Special Meeting - Corporate Plan Transcript

1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶

▶ 00:00:20

Nothing was transcribed under this heading — a stretch of the recording with no speech the model could make out.

2.1 CORPORATE PLAN 2023 - 2028 ¶

▶ 00:00:46· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:01:00 But it's not just a councillor and a mayoral document. It's a document that has been delivered by a great team of staff here at Mixer Council. A very... ...a very committed executive team, a very committed leadership team, and all parts of our organisation have the ability to be able to contribute to what is our pathway forward for our future as a council. The largest engagement with our community that we've had as a council is the understanding that I have in relation to this document. Over a thousand respondents came to us directly, spoke about what they wanted to see and what they wanted to... ...have achieved within this document. As a council, you listened. You went through every single one of those submissions. You had the ability to be able to access and understand it and formed your views to be able to have what is the overarching strategic plan.

00:02:00 We went back to our community. We asked them the question again when we drafted this document. We asked them the question, have we got it right? Have we listened to you enough? And we, as council officers, took that on board and have been able to form an agreement. I'd very much like to acknowledge Kim Rawlings for her amazing work on this document, but not just Kim, also Kerri Contini, who's in the chamber today, Kerri, thank you very, very much. Deb Yensey, who's unfortunately unwell today and not with us, but Deb, your work with Marie and particularly in organising your work of the consultation forums has been absolutely outstanding. Ken and his marketing communications team, thank you very much for the work that you've done. And Council, to be able to provide a bit of context on this, this actually closes off horizon one of what has been our change management journey as a Council.

00:03:00 Not only do we now have a corporate plan that focuses us to the future, the recommendation that you have before you for consideration and decision today allows us to make some small changes. And I understand there are some small changes that you need to make. That are being looked at. We can do that for you. But it really sets our way forward for our future. We have a realigned organisational structure. We have a fresh new grant that is emblazoned within this document that takes us forward to the future. We have our values program that we've delivered here as a Council. So we have the ability to be able to align our values to the work that we're delivering as Council officers. And we are now working forward with our strategic and operational plans. We have our operational planning reporting on a digital basis to be able to then report this as quickly as we can to our community as to how we're delivering against all of these elements.

00:04:00 We have signature projects within this document to be delivered. They're out in clear markets as a Council to be able to work towards, to hunt within our budget. And we have our themes that we'll be working towards. We see within our community that environment again is number one in Lucerne. It is there. We're closely followed by infrastructure. Our community wants a right fit of infrastructure that will deliver not only the day-to-day outcomes that a local government should deliver, but then also the environmental outcomes as well too. Better infrastructure equals better environmental outcomes. We need to be able to be conscious of that. Our social commitment, the commitment to our future and our economy is very strongly compared as well too. And on an overall basis, Council, you don't get the opportunity very often within your career as Council but even for us as staff to be able to deliver these documents. But the government has changes that are occurring constantly. So to be able to deliver this, I'm happy to say this is the third corporate plan that I've delivered in my time.

00:05:00 And I have to say to you that it's absolutely one of the best and it's a right fit for Lucerne that holds Lucerne values. Councillors, thank you for the opportunity to present. And I welcome the chance to take any questions that you might have in relation to the report. I want to see if you can borrow it for me or the document itself. Thank you. Thank you, Mr CEO. Thank you. Councillor Driscoll. Councillor Jurisevic: Mr CEO, thank you for the time and effort from yourself and all the staff that's gone into this. This question I've got is with regard to objective 1.1 in the corporate plan and the role the Council undertakes in that. 1.1 says we maintain and improve water quality, the health of waterways, wetlands and catchments and our roles as a partner, an educator and a regulator. I notice the element of funding. Is it in there? We undertake elements of funding in all of those areas. For mine, would it be a minor change that could be undertaken under D, authorised CA, to make any necessary minor changes to the corporate plan if required to add the element of funder in there

00:06:00 or would I be required to make an amendment to what we have before us today? Speaker 2: I would be very much welcoming and happy to be able to take that as a minor amendment to the document. Adding one of those roles that we have as a Council, as a funder, we have funded projects within the district. It is important though, and I think it's a very good pick up of you in this particular document, in that being our overarching, we want to ensure that all of the functions that we have and all of the roles and responsibilities of the Council are captured. As we spoke in our Noosa River plan, we'll deliver the day to day of this in the future but through the Mayor, I think it's important and would absolutely accept that as a minor change in this document to be able to add within our roles and responsibilities. The element of funder for the Noosa River, we have shared responsibility, shared jurisdiction

00:07:00 but overall we live here. It's an important part of what we're doing. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, Mr CEO. Again, there's a project at Burgess Creek that is part of a catchment creek that I would consider that has a significant role that Council has undertaken, so I would consider that was part of that as well. Mayor Stewart: I'm happy to move to staff recommendation on page three. I'm happy to serve. Thank you, everyone. This is an exciting day. The corporate plan that we adopt today is the commitment we make to our community. It has been shaped by our community. And the value, elements, priorities and themes it espouses are clearly going to be driven, led and focused. Over 1,000 of our residents took part in shaping this plan and I thank them for their interest, enthusiasm and efforts. Their voices, thoughts and aspirations have been well and truly heard through the formation of this document. I'd also like to thank all councillors who are actively involved, our CEO, our executive team, Kerri and Kim especially, for your tireless works. This is very much a collaborative document.

00:08:00 We have seen significant changes globally, nationally and locally over the past few years, so it is timely to revamp this important strategic document. The document we present you with reflects the aspirations and strategic priorities of all of us. This plan sets a vision for the future, identifies objectives and outlines how we will work towards our common goals as an identified community. Our community and customers are central to what we do as we continue to make Noosa a great place to live, work and visit. Central to this document is a renewed commitment to our residents and the community of Noosa Shire to ensure their collective voices are heard and responded to. Our review of the corporate plan has allowed us to reinforce this commitment and has provided us with the opportunity for a focus aimed firmly on the delivery of services and resources that meet both community needs and expectations. From the cradle to the grave, it covers and includes everyone in our community, all people of all ages, with all abilities. Our new corporate plan is structured around five pillars.

00:09:00 Recognising the importance of protecting both our lifestyle and unsurpassed natural environment is paramount. This plan commits Council, in collaboration with residents, to build a healthy and resilient community. The plan is future focused with the knowledge that we must protect the residential amenity of our community, while providing appropriate and necessary services, infrastructure and community assets across our Shire. With the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics set firmly on the agenda for South East Queensland, this document also considers how we can best leverage from this once-in-a-generation event. What legacy projects we want to work toward and advocate for as 2032 and beyond is in sight. Similarly, much of this corporate plan talks to the need to partner and advocate within the context of our role as elected representatives of Noosa Shire. Advocacy and partnership can, does and will involve continued engagement and collaboration with a variety of key stakeholders, none being more significant than our Federal and State Government representatives. Although a corporate plan is a legitimate requirement from local government, we believe it is an extremely important document for our Council.

00:10:00 It outlines both the way Council will budget for and prioritise programs and services over the next five years, ensuring we achieve our collective vision and goals. We continue to provide our community with programs that connect our residents, promote healthy and active lifestyles, grow our economy and support our small businesses. We take very seriously our role of managing a natural environment so it can be more resilient and resilient. This corporate plan outlines not only a collective vision, but also provides a strong commitment from Council. It has an outward focus, putting the community at the forefront of all decision making. Many projects that align with the goals and vision of our new corporate plan are already underway. And because of such significant community consultation, other exciting projects are sure to follow. Again, I want to thank everyone for their feedback, whether they took the time to do the survey and or attend community sessions. Your input has played a pivotal role in preparing our corporate plan, so it accurately reflects your aspirations for our future. This is your document, and most importantly, your community.

00:11:00 We are both humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work with and for you. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: I have a question through the Chair. I have a question through the Chair. I have a question through the Chair. I have a question through the Chair. I have a question through the Chair. I have a question through the Chair. My question is in reference to the consultation process, there were over a thousand responses received. Is that a good sample size and does it represent people with disability, our First Nations and other minority groups? Speaker 2: Through the Mayor, thank you very much for the question, Councillor Lorentson. A fantastic sample size. We as a council did everything we possibly could to be able to go far and wide with consultation.

00:12:00 This wasn't just about consulting online, it was going out to our communities, within our community facilities and working on face-to-face cases. In relation to First Nations, we work directly with Carbon Carbon and you'll see that come through the document itself. Absolutely pays respect to our First Nations people, particularly Carbon Carbon and the New South Nations. We've done the best that we can. There's always room for improvement, but this is a level of consultation that is commensurate with what a corporate plan should be delivered. If provided face-to-face, if provided online, we were able to not only advertise within our local newspapers, there was also radio advertising. There were flyers that were put forward, but that just wasn't enough for us. Once we formed the document, we went back out to the community and asked their views about the document and where we needed to make some changes and incorporate those, we absolutely did.

00:13:00 So we've done the best that we can and I think it's a fantastic sample size for us, plus all of those are members of our community that do the face-to-face sessions. I know Councillor Wilkie was at all of those as well too and did a great job. It's definitely meant to help us with those, so this is a real team effort and great to see our Council has this delivered for us today. So, good sample size, we've done the best that we can and we really hope we've heard as many voices as we can and to the degree that we've heard as many voices as we can. Mayor Stewart: Do you want us to have a speak too? Do you want us to have a speak too? Council, stop. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's an interesting question. It's an interesting question. There's a process that we went through that has really reaffirmed the community's core values, a large response, and when asked what is the most important thing that the corporate plan should focus on, environment.

00:14:00 But there was another one there that is actually a little bit unusual and that was transport and traffic management. And that is a current issue that, aside from just filling potholes or resealing roads, it's about how do we enjoy the connectivity. It's about how do we enjoy the connectivity. And why the destination management plan, which is one of the initiatives that we hear is so important. And why this corporate plan suggests we move from a transport strategy to a movement and connectivity strategy. And why this corporate plan suggests we move from a transport strategy to a movement and connectivity strategy. I think that's one key difference about this corporate plan is people are saying that we need to do something about the current road conditions. That their lifestyle is being impacted by the current road conditions, that they're suffering. The other interesting one is when the consultants who did the consultation did a qualitative

00:15:00 analysis, not on any specific question, but everything written by the community. They did Leximenta where they analysed what words were used, once again right up the top environment. But what came second was housing. And once again there is going to be some difficult decisions coming up for this council in the next five years about how it responds to that focus area. Because it is, like many places across Australia, a huge challenge at the moment to maintain a community balance, to have a range of housing choices. I think it's objective 2.1 that outlines that. To me, those two points are important. The two different areas, if they were the only two changes made to the last Corporate Plan, would give us five years of work. Because they're the two key issues that are impacting on the liveability.

00:16:00 Of course we still have to invest and invest and invest, and protect and protect and protect our natural environment, our scenic amenity, and all those other assets that go to what this Shire provides in the way of benefits of living here and visiting. But the crunch points are going to come through. How we get people to go to enjoy those places without congestion, without lining up in cars, with good transport mechanisms that don't create greenhouse gases, and how we house the full range of our population so that we've got the people to work in our businesses. So we have places for the people over 50 when they become single, once again, can move into and can afford to live and enjoy retirement. How we create this community creates new challenges and new roles for local government. And that won't always be expected by a community, and some will say no, just leave it to other

00:17:00 levels of government. But for me, as a community saying this is our second highest focus area for the next five years, I think it's incumbent on us to be part of all levels of government working to create housing choice. Of all levels of government working to create housing choice. Councillor Lorentson: I will speak to it. I'll be quite brief. I'll be significant piece of work. Significant piece of work. It gives me great joy to be able to stand here this time. It gives me great joy to be able to stand here this time. During this term of Council. To speak about. During this term of Council. To speak about. Our corporate plan. Our corporate plan gives us a really clear picture of what the community wants the future of Noosa to look like. What they want is for it to be green. What they want is for it to be green. And a great place to live, work and visit. Where the community comes first.

00:18:00 Our commitment today is to ensure that we deliver this future to our community. Our commitment today is to ensure that we deliver this future to our community. It comes straight out of the corporate plan. Part of that commitment today is that we're committed to ensuring that our communities celebrate our point of difference, that our communities celebrate culture, heritage and place, that we are connected, we're engaged and inspired by our unique environment, resilient, climbing and sustainable future, resilient economy and sustainable future by nature. Noosa has always chosen a different path to other councils to build a plan of success for our community and today we make that commitment and it will continue to do so. The last three years in council has shown us that we need to be agile, courageous and show strong leadership as we negotiate the best interests of our community and the best interests of our environment. And we need to be agile, courageous and show strong leadership as we negotiate the best interests of our community and make decisions in the best interests of our environment.

00:19:00 That we must work as a team and share this common vision to protect our future, if we really want to do that, to protect our future, if we really want to do that, to protect our future, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who provided feedback, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who provided feedback, our community, who gave us their trust, and the Hardworking Council offices to, you know, and start, and to also acknowledge and thank those that came before us, and thank those that came before us, our environmental and community activists have advocated and worked for over 50 years to protect and to protect our environment and the place that we now call Noosaville, the most beautiful place on earth. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Madam Mayor. I too, thank you Madam Mayor, CEO and the staff and fellow councillors for their work in compiling this document and also the feedback from the community

00:20:00 which has affirmed what we suspected and that is the community values the environment and residential amenity and livability extremely highly, and in that sense this corporate plan is not a revolution, it's an evolution of the journey that the Noosaville Council has been on for decades now. It is a beautifully written document that draws upon some very well thought out strategies and plans and some beautiful images as well and a lovely close. It is also a challenge. My hope for this document is that it crystallises the thinking of us as councillors and also the staff that we deliver on what the promise that is within this document. For it will be, its value will come to naught if we are making decisions that will fit with any strategies and plans that are in that document. From that point of view, it's a very important, clarifying piece of work.

00:21:00 It will help. Councillor Jurisevic: I too would like to thank CEO and staff and everybody that's been engaged in this process in the community going forward. This is the document that will guide and lead us for the next five years and ensure that all those initiatives that we do undertake are part and parcel and aligned with the corporate plan and the community's vision for our community going forward. Thank you. The elements that have been alluded to here, environment, liveability, are all foremost and that's the thing we've been hearing significantly from our community over the last couple of years. And I hope that, and I know that the corporate plan will be the guiding document to help us deliver those initiatives for the future. Mayor Stewart: Thank you councillor. Councillor Finzel: Yes, it's with great pride I can say we've done this.

00:22:00 This is really significant as a first time councillor on term. As an elected representative, I want to extend my thanks to the CEO, to all the executive staff, my fellow councillors and everyone in the community who is very engaged and has had their voice considered through this process. I think this is fantastic, this document. It also represents accountability. It gives us the guidelines and the framework and we've come together with our community to deliver a great document. That gives us those steps and hopefully that can engender trust in our community that we will, we've heard what they have to say and that we will deliver. It's ambitious. But hopefully we can work hard together as a team and alongside our community to maintain that we are different by nature, that we value the legacy of a rich and vibrant community moving forward.

00:23:00 Building on the legacy that's gone before us including the Kabi Kabi Foundation. It provides opportunities for a future that is hopefully rich and magnificent and one that we are proud of as we move forward into our future. Also, it gives us a focus on our leadership, strengthens our voices, leaders in our community, our capacity to deliver for our community and stand up and give voice to our community and show that we have listened and we have tried to implement through this process which has been very well engaged and lengthy but it gives us the great opportunity to put a framework that's not only required by legislation but that we have put our heart, soul and passion into along with our community. So I'm really excited for the future and moving forward excited to be able to measure what we've put together in this plan

00:24:00 and hopefully make our community proud. Thank you. Mayor Stewart: Councillor Tom, would you like to speak to this? Councillor Tom, would you like to speak to this? Speaker 1: No, thank you everybody. Thank you everybody. Mayor Stewart: I'll wait my right to reply so I'll put it all to a vote. All in favour? That is unanimous. Councillor Tom, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Elinda. That is unanimous. Thank you, everyone. Again, thank you, Mr CEO. Thank you. Thank you, all staff. It is now 1.28, so I declare the meeting closed at 1.28pm. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you. I told you. I'm a speaker, huh? Hello. I love speaking.

4 MEETING CLOSURE ¶

▶ 00:24:43

Council's recording ends before this item. Where a meeting resolved to close its doors, that is what the end of the recording means — see what council discussed in private.