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00:00:00 Mayor Stewart: Good evening. I declare the meeting open. I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi people and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and the region. I know that all councillors are in attendance and noting that Councillor Stockwell is attending via Microsoft Teams along with our Director of Corporate Services Trent Brath. Could I have a move for the confirmation of minutes of the ordinary meeting? Happy November. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor. You're welcome. Thank you. That's Councillor Finzel and Lorentson. All in favour? Unanimous. Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. There are no mayoral minutes, no petitions, no notified motions, no presentations and no deputations. That brings us to item eight on page five of the agenda, which is the consideration of the committee reports. Firstly, we have the Planning and Environment Committee meeting recommendations. Number one, proposed lease tenancy, Peregian Digital Hub.
00:01:00 Item two was referred to the General Committee. Item three, application for a minor change from development approval for Shire Business Centre at 28 Beeney Creek Road, Noosaville. Item four, planning applications decided by delegated authority March 2022. I have a declaration. I, Councillor Stewart, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Altam Property Groups listed as item 28 in this report and Altam Property, properties number nine, PLTTE, which is listed as item 32 in this report. I have a friendship with Lee and Rob McCready, who are associated with the applicant. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while this matter is considered and voted on. And I think Councillor Wilkie, Deputy Mayor, will be taking the chair. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Mayor. Councillor Finzel: Don't want to read my mouth. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. I, Councillor Finzel, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the application by Altam Properties Group listed as item 28 in this report and Altam Properties, number nine, PLTTE, which is listed as item 32 in this report.
00:02:00 Thank you. I've known Lee McCready, who is associated with the applicant. In a volunteer capacity, he was involved with my 2020 election campaign with Future Noosa, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my conflict, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stockwell, you have a conflict in your report already. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I wish to declare a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to the applications by, I think there's two applications by Altam Property Group.
00:03:00 And as I've declared this numerous times before, I take the reasons to be read. Councillors are well aware of them, as appears on the screen. And therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: However, I respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Right. Councillors. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll note that a declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Stockwell determines in the public interest that Councillor Stockwell participates and votes on the matter because Council believes that a reasonable person could not have a perception of bias because the ICO review was advisory service, not a statutory process. And Councillor Stockwell's queries at the time were in the public interest. And neither he nor Ms. McCready stood to personally gain or lose from that advice. And therefore, a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Jurisevic. Seconded, please, Councillor Wegener. Do you wish to speak to the motion, Councillor Jurisevic?
00:04:00 Councillor Jurisevic: No, Mr. Chair. I think we've had the discussion time and time again. And I think the councillors are well aware of the situation. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. I think it's also pertinent to note that these decisions have already been made by staff under delegated authority. That Councillor Stockwell had no opportunity to influence that outcome. Okay. Approach to the vote. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Councillor Stockwell did not vote on the motion. Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: Oh. I, Councillor Lorentson, am sorry. I have a personal relationship with the applicant, Mark Bain and Bain family, who are family friends. We've attended social events together and our children have attended school together.
00:05:00 As a result of my conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room. The matter is considered and overdone. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. I'll move the motion. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Jurisdict. Moved and read. Seconded by Councillor Wegener. You wish to speak to the motion, Councillor Jurisdict? No, Mr Chair. Okay. All in favour? Aye. It's carried unanimously. And let me bring all the councillors back in, please. Councillor Jurisevic: Took longer for the declarations than the actual. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Item 6, I believe we're up to 5. Item 6, vegetation assessment project update. Can I have a move and a second of the adoption?
00:06:00 I'm happy to meet you, Councillor Walton. Seconded. Thank you, Councillor Wegener. All in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Next are the services and organisation committee recommendations. These are on page 9 of the agenda. Item 1 was referred to the general committee. Item 2, capital program delivery status, 31st of March 2022. Thank you, Councillor Grosevich. Item 2, seconder. Thank you, Councillor Mitchell. All in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, Councillor Grosevich. Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Now to the general committee recommendations. We'll start on page 10 of the agenda. Item 1, economic development grant program application by Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. I'm Councillor Finzel. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: I, Councillor Finzel, inform the meeting I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter. In March 2020, Ms Pamela Sweetapple, who is the Secretary of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, donated $2,630.33.
00:07:00 to my 2020 election campaign, where I was one of three candidates that ran as a group known as Future Noosa, which is no longer an entity. As a result of my prescribed conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is discussed and considered and voted on. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Mayor Stewart: This item was... Councillor Jurisevic: I have to wait for she leaves. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. This item was the subject of... This item was the subject of a procedural motion from the general committee that the matter lay on the table until tonight's meeting. I'll move the procedural motion that we take it off the table for further debate. Can I have a second? I'll second it. Councillor Driscoll, all in favour? Carried unanimously. Thank you. We have a motion before us that was moved and seconded at the general committee meeting. It's shown on the screen. Myself, Councillor Wilkie, Councillor Jurisevic and Councillor Wegener have already spoken to this motion at the general committee meeting, which means Councillor Lorentson and Councillor Stockwell, if you'd like to speak to this motion we have before us on the table.
00:08:00 Councillor Lorentson: I will, and I'll just keep it really quite brief. I'm going to repeat the words of the Chamber of Commerce. No one believes in governance more than the Chamber of Commerce and that they're fully supportive of Council's approach to governance and process and acquittal of funding money. We need the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, Council and this community. The inconvenient truth is that our economy is not growing and that there is a recession looming. So, I want to quote the words of the Chamber of Commerce, Council and this community. We need the Noosa Chamber of Commerce, and you have an opportunity to check the road map report. That there's never been a more critical time in Noosa Stakeholders.
00:09:00 For Noosa Stakeholders to work together towards sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes. I'm not going to support this motion in front of us. But instead, I'm going to support the original staff recommendation. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Walsall. Councillor Stockwell, would you like to speak to this? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No need to speak. I query whether other councils who spoke at the General Committee cannot speak again. I don't think that would be correct. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll ask the question to the CEO. I'd ask the same question. This is a different meeting. The motion has, even though the motion has been laid on the table, does that process continue once you've spoken to the motion, even though it's laid on the table? Can't we speak in between? Speaker 3: Through the Mayor and in response, Councillor Jurisevic and also Councillor Stockwell on the screen before us.
00:10:00 You can see me over there. I haven't actually had this situation before from a general to an ordinary meeting. I'm very much used to having ordinary meetings where matters are laid on the table and they're brought back for further information. The advice that I received with standing orders here at Noosa Shire Council is that the process has been followed. At the General Committee, there was no decision made. The matter has been laid on the table awaiting further discussion with the Chamber. And that matter is now back on the table after that information has been gleaned. And it has picked up where it is left off. Something that I think maybe as a council we can have a look at with standing orders. But I'll defer back to Mayor as Chair to make a final determination. But it is an interesting one. This is an item at a separate meeting now. What occurred at the previous meeting is that it's still standing. It's a little bit of a difference for me between committees and moving to ordinary
00:11:00 where I'm used to having up to two ordinary meetings a month. But I'm happy to check further. Thank you, CEO. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Wilkie, did you have anything on this? Councillor Wilkie: Look, as it was my original motion, I concur with the advice of the CEO that the matter was laid on the table. We had certain councillors. I had spoken to the motion at that stage. More information has been gleaned in the meantime. And we're picking up where we had left off, which means that the councillors that haven't had a chance to speak to this motion do. But everyone else has already spoken. So I do agree on this occasion with the CEO's advice. Thank you, Councillor. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Stockwell, that then leads, before Councillor Wilkie closes, because it was his motion, that then leaves you to talk, if you'd like to. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, I think the discussion with the general committee was fine. Mayor Stewart: Okay, thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor, we'll go to Councillor Sturgeon. Thank you, Mayor. Look, this motion was moved in the first instance after advice from the staff,
00:12:00 and in good faith, thinking that the Chamber would need an upfront payment to help them secure an external resource to develop the required project plans and KPIs, and update their plans. And then the other motion was to remove duplication of existing projects. That will have to be done as part of, was required to be done as part of the original application without any funding. It was thought to be a helpful move to provide them that money upfront. We've since had advice from the Chamber President that's not necessary. So I'm, I will be voting against this motion because it's no longer relevant. Thank you, Councillor. Mayor Stewart: I'll put this motion to a vote. All in favour? Against? That is unanimous. Thank you. That brings us back to the original staff motion. I will move the original staff motion. I'll second. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. Look, I think we've debated this on Monday in general, and I think we've all had the
00:13:00 opportunity to reflect, talk to the Chamber. I think this is all about working together. This is collaboration. This is about getting on with the job. And I want to thank the Chamber for all the hard work that they have put in to our community. As I said, like any volunteer organisation, people associated with the Chamber give up hundreds of hours of their time to help. And they do so because they want to better the economic viability of the Shire. They want to help the businesses. They want to help our economy grow. So I think this is all about working together. It's a partnership. And I welcome this resolution moving forward. I think it is many steps in the right direction. Thank you. Anyone else like to speak to this? Speaker 3: Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes, I'm going to move an amendment.
00:14:00 And that's to include that, Cathy, if you could scroll back up to the previous unsuccessful motion. The words at the end of the motion, the words at the end of the motion, the words at the end of the motion, the words at the end of the motion, the words at the end of the Deputy Mayor Stockwell: The first part of item one is we carry on from afterwards outcomes so one defined project plan that provides pathway from effect to outcomes the strong focus on deliverables aligned with pillars two and five of the roadmap and strategy. Mayor Stewart: Do we have a seconder for the Council Stockwell's amendment? Councillor Jurisevic: Oh, dear old one. Mayor Stewart: Okay, thank you. Council Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, we had this discussion at committee which I think most people agree and I just think it provides more guidance of the sort of deliverables that I think the economic development grants are focused towards.
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00:15:00 And it's those, you know, pillars two and five were in regard to specific actions within their roadmap that were related to delivering and networking with businesses to improve both the business capability and I suppose opportunities to drive economic value out of any relationships that form within the Chamber. Mayor Stewart: Thanks. Councillor Jurisevic: I've got a question for Councillor Wilkie based on what he stated was to go to the motion that laid on the table with regards to the need for funding. The need for funding that you referred to that the Chamber said that there was no need for any funding. Yeah. Yet this motion as it stands from the staff, the recommendation from the staff is for $15,000 to be paid as opposed to the $7,000, $2,500.
00:16:00 Okay. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. I'll clarify that. The motion that is no longer involve the upfront payment of $7,500 for the Chamber to use to engage an external resource or an admin person to help them get together the KPIs, the project plans and to provide, help them get together the updated application to come back to Council before the rest of the money is released. The motion before us now is that work, the advice from the Chamber is they've got the capacity within the organisation to deliver those project plans and KPIs without the upfront payment. And they're happy to wait for staff to assess the project plans and KPIs before the $15,000 is released.
00:17:00 Thank you. And for them to use as they see fit. Thank you for clarifying. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Rusilich, you're happy with that? Would anyone else like to speak to Councillor Stockwell? Oh, it's Councillor Stockwell. There's his amendment on deliverables with pillars two and five. Okay. Councillor Wegener: No. But we're going to go back and speak to that. Yeah. Yeah. Mayor Stewart: Do you want to speak to Councillor Stockwell's amendment? Councillor Lorentson: No. I will speak. I'll duplicate the words of the Chamber of Commerce. Anything that is in the document. Thank you. Councillor Rusilich. Councillor Wilkie: We had this discussion on Monday. The pillars that they're aspiring to are very worthy. And anything that helps strengthen that is only a good thing. Thank you.
00:18:00 Mayor Stewart: Councillor Rusilich. Councillor Stockwell, would you like to close? No. Thank you. We'll put that amendment to the table. And I have to vote all in favour that is unanimous. Thank you. Each now forms part of the substandard motion. And I am the only one who has spoken to the substandard motion. Would anyone else like to speak to this? No. Councillor Wegener: I'll speak. Mayor Stewart: Absolutely. Councillor Wegener: I will not be supporting the motion. I do not think the ratepayers need to subsidize the Noosa Chamber's ambition to be a peak economic body. From my experience in council so far, being a united voice has not been the hallmark of this organization. Rate payers pay about $2.5 million to Tourism Noosa and about $900,000 to Economic Development. While, as today we learned, that on a different pool of money, we do not have enough money to fund the further project to stop the Indian Miner Bird from wreaking havoc on our native bird population, which would come to about $7,000 this year.
00:19:00 So I think that these are two different pools, but one pool is very, very high if you go down a little bit, and one pool definitely needs to raise a little bit. So I will not be supporting the motion. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Do this. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, look, I'm happy to support this motion. As said on Monday, anything that can help clarify and confirm the focus of the Chamber, which is working very hard to define its purpose, anything that helps to clarify that and gain its focus can only be a good thing. Thank you. I understand this process will involve input from all the other Chambers in the Shire, which is important, because the Chamber of Commerce needs to position itself to be a support for all the other Chambers and define its point of difference.
00:20:00 And this is a genuine process to get to that point, and I think we have to act in good faith and give them every chance to achieve that. And I think we have to act in good faith and give them every chance to achieve that. That's why I'm supporting this process and this motion. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Robertson. Councillor Lorentson: I said, and I'm probably at the general meeting, so I'm not going to go on, just a big thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for again supporting Noosa Council, for supporting our community and our local and small businesses. This is a partnership that fundamentally recognises that we are stronger together, and there's no doubt about that. There's some big issues in front of us, and I, for one, know that we need as much support as we can get. Question to the CEO, if I may. Councillor Jurisevic: CEO, the way this reads, we had expressed some concerns and some points to be clarified before this progresses on in payments issued, i.e. KPIs and that with regards to the funding arrangement.
00:21:00 Can I ask you a question? Does this in any way preclude us or require that that agreement comes back before us, before payments are made? Speaker 3: Through the Mayor and Councillor Jurisevic, no, it doesn't. It would not need to come back to the Council table. It would be managed at an officer level. Even if the quantums of $15,000 each aren't overly onerous, they sit within delegations, I would see that that would go through. It would be worthwhile to see the results. They'd come back to the Council table and understand that more fully. But this would empower our officers to be able to move ahead and work with the Chamber on this particular project. Councillor Jurisevic: So how, then, can we assure that before the payments are made, that the Councils are aware that all of the concerns that they raised could be dealt with, and that officers have, in fact, seen those changes before payments are made?
00:22:00 Speaker 3: Through the Mayor and Councillor Jurisevic, no, it doesn't. I understand your concern. What we might be able to achieve on this, and I think a way forward, is to be able to have a workshop that is led by our Acting Economic Development Manager, who will be taking forward this project and carriage, and to be able to discuss with the Council that they can feel comfortable that the government's protections have been put in place. Given the size of the funding, Council officer time, and the ability to be able to have further reports to Council, you know, is somewhat onerous. But I think a workshop is appropriate, an informal setting where Council can understand more fully the outcomes and what's been done, and ask some further questions as well, too. Councillor Wilkie: Just to clarify, I'm sorry.
00:23:00 Anybody have any more questions? No. Councillor Jurisevic: That being the case, I'd like to move an amendment. Point D. But the CEO authorised a workshop prior, which was a bit of a surprise, but it was done with all Councillors, to understand the outcomes of discussions with the Chamber, prior to any funds being disbursed. Mayor Stewart: Seconded. Second. Can we get the words, please? I'll second it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm happy to second. Mayor Stewart: Councillor, thank you. Councillor Wegener seconded the amendment. Councillor Lorentson: Can I ask a couple of questions? Yes. The clarification, as the motion sits... Councillor Jurisevic: Can we just get the wording? Can we just get the wording? The wording of the amendment. Councillor Lorentson: This year, a trial wasn't held. Speaker 3: To provide counselling.
00:24:00 Councillor Wilkie: Can I play to the final? Speaker 3: The final draft funding. Councillor Jurisevic: Councillor Jurisevic, your thoughts on on any concerns prior to prior to any funding being dispersed? I'm happy with that. Are you happy with that second, Matt? Yes. Thank you. I do say, because some concerns were raised around the current wording and understanding of the agreement and some additional pieces of information requested, i.e. around those KPIs and what and how they would do. Councillor Stockwell has added elements of those two and five in point one. I just think there's, before dispersing those funds, that we should be comfortable that all of those matters have been addressed.
00:25:00 Councillor Lorentson: So my questions are, my understanding is there is no payment until the information that's required under the special conditions one, two, three, until that information is provided. Is that correct? Have I read that correctly? Speaker 3: Through the Mayor, Councillor Lorentson said yes, that is correct, that there's no forward payment as such. What this will do, and I think the intent of the amendment is to be able to have a, just a next level of governance that all of Council feels comfortable. A matter for Council to be able to debate and discuss through. But the intent there is to, before it is finalised and payments are released, that that work has been done and then Council is comfortable with the government being able to do that. I don't think there's any questions around that, but a matter for Councilors to debate. Councillor Lorentson: In regards to our acquittal policies, can you explain what the acquittal processes are in Council with any other, with any acquittal funding or grants?
00:26:00 Speaker 3: Through the Mayor, Councillor Lorentson, and this would be, an acquittal is just that, it's an acquittal. It's how funds have been spent in past tense. So this is actually putting forward a governance arrangement before the funds have been provided. So all that this is ultimately doing is continuing on the process, but there would be a workshop with Councillors to explain what has been negotiated, why and the outcomes. Acquittal process will generally be the requirements of the grant that's been put in place and ensuring that the funds have been applied as per the requirements of the grant. That they would stand up to all the requirements. That they would be supported by like any other funding we provide. But that would always be done after. This is just some front end loading the agreement and having a bit of a look at that beforehand.
00:27:00 Councillor Wegener: Question for Joe. Is your concern that the requirements to get the first payment are a little bit nebulous and you'd like to just have a better look at those because it doesn't really spell them out very clearly. Councillor Jurisevic: No, I guess it's just that there are a number of elements raised with regard to the KPIs. And just ensuring that those KPIs do meet the concerns the Council has raised in the meeting. And that we can have assurance that the governance procedure has been put in place before we disperse those funds. That's all. Mayor Stewart: Mr Cee, obviously it's going to be difficult for you to answer because you haven't been here that long. But in regard to amendments to D, when we went through a whole lot of grants today,
00:28:00 with a whole lot of groups, community groups, not-for-profits, various groups in our community, is this required of them? Speaker 3: I'll speak in general terms because the grants today were confidential in nature before they go out to the community. My understanding is, no, that wouldn't be the case for community or environmental grants, that they're on an acquittal basis. They have, though, gone through some competitive tension and that they have been assessed. So there is a point of difference with the economic grants in that they are available at all times. There's a pool of funds that Council has and they are applied for and that this is the only application sitting at this quantum and this level. So they are designed, though, to be flexible, to be able to have grants provided to those businesses or agencies that may apply for them in a much more easier and quicker fashion.
00:29:00 When we do look at, though, the community environment grants, depending on the type, that they've generally gone through a competitive process. There's been assessment, there's been scrutiny, and then Council officers make that decision with the pool of funds they have available. So this round of funding is somewhat different to what we looked at today. Mayor Stewart: This has gone through, I think it went through two rounds, didn't it? I think the application, this has gone through two rounds of assessment. Is that correct? No. Speaker 3: No. No. No. No. No. This is somewhat of a different process to those other grants so there is some differences from what we looked at today. Can I ask a clarifying question? Councillor Lorentson: At the general meeting the matter was deferred for today so that some questions could be asked by both councillors and staff.
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00:30:00 My question is did staff have the opportunity to speak with the Chamber concerning the KPIs and the project plans to outline these processes as to how they were going to achieve the KPIs? Did that conversation take place and can we have an explanation as to what was discussed and what information was required by the Chamber of Commerce? Thank you Councillor Lorentson and through the Mayor. Speaker 3: What I might do is call upon the officer. The officer who authored the report to come to the table and answer that question. Vicky if you could come up please. Actually we've got the director to come up. There we go. Speaker 2: Kim, thank you very much. Mayor Stewart: Thank you Kim. Thank you Lord and Vicky. Kim would you like to answer that question? Yes, sure. Speaker 1: So through the Chair, Councillor Lorentson and yes those conversations were had.
00:31:00 A number of conversations were had with the Chamber. About the additional requirements that the officers recommendation in the intent of that around KPIs, additional work on project planning, further metrics, removal of duplication of some projects. And some further specifics were provided to the Chamber in writing and the Chamber have then responded to those. So we became comfortable over the number of conversations with the Chamber. We can remember that they have that information. They can provide that information with some support from us in terms of the format and things that we need. And so those conversations were had and we were comfortable that information could be provided. Councillor Wilkie: Just a question, Kim. Would it be fair to say that if the grant application in the first instance had included project plans with these detailed KPIs and getting them involved with duplication, then we wouldn't be talking about a deferred payment.
00:32:00 We would be just approving the grant, the first tranche of the grants, tonight? Speaker 1: Yeah, that is fair to say, Councillor. We do, there are examples where we have staged payments with grants and there are examples where we have special conditions with grants. And there are examples where we make part payment with grants. Mm-hmm. There's degrees of information through the grant process. You know, I talked about this on Monday that, you know, they're volunteer organisations. Yes. So, you know, there's varying sort of capacity and time and things. Yeah. And, you know, both our staff and community services staff, as you well know, and environment staff, work really closely with applicants to get the level of information to meet, you know, the requirements. But going back to your original question, yes, that would be fair to say. Mayor Stewart: Do I read somewhere, page 13 says, two independent assessments of the grant application against the stated criteria
00:33:00 and the specific responses provided to the direct questions posed were undertaken. That's correct. Speaker 1: Yes, that's correct. In terms of process, the officer that was working with the Chamber of Commerce had nothing to do with the assessment of the grant. We bring in two other people that haven't had any involvement to look at the grant application and information with fresh eyes. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. I'll speak to the amendment, Madam Mayor. Look, I'm going to support the amendment. This amendment puts in, it helps us all understand what the Chamber are trying to achieve. Without this amendment, this, the project plans and KPIs would come back to Council at an officer level, be approved, and the funding would go out, and we'd be none the wiser about what the project plans entail and what the KPIs are, i.e. what the Chamber are actively trying to achieve and deliver. And I'm going to support the amendment. I want to understand that, and I think this amendment will help us all be on the same page
00:34:00 and understand where the Chamber wants to go and how they are seeking to achieve that. And in my discussions with the Chamber President over the last few days, I was given no indication to think that they wouldn't support any extra governance. They're all for that. And helping us all be on the same page so we can move forward together. So I think this enables that, and that's the reasons why I'll personally be supporting it. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Jurisevic: Question. Sorry, Cathy. Can you just move the page down? Mayor Stewart: What do you want to see? Councillor Jurisevic: Part A and B, the first part. Just the page that we're on. You've gone too far. There. Don't move on. So I just want to clarify that what we've, what the Chamber have agreed to is essentially what's in Part A. Define project plans, KPIs, and removal of duplication of existing projects in the conversations that we've had prior to the payment one of $15,000 being allocated.
00:35:00 Is that correct? Speaker 1: Through the Chair, yes. That's correct. Councillor Wilkie: Pleasure. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Lorentson. I'm happy to support this amendment. I think we're duplicating what's already been replied by the motion, which is, you know, you don't get paid unless this special condition or additional requirements or information, such as a one defined project plans, are provided. So I think we're really overcomplicating or duplicating what I think is plain and clear in the amendment. So I'm fine with this. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Stockwell, do you want to speak to this? Councillor Lorentson: I've no need to talk on things. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: This is just a level of due diligence. I think Council Wilkie alluded to it. One, two and three will be delivered before the $15,000 is done. I just want to see what they are.
00:36:00 We had a lot of questions raised during this matter at General Committee around what those KPIs are, what the definitions are, the removal of duplications. I'm supposed to agree to $15,000 being disbursed before actually seeing any of that. What I want to do, as part of my due diligence, is ensure that I've seen it and that I'm happy with it. And that's all. Mayor Stewart: I call the matter to a vote. All in favour? It's unanimous. That forms part of the substandard motion. Which brings us back to the original and myself and Councillor Wilkie have spoken to it. Would anyone else like to speak to the original motion with the amendments? Councillor Jurisevic: Yes, I will. Look, I wish the Chamber well in what they're trying to undertake here. Having an overarching or a governing body that speaks for all business would be a strong and philosophical outcome that we'd all like to achieve.
00:37:00 There are a number of business organisations around the Shire and each of those deserve a seat at the table. If each of those can be represented for strategic elements and looking at the whole of the Shire, with regard to the illness that a Chamber can deliver so that they can focus more on their own regional areas or their own areas of concerns and dealing with Council, I'm all for supporting those activities. But I think that needs to be clearly articulated. I think that needs to be clearly understood between each of the organisations. And that the Chamber can clarify how its role will differ from each of those entities so we don't have duplications. So I'm quite happy to support this. I think a strong Chamber is good for business. It's good for Council. And it's good for our economic diversity and understanding the needs and wants of this community with economic diversity going forward.
00:38:00 Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Westridge. Councillor Stockwell, would you like to speak to this? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I will. I will support the motion. I believe that the roadmap and strategy are quite a very good direction for what you're doing. And I think that's what you'd expect out of a Chamber of Commerce. However, I also wish to acknowledge Councillor Wegener's concerns. I think in terms of, not only in terms of his debate about the level of funding, but in terms of the level of the potential for this Chamber of Commerce to become an umbrella organisation. And I do so because, in a private capacity, I'm a member of the Pomona District Chamber of Commerce. And there are certain recent issues around leadership that fall below what I'd expect a professional business umbrella organisation to demonstrate.
00:39:00 But we are giving this grant to the Chamber. We're giving it to build capacity both within the Chamber and for them to become effective in helping us achieve the goals within our economic development strategy. And with that respect, it is a very similar grant to what we do, whether it's an environmental organisation trying to help us meet our outcomes in our environment strategy, or a cultural or social organisation trying to help us achieve outcomes in that particular strategy. Mayor Stewart: So it is consistent as an approach, and therefore it's worth support. Thanks, Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Wegener, all nine students. Thank you. I'm very supportive of this application by the Chamber. In August 2020, I think when we, at the height of COVID and relatively new Council, I spoke at the Chamber AGM and I said, and I quoted Henry Ford,
00:40:00 coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, but working together is success. And I think this is about working together. And at that time, as I said, we're at the height of COVID and the Chamber with us as part of our business roundtable has had the opportunity to advocate for deep cleaning, for tangible, really good outcomes for our community who have gone through so much. So this is something that will arm the Chamber with even more resources to go forward to help us, to support us. We have a great economic development team, but it's a small team. It needs resources and it needs support. And this is, and we must work together, especially over the coming years. We have a lot of uphill battles to fight. And I think we can do it if we do it together. So I'm looking forward to working collaboratively with the Chamber. Again, thank them and thank the Council for their support in this resolution. I'll put the motion to vote all in favour.
00:41:00 That is Councillor Lorentson, Councillor Wilkie, Jurisevic, Stockwell Stewart against Councillor Wegener. Thank you very much. That brings us to page 10. Councillor Jurisevic: Do we need room count? Oh, sorry. Mayor Stewart: And then I think it's the CEO. We are on item 2 on page 10, which is the noose-threatening fauna species recovery. We've got the noose-threatening fauna species recovery road map. Item 3, D, hazard mapping tool. Appointment of Sintable. Item 4, Noosa Drive Pathway Project Reference Group. Appointment of Councillors to reference group. Item 5, Contract for Project Management Services 2022, flood recovery and reconstruction.
00:42:00 Item 6, Application for material change of use of telecommunications facilities situated at 25 Railway Road, Pomona. Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: I, Councillor Wegener, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter as I have an NBN tower located on my property and receive income from NBN via a lease arrangement. It could be viewed that I have an interest in mobile phone networks and NBN towers. However, as the application is by Telstra and it does not indicate NBN or office infrastructure, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Mayor Stewart: I move that Council note the declarable conflict of interest by Councillor Wegener and determine that it is in the public interest that Councillor Wegener participates and votes in this matter because Council believes that Councillor Wegener does not stand to receive a personal benefit or loss in relation to this matter and therefore a reasonable person would trust that the final decision is made in the public interest.
00:43:00 Thank you. Thank you, Councillor. Councillor Jurisevic: If you had your hand on your heart, I would have believed it, Doc. You were looking at Brian. I'll second it. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Would anyone like to ask Councillor Wegener any questions? I put the matter to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. We can stay in the room, Councillor Wegener. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: And I will second this recommendation to Madam Chair. Mayor Stewart: Oh, lovely. He's got to have changed it. There's a change. There's a change. You said Councillor Wegener? No. No, the planting. Councillor Jurisevic: Sorry. Sorry. Yes. The motion that I have is moving changes to 15A with regard to landscaping works. Item one being one by 45 litre pots as per the staff recommendation. Two, screen planting, minimum 20 litre pot size along side boundaries planted at maximum
Public question: BRIAN O’CONNOR ¶
00:44:00 three metre centres with a maximum three metre height at maturity. And three, screen planting, minimum 20 litre pot size planted at maximum three metre centres with a maximum three metre height at maturity that screens buildings and structures visible from the street, exclusive of access driveways. Planting must be as close to the buildings and infrastructure as possible, as practicable for maximum screening. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, guys. Thank you. I'm happy to second that. Councillor Vincent. Councillor Spich. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. And I do make that minor change there. The pass of land, one, needs to be considered for its benefit as a telecommunications thing. And I've asked staff to review that in planning amendments going forward. But what this will do is bring the screening in and around the structures that will remain. One of the temporary structures, or one of the existing structures there of my understanding is to be removed. It's been agreed to be removed because it's redundant. And that means that the telecommunications equipment will be more closely screened. And the area that is required to be planted will be minimised.
45 minutes in ¶
00:45:00 And that will leave a greater area of open space there that could potentially be utilised for other purposes should those planning amendments go through sometime in the future. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Spich. Would anyone else like to speak to this? We'll put it to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Thanks, Councillor. Mayor Stewart: Item seven. Development application for operational works. Described title works. Noosa River, Worcester. Habitat restoration for Noosa River. I'd like to deal with this item separately. Would anyone like to move the recommendation? Councillor Jurisevic: I'll move the staff recommendation. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Spich. Seconder. Councillor Wegener. Councillor Jurisevic. Would you like to talk to this? Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Look. The operational works with regard to the Noosa River oyster habitat restoration project has been undertaken by an independent planning assessor, independent of council, because council is involved in the project. So as a result of that, that report clearly outlines how the operational works are meted
00:46:00 against our planning scheme. It has met and ticked all of the relevant boxes within the planning scheme, and I'm happy to support the staff recommendation. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Would anyone else like to talk to this? Okay. We've just closed, Joe. Okay. We'll put the management vote all in favour. Councillors Wilkie, Jurisevic, Wegener, Stockwell. Against? Stewart, Finzel, Lorentzen. Thank you. Matters carried. Motion's carried. Item eight. Financial performance report, April 2022. Item nine. Operational planning progress report, third quarter, 21-22. Can I have a mover and a recommender? Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. I'll move it. Thank you. Seconded, Councillor Finzel. Thank you. We are now up to item nine on page 17 of the agenda.
00:47:00 We have one report, direct view of our meeting. Council of representation on various boards, external organisations and working groups, 2022. Mr CEO, could you give us a summary of this report, please? Speaker 3: Madam Mayor, thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to present the report to Council this evening. Councillors, the report before you will be taken to Council. The report before you will be taken to Council this evening, as read. This does follow the recent workshop where we worked through all of the different internal and external committees and representations that we have here at Noosa Shire Council. The breadth and depth of representation, I think, from our councillors is absolutely fantastic. We do a lot. As we can see, we're getting down into double alphabets here on the recommendation. That's so much work that's being done.
00:48:00 We've done our best to capture all of those elements. But if there is a requirement for any changes, please, let's discuss those. Otherwise, from where we sit, this has been reviewed against our current policies that we have in place. Not only there are no changes to committees at this point in time as well, we'll do a further review of that as well. But there's been a thorough review that's been undertaken. We've followed the discussions in the workshop. And I welcome any questions from the council in relation to the report before you. Thank you. Any questions? Councillor Jurisevic: I have one, Mr. CEO. And it's just a clarification at point CC. Do we currently have a Geroene Sports Complex Committee? And can a councillor be appointed to that before one is formed? Speaker 3: Madam Mayor, I understand that there is. The Geroene Committee, I'm getting a no coming from the gallery. There was advice that was provided that there is a committee as such.
00:49:00 Okay. Well, look, councillors, I think if there is an amendment that we could put that item CC. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes, I'd like to move the appropriate amendment there, Mr. CEO. Item CC.2. Item CC.2 be deleted from the report. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Well, no one's moved anything yet. Speaker 3: We will sign that. If that comes on the table, we'll do that. Also, councillors are drawing attention to item K of the recommendation from officers. And we understand that Councillor Finzel may have wanted to be part of that. No, Councillor Lorentson. Oh, Councillor Lorentson had withdrawn. Councillor Lorentson: Oh, if I'm going to lose my DD, sorry, my CC.2. Speaker 3: CC.2? Take item K. Well, council, they're the only two items that I see that is an issue there. All right. Councillor Jurisevic: So I'll move the recommendation as that. And I'll add the point that K add the name of Councillor Lorentson and that CC.2 be deleted.
00:50:00 Councillor Wilkie: I'll second that. What key? Councillor Jurisevic. Councillor Jurisevic: I don't think there's anything. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Finkelton. You're all good? No. No question. Councillor Stockwell has a question. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I did. Noting... I don't think I have a conflict on this motion in regard to my role as President of Noosa Lions that used the Gurreen Sports Complex. My question is, while it may not have met for some time, there was a councillor appointment to the Gurreen Sports Complex in the last term of council. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So whether it has met or not, there was a previous resolution that suggested there was a... It might not be a sports complex committee, but there's a... There's certainly a councillor representative on that sports complex. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Speaker 3: Councillor Seaton. Yeah, through the Mayor. Madam Mayor, what we will do is, in that we have had some conflicting advice that has
00:51:00 come through on this particular committee, we'll get some more information. And if there's a further report that's required to council, we'll address that in a further report at an upcoming meeting for you. At the very least, we'll either provide advice via an email or in a council discussion forum, so that you can get all of that information and background there for you. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Thank you. All right. Would anyone like to speak to this? We'll just close this. And we'll put it to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you very much. Item 10, there are no confidential items. Item 11, we have one submission to public question time from Mr Brian O'Connor, who's in the chamber. Welcome, Mr O'Connor. Would you like to step up to the lectern and read your questions, please? And I believe after your questions have been read, either our Director of Environment and Sustainable Development, Kim Rawlings, or our Acting Director, Leah Jensen, will respond. Speaker 4: Thank you, Madam Mayor. The first question is, with just a few parcels of land available at the Cooroy Business Park
00:52:00 and Industrial Park, and the Council actively examining these sites for affordable housing, will Noosa Council undertake a study into the likely take-up of available commercial land in the Noosa hinterland over the next 10 years, with a view to ascertaining where to locate and rezone suitable additional and flood-free land for rural enterprise and commercial activity in the future? Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Mr O'Connor. Speaker 2: Thanks Madam Mayor, through the Chair. Thanks Mr O'Connor. Council is not actively examining the sites you mentioned for housing. Council will be undertaking an employment land review next year. This study will look at the supply and demand for employment land across the
00:53:00 Shire. The study will consider the changes, sorry, consider the changing trends in employment land both commercial and industrial. The exact timing of the study is yet to be determined. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. And you have another question I believe Mr O'Connor. Yes. Noosa Council Speaker 4: regularly must deal with complaints about inappropriate backyard businesses creating uses for neighbours or wanting to expand in situ. When the Council acts on complaints or refuses expansion, what is to happen to these businesses or where can they relocate? Similarly work from home desktop computer businesses and so-called next generation digital start-ups look to co-locate to a business hub offering creative and practical synergies of co-habitation. What is Noosa Council doing to facilitate this type of job creation economic activity in the hinterland where a younger cohort of people is moving for lifestyle? Speaker 2: And a relatively cheaper mortgage? Thanks Madam Mayor. Thanks Mr O'Connor. The last few
00:54:00 years have shown how easily many people can work from home and likewise many residents choose to purchase a high proportion of their goods over the internet and having them delivered. Most home based businesses cause very little impact or concern and can continue and are supported by the Noosa Plan. There are vacancies in the various town centres with undeveloped sites remaining. There remains flood free undeveloped industrial land in Cooroy. Council has also established the Peregian Digital Hub which attracts people to it from all over the Shire. Start-ups do not need to be a tenant of the Hub to benefit from the range of programs and ecosystem support available for those working in the digital sector in the Shire. This includes the Digital Tribes Networks and a number of professional development events regularly hosted by the Hub both in person and online. Council is satisfied that there are opportunities available should home based businesses outgrow their premises.
00:55:00 Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Thank you Liam, thank you Mr O'Connor, thank you for your attendance today, we appreciate it. That brings us to the end of the meeting. Our next meeting, our next ordinary meeting will be held on the 16th of June 2022 and I declare the meeting adjourned. Thank you everyone for your attendance.