Noosa Council Watch

An independent, unofficial record of Noosa Shire Council — what council decided, what they closed the doors on, and why it matters. About this site

Noosa Council meetings since 2014: papers, decisions and recordings, and from April 2023 the video cued to each item.

Services & Organisation Committee Meeting - 12 July 2022 Transcript

Tuesday 12 July 2022 · 53 minutes of recording · 892 lines · 13 voices, 3 named

This is a machine transcript of council's recording, produced by automatic speech recognition and not checked line by line against the video. Councillor and place names are corrected where a human has approved the correction; everything else is what the model heard. Quote the recording, not this page — every timestamp below opens council's own video at that second. Recording © Noosa Shire Council; the transcript is ours, made from it so the meeting can be searched and read.

Speakers: the machine separated 13 voices and names 3 of them — only where the recording itself establishes who it is (they introduced themselves, were called on by name, or their voice matches meetings where they were). The others stay “Speaker N”. Hover a name to see why it is there.

Start of recording

00:00:00

00:00:00 Councillor Lorentson: So the vendor panel, that screening is done when they actually apply under the vendor panel? Speaker 4: Well, no, it's a public tender, but the information they give us, and then we go and on-check that with other specialists and vet that as well. That tells us whether, is it actual factual or not? Okay. Yeah. And the other thing I'd add to that as well is we also have project trust account with this contract. So we're all very familiar with what happened with Rycon and the original Peregian Beach Community House. So we front-load our testing and we back-end our process by having... Councillor Lorentson: And project trust systems, I'm assuming that's the new PBA. So I know when I started in Council in 2018, we had project bank accounts. Speaker 4: My understanding is it's the new framework? Yes, it is. Correct, Councillor. Okay. Yes, yes. Councillor Lorentson: So it's the same concept. Speaker 4: Same concept. Councillor Lorentson: Studies, plumbers, all our tradies, they're not going to miss out. Speaker 4: Yeah, and I'll give you an example if that's okay. Okay, through you, Chair. So we had project trust accounts on the Community House.

00:01:00 We would view the payments to the subcontractors, and if there was something we didn't think we wanted to ask a question, we would ask a question directly to the subcontractor, and they would tell us that that's okay. So we have good visibility across the payments of subcontractors. Yeah. Yeah, we're... Councillor Jurisevic: And I notice under the risk and opportunity, you've covered material price increases, which is probably the most... Yes. ...permanent cost that a builder may incur over the time span of this project. What is the time span of the project, and how are we covering... Speaker 4: So our intention is to complete the project by end of December. That will probably go into January. In terms of how we mitigate that is really if we can rapidly award the contract, the contractor then locks in their subcontracts, so once they've locked in a subcontract, that rate is honoured. It's when a main contractor doesn't lock in their subcontracts, that's when they often have an issue,

00:02:00 where they don't award rapidly, they leave it go a couple of months, and within that time there's a price difference between what they tendered at and what they then award their subcontract at, and that's where they often get into an issue. Councillor Jurisevic: Have we built this successful contract before? Speaker 4: We haven't, no, but they do come well recommended, and all their referee checks were good, and they use a good proportion of, because it's a design and construct contract, there is a good proportion of local contractors in the design and the construct team. Councillor Jurisevic: And the capability and availability to deliver by... Speaker 4: Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: ...the set time frame is being sure? Speaker 4: Is acceptable, yes. Councillor Lorentson: All right. And we rely on looking at the costs remaining project allocation, elements including contingency at $725,000, which represents roughly that 30% of total cost. Yes. Is that enough buffer? So we talked, it's a lump sum contract, so it's not rise and fall.

00:03:00 Yes. Get what you just said about, you know, locking your tradies ASAP, so there's a price, but there's still risk that prices will increase. Yes. That contingency covers the possibility that there may be... Yes. Although we've done all due diligence and factored that in, but does that contingency also consider that there may be, even if it's a slight possibility, that there might be an unforeseen rise in material costs and supplies? No. And as a council, we would then be reasonable to the builder to ensure that they can continue with the job and allow? Speaker 4: We would always ensure that the contract can continue. Whether there's the contingency for all possibilities is another thing, and we would just need to work with the contractor, mitigate where we can. If it's a particular product is going to cost more and there's an alternative that doesn't have that impact, we would always try and do that manoeuvring as well as if we can. So we try to manoeuvre before we then have to try and put our hand out for more money

00:04:00 or go beyond what the contingency allowances were. Okay. Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: I might jump to, you mentioned sound proof. Speaker 4: Yes. Councillor Wilkie: Because the existing, the old community house was notoriously poor for acoustics. Speaker 4: Yes. Councillor Wilkie: Road noise and so forth. So the co-lab space which is going to be in the new addition is going to be like a lecture theatre with retractable seating, is that correct? Speaker 4: I can explain the construction. I can explain the construction technique and if Chris wants to add to what the use is. But as we all know, the old house and I worked on that many years ago and you need to build for what your intended use is in the location you are. And we all know how busy that is and the use is where noise mitigation and management is a priority. The only solution there is a concrete floor, concrete infield walls and a concrete roof.

00:05:00 We do aesthetic treatment to the outside but that is the construction and obviously there is further acoustic refinement internally. But that is the construction which keeps the noise out and that's what has to be constructed of that. And there will be further improvement in the existing houses there as well. Linings will be replaced and insulation added in places as well to improve that. Councillor Wilkie: And this is where the technology to predict, detect, monitor and fight fires will be run from? Correct. Speaker 4: I'll hand that to Chris if you like. He can give you a good explanation. Through the Chair, Councillor. Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it's going to be a multi-purpose facility and you just asked some questions about the new CoLab facility and I think it's probably worth just contextualising that. I think all of the Councillors have attended various events and functions that we've held in the current CoLab

00:06:00 and indeed a huge amount of the value that's been created by the Digital Hub has been created out of that small space there that we've leveraged to the very fullest extent. There's never really a purpose-built facility for that. So the educational activities, the kind of conferencing activities and so forth, we've managed to get them done but with a more suitable facility there's a lot of better activity that we can deliver out of there. So our vision is to create something that's more purpose-built that can accommodate more people more comfortably, less running around tapping on laptops and better AV built into it and something that can have a higher level of usage, independent usage, so that we can generate some additional revenue out of it. So that's a sort of replacement for the current CoLab facility and what that will do is free up some additional working space and some additional revenue for us out of the existing facility.

00:07:00 In terms of the fire tech activities, if we just describe the new building that we're putting on the north side of the current Peregian Community House, the existing facility is being renovated to accommodate some of the data lab facilities or capabilities. So we have the notion of a sort of command century type room where you'll be able to come in and see a lot of screens and see data being collected from our environment about bushfire risk, a vision from the detection cameras and so on, and then be able to collaborate with people around that data, potentially remotely or in person. And then a smaller facility for media production. We have quite a number of members and people in the digital ecosystem now who need to produce podcasts, small videos and so forth. So having some facilities on site there

00:08:00 is another small use of that. So the co-lab for the sort of functions that you're familiar with that we run there, a data lab for data visualisation and linked to the fire tech project, but not exclusively used by that. And then a sort of studio capability for media production. Those are the three sort of main pods of the new facility. Councillor Wilkie: And ultimately one of the outcomes of the work that's going to be taking place there is that the Noosa community will have to be disrupted by fires in the future. Speaker 1: That's very much the hope. Councillor Wilkie: Detected early and addressed early. Speaker 1: Very much the hope, that's correct, that as part of this fire tech project we can use those facilities to help trial these new technologies and that those solutions will help us build resilience not only in Noosa but in other LGAs that can follow our best practices that are developed through that process. Councillor Wilkie: And a minor process question. The 2016 MCU mentions an addition to the existing,

00:09:00 to the old community house of 115 square metres. This is about 175. What's the process by which this will happen? You've got to design and construct... Speaker 4: Yeah, so the process that's happened to date is we've sort of kept in contact with our planning team in council. So they've seen these plans before. But once we go into... And there's no issue there. But once we go into the contract with the contractor, which is a design and construct, so that, you know, they have to refine our brief. Once those plans are finalised, we then submit that for a minor change as approval. Yeah. But our discussions today are that, you know, that's in accordance with what... The target consistent. The target consistent with the land use, et cetera, on that side. Yeah. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: So as far as the existing building goes, how much of it's retained? Anything? Speaker 4: All the existing building is retained. And we're adding on to that. Councillor Jurisevic: The existing community house building? Speaker 4: Yes. OK.

00:10:00 Yeah. Speaker 1: And internal renovation within that main structure. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: That's it, Cr Frank. Anything else? Further? No. No. Councillor Wilkie, Councillor Lange, all in favour? That's the end. Can we do this child resale program? I'm assuming... Larry? Yep. Sorry, I'm not... Can we have Chief Stannis? Alex is online. Yeah, Alex is online. Sorry, there he is. He picked that up. Good afternoon, all. G'day, Alex. Would you like to give us a bit of an overview on the civil work child resale program, can you repeat? Speaker 6: Yeah, sure. So, as you may be aware, the resale program is Council's second largest contract behind the waste contract. The current resale contract that we have in place has been in place for five years now in the same format,

00:11:00 so an initial three-year term with a plus one, plus one option. The contract for this tender has been split into two separable portions due to specialised equipment planned for both asphalting and bitumen sealing. Speaker 6: And a draft resurfacing program was developed and supplied to the tenderers for the next three years to help give them a strong base that they could submit a schedule of rates to. For both separable portions, a scenario was then developed using these schedule of rates Speaker 6: to create a bottom line figure that we could then assess each tenderer against each other. So, based on bottom line price as well as the non-price components, we submitted the following recommendations that portion A be awarded to all road surfaces and portion B to RPQ.

00:12:00 Councillor Wilkie: I just had a question for anyone who might be reading this and doesn't have a background. It's a question of why the dollar amount for the tender was not included in the report. Unless I've missed it, I'm sorry. Speaker 6: I believe because at the time I wrote this report, the budget for the next financial year hadn't been adopted. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. So the tender that Rice has quoted on page 20, how are those values, what are those values based on then? Apart from the schedule of rates, what sort of volume of... Of road surface delivery would they encompass?

00:13:00 Speaker 6: Apologies, is that attachment one? Councillor Jurisevic: Page 20 to me, which is the... Speaker 2: Testament 2. Testament 2, portion A. Speaker 6: So portion A was basically we created a scenario which, for this case, was Beckmans Road. That was on our network. That was the next year for the program, in our draft program, and so using the schedule of rates, we've priced that job based on what each tenderer has supplied, and that gave that figure. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, so Ash, all road, they tendered at $919,000, is that correct? Speaker 2: No. No, so this is based on a scenario, so this is an ongoing program, a three-year program of works, and those roads may change over that period, the ones we do, because other roads become a priority, or the schedule of works changes.

00:14:00 Councillor Jurisevic: So they charge as they go, do they? Speaker 2: Yeah, so this is based on an hourly rate or a services rate, because we've got a rolling program. So what we did to try to get some... Some level of comparison is to say, here's a project, how much would you cost that at, based on their schedule of rates, and then we used that as the model to choose. Councillor Wilkie: So this is covered within the $5.3 million? Speaker 2: Absolutely. So in terms of the overall program, we've got a lump $5.3 million worth of work to do. I understand, yeah. And a schedule of projects to do, but that schedule could change based on... Whatever. It happens over the next years, two years, three years, and priorities and the way things roll out.

15 minutes in

00:15:00

00:15:00 So when you say there's no figure in there, the figure is the budget figure, that's the $5.3 million, and then we use these guys to deliver the projects within that, and we'll spend that total amount of money for the projects that we've got, and massage that to make sure it fits into the total budget. I understand that now, thank you. Okay. Councillor Jurisevic: So you've got two contractors, or some tenders, that have got no value against their tender price. Is that because they... Speaker 6: So for Portion A, RPQ, they've got no price there because they didn't submit a schedule of rates for the asphalting components, they only did the Portion B components. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. All right, okay, all right. It's the same contractor as I'll vote for, I tell you, so okay. Speaker 2: Yep, yep. Councillor Jurisevic: Alex, I noticed, and I was very pleased to read, and I'm trying to find the paragraph, the Council on page 14 under Portion 2A, the Council currently prefers the use of poly-modified binder asphalt, but we're working with the Regional Raiders Group, comprised of Sunshine Castle, Walton Bay, Noose, and Sumsound Councils, as well as DTMR and LGAQ, collaboratively working with industry suppliers to provide a cost-effective green asphalt that will be more environmentally friendly to produce, and then, couple of years later, we're going to

00:16:00 be compromising on beneficial characters of the road surface. Can you give us a bit more of an insight into where that's at? Speaker 6: Yeah, absolutely. So that's an ongoing standing item within our technical Regional Roads Group, and that's one that we're all very intrigued and, I suppose, pushing towards to get that solution. So currently, the industry standard is to use an A15E poly-modified binder asphalt. Which, basically, is done for cost and asset longevity. Speaker 6: But the push is always towards developing that green asphalt that's more environmentally friendly.

00:17:00 And so, basically, in us doing it, this is a schedule of rates contracts. We are not sort of limiting ourselves to one treatment and then blocking out the option that we can go to a greener treatment in the future. There's always that option available to us. Speaker 6: When a suitable asphalt is available for that. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. Certainly something the previous chair of that Regional Roads and Transport Group was pushing very hard. Definitely. Speaker 2: We won't name them, Councillor. We won't name those. Councillor Jurisevic: No, thank you. Can I move over? Councillor Lorentson, Councillor Wilkie. All in favour? Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker 2: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you all. Next item on the agenda is item three, the Governance Framework. Do you want to say that?

00:18:00 Hello. Hi. I would like to sit down and have a view on why we've arrived at a new Governance Framework. Speaker 5: All right. So today I'm presenting to you a new Governance Framework for Council to consider and adopt. As you all know, Governance helps us to always act in the best interests of our community and organisation. More specifically, it can help improve our performance and unlock new opportunities. It can also reduce risks, improve reputation and foster trust. In other words, Governance is the process by which decisions are made and implemented. An organisation achieves its goals and produces its outputs and the way our Council is directed, controlled and held to account. By extension, the concept of good Governance is necessary here to ensure accountability, consistency and transparency and to support our Council to make decisions and to always act in the best interests of our community. So within this context and in response to our corporate plan goal, which requires us to strengthen our Governance Framework, this document has been prepared to provide a holistic and strategic overview of our current governance framework.

00:19:00 So the framework, in essence, is based on our local government principles as well as our key governance commitments. So it goes a little bit beyond that, which lays the foundation for good Governance to incur and includes concepts that you'll see in the report, such as accountability, transparency, following the rule to participation, inclusion and consensus orientated decision making. So in further detail, the framework provides our vision, values and cultural values. We've shown how they interact at all levels for anyone to see. Clear definitions and delineation of roles and respective responsibilities of the Council, Councillors, Mayor, CEO and employees. Our current governance arrangements broken into the various topics in the document, as well as the essential requirement for ethical leadership, decision making and accountability.

00:20:00 And to be clear, Council has always engaged and practised good governance. We do this every day. We're doing it right now. This framework simply acknowledges and formalises such practices that are occurring by providing a comprehensive high level account of how we apply our governance principles to achieve good governance. So in essence, it's a fundamental cornerstone document for our organisation that reflects our existing practices for anyone to view. And in addition, the framework has gone through extensive internal consultation at various levels. It's been reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee at a draft level and external consultants have all reviewed it as well and been quite supportive of the content and the direction we're proposing to take. So by comparison, to give you a sense as well what everyone else is doing out there, research and discussion shows that various councils have already established and formalised their governance frameworks.

00:21:00 And they're using this kind of document as an educational tool for staff and the community. To understand good governance practices. So it's all about increasing transparency and awareness out there. Therefore it's hoped that this framework, our framework, will inspire that continuous improvement of good governance practices. And ensure that we continue to deliver the best possible services for our community. Councillor Jurisevic: We've had our governance framework in place. We've always had our governance framework in place. What's changed in this document at all? We've never had it. Or what are the major changes? What are the major improvements or enhancements in this document? Speaker 5: So, through the Chair, we've never actually had a formal governance framework document in place. We've had elements of the framework, a framework on our website, being alluded to. But nothing that really contains it all into one holistic document.

00:22:00 And this is going to be a new piece of work, yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Di, I really appreciate the document. As you said, it integrates all the governance practices that are currently in place within the Council. And it is an educated document as well. From your perspective, what areas of governance do we need to improve upon? Speaker 5: I don't think there's any particular area. I think as you can, as I've alluded to, this is currently happening, all these elements. So, to be honest, I can't really point to something saying we're lacking. It's been an unfair question to put on you at this point. It's a big question. It is a big question. Councillor Wilkie: But I mean, it's also, I always believe it's an aspirational document. Yes, it is. You've got this. It doesn't mean everything's great. It's something you've got to continually work at to make sure that these processes are occurring and there's no lapses and you're monitoring and striving for constant improvement.

00:23:00 Yeah. So, that's why I asked the question. This must be something like risk mitigation. Yeah. Speaker 5: And you will see elements. I think you're right. We are constantly evolving and improving. You will see elements too of the framework come up to future Council meetings as well for improvement. And I think you're right. Risk is one of them. So, you'll see a new risk management policy in the near future. And that is a key foundational component of our governance framework. There will be other policies as well that will come up. So, in essence, yes, we're constantly striving to improve. And we, you know, those foundational elements will keep evolving and adapting. And as we change as an organisation too, this document will change too. So, it will keep reflecting those improvements. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Just because we have this framework doesn't mean it's job done. Speaker 5: That's right. Yeah. It's a live document. Yeah.

00:24:00 It should reflect our current profile as an organisation. Councillor Jurisevic: I noticed that Human Rights has been introduced. The Human Rights Act 2019 has been introduced. And we've had that for Council in the past. Speaker 5: Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: That's been incorporated in this document as well. That's right. Speaker 5: Yeah. Yeah. Yep. So, this is a high-level kind of aerial view that incorporates all those elements and, I guess, machinery components that form governance, good governance for our organisation. Councillor Jurisevic: And I know, Mr. CEO, with the finance elements here, it says, any costs associated with training sessions to support the framework may be sought from Council's corporate training budget. That's what Paul was saying. The spend. Yes. From Council's training budget. Speaker 3: It's associated with good governance. Thank you, Councillor Jurisevic, as was duly noted. And we are on notice to spend that budget this year. Councillor Lorentson: I've got a couple of questions, darling. First of all, great document.

00:25:00 And I think it's really important for the community to have this document. It's important as for Council. It's also just a really good reference point for anyone in the community that want to check what's going on. What are obligations, duties, responsibilities? Whether we, what our legislative compliance requirements are. Whether we are being run efficiently, sustainably, et cetera. So, I recommend this document to anyone in the community to understand what a conflict of interest is. What, there's so much good information in here, not just for us, for everyone in the community. The only thing I'd like to note. And I note the recommendation authorised as a CEO, if required, to make any minor amendments to the documents. I love, and this is just a thought as I'm reading and making a million notes, that on

00:26:00 page 13, there are four key ethics principles. And I note on page 12, our values. And given that our vision is to make sure that our values are met. And one is NUSA shy, different by nature. It would be great to add a number five. And this is just a thought, a commitment to sustainability. I think that we need to make a little bit more noise about NUSA shy being different by nature. And maybe reference even to our NUSA environment strategy. I actually had to look for that. And it's actually a really great piece of work that I would love resurfaced. And as a Council for us to look at the anatomy. And that's the big picture stuff about sustainability, climate change adaptation, there's just so much good stuff in that, but that would be my only note, that if we can just consider commitment to sustainability, that we must operate in a manner which considers long-term environmental, social and financial implications.

00:27:00 So moving that value into a principle. But other than that, I love it, and I know that I'm going to keep it somewhere really handy in my home office, so I can refer to it. In particular, like I said, conflict of interest, which is what community ask, and questions we need to ask to ascertain whether or not we should leave or we will stay in the room. So thank you, great piece of work, Diana. Do you want me to go? Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, I'll move it. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay, I'll second it. Okay. What about you? Anything? Thank you, Diana. Thank you, John. Great work. Appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Well, we've gone to item four, community tenure. Tender. Tenure. Sorry, I was on the break. Community tenure renewals. Michelle, I'll hand it to you. Speaker 9: To be fair, it does have the word tenure and tender in it. Speaker 3: Good afternoon.

00:28:00 Good afternoon. Councillor Jurisevic: So, I'd like to have a bit of an overview on why this item is required. Sure. Speaker 9: As you would know by now, each year we put this report up, which identifies expiring community tenure, and we identify any groups that are in the next 12 months either renewing or new tenure to be prepared for not-for-profit groups. Under the legislation, we must first come to council and get resolution to apply an exemption to not go out for public tender, not tenure. And that's why this report is before you. As you can see, there's only two groups for the next 12 months that we require new tenure for. I think all, we're up to date with most of our expired tenure. Councillor Jurisevic: And a period of those leases will be part of that lease agreement coming before us once Speaker 9: time is complete. Yes. Yep. That's right. And that's all outlined in our tender policy about what we can and can't do.

00:29:00 So, it's negotiated all in compliance with that. Councillor Wilkie: I guess one of the reasons why you've sought this exemption is because there are no other groups who are actively seeking tenure overdose. Speaker 9: No, that's right. Yeah. Yep. And with these particular ones, they have been on sale. They've been on site without formal tender. Now I'm saying. Yeah. Formal tenure for quite some time. So, they are existing. It was just under a more informal agreement. Now, they would like it formalised, which is what we've been working towards with some of these groups with historical informal agreements. Councillor Wilkie: So, would it be fair to say if there was a situation where you had multiple groups showing interest in either of these areas, you would go to? Speaker 9: Expression of interest. Councillor Wilkie: Can I do that? No. Happy to move it. All in favour?

30 minutes in

00:30:00

00:30:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, Council. Speaker 9: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Item five. Appointment of 2023 show holiday. First show holiday. Speaker 3: My first show holiday, Lisa. Thank thank you, Chair. 9th September is when the show holiday has been put forward. And we do need to formalise that. Yeah. Through council resolution we need to formalise that show holiday. Fairly seen in practice across local government in Queensland and consistent with show holiday practices in the past here with Noosa Shire Council. Happy to take any questions on that. Councillor Wilkie: Mr CEO, I've just checked the date on the calendar and Friday is the 9th. Speaker 3: I thought it was the 9th as well. Councillor Wilkie: It is the 9th.

00:31:00 Speaker 9: Do you want that as a change or just a change of the table? Speaker 3: Just a change of the table will be fine. Thanks a lot. But it is, yeah, definitely Friday the 9th here for Noosa Shire. Councillor Wilkie: If Clare was here she would have been able to tell you that without even looking at a calendar. Speaker 3: Absolutely, straight away. But any further questions through the chair? I didn't realise the Mayor was a living, breathing, walking Gallaudet. Councillor Wilkie: No, she's very good at working up dates without looking at a calendar. She can work out what day of the week it is. That's a good answer. Councillor Jurisevic: That's a special one, really. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, yeah. Councillor Lorentson: Alright, does anybody have further? Oh, I have one question. Yes. Given it's a public holiday and for a lot of small businesses that comes at a cost, is there anything as a council that we can do? To help, and I know that we financially assist the Noosa Show Day, we assist the association,

00:32:00 but is there something more we can do to make the Noosa Show bigger and more epic than it already is? I mean, it's, to announce a public holiday, we should be asking the Noosa Show Association, you know, live music. We just have a weekend of busking and live entertainment at Gimpy Terrace, and it would be great if there's anything as a council we can do to help, I don't know, make it more epic, and whether council have met with the Noosa Show Society and discussed, you know, opportunities. I can pass. Speaker 3: I can see the director of community jumping at the big table. Councillor Lorentson: I can pass. I just think I want to make this huge. Speaker 8: I mean, as a kid. Yeah, we've been working with the show association for a number of years, so they've just been through an evolution, I guess, in their management committee, and the new management committee

00:33:00 are looking at what the future of the show looks like, and, you know, we have already undertaken some work with the show society over the years looking at different models, because the nature of, I guess, a rural show has changed, and so they will continue on that process. It's a new committee, so we don't want to, and they're just coming out the other side of COVID, so the first thing for them this year is to really be able to get that show back up and operational, and then look at, well, what is the future of that? But they're already on that path, and council's already been providing support to them. Councillor Lorentson: So this is for next year. For 2023. Speaker 3: That's what we're going to do. So, Chair, similarly, this year's already been resolved upon, so this report is actually

00:34:00 known. Next year. 2023. My mistake. Councillor Jurisevic: Which is the 8th of September next year. That's why we needed her worship name here. Speaker 3: So it is correct. The 8th of September. It is 2023. 8th of September, 2023. Now I'm just checking that recommendation. Councillor Jurisevic: It's part of workplace agreements. Speaker 3: Absolutely. Yeah. So that will be registered with the Industrial Relations Commission as a gazetted public holiday for the Noosa Shire local government area. So once resolved upon by the council, we'll then send letters through advising that resolution, and then that will become the report. And that will be a gazetted public holiday for our LGA for 8th of September, 2023 on the Friday. Councillor Jurisevic: So under, in the report, since under the Holidays Act 1983, the Minister can appoint. It's actually required to provide a show day as part of the Industrial Relations Agreement?

00:35:00 Speaker 3: In show days across Queensland. So there's an equal amount of public holidays across Queensland, and they are very much set to local government areas. Mine's saying, though, is that the exception is the Brisbane area because of the Royal Exhibition that is broader across local government boundaries. But each LGA that has an agricultural or historical show will have that show holiday, and that gives equal amount of public holidays across Queensland. Councillor Jurisevic: Very good. Speaker 3: Each area. Thank you. I'll move. Councillor Jurisevic: Seconded by Councillor Wilkie. Nothing further? All in favour? The ayes have it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, CEO. I'll move on to item six. The reports were noted by the committee. The mobile library replacement plan update. And our libraries team here. Yes. Rachel and Tracy.

00:36:00 Speaker 7: Hello. Speaker 8: How are you? Councillor Jurisevic: Hello. I'd like to get some bit of an update on where we're at with our mobile library replacement plans. Thank you. Speaker 10: Afternoon, everyone. Hello. So, my name is Rachel. If you've not met me before, I'm the branch library's team leader. So, the report you've got in front of you provides an update to our mobile project plan. And it includes the progress on our mobile vehicle and where we are with our library kiosks as well. So, it includes a schedule, you'll see. And we anticipate that our new mobile vehicle will hit the road. So, it includes a schedule, you'll see. And we expect that our new mobile vehicle will hit the road by the end of the year. We've actually just had our Peregian kiosk installed. And we're expecting the Pomona kiosk to be installed in the next month or so. And the project is on track to being allocated within our allocated budget.

00:37:00 Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: 70,000 to spare. Potentially. Yeah. Speaker 8: There's a little bit of water to find the bridge. Yeah. Absolutely. There's a little bit of water still to flow under the bridge given the delay in the truck. So, therefore, that would be a contingency. And we'll see how we get towards the end of the project. Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: Given all the flooding recently, I hope that doesn't stop the vehicle from getting in the doors. Councillor Wilkie: Any personal questions? I just had a question about the outreach program. Could you tell us a bit about that? Speaker 7: Yep. So, do you? Yeah, I'm happy to. Yeah. I'm happy to share. I don't know a lot about it. I didn't even know it was happening. Yes. So, libraries have delivered outreach library learning programs as part of their core business. But we have decided to put a focus on our outreach programs, particularly to Pomona,

00:38:00 Kin Kin and Peregian. Pomona and Peregian are our two busiest mobile library locations. So, part of this replacement project was extending library service into the community. Predominantly, we've put outreach programs into things like schools or daycare centres. But this time, we've actually partnered with the community houses or delivered programs in the hall. And we've changed the type of programs. So, we're delivering early literacy programs like story time or things around that area or digital literacy. Which we haven't delivered within the community before. And particularly not in a community venue. And they've been received. They've been well received. We've had nearly 200 people attend those. And it's fantastic for libraries to be able to actually deliver services all the way out into Kin Kin. Outside of the physical walls. Councillor Jurisevic: Are there opportunities for some more remote, like Ridgewood and Peckham as well to get

00:39:00 these sort of programs? Speaker 7: Absolutely. Absolutely. So, we've started discussions with the federal school around alternative programs that we can deliver there that's more relevant to the community and to the school. It's very interesting the type of programs that they have suggested. A little bit like they have a beautiful library in their school, but they don't have a librarian. So, they don't have a qualified specialist in that area. And they've discussed with our youth services team how they would really like a librarian to come in and actually teach the students how to use online resources. Or really, how to understand the Dewey Decimal System and be able to locate information. So, we are working on delivering different types of services there. Councillor Jurisevic: In my understanding in the past, we used to have a library relationship with the federal. Once the school was built and the library was installed there, the relationship changed to some degree. And the school was more responsible for the library services in that community. Speaker 7: Yes. They certainly stepped up because they had a beautiful library installed with all of

00:40:00 the resources. Visitation was really low at that stop once the school moved off that original location on the highway. So, we were having constant, you know, communications with the current customers that were coming on board as well as the school just to make sure that we were delivering the right services for them. Councillor Jurisevic: And the school would facilitate the kids or what about the adults in the area with regard to what? Speaker 7: We have spoken to the school about whether or not they'd like a bulk loan. And that would service the community as well. They were also coming in on Pomona on the market days and using the mobile library service and we could also identify that they were going up to Gympie. So we felt that there were a different way, maybe a more efficient or better way we could provide library services for them. And you're right, the Pomona kiosk and the mobile service will definitely support the community and federal.

00:41:00 Councillor Wilkie: So I'm trying to understand the connection between mobile library and the outreach program. So are they, does something in the mobile library goes to a location, the outreach program takes place involving the staff in the mobile library and the books in the mobile library? Speaker 7: It can be a bit of both. Yeah. Yeah, so. Councillor Wilkie: Has that been, I know it says it's been happening since mid 2021, does that mean it's been associated with a big mobile library? Speaker 7: No, no, we've been delivering independently. We've been delivering independent programs within the community, independent to the vehicle, however, and our hope was in outreach services, it used to just be a mobile library and the collections of books, but outreach services now means a whole range of learning opportunities, not just the mobile library, it is our suite of programming. In the future with the new vehicle, we're hoping we can do a bit of both. So we're hoping that we can do the independent programs at different locations, but because we don't need two operators to operate.

00:42:00 Yeah. In the future with the smaller vehicle, we can use that resource to be able to send a different library staff member out, and when you come on board, have that tailored experience where you have a librarian help you with your smart tablet or with your, you know, whatever your learning need is at that day, whereas we needed two staff to be able to operate the big vehicle and service. Speaker 10: So I suppose the other thing is thinking of outreach services as an overarching point of view. Of which you've got our lending library kiosks, you've got our outreach programs and events, and you've got the mobile library service, so outreach being the overview, yeah. Councillor Wilkie: So when the mobile library goes to Peregian and Pomona, will it just be to replenish the kiosks and outreach as well, and people can still go inside the mobile library? Speaker 7: Yeah, absolutely.

00:43:00 Yeah, so we have the outreach vehicle that will remain on a weekly schedule. We'll have the kiosks that provide additional access to the collection out there, and we'll have lifelong learning programming as part of that outreach service as well. Councillor Wilkie: So it doesn't sound like services have declined at all, sounds like it's increased. Speaker 8: No, so the language that you will hear us change is changing from mobile library to outreach or community-based services. Yeah. Because it now becomes a suite of services. And you're 100% right. Services aren't reducing. No. Services are actually expanding. And this is very much around the philosophy of, you know, you've got an audience who will always come to our facilities, but then you've got a whole lot of users for a whole range of reasons, whether it's time, whether it's access, whether it's they're not quite feeling comfortable in a library, because maybe they didn't do well at school, for example, so they don't feel quite comfortable coming to a library.

00:44:00 Taking the services to them in spaces that they already are comfortable with, and engaging with a whole different audience. And this is able to be achieved through the change in this model, and bringing on board a much more cost-effective vehicle to operate, and this great new technology that we're trialling in the kiosks. Councillor Jurisevic: That would be a great example of the expansion of services to the community in this way. Absolutely. Yeah, I agree. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: I have a question. The RAP. Is absolutely stunning, the new vehicle, Greg Dries. Wonderful. Thank you. It just looks brilliant. Just for anyone asking why the decision was made for Greg Dries, she put his artwork on the exterior rack. Sure. Just to get some clarity. Absolutely. It's part of the branding and library card. Yeah. Speaker 7: It is part of the branding, but Greg Dries, we've had an existing really strong relationship with him for a very long time.

45 minutes in

00:45:00

00:45:00 He's a well-known author and illustrator, and has published a series of children's books. And he delivers a range of different literary and cultural workshops within the library service. So we engage Greg as an extension of his work that he did previously or recently with our children's library card. I don't know if I put a photo of it in here. Speaker 10: I think you did. It's a few pages down. Speaker 7: Yeah. Speaker 10: A few pages. Very true. Speaker 7: So we love celebrating First Nations, all First Nations people in our community, but we also really acknowledge the importance of having Kabi Kabi artists work with us on Noosa projects. I've connected with the Kabi Kabi group to share the design with them. I wanted them to get a sneak preview of the vehicle that we will be travelling, Kabi Kabi Lands, before the wider community get to see it. And the feedback from that was really positive. So they thought the artwork was wonderful.

00:46:00 We agreed that it is important to have Kabi Kabi artists involved in future projects. And I've shared some suggestions of the possibility of that. And one of our big key projects next year will be that Noosa Library Service turns 50. It will be our 50th anniversary. And Noosa Library Branch has its 30th anniversary. So that will be a key project for us next year. And we're really hoping to have an inclusion of Kabi Kabi presence, the artists potentially in our memorabilia for that special event. So we're looking for other future possibilities that we can have Kabi Kabi inclusion in our services. Councillor Jurisevic: Is there a Boronia Kizi on the artwork? Speaker 7: There is a logo. Do you like it? Councillor Lorentson: Oh, it's so beautiful. Can we see it in real life?

00:47:00 Councillor Jurisevic: It is. Councillor Lorentson: It looks stunning. Speaker 8: And for those that may not be familiar, Greg Dryer has been a teacher in the Federal School for a very long time. So he's local and very well known. His story books through the library service are very, very popular. So he has a whole following of young people. And I think it's really important for us to be able to do that. So there's that real connection to story and the library service. Councillor Jurisevic: Is the image of the vehicle correct? Is it blue? Speaker 7: Yes. The artwork. It's still a concept design. Councillor Jurisevic: The concept design is all out on the back. The vehicle itself is blue. Speaker 7: Yes, it is at the moment. So this is our absolute final. It's our welcome feedback from you. All on the design. But we're fairly close. Councillor Jurisevic: The design is beautiful.

00:48:00 The colour of the front end compared to the design isn't. That's my opinion. Speaker 7: Is your preference? Councillor Jurisevic: That's my opinion. White? Well, something other than the blue. That's the concept. Because the two don't go together. I think. Councillor Lorentson: It would be great. Again, just a suggestion. So I know the back of the van says you like your library. But I think that's just a consideration of our vision and who we are and who we bring by nature. That's just a thought. And I would love to see that just plastered all over the Shire. Just to remind everyone our point of difference. Our competitive edge. Speaker 7: I understand. Your life, your library is our library motto. Oh, excuse me. But no, that is okay. That's okay. Speaker 8: I think it's not plastered enough. I feel here that there would be a scope to include the different financials. I think the team could go away and have a look at how that could be worked in some way. We'll have a look at that anyway. Thank you.

00:49:00 Councillor Jurisevic: When do you expect to take delivery of the vehicle? Speaker 7: So we're hoping to get delivery... October. Councillor Wilkie: October, yes. So a few months to fit out and then on the road in January? Speaker 10: Yeah, so we're anticipating the end of the year, but anticipating. Speaker 8: This project, like any other vehicle project, has been subject to the delays that we are all familiar with. Councillor Jurisevic: And they're all the other vehicles, you know. Speaker 8: And so this vehicle had to come from overseas. We were very excited when actually we heard that it arrived in the country. But, you know, that's only the start of the construction. So our supplier company are then putting ongoing issues and being able to get supply of their material. So while we're saying we hope to receive it in October, that is very dependent on them being able to get the supply of the materials and the specialists that they need because it's such a specialised vehicle.

00:50:00 Councillor Wilkie: So the last mobile library required a special licence. I think, Tracy, you had one, a semi-trailer licence or whatever that is. Heavy rig. What sort of licence do you need to drive this? Speaker 10: This is a medium. Speaker 7: I think it's, yes, we ended up going with a light, a light rigid, which is the one just up from a standard car licence. Yeah. Yeah, so already we've. Speaker 10: With a bagel type drivers. Speaker 7: Yeah, so already we've discovered that we have another two or three people in our team that could drive the vehicle now. Councillor Jurisevic: And one counsellor. Speaker 7: And one counsellor, fantastic. This is on video, isn't it? Yeah. So we've put it out to the staff and there are about three or four people who are interested in getting their licence, so we'll see how we go, but already you can see the benefits in operating a smaller vehicle.

00:51:00 Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. And what's actually happening with our current mobile library? Is there a grey one? Speaker 8: Well, council goes through a disposal of assets process, so although it's reached the end of life for us, it will go through a process and be disposed of. Resolved. The prime mover itself, there's still a lot of life left in the prime mover. The trailer, you know, anyone that's seen it recently, it's really come to the end of its life, however, you know, our hope is, like any of our things, that there's a repurpose, a reuse, or at the very least, a recycle. We've been approached by a number of people that can see, you know, tiny home, et cetera, in it, so it will go through a council disposal process, yeah. Councillor Lorentson: I can see. I can see a coastal care building, maybe, no? On wheels, yeah.

00:52:00 On, I'm serious, on wheels. Speaker 7: At the moment, it does have some significant, um, water proofing issues, shall I say, so. Speaker 8: I wouldn't imagine, um, a year that we would be looking at retaining it and that kind of thing. We need a new trailer. Councillor Jurisevic: No. Speaker 7: No. Okay. Councillor Jurisevic: Any further councillors? No. Can I have a mover? Councillor Wilkie? Seconder? Councillor Lorentson? All in favour? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I just like our agenda today, the day confidential session. Meeting has...

Elsewhere on this site

Every page here that links to this one, by section.