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00:00:00 Councillor Wegener: And pay respect to the elders past, present, and future and in the room we have Councillor Finzel, Councillor Stockwell, Councillor the Mayor, Councillor Stewart, CEO, Councillor Wilkie, and Councillor Lorentson. Do we have a confirmation of the minutes? We have no presentations this morning. All in favour of the minutes? That would be unanimous. We have no presentations or deputations. So let's move into the reports for consideration of the committee. Number 1, NCU 22 slash 0048 and OPW 22 slash 0089.
00:01:00 Development Permit for Material Change of Use for Commercial Landing and Operational Works for Prescribed Title Works Situation at 222 King P. Terrace, Noosaville. And we have Leo and Patrick in the room to walk us through this application. Thank you. Speaker 1: So the application relates to, I suppose, an upgrade of the existing facilities at Jetty 222, which is a commercial lease area. The existing arrangement is shown on page 11 of the report and you'll see that there's a jetty head and then some pontoons internal to the site. It's proposed to upgrade that facility by pulling back the jetty head to 3.5 metres from the lease boundary and having it extend for a distance of 43 metres.
00:02:00 And then two of the existing pontoons internal to the site will remain and then, I suppose, if you look at the plan to the left, the pontoons that are on the left-hand side, one that's been removed and then two pontoons are being removed. The application is supported. The primary issues in terms of the planning scheme is the fact that the pontoons add site cover. The planning scheme prescribes a 10% site cover. This takes it to approximately, I think, 22%. Notwithstanding, the impact of the development on the surrounding area is considered to be suitable and consistent with the character of the area. And it provides a functionality for the operators of the lease to enable them to suitably store the boats within their lease area. Looking at the site historically, you know, my report makes comment that the photos that we have online are a snapshot in a point in time.
00:03:00 So while there might be 15 or 20 boats at that point in time, it's assumed that some are out being used under lease. But there are times when you can see that there's boats in the number of the high 20s and even 30 on site. So we consider that there's, as long as there's suitable conditions applied, that the development can be supported. So that there's no increase in scale and intensity over time. Mayor Stewart: I've got a couple of questions. I went down there on Saturday and had a good look. I know the site well. Even with the extension, it's still well in size and the leasing there leaks, which is about 1700 square metres. Speaker 1: That's correct. In terms of areas, about 1648. And it is three and a half metres from that, the furthest boundary. And they've provided plans with their fleet that demonstrate how their fleet can be accommodated within the lease area. Mayor Stewart: Because they're going out one and a half metres, but they have five metres, so at least three and a half.
00:04:00 And they told me, I didn't know this, but most boats are 2.4 metres wide. And to be carried by a trailer, they have to be, otherwise you need a police escort. So very few boats are wider than 2.4 metres, which actually I didn't know. So even with that and the metre each they're going, it's still within their lease zones. Speaker 1: That's correct. And we've asked for that to be shown on the plans, how a boat could fit within the lease area. It's acknowledged that the ferry will lease a fuel at the site and that will go outside the lease boundary. That would be consistent with our plan. Mayor Stewart: Also, the new pontoon, it's because it's, it will be new and it moves, so it's a lot more accessible for people. That's right. Getting on and off with disabilities or in a wheelchair because currently it's a static, very old sort of wooden pontoon. And there's that big discrepancy and I was told, and I've seen it myself because we pull up there and get petrol, but it is quite difficult if you've got a disability to get on and off. But the new pontoon, because it will be water level, it will be a lot more easy for people to access from an accessibility point of view.
00:05:00 Speaker 1: That's right. The pontoons will sit on the water level as opposed to how they're raised at the moment. And that's right from an accessibility point of view and even from a visual point of view. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, and from a visual it will be less intrusive because it's lower. That's correct. Yeah. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, Mike, just, it's probably more an academic question. When we have development over land, we consider infrastructure charges for the book rip. Is there a consideration that we had in cases where development's over water? Speaker 3: Um, if I'm... Yeah, that's great. Speaker 1: Yeah, so, sorry, I didn't realise. No. It's okay. So the infrastructure charges relate to gross floor area. If there's an increasing increase, then we could apply an infrastructure charge. A landing is considered to be minor works under Schedule 16 of the Planning Regulations. And Schedule 16 details the prescribed amounts for the different types of use for floor area.
00:06:00 So a landing is a minor use like a cemetery and advertising device. Okay. Yeah. That doesn't trigger anything. No, it does not trigger anything. No. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, it's just, it's just interesting that we, we have, we have large commercial operations over water and it generates significant costs on council in terms of management of the adjacent foreshore of the river, et cetera. It's just an interesting proposition about how, whether it's equitable or not. Yeah. Speaker 3: Um, through the chair, um, and in response to Councillor Stockholm, my experience in the Whitsundays, um, council area that has numerous islands and, and, and, and, and a large tourism industry, um, seabed leases, um, that are then provided by the state for, for larger pieces of infrastructure such as marinas and over air volumetric leases are a way for revenue to be returned so that we can maintain on land infrastructure, um, that, uh, and particularly also if the council is owning significant jettings, moorings, pontoons,
00:07:00 um, not so much here in Noosa that they are a bit smaller scale than, than what happens in that part of the world. So, uh, but it, it all goes back to what's happening, even though it's in water, um, what is the seabed lease? Um, and then you start to move forward from there. Um, so that's the mechanisms that are part of it as well. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So what is in this case in 2016, the state just extended these leases for 30 years without consultation. So we're probably limited to our ability to then require a seabed lease. Speaker 3: Yeah. We, that, that would be sitting there as a, as another leasing document. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Mm. Okay. That's all. Just thinking. Councillor Finzel: I just wanted to say, Patrick, I thought it was a good report. Um, just to comment on the condition of the number of vessels to 31. Mm. And then can you just expand on the comment about how, uh, but if the business changes and other opportunities come, how they're going to work through that?
00:08:00 Like if the industry offers different product and. Speaker 1: Yeah. So the condition has been included to, um, align the, the number of vessels that are stored on site, to be stored on site with what's currently happening. Mm. And, and that's, that's consistent with the scheme which seeks that there's no increase, um, in the scale and intensity of commercial activities. And I think we, we need to acknowledge that over time things may change for the operator and, and, and how they wish to meet market demand. Um, having said that, there's an opportunity for them to come back when their business does evolve to look at changing that condition. So yes, it is a condition on the, on the approval that they would need to comply with that now. But if their business was to evolve over time, then we could look at making some changes to accord with their changing needs and just also having the documentation put in front of us to show that however they want to operate is also within that commercial lease area. Mayor Stewart: Yeah. Thank you. Because Patrick, they're the only, correct me if I'm wrong, they're the only, um, business
00:09:00 down there that is conditioned with a number, a specific number of how many vessels they can have. Is that correct? Speaker 1: I would have to come back to you on that. Um, I, we've done a few, in my time with Council, in the last seven or so years, we have done a few, um, changes to concerns, um, and generally those would be supported with plans, um, that, um, would identify vessels. But I'd probably want to come back to you if you don't mind. Mayor Stewart: That's okay. Yeah. It's just, they mentioned that they were the ones that had been conditioned but they didn't think otherwise. Yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah. And I think part of that is there's historically been an issue with the boats being contained within the lease area and that, to a large degree, has been reflective of the infrastructure that's on the site. Um, and at the moment, when you look at the plan, it really is at capacity at that 31. Okay. Yep. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, I want to thank you too. That was a good report. Appreciate it. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Um, Patrick, in regards to vessels that are situated outside the lease area, um, on
00:10:00 page 14, I note September 2022 is one outside the lease area. My guess is that, from time to time, there are also other jetties that are operating or extending outside their leases. My question is in regards to compliance. Um, how do we enforce compliance and is there a penalty when, um, an operator is operating outside the lease area? Speaker 1: When we have a development approval, we can investigate it from a compliance point of view and, and if required, we could seek some form of enforcement action. But some of these lease areas, um, would not have, um, a development approval associated with them. And whilst Council might, um, look to investigate any complaints, all of these lease areas would need to, um, support any enforcement action as well.
00:11:00 Because the lease is with the state. Mayor Stewart: With the state. Speaker 1: Yes. Mayor Stewart: It's my understanding too, Patrick, that that, from that picture, those, this will actually go a long way of actually having this infrastructure to tie boats to. And some of those, some of those boats at the time, well, my impression was that they'd sort of been, because they weren't actually anchored to anything like a pillar, um, they had gone in the lease area. Whereas this will enable them to all be anchored and secured properly so they will stay within that lease area. Speaker 1: That's correct. So the existing infrastructure probably doesn't support the amount of boats. Yeah. And with this arrangement, they certainly have the capacity to make sure they stay within the lease area. That's my understanding. Yep. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Wilkie, do you have a question? No. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. I have a couple of questions. Um, so it, it's a state. The state owns that area. They have the jurisdiction over that, that, that space there. Okay. It says on page 31 that, in the referral agency response, maybe that, this, this appears
00:12:00 to be the letter from the state here, the refer, the referral agency, seems to actually be the jurisdictional piece that, the more important piece than our, but we're, we're okay against it. But it's really the state that's already given it the stamp. Is, is that true? Speaker 1: Well, there's a process where it needs to be referred to the state. It's a type of application that requires referral. If the state was not supportive of the application and, and wanted it refused, we'd be required to refuse the application. Um, but it, it is a, it is a key component for the state to review and support the application. Councillor Wegener: And has the state already done that? Is it, this letter, is that? Speaker 1: That's correct. So. Councillor Wegener: So this has been signed off by the state? Speaker 1: That's correct. So they, they've provided, um, leases included the referral response, which is dated, um, I'm sorry, uh, 20th of April when they finalised their assessment, and that includes a number of conditions, and also the reasons for their responses, what you've got there on page 31.
00:13:00 Councillor Wegener: I, I'm just confused and a little bit troubled by, um, the quote, the refurbishment will not result in an increase or intensity of the existing use. However, it will involve the removal of some of the existing infrastructure and construction of new infrastructure. So, it, to me, it, it seems though that the real issue is, is there, uh, intense, uh, an increase of intensity of the use of this space? Speaker 1: Yeah. I'm not sure what page in the report that comment is that you referred to, but, um, certainly there is analysis within the report of the aerial photographs because, um, it was, we were mindful of how was the site currently being used and what they were proposing in terms of their plan for the 31 boats to ensure that that was consistent. And the, the analysis has shown over time that the number of boats on site certainly is in the mid-20s, at times up to 30. And as I said before, we acknowledge that when those photos are taken, it's just a snapshot. And it's likely that some of the boats are out, um, on hire.
00:14:00 Mayor Stewart: Tom, I went down there and had a look. The current structures are, are, are looking pretty old and tired and worn and they're high and they're very visible. It's my understanding that the new structures, the new infrastructure will actually be low and less visible and less intrusive. Yeah. So that's my understanding from it. So it'll actually create less of a sort of an impact from a visual perspective is my understanding. Yes. Councillor Wegener: And then, so I, and you do talk quite a bit about, um, the development ensures there's no increase in the scale and intensity of commercial operations, which is performance, that's part of the performance outcome. Um, so, but it, it just appears to me that if you're adding that much more surface area in pontoons that we're looking, that, that we're not following the letter of the plan here, meaning that there's going to be an intensity. Speaker 1: Well, we, we acknowledge there's an increase in site cover. Yeah.
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00:15:00 But the purpose of the condition for 31 boats is to, to align the on, the future use with what's been happening historically. And our, as I said, our analysis of the aerial photographs and what the applicants submitted to us would demonstrate that that will be consistent. Thanks Mr. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just a follow on just from Councillor Wegener' original question. So the state's interest is likely to be around the Coastal Management Act and Fisheries Act. Um, rather than the planning matters, we're, we're, we're, yeah, that's what they, we refer to them under their head of power, and we're about interpretation of our planning scheme. That's correct. Yeah. And, and. Not that they overrides on our planning scheme matters. Speaker 1: That's correct. And the report includes some quotations from the lease and it talks about special condition 7 saying that the leasee must ensure that the development and use of the land meets with the planning scheme, the local laws and requirements of Noosa Shire Council finding the leasee. So it certainly, we have our independent capacity to enforce the planning scheme.
00:16:00 Councillor Finzel: That just raises a question for me. Given the state's interest and the construction of the jetties and with the use of polystyrene, I didn't see anywhere in the report where the state makes comment on that. Is there any, I don't know, moving forward with climate change and weather response and those type of things, not just what's before us today but beyond that. Where's the state now, like, adding that on? I mean, we've got noise, we've got pollution, we've got amenity. Where is this, like, this risk mitigation around materials by which, you know, pontoons, et cetera, are constructed? Speaker 1: I'd like to come back to you on that, if you don't mind, because I've probably been more mindful of the planning scheme in my consideration, but I could have a look at the documentation that's come back from the state and even ask them the question and come back to you.
00:17:00 Councillor Finzel: Yeah, that'd be great. Considering we had that big meeting with everyone involved around, you know, post the foreclosure. The flood event and the distribution of polystyrene along our waterways, just from general interest and knowing that we do have that in the forefront of our minds, where does that sit in future construction works? Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Can I just follow up? I can't remember whether it was at the forum or I also marked the student assignment on this topic. But in one of those forums, it was suggested there's development of new requirements in terms of how the jetties have to be secured, and the ones that were secured in the modern way didn't go, and the ones that weren't secured that way, so I wonder if there's actually a bit of a chance, should we be conditioning on a particular method of securing? I don't think we can probably with the planning scheme look about materials at this stage, but I think there's securing in the flood, and bear in mind our speeds and volumes are unlikely to be as high as were in Brisbane, but it's probably just something, you know, I think it was like three points they had to be tied down to or something in the, but yeah, if you could just have a look, and I'll have a look at the assignment to see whether it was in there.
00:18:00 Mayor Stewart: It's all blooming. Patrick, it's my understanding that the polystyrene that's standard is a 3mm laminate, but they've actually used a 10mm laminate for a triple extra thickness to secure the polystyrene. Now, that's what, that's my understanding, at a cost of an increase of $20,000 more to these people, so they've used that 10mm laminate to secure not the 3mm that's required, but use that extra heavy duty for that probably. So, but again, this is the information I've received, I haven't got it, yeah. Speaker 1: Okay. Mayor Stewart: Tom? Councillor Wilkie: Yes, sorry, yes, no, you go ahead, yeah. I just had a question. Nature and extent of use, all commercial activities, including the loading and unloading of passengers and boat documents combined with the commercial lease area, just learning from previous experience where we had another application to extend the jetting, and it was understood that all commercial activities could take place within the lease area.
00:19:00 Yeah. And it turned out that was not the case, and there was a court case about that. What steps is this council taking to demonstrate they've learned from that experience to ensure we're not facing that same situation again, where a commercial jetty is built, there's not enough space left to the edge of the lease area, and commercial activities take place outside the lease area? Speaker 1: Yeah, well, there's a bit of a difference because the distance on the one that you're referring to was a lot less, probably about half the distance. Yes. And so this at 3.5 metres, and as the Mayor commented, generally boats are at 2.4 metres in width. Councillor Wilkie: Yes. Speaker 1: There was also an issue on that matter in terms of the consistency between which information that was on the plans.
00:20:00 There was a, I think there was a comment that basically where there was ambiguity, it went in the applicant's favour. So the plans that we're looking at now are consistent, they're consistent with what SARA has reviewed. So I'm confident that we're in a strong position. Councillor Wilkie: So Patrick, are you saying there's less ambiguity in the way the plans are drawn this time? That's correct. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Patrick, I'm not a boat specialist, but that's my information about the 2.4 metres. So, you know, I can't, you know, the information I've received, but yeah, I'm not a boat specialist, but I have received that, and anything greater is, you have to take it by trail, and have that precess score again, that's what I've been told by the industry. Speaker 1: And I think, again, the primary point comes back to the amount of distance that's provided in this instance, that 3.5 metres is significantly larger than what was provided in that other application. Councillor Wilkie: And you're confident that that distance will be made, will hold true once the structure is built? Speaker 1: Well, we don't have any ambiguity on the plans to suggest otherwise.
00:21:00 It comes back to the survey being done properly, and the development being built in accordance with the plans, like any development. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Yeah, I'm just going to follow up because, you know, what the court approved was like, that's the bit of bulldozer into the rainforest. Because someone could hotline into our public space, which was an atrocious outcome in that case. So, I think there is need for caution. Is there an opportunity to have a condition about no commencement of construction until the, you know, the survey point's been identified? Is that some mechanism where we can say, okay, we're going to, you're going to say where you're going to, we're going to confirm that's the maximum extent of your jetty? Speaker 1: Okay, I can look into that for you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just to, just to make sure that, you know, they don't have a builder that slips by five metres. Councillor Wegener: Yeah, and would, would the state enforce that? Or would we enforce that? It's a jurisdictional question.
00:22:00 Speaker 1: Well, it would be similar to the last matter where we weren't satisfied with what had been constructed, and we, we refused the proposed change that was put forward to a court with what had been built. And then it went to court, and unfortunately we didn't get it. We were not successful in the court case. So, we can, we do have a process to undertake when there's a planning approval, but, yeah, I suppose when it's, when it's constructed, it makes it a bit harder too. Councillor Wegener: Considering that, that, well, due to the councillors, considering that there, there's been a bit of discussion, and there may, I, I see that there could potentially be public interest in this, should we put this to general, or do you, do, or you guys? Mayor Stewart: I'm comfortable keeping it, and I'd start to confirm that the maximum travel is 2.5 metres nationwide. There you go. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Mayor Stewart: It's 2.7 metres. Councillor Wegener: Would anybody like to move it to general? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh, I'm happy, and we can get a bit more information at general. Okay. Councillor Wegener: So, please move it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And move it for further consideration.
00:23:00 Councillor Wegener: I'll second that. Is there anyone in favour? Mayor Stewart: Oh, I don't, I, I, I have a bit of good information here, so, you know, there's, what was that? Councillor Wegener: There you go. Mayor Stewart: There might be an opportunity for councillors to go down and have a look. Councillor Wegener: Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah, I think that would be really worthwhile. Yeah, definitely. Councillor Finzel: Okay. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Okay, we're off to page 34, number two, MCU 22 slash 0148, application for maturement. A change of use for food and drink outlet, outdoor dining at 2 Memorial Avenue in Pomona. Speaker 1: Okay, um, so, this application, um, relates to an outdoor dining area that's being used currently.
00:24:00 Um, in 2020, uh, 2021, there was advice to the owner that they needed approval for that outdoor dining area. Um, and subsequently, we've got this material change of use application. Um, there has been development on this site for quite some time. Um, the, the analysis, um, of this one has related primarily to car parking. Um, and it acknowledges that there is a shortfall of two car parking spaces associated with the, um, outdoor dining area. And, um, it seeks to support the application for the, for the outdoor dining area on the basis that there is sufficient car parking within proximity of the site, that the use has been operating for some time, and it hasn't resulted in, in any issues in terms of car parking. Um, and so, as I said, it's being, uh, recommended for approval in that basis. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Finzel, do you have any questions?
00:25:00 Councillor Finzel: Um, yeah, I know, uh, I think it's great for Pomona to, um, you know, I spoke to the owner, they're looking at activating that site, which is, I think it's great for, you know, the town to develop economically and socially, um, I think it's great. Um, I did have a question around how they were going to get the food van onto the site, but I've since found out that it's 2.4 metres wide, and I believe they can get it up the, the alleyway. So, uh, yeah, I'm satisfied that, uh, it's a good report, I think it's a great outcome, and of course we've got heaps of parking in town, you know, at the railway, um, grounds there. If I'm there on the weekends and the markets are on, there's always sufficient parking there, and it's a nice walk over the railway lines into town, so, um, yeah, I think all the best with their business, and it's, it's been a, um, good report. Absolutely. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I'm happy to move it. Mayor Stewart: I'll second it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I'll do so. So, it's, um, I think the logic in terms of the car parking is correct.
00:26:00 I think it is a establishment which people, uh, use generally as part of going shopping, going to the market, getting some money out of the bank, et cetera. Um, so it, probably that the extra footpath dining doesn't really add a great load onto the car parking demands. You know, there might be some arguments in market days, there'll be a lot of people like, we need more car parks. But, as Councillor Finzel said, there's always overflow if you're willing to walk 100 metres. Um, so, yeah, I think it's what we are trying to encourage in our, in our rural towns, is this open, um, air dining, just like on Hastings Street. It's added something, you know, well, while it was vacant, it was a bit of a, a, um, a down of a ten. When this, uh, uh, the, the family that opened this, it sort of had become very popular. But, as you say, it doesn't, I don't believe it does add to the car parking cost. So, I'm happy to support it. Councillor Wegener: Do you think that you should have had an amendment for bicycle parking?
00:27:00 Well, I do, actually, by the way. Okay. Do you want to do a vote? Absolutely. All in favour? Okay. And... It's a good question, actually. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's not, it's not... Yeah. Okay. Okay. There's more money in it. And we're supposed to do the parks in the moment. I can't think of any bike for a stand. There we go. I think we get the placemaking strategy there as a priority. Councillor Wegener: Okay. Report number three. MCU 22 slash 0 115. Application for material change of use for a bar at 1-3 slash 9 Rennie Street, Noosaville, on page 41. Speaker 2: Can we do that? Councillor Wegener: Go for it. Speaker 2: Okay. All right. Thanks, uh, Chair. Uh, so, this is an application for a bar at Rennie Street. Um, it's the distillery known as Seabourn, which is, um, uh, what you might call a very successful gin distillery that's, uh, getting accolades across the, across the globe.
00:28:00 Uh, in terms of the, uh, application itself, um, generally, a proposed bar is an inconsistent use of the medium impact industry zone as outlined in the introduction, um, and entertainment activities are generally not supported due to their, you know, potential for reverse amenity, uh, impacts. The Noosa plan does provide support for ancillary uses where there is subordinate to industrial uses on a small scale. What was proposed, there's been some negotiations ongoing between the officers and the applicant in terms of the original, what was proposed and put forward, um, and as such, and in consideration of the various non-compliances that have been outlined in the report associated with parking and some concerns around, um, queuing and so forth and floor area, um, we're proposing an approval of the application subject to a number of conditions that support the application but we believe, um, address the, the issues of non, non-compliance in terms of the Noosa plan.
00:29:00 And it's put forward for approval subject to conditions. Councillor Wegener: Anybody have any comments or questions? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm just going to follow on your last comment, because you, in your report, you, you noted, noted that there is no footpath out in front of this premises. Um, and you're suggesting that the scale doesn't justify the, the full cost and that it wouldn't link up at this stage. But as you know, most people, uh, ride their bikes to two storeys. No. I, I, I, I had, but not this one. Um, but the, yeah, long term, it's, it's, it's clear that we should have a, a, our, a multi-purpose path throughout our industrial estate. So is there an ability to look at uses like this as a, a, a contribution towards, um, the future construction? Or does it have to be just you either construct it or you don't? Thank you. Speaker 1: Well, I don't believe there'd be any identified as trunk infrastructure through there for,
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00:30:00 for a footpath. That's what I thought. Yeah. So, um, I mean, if there was trunk infrastructure, we saw for it to be upgraded or, or to be developed, then that would come off any contributions. Um, I think the, the thinking here was that it was just, would have been so isolated having this small section of pathway that it, it didn't seem quite logical. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah. It's something I can look at before, uh, ordinary, but it, it'd only be listed as trunk infrastructure if it was part of a re, of the district scale network on the cycle and walking strategy. Is that right? It would be mapped. Speaker 1: Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Um, and through the legit. Yeah. Speaker 1: And that would be easy for me to clarify for you. And you would have, yeah. Speaker 2: And the feedback we did receive from our traffic and anti-infrastructure area was that the footpath probably wasn't warranted and would have been unreasonable given the circumstances. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I saw that. Yeah. Yeah. It's just more that, you know, each time one of these comes up in the old days, you just take a contribution and then when you have enough you, you construct. Yeah. I know the, the, the legislation around it has changed. So.
00:31:00 Councillor Wegener: Picasso and Lorentzen. Councillor Lorentson: Um, more a comment than a question, but I'd just like to really point out the decision made just in the previous application and this one is a really, um, forward sign, um, and just encouraging, um, that we're heading in the right direction. Supporting small businesses. Um, I'm really proud of the, of the support given by the planning staff in both applications. Yeah. Well done. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: So we understand that, Leo, that, that you guys have not really, um, worked with Seaboard on this one. Is that right? Speaker 2: There's been a little bit of work behind the scenes going on. Yes. In terms of just ensuring that, um, this proposal, you know, meets the intent of the, the scheme as, as best as possible, given the nature of the scale of the actual proposal before you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah. And there's no link to the fact that you like to shake and not stir. Mayor Stewart: This is a site that all councillors did, most of us did visit. Yeah. And so we, we know sort of firsthand, you know, the benefits of this all business can
00:32:00 bring to us. Yeah. So thank you. Great. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. I think this is a great decision. Well, this, we don't really, we don't really give speeches about this when you ask questions, but. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: You can give speeches if you move it. Councillor Wegener: Oh, I'll, I'll move it. I'll second. Um, the, the concept of the ancillary uses and, um, ancillary parts of, of a, of a small business like this, an entrepreneurial business, I think is really important. And I think that when it comes to distilleries, you have a colorless liquid in order to see if it, to test it or to see if you like it or not. You actually have to taste it. But in order to actually taste it, you need to have, you know, snacks there with it in order to actually taste it properly. And you probably need friends there to actually taste it. This is an absolute ancillary use to, um, to the distilleries. Very good. Good work. Mayor Stewart: Yeah. Councillor Finzel: Oh, I'll just add to that. I think it's, it's, uh, you know, a good opportunity of where we're future focused and, um, future proofing our Shire to be able to, um, work with people that want to come here and, um,
00:33:00 you know, establish business or, you know, grow up here and want to come back because this is where their link to community is. So I, yeah, I'm really happy to support this. Um, I'm great to see the way the team has been able to negotiate and, um, you know, get an outcome that everyone benefits from. Um, so yeah, I think it's great. We want to be able to attract new business moving into the future. Our economic plan is we want to diversify our economy and, um, and I think small business plays, plays a big role, um, in our community and promotes that retention of knowledge and experience and, you know, generational families to be here. I think, I think it's fantastic. So thank you. And thank you to Siebel. Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I, I will speak. It's, it's quite interesting is if we look at our industry sectors, by far the fastest growth in any industry sector is brewing and distilling.
00:34:00 Yeah. Um, and the manufacturer of these things is a medium impact industry. And, and so what we're dealing with is this dance between how much is suitable in terms of the ancillary use in what is now a modern sort of urban enterprise. Um. Which is, you know, all across Australia and that's what we have to deal with. And, and why I support the application, it's going to have, you know, what, what planners always look at the long term impact on the, the, the, on other forms of medium impact industry. And we're probably going to have to think about this in our industrial planning going forward is do we have areas which we just don't want people to be recreating. Because, you know, we've got things like we might need to find industrial areas for the circular economy where waste can be recycled which is, you know, and that might be something we want to put next door to one of these if it's in the future. And that's going to create the problems we're talking about is there will be new other forms of new industries that have to evolve in the coming decades.
00:35:00 Um. And we want to make sure we've got the land zoned and protected for that purpose. And we, you know, we know there's other applications in other parts of the Shire at the moment which is wind adjacent to industrial zones. So it's, it's going to be an interesting time is how we, how we prioritise that long term retention for noisy, smelly, um, ugly industries. But on this case, even though I did say after the last approval in this context I gave that I wouldn't approve another one until someone started doing cider, I believe one does do cider now. Not a beer drinker. Not a gin drinker. Yeah. Speaker 2: Just through the chair. Just through the chair. But I also prepared the report as well, the day. So. Yeah. Make sense. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Speaker 2: Pass it on. Councillor Wegener: Move to vote. All in favour? Unanimous. Mayor Stewart: That's it. Who's the last one? Speaker 3: No he's the last one.
00:36:00 Councillor Wegener: So now we're um. Two reports were noted by the committee and we have planning applications decided by delegated authorities for the fourth of September 2022 and we have a prescribed conflict of interest Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes, I wish to inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter as Suncoast Building certifiers are currently assessing my dwelling application. It's the cost of that service is above the amount stipulated in the legislation that suggests I have a prescribed interest. I'm supposed to tell you how much, but I don't remember how much. If you look at my previous declaration, that's how much. Yeah, so I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and passed on.
00:37:00 Councillor Wegener: Does anybody have any questions? Councillor Finzel: I'm happy to second. I'd just like to also take the opportunity. I note that on page 62, the Federal Memorial Hall link has been approved for their playground installation. I think that's a really good positive move for the community out there to bring community together around the hall and activate that space and have a sense of belonging and connection to community. I mean, it's been a long time in the pipeline, so I think this is a really great win for the community out there. Councillor Wegener: You've been moved. Thank you. All in favor?
00:38:00 Speaker 1: Thank you. Thanks, guys. Good to see you. Councillor Wegener: Great. Well, we have reports promoted by committee. Number five, the summary of current and historical distribution of sea grass in the Noosa estuary. And we have Sophie Vaughan here to walk us through. Is this your first time? Speaker 4: It is, yes. Welcome. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I have a question too. We can't hear you. Speaker 4: Please be kind. Yeah, we'll be kind. Thank you so much. Councillor Finzel: Welcome to the table. Speaker 4: Thank you very much. I'll just give you a quick rundown of the report. So, in 2020, the Nature Conservancy had ecological service professionals conduct a survey of the current and historical distribution of sea grass in the Noosa estuary.
00:39:00 And the outcome of the survey was that about 80% of sea grass in the Noosa estuary was sea grass. Sea grass has declined in the last 20 years, so a significant amount. And the reasons for the decline vary, dependent on area. But generally, one of the main impacts was from the 1992 floods, where there was a large amount of sediment that came through the system, which smothered the sediment. And we also have things like boat wash, anchoring and mooring on top of sea grass, hydrodynamic influences as well. There's also a lot of algal growth on the sea grass, which then competes for light. So, that's quite a big impact as well. So, we're currently looking into where to go from here, working with the Nature Conservancy and other interested parties. Given the size of the impact of sea grass, it will most likely need to be a collaborative effort between different parties.
00:40:00 Councillor Wegener: Okay, thank you, Lisa. Any other questions? Mayor Stewart: Another question, what if the CEO, sorry, I'll put you off on this one. Mr. CEO, I just note the third C, that the sea grass and the Noosa Estuary restoration will be considered as part of the final Noosa River plan, and funding needs for this will form part of upcoming budget deliberations. Will that be funding that will be all internally undertaken through council, if it's agreed to in budget deliberations? Mm-hmm. Speaker 3: Through the Chair in response, Mayor, absolutely, that's my view, and I had asked the team to be able to highlight that, that we hadn't identified funding, but this is an important piece of work that the team are wishing to undertake. We do need to have that put forward as part of budget deliberations. Whether that's budget review 2, or it's within next year's budget, I'll allow the team to be able to put that submission through that process with corporate services to get that to the council table.
00:41:00 Mayor Stewart: Okay. And would that be funded out of the environmental levy? Speaker 3: I would hope that we might be able to deliver this through operational funds. Councillor Lorentson: Mm-hmm. Speaker 3: The environment levy is, does have specific requirements around that, and it's mainly set for a terrestrial use and regeneration. We would need to double-check where we sit with the different requirements that sit around that levy, whether this could be seen as a use of the levy there for regeneration of seabed grass. So it would be a discussion for council to have as to the principles of regeneration of terrestrial land as to land that is under water. So there's some work to be done, but we did want to make sure that that was highlighted to the council, that at this point, we were able to deliver that to the council. At this point in time, we don't. It is important work, but we do need to go through our budget processes. Mayor Stewart: It's an interesting question, because it comes back to Council Stockwell's earlier, that we have infrastructure charges for land.
00:42:00 Do we have them for water? Mm-hmm. Similarly, if we're regenerating land, is this equate to a similar thing in regenerating water? Mm-hmm. And does it fall under that environmental levy? Mm-hmm. Because I would suggest that it does, because it's exactly the same thing. It's regeneration of our very important assets. Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I mean, I can answer it. I think probably three or four years ago, we did actually change the levy policy to facilitate implementations and . Yes. So it should be well and truly within that. But I'm happy for others to . Yeah. Yeah. Mayor Stewart: Because we've got a surplus there. So I think it's good to see our river's one of our most important assets. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So I have to ask one question. In terms of an 80% decline in seagrass, what's that likely to mean in terms of things like the ability to catch the fish, the amount of carbon that we've lost, the storage capacity and things like that? What are the implications of having such a significant decline in seagrass? Speaker 4: Well, it's a very important habitat for prawns and fish.
00:43:00 So that's a huge impact in itself. Possibly for things like dugongs. I know there's been sightings of dugongs currently and in the past here. So there's very little seagrass for them to feed on. I'm still looking into carbon. But and actually related to that is further down the track, there may be a possibility for some funding under the blue carbon projects there. So I think that's a good question. But that's still being determined. It's also, it filters sediment as well. And we do have a large impact from sediment, which is coming down from the Kin Kin catchment through Lake Caparaba into the river. So I think this project is fairly complex in that going forward, we would need to consider the impact of sediment, how we can decrease the amount of sediment coming from Kin Kin,
00:44:00 how we can reduce the amount of sediment coming from the river, how we can reduce the sand care, like fairly small at the moment. It definitely see expanded. And then another aspect, going forward considering a seagrass restoration trial, a small scale trial, initially to begin because until we can deal with the sediment issue there is no point in trying to plant seagrass where it's then going to be squarely flat sediment. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. I'm happy to move it. Councillor Wegener: Will you move it there. Yes sir. Councillor Wilkie: Thanks for the report Sophie. We did have a dugong that was found dead in the Noosa River recently and it was speculated that it may have starved to death. I'm just wondering do you have any advice from the Department of Environment and Science about the possible cause of death and if it may be related to the decline of seagrass peaks? Because I understand seagrass is one of the main food sources, is that correct?
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00:45:00 Speaker 4: Yes, that is correct. I don't have that information right now. That would be our former specialist Dave O'Gorman, but I don't think that there was a known cause of death at this point. Speaker 2: I think the briefing through the Chair of the offices was it was natural causes. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, natural causes. Speaker 2: Yeah, nothing untoward from what I understand. It was just natural causes. Councillor Wilkie: So is Captain Noosa to retire? No. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Was he young? No. Councillor Wilkie: Was it a young one? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah. So I'll keep going. If you get me second I'll talk to it so I can give you a bit of background about it because it's fairly relevant. No, no, I'll go first because I'm on the committee. Questions come later. It's not a question, it's just... No, no, no, I'm on the committee so I've moved and I'd like to second it. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, that's right, yeah. I'll second for the debate, yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, just... So... So...
00:46:00 It's really important to understand that what it's telling us is it's the third chunk that says that Noosa River Estuary is in tropic decline. It's saying that even though we have good water quality, together with the research on benthic macroinvertebrates on oysters and our seagrass, is we're having a cascading effect of biodiversity loss. Potentially all linked to sediment. And it may be both what's happening in the upper cascades, but also what's happening to the flows of the river through the building of the Noosa Spit in the Sinai 70s. It's a long-term, major issue that we're facing. And it's interesting that this report suggests the 1992 flood rather than last year's flood may have been the cause of the significance. So 1992 was a very big flood in the Mary. It was a moderate flood here. It went over about... A foot and a half, remember? I was riding my bike through it.
00:47:00 Over Gympie Terrace. The dugongs, and why I wanted to jump in is there was quite a detailed study about dugong locks from the 1992 flood in the Great Sandy Straits and the mouth of the Mary River. And there was significant loss of seagrass, significant death of dugongs, and dugongs started to move away from that area looking for more food. So it's totally consistent with the finding, I think it was Dr John Thorogood did that study, of his findings of the 1992 flood that we should find that we've got a young dugong coming into Noosa River looking for food. And what I read was the DES was suggesting that the most likely cause was starvation. That they came up here looking for seagrass. There wasn't enough to sustain it after being stressed because there's no seagrass where it's come from. And so we've got this overall systems process that needs to occur. And it's interesting that that particular dugong shows that even though we have two different river catchments, the biodiversity of our Shire is affected by what happens in
00:48:00 both. And they're both linked. And so to me, it's really important to understand that, yes, we've done a really good job on protecting our terrestrial biodiversity. And one of the next big challenges for this Council is protecting the estuarine and the aquatic biodiversity. Councillor Finzel: Thank you, Leo, for your comment about the Dugong part.
00:49:00 Thank you. And what's being done up that end of the Shire to mitigate sediment into our waterways? I didn't really see that in the report. So is there an easy answer to that or do we need more money to be fixing that up, that bigger problem? Where's council currently sitting with that issue? Speaker 4: So back to what I was saying before, the Keep It In Kin Kin project is the main project
00:50:00 focusing on... I think they've been doing LIDAR studies. I think the last one was back in 2017, analysing the amount of sediment up in the system there. And I know they're working with landholders up in Kin Kin, so that's Noosa and District Landcare. We met with Noosa and District Landcare the other day and they've said they've got lots more landholders that are interested in coming on board with the project, so things like fencing, restoring riparian zones to reduce runoff from banks. So I think it would be beneficial to expand that project. There has also been discussions about a sediment project in Lake Katharabah with some stakeholders that are interested. There has been previous studies done about 10 years ago in Lake Katharabah
00:51:00 by USC, I believe, looking at the amount of sediment going in, ageing the sediment to see if it's back from pre-European settling time or now. So whether it's worth doing an updated project there to see what's going on, but once again that would definitely need funding. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, well I'm really interested in those runoffs from that catchment area and not just from like historical back in the day. But current, how that's being managed by, you know, building of roads, keeping of drains, how we manage clearing along roadsides. These are really relevant matters today, so yeah, I'd be keen to see how Council is working on that. And actually would like a report back to Council to see how that is actually, how the environment and our infrastructure are working together in partnership to give the outcomes that we need.
00:52:00 You know, that we can measure that show that we're doing a, you know, a reasonable job in that space. The other thing I want to comment on, and it's probably back to the CEO, when we look at item H on page 73. With the project acquittal form in terms of like how we're going to like, we're talking, you know, application for funding and how we're going to be remitting that in the future down the track. We've got some yellow flags on the last engagement. With TNC, how are we going to ensure that our project acquittal form is, you know, up to speed across the organisation and those who we're, you know, doing long term contracts with. And that I can be satisfied that we've got a robust framework around our future contracts.
00:53:00 Speaker 3: Through the Chair of Council, Kinzel, I would need to understand. Is this program a little bit better? From what I can gather, this is our funding that will be provided. So it is somewhat different to TNC. So there were a number of elements with the TNC contractor, the Australian government, TNC providing funds. So it's somewhat different from the process that we're dealing with here. But what I can say is that fulfilling Council's resolution and ensuring that we reviewed our process. Yeah, it showed where there was some room for improvement. There was no material issues with how we manage and how we work through our funding and grant acquittal program. We have extensive funding that's provided to our community through a range of different economic, social, environmental groups that are there and how they benefit and working with us. Our team work closely.
00:54:00 But it is giving a community trust. That funds, when they go to a community group, are being spent in the most appropriate way. I'm not seeing red flags in that area. None of that is coming up to my desk. So I would say that our current internal processes of providing funding is a good process that's there. Always room for improvement. And the TNC is somewhat different. That's all being taken on board and being dealt with at the moment. Through the Chair. I just also know, Councillor Finzel, your previous comment in relation to requesting a report on particular matters. Through the Chair, are you looking at moving an amendment? Or is it something that you would maybe like to formalise through an email to me if you want a specific report on a matter to come to the Council table? Process would generally be that that would be a position that's resolved upon. But I would, and we've had numerous discussions about this particular matter. So there's just some ways to be able to manage that.
00:55:00 But I do note that you had that comment there. And I just wanted to be able to raise that through the Chair. You were a seconder on this particular motion. That's before the floor. Would you like to amend with the commission of the mover to call for a report? It is somewhat different from this. Or would you prefer to maybe just send me an email and we can look at what process we can put in place to put a report to the Council? Councillor Finzel: Okay. Thank you, CEO. And through the Chair, I'm happy to proceed with an email at this stage. Great. And hopefully we can resolve that and get some outcomes. And we'll move forward from there. Thank you, Councillor. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: I've got quite a bit to say about this. So just buckle down, everybody. I'm not going to lie. Good thing it's Tommy's chair. Tommy's up there. First and foremost, the river is within our Shire. The catchment comes from Timiwa going north up to Tin Can Bay.
00:56:00 But that land up there is a national park. So it's not development land. It's our fault. So if there's a problem with it, if there's a problem with the river, and there are lots of problems, we can't blame anybody else but ourselves. And there's lots of different reasons why. We don't really know what it is. And it's astonishing that it's our own backyard. It's our own right there. It's on our property. And we've had these incredible declines of life in the river, prawns, benthic layers, sea grass. And we haven't figured out what it is. And it's really astonishing. I think the first thing we look at is Kin Kin, the silt coming in from Kin Kin. And I remember, you know, to keep it in Kin Kin, we had a celebration out at Pomona with Phil Moran and everybody. And I asked the question, well, how far have we come? You know, is it time to pop the champagne bottle? And Phil, you know,
00:57:00 kind of sat down with a few others, and they came back and they said, I think we've gone 4% of the way to stopping the silt from flowing in. So we have 96% of the way to go. So we haven't actually done all that much. We've done something, but it's not nearly enough. So I spent a lot of time up there looking at the land. And one of the issues of the silt management is lack of management of the land. A lot of it is with cattle properties where the cattle come down to the river and they march back and forth on one paddock and you can see bare land. And if you can see bare land in a paddock with cows on it, you know that there's a problem and there's a silt problem. And we know very well now that regenerative cattle farming completely changes that. Over there is one style of cattle property, and over here is a completely different style of cattle property where the grass is growing and it looks just a different place.
00:58:00 And so the silt isn't washing through there. It's just obvious that the silt isn't washing into the rivers where you have solid grass all the way up the hill. So I think that, in my opinion, is that it's land management that we need to address the seagrass issue. And it all works together. And we need to get the land care. I think we need to support our local farmers, our local regenerative cattle people. We need to support the land for wildlife people situation because one of the things if you put trees on there and this is information from Tim Scott out at Candanga a farm store, he says you plant trees along the river and you block off the river will the cows sit next to the river? And then all of a sudden you have the effluent from the cows going into the river. He says if you plant the top of the trees at the top will the cows go up to the top of the hill?
00:59:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I wish I could do a point of order but please, quite reputable sources. Councillor Wegener: Okay. Anyway, so the idea is that I think that to address this problem we need to look at the land problem and in order to address the land problem we have to talk to the landowners and in order to get them on board you have to share the vision the vision of a resilient food bowl here a place where we grow things and actually if you're growing things and you're having better land management, better farming practices, you have a better economy, you eat healthier food, all these knock-on effects you have a tourism, you have a foodie tourism. We just had Matt Kalinsky at the Biosphere Reserve Foundation at the gala say this is what I got from this property he goes to 60 properties now to get his food. And they're all local. And the food he gets from these properties isn't normal food. He gets arrowroot, he gets whatever is locally grown
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01:00:00 food culture. That's what we're creating here and that's going to be our difference coming up with foodies. You're going to go to Noosa, you're going to go because you have a food culture and you're going to have foods there that come from the gallery of Bush Tucker Farm. You can have Davidson Blum but you can have a Davidson Blum muffin and it's the only place on earth you can get a Davidson Blum muffin because that's the only place that these plants live in. The flat leaf tamarind is a beautiful little fruit and they're endangered. The little pot that Terry Waller gives out well that's literally on the endangered list plant that is a beautiful fruit that used to feed people here for millennium and we have never had one. And it says so. Going back to the theme is when we attack or address this problem I think we need to really look at it much wider and de-silo how we're going to approach it. We need to be talking to Phil Moran at Landcare. We need to be talking to Rebecca and you Sophie.
01:01:00 We need to be talking to land owners. We need to be talking to the River Stakeholder Committee and saying we want to stop the silts here. How are we going to do this? And then we have the next report and we need to be talking to Bruce McConkie out there measuring these things day in and day out. So it's a much wider approach to go forward here. But I think that the vision we all if we have this vision for where we want to go we will get there. As I said the other day if you have a consistent vision of where you want to go and you start marching that direction and all the different stakeholders and parts of council and community groups are on board with that vision you're already there. That's what has to happen first. And if it happens you're already going to do it. And it's going to be an exciting place going forward with these. And with the Olympics coming and the population we're going to create a new foodie industry here and cleaner water. And by the way getting back to the report here with seagrass. There's more seagrass and there's more fish in the river and you're getting those barramundis.
01:02:00 People who can actually catch them they always release them because you never keep a big barramundi. But all of a sudden that is a whole other realm and I talked to the fisherman Chico. Chico said gosh the best thing in the world you can do is actually have fish in the river and people catch them and they just catch and release and there's your income. And of course Brian you said that the value of the salmon is astronomical when it comes to tourism. So I'm all in favor of this and I'll wind it up but it's a part of a bigger vision to get through this. And it's just let's treat it as a very valuable asset. This is our asset management plan but it goes all the way up onto the land into the river all over there. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll close. I want to say Mayor Stewart: I want to reiterate Council Wigna I think that agriculture
01:03:00 and farming and buying local and supporting local has never been more important. I think of COVID and I know first hand how difficult logistics have been for people who are bringing in food. So I think it's really important that we really enhance that business sector and look at it all encompassing because I think that buying local and keeping local if anything in the last 20 years we've become a very nationalistic society because we've had to we haven't been able to with COVID exporting has been very difficult. So the more we can keep it close to home and support our local producers and growers more for it. So well done. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. I think we've talked. Everyone talked? Councillor Finzel: Didn't I just ask a question? Do you want this to be? It's up to you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm just going to close just to explain why. Councillor Finzel: You know we've gone from seagrass to food production
01:04:00 which I absolutely support if that's where the conversation is heading today. Mayor Stewart: You tweaked it well. Councillor Finzel: You tweaked it well. That's a good turn of events. That's a very like feminist philosophy to coming from the side. So yeah well done. Look anything that supports you know looking after our environment that includes our people our connection to place in each other and food production locally. You know we are navigating through a time in history where we are having to you know reconstruct and deconstruct and look at systems and how we interconnect and how we support each other through these really dynamic changes. So you know as always I'm happy to support anything that drives us forward as a community, as a Shire, as a region to ensure that we move forward with careful consideration and close collaboration with all sectors so that we can you know
01:05:00 hope for a future where we do have equity access to food access to employment and affordable housing. Like you mentioned with silos definitely we want to break down silo approach. We want to have a collaborative approach creatively to find outcomes that benefit society as a whole. So I think you know the conversation has been good today. I think that if we can get from you know seagrass and do the whole conversation right through to how we feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, collaborate you know it's all good. So yeah, thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah I will. And so where we the conversation has gone through is actually that the acting director handled it up and said this is about ICM. And that's what we got to is seagrass is the indicator of an unhealthy condition of the catchment.
01:06:00 I will try and give you an understanding of why I backed up. We do need to understand the source of sediment that's causing the impact on the river. And the first attempt of this was when I was working in D&O. We did that with the Kin Kin Creek rehabilitation plan. And it identified through sediment analysis which subtributaries were contributing the most sediment in contemporary fashion. You then go to the study that was mentioned by it was both USC and UQ which was all probably 15 years ago now. And it actually said well the organic nutrient problem we have in Lake Atharavah isn't caused by input of sediment. It's actually resuspension of the geomorphic sediments that were there before the river was there. So it used to be a fresh water wetland and when you have strong winds and a lot of wind you're churning it up.
01:07:00 The 2016 LIDAR study now that was when I was asked to peer review it shows huge amounts of soil movement mass movement, some erosion. What that study doesn't do is give us any indication of how much of that is making it into the waterway. So that's one bit of information that's missing. But what we can say with 100% certainty is that any stream bank erosion the sediment's making it into the river. So without any further knowledge, science, research we know that every bit of investment in stream bank rehabilitation will have a positive impact on the river. And in some places like in the Mary at the back of us we know that 70% of the sediments in the catchment are actually coming from stream banks rather than the grazed landscape. We also know with 100% certainty from numerous studies that excluding cattle
01:08:00 from the riparian zone and the creek bank improves the filter capacity reduces the exposed soil reduces the amount of sediment coming into the creek. Suggests that planting trees along the creek bank is less effective than on the hill slope is categorically wrong. If you want to move your animals so they're not camping near the shade on the creek yes you do plant more trees elsewhere but you also use off stream watering. Been used successfully for 20 years you say okay we're going to pay for your fencing you can do some tree planting but we're going to pump the water up to the hill and your cattle will go up there because that's where the fresh clean water is. Cattle production goes up 30% because the clean water rather than drinking weed at their neighbour just putting weed in the creek. So it's also good for our recreational water quality because taking cattle out of the stream has been shown in numerous studies to significantly reduce the eukaryote. So we've got that. But then we've got all these
01:09:00 urban issues around here and we've got the boat wash study that was done about the same time which shows that yes boat wash in that sort of section from John's Landing down here is causing erosion. Now a lot of those commercial boats which were identified as a big problem have moved up and don't go all the way every day anymore so that's reduced but that's another area we can have a look at once again what do we do actually in the estuary to try and control the input of sediments. One of my hesitations about just saying here this little work in Kin Kin is we have two very large bathtubs for sediment to drop out in. They're called Lake Cootharaba and Lake Cooroibah. And so a lot of that sediment will be locked up for decades if not centuries by deposition. Now some of the smaller colloidal stuff will go all the way through the system and might drop off here but that's what I mentioned making the spit permanent because in the old days if we had a big flow it might cut through there you might have a very wide river and it's a flushing flow
01:10:00 so all the sediment gets washed out to sea. By making that a permanent structure we've actually created another bit of a bathtub and that might be causing what we're seeing in the lower estuary of the build up of sediment is that the ability through the narrower opening of the river has reduced the ability to flush during the flow. So they're really complex issues and I suppose when we start we start saying yeah we might need more science but we also know with 100% certainty if we work on river banks and we work on keeping cattle out of the river and the creeks we're on the right track. Councillor Lorentson: Just quickly Can we have this answered then? Can we just close the debate? Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: We've been in this water quality monitoring. Councillor Wegener: Okay. That works. Close the debate. All in favor? Okay. Next we are on to
01:11:00 report number six, the water quality monitoring program on page 75. And we're lucky to have Sylvie still here to walk us through this. Two in one day. Speaker 4: So as most of you probably know water watch groups including Noosa and District Landcare, Murray River Catchment Coordinating Committee and Noosa Integrated Catchment Association have done most of the water quality monitoring in the Murray River over the last 20 years. So there's been a huge amount of data that's been collected over that time but the data hasn't been collated into one management system and the data hasn't been used for a particular purpose. So the aim of the Integrated Water Quality Monitoring Program is to focus on data management
01:12:00 from all that fantastic data that's coming in and also any additional data. For example, recreational health monitoring data as well. Using one management system to input the data and then using that data for a useful purpose. So for example, creation of sub-catchment report cards so we can break down instead of healthy land and water as one rating, we can have specific ratings for each of our sub-catchment and that would mean that we can then focus on specific areas. So for example, if you had a beef in the creek, you might say okay, that's not too bad, so we don't need to focus on that. Other aspects of this program are to open the dialogue with the NRM groups. We know that Noosa Council has worked with the NRM groups over the years, but we're bringing them all together
01:13:00 to create some, go ahead with some objectives for the program and agreeing on priorities for each catchment as well. Given that the NRM groups have significant experience in this area, they've been around for a very long time, their knowledge is extremely important and valuable. So that was our initial water quality workshop in July, was to open that dialogue and we also had some other scientists in the room to provide some input on historical monitoring and activities in both the Noosa and Mary Rivers. Other aspects of the program will be to install some remote sensing water quality monitoring stations. So at this stage it would be a trial deployment of three, so we're looking one behind the Noosa industrial area and one in Kin Kin Creek as well. So they would allow for real time data monitoring.
01:14:00 They log data every 15 minutes and we could use that data to say for example monitor high rainfall events such as flooding. So if there was one in Kin Kin Creek we could get an idea of the turbidity during high rainfall events. So those are looking at being installed probably early next year at this point. With those loggers we're looking at possibly creating a public dashboard with that real time data. There's lots of examples of this being done by other councils. For example in New South Wales there's some fantastic dashboards out there which show the real time pH, electrical conductivity etc data. I do think that many people in Noosa and Mirrova are very invested in the environment but specifically water quality and this would be of great interest
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01:15:00 to them if we were to go ahead with it. So the public dashboard it could also be used as well for recreational health purposes as well. So for example potentially Burgess Creek or something like that. And we haven't figured out quite what form that will take. There's some discussions happening in the next few weeks about what that might look like particularly for recreational health as well. Other areas of the program will be expanding our monitoring to include point sources. So storm water quality monitoring will be an important one. That feeds well into the seagrass issue so there's often high levels of nutrients coming out of storm water drains. And that kind of those high concentrations of nutrients can lead to the growth of the algae on seagrass. And also have impacts
01:16:00 on the marine environment as well. So there has been small projects done I think in Eany Creek in 2007 there was a project done on storm water drainage but there hasn't been consistent monitoring in that area. And I think it's super important because there's so many points or sources of impact in our region. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Just on page 4 it says on the DES water quality monitoring program remote sensing technology sorry it's page 84 page 4 of the minutes from the integrated water quality monitoring workshop. Oh okay sure. It just says the Noosa River is not included in the program. I guess why and can we be? Speaker 4: I'm not exactly sure why. We are not trying to convince them but trying to suggest
01:17:00 that would be a really helpful thing for us to have a remote sensing station because their stations do total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorus. They're automatic grab stations so they take the sample whenever you're required so they could easily do it during an event like a flooding event. Mayor Stewart: So if it's up to DES is that then a letter or advocacy to DES to have us included in that water quality monitoring program or remote sensing technology if they're the ones who are providing it to ask for that? Speaker 4: I suppose that would help. Speaker 3: We could absolutely advocate for that. I'm happy to do that. I'm happy to do that. I'll take one. Speaker 4: We did discuss as we saw in the meeting and I think Healthy Land and Water were interested in helping with that as well. We encourage that. Mayor Stewart: Barry, are we doing it in other really important areas? The question is .
01:18:00 I agree. I can do that. I think there was a request for this Deputy Mayor Stockwell: and I'm happy to go that way. Just a couple of things. In the corporate planning workshop we talked about this model of collaborative work with the community. This is an excellent example of it. So this process started probably four years ago, maybe longer when we found out at the forum that we were holding for all the environment and natural resource management groups that Landcare had lost funding for its water watch. That NYCA was struggling to get appropriate funding. And so I believe from memory it was Rebecca who found the funds to get the Mary Cashman Committee and Landcare to look at all the water quality data we've had, look at where it might be appropriate. I did it quick and dirty and then they took that away. My view is we have top and bottom of sub-cashments to say
01:19:00 what's it like before we have urban interference or industrial interference, what's it like after. They compiled all the data, they used their own water watch and so while we have a few environmental scientists, we certainly don't have all the knowledge. Like Mary Cashman for example has nine environmental scientists working for her. Some of them have been working in this area for over 20 years so they're well respected. So it's about that citizen science and how we work in a collaborative fashion is really important. It's what's embedded in here and it's across both the Mary and Nike and Noosa Integrated Cashman Association and Landcare. And it's building on that enthusiasm but also infusing modern technology so that we do get Nike in. Historically if you're doing it as citizen science, people do it on a regular basis but you miss the events and quite often the big impacts in water quality is during the events. So getting that event sampling and get that real time monitoring is really big steps forward.
01:20:00 Huge amount of money available for paddock to reef type monitoring through Federal and State Governance. Significant amount for more today. Historically the gap has always been Maroochee, Noosa. Okay. Whether we do it by letter to the Minister or whether we do it by adopting a Noosa River Plan that says ADES this is your river and our river, come into the table, that's I suppose we've seen that probably working with the MSQ model. I think it's just the way we look at our river plan. Certainly if you get the scientists involved and get them interested in looking where to do their next lot of research if you can find a reason for them to put in an automatic monitoring station in the right spot. Don't do like when I did my PhD two of them floated away. Mayor Stewart: $100,000 per site. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So to me I think this is a really good case study
01:21:00 about how we work together and building up from having the face to face and having people complain about what's not happening get them to be part of that solution and then coming out so that we use both the volunteer resources the paid resources to get to the best possible picture of environmental monitoring. But I'm happy Councillor Wegener: that you've moved that. To general? Mayor Stewart: Did you move to general? Did we move it? Which reason? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Significance of the matter? Councillor Lorentson: Actually we're on the same path Brian so for me it's just significant because of the significance of the matter discussed. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: You know I think it is important because at the end of the report out of the 10 recommendations Noosa Council has identified
01:22:00 of 7 of those 10 to have some form of input in the recommendation and the action item so yeah I think it is important that with the significance of the matter we do get further information. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. What other information is there? Councillor Finzel: Well isn't that what we're looking for? Further information? Speaker 3: Through the share council of Finzel it's due to the significance of the matter for the whole council. But if there is further information councillors on the particular matter either question now or I know the team will be more than happy to receive an email from you that we can provide that advice to the general community. Councillor Finzel: I thought the information was around the Noosa River in the program. Further information about that. Mayor Stewart: We're not sure why are we? As for the monitoring station. Councillor Finzel: Yeah.
01:23:00 Councillor Wegener: I've got a question. The digital hub set up the low frequency radio system around the lower end. Lower end? Lower end. And the goal is to monitor all sorts of things. Will this be a part of that digital hub lower end system where the sensors are out there and going up through every 15 minutes putting a pulse up and sending it to the dashboard? Is that kind of a digital hub program that's come out this way? Speaker 4: I haven't specifically gone through the digital hub but I have been speaking to James about the lower end network so that's how we envision it would work. It's going through the lower end network. We've been out seeing how much reception is out in Kin Kin and just to check that there would be reception. So working with James to see if it would have enough reception to upload through the lower end network.
01:24:00 Speaker 3: And Chair, to assist on that particular question there will be a meeting with myself and the Director of Environment and Sustainable Development in the next fortnight at the digital hub looking at all of our sensors that we currently have across the Shire and how we're able to ingest that data into a visualised dashboard. Put that to the community so that will be everything that we possibly have. We'd start that bit of a smart city journey. We've already done it. We have it here ready to go. It's just how do we publish it? So get that up community facing real time data. What's the health of our river? Our air? What's happening in our main streets? In the different areas of our town? So there's a lot that we can do. So we're starting that journey and that discussion. This will be a big part of it and that lower end network will definitely be one of the best ways to get that data into a central point. Have that ingested then and visualise
01:25:00 that on a website for us. Councillor Wegener: So people can be involved in it. They want to know. They can see it. Perhaps bring down, you know, Amelia. Councillor Lorentson: Just further information. Could I have at a general meeting just some data. So Council's environmental health branch test water samples regularly. Monitoring is conducted regularly throughout the year. Can I have some information as to when the dates that the monitoring is being done and what the monitoring results have been in the locations listed on page 79 which is Little Cove, Giffie Terrace, Sunrise Beach, Burgess Creek, Peregian Beach, Noosa Main Beach, Noosa River and Eadie Creek and that probably leads me to what I wanted to add from the report beforehand that I'm hoping
01:26:00 and I will be advocating that we see the same social and political commitment that we're witnessing in our river system that that applies also to our beaches and coastal ephemeral creeks. So if I could have that information at a general meeting I'd really appreciate it. Thanks. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's interesting the move to the smart city type approach. We have someone in Lucy who was very early of things. He's a digital old head. And I remember probably six or seven years ago he was employed by this which is still a very similar thing and he was connecting up water quality not just of the environment but also in the swimming pool. They can tell that we're keeping to the standards in our in our pools. So once you get this whole idea of how digital connectivity can inform
01:27:00 both as a performance measure but also an accountability measure, that can be good. Councillor Wegener: I may note that I've now got another ear infection from surfing over the weekend but I didn't put the stuff in my, you know, the ear drops in my ear. And so that, you know, I am the canary in the coal mine that jumped in the water and shared the output. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Maybe we should just have a sensor on your board so you can be part of the internet of things. That's a very nice point. Councillor Wegener: We did that with Javier. We made a board for Javier. We put the sensors at the bottom. Councillor Lorentson: Can I also add? So if you were talking about dashboards and technology, New South Wales also has what's called Beach Watch. So Tom, when we do go out for a surf, we can actually access how clean our beaches are. And that's probably some technology I'd like Council to maybe investigate Councillor Wegener: while I speak to the motion quickly. I'm growing up in Southern California.
01:28:00 The ocean became so polluted that all of us suffered dramatically from swimming in the polluted water. I got a lung infection that just about knocked me out of my friend's head. I got a worm in his heart from pollution. I mean, just horrible stuff. I mean, God, I can't believe it. And so there were times just when I left that from the Mexican border to Santa Barbara, the whole coastline was closed because the pollution of E. coli in the beaches, on all of the beaches, was through the roof. And so that's just bad, bad, bad management from the get-go. So here we have the opportunity to make a much brighter future for our kids by monitoring this now and getting on top of this now. Because if the population is going to grow here, we know what it's going to look like. We just, we can be the leader for this information, going down south, down to the Wilshire, down to the Des Moines Bay, all that, and be leaders here. Surely it's an economic opportunity
01:29:00 to be on top of this right away, first. Mayor Stewart: Worm in the heart is a good argument. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. Mayor Stewart: I think he got us all. Councillor Wegener: Okay, anybody have any other questions? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Frank's facial expression hasn't changed. Councillor Wegener: Like infection worm in the heart. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just in regards to a public dashboard, Speaker 4: I've spoken to a company just to get an idea of what it would involve, and basically it seems like once they've set up a platform, you can just make as many different dashboards for, you know, you can have one for public health, you can have one for environment services, one for infrastructure. It's a cost, and then it's, yeah, as many as you want, really. So it seems quite easy to set up once you've got that initial stage down. Councillor Wegener: Great. Thank you. All in favour? Unanimous? That's the last report.