Before the first item ¶
00:00:00 Councillor Wilkie: May 2023. Declare the meeting open. Begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land which were gathered today, that's the Kabi Kabi people, and pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging. We have everyone in attendance. Now apologies. May we have someone to confirm the minutes from the April meeting please. The first is an application for a reconsidering lot, one into two lodges, one towards Yarmouth Avenue, Tewantin, referred from a Planning and Environment Committee meeting on 9th May. We have a new resolution, the applicant has asked the matter be withdrawn. We have a motion to that effect. Does someone care to move that motion? Moved by Clare Stewart, seconded by Councillor Finzel. Any discussion? Mayor Stewart? No. No councillors? Any discussion? No. The motion has been carried unanimously.
1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶
Nothing was transcribed under this heading — a stretch of the recording with no speech the model could make out.
5.1 RAL22/0028 APPLICATION FOR RECONFIGURING A LOT (1 INTO 2 LOTS) AT 1 POINCIANA AVENUE, TEWANTIN (Referred from P&E 9 May 2023) ¶
00:01:00 The next is, well done Patrick. You agreed with everything you said. Then we have a contract with the Longbill Road Bridge Tender Award, and we have Craig Eldridge and Jasper here to give us an overview. Welcome Craig, could you give us an overview? Sure, good afternoon everyone. Good afternoon. Speaker 9: As mentioned earlier, we're here today to award a contract for the Longbill Road Bridge Replacement. It's contract CN00236. It's a lump sum contract that includes all materials and all services required for the construction of the bridge. The invitation to tender was advertised. We received 11 conforming tenders and 4 alternate tender responses. All of these 11 responses were deemed conforming.
6.1 CONTRACT NO. CN00236 - LAWNVILLE ROAD BRIDGE TENDER AWARD ¶
00:02:00 The Tender Evaluation Panel completed an extensive evaluation and review and considered the tender submitted by ARC Construction the most advantageous to Council in representing the best value of money for Council. ARC's tender submission demonstrated compliance with the requirements of the tender invitation, and ARC are deemed to have suitable experience, capability and the resources to carry out the works. It's anticipated that construction will start in July this year, and it's anticipated that construction will be finished in November this year. The recommendation is that Council note the report from the Project Manager to the General Committee meeting today. And award the contract CN00236 Longbill Road Bridge Replacement to ARC Construction Group for the price of $1,452,482 and authorise the CEO to negotiate the final contract with ARC Construction Group.
00:03:00 Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Joe, a question? Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, thanks. Craig, I noticed that, and Jasper, I noticed that they put in two tender prices. One at 1.5 mil and one at 1.45 mil, and we've gone from 1.45 mil. Can you just give us a bit of an idea on the difference between the two prices and why one is more favourable over the other? Speaker 9: I'll give a really high-level, broad overview, and if I get it wrong, I'll allow Jasper to correct me. But my understanding is that we had two spans, which would be a headstock, a series of piles, and then a headstock. But the alternate tender, and correct me if I'm wrong, Jasper, has come in a single-span bridge, which has a lot of benefits environmentally and for different reasons, there's less disruption. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you.
00:04:00 I sort of got that from that, but I just wanted to clarify if that was the reason behind it. So it is a single-span bridge as opposed to a dual-span bridge with no central pile on it. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Socroft, here's a question. This is the one down at the bottom. It's got reasonably constrained sort of road dynamics around. Is there any work being done leading to the bridges as part of this, or is that something we're looking at doing at the same time? Speaker 9: Again, I'll give a high-level explanation, and then Jasper will correct me if I get this wrong. I think we're constrained with the bridge grant requirements. So the purpose of the bridge funding is to renew bridges to allow or improve freight and heavy vehicle movements throughout Australia. So that's the idea of renewing the bridges. So we have fairly tight constraints on what is funded and what isn't funded, and the team would have done an assessment of the approaches. Jasper, did you want to add anything on that? Speaker 8: The main works of the approaches would be making them tie in neatly to the new bridge design levels.
00:05:00 So that would be pavement rehabilitation and just adjusting the approach grades to match into the new bridge. But that's how we're limited by the bridge funding program, is that we can't be doing full-scale road rehab or improvement works if we're covered under a bridge renewal grant. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Has that one been identified? I just – a couple of people have told me that there's been accidents and things in that location as a result of the alignment. Speaker 9: I'm not aware of that. I'd have to take that on notice. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If we're closing the road, it might be a good idea to have that looked at. Yeah. Speaker 9: I'll take that on notice. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: On page 15, Jasper, or Craig, the total forecasted project cost is $1.944 million and $873. And there's $292,000 that's been identified for consultant staff, superintendent costs,
00:06:00 service and project allowance. Does that absorb a budget contingency in case there's any variations with the project? Speaker 9: Yes, I can answer that question. Thank you. We haven't included the contingency in this report, specific reasons. But we've highlighted the consultants and the internal costs. But we haven't included the contingency in this report, that there is a sufficient contingency available within the budget. Councillor Lorentson: And if there isn't, what happens? Speaker 9: Yes. So we have a robust governance process where we have a PCG and a CWE and we manage the project within the budget. We've done an extensive design. So part of this project was to go out with a design so that we know the actual costs. And so rather than going out with a design and construct
00:07:00 project, where we don't know the design, therefore it's very hard to cost. We've actually done a design. So we've got a very good idea of what this project is going to cost. However, the current tender has put in an alternate tender, which does have some cost savings within it. I hope I explained that. Okay. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Really great. Thank you. Craig. Someone came in with a motion. Can I start? Two more questions. A couple more questions. Sorry, Craig. So yeah, just to clarify that. So within the cost of year to date and all the consult staff and superintendent costs, that's part of your design, that your design elements have been included in that. We would have done soil, all of those checks. Speaker 9: Sedimentation erosion. Councillor Jurisevic: And just to clarify, this is a timber bridge currently. So this is one of the last significant timber bridges going to concrete. How many more timber bridges, I know it's probably not relevant to this. How many more timber bridges have we got? Speaker 9: I couldn't tell you that. Do you know the answer to that? Speaker 8: Do you have any idea how many more we've got to look at? I think there's one down. Take it on note.
00:08:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I'll follow up with you later. Don't expect you to have the answer off the top of your head. Thank you. That's it. Councillor Wilkie: Do you have a motion? Yeah, I'll move it. Councillor Durrissidy. Seconded by Councillor Finzel. Councillor Durrissidy. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, so one of the last significant timber bridges being put over concrete. Single span. So environmental outcomes and cost savings to be had by it. I'm supportive of the tender going forward. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Our councillors wish to speak. I will. Just because the report notes that it's the oldest remaining woodland bridge. There's something about woodland bridges that they weren't last. I used to get sentimental, but we do keep, if the timber's good, we keep them for other purposes and stockpile them. Because you can't get hardwood these days the same as they did when those bridges were built with the lifespan. So they do, the old timber structure, if it's still sound, will have a second life somewhere. Councillor Wilkie: Any other questions, wish to speak? I have a couple.
00:09:00 Councillor Lorentson: Can I ask still a couple of questions, please? Sure. In terms of disruptions, I note the alternative timber that was submitted, the duration is expected to be shorter and therefore less impact to residents. How is council going to communicate to potentially direct residents that are directly or indirectly affected? Speaker 8: Did you want to answer that one? I can speak on that one. So in the past and for previous bridges where there has been a road closure, we've sent out a letterbox drop to all the residents along the area or that may be directly impacted. For example, along Lawnville Road saying these works are coming up. The road will be closed. Please be aware that traffic delays and extended direct trip duration times may occur. Then we've also done. Project news, social media posts, well out in advance, roughly four weeks to two weeks
00:10:00 prior, just to inform the wider community of bridge closure and the possible foreseeable impacts. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: I'm assuming there'll be a VMS board there and giving an idea of the dates and obviously diversion signs telling people the alternate. Yeah, we always notice. Councillor Lorentson: Sorry. And just one more thing. I'm going to ask and I'm only asking this because I've been invited to speak for the Women in Construction Conference later on in a couple of months and construction in 2023 still remains the most male dominated sector in Australia and female participation is at 13%, trades I think of about 2%. In Victoria, there's been a push with gender on the tender. That there's an opportunity to get more skilled workers because there's a shortage of skilled workers in trades.
00:11:00 The opportunity is to tap into the female workforce. And I know all this because I've been doing quite a bit of research and it's quite interesting. My question is, is there an opportunity for us to ask contractors and suppliers to meet minimum standards in their policies, plans and targets? Can we look at putting gender on the tender? Again, just to acknowledge, let women know that there are opportunities in engineering, in building. Yeah. Speaker 9: I can comment on one component, I suppose. Internally, I know we've just employed a young graduate lady who's an engineer. And internally, also, we have a communication consultation lady with him. In our team. So within this project, we'll have two internal staff working on this project.
00:12:00 So Lindsay will be supporting Jasper throughout the project as the graduate. And also, we'll have Rachel doing the comms and communication. However, on the tender component, I'd probably have to defer to Scott Eisen or perhaps the CEO on that one. Councillor Jurisevic: I'd have to defer on that one. Yeah. So we're not only building bridges. We're bridging the gap as well. Speaker 3: I know in Victoria, where I've been most recently working on larger projects, there's certain specifications in terms of trainees, apprentices, indigenous, a whole range of different groups, I suppose you could say, within the construction and within the contractors. I'm not too sure exactly what we do up here in terms of state and federal legislation. In terms of us, we don't really have the power to control that.
00:13:00 Obviously, it's looked upon fondly. Councillor Lorentson: Maybe, sorry, maybe an opportunity to bring something forward to the LGAQ. Sure. In Victoria, it's actually mandated for publicly funded projects. That's right. Everyone's on board. Everyone's on board. Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Councillor Lorentson: $20 million. Speaker 3: Yeah, but they're the big, they're the big groups. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Could that one just be added? I know we're producing a social procurement policy. That would be one we could add into those considerations. Yeah, absolutely. Councillor Finzel: Councillor Fletcher. It's probably along those lines, just running through the Chair to the CEO. Could we add it under the weightings as a heading? Speaker 3: Difficult to add in the weightings, but it's certainly possible to put into the social side of it to ensure that it's part of, so if you bring it out too far, then it becomes quite inhibited in some respects as well, particularly for the smaller contracts. Councillor Jurisevic: If in the short term that contractors weren't able to meet a certain target obligation, then we may restrict them from.
00:14:00 Absolutely. We may not have anybody else to tender. Councillor Lorentson: Just to tender until there's, until we've got this meeting. So, so what I was referencing, that we ask contractors and suppliers to meet a minimum standard of policies, plans and targets that identify this gap and opportunity there. Speaker 3: But again, it's difficult for the smaller projects and the smaller contractors, you know, if you're a clan contractor. It cuts out a lot of. And it's three people working four years. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Sometimes even answering the question in your tender, it helps you to think, oh. That's exactly right. Councillor Wilkie: So it's an encouragement rather, isn't it? Anyway, we can bring the, the comments and debate back to the tender itself. If any of the councillors wish to speak to the motion. Joe, do you wish to close? Councillor Jurisevic: No, Mr Chair, but thank you for bringing it back to the, the, the matter at hand. That's true. Councillor Wilkie: Or a favour. That's unanimous. And so we've changed the date, you know, councillors, we've changed the date from 12 April, which is a typo, 15th of May, 2023.
00:15:00 Speaker 3: I know we can reflect this, just a minute. Just a minute. Seconded. Councillor Jurisevic: Do you have anything to add? Councillor Wilkie: No, I'm going to move to the next cabinet. Thank you, Jasper. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you, Jasper. Thank you, guys. Councillor Wilkie: The next item is the financial performance report. Speaker 4: Good afternoon, councillors. Good afternoon. Good to see you again. Councillor Jurisevic: It's been so long. Sure can. Speaker 4: No worries. So with the adoption of Budget Review 2 in April, these financial reports now reflect the revised 2023 budget. Operating revenues continue to outperform our forecast and operating expenditures are slightly under forecast year to date to the end of April. Operating revenues are $1.3 million above budget. And that's being driven by interest revenue, which is $473,000 above budget.
6.2 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – APRIL 2023 ¶
00:16:00 And that's due to QTC increasing their interest rates in line with the higher yielding term deposits. And we also hold quite a substantial amount of money with QTC, so that's driving some of that. And we've also reinvested some of our higher yielding deposits that have matured since March. Fees and charges are down against budget, $241,000. And that's predominantly development assessment fees, plumbing and building. So they're offsetting that higher interest revenue. Sales of goods and services are $597,000 above budget. And that's driven by holiday parks at $404,000. But they also have some offsetting costs that are associated with those operations and community facilities, which are $142,000 of budget. Other revenue is above budget, $336,000. And this relates predominantly to the recovery of waste costs from SULO bins. That's $110,000. We have touched on that in previous meetings. So where we purchase bins, we recover that cost from Clean Away.
00:17:00 The other component of that relates to internal plant recoveries for disaster projects, is where we're uncharging to capital projects as well. Operating expenditures, $289,000 under budget, with employee costs $80,000 of this. Materials and services are $200,000. Oh, sorry, I forgot the number. So materials and services are also under budget, and that's, a combination of factors. So civil operations is $461,000 over budget, and as is holiday parks, which as I mentioned is offset by the additional revenue that it generates. Fleet costs are over budget, $446,000, and this relates to increased fuel costs. These overspends, however, are offset by underspends in waste, infrastructure planning, libraries and galleries, strategic planning and development assessment. Tourism economic development expenses. Expenditure remains on track year to date, and overall council operating position at April is $1.6 million above budget.
00:18:00 Capital revenue is above budget, $1.3 million, and this is due to the receipt of some further advance payments of QRA disaster projects. Year to date, council has expended 73% of its four-year capital program, which equates to $41.6 million, with a further $7.6 million currently committed. Council's cash holdings at the end of April. April were $107 million, with $50 million of these invested in high-yielding term deposits. Overall council's financial position continues to be on track and is meeting its financial sustainability targets. Any questions? Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Pauline. Questions? Speaker 2: Yeah, I have a question. Thank you. Sure. Thank you, Mr Chair. Just cash expense cover. We're pretty high. Our target is greater than three months. We're at 13.2. So can you just elaborate a bit on that please, Pauline? Speaker 4: Sure. So with the receipt of some advance payments in relation to the four-year payment of the waste subsidy and the QRA payments, we have quite a substantial holding. So when we calculate it, we don't take into account that those are committed to other
00:19:00 things. So when we calculate that cover, it's based on our total cash payments. So some of that cash is actually restricted to other things. So it's grant funding, it's reserves, it's levies as well. So while it does sound quite high, it is actually, we have probably about three to six months which is really, which is what we're trying to aim to cover. So it is, it shows high, but it's on track. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Morrison. Hi Pauline. Sure. Consultancy services on page 34 of the report. Actuals 1.598 million. Budget 2.142 million. A couple of questions. Where could we find or can we, as part of the next report, get a list of completed and current consultancy engagements? Let me re-ask that question.
00:20:00 Do we have a consultant register that allows us to access that sort of information? Speaker 4: I wouldn't say that we have a consultant. We don't have a consultancy register per se. We obviously know which consultants that we pay that can make up that amount of money. I'm not sure exactly what you're wanting from your analysis of the consultancy costs. Councillor Lorentson: It just seems like a lot of money we're paying to consultants. So just to understand, has this always been the case? And what this looks like from, you know, even the term of this council from year one to year four. Sure. And. Speaker 4: We could include a summary for you in the next report at a higher level. Probably not so specific, just for confidentiality reasons. But we could certainly, and give you a bit of an understanding of what's driving that. It could be environmental levy projects. It could be a number of different aspects that are driving it. That would be great. Thank you. Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Brian? Just a question on that. Is affirmative tangible our disaster response? Is that, would that come under consultancy arrangements?
00:21:00 Speaker 4: It would be running through the capital program. So it wouldn't actually be showing on that report. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Any other questions? Anyone care to move the report? Move it to the Council of Jurisdict. Seconded by Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Jurisdict. Councillor Jurisevic: Once again, thank you for the staff time and effort in that. Thank you. Thank you for introducing the report. I'm quite happy with the position that we're at. Shows we're in, as usual, in a sound financial position without too many areas here of concern Speaker 3: to be raised. Councillor Jurisevic: So I'm keeping through the financial position of councillors at this point in time. Councillor Wilkie: Any other councillors to speak? I'll put the motion as in favour. It's carried. It's unanimous. Thank you, Paul and Anne. Thank you. Next item on the agenda is the Operational Plan and Courtly Report.
00:22:00 We've got to bring the new CEO. Councillor Jurisevic: You're on the tail end of all this, Harry. Councillor Wilkie: It's written by our colleagues here at Stockwell School who do have an active bid to take it on. So they're with Sengstock here to give us an overview. Shall we? Councillor Jurisevic: Can we ring it? Speaker 3: Yeah. Well, the other piece to this is it's actually compiled by Deb Deersey. And Deb is away sick today as well. So you've got me as first day on the job. Councillor Jurisevic: And not being fully across this, but certainly in terms of operational plan across the organisation. Speaker 3: I think what we need to understand here is this is to 31 March. So it's the third quarter given that we're now in May. But it's really showing that we've been tracking along well. We've reported against 96 operational initiatives against our five themes that are in our current corporate plan, the existing corporate plan.
6.3 OPERATIONAL PLAN 2022-23 Q3 QUARTERLY REPORTING ¶
00:23:00 Previous. Sorry? Previous. Well, yes, it has been adopted. Right. So it's our previous corporate plan. So it's still reporting against those. It sits under our corporate plan and above our bridge plan. Councillor Jurisevic: So everything feeds back up through in the operational plan and then into the corporate plan as such. Speaker 3: Some of the things. We are we are still tracking. Well, we've got eight initiatives that are behind schedule in accordance with this. But some of those, to be honest, have been picked up, I think, over this last few weeks. Some of those have now started and got back on track. I won't go through them all. I think if we go to the KPIs, some of the highlights out of the KPIs that this report talks to. Something that's been very much out of mind for us as an organisation and across a number of organisations is the staff turnover and reporting against just the. So this is just against permanent positions, but we've we've decreased the turnover.
00:24:00 So we're now for those for from approximately one point nine three to one point five eight percent. So that's a good thing in terms of of all the work that we've been doing with our cultural and values work. And there's an organisation with our realignment and everything else that's going on. So to keep that down is is a good thing that we need to be very proud of, I think. Customer wise, we've got an increase in or slightly in the quarter for trends in terms of customer requests and dealing with those obviously takes a lot of a lot of resource. Our finances, as we've just heard, we're tracking well in our systems and processes. We're very much in line with doing improving our our processes in terms of paying online rather than cash and those types of exercises.
00:25:00 So I think that's an interesting process as well. Where we can, we bring on the new initiatives and new processes. Open to questions if you have any. If I can answer them, otherwise I'll take them on notice. Speaker 2: Thanks. Thanks. Thank you Larry, every time I get these, it's just a huge amount of work we're doing. It's so comprehensive across so many areas. So a big thanks to the staff for all their hard work because every line item is hundreds of hours of work and a huge amount of staff input. So we're very grateful for that. Just a question on the ferry, the jetty. It says that it is behind schedule. Can you give me a bit of an update on that? Speaker 3: I think that report is being finalised and coming to Council as a workshop, not report but as a workshop for an update on that in the coming weeks, I believe.
00:26:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I think we had an update on that at the last CWE. I don't think you were there. It might have been. Speaker 3: Thanks. It's progressive. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Thank you. The new library bus. The bus, yes. How does that go? It says that it's here now and it's getting ready to be pulled out. Speaker 3: I think it's still being painted is my understanding. It's still being made ready. I don't know that it's actually operational yet. Councillor Jurisevic: It was at the depot the other day when I was there. So the bus is here. Isn't that exciting? Speaker 3: Yeah, that's right. Councillor Lorentson: I've got a couple of questions, Larry. My first one is I think page 38 of the report, it states that KPIs were last reviewed in 2014, 2015. Are we reviewing the KPIs?
00:27:00 Are we setting different measurable goals as part of our corporate plan? And should we be measuring how much time, effort and rate of dollars these plans and initiatives are taking? My question is, is the current KPI system, is it enough to see us through our next five years? I think the KPIs relate to our corporate plans. Speaker 3: They're being reviewed as part of the implementation of the new corporate plan that we've just endorsed. So the KPIs speak out of that. They come to the CEO as KPIs. They come down into the operational plans as well. Councillor Lorentson: But will we be changing the way we measure organisational goals and strategies? Potentially yes. Speaker 3: I can't say yes or no, but potentially yes. Absolutely. Because they have to relate to the way we do business, essentially. And it's surprising that they are quite that old. But it relates to the corporate plan. Correct. Councillor Lorentson: You know this one's coming.
00:28:00 Page 44 in terms of Burgess Creek. Modern Water Monitoring Program. Page 44, it states that water quality data for Burgess Creek has been received from Unity Water for the last five years of monitoring. My question is, is that information publicly available? And have they provided 10 years' worth of water quality data and the receiving environmental management plan as requested? Notified motion, I think, in December. We happen to have our manager of the environment with us. Oh, I remember what he was going to say. So rather than me taking on notice. It's up on file with me. Speaker 7: Hi, Councillors. We do have 10 years of data for Burgess Creek. And we're currently working through that to make sure it's compatible with the way we're inputting data from other catchments as well, other streams. And doing an initial analysis of what that means in terms of compliance and overall health requirements.
00:29:00 So that's some way progressed now. And we're working with Unity Water because we do have a confidentiality agreement with them. So that data will not be made public unless that's authorised by Unity Water. We're working with them so that we can get some meaningful messaging out to the community about what it means and how that will inform future management of the STP and the water catchment as well. Councillor Lorentson: So why is that held up in confidentiality? Speaker 7: That was the request of Unity Water. I guess they want to make sure that they can have clear and consistent messaging that comes directly from them about the data that they collect. And they want you to be the custodian and the messenger of that information. So people can go direct to Unity Water if they want to, to get further detail around that. But so far is the way we receive that information.
00:30:00 And how we can use that. That's bound up in that whole initiality agreement. It provides some assurity for Unity Water that they can provide it to us in a way that's being managed. Councillor Lorentson: And I note there's a workshop planned for Councils. And I'm imagining a report also will be coming to Council. Speaker 7: Yes, that's right. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Again on Burgess Creek. The Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program. So in November of 2022, I moved an amendment that was ratified by Council for Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program. For both Burgess Creek and Cooroy Six Mile Creek catchments. And the impacts of wastewater discharge. It's noted in the report. And I'm just requesting just some more information on its progress.
00:31:00 Thank you. Speaker 7: Council staff work with the various natural resource management groups. So the community groups on citizen science water collection projects. And we collect that information and put it within our SWIM database. And that's really useful. And we hope that we can do more of those partnerships over time with it. What's important for Council at the moment is to make sure that we have a really consistent method around the collection of that water quality monitoring. And that it does come back into the centralised database. So it can be used for management purposes. And we've been reviewing some further projects from community groups just in the last week around some additional projects out there as well. In the community. So they exist now. And we hope that we can continue to expand upon them. But we also emphasise the importance of the quality of that data collection and the consistency.
00:32:00 So it can be looked at across the board. And we can learn from that. And then make management decisions from that. Knowing that that data is as accurate as necessary. Councillor Wilkie: Just a quick question. How long have NICA and Mary River Cashman Coordinated Committee been doing citizen science in terms of your NICA? Speaker 6: Over 20 years. Councillor Wilkie: So does that mean we have access to all that data? Speaker 7: Yes. As much of it as is useful. And that we can put into our database. We have been. We've been lucky that we have the NICA Collective over that time. And it's been a huge job over the last nine months bringing that all into a single system. Councillor Wilkie: And do the results marry up with the Council's own water testing? Using similar methodology?
00:33:00 Speaker 7: Yes. Councillor Wilkie: So it's accurate? Speaker 7: Yeah. We're happy with the data, the quality of the data that's coming through so far. But we'll continue to look forward to any future water quality results that are collected that they're done. With the methodology that's consistent across. So rather than looking back in time, making sure that we've got good training. So that those people out in the field are using the best available equipment, best available methods. So there will be a little bit of variety in what data we've received to date. But looking forward to making sure that we get that good quality of results. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Can I ask a question on average loss time for injury? Duration. Does that include illness? Or is it purely injury? Councillor Jurisevic: I don't know. Councillor Wilkie: I think it's injury. Speaker 3: It says injury.
00:34:00 I'm pretty sure it's injury. I'm pretty sure it is. It's very difficult. It should be explained. Speaker 2: So ongoing injury. Yeah. Okay. Councillor Wilkie: Karen. Councillor Finzel: Yes, thank you. Note on page 50 of the report that we've completed the draft housing strategy back to state. Just a question through the chair to staff. Do we have any indication when the state will be signing off on that to just notify the community when we'll be having a public consultation? Speaker 3: Are you talking about the amendments? Yes. Yes. Again, I don't want to take that unnoticed. Thanks. Speaker 5: Would you like me to answer that, Councillor Finzel? Thank you. So was that in reference to the housing strategy or the planning scheme? Councillor Finzel: The housing strategy. You've got to finalise and initiate information.
00:35:00 Speaker 3: Remember this is to the 31st of March as well. Speaker 5: We don't require state sign off on the housing strategy. That's a local government housing strategy and councils have endorsed that already in November last year. And we are now in implementation of the housing strategy. It doesn't require state sign off. Councillor Finzel: What about, does the planning scheme require the sign off from the state? Speaker 5: Yes. Any changes to the planning scheme require sign off from the state. And as you know, we have a round of amendments with the state at the moment for state interest. That is still going through state interest. And some of those amendments seek to implement the housing strategy. We have not yet received state sign off. We have a series of meetings and workshops with all the state agencies set for the next couple of weeks. And then following that, we hope to receive first state interest check on the planning scheme amendments. That would then come back to council prior to going out to public consultation.
00:36:00 Councillor Finzel: Thank you, Kim. And do we have any time indication as to when that might happen, the community consultation? Speaker 5: We don't. Look, not really. It is subject to state sign off. You know, we're sort of planning for maybe July, August or August, September. But it is a little hard to predict because it's with the state government at the moment. And we just don't know when we'll get sign off. It then needs to come back to council. So we're hoping sort of mid-year, but mid to late. So like I said, it's a little bit hard to predict. Councillor Finzel: Okay, thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Kim, under the Noosa environment, reinforce our Noosa design principles. It's mentioned here that it is noted that the Noosa entry experiences project is underway with a briefing expected in the fourth quarter.
00:37:00 Could you give us a bit of an explanation of what the Noosa entry experiences project involves? I mean, I can imagine what it will involve. But if you can, I'd like to hear it from you, please. Speaker 5: Sure. I'm not sure if Craig Eldridge is still in the room. No, no, no. Because that project is actually sitting in infrastructure services. It's not sitting in my department. And my understanding is there will be a workshop with council coming up about that project. Larry, I'm not sure if you could make any comment. Councillor Wilkie: The Noosa entry experiences project. Very good. So I imagine it's about the entryways to the Shire. There'll be some treatment of landscaping, roads, signage. We've currently got a sign on Waldenhay Drive that's out of date. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes, yes. Councillor Wilkie: That work is in progress, but I don't have it. That's what I'm imagining. Absolutely in progress. Joe? Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, Kim, while I've got you now, or Rebecca at the back of the room. Implement the Noosa Bushland Strategic Management Plan. I see no mention there of new bushland care groups being started.
00:38:00 That was, from my recollection, something that was to happen in the second half of this year. Have any new bushland care groups been able to be initiated? Speaker 7: I can take that one. Not at this stage. We've had some vacancies across that area that we need to fill and have the support to advise a return for long leave. So that has created some delay in the filling of the new bush care coordinator roles. We're expecting that we will be able to recruit that in the coming month, hopefully. And that will allow us to start up a couple of those new groups that have been in the waiting for some time. Councillor Jurisevic: So once we've got the full complement back on board. That's right. Thank you, Rebecca. Councillor Wilkie: I have a question for Larry and maybe even Joe. The continuation of the implementation of Council's Fire Management Plan for bushland reserves.
00:39:00 It's been commented that we've come out of a wet period. We're going into El Niño, into a dry summer. We've got extra vegetation growth. And it mentions here burn planning underway. But it's weather dependent. How are you placed in terms of the amounts of controlled burns you would have liked to have done by now? And the amount that we would have liked to have done? Speaker 3: I believe we're actually ahead of our plans in terms of controlled burns. But I think now the ground has dried out to the extent that it's become more difficult. So I believe that in terms of the area or the overall Shire and the amount of burns that we've done, we're ahead of others. And also, from my understanding, our officers are very comfortable with where we've got to be. Councillor Jurisevic: The element of weather we're having today. Yesterday, for example, we've had well over, closer to, what was it, 25 I measured yesterday, 50 odd.
00:40:00 So 75, 80 odd mils of rain in the last couple of days. So that will have an impact on when the next hot window becomes available for them. But my understanding was we were on target or at least ahead of target at this point in time because we've had the opportunities there with a reasonable amount of dry weather in ideal conditions. Councillor Wilkie: And we'll have an opportunity to test the early fire detection and testing technology as well. Speaker 3: Yeah, so that's all being used. And we've actually boosted up our capacity as well in terms of vehicles and things for our own fire protection group. Councillor Jurisevic: Next LGAQ meeting we'll get an update potentially? So we'll have an update the next LGAQ meeting, Frank, can you pass that on? LGAQ. Sorry, my acronym's mixed up. I put my tongue in front of my eye tooth and I couldn't see what I was saying. Councillor Wilkie: Anyone care to move the report? Yeah, I'll do that. Council's Councillor Jurisevic: the range of services that Council delivers to this community.
00:41:00 And I think it's a credit to CEO and all our staff and managers and directors that we do function and do manage to undertake all these projects. And that we're delivering with a few minor elements maybe not starting or just a bit behind schedule that we're delivering really, really well this year. So in a challenging year with challenging financial restraints and all the rest of it, I think it's a credit to the staff that we're where we are. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Lyons? Councillor Lorentson: I too would like to acknowledge and thank all the staff. When you see them in writing in a report, you actually get an idea of the enormity of this business
00:42:00 and Council is a business. In terms of the KPIs, I actually love KPIs. It's really important we've made a commitment to transparent and open governance and we've also made a commitment to continual improvement. And the only way we're going to achieve that is by actually measuring our progress. And I note in the report that part of the review of KPIs, there's going to be community indicators and performance measures. So again, another step towards our commitment with continuous improvement and being an open Council. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Robertson. Councillor Wegener: I'm looking at the Corporate Plan Excellence as a Council 5.7. Assure that workforce planning is in place across the organisation. Develop and implement an employee attraction and retention strategy. Well I hope that the lower turnover recently is a part of this
00:43:00 and of course this includes the THRIVE, Expand THRIVE T capital letters THRIVE activities. And that this is being implemented. And I'm hoping that continues on and that staff, you know, we raise our retention levels, I guess, with excitement for working here. Speaker 3: That's the intention. At this point in time, the data is showing that we're on track. Yeah, very good. Speaker 2: Sure. Thank you for the report, Larry. As we've all said, a huge amount of work being undertaken. We consistently back well above our capabilities in the sense of being successful. We're a small shire. We do so much. So as I said, every line item is hundreds of hours of work and a lot of sweat and toil and we're very grateful for it. And, you know, when you look through this, I wasn't through behind schedule or not completed. There's not many. So most are on track or completed. So that's a real testament, especially in the trying times we're facing economically
00:44:00 as well as staff retention-wise. And the figures that you espoused earlier, that's a great indication of the fact that we are retaining staff and keeping them and those turnover rates are far less than what they were 12 months ago. So I think that's a testament to you and all the executive team and all the managers. So, yeah, thank you. It's always so interesting to get this because it's a real breakdown but it's also a reinforcement of how much we do do. So thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. I'll pass that on. Speaker 2: Yeah, please do. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. No, it's all we've said. And welcome to the table, Larry. It's good to see you stepping into some shoes of the previous CEO and we look forward to working with you. Speaker 3: I'll make sure I'm up to speed on every line item here. Councillor Wilkie: And Larry, not every staff member watches the general committee live stream. I think they're probably fairly busy. Is there some way that you could push that forward?
00:45:00 I think we should tell the staff about the thanks from the council. Absolutely, no. Yes. I'm just indicating the operation of plans. We're reminded of that every time we receive reports. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, it was a serious time. Even on your first day, Larry, how across the board you are on all the matters in front of us. So even from where you sit in infrastructure services, you have a good group across so much of council. So it's no wonder we've welcomed you to the interim position of taking over the CEO's position. And thank you for all the work you have taken on. So it is, we did mention about a few behind schedule, but remember this is at the end of March. So even six weeks on, we know another of these projects have been initiated and looked at. It is a business and it's probably one of the most complex businesses you'll see operating as a local council. We cover so many different areas. So many wide and varied areas that a lot of other businesses wouldn't have to delve into. So it's a very diverse hat we wear.
00:46:00 A very challenging role that is undertaken to try and please all the facets of the community with all the demands that are made. So I'm really pleased to see where we are with the operational plan at this stage of the year. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: We'll put the motion as the pilot. It's carried unanimously. Thank you. Thank you, Larry. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Next item is a confidential session regarding the Kabi Kabi Noted Type of Consent Determination. I'll make the necessary motion. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Councillor Wilkie: I'll second. Jo, seconded. Matt Stewart. Councillor Jurisevic: The meeting will be closed pursuant to section 254J3E of the local government regulation. Thank you.
00:47:00 Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
7.1 CONFIDENTIAL NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE - KABI KABI NATIVE TITLE CONSENT DETERMINATION (Referred from P&E 9 May 2023) ¶
01:18:00 Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: And may we have the recommendation, the motion for us. Welcome back everybody. We have a motion of course regarding a native title termination. Rebecca, could you, through your statement, just read out what we're consenting to and what a native title claim refers to? Speaker 6: Yes, sure. The Kabi Kabi claim is a federal court case. The state government is the main respondent to the claim. Noosa Council, along with the other local governments within the area of the claim, is also a party to the claim.
7 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION ¶
01:19:00 And it extends from Redcliffe in the south to the north to Isis Junction in the Bundaberg region and includes the whole of the Noosa Shire local government area. The native title process and the federal court requires respondent parties to consider whether they consent to the court recognising native title in the claim area. Council will need to decide this ahead of the May 2023 deadline that's been set by the court. The Council report on the Kabi Kabi claim is listed as confidential as the item relates to legal proceedings. The report needs to be decided by Council in closed session. The determination of the Kabi Kabi claim is to be decided by Council in closed session. The determination currently proposed is proposed to occur in July and provides for formal recognition of native title rights and interests over certain public land parcels within the claim area. State owned land, including where Council is trustee of that land.
01:20:00 Under the Native Title Act 1993, recognition of native title does not interfere with freehold property rights. Freehold land is excluded, excluded from native title claims. Previous licences, grants, leases and public works may also extinguish or remove native title. This is an exciting time for Kabi Kabi to finally have native title recognised. Noosa Reconciliation Action Plan is being considered as part of the 23-24 budget of Council. And if this plan moves ahead, it will be developed in conjunction with Kabi Kabi. Over the coming months as a commitment towards reconciliation and respectful engagement and to promote inclusivity and opportunity in Council's work. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, it's moved by Mayor Stewart, seconded by Councillor Wilkie. Speaker 2: Thank you, I think we appreciate all the information you've given us.
01:21:00 It is an exciting time for Kabi Kabi and we stand with all other respondents in this matter. And we wish everyone all the best. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Any other councillors with respect to the motion? Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I do say what we're very roomy about what we can say. I think it's a privilege to be in a position to make this decision. In that we in our own small way across our Shire are helping to redress what was the historic injustice of the Declaration of Terranalias that was determined by the Marlborough case originally. So native title is very important to the history of the area. And we hope that it becomes a positive benchmark and I suppose a criminal stage in that recognition which leads to their identification with their traditional brands.
01:22:00 Councillor Wilkie: Question for the Senate. Councillor Jurisevic: Only to acknowledge and recognise the efforts of all parties that have been involved in this on achieving this historic point in time. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you.