General Committee Meeting - December 2023 Transcript

1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶

▶ 00:00:25

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

2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ¶

▶ 00:00:39

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

6.1 NOOSA HOUSING STRATEGY - 12 MONTH UPDATE ¶

▶ 00:00:53· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:01:00 So in November 2022, Noosa Council endorsed the Noosa Housing Strategy, demonstrating its commitment to reducing inequity, promoting inclusiveness and providing safe, affordable housing for residents. Noosa Shire, like many other communities, has been struggling with the... The availability and affordability of housing options, and this is affecting many parts of our community, particularly low to medium income earners, but also employment sectors, trying to attract and retain staff, and families that are being divided and leaving in the area that they haven't always known. The problem's been exacerbated by various factors over the last four years. The problem's been exacerbated by various factors over the last four years. We need to remember that Noosa Shire is a popular place to live and visit and it has a limited amount of developable land. So supply of housing cannot and will not keep up with demand.

00:02:00 While reporting back on the implementation of the housing strategy was required following two years of this report provides a progress update and commentary on the implementation of actions within the housing strategy over the past 12 months. Councillor Wilkie: Are there any highlights you'd like to share in terms of effective steps this council has taken to play its part in addressing this nationwide crisis? Speaker 5: I think the reality is that there is no, obviously there's no silver bullet. Council has been working in many fronts to work collaboratively with community housing providers, with the State Department of Housing, with local members of the community and particularly the not-for-profit sectors

00:03:00 to try on many different fronts to not only increase the supply of housing, increase the diversity of housing but to use the existing housing stock in a more effective way. So we have noticed some, you know, lots and lots of incremental improvements in areas but clearly our vacancy rates are still very low and the problem continues. Councillor Wilkie: One of the areas that seem to be under-reported or it's hard to understand to report is since the State Government changed the settings for secondary dwellings, secondary dwellings are springing up on, you know, low density residential lots and the council seems to be playing catch up in recording their numbers.

00:04:00 Do you have any sense of how many secondary dwellings we have in the Shire and the potential, the number of lots that have potential for secondary dwellings? Speaker 5: In terms of potential, there's potential for thousands of them. Thousands. Speaker 4: Is it 4,000? No. Four additional per month? Yeah. Speaker 5: We're getting about four additional per month. Speaker 4: Four additional per month. Speaker 5: I mean, it could be anywhere up to 9,000 or something, but the reality is that we wouldn't get anywhere near that number and they're all different in how they are developed as well. Sometimes some of our new houses are being built, designed from scratch to incorporate a secondary dwelling, but more often it's obviously retrofitting one in on the same property. Typically the larger properties out in the hinterland is where they're most common, most popular. Councillor Wilkie: And just to help kick the discussion off, what can you tell us about a number of dwellings that may be provided by council

00:05:00 working in concert with the State and community housing providers? Speaker 5: Well, we know that the site in central Tewantin would yield potentially 30 social housing units. We are looking at changing zonings of land in Sunrise Beach that could yield between 20 and 30 again. There's a number of areas where council's looking at collaboratively working with community housing providers who then in turn have access to capital grant money or ongoing grant funding for affordable housing. So I think Glenn's got a report to you coming up a bit later,

00:06:00 but we'll be looking at a particular site. But yeah, the figure is unknown, Frank, but it certainly could be a significant contribution. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillors? Councillor Wegener: Questions? Tom? Oh, you go ahead, Amelia. Councillor Lorentson: This is a noting report. My question is, will we get an opportunity to review the report as in look at... more opportunities to step into the space, and not necessarily as in housing available... as in supply, as in homelessness prevention? There's a lot happening around the world in this space, built to zero over in the United States, and there's a lot of learnings. Finland and places around the world are really making some huge inroads into homelessness, and I think it would be great to review what's out there.

00:07:00 And see whether there's opportunity for us as a council to use data and understand specifically our problem, and whether through policy, whether through... maybe through policy, whether there are triggers that we can identify as opportunities for us to help in this space. So back to my question. Will we actually review the strategy? Speaker 5: Well, formally, when you endorsed it a year ago, it was going to be reviewed every two years. Two years. But there is nothing that would stop you from, you know, through the CEO, specifically asking for case studies or for something to be investigated. Certainly, it's a matter of continual...

00:08:00 Well, when we start looking at case studies around the world, that's ongoing. Any conversations we're having with some of the service providers, the not-for-profit sector is ongoing. We have membership on the Sunshine Coast Housing and Homelessness Network. So the role that council is playing in terms of being active to support people experiencing homelessness is ongoing. And there's no set time where we will consider that. We're considering it all the time. Councillor Lorentson: So it's dynamic and moving. And I know also you've got, as one of your actions, I think, a monitoring program. And that's coming out, I think, next year, December 2024. Is that too late? Can we move that forward, Rowena? Speaker 5: We're monitoring it all the time. So we do have a subscription to housing.com, I think.

00:09:00 ID? ID. Yeah, ID.com, which has a housing profile. And that subscription does auto-generate updates. Now, obviously, it's tied to census as well. So the most substantial update occurs once census data is available. But there are some elements that get updated on a quarterly basis. Some elements get updated on an annual basis. It just depends on when data is available. So some of the things like vacancy rates, we can update almost weekly, monthly. Things like median rents, we would update monthly. So it just depends on what the particular element is. Some elements we can't update more than every five years. Speaker 4: We also monitor the shift from short stay to permanent rental on a weekly basis. Fantastic.

00:10:00 So we are doing... Twice weekly. Speaker 5: Twice weekly now. We monitor. We're monitoring every rental, permanent rental that is advertised available. And we can cross-check that against whether it was formerly STAs. So we do see places go on and off from between STAs and permanent lending as well. Councillor Jurisevic: Sorry, just on that. Did we know there was a shift? Speaker 4: Yes. There is? Yes, we have. I think the last information I gave you... It does... It moves a bit like this. But I think the last information I provided was following the Mayor's letter out to short stay. That's the last I read. Yeah. And I think there might have been 108 property shift at that time. Yes. Councillor Wegener: Tom. The very first sentence of the Executive Summary says that New South Council endorsed the New South Housing Strategy such and such for residents.

00:11:00 Councillor Lorentson: Who are the residents? Councillor Wegener: What is the definition of a resident in this context? Speaker 5: People that reside within the Shire. People that live within the Shire. Councillor Jurisevic: Are they permanent or renting or... Yes. Councillor Wegener: Just sort of a mind if they have a place to live and they have an address, then they're housed. But I think that we're actually looking for the people that aren't residents that live here because they're looking for housing there. Speaker 5: They live here. They don't necessarily have a home, a structural home, but they live here as opposed to living somewhere else. Councillor Wilkie: You're capturing homeless people as well. Speaker 5: It captures homeless people. People sleeping rough. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. No. Yeah. The people sleeping rough. What... But you're right. Speaker 4: There is enough... Councillor Wegener: Because... Yeah. I think that sometimes they look at it as a state issue because groups of people who are homeless will go to those places

00:12:00 where there's the best benefits. And of course you see that in California where there's two other problems astronomical. And of course it's bad here. What is a resident? Because as soon as they go from the Sunshine Coast to the here, they walk across the border. Are they a resident? And if they're here, I guess they aren't residents then. I'll take that off. The next question. The project officer, would that be a position paid by NUSA Council? Yes. Sometimes the STA groups would love to see another enforcement officer and of course the Audit and Risk Committee is forever saying that we actually need more. So that would be another position. Speaker 4: Earlier this year, Council did approve two additional compliance officers for short stay. So you have increased your resources in short stay this year.

00:13:00 Councillor Wegener: I think we'd want to tell that to the people, don't we? Because as the number of actions, 48, 45, 46, 47, 48 in the end are all based around enforcement of STAs to try to increase long-term rentals. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stockwell? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah, I was going to move the recommendation. I'll second it. Councillor Wilkie: Seconded by Mayor Stewart. Moved by Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I do so. The housing strategy is probably one of the most significant policy initiatives of this term in Council. Responding to a situation where, as Councillor Woodpeer suggested it is, it's nationwide, it's the housing crisis a bit early and has been very hard on this Shire. The update does show where we've endeavoured to make progress. It is disappointing that, you know, 10 months after we submitted the planning scheme review that largely resolved around implementing

00:14:00 the actions within the housing strategy, that we haven't been able to advertise those scheme amendments to public commentators yet. And we're hopeful it will be early in the next term. I put my hand up after Councillor Wegener's question in regard to residents. Speaker 9: And the housing strategy is not just for those who are currently homeless in the Shire, Deputy Mayor Stockwell: or those who are currently in housing stress. The housing strategy is about trying to stop the huge drain of our workforce. I think it's probably three times this week I've had someone say to me, we're still having difficulty getting staff, or no, sorry, I can't do your job, I can't get staff. It is one of the most significant issues that is underpinning a whole lot of uncertainty within our economy as well. And that's why it's really essential that we do continue to prioritise the effort of the housing strategy.

00:15:00 It's not just what was really important to provide housing for the most vulnerable in terms of public housing. It's also for those downsizers, the single women over 50 who currently won't have options if they wish to do that because of the cost. So the... It's really important to me that we do keep this policy agenda high on the priority list, and that we do continue all those good relationships with the State Government, the Department of Housing, and with the community housing sector like Coastal Bay, who will be the providers of additional dwellings within this Shire. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Gerritsen. Councillor Jurisevic: Question in regard to... The structure of housing, I guess.

00:16:00 One of the things in the housing strategy, we do talk about community housing a lot, which is usually built to facilitate the needs in a regular capacity. But what about... What have we got within our strategy to help facilitate the build to rent for the worker accommodation type market within the private sector? Have we got anything that we've been delving into here, specifically in that realm, to encourage build to rent type arrangements? Speaker 5: Yeah. We do. And there's material within the package of proposed scheme amendments that specifically address build to rent, long-term affordable rental accommodation. Speaker 2: That's... Councillor Jurisevic: I'm sorry. That's something... Yes. In amendments have been group-wide statement. Yeah. That's right. That's right. Councillor Wilkie: Mayor Stewart. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Roy and Kim, thank you for your hard work on this.

00:17:00 This has been a huge, huge load of work. And it's been ongoing for years now. So this is the most proactive and progressive step that has been taken in this space. And to what Mr. Council has done, that's been driven very much by you and your team. So thank you both. We have taken various actions to advance the vision of an inclusive nursing community where everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford, as terminated in this document. We formed the Housing Reference Stakeholder Group, which provided input to the housing strategy. We held the Housing Forum on the 1st of March this year up at the Christian Outreach Church, which provided an opportunity to personalise the housing crisis through real local examples and reinforce the importance of taking a role as a local government and as a community. We have written to over 900 homeowners of home to the STA encouraging them to consider renting to permanent rentals. And I'm really pleased that that number is now at 108, did you say? That is terrific.

00:18:00 We couldn't, and 108, we could not build that from February. There is no way we could ever get 108 dwellings in that time. Nor could we even do it if we partnered with the Federal and State Governments. Certainly it was not the way that building costs are going and the timeframes and the... the stoppages in that. So 108 is a terrific outcome. Our housing strategy contains a total of 48 actions. And I note that Council, our role is one of an advocate, a regulator, a partner and a planner. We've supplied a housing supply statement. We have supplied, as Councillor Stockwell said, amendments to the new supply, which are currently sitting with the State Government. Unfortunately that has been 10 months still waiting on those back. We have introduced transit route ratings. Which I think we were the first in Queensland to do. Followed after, shortly after the year later by Brisbane City Council. First in Queensland to do the short-term local lending law.

00:19:00 We were the first in Queensland to have the two tiny homes on our land partnering with charity. I think, don't quote me, I think that is the case. And we also, our communities sector do a lot with the Northern Alliance in regards to charities and partnerships. And finding and working with housing providers to provide accommodation for our most vulnerable. And we've recently signed the MOU with Coastal Bay, which is terrific. And obviously working with the State Government in regards to specific areas in the Shire. So we are certainly doing our bit. And I'm really proud of this Council for, you know, as I said, this has been on the table for a long time. And I want to thank the staff. This is a lot of, this is their body of work. And it's really valued and appreciated. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Mayor. Amelia. Councillor Lorentson: I'll keep this brief. Thank you for all the hard work. And as the Mayor rightly stated, we're leading in a lot of aspects.

00:20:00 I still think this space for doing more, in particular in the space of homelessness prevention, whether it's in terms of, just in terms of preventing people that have safe housing from entering or exiting that homeless pattern. I'm looking forward to seeing what's happening around the world. And whether we can take some learnings from that. And whether, you know, and really examining what's happening around the world. And whether we can examine in detail our local policies. And whether there are any barriers built within our local policies that may trigger homelessness with people. If someone is in need of, you know, funding bills, whether it's electrical bills or rental bills,

00:21:00 do they know where to seek support to get those emergency funds? It's that prevention space I think that we could probably just scratch a little bit deeper. And see whether we can play a role in that space. But again, commend Council. I think what we're doing is exemplary. And I'm proud to be part of this solution as small as it, or as big as it is. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks a lot. Rowlene. Speaker 5: Yes, certainly, Councillor. I would remind you that through the Community Development Directorate, the community development team actually do specifically do those type of things. So they have a package of quick, easy, immediate access phone numbers. All the wraparound services, if you like, for people who are on the verge of either experiencing homelessness or on the verge of it.

00:22:00 That can put you in contact with many, many different people. And here in Noosa and a bit further around on the coast. And so those little ready guides are already available. Including Social Security Services. Councillor Lorentson: Yes. So this is the Northern District, no? Or just three? Speaker 5: Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: We started with our Social Services Hub. That's right. Yes. So it continues on. Speaker 5: Fantastic. Yes. And the local laws offices that do go around council, you know, do go around the Shire on a day-to-day basis. They have little pocket guides. They carry in their pocket. They share with people. So there is a lot on the ground happening on a daily basis already. Thank you, Rowlene. Councillor Lorentson: I would love, I would love that information for myself. Just that would be excellent. Thank you. Probably Kylie. Kylie or Cheryl would be the best contact given that. I'd appreciate that. Thank you.

00:23:00 Good, good. Councillor Jurisevic: I referred, I referred a gentleman to Kylie just the other, other day. Through the, through the group. So yes, still, still touching. Yes, I too would like to thank you for all the ongoing, the amount of work that's been put into this. I'd like to get some more figures to see how we're progressing. We're kind of on an ongoing basis. As we're monitoring situations, just to see how they're changing over time and to see the, the elements of improvement. I'd like to see some of the, some of the changes that, that have been filtered through into the Payday Scheme and, and enable the changes that we're, we're hoping to enact and provide opportunities. As the, the cost of living wikes more, the housing prices will only exacerbate further. And the sooner the state can help facilitate those changes in our planning scheme so that we put them to the public, the sooner we can, can look at what the options are going forward.

00:24:00 Some of the developments coming forward that are out there, hopefully we'll start to look at the opportunities that this presents to help facilitate housing diversity and needs for those that are in need of, of greater housing choice than what's currently out there. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. Councillor Whitman. Councillor Wegener: Yep. I'd like to thank you and, and congratulate you on the report. It's moving forward. It, it's amazing. One thing I'd like to suggest is nimbleness, to be able to, I'm talking to you. Yeah. We should, you know, consider how quickly we can respond to situations. And we responded very quickly to a situation down at the, the, where people are staying at the beaches, at the spit. Where, and, and we, you know, we said, well, you can't stay there at night, overnight anymore. You know, that, that, that could have potentially been a bit of a, you know, homeless situation. I don't think it was. But to, to be able to respond quickly in the future, I think would be a really great thing

00:25:00 for this council to be able to do. When there is an opportunity, let's do it. Hop on it. And, and help these people. So, yeah. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Anyone else wish to speak before Councillor Stockwell closes? Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Yeah. Thank you. Well, it's good to be back around the table and be on a really auspicious a day where we can celebrate such focus and solution focused and innovation. And I really want to appreciate at this table, the staff and what you've achieved. It's a perfect example of collaboration and their leadership capacity. We can work together with staff, with our communities, with our community groups. We can certainly find outcomes that everyone's aware of. Even though they're baby steps, I'm sure we'll get great solution focused outcomes. When we were away at LGAQ, the three girls, we went along to a housing meeting because we thought we could get some further information and, you know, adding that to our toolbox

00:26:00 to bring back here. And it ended up that we were providing that information for their toolbox. That was Canberra. So, you know, we need to be really proud of what this council has achieved in this space and the heavy lifting we've done up to all levels of government to advocate for this Shire. So thank you. And I'm looking forward to a great future where we can really start to see some, you know, housing on the ground in the next couple of years to meet the needs. So thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stockwell. Thank you. Close. Okay. Let's put to the vote those in favour. It's carried unanimously. Thank you, Rowena. Thank you, Kim. Next item is the Noosa Junction Levy and Revenue Statement Amendment. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, ladies. Councillor Wilkie: Welcome, Trent. Hi, Trent. Would you like to give us an overview, please, of what we're looking at here? Good afternoon, councillors.

6.2 NOOSA JUNCTION LEVY AND REVENUE STATEMENT AMENDMENT - 2023-24 BUDGET ¶

▶ 00:26:57· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:27:00 Speaker 7: Every year through the budget process, our council adopts the Revenue Statement as part of its annual budget. The Revenue Statement outlines and details all our rates, levies, separate and special charges. And included in that is two levies associated with the Noosa Junction. One is the Noosa Junction Levy, which has been in place for a very long period of time. And the other is the Streetscape Levy, which was reintroduced this year as part of a three-year process to generate funds to undertake the master plan and design of the new Streetscape. The Noosa Junction Levy itself is structured and its purpose as outlined in the overall plan that's in the Revenue Statement is to generate funds from the levy benefit area that contributes to the Junction Association to undertake a range of activities as agreed by the association and its benefit area levy rate. We set that levy annually based on the amounts agreed with the association for what they

00:28:00 need to undertake those activities. And we adopted the levy as they currently stand with a broadly aligned to CPI increase this year. Now, the association have approached us and indicated that they can continue to support and continue to deliver the required projects and initiatives this year with the same baseline funding as they ran with last financial year. That means we do not need to collect the entire levy amount for this financial year. And it is proposed that we can reduce the levy for the second half of the year coming into the January rates run so that there is some marginal rates relief for those rate payers in that levy benefit area for the second half of the financial year. Okay. Questions, councillors?

00:29:00 Joe? Councillor Jurisevic: So just to clarify, that one is here because within the next rate run, we're going to reduce that in that rate run as opposed to just going to the budget for consideration for the next financial year. Speaker 7: Correct, councillor. Our BR2 is anticipated to be presented in the January round of council meetings. We will aim to issue our January rates run or undertake the process in the first and second weeks in January. So there's a slight timing mismatch. If we had reached a point of having BR2 ready for you this round, we would have bundled the two together. But the intent was to bring it forward earlier so that we can gain your endorsement and then notify the levy benefit area rate payers with a letter later this week. Councillor Jurisevic: So as far as the entire revenue statement being an attachment here, the only reason for that entire attachment is because of the changes just to the list? Speaker 7: Correct. And those changes are identified in the report where I've just identified. The only changes made to the report is the breakdown of a July and a January amount,

00:30:00 the levy amount, cents and the dollar, and the dollar value of contribution raised is the only change made to the revenue statement. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you for clarifying. Councillor Wilkie: It's all made out to you. Thank you. Anyone care to move the motion? So moved. Moved by Mayor Stewart, seconded by Councillor Drusevic. Mayor Stewart? Mayor Stewart: Thank you Trent for all your hard work, there's a lot of work again like the previous and a lot of work goes into these few pages, there's hours and hours, so thank you. Yep. Yep. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stockwell? Speaker 9: Yeah, I'm actually a bit concerned that Trent O'Regan, amongst his colleagues as Directors of Corporate Services, is probably set to increase and is actually reducing rates halfway through his budget. I think he's just lucky that it's the last meeting before Christmas and he can use that as an excuse. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, this one's a little bit different to our rate settings, it is one that is set by agreement

00:31:00 with those who benefit from the levy and it's appropriate to acknowledge there that the committee and this country's traders view that due to a range of other factors it would be appropriate in this case to... Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, the councillors? Speaker 9: Councillor Tom? Councillor Wegener: I'd like to acknowledge that the work of the rate payer, the New South Junction Rate Payer Group, what is it called? Traders Association. Sorry about that, the Traders Association for doing this and stepping up and working for the community like that. Councillor Wilkie: Yep. Yep. Yeah, and just to clarify, this was a levy introduced at the request of the Junction Traders Association for a project that benefits the New South Junction. They've asked for it to be reduced and we're happy to do that. It has no implications in the bottom line for council operations whatsoever. Speaker 7: Through the Chair to clarify, yes, that's correct. If we had engaged with it earlier in the year we would have had no increase year on year,

00:32:00 so bringing it through part way through as a reduction simply ensures that the year on year revenue and the year on year contribution back to the association. That's out to Neil. Councillor Wilkie: Yep, thank you. Anyone else wish to speak before Mayor Stewart closes? Mayor Stewart? Mayor Stewart: No, just to add, I saw in the report that it has no implication on, they can get everything they want to get done within the constraints of, you know, reducing the levy anyway. So there's no impact to them or more council. Yep. Perfect. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Good for those in favour. That's unanimous. It's carried. Next item is the Financial Performance Report and Trent is here again. Pauline. And Pauline. Welcome, Pauline. Thank you. Speaker 3: Good afternoon, councillor. Speaker 2: Hello, Pauline. How are you? All right. Speaker 3: Financial performance for the month of November continues to be positive, with operating revenue $2.7 million above budget year-to-date.

6.3 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – NOVEMBER 2023 ¶

▶ 00:32:52· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:33:00 That is largely comprised of additional interest revenue of $1.7 million. That is largely comprised of additional interest revenue of $1.7 million. We have $800,000 from sales of goods and services from holiday parks and waste, $294,000 from operational grants. However, this is slightly offset by some lower than budget fees and charges from DA and Building and Economy. Operating expenditure is $1.7 million under spent and this is $970,000 worth of employee costs, which we talked about at the last meeting around vacancies and timing of positions, and a small amount relating to materials and services. Okay. Overall year-to-date Council's operating position at November is $3.7 million above budget. This surplus will be used to offset the forecast deficit that we adopted at Budget Review 1 and will fund operations and emergent works that happen during the remainder of this financial year. Capital revenue continues to track above budget with the receipt of disaster recovery grants

00:34:00 and this flows through to the expenditure as well with the delivery of Cooroy projects commencing and getting well underway. Council is currently holding $116 million in cash reserves with $30 million invested in higher yielding term deposits. The drop in term deposit relates primarily to holding funds in the QTC cash account which is also now providing us with higher interest yielding returns. We will expect that this position will spike in February again with the rates run coming through however will decrease over time through to the end of 30 June. With the delivery of the capital program and business as usual operations. With almost half the financial year complete, Council's financial performance continues to be strong into the year. Councillor Wilkie: Questions councillors? Joe? Councillor Jurisevic: There is one stand out item here, Civil Ops, 109.9% operating revenue, 109.9% above the budget, 3,695% increase, 109.9% of the 3k annual budget earned relates to the

00:35:00 recruitment of works on behalf of energy. Can you give me a bit of an understanding on what the recruitment of works on behalf of energy is today or what was it again? Speaker 3: It was just the type of revenue, so we were approached by Energex to undertake some capital works that we were doing on projects rather than being say grant revenue or an operating revenue that came through as miscellaneous revenues as it was unexpected. So it's just the classification of that type of revenue. So it was works we were approached by Energex to undertake when we were doing project works, and so it's additional revenue outside of what we'd normally receive. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you, so we know what project that was on? Speaker 3: I would have to, I could find out for you, come back to me. Councillor Jurisevic: It involved electricity. Yeah. I gather, I gather, I'm assuming I know which one it is, but if you could just clarify. I think it was Moose Parade. Sorry? Moose Parade. I see you Matt, thank you, that's good to hear. Claire? Mayor Stewart: Yes, thank you. Same questions that we ask every month, page 93, the operating surplus ratio, the target is zero to 10%, our result's 19.9, and then our cash expense cover is still

00:36:00 really high, the target is greater than three months and we're at 12.6, which is what it's been for a number of months. Speaker 3: So operating surplus will decline as we get through the year, so that's where it'll start high and come down, so as we progress through the year it obviously fluctuates. So as we spend money it comes lower and lower, so towards the end of June we would expect that to come down. In terms of the cash cover ratio, that relates predominantly to the fact that we're, in that calculation we include restricted cash, so all of the QRA disaster funding, all of the grants that we've received in advance, all the unspent levies that we collect as well, and that also funds our capital program, so as that gets delivered it comes down. So it would be obviously a lot lower if we excluded those from that calculation. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Tom? Question. Is there a danger in the future of our economy, our budgets actually getting smaller, because we have these big grants and our operations are huge, bigger than it was a few years ago,

00:37:00 and when it gets smaller again and contracts, which it probably will, is there a danger of us actually looking bad on paper? Speaker 3: So in terms, if you were comparing year on year it would certainly look different, but in terms of the grant funding that we get, the large majority of that is capital related, so it relates to specific projects. So once those are delivered we generally, they will either finish, so we don't carry them on, so we don't have that revenue to fund them and we don't continue that project because it's finished. Same with the operating projects, so as the funding, the money is there to pay for that project, it just means we may deliver different services in terms of those specific ones. But business as usual wouldn't be impacted by grant funding, we don't fund the core operations through grants generally. We might subsidise it if an opportunity comes along, but we generally would not fund core operations that way. Councillor Wegener: Okay, so yeah in the future we can say our basic day by day regular stuff is all the same and we'll get it at a steady rate. This was a blip on that there. Absolutely, yeah. Speaker 9: Brian?

00:38:00 Yeah, I think the last item there was at first, I'm pretty sure this is a first for me in eight years, that the variance in capital expenditure is over the budget rather than under the budget. So that would be the case, I seem to recall that we've never had that since 2016. Speaker 3: That is the case, and the reason for that is the QRA disaster project. So currently they're not factored into our budget, but they will be introduced at BR2. So they will kind of fluctuate a little bit when you see the January round of reports. Councillor Jurisevic: So they are being seen in capital expenditure? Speaker 3: Yeah, so we're recognising the expenditure because we're obviously spending it, but we obviously haven't reflected that in the budget at this stage. Speaker 9: It just looks good. Speaker 3: Okay, we'll go with it. Councillor Wilkie: It looks good. I don't think I've ever seen this council so flush with cash either. Cash holding $116 million is extraordinary, but as you say, it's disaster recovery grant funding. Speaker 3: Yes. Councillor Wilkie: It's all going to be expanded. Speaker 3: A lot of that's, yeah, the vast majority of that's committed, correct. Councillor Wilkie: And the totals, which I don't think we've received in full yet, are ranging up around

00:39:00 $100 million, is that correct? Potentially, yes. It's extraordinary. Mayor Stewart: Any concerns, both of you, that you'd like to share? Speaker 3: I suppose the biggest thing, and it's not a concern so much, it's more just something that we need to manage, is as the QRI projects are delivered, we just need to be managing that grant process, really, the claims process quite closely, just so that we manage our cash flow. So we're fine at the beginning, so we've been prepaid in advance, but once we chew through that cash, it's just a matter of making sure that we've got our claims coming through to match that expenditure, so we don't sort of start dipping into council funds. That's probably there. Councillor Wilkie: Do you have any concerns over our wages to revenue ratio? Speaker 3: Not at this stage, no, in terms of the percentage component. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: We're delivering a lot of projects, so we've had to take on extra staff to deliver these projects, which we've got extra revenue for. Correct. So since we've kept everything in proportion.

00:40:00 Speaker 3: Yeah. So obviously, we recoup the expenditure on employee costs for projects, for capital projects particularly, so that gets capitalised as part of the assets, so it doesn't flow through the P&L as such. But yeah, so generally, we've only got staff on additional temporary staff for project work, and once that project completes, they'll either go on to a different project that's funded, or find some other project to go on with. Councillor Wilkie: One more question, if I may, Tom, and maybe a question to the CEO. How many staff are we still seeking in terms of numbers across the organisation? It does fluctuate. It fluctuates on a daily basis. I mean, it was about a year ago, it was 100. 18 months ago, it was about 100, was the estimate. Yeah. Have we got more staff? Speaker 3: I think they've done quite well at recruiting, but I don't know that it's 100 that they've got, still outstanding, but there's still quite a significant number in certain areas of council, in civil ops, development assessment,

00:41:00 across those sorts of areas. Speaker 2: It's hard to put an exact number on any one point in time, because it relates to part time and others as well, but safe to say, I think we're in a better position now than we were 12 months ago, in terms of turnover and in terms of vacancies. Things have stabilised. Yes, to some degree. Speaker 3: We are still struggling to get the candidates through, but I think everybody is struggling with that. Councillor Wilkie: I'm hearing interviews going on all the time. Anyone care to move the report or any more questions? Sorry, Tom, you had a question. Okay. Councillor Wegener: So I wrote down 970,000 employee savings, which is extraordinary. That's quite big, isn't it? Speaker 3: It is quite substantial. It's not inconsistent than what we've had in previous years. So it depends on the, so if we approve new employees through budget, sometimes that can take a little bit of time to get that recruitment going, and that can contribute to the vacancies. But certainly, yeah, it is a significant amount.

00:42:00 And that comes on to, sometimes that relates to if we haven't part, so sometimes we might have a full FTE, but we might only partially pull that. So that will also contribute to those. Yes. Speaker 7: I guess just to add to that, if you consider our employee cost base and 900,000 year to date, and if we continue with a level of staff turnover and vacancy, and if you consider in practice, we lose a staff member, it can take us three to four months to go through a recruitment process for that. Now, when you're talking over $40 million in employee costs annually, so $900,000 for nearly six months means that we're talking about a 5% impact across the board in terms of lost salaries and wages. So that relative to the size and the scale of our workforce isn't unheard of. It's not a significant concern. The challenge is just us filling it and the timeline it takes us to fill that.

00:43:00 And the workload on the other staff when they've got a vacancy in a small team, and they're scrambling to fill the gaps when they've lost someone that's got niche or tacit knowledge in their team. Councillor Finzel: I've just got a question on that through the Chair this evening. How are we tracking them when we've got a pressure on the team with vacancies, and we might have someone in the team that's on, say, a permanent part-time, and then how are we tracking, like checking their skills and their ability to be able to move into a full-time position, say, in that team? How are we tracking this? Speaker 2: That's an ongoing process through our recruitment process. We've got people in culture department looking at that, and through our management, to be honest. All of our managers are always looking to do that. And one of our philosophies is to encourage promotion within where possible, if they've got the right skills, or they've got the ability to accumulate those skills. Absolutely. So we look for that, but there's times where we can't.

00:44:00 Just to answer, also to go on from the figure that Councillor Wegener put up about the $970,000, and that is a figure that it's not necessarily savings as such, or unspent money at this point in time, because we do have to supplement when there's positions that aren't filled, or we can't fill them, or it takes time to fill. Sometimes it's three months. Sometimes it's six months by the time we get somebody to relocate and do all the other bits and pieces. So we would spend some of that money on contractors or consultancies. Consultancies. Consultancies. Right on. Right. Labor hire, that sort of stuff, to make sure that we've got people in those positions, otherwise the pressure on our existing workforce is even greater. So we try to make sure of that, because again, it's a tough market, and particularly we see it a lot even in our operations department, where we do have to bring labor or hire in

00:45:00 quite regularly, because there is quite a bit of movement, and getting people in quickly is difficult. So we do a bit of that, and just supplement until we can get people in. Councillor Lorentson: So should we be separating consultancy services from employee costs, given that- Speaker 2: Either that. Yeah, I think there's consultancies, and then there's contractors, or there's labor hire, if you like, people that come in and backfill, whereas a consultancy is, in the truest term, is more about we've got a project that we need a consultant with that expertise to come in and do something. So it's a bit, it's slightly different, I think, and we do separate the consultancies out from the workforce, absolutely. Speaker 3: And consultancies and contract services sits in the materials and services line, it doesn't sit through the- Speaker 2: Yeah, consultancy is really related to projects, specific projects. Councillor Lorentson: And do we have a consultancy register? I think I've asked that question a few times. Speaker 3: I wouldn't think that there'd be a register as such. We obviously have a list of suppliers that we utilize, but we don't keep a separate register for that particular, I suppose, area.

00:46:00 We have a contracts register that looks at all of our contracts across council, like all our ITQs and tenders, but not specifically consultancies. Speaker 2: Yeah, where we're doing work that's regular work, then we'll have a list of suppliers, like plumbing suppliers, for example. But where it's, where we're looking to do specific consultancies, there's, you go out to the market, because you want to get someone with the specific capability and knowledge that there's a list that you can choose from, necessarily. There's groups that, you know, we know in that sphere, but we don't, we don't have them on the list. Councillor Wilkie: Someone care to move the report? Move Councillor Wegener, seconded by Councillor Lorentson, and Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: No, just good work, good solid way to end the year. Thank you very much for the year, the team. Thank you. It's great, great, great, good feeling to end the year with this report, financially. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, Councillor Sprague, put the report all in favour.

00:47:00 That's carried unanimously. Thank you, Trent. Thank you, Pauline. Next item is shade in the Koran streetscape. Councillor Lorentson: And I'd like to move an alternative motion, please. Councillor Wilkie: And I'll second it. Speaker 1: Do you know what you're saying? Councillor Wilkie: Yes, I do. We're moving things along today. But no, we'll have, we'll have Larry speak to the report first. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So, sorry, Larry can't talk to the motion. Councillor Wilkie: We'll talk to the motion. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If we move them separately, it has to be moved to the motion. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, okay. Larry, Amelia, you've got the floor. Sure. Councillor Lorentson: I'll start by reading the alternate motion that Council note the report by the acting CEO to the general committee meeting dated 11th of December 2023 regarding additional shade measures in King Street Koran.

6.4 SHADE IN COORAN STREETSCAPE ¶

▶ 00:47:20· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:48:00 And A, Council provide freestanding shade umbrellas in the streetscape as a short term solution. B, undertake community consultation regarding the public use of the space. And the subsequent design and construction of a long term shelter. C, consider a budget allocation for the 2024-2025 financial year for supply and installation of additional mature shade trees in King Street Koran in consultation with all local businesses and the community. And D, note that Council has committed already to an additional shade shelter at the bus stop in Koran with a budget allocation of $65 million. And there is also a provision of additional shade, oh, no, that's not what, that's not what I meant. Sorry.

00:49:00 Sorry. I've got it here. That's not what. This one here. Mayor Stewart: Four. We had a few sent from you earlier. Councillor Lorentson: Sorry, it's been. It's all right, we'll get it. Okay. This is the last one. Mayor Stewart: No, that's. Just a sec, we've got it. We've got it. Is that one there, Amelia? It's the bottom line. Councillor Lorentson: That's. No, it's the bottom line. That's it, thank you very much. And D, note that Council is committed to an additional shade shelter at the bus stop in Koran with a budget allocation of $65,000. Council also proposes to submit a budget bid for 2024-2025 for a Koran reconstruction project. Council also proposes to submit a budget of $65,000 for the Koran recreation pre-sick plan, which can examine the possibility of shade structures at places such as the Koran skate park. Councillor Wilkie: And as chair, I could suggest that Councilor Lawrence could ask the CEO a question about the nature of the report.

00:50:00 Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. And through the chair, Larry, can you give us an overview of the report in front of us all? Certainly. Speaker 2: Thank you, through the chair. So this is a rather tricky one. Just to give some background to it initially is the fact that in 2010 there was, through a Councilor's discretionary budget, a couple of tables and chairs placed in the community space outside the general store. Those were tables provided then by Council. Since and during that time, it's understood that the temporary shade umbrellas were provided. On those tables by the owners of the general store. So they were taken out, put back in at the end of the day. It is community space. It is Council space. Just recently, we had need to replace those tables.

00:51:00 And in replacing those tables, we recognised that the safety factor of those umbrellas wasn't necessarily as high as it should be. So the recommendation was that we don't have those umbrellas specifically there anymore. And we placed new tables there. Since that time, there's been discussion around the need for shade in that public space. Because it is public space, it becomes, and it's community space, then it's become quite a situation that we needed to then understand further. So this report, what it does is provides a summary or a summary of the public space. An outline of the existing provisions in Karen along the street, King Street. Of the different options and different shading options that are provided by the various shop owners and various positions. What we need to remember is where these tables are is in the community space. It's not part of any lease.

00:52:00 It is community space. So the staff have done a research and some investigation on that. There's been no, we need to be upfront, there's been no community consultation because it's been specific to that space only. Where the tables were. So this report is really just a technical report saying these tables are replaced. If you want shade on those tables, then we need to look at precedent. We need to look around the whole Shire and make sure that we're not doing something that's outside of our remit. The recommendation therefore that sits within our remit as officers is that we provide street trees. Is the option because the risk is if we put shade on those tables because of their proximity to the shopping, to the shops nearby, then you're setting up a precinct. So the recommendation is for street trees at this point from the office point of view. But more than happy for discussion to happen and for recommendations to come from the floor.

00:53:00 Or from the table for us to then implement if that's the will of the Council. Councillor Wilkie: Council Morrison, you have the floor. Councillor Lorentson: You have to speak to the motion. Yep, I will speak to the motion. In April 2023, some of the Councils were approached by the proprietors of a general store located at 12 King Street, Curran. They requested that Noosa Council replace the umbrellas that had been removed by the Council from the community tables near 12 King Street. We were informed at the time by the ex-CEO that the matter fell under operational jurisdiction with the CEO being responsible for the day-to-day operations. At that time and at many other times, a lot of the Councils around this table expressed or made clear their opinions as to what they would like to see happen.

00:54:00 It seems from the report that Council has taken a different stance. And my understanding is that the general store were informed that the management and liability of any temporary shade rested with the business owners and not Council. And that the store was then advised to apply for an outdoor dining area. As a result, a request was made to have this matter decided by Council. The motion in front of us acknowledges a few things. Firstly, that the tables adjacent to 12 King Street have always been a crucial community meeting space and that no business should assume ownership or exclusivity. The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use. The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use.

00:55:00 The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use. The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use. The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use. The motion in front of us acknowledges that the tables were erected by the Council in 2010 for community use, not private use. It won't be long. He says that as one of the past councillors who had the seating installed initially, we were aware of the issues at the store and that this area is a place where people congregate even today, years later. The store is more than a shop, providing banking, postal and other services. At the time, there was an informal arrangement made that council provide the seating and the store provide the shade over the tables during opening times, which is usually during daylight hours.

00:56:00 The arrangement worked well for at least 35 years. I understand the issue of liability for council and would suggest that the tables remain as public seating and council provide shade over the tables and keep this asset in public control. The recommendation before you that I seek support is... that council provide freestanding shade umbrellas in the streetscape as a short-term solution. Two, undertake community consultation regarding the public use of the space and the subsequent design and construction of a long-term shelter, noting that the four options that were canvassed in the report had not been subject to community engagement. And three, consider the budget allocation for supply and installation of the trees, mature trees in King Street, Curran, in consultation with the council. The recommendation before you that I seek support is that council provide freestanding shade umbrellas in the streetscape as a short-term solution. And note that council has already committed to additional shade shelter at the bus stop in Curran.

00:57:00 And that council also proposes a budget bid for a Curran recreational precinct plan, which can look at the possibility of a shade structure at places such as the skate park. Again, I reiterate that active community involvement in decisions directly impacting the Curran community is critical. The motion in front of us recognises and seeks input from the Curran local business and the community, and I ask that you support the motion in front of you. Councillor Wilkie: Questions, councillors? Joe, then Brian. Councillor Jurisevic: Mr CEO, the consideration of a freestanding shade umbrella in the streetscape, one would think that if council were to supply any form of freestanding item that would have to be securely positioned, so freestanding would mean that it would be secure, and be able to be removed readily? Speaker 2: The intention is, yeah, it's a bit of a... Councillor Jurisevic: That's clearly understood by that statement?

00:58:00 That's it, yes. I'm just trying to be clear. That's the intention. Speaker 2: Something's bolted down. Something's bolted down, but it could be removed if you needed to or wanted to. Councillor Jurisevic: Would that mean it would have a canvas-type cover, or would it be more of a solid-type cover? Speaker 2: The intention is to look at the best, most economical. Thank you. Councillor Stockwell? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Mine's a point of clarification, which I think might lead to a slight rewording of D. I don't think council is proposing to submit the budget bid. I think what that could possibly be suggesting is that council requests staff prepare a new initiative for the 24-25 budget, because that's worded as saying that council is submitting something, but that's not something that we actually propose. Sure. So for me, it's we're requesting that staff bring forward a budget bid for our consideration of the next council's consideration. Councillor Wilkie: Is it council staff or something? Well, it's just an amendment to the amendment. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's an amendment to the amendment. Well, if it's seen as to be a clarification, maybe it's a rewording of D.

00:59:00 Councillor Lorentson: It's just a clarification, yes, that council proposes. Yes. Staff prepare. Staff. Staff. Speaker 2: So this actually did come to a budget discussion last year. It didn't get into this year's budget. It didn't get into this year's budget. It didn't get into this year's budget. It didn't get into this year's budget. Councillor Wilkie: We'll just finalise this one first. Thanks Karen. Let's get the wording right. Yes, get the wording right and make sure everyone is happy with it. Is everyone happy? So now reads request that the CEO prepare a budget bid for 24-25 financial year for a We have a plan called the Koran Recreation Precinct Plan, which can examine the possibility of shared structures at places such as the Koran Escape Park.

01:00:00 Are all councillors happy with that? Karen, do you have a question? Councillor Finzel: Just coming back to the CEO's comment about affordability. On page 108, 165, initial estimates of supply and install are in the order of $30,000 for three hours. And there also will have to be further expenditure to maintain this asset type, because we've never done anything like that before. Prior to this meeting, I was out at Koran speaking to the store owner, Brad. And a few people that I met out there were quite concerned that the cost was $30,000 for three umbrellas. The owner of the shop did indicate that he has sent several emails through the council, suggesting that he be available to, you know, move the umbrellas, which they do have, which have been given to them.

01:01:00 And I've been supplied with photos that they can be safely secured underneath the tables. And community is more than happy to have them replaced and manage that and build their own resilience and ownership on that space. So can you talk to me a little bit about how we're going to move forward, where the $30,000 is allocated, where that's coming from, and how we're going to engage the community, if the store owner has already indicated that he's more than happy to do that, and people this morning have been very concerned about that $30,000 for three umbrellas. If we're replacing like for like, I'm not sure. Councillor Lorentson: Can I throw just a question through the chair? Speaker 2: We'll handle this question and answer that first. So the $30,000 is an estimate based on the design you see in the report there. So that's just a type.

01:02:00 Obviously, we would be looking to do, as I said before, the most economical and most efficient way to do this if we went down this path. If that's the decision that's taken. But we needed to let you know that if you take this decision, that's potentially the cost to do it. That's the worst case scenario. Yeah. To go down the path of what you've talked to the shop owner about is really going back to where it was before, where they were providing the umbrellas, taking them away. The staff have rejected that initially. That's where we are where we are, because they actually said they're not safe. That methodology wasn't safe. That they used wasn't safe, because the umbrellas could fly, and who's liable for that? Because it's on our land, but it's put up by somebody else. So if an umbrella flew out and hit somebody or a car or whatever it might be, who's at risk at that point? So that position would probably still stand unless we can get that shop owner to take that risk.

01:03:00 And that's a difficult thing. So again, we can explore that. Happy to explore that, whether that's an opportunity. And again, whether they can be locked in in a better way than just putting in the cheap marketing umbrella. If you like. That you potentially get from the various companies. So we can look at that. Again, to save money. But if the decision is, it's more the decision, if you take the decision that we want shade there, then we would look at the best methodology to actually deliver that. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Walsh, did you have an answer to the question as well? Councillor Lorentson: I do. I think what Karen is proposing is actually opposite what I've got in front of us, which is that council takes full ownership, not the store owner. That council replaces, manages and assumes liability for the shade umbrellas, not the proprietor. So I think what she's asking is quite different to what my motion is.

01:04:00 Speaker 2: I think that's what I explained, though. The responsibility would then come back on the shop owner. If they're putting it out and taking it away. Yes. Unless we can work out another model. But again, it's very difficult. Further question, Karen? Councillor Finzel: Yes. Thank you. So more of a clarification through the Chair. I was not making any proposal. I was asking a question from the CEO regarding the expenditure. Given the amount when people raised concerns today and have sent me emails. So with regards to community engagement, if we're doing a big, broad thing and we're looking at $30,000, there's no argument. People want the shade. The argument is the process of how this has gone about and how we're at this point. People physically could believe that now we're looking at $30,000 or up to large amounts and also having to manage remittances. Councillor Wilkie: So the question, Karen, is. Councillor Finzel: So the question is, is. Councillor Wilkie: That you're asking. Councillor Finzel: Well, when the community have said that they would prefer to manage that and they can manage

01:05:00 it and have it bolted down to $30,000. Without the $30,000 expenditure and go to that extreme for design and concept. In my opinion, this was meant to be a technical report and now we're looking at weight designs moving down the street when they're just asking for the shade to be replaced from the umbrella. Councillor Wilkie: So you're asking would other options be considered that may not cost $30,000? Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 2: Absolutely. I'm happy to explore all of those things. What we've got to be sure of, though, is the liability. Who owns the liability and what the risks are? But we can go down that path. But it's more about if you give us the direction today that we want shade over those tables, then we'll explore the best option available to us. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. Along the lines of the question I did ask you in an email, Mr. CEO, was along these lines, is there an opportunity to have some sort of an MOU between the shop owner and council with regard to what type of umbrellas they supply and how they are fixed in place

01:06:00 to cover the liability issue? And their responsibility is to install them and remove them at the beginning of the day, beginning of each operation, given that this is a situation where shade isn't available over a council master. Speaker 2: Sorry. That may well be possible. But again, I'm not the shop owner, so I don't know whether that's something that's going Councillor Jurisevic: to be advised by the council, perhaps through conversation they may put. Speaker 2: But once they're made aware of what the actual liabilities are, they may not. So we'd have to explore that. I can't give you an answer on that now. But what we're still suggesting is that we would provide the infrastructure. Councillor Jurisevic: On that basis, then, could I suggest an amendment to what's before us? Yes. And that is to put something in before a... We'll have to work on this on the fly. I'm sorry. Because we've...

01:07:00 Come on. In the first instance, entry into discussions with the proprietor of the general... The Korean General Store. I think that's what it's called, isn't it? Korean General Store. Is that the title of the store? Yeah. That's correct. With the possibility of a memorandum of understanding or a methodology... I'm seeking help here, guys. We should go and do... I don't think it would be used to facilitate that in the first instance before going to providing some change structures if that breaks down. Councillor Lorentson: Can I... Speaker 6: Through the Chair, we've never seen that approach used for these type of temporary structures. Mayor Stewart: No. It's just going to prolong it. Can I just... Speaker 6: So that's why we don't have the answer. Councillor Wilkie: We've got a staff answer. We've got... Sean, would you like to come and join the discussion, please? Come to the table, please. Answer Joe's question. Yeah. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. So I'm happy to answer this technically.

01:08:00 Speaker 6: The reason I asked the CEO to present the report is as you're aware, I'm previously a longstanding resident of Korea, and we thought for additional objectivity, having Larry present the report would be the appropriate thing. Sure. The problem we have with the memorandum of understanding is we don't have an example where we've used that in regard to liability. Umbrellas can be dangerous in winds, and we don't have staff that are readily available in Koran to manage the umbrellas on a daily basis. The proposal that's in the report is a fixed installation that meets structural engineering requirements. They are used around the Shire and private premises in resorts and sporting clubs. That cost estimate is based on a... A quote received from a supplier that includes the footing as well as the installation and the like. It would require council to maintain it. They are quite durable structures, so you can expect a lifespan of eight years at least of the canvas usually, and they are designed to withstand storms. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. And in the wording of this report, do you see anything here that suggests the staff

01:09:00 wouldn't talk to the store owners before installing this structure? Speaker 6: So in my mind that we would put out a your say and a community fact sheet. I would say that council is proposing to put umbrellas in this location and see what the broader community has to say. So noting that the tables are not proposed for any exclusive use, that they're for public use. But I do want to point out that to meet, you know, structural and safety obligations, that cost is the cost. Okay. So... Councillor Wilkie: Councillor, does that help clarify your direction? Speaker 6: I can't see any operating arrangement. Councillor Jurisevic: Is there any way we could have a... That a... An approved type of umbrella that was supplied by the operator, because these are supplied day in, day out at every other locality across the Shire where dining permits are issued. And each individual gives us tax responsibility and liability for that through a footpath dining

01:10:00 arrangement. Could some sort of an arrangement be facilitated by the operator? And that becomes the responsibility through some sort of a MAU or a lease arrangement with the operator if they're happy to provide the umbrellas. Speaker 6: So the only arrangement would be in terms of removal of liabilities if the shop owner or the premises were able to extend their public and personal liability to include the, you know, the umbrellas in the public footpath. And I can't speak for the, you know, the business owner whether they'd actually want to pursue that with their insurer. And I don't know whether the insurer would be willing to extend that. But that would be the resolution so that there's clear responsibility from a legal perspective if something happened, you know, for recourse of public or private damage.

01:11:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Has that avenue been discussed at all with the shop owner? Speaker 6: No. And as pointed out in the report, the report was a technical assessment of the different options without any community or business assessment. Councillor Jurisevic: So what I'm trying to do here in an amendment is add a first step to have that discussion and see if that arrangement can be facilitated in the first instance of going down the other paths and having a $30,000 structure. Councillor Wilkie: Okay, so you're, Jay, what you're proposing is ultimately a different result to what Amelia is providing. So it's a negation of the... Councillor Jurisevic: Not necessarily. I'm providing a stage... A methodology of staging that if an agreement can be reached with the store owner that one should be pursued. Councillor Wilkie: Well, the point I make, Councillor, is that the... Councillor Lorentson's motion is that Council is... It's a different motion. ...provides and is responsible for the installation and management of it and your amendment will be in direct contrast to that.

01:12:00 No, it wouldn't. Can I explain why it wouldn't? No. I've ruled on it. Can I also... Mayor Stewart. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, I've got a question that is not related to the board. I've got a question about consider a budget allocation from 24 to 25 financial year to supply installation of trees. What are we looking at if we were to do that simultaneously with the additional shade structure? What are we looking at in that cost? Speaker 2: I think our cost in here is about $1,000 a tree. Mayor Stewart: $1,000 per tree. Councillor Finzel: $1,000 per tree. How many would we need? Speaker 2: How many are you looking at? Speaker 6: Previously in the streetscape design, there actually were two trees located on King Street, which has since demised. So there used to be an eucalyptus by the carpet. So... And you can see them actually on the history of the area of photography. So there's at least two. But I think that if we went to the community, because we've got a much broader active retail precinct in Cooran than we had when the streetscape was upgraded. So with businesses at different ends of the town.

01:13:00 So I think the question would be, you know, looking at whether there'd be other locations. But you know, the point is that $30,000 will get you a lot of trees as a comparison, though it's a more longer term solution. So two minimum to shade in that locality. Mayor Stewart: I guess my question is if we are going, and I fully support putting up the shade, and at bearing, and as council providing, surely around that, but if we were to do that, and we've got our resources out there, what's a couple of extra trees as well? Speaker 6: About $1,000 a tree. Mayor Stewart: Yeah. So is it worth, I mean, this says consider a budget, but I mean, why couldn't we, if we put all our resources and our staff out there, if we're doing one thing, it makes economies of scale make sense to put in, I'm not talking about tree the whole street, but I'm putting in, putting back those trees for a little bit of extra money. It makes sense. Speaker 6: I concur. And we do plant trees under operational budget, so that we wouldn't come to council for a budget allocation for a couple of thousand dollars, so we would include it in the overall

01:14:00 street tree planning program. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Councillor Stockwell had his hand up. Speaker 9: Yeah. I'm going the different direction. My question is, is our team who are looking at urban greening and climate change response policy looking at that elsewhere as to the appropriate way to create safe public spaces in terms of shade and urban cooling, etc., for getting people? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And is, or is there an amendment needed to actually use this as the trigger to say we want to investigate this across the whole of Charlotte? Councillor Jurisevic: You're pre-mixing my next amendment. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And so I suppose that's probably the climate response plan. Speaker 6: I think technically, from the urban greening perspective, the work isn't that sophisticated as of yet. We've done some basic foundation work, but your question is a basic, is probably be able to answer in 12 months or two years' time.

01:15:00 Councillor Wilkie: Can I ask a follow-up question? Are there other tables in the Shire that have shade over them? Speaker 6: Yes, but the, for instance, and there's photos in the report, you know, the picnic tables in Pioneer Park have shade structures over the tables. Conversely, we have a lot of tables in the Shire that don't have shade structures over the top. And there is examples from both Peregian Beach Beach as well as Pomona in the report. Councillor Wilkie: So it's not unusual to see public tables with shade over them. That's correct. Thank you. Joe? Councillor Jurisevic: So the question that comes out of that is that if we can facilitate mature trees that can provide shade for a far lesser cost, why would we be pursuing fixed umbrellas in the short term if, how long, I guess the question is how long would it take us to acquire some mature trees that would provide, facilitate shade, and be able to plant them in such a way that would shade this table in the short term?

01:16:00 Speaker 6: In the location like that where you're in, yeah. If you're constrained by the root zone, you've been constrained by the maximum size of tree you can purchase. So, and that's why the report, it would take time and I would anticipate anywhere between, you know, we might get a reasonable tree in there, but it would probably take five to 10 years before you get a reasonable degree of shade. And I'm being honest, the level changes in that location also make it, you know, complex. It's not a quick solution. Councillor Jurisevic: That was, that was my next question, is whether they would be able to provide shade, effective shade in the short term. Speaker 6: So, over time, but certainly not. Councillor Wilkie: I might just ask the question, so. No, Mayor Stewart was wanting to speak to the motion. Mayor Stewart: Yeah, I'm going to support the motion by Councillor Morrison. I think it's a really good one. It's the only one that provides certainty, it provides clarity, it then takes any risk of liability out, it's about community safety, it's about, in every sense of the word, about sun safety, about safety, ensuring that there's a structure that is supportive and compliant.

01:17:00 We took down the umbrellas. We have an obligation to a place like for life and to put up shade structure. This is the simplest and quickest, easiest and most effective way to do that. The community are calling on it. They're begging us to put back the shade. I feel we have an obligation to do it. We have the same issue at Noosa Waters. We have the entry statement that is a water feature. Now, we are not necessarily putting another water feature in, but we are certainly putting something in that space and replacing in a way like for life. We have to do the same here. We have to support the people in what they want. We took down the two umbrellas. I believe we must replace them. This is a community space. This is a space for everyone, and ensuring that it's shaded will ensure shade for the whole of community. So, I think this is the quickest, most effective way, and we need the structures up as soon as possible. We are in summer. We are in Queensland. We need to protect our residents. Full stop. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Mayor. Councillor Durrissidy.

01:18:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Can I just clarify something that the Mayor said there? That's not my understanding. Did Council remove the umbrellas? Did Council supply the umbrellas in the first instance? Speaker 6: I don't have an intimate understanding of the supply of the umbrellas. My understanding is that Council supplied the tables originally and worked with the business owner for them to actually put the umbrellas over the tables that were supplied, and they would take them in and out on a regular basis. Councillor Finzel? Councillor Finzel: Yes, I can bring clarification to that. I spoke to the owner this morning. He assured me that the umbrellas were supplied as a promotional by the people at Streets Ice Cream or someone, and they're the umbrellas. Speaker 6: That's my understanding as well. They were not cancelled. Councillor Lorentson: All right. Councillor Wilkie: I'm going to speak to the motion, and this is an exceptional circumstance, and it requires an exceptional solution. So in this case, the Council installed public seating and tables in a public space where

01:19:00 people gather for a variety of reasons, including before and after visiting the general store and post office. Shade umbrellas have been provided by the business owners in an informal arrangement, which ended when the tables were upgraded, and the umbrellas were unable to be fitted anymore, and the liability issues were by default addressed. But shade is still needed. There are two solutions to providing shade. The business owner can provide shade under an outdoor dining permit, which are quite common across the Shire, or the Council can provide it. If there were no public tables and chairs outside the business and they wanted to provide shaded seating at tables, I would support it. But there is public furniture there. If the business owner had an outdoor dining permit, use of these tables could technically be restricted for exclusive use by customers only, like in all other footport furniture. If Council provides the shade, the general public would still be able to use this furniture

01:20:00 and gather their under shade as they were able to before the tables were upgraded. On reflection, I cannot think of any other instance across the Shire where a piece of public furniture has become unavailable for general public use because of an outdoor dining permit. All other outdoor dining permits involve businesses also providing the tables and the chairs. In this case, the tables are public furniture, not privately owned. This, for me, is the crucial difference. As a rule, I don't support public furniture becoming restricted, even technically, to the private use of a commercial business. And I understand the business owners are not wanting to exclude non-customers from using the tables either. In my view, if Council were to provide the shade over the public seating, it solves this unique problem in a way that respects well-reasoned and fair community requests for shade, does not disadvantage anyone or unfairly affect other businesses who have exclusive

01:21:00 use of their outdoor dining areas using privately owned, not public furniture. For that reason, I think this is a good solution and I'll be supporting it. Speaker 1: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It's actually a really interesting report because it raises a whole lot of issues. Yeah. One. Part of the issue is modernity caught up with Koran and local laws and people got out there and said, oh, they don't comply. But the issue of liability for umbrellas is clear. I wasn't going to support the amendment of Councillor Dowd because I know the simple thing of trying to get insurance for a body corporate, it puts a line through umbrellas because they are so dangerous looking wind. And so we can't transfer that. Yeah. So there's that. It's the fact that, yeah, like I was going to read out exactly the same passage as Councillor Lorentson did from ex-Councillor Dowd, who's, you know, he's been there for 40 years and

01:22:00 he actually extends the seating being there for 35 rather than 2010. So there was probably an old wooden picnic bench there back in the old days. And that there's been problems with this sort of shop owner trying to, in previous times. So there's that. And then I thought, well, it's a really good first case for our climate change adaptation. Because while Councillor Wilkie can't think of another table of chairs in some situations, I reckon we'll have lots. And I reckon, B, we could actually go out and do exactly the sort of same sort of thing as we've done with the last two generations of bus shuttles, is actually get someone local to design something that's practical, cheap and fits. Noosa, that we can actually roll out more cheaply because it's a standard or modular design that we can vary to suit each individual situation. I was thinking doing amendment, but I think they won't be able to find to do anything

01:23:00 before the next budget. Anyway, we can talk about it then. And the last one is this concept of a space that, without community context, is a classic place to have a permanent organization. They want to be able to occupy a fully adjacent . But from the feedback from the community, they put different value on it. The value that they're coming to is one of a meeting space. And then the current heat, that shale is a requirement to fulfil that function. So up until 24 hours ago, I wouldn't have supported the motion, but I've reflected and I actually think for those reasons. I have just listened to the motion. I have no worries about establishing a precinct because I think it's a precinct we're going to have to think about going into the future about Council's role in providing shady places to sit, whether it's to have a chat or a drink, whatever, in the public space and therefore I'll support it.

01:24:00 Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Joe? Councillor Jurisevic: Look I've got no problems supporting this. I had the idea around amendments to see if there was a simpler solution that could be attained in the short term with longer term solutions to follow. To see whether there was a process we could actually undergo that would circumvent having to provide dig structures in the short term until mature trees could be there. This is a very common problem and I had this argument with Sunshine Coast Council when they were in control of our parks and placed a mandate to have a metal table in Heritage Park in the middle of the sunny spot with millions of trees around it. So yes, they do exist and they're more common than you think which shows that what we have to do as a council is that as these items come up for replacement and we consider their locality and consider if they're shade available, we relocate them under the shade as opposed to putting them out in sunny spots

01:25:00 or then having to facilitate shade onto them. So it's a bit of, I guess, maturity in the way we undertake this. We take our renewal and replacement of these items and if there is an opportunity for some cheap shade structure or some easy new trees to be planted under operational budget around some trees, sorry, tables and chairs that aren't shaded, we should consider that with every opportunity. I'm happy to support this. I was likewise thinking about moving an amendment along those lines to look at infrastructure but I believe that's probably something we're already undertaking through climate change adaptation and that I think the maturity and the understanding of the operational works department would, as items come up for review, consider their locality and see if a more shady and more suitable location can be found that they should undertake that as part of due process. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Jurisdict. Councillor Thom.

01:26:00 Councillor Wegener: I'll speak to it. I will support this. Like everybody, like all of you guys. I was very concerned earlier because it appears as though there's a suggestion that the business owner should apply for an outside dining permit where perhaps that this is a precedent now saying, well, if the public, if council put in the tables out there, well, you're not going to have outdoor dining. So don't worry about applying for a permit because you're not going to get it because you're not going to be able to use public amenities for your business. I think that's what we're saying. Speaker 2: Is that right? They can apply to use the space but not the furniture. So if they took an outdoor dining permit, we'd remove our infrastructure and they can provide their own infrastructure. Speaker 6: Noting there also is other footpath areas aside from the existing fixed public tables and chairs. Councillor Wegener: There would be enough space for them to apply for a permit and put their own tables out there next to these tables.

01:27:00 Yes. I believe so. Yes. Okay. I agree. Okay. Well, that makes it simple then. Yeah. Terrific. Let's put up a sheetcloth. Thank you. Question. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I meant to ask before. There was legitimate concerns about the cost of umbrellas. Can you clarify that the umbrellas cost in that situation would be ones that were designed to have a long life so they are in spot, whereas the structural requirements would be the same, but if they are only there for a short-term, they might be cheaper options that could be pursued? Or do you think that's the minimum standard that you're going to require for the public spaces? Speaker 6: Certainly, we'd need to go to market. I've got some market testing. But to meet Form 14 and Form 15 requirements, they have to be of a certain structural standard and being designed to withstand the same as a building. A short-term solution that's of lighter weight is probably a false belief.

01:28:00 The price is going to be similar to that. I can anticipate you'd expect an asset life of at least five years to eight years for those particular umbrellas. They can be relocated. So that's the point. So certainly you do have to build a footing, and then it's bolted to the footing. Some concrete is already deep enough to just put in dyna-bolts and concrete, and we'd have designs to support that. But these things aren't commonly relocated to other locations. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Any other councillors wish to speak? Councillor Finzel: Yes, Councillor Finlay. Can I speak to it? Just a question then. So it is about a question like equity. So I was out there today. So through the chair at the other end of the street, we've got a business owner. There's umbrellas and things out there. That is also like council land. It's not private land, obviously, where the yellow line is. So if next week, in terms of equity, she comes and says she wants to make an application, say, for example, to have shaded outdoor areas, what's going to be the response of the process about how that's going to be performed?

01:29:00 Speaker 6: My technical response would be that, in accordance with the council direction, is that this location in the streetscape has been traditionally provided with public furniture without shade. That's no longer a best practice in terms of council moving forward. When councils work towards putting tables in Korean since that date, there's always been a shelter, which is correct, such as the shelter in Pioneer Park. If the owner of those other premises, whether the top end of town or the bottom end of town, wanted shade, you know, adjacent to their premises, they would need to work for a private solution because council has never committed to public tables in that location. And to me, that's the, that's the distinguishment between this case and those other retail premises. Councillor Wilkie: So if they had an outdoor dining permit, they could put their own tables or shade out? Speaker 6: As outlined in the report, there's various options, you know, building of an awning as well, you know, which, you know, is used elsewhere and our town plan requires provision of awnings

01:30:00 when they actually rebuild the premises, if they, you know, ever redevelop them, or application for an outdoor dining permit. Which would give them exclusive use for tables and shade in their premises. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Morrison, do you wish to close? Councillor Finzel: Oh, I haven't spoken to that. Yes, you may. Thank you very much. I'll just raise concerns about that moving forward when we're looking at, like, implementing place-based approach and community engagement. I didn't present that much to me today about the broader community engagement, but I guess that'll come out further down the track when we look at our themes through our corporate plan and our objectives around promising people through the place-based approach that the whole community is engaged. I think this is fantastic. The community, if we can support the community. They've asked for shade. They want shade. We're going to give them shade. I think that's fantastic. That's what council's all about. We should be representing the people. We should be working with them collaboratively to co-design and co-lead our villages and

01:31:00 our towns across the Shire. I do wonder about this process. I don't fully support the process, how this has come through a technical report. But, however, I do support the community with regards to shade. I've been out there today. It is hot. The community meets there. We've had older people that come and get their, like, medications there. People stop there. They eat there. They get their letters. The kids come and, you know, have an ice cream after school and whatever. So, you know, historically and the heritage and the narrative of that place is definitely that that is a meeting place. So, I think that's fantastic. The community should be happy that, you know, council is acting. We took the shade away. It's only right that we work towards a solution to put the shade back. So, I will support this motion. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Lorentson, you must close. I will.

01:32:00 Listening to the discussion around this table over the last five, ten minutes, you know, I shake my head sometimes. We seem to make things bigger and more complicated than what it is. The community asked us for two things. Shade and to be consulted. It's council's responsibility. It's not the proprietor's responsibility. It's the responsibility of the community. It's the responsibility to replace, manage or assume liability for the shade umbrellas. It's a community space. It's a community table. And it should and must remain, as the resident ex-councillor Doug said in his email, it must always remain in public control. I'm going to add this because this matter shouldn't have come to council for a decision. It should have been done in consultation collaboratively with the community.

01:33:00 I'm going to take also this opportunity to conclude by saying thank you to the owners of the general store, who also contacted me and told me that they were happy with a freestanding umbrella. I had that in an email. The owners of the general store passionately advocated for the protection of this community space. And I think on behalf of the community and on behalf of this council, thank you. Thank you for letting us know what's important to the community of Cooran and the importance of collaboration and community-driven solutions. Cooran is a small town with a huge community heart. And what makes it different is community values and its spirits. The motion before us, I believe, aligns with these values, and I'm happy that everyone

01:34:00 is going to support it. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: The motion goes in favour. That's unanimous. Thank you, Mr. CEO and Shaun. Thank you. Care for a five-minute break before we continue? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Alright, we can push on. We'll do the Resource Recovery Area Expansion. Welcome Mark and Kyrone. Welcome Mark and Kyrone. Could you give us an overview of the substance of the report please? Speaker 8: Will do. Thank you for your time. So the report is in two parts. So the first part of the report outlines the history of lot 77. So that's the Noosa, Eumundi Noosa Road Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre.

6.5 RESOURCE RECOVERY AREA EXPANSION ¶

▶ 01:34:36· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

01:35:00 So it's a 322 hectare lot and was originally zoned as community infrastructure, recognising the criticality of landfills in managing our waste. So the report goes into the history over the last 15 years whereby council by resolution has designated over 76% of the site and repurposed it as nature refuge. So that's providing conservation in perpetuity to over 76% of the lot. So that was by council resolution in 2007 and more recently in 2021. So the remaining land is currently being repurposed. We're currently undergoing a comprehensive master plan process through the waste team where we're exploring different options in terms of waste technologies which were outlined in the waste plan that was adopted a couple of months ago.

01:36:00 However, there's an immediate priority to expand the resource recovery area through clearing one hectare of vegetation to address an immediate priority. So the second half of the report goes into some details around the priority and the need. So it's around, I guess, the resource recovery area tonnage of waste that's been going through there year on year since 2008. And the increase in tonnage has resulted in some space requirements and restrictions which has implications around safety on site that we need to address. And the other element is around our environmental compliance on site. And so the proposed expansion is to allow for an improved HES basin.

01:37:00 So that's a high efficiency sediment basin which will be in is proposed to go in the location where the vegetation will be cleared. And this is the only location available on site given the topography of the land. So we've lodged a development application for the expansion addressing clearing of vegetation and requirements around construction of the HES basin. The application addresses details around the vegetation, proposed offsets on site and will be independently assessed through the planning team. So it's anticipated that that report will be presented to council early. Level 2, MeasureONE. So the recommendation today is that Council note the report to the General Committee raising the challenges and constraints associated with the current site and benefits associated with the proposed resource recovery area expansion.

01:38:00 Councillor Wilkie: And just to clarify Mark, what you're saying is this expansion is not a nice to have, it's not a want, it's a need based on, in no small part, direct instruction from the State Government? Speaker 8: Essentially yes. Councillor Wilkie: Because of compliance action they're taking? Speaker 8: Yes, yep, we have to do it. Councillor Wilkie: Could you talk about the seriousness of what they're asking and the implications if we don't do what they're asking? Speaker 8: Yeah, so it was raised more recently through the floods last year and the Department of Environment, so Noosa Council holds a licence, it's called an environmental authority over the activities because there's environmental risks associated with operating a landfill and resource recovery area. So, and part of that has a whole host of conditions around our management of environmental risks, one of them being surface water runoff with sediment. So it's been identified on various times through the Department of Environment that our current high efficiency sediment basin is under capacity.

01:39:00 And it's proposed that this new basin will meet that requirement. And future proof the site for flooding and managing our environmental risks on site. But yes, it's been raised by the Department of Environment and that's why we're bringing it forward as a priority. Councillor Wilkie: And there's other safety requirements pertaining to the space, available space and bodies and machinery moving around in the same area, isn't there? Speaker 8: Yeah, which has also been raised. So I think the site constraints, currently we have machinery and public interfacing. In a very high risk area. So we've done what we can to date to mitigate risks in terms of having spotters and, you know, but these have been band-aid solutions. Ultimately, we need more space. And that's what we're trying to achieve through this to gain more space so it can be more strategic in the layout on site and to mitigate those risks around safety for the public.

01:40:00 Because it's a community facility. At the end of the day. Speaker 10: Just to add on that, and ironically, as waste increases, those pressures become harder. And the more we divert, because we do a lot of diversion in that particular area, that risk is just climbing. So we're envisaging our, one of the graphs that Mark's put in there shows how much we're diverting and continuing to divert. We do a lot of diversion in that particular area. So the more diversion, the more machinery and public interaction. That can happen in that area. So this is a precaution measure. And looking out further, it will become more and more of a requirement. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Stockwell. Speaker 10: I'll move to start the recommendation. Speaker 9: I'll second. Councillor Wilkie: Moved by Councillor Stockwell. Seconded by Councillor Virisamy. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I do say, because it's normal for me to move the motion to clear trees.

01:41:00 No. The serious bit is actually following on from what the Manager of Waste just outlined. The graph that highlights figure four, key recoverable waste volumes. I'm not exactly sure which year we introduced compulsory green waste, but it looks like since about mid last term, we've had that result in an annual increase of between 4,000 and 5,000 tonnes of green waste to be processed. But the big mover actually since that time is concrete. And it looks like since 2016, it's gone from about 15,000 tonnes per year. Now, that's a large body of material to try and process safely. And while we've said many, many times that our emissions from the landfill is generated by the green waste, our anaerobic digestion, concrete has a significant role in the process.

01:42:00 a significant role in the process. Greenhouse gas footprint. So the globally, the concrete industry is looking for options. So recycling and reuse of that concrete, it has got an overall positive environmental benefit. But I think that the key message here is that yes, we do have to clear an area of vegetation. But it is within an area identified for these purposes. And Council has well and truly got a history of maintaining the most ecologically sensitive and valuable parts of that big allotment into a nature refuge. And when we look at environmental impact, we can't just look at one of the impacts. We have to look at the overall net positive. And in this case, failure to have a sediment basin to capture the sediments off the resource recovery area. That's a big problem. That's a potential for long term serious sedimentation of the downstream aquatic habitats.

01:43:00 And there are species of significance and vegetation and wetlands of significance downstream that if we left it as is, would be impacted. So yes, clearing of trees will have a localised impact. But the longer term benefit of managing our waste streams and our resource recoverable area in a more sustainable fashion, in my mind, probably gets to a net positive. And to me, with that, we will have to have a look from a development control perspective as the assessors of what's specifically proposed. But at this stage, in general terms, my view is that this is the most common sense approach to handling that increasing volume of recoverable material that we're seeing in this location and ensuring that the downstream impacts of our use are managed appropriately. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you.

01:44:00 Councillor Joe. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes, obviously. Councillor Jurisevic: Thanks for bringing that to our attention. An understanding of our ERA obligations as we go to environmental controls and the current basin not being able to handle those events. Not generally every day of those events, they come to us and they need to expand that area. There's a technical element to that we'll deal with when the planning is developed. But I think it's important for us to be able to do that. The development application comes before us with an independent review. Thank you. But the need to master plan how waste is going to be going forward with the changes that will be coming with regard to waste management and resource recovery more so for the future so that we're not relying on a whole lot of grant and that we do actually capture and return as much and create a super economy that's going to be created here is very much appreciated. And the work that's now being done in this area is very much appreciated. We're very happy to have that completed here.

01:45:00 And the concerns raised are valid and we thank you for doing that. I'll move it up with progression with our waste master plan. Mayor Stewart: I'll be quick. I just want to reiterate what everyone said. And thank you guys for doing such great work in this space. And it's appreciated and really valued. So thank you. This is obviously something we have to do. The cost is too severe. So, but there is so much exciting stuff in the space of waste, and we really are now looking at it as an opportunity, not necessarily a cost. So, thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Commissioner. Now the councillors wish to speak before Councillor Stockwell closes. Councillor Wegener, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Wegener: Well, we're just very lucky in our term that we've had such an excellent waste team as evolved from when we started. So, congratulations. Keep up the good work. I do think that we have to be aware of comms with this moving forward.

01:46:00 And I think it would also help that with the environment levee we've purchased vast tracts of land. I was up there with Dave Burrows today marching around looking at that 450-year-old tree that we recently purchased with that environmental levee purchase that we did last year. So, there's a lot of positive going on in UCEDD. And the waste is a part of this positive. So, thank you, guys. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Yes. Thank you for your report. It is timely that we have to address that environmental with the Seventh Basin and managing that, especially with the wildfire events, which, you know, with the climate the way it's going, you know, there's a possibility that we're going to have more of those frequent events. So, technically, we have to move forward and we've got to get moving on this for and the fact that there's no other land that can be used for the purpose on the lot. So, it is timely. I think it's great. We can look forward to the future that we see waste as a resource.

01:47:00 And I want to thank the team and Council as well for working towards a future where we're mitigating risk. We're looking at waste as a resource and how we then can have that economy that benefits us. Back to our community, socially and environmentally. So, I think it's great. It shows good diligence that we address this and move forward sooner rather than later. It's a priority. It's critical. And thank you for bringing that report to us. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: I want to thank you guys for giving us a heads up. So, the development application is coming to Council next year. And there will be some vegetation clearing. So, I'm really, I think the report is really just great to give us some context before the development application comes to Council. As already said around the table, the risk, and they're listed on page 121.

01:48:00 We have no option. And we risk site closure. And the cost of that to the community, social, cultural work. All the economic, all the costs are too much. So, thanks for the heads up, guys. Yeah. Councillor Stockwell used to close. Councillor Wilkie: I do. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And it's probably a, well, I quickly calculated, Dan. It was like what Councillor Lorentson just mentioned in you and your earlier questions about if we don't do this and the regulators say cease and desist. What does that mean? It means about $5.6 million worth of waste going into the landfill each year that the ratepayers will have to pay for. And that's how much we're, I believe landfill costs about 160 a cubic metre, which is roughly equal to a tonne. Speaker 10: With a levy, it's now up 280. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh, wait a second.

01:49:00 Multiply that by a bit more. So, it's probably close to $10 billion worth of waste. That is being reused by this site. And if you, how many ratepayers we got? About 30,000, 20 something? Yeah, 29,000. 39,000? You might ask that figure and see how much rates we got if we don't do this properly. So, to me, it doesn't matter if you're an environmentalist or not, your hip pocket will hurt if we don't do this. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah. Thanks. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. All in favour? So our guests in the gallery, thank you for attending and I hope to see you again. Thank you. Can we have a motion that we move to? Council of Jurisdicators move that we go into confidential session, seconded by Mayor Stewart.

01:50:00 We've got the motion of that going to confidential session. Okay, all in favour? Mayor Stewart: Oh sorry, you can't see it, sorry. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah, we couldn't see it. All in favour, that's carried. Thank you, we now move into confidential session. Thank you Vicki and Cathy. Speaker 1: Let me know when we're live again. Councillor Wilkie: Okay everybody, we're back in open session. Now we have a few resolutions before us. First one. Councillor Finzel: I'll read the first one. I'll second. Councillor Wilkie: Moved by Councillor Jurisdic, seconded by Councillor Stewart. All in favour? That's carried.

7 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION ¶

▶ 01:50:21

01:51:00 That's about extending the contract with Clean Away for two years. Next one is a report by the Principal Strategies. That's carried. That's about regarding a portion of land at Lake MacDonald. That's moved. Moved by Councillor Stockwell, seconded by Councillor Stewart. Speaker 9: We will talk to it. Councillor Wilkie: We will talk to it. Speaker 9: The only reason to say this is a really important gateway in our housing strategy and it's one that's really good to see that we're looking at council assets and seeing how we can responsibly contribute to more housing for the community and the community as a whole. And it's something that in 2019 when I did a quick land suitability assessment of council estate, this particular area was one that stood out as being suitable for the use. Councillor Wilkie: And the councillors wish to speak to the motion. Put it to the vote. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Move on to the next item.

01:52:00 This is a contract award report. The awarding of land. This is a contract award report. This is a contract to do a development of a business case for the Noosa Regional Gallery to Knight Frank Australia under a lump sum contract. Moved by Councillor Derusevic, seconded by Councillor Finzel. The councillors wish to speak together. Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: I need to state that we're planning to see this progressed to the next stage. Councillor Finzel: Yeah. Ditto. I think it's great. It's a great visioning forward. Everyone's aware of the target. It's this point. It's a very successful future ahead. It's to see where we're going. Councillor Wilkie: Anybody else? Put it to the vote. Those in favour? That is unanimous and carried. That's the last item on today's agenda. Thank you everyone. Thank you. For your contributions and patience. Thank you, Cathy and Vicky. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr CEO. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ryan. And Councillor Joe, I do apologise...

7.1 1516T043 WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICES - PROPOSED EXTENSION ¶

▶ 02:55:50· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

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.

7.2 IN PRINCIPLE SUPPORT TO DISPOSE OF LAND FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING ¶

▶ 02:56:11· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

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.

7.3 CONTRACT AWARD REPORT - CONTRACT No.CN00449 - "NOOSA REGIONAL GALLERY+" BUSINESS CASE ¶

▶ 02:57:08

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.

8 MEETING CLOSURE ¶

▶ 03:27:10

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.