make that, you know, as we get more information, I guess it's something that needs to be considered.
01:18:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I mean, there's clearly a need. I mean, you know, we provide and fill a need in our community, so. Councillor Wilkie: And you're dealing with the most vulnerable and the services you provide are so critical. And is there any way, do you get any qualitative feedback? Are there any client surveys? Yeah, we do. Speaker 4: Yeah, we do feedback surveys and we often get a number of, you know, just letters or emails or phone calls to thank us for the services that have been provided. It's, yeah, overwhelmingly positive. People love the service that we deliver and very grateful for it. And I guess, you know, it's a really fortunate position for council to be able to be associated with the service and deliver it without a significant cost directly to the organisation because it's using external funding. Councillor Wilkie: Are there any operational areas for improvement that need to be improved? Speaker 4: Look, I guess there's always opportunity for improvement. The last couple of years, as we transitioned out of some of the, we had a third state based funding stream, Queensland Community Care, which some of those clients were eligible
01:19:00 to transfer to the NDIS and then others went to a QCSS program, which we missed out on. So over the last couple of years, we've had to streamline our operations because we've effectively lost about $400,000 worth of our funding. We always have to get to a zero bottom line. So that was a big focus through a period in terms of streamlining the structure and the future and becoming more efficient systems, processes, et cetera. And then, you know, the last eight months has all been about how do we keep operating in COVID and continue to find ways to provide services in a compliant manner. And I guess now it's unpacking some of the recommendations in the Royal Commission and making sure that we align with those recommendations around compliance and governance and opportunity and all of those things. Councillor Jurisevic: And all of the staffing to clients. Yeah. Speaker 4: And then continuing to operate in the COVID environment and then looking at the possible funding changes moving forward. So there's no shortage of things to consider there.
01:20:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Having said that, this is a day respite facilitation. There's no night time. No. And no one stays there overnight. Speaker 4: No, that's right. Councillor Jurisevic: So not beds for... No. Yeah. Speaker 4: And some of the Royal Commission recommendations are very specific for residential aged care as opposed to day respite. I see. That's the difference I'm trying to get at. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Yeah. Happy to move, Frank? Happy to move? Yeah. Move, Councillor Wilkie. Seconding, Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Thank you, Ash. Speaker 4: Again, well done. Pass on our thanks to the staff for the great work that they do there. Councillor Jurisevic: All good. Move on to item six, the Noosa Leisure Centre four year report. And just for something different, Ashley. Questions, councillors? Mayor Stewart: I think the same line, Ash, that was flagged earlier, page 40, third paragraph, second line, inaccurate budget rather than insurances spent. Speaker 4: Yep. Mayor Stewart: Does that line occur a few times? Speaker 4: Yeah.
01:21:00 So same explanation in terms of just going up and looking at the table above. Employee benefits ended up slightly over the amended expenditure budget. And same with materials and services, which largely would have been group fitness instructor costs. I think we did actually see really significant growth in the group fitness program, which was quite surprising given the circumstances. Yeah. And that was true growth. There weren't any other kind of factors or restructures or changes in how that's accounted for. That was just actual program growth. So, again, I think it's important to look at that. Again, fortunately, you have the revenue increase larger than the expenditure increase, which is always a nice ratio. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: And it would appear through employee benefits that we were open far greater through 2021 than 19-20, because the employee benefits have risen, as you would have expected, through 18-19 to 20-21, with a drop in 19-20.
01:22:00 Yep. And I think the same was true for the NAC, which I was looking at. Yeah. Speaker 4: So the... Councillor Jurisevic: I mean, one would think that if we were closed for a longer period, I mean, the employee benefits would drop, but that's not the way it works. The employee benefits here, a lot of people remained employed through council and were deployed into other areas of council when shutdowns occurred and the like. Speaker 4: To a degree. So the shutdown... The biggest period of shutdown we had was at the end of FY20. Yeah. So it was kind of, I think 23rd of March we closed the doors and got them reopened mid-June in 2020, so almost three months. And whilst we did have a degree of redeployment or alternative duties within the facility or helping out community groups, there still was an overall reduction. Some staff chose not to accept those opportunities. I thought it was a good time to have a break, but they just weren't interested in the alternative Councillor Jurisevic: duties. But, Tim, do those... If employees redeployed, were they still paid by the legislature or did they get paid
01:23:00 by the area that was employing them? Speaker 4: Or were they being utilised by it? Generally speaking, they continued to be covered by our facilities. There were some where if it was a significant and long-term redeployment into, you know, Parks Team, for example, they might have ended up coding it back there. Okay. If it was helping out a community group. Councillor Jurisevic: I was wondering where that went financially. I didn't... I hadn't asked that question before. Speaker 4: Yeah. But because they are... A large percentage of our employee benefits costs relate to casual staff members, for those that chose not to take up those redeployment opportunities, there was a genuine saving compared to the budget during that period. Speaker 3: The council might be aware that one of our learned swim instructors, she ended up becoming a truck driver now. So we're forced to stay there and keep working. She's lovely. Councillor Lorentson: Fantastic. Ash, when you look at the attendance numbers from the Aquatic Centre to the Leisure Centre and the gym attendance, it's a really positive reflection of our community that fitness is really important. Sport is really important. And in these COVID uncertain times, how important fitness is for mental health?
01:24:00 Speaker 4: Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I guess it was... Do you want to turn? Pleasantly surprising to see how quickly... Yeah. ...the numbers rebuilt each time after a level of disruption. Absolutely. Absolutely. And the Leisure Centre, as we said, actually grew in that group fitness program. So I think the value of keeping active, but also the connection and getting to see other people and being part of that community. Councillor Jurisevic: But you're big. You're big. Speaker 4: You're big. Councillor Lorentson: And understanding what's important in this community and its fitness. Yeah. Speaker 3: Yeah. I think you said that for the Leisure Centre in particular, there were a couple of years before we back to sort of pre-COVID, no doubt. Pre-COVID. But there was a bit of recovery there. I thought you also in the other facilities. Speaker 4: Yeah. The attendance comparison that's on page 41, the big spike in 18, 19, and that actually related to the mini library that we had set up, I think it was that year when we were We're doing the refurbishment of Noosaville Library, so the attendances of those people were included in our numbers.
01:25:00 Speaker 3: We're still looking at 100, 110 prior to that. That was a spike. Back to 80 now, so it's a little bit of a catch up. Yeah, I think we'll get there, but it's just going to take a couple of years. Speaker 4: Yeah, it's those bigger events that we've had there from time to time where you would have had thousands of people through in one go over a weekend for an expo or something like that. We've seen a big drop off in, and then also I think the report mentions it in terms of some of those things that might actually be more indicative of a structural shift in, I guess, consumer behaviour. So not sticking around at the cafe for a meal after the class. Mayor Stewart: The crash is a bit lower. Speaker 4: Yeah, the crash was a little bit lower as well. Councillor Jurisevic: What about some of the enhancements that we've made in there, like the upgrade of lighting, the introduction of the fans in the stadium, for example? They've been well received. They're working well. They're actually providing the fans a sort of reduction of heat. Speaker 4: Yeah, I think generally speaking it's all been really well received and not necessarily something that resulted in a 30% increase in attendance numbers, but just made those a lot more comfortable, which is nice for them.
01:26:00 We have seen an expansion of the use of the stadium. So a couple of years ago we really didn't have much use on the weekends at all except for some of the basketball games on a Saturday morning. Whereas now we do have different activities across the weekend. We've had some roller skating, pickleball continues to grow, maybe just the interest in people coming down and just casually shooting hoops or kicking a ball around the stadium, whatever it might be, that's grown as well. Councillor Jurisevic: The rock wall, they're still on a Monday night? Speaker 4: Sorry? The rock wall still? Yeah, it's probably not as consistent as it once was, but the operator... I haven't heard that much about it lately, that's why I asked the question, I thought, is it still operating yet? Yeah, the operators that had the contract on that, because that was something that we outsourced, just I guess due to the level of complexity and supervision that's required to run that well and safely, goes back on that more frequently.
01:27:00 Yeah, I think that was a bit disruptive for them, but they still bring down school groups and school camps and yeah, a little bit of usage on a Monday night. Councillor Jurisevic: I don't remember seeing any advertising about it like that, but the participation is positive. Councillor Wilkie: It's falling off. Speaker 3: Probably the only thing for the council is that we often talk about attendance and then we talk about the cost. The graph at the bottom of page 41, and this is the same in the leisure centre one, actually brings both of those together. You get a sense of, you know, you have the same cost structure, but a fewer people using it, it's actually costing more. So it's a really good way of getting a sense of what's happening. Councillor Jurisevic: Any other questions, councillors? Councillor Wilkie: Just the growth in group fitness, you said more people are doing pickleball and badminton and shooting hoops. Is there a more aggressive marketing strategy for the group fitness programmes?
01:28:00 People just want to play pickleball and badminton and shoot hoops, is it more complicated than that? Speaker 4: Well, it sounds like Clare knows more about the stats than I do on that one, but it's going from strength to strength, certainly. Good game, good game. I think there's a level of, there's a level of correlation because our membership offering can give participants the opportunity to do both. So if you buy a membership for the leisure centre that allows group fitness access, you can also do some of those stadium sports, badminton, pickleball, netball, volleyball as well. Not all of them, but some of them are included in that. So I think for some people, it's opened up a market that maybe we weren't tapping into previously. So some of the pickleballers that were happy to pay for their membership because it covered the cost of pickleball three or four times a week, now also realise that they can do some of the group fitness classes at no additional cost to them and vice versa.
01:29:00 So there's been growth in total membership numbers and a shift towards memberships and away from just casually paying when you come down. Fantastic. Yeah, I think we've just found our niche there for the group fitness programme. It's a little bit different to what other centres offer and it works well for us and works well for them. Councillor Wilkie: Another well-loved facility. Speaker 4: Yeah, absolutely. Councillor Jurisevic: Future direction upgrade of the faulting scoreboard on Courtland. Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's... Councillor Jurisevic: Have we been faulting a lot? Speaker 4: I don't think it's in a terrible state. They certainly need an upgrade. They're a bit old. They'd be back to the beginning of the... Yeah, I think they would have been there for most of their life. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, they probably do. Speaker 4: Yeah. There's newer models that integrate better with the score benches on the court side. Absolutely. Councillor Jurisevic: And iPad, Wi-Fi. Councillor Wilkie: All that kind of tech. Councillor Jurisevic: So that's in the next 12 months or...?
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01:30:00 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think one of them has either already been ordered or possibly already been installed. I'm not sure. And then the other one not too far down the track, so yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Excellent. So I was trying to work out what we were scoring with faulting, but there you go. Can I have a mover? Councillor Wilkie: I'll move it. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Morrison. Seconder, Councillor Wilkie. Thank you. All in favour? Thanks, Ash. Thanks, Ash. Mayor Stewart: Thanks, Ash. Councillor Jurisevic: No worries. Item seven, just for something different. Ash and Jay. Four-year report. The Jay four-year report to 32. Ash, yes. A bit of a different story here for the Jay compared to a facility that hasn't been able to operate at anywhere near the sort of capacity our other facilities have. Speaker 3: Primarily indoor compared to the quality centre being outdoors. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: And music related and all the other impacts that have had... Yeah, it was the sort of events that have facilitated the... Speaker 4: Probably the most heavily impacted in terms of ability to do what we normally do. I mean, Noosa community support was also pretty significant.
01:31:00 Yeah, it's kind of a tale of two halves, I guess, for the Jay, the first half of the year. There was very little happening on site. Still the odd utilisation of a meeting room for a smaller group, but that was really about it. And then second half of the year was actually a really big year compared to the same period in previous years because we had people that had rescheduled shows from the year prior squeezing into available slots in amongst shows that were already booked for that period. So I think I gave the example of Kitty Flanagan ended up putting on five sellout shows there, which is almost unbelievable. I mean, I think that's a lot of people that have heard of. So the appetite for people to come along is still absolutely there. It's just a matter of... Councillor Jurisevic: People would obviously miss the opportunity to come and see a show or two. Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: So Jay, all the venues that we've been discussing today has been hit most by COVID. Yeah. How has that impacted on morale?
01:32:00 Speaker 4: The team have been incredibly resilient. Certainly hasn't been easy for them. Yeah. I guess the other complexity here is when you've got to cancel shows at short notice and you've got 400 ticket holders for each show, you've then got to let them know what's happening and then work with the promoter around possible reschedules and the uncertainty around, well, can they reschedule for, you know, for example, the shutdown or lockdown that we had recently. Promoters trying to work out whether they could just push it back four or six weeks and could we keep the same ticket holders and just push them down the line? Or do we have to do refunds? So a lot of complexity there. And it has taken its toll on the team. But to their credit, they've worked their way through it and still doing a great job down the line. Speaker 3: When I took the staff out, called in a couple of times to see how they're going, the same messaging I'm getting from there is what I'm hearing through the business round table from businesses and the accommodation field who are having to take bookings, cancel bookings, take bookings, cancel bookings, and that people are either happy or very unhappy
01:33:00 depending on how they deal with them as well. So there's a relentless nature of that. Councillor Lorentson: And isn't it termed COVID fatigue? Yeah. And it actually impacts on mental health. Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah. I think there's definitely been an element of that. We've had some staff that have taken some decent breaks along the way, which is great. They've come back a little bit more refreshed. And the disruptions continue now. We're kind of in this situation where we can actually have 100% of our seating capacity solved. But we've got situations where the performers can't actually come up because they're in New South Wales and Victoria at the moment. So relentless. Yeah. The disruptions continue. But it is what it is. And I think they're all doing a great job. They're just going with the flow and doing the best that they can and, yeah, helping people along the way. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. So there's a couple of community groups mentioned in the list of community groups here that I'm not too familiar with, but I'm assuming that it's meeting spaces, Noosa Chances, Community Focus Association, Community Solution. Speaker 4: Yeah. I might need to take some of that on notice and go back to Scott if you want details.
01:34:00 Yeah. My best guess would be... Yeah. That's my assumption. Yeah. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Fair enough. Speaker 3: Councillor, you can really see, you know, I talked to the last previous report about the relationship between the numbers of attendees and the costs that graph on page 39. Yeah. And that's driven more by numbers than costs. So if we look at, you know, traditionally our number is actually about 85,000 on a typical year. Speaker 4: Attendees, yeah. Speaker 3: So that's a lot of time spent on the cost of the visit as opposed to necessarily a major change in the cost structures. The revenue is down, but... Councillor Lorentson: What are you future plan with this August 17th? Speaker 3: Same as every other business at the moment. Councillor Lorentson: This scenario. Do it on a three month or six month basis. Speaker 4: Yeah. It is difficult for the team because you, you know, you want to be able to look ahead
01:35:00 and plan for the future and get excited about what lies ahead. But, you know, a lot can change in a short space of time at the moment. Councillor Jurisevic: Absolutely. Absolutely. Hopefully 2022 will be a better year than the last two have been once everybody's got the jam. Speaker 3: We just have to ride this out. We just recognise that it's a short term cost, but the great facility will come back in the longer term. Councillor Jurisevic: Well, that's... Yeah. I mean, we talk, you know, the talk of COVID passports and that, is that something the staff have started to look into, if that's a possibility of coming forward as, you know, whether or not you can have a ticket unless you've been... Speaker 2: We wouldn't start that work until we got direction because we can see around, I guess what we can say, we're keeping an eye on it. As to what's being proposed. We're not doing significant work because there are many different models and we would not want to invest a lot of energy into how that would roll out until we actually see what the model might look like.
01:36:00 Okay. Speaker 3: And whether there's mandated stuff coming down at state level. All right. All right. We'll wait and see what they come out with. Speaker 2: Whether it's industry based or geographically, you know, there's so many different places. Speaker 3: Sometimes we want to be a leader and other times a follower. This is one we'd like to be a follower. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. I'll set the parameters here, they'll set the parameters and we'll just have to work out how we manage it, which will be the challenge. Councillor Wilkie: That's all right. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. Nothing further? We have a mover. Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson, number 2. All in favour? Any opposed? Thank you. Item 8, Bicentennial Community Centre, full year report to 32 June. Councillor Wilkie: Mr Chairman, I need to declare a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter as I'm the Secretary of the Noosa Gymnastics Club, which is the principal tenant of the Noosa Bicentennial Centre. As a result of my conflict of interest, I'll now leave the meeting room. All in matter is considered in both. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Wilkie. Thank you. Thank you.
01:37:00 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Question to the CEO. Is that a conflict of interest when this is more noting a report? Speaker 3: The councillor has chosen to make that declaration. That's his decision. But I think that's the wise decision given this report. Whether you're noting it, the matter is up for debate. And there might be people who want to move changes or do whatever. So that is the primary tenet of this facility. And any discussion we have about strategy or how things are going would affect that club, of which he's an executive member. Councillor Jurisevic: That's right. The income derived from operations there are directly impacted by the number one tenet in the hall. It looks like another good news story here, Ash, considering all things considered. Speaker 4: It was relatively unaffected. I think we had a couple of periods of a small amount of rent relief for the gymnastics club.
01:38:00 At the start of financial year, but other than that, I guess they were pretty similar to the NAC and the leisure centre in terms of being able to get back up and running for the gymnastics program with, you know, checking in and the other restrictions that apply, but it seems to be going pretty well for them and running pretty close to budget, too, you know, almost spot on for budget. Yeah, it's probably a little bit more predictable for us here because it's really just based on lease agreements or higher agreements. Exactly. Yeah. Speaker 3: Exactly. Ash, the Montessori. Cool. Are they looking at expanding their footprint or their term? Speaker 4: Technically, well, it's probably more, well, it's probably both. So they've been using the rear annex on a higher agreement to this point. So it's looking at formalising that as part of a lease as opposed to just a higher agreement. That's the one right at the back. Yeah. So in terms of does it look any different to what's happening now? No, it's just getting the, I guess, the paperwork in line with that.
01:39:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Dottie Heiser Crossing too, more than anything else. Speaker 4: Yeah. And then pending formalisation of that, I guess it's discussions around the term and, you know, over the last few years, there's been a little bit of uncertainty around, you know, whether they would get to a point where they outgrew that and we're looking at another site or not. I think from our perspective, that works really well and we, they're quite happy to see them there long term if it works for them. But that can probably be discussed when we get to the point of actually having all of that in place. Councillor Jurisevic: So I guess that, you know, with the age of the building and all the rest of it, I mean, at some stage in the future, it's going to need some work. Yeah. Is that a consideration if we have a tenant that needs, has a growing requirement, that's an option to look at then as to whether we actually do some modifications or some upgrades to the facility to facilitate their staying in the facility? Speaker 4: I think in the near term, they're pretty happy with how it is and they've done a couple of minor improvements. They've done some improvements for their own needs along the way and that's fine. In terms of bigger redevelopment or expansion of buildings or, you know, broader utilisation of that whole site, it's probably something that needs some consideration.
01:40:00 Councillor Jurisevic: So along with the work of perhaps of the aquatic centre, seeing as it's a bridge away, parking capacity and all of that, is that something that could be expanded to not just look at the leisure centre, but the, the aquatic centre, but actually look at the precinct as a whole? Speaker 4: I guess at a higher level, it's, I think if we were going to go down that path and look at that entire sporting precinct and school's precinct, that's a lot bigger than the community facilities branch. Then you bring in the, you know, Councillor Jurisevic: I just meant between the community, between the two community facilities and that, that activity, I've moved to the idea of a precinct plan for the schools and all of that as one, but within council's activities and council's operations with that, with that link way there, I mean, if one was going to expand, you know, can we? Speaker 4: Yeah, I, I guess by... Councillor Jurisevic: Because we wouldn't be using the full parking capacity to any, any degree these days, I would imagine.
01:41:00 Speaker 4: It has short periods of high use, so school drop-off times for St Thomas More, Montessori, school drop-off times. Councillor Jurisevic: But I'd suggest a lot of that car park sitting there idle most of the time. Speaker 4: For, for a large percentage of the time across the week, yes, but as I said, you know, for the, the drop-off period, it can be absolute chaos around the back there for 15 minutes or so. Definitely something we would consider for an app, for example, if we were looking at trying to nominate some overflow car parking and letting members know that, hey, actually, you can potentially park over at Bicentennial and just wander across the pedestrian footbridge. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm just wondering whether that doesn't facilitate, yeah, that expansion, I mean, with the footbridge, would that, is there enough synergy there between the two and, and, and proximity there for that to be considered if there's any expansion there? Speaker 4: Yeah, I think we'd look to maximise the opportunities where we can. So obviously we're not going to tell the participants at the NAC to try and find a car park at Bicentennial at 8.40 at morning, but at other times for larger events or when we've got carnivals on, et cetera, we, I think we can, we can do that now in a proactive way.
01:42:00 The, the utilisation of Bicentennial is probably a little bit different because we're not involved in the day-to-day operational side of it, but yeah, I, I guess we always have that awareness and try to maximise opportunities and synergies where we can. I think if you were looking at the, the whole precinct, we'd love to be part of those conversations, but I don't know that we'd be leading them. Councillor Jurisevic: That leads me to a question back to the NAC with regard to parking, because a lot of that parking is temporary parking, it's on gravel and, and the like, before, have we, I'm assuming in the NAC options, the formalisation of car park or, or, or that would be, would have to come into consideration as well? Speaker 4: Yeah, it's probably not so much the fact whether it's sealed or whether it's gravel, you'd have to look at what might come in off that car park.
01:43:00 If you were doing a multi-purpose room that was going to be utilised outside of the NAC's operating hours, do you have some entry off that car park and therefore what would the requirements be? There's no doubt parking pressure in that precinct now, particularly given the changes with year 12s, my understanding. Councillor Jurisevic: No, that's, that's where I'm, that's where I'm going as well. Speaker 4: Yeah, so that's, that's becoming an issue for us there, but again, that's bigger than just community facilities, we need to have discussions with various stakeholders around here, do we try to alleviate some of that and what are we planning for longer term? Councillor Jurisevic: Nothing further from me, anything further from you guys? I'll leave it, seconder, Councillor Stewart, all in favour? Thank you. We can get Councillor Wilkie back in just to see. That was our last report, wasn't it? Councillor Lorentson: Thank you, Chair. Councillor Jurisevic: We'll just wait for Councillor Wilkie to come back in and we'll close the meeting.
01:44:00 Thank you, Karen. Councillor Wilkie, that was the last item, there's no confidential session as a result of that. Thank you. Speaker 4: All items being attended to, we will close the meeting at 3.15. Mayor Stewart: Thanks, Ash. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Ash.