1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶
00:00:00 Councillor Wilkie: We begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we're gathered, which is the Kabi Kabi people. Paying respects to elders past, present and emerging. We have everyone in attendance. We have Mayor Clare Stewart online. Do we need to move a motion for Clare to attend us? We will do that now. I'd like to move that in accordance with section 254 of local government regulation, Councillor Clare Stewart is approved to attend the meeting dated 15th of January 2024 by Microsoft Teams. Do we have a seconder for that, please? Seconder, Councillor Lorentson. All in favour? That's carried. Welcome, Clare. Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. Mayor Stewart: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: We will have someone to confirm the minutes of the meeting for December, please. Move Councillor Jurisdikt, seconded Councillor Wegener. All in favour? We have no presentation. Our deputations. We have items referred from the committees. The first is reports direct to General Committee.
2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ¶
00:01:00 Sorry, Mr Chair, can I correct that? We don't actually have any committees. That's what I said, Joe. Items referred to committees. Then we have reports direct to General Committee, which is MCU 1801-102. You're quite correct, Councillor. Application for another change to include a food and drink outlet to a development approval visitor accommodation type 4 conventional for Bounce Hotel Hostel at 14-16 Mary Street, Noosaville. And we have our staff here, Nadine, Patrick and Richard. Nadine, would you like to give us an overview, please? Speaker 3: Yes, good afternoon, Councillors. This report provides an assessment of an application for another change to the existing approval for Bounce Hotel at Mary Street. There are only two matters that the applicant is asking to be modified. The first one is he's requesting deletion of condition 5, which requires the accommodation to be used for short-term visitors only.
3 PRESENTATIONS ¶
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4 DEPUTATIONS ¶
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5 ITEMS REFERRED FROM COMMITTEES ¶
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6 REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE ¶
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6.1 MCU18/0102.02 APPLICATION FOR AN OTHER CHANGE TO INCLUDE A FOOD AND DRINK OUTLET TO A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL (VISITOR ACCOMMODATION TYPE 4 CONVENTIONAL) FOR BOUNCE HOSTEL AT 14-16 MARY ST, NOOSAVILLE ¶
00:02:00 And the second one is he's requesting a change, another change to allow a new use to be located on the site, which is a food and drink outlet, which is able to be used for non-staying guests to utilise the cafe. So there's an existing cafe around the pool area at the moment. So guests are allowed to use it. So he's now wanting the ability for the general public to come in and utilise that cafe. So at this stage, the planning report, we don't believe that there's any real reason to delete condition 5 as the approval is for a hostel. The planning scheme supports a hostel. So we consider the condition just to be, again, consistent with the approval. And it just also gives the operator and the owners further... further advice that this is approved for a hostel. The second part, in terms of the food and drink outlet, whilst this wouldn't be something that's specifically envisaged for this area under the existing precinct,
00:03:00 due to the site being quite, it's quite unique, and there's an existing approval on it, the way it's designed, and there's the existing hostel component, staff are quite supportive of having this ability for that food and drink area to be located and used. So we have no objection and we support that proposal. We've also included, concluded a condition just to make sure that there are no complaints, to limit, sorry, after 12 months the applicant can apply and, you know, so there's a, sorry, there's a 12 month trial period to make sure that there are no complaints. The one thing I haven't mentioned, sorry, is also it doesn't fully comply with car parking, but based on the use, the surrounding area, and how this is operating, we believe that there are no complaints. The car parking should be sufficient for the proposal. Councillor Wilkie: Questions, councillors?
00:04:00 Councillor Stockwell? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Just a question in terms of the reasons they provided for deleting condition five? Speaker 3: They were just saying it's superfluous. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay, so it has nothing to do, during COVID and the housing crisis afterwards, they offered service to hospitality workers to actually live there, because it was, Speaker 3: No, there was nothing in the submission. The submission that was lodged to us was really just to say they wanted it deleted. And just on that, if they did want to convert it to that side, I think car parking might be a different issue, but that wasn't mentioned. Councillor Jurisevic: But given there are three banks to it, or three pavilions within the complex, perhaps one or another could be considered for long, a longer term, hostile type of accommodation. Speaker 3: They haven't requested that as part of this submission, so we haven't investigated that side of things.
00:05:00 Councillor Jurisevic: Fair enough, if it's not put forward by the applicant, I'm not expecting that to be the case here. Councillor Wilkie: Just a question, with the food and drink outlet approval lapsing on 18th of January, the need to apply to extend it, would you expect that they would be applying for an extension well before that date? And you will know well before that date, whether there have been complaints or not. Speaker 3: Yes, at this stage we haven't, it has operated during COVID, and there haven't been any complaints, so that COVID extension finished in July. The food and drink outlet? The food and drink, so it did have an operational period during COVID, it hasn't operated since July, since July. Councillor Wilkie: Since July, which year? This year. Okay. Speaker 3: This year. This year, so, oh sorry, last year, 20. Councillor Wilkie: 23, yeah. Speaker 3: 23, yes. So it finished last year. Our understanding and our advice, what we're hearing is that the backpacking industry is ramping up, buses are backing in.
00:06:00 So when it was previously operating, there were no complaints. I've actually been on site, and in terms of noise, it is really well designed. There was music playing, so the noise component is really well buffeted to the surrounding areas. So it really comes down to that car parking, I suppose, that whole management side. So I would anticipate, yes, in that 12-month period, there would be sufficient period for anyone to make a submission to us, and we could evaluate, and if there was an issue, we could also report back to the client and say, we're getting issues because of A, B, C, and D. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Speaker 3: I'd like to move the- Councillor Lorentson: Yeah, Councillor Morrison. Thanks, I'd like to move the motion with an amendment to condition 62 to read, include a new condition 62 to read as follows. The food and drink outlet approval lapses on 31st of July, 2024.
00:07:00 25. No, 24. Speaker 1: Okay. Councillor Lorentson: Unless written consent is provided by Council's delegate to extend the- Approval. In assessing a request to extend the approval, Council will have regard to any substantiated complaints relating to noise, car parking, and any other relevant matters associated with the food and drink outlet use. Councillor Wilkie: Do we have a seconder for that, please, for the purpose of debate? Councillor Jurisevic: I would- Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Stewart? Councillor Lorentson? We've received a request from the applicant, and I believe all the Councils have received the request, and they asked for an amendment, and their request is for the 18th of July, 2024. I've pushed that to 31st of July, 2024, and my reasons are as follows. Firstly, the business has been operating for 18 months, and to my understanding, there has been no substantiated complaints.
00:08:00 Also, they've requested a six-month period, basically, to give the operators some sort of certainty and clarity. They have proven track record of responsible operation, and they're requesting that we help support the business by allowing some certainty. I'd like to note that- I'd like to note that- I'd like to note that- through COVID, and also the period six months after the COVID period, we actually have already allowed an extension, is my understanding. So, there was already a temporary variation allowed to the permit. So, we've had actually quite an extended period for Council to ascertain whether there were going to be any substantiated noise complaints, and to date, there's been none.
00:09:00 So, I am- I am very supportive of their request for us to help support their business. About the 31st of July, 2024, because I think within the next six months, there will be plenty of time during school holidays, Australia Day long weekend, Easter holidays, and now, with the 31st of July, we get the opportunity also to see if there are any complaints during the July school holidays, which I think ends on the 7th of July. So, we- I've allowed two, three weeks after that period, just in case any complaints come through, and I just think that's just fair and equitable, and also, what's the word, in keeping with our small business charter, where we've made a commitment to help support businesses, local businesses, and in particular, responsible operating local businesses.
00:10:00 So, yeah. Leave that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Wilkie: Councillors, any questions? Councillor Wignum. Councillor Wegener: My concern is that it's the parking that the staff's mostly interested in, you know. Would six months be enough time to really give it a go for parking because it seems that you'd want to go through the various seasons to see how much parking is actually going to change because of the eat and drink? Question for staff. Yeah, that's the question. Is it long enough? Speaker 3: I tend to agree. It would be nice to have that full length to anticipate exactly we have different peaks through the year. So, yes, it would be good to see how it performs over that early Christmas period. Speaker 4: I think it's important to reiterate that the 18-month trial period, you know, which went
00:11:00 well. It was at a time when the occupancy of the premise and other businesses within the area, you know, we were talking about COVID. It's very different to where we are right now. So, we think 12 months is prudent to get a full pulse check throughout the periods that you're referring to, Councillor, in terms of, yes, it is important that we pick up the July holiday period, June-July holiday period, but just as important to pick up Christmas period as well and through the, you know, the warmer months where it might be busier as well. Councillor Cairns. Councillor Finzel: Thank you, through the Chair. So, has there been any complaints through the current Christmas period around parking in the space? Speaker 4: They're not currently operating as the cafe. Councillor Finzel: Oh, you want to wait. Speaker 4: So, the cafe ceased in July last year. Yeah. And I'm seeking now to recommence.
00:12:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I see the merits of what Councillor Lorentson is suggesting, but I think given a full 12-month period would be prudent. I think given the pressures that we've been hearing about during the current Christmas period and the months just gone past, I think it would be prudent to see a full year's operation through each of the holiday periods and I tend to concur with the staff recommendation for a full year there. Councillor Wilkie: Any other councillors wish to speak to the motion? Tom. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. We take our parking pretty seriously, don't we? And so, this is a situation where we're looking at the parking. So, yeah. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Through the Chair. Just given in relation to our transport strategy and diversifying traffic out of that area,
00:13:00 are we looking at how we're going to do that? How many people are, surely we've got data about how many people are using the bus to be able to inform this decision moving forward. Have we got data around the bus usage, the free bus usage in this Christmas period to help us with this decision? Councillor Wilkie: Councillor, Mr Shawn. Speaker 1: With permission of the Chair, the data comes at the earliest following January the 25th and usually it's two or three weeks after that that we get the bus use data. We certainly would have to look at that. The bus use data in the previous years, but not for this year. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stewart, you have your hand up and waiting patiently. Mayor Stewart: Thanks, Councillor Wilkie. The report suggested, Nadine, that about there was a camera and monitoring of the car parking and the cars. Yes. Can you just reiterate? Because from my recollection, and I don't have a hard copy of the report on me, nor
00:14:00 have I got it up. I've just got the recommendation up here. It was very, I mean, it was basically not being used at all, was it? Speaker 3: That's correct. They did check the, they were video stills at certain times. They were taken about three times a day. And for that month of September, it was predominantly empty most of the time. However, when they originally put in the application, the information over that period showed that it was full on two Saturdays. So, again, there is that difference of data. But, yeah, definitely September still showed parking was available on site in the basement. Councillor Wilkie: Was the cafe working there? Speaker 3: No, the cafe was not. The cafe was only being used for internal guests. Again, there was no external guests coming. Councillor Lorentson: My understanding also, Nadine, is that the occupancy rate at that time was 80%. Yes. Great. Can I ask, Patrick and yourself, have you had insight? You've mentioned you've done some site visitation. Yep. And can you ask during what period?
00:15:00 Speaker 3: I went, it was in an afternoon. I did an inspection on the site. And there was car parking space available. Yep. And there was, I don't know what the occupancy was, but I did observe the management on site. And, you know, we discussed in terms of how they were controlling people. And, again, they were giving us the, the management is looking for, the current management is looking for a, you know, accommodation is their primary purpose. So they're wanting it as a, as a nice place to come. They're not wanting it as a party area. So that was what they were telling me. But it wasn't busy when I went, no. Okay. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: I'll, I'll speak to the motion. Look, I, I appreciate what Councillor Lorentson's trying to do. I have no objection to a shortened trial period if it gives the data that we're after. But the, if the six month period fell at a time when the cafe had been operating, providing
00:16:00 for both staff, visitors and people from outside, outside the, the premise through the September holidays and the school holidays, so you could capture that data, I would have been satisfied with the six month period. But given that there are, the cafe is not operating currently, it hasn't operated through this Christmas period, it'll probably be a while before it gets up and running and Christmas will have passed. If we extend, if we have the six month trial only to the 31st of July 2024, that will exclude the opportunity to get the data during a Christmas period. And for that reason, I would like to see a 12 month trial period. In this instance, because it will capture the holidays during the year and also when the cafe's operating through a Christmas period, which if it was a six month trial, we wouldn't have that data.
00:17:00 I'm not against a six month trial per se, just what's able to be captured in that timeframe. And the 12 month in this instance will give the opportunity for the operator to be up and running and for us to capture the data during school holidays and the Christmas period, which. If it ends at the 31st of July, we'll have missed the Christmas data. Councillor Lorentson: Can I ask? Councillor Wilkie: So for that reason, I won't, I can't. Councillor Lorentson and then Councillor Jo. Councillor Lorentson: So the approval lapses on the 18th of January. Sorry. But we have some data collated over this Christmas period. Is that correct? Nadine? From the applicant. Speaker 3: I haven't received that. But again, remembering that it's the, it's the cafe. The cafe is only operating at the moment for the current guests. So this will allow people like us to go and utilise it. So we haven't got that data. He, because he's not using the use. Just to note on this too. So this isn't, this is just restricting him.
00:18:00 The approval will, the food and drink approval to allow external guests is to lapse next year. The existing hostel doesn't change. We're not, we're not affecting that. So those existing operations, there's no limitations on that. This is just to allow external guests to come. And the idea is that if everything's okay, they would just apply to us. And then Patrick, if there are no complaints, we'll just sign off on it and, and, and they're a way to go. Councillor Joe. Councillor Kerry. Yeah. Councillor Jurisevic: Based on what's been said around the table, I need some clarification. Food and drink outlet has been operational. Speaker 3: Previously during COVID. Councillor Jurisevic: When did it cease operating? Speaker 3: July last year. Councillor Jurisevic: July last year. It took all external, but still, internal. Speaker 3: Internal. That's correct. Councillor Jurisevic: So it hasn't ceased functioning. It's been operational, but just not an external. That's correct. Yes. I thought I'm going to clarify. Is the mention of it's not operating.
00:19:00 It is operating, but it's operating in a different capacity. What's being requested here, which is to enable external guests or patrons. Speaker 3: Yes. Councillor Jurisevic: In a similar way that was allowed during that COVID period when perhaps it wasn't operating its full capacity into internal residents. Yes, that's correct. Thank you. Thank you for the clarification. Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. What is the usual process for the planning when people make an application? Do we, is this the normal process? Is this the normal process? Would you collect data over the period before we give approval in the planning process? Speaker 3: This proposal doesn't comply with car parking in accordance with the planning scheme. So it's required to provide an additional four spaces on site. So they can't do that. So normally, they would submit a car parking assessment and we would review that and often we would send that out to a consultant. So in this instance, they relied on their own data. So we've had...
00:20:00 We've just had raw data provided to us by the planner and that's what we've been making our assessment on. Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: So if it goes for 12 months and say, for example, there is complaints that can be data breaches, you know, an issue and increasing intensification of traffic to the area, what's the process then? Speaker 3: That has to be done. Councillor Finzel: How does that affect the applicant? Speaker 3: So again, they would come to us at that period, at the end of the period, and we'd have to be able to substantiate those complaints. So yes, we'd have to look at our own data, see when the complaints were, what was happening. I would assume if we receive a complaint during this process, we'll investigate it ourselves to see whether there is any factual basis to it. Councillor Wilkie: Meaning it couldn't just be a vexatious complaint from a competitor? Speaker 3: No. That's a busy area.
00:21:00 So, you know, one complaint about, you know, might not be enough, or one complaint could be if there's a massive party there or something like that, or there's massive problems with car parking. Speaker 4: This situation is one where the infrastructure exists on site, the cafe is there, it's being used by guests of the hotel, and if there was a problem and we couldn't extend the public going to the... As a food and drink outlet, they would be able to continue using that infrastructure for their guests going forward. So it's a bit different in terms of someone maybe committing to a lease or buying equipment to facilitate a use, and we're saying, well, you can only use it for 12 months, and then, you know, you may not be able to use it going forward. There's an element of certainty for them that they can continue to operate in this space as they currently are. Speaker 5: And I think it's important to highlight too that council officers have been working closely with the operator for some time, even obviously during COVID, where they were given the ability
00:22:00 to operate and a special permit was provided. So and even the 12-month period or the six-month, depending on the decision that council makes, officers will continue to work closely with them and monitor that, and if there's any discussion or issues that arise in that period, we really want to make sure that, yeah, we're making sure that we've got this decision right, and being able to evaluate the impacts, any issues during operation with external guests, I guess that's the reason for the 12-month period. Similar to a sunset clause, where we get to sort of review and analyse and make sure we've got the decision right for perpetuity. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Morrison has the right to close. Sorry, Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm moving the amendment. Yes. And that just mends the 31st of July back to the staff recommendation of 18th of January 2025. Just to save time.
00:23:00 Councillor Wilkie: I have a question to the Chair. Is that a direct negation of what we discussed? Councillor Jurisevic: No, it was the original, the council moved the original motion with the change of date for the commencement. And Brian is making an amendment for that date. Councillor Wilkie: So it's not changing that date? No, it's not changing that date. It's not changing the substance of the whole motion. It's just the change to a detail. Yes. Okay. Well, we'll just... Yes, Councillor? Councillor Finzel: Excuse me, through the Chair. With regards to the standing orders, through to the CEO, from my understanding is that I thought we had to vote on that before we could raise it on the amendment. Councillor Wilkie: No, Councillor Lorentson has moved a motion because it was the first motion moved. It was a motion with a change. So it's a motion, not an amendment. Councillor Jurisevic: Okay. Councillor Wilkie: So Councillor Stockwell is quite within his rights to move this amendment. Do we have a seconder for the amendment? It's Councillor Gerisovic. Councillor Stockwell, you have the floor. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh, yeah. I'm just having listened to the arguments. I believe that the 12 months is a safer bet.
00:24:00 I don't think it impacts the operation in any way other than another six months of a slight uncertainty as to the approval that's in place, which may, you know, if there's market issues involved that may affect that. But when we're doing town planning applications, we shouldn't be considering that. So to me, based on staff advice and the need to, I suppose, look at various holiday periods of Easter, July, September, Christmas, 12 months appears to be a safe bet. A reasonable situation. Councillor Wilkie: And with the Councillor's respect to the amendment. Councillor Gerisovic. Councillor Jurisevic: Yeah, I'll take it. I'll take it. Whilst I appreciate what was there, what we had before us is something that hasn't operated fully in the proposed format since the operation commenced due to COVID and due to the conditions that were imposed upon the council.
00:25:00 The establishment, when it was first established and that was the food and drink outlet, was to be for internal guests only. So this would be an opportunity to see a full 12 month operation in the, under the conditions of which it intends to operate now and for all. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. I'll speak to it also. Councillor Lorentson. I'm, I'm actually happy to support the amendment. I think when it's, when a business approaches us and makes a request to reduce that lapse period, I think it's our duty to try to work with them. However, I know the operator, don't know him, but I know the business and I know that he's a responsible operator and I know that there aren't to date after an 18 month period any noise complaints. So I can't see that happening in six months, during an extended six month period.
00:26:00 So I'm happy. I don't think it's a do die recommendation. I think he has no issues. Unfortunately, you know, we can't give him the clarity that he wants after a six month period, a 12 month period. I think he's fine. So I'm happy to support the amendment. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: I have a speaking motion. Well, I agree. I think it's prudent to get the data that we need. We know that congestion and traffic is a huge impact on our shop at the moment. I called the owner this morning before the meeting just to have a conversation with him. He is a good operator. He's worked really closely with council staff to do all of the outcomes, especially through COVID. And personally, you know, costs to him in terms of being away from his house. His main concern for the operation of this is for, you know, to bring greater connection
00:27:00 for community. And I think that sits in line with our lifestyle survey that we did, where 48% of people said that they were interested in more cafes and restaurants and businesses where they could come and meet with their friends and, you know, have a nice time together. And I think this also feeds into, you know, our destination management. We're working towards finding that balance between how we all work together to find equity for, you know, residents, workers, visitors. So this is one small aspect of a much bigger strategic direction the council is taking. And I'm happy to support the amendment. Moving forward, I think it will be dealing with the outcome. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Anybody else wish to speak to the amendment before Councillor Stockwell closes? I would waive my right to speak. I think it's all been well said already.
00:28:00 Councillor Stockwell? Put the amendment. Those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you, Clare. We go back to the original motion, to which Councillor Lorentson, Councillor Jurusevic and Councillor Wegener have spoken. Councillor Stockwell? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh, yeah. It has been mentioned. This is a very good asset in terms of our tourist offering. It is, as we said, has been managed really well and has demonstrated a lot of the sorts of values that we want to see in our tourism industry. And, you know, we have, during COVID, gone and taken the extra mile there to make sure that, as a start-up business that was opening during COVID, that it did survive. And that's great benefits. I ran into a young couple over in my New Zealand ride last year, and they just, that was their last night after 18 months back from Australia. And they said, by far, the best backpacking place they ever stayed at was Bounce Hostel
00:29:00 and Mary Street. You know, one of the things they were very complimentary of. So we do need to support businesses like this. I do understand the owner's desire to have some certainty within six months rather than 12 months. But I believe if the current trends are indicative, that it shouldn't be an issue. And it is a fairly significant reduction in car parking over the year. So, you know, that's probably the stipulated that this, you know, four additional spaces my reading of. So it's probably worthwhile being sure that we're not going to create any more dramas on the street. If, with the 12 month period. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Anybody else wish to speak at the original motion before Councillor Lorentson closes. Councillor Lorentson, do you wish to close? Councillor Lorentson: No. All is been said. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Put the motion those in favour. That's carried unanimously. Thank you. We now go to item 6.2. Thank you Nadine. Thank you. Which is Planning and Environment Court Appeal number 3156 of 2023 application for material change of use for healthcare service and hospital at 47 Goodchap Street, Noosaville. Mr Murphy. Thank you. Give us an overview please. Yes. Okay. So the report advises that
00:30:00 Speaker 4: we have received or the appeal has been lodged against the decision that was made by Council to refuse a development application for material change of use for healthcare service and hospital at 47 Goodchap Street in Noosaville. Councillors may recall the application was seeking the development of residential zone land and that was going to comprise two separate buildings, one being a single-storey infusion centre located at the front of the site and also a two-storey day surgery located over a basement car parking to the rear of the site. The application was refused on the basis that the scheme seeks that the use of the hospital site be maximised with further health services co-located on the existing hospital site. There are other areas available
6.2 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 3156 OF 2023 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR HEALTH CARE SERVICE AND HOSPITAL AT 47 GOODCHAP STREET, NOOSAVILLE ¶
00:31:00 such as the Noosa Business Centre, the Noosa Junction, Mary Street, Thomas Street Precinct and Maple Street, Croy that could accommodate the proposed health facilities and day surgery consistent with the current zoning pattern for the hospital. So that's going to be a proposal for the Shire and that the existing lot is well suited for residential development and is needed to cater for future housing. The proposed development is of a scale and character that is likely to adversely impact on residents, amenity and the streetscape and that it had not been demonstrated that sufficient car parking would be provided to meet the likely parking demand. Accordingly, the matter is in order for Council to defend at the appeal. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor, we have a motion whether to defend the appeal or not. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor SIDNER. The recommendation is opposed. Councillor Wilkie: Wish to speak to the motion, any councillors wish to speak? If the motion goes in favour, that's carried unanimously. Thank you. We now have item 6.3,
00:32:00 Painting and Environment Court Appeal number 3746 of 2023, application for material change of use, short-term accommodation, 15 cabins, 94 and 142, Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. This is the RACV appeal, and I have a declaration to make, please. I, Councillor Wilkie, inform the meeting that I have a prescribed conflict of interest in this matter, as RACV have been a sponsor of Noosa Arts Theatre, where I serve as the committee president. As a result of this prescribed conflict of interest, I will leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted upon. Speaker 2: Thank you, everyone. Okay, as Councillor Wilkie is the Chair, we need to appoint a new Chair. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll move Councillor Wegener to be sent in the rising flag.
6.3 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 3746 OF 2023 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION (15 CABINS) AT 94 & 142 NOOSA DRIVE, NOOSA HEADS ¶
00:33:00 Speaker 2: Councillor Wegener? All in favour? Councillor Finzel: We move and seconded by parents, sorry. Speaker 2: Seconded by. Councillor Wegener, you're in charge. Councillor Wegener: Okay, well, of course, we have planning and environment court appeal. Speaker 4: The report advises that appeal has been lodged against the decision made by Council to refuse the development application for material change of use for short-term accommodation at 94 and 142 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads. The application involved eight separate buildings comprising 15 two-storey dwelling units. There were 18 additional car parks. All buildings were going to be elevated structures. The buildings were connected by a timber boardwalk and the development was going
00:34:00 to result in the removal of a minimum of 71 potentially 82 native trees with a minimum of 27 being koala food trees and potentially up to 33 koala feed trees being removed. And it was refused due to the unacceptable loss of vegetation, the proposed development being an overdevelopment of the land at the expense of the site's natural values, non-compliance with the Noosa plan requirements for the development within the environmental management and conservation zone, stormwater and drainage, and development outside of the urban boundary. The matter is in order for Council to defend. Councillor Jurisevic: I have a minute to start the presentation. Councillor Wegener: Second. I second. Councillor Stockwell. Can you take a speak to that? Councillor Jurisevic: I need to reiterate the points made by staff and the fact that it was well discussed and debated when it came before Council. Do you mind defending the appeal?
00:35:00 Any further questions? Councillor Finzel, Councillor Morrison. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Do I get to put it to a vote? Yes. In favour? In favour. It's unanimous. Councillor Jurisevic: We can carry. We can carry. Yep. We can bring it in. I don't know. It's true. Yes, here we go. Councillor Wilkie: Put our hand up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Back to planning applications decided by delegated authority. Councillor Jurisevic: We have no declarations to be made. Move to staff recommendations. Councillor Wilkie: Move Councillor Jarusevic. Seconded Councillor Finzel. Any discussion? Yep. Thank you. We'll put the motion in those in favour. That's unanimous. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We're up to budget review two for the 2023-24 final.
6.4 PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY - NOVEMBER 2023 ¶
00:36:00 Thank you, Patrick. Thank you. Thank you, Richard. And welcome, Pauline. Welcome, Pauline. For those watching, Pauline is the acting financial services manager. Pauline Coles is her full name. She's going places. Could you give us an overview, please, Pauline? Speaker 6: Sure. Hello, councillors. In accordance with the Local Government Act, council is required to undertake regular reviews of its adopted budget to ensure it remains reflective of planned activities to be funded throughout the financial year. Speaker 3: This is the second budget review for 23-24
6.5 BUDGET REVIEW 2 (BR2) FOR THE 2023/24 FINANCIAL YEAR ¶
00:37:00 Speaker 6: and incorporates any new or emergent issues or actions that arise from council meetings. In summary, the budget review is proposing a net improvement of $1 million to council's operating position with the current operating deficit of $761,000 improving to a $304,000 surplus. This result includes a range of emerging costs that have been funded through additional revenue and grants received year-to-date. Council's capital expenditure program, excluding its QRA disaster projects, will decrease from $51.3 million to $46.1 million and that's due to the updated delivery schedule for several multi-year projects. With the delivery of the QRA fund of disaster projects now currently available council will also recognise $127 million of disaster projects as part of its proposed capital works program. These projects relate to the February 22 flood and are all 100% fully funded
00:38:00 by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority. This brings the total proposed capital works program to $173 million. As a result of that we've also recognised a corresponding increase in our capital grant revenue of $123 million relating to these projects. All capital submissions have been reviewed by the Capital Works Executive Committee and all forecast financial sustainability ratios continue to be met. In addition to the budget review we're also including a review or the twice-yearly review of the Noosa Holiday Parks fees and charges. This allows us to provide a forward booking period to customers of 18 months. The current fees and charges for Noosa Holiday Parks apply to 27 January 2025 and this report includes fees and charges up until 13 July 2025. Overall the increase to holiday parks and fees and charges is between $3 to $4 which is about 4 to 8%. This increase is driven
00:39:00 by inflationary pressures on operational costs with council and park management experiencing inflationary trends between 5 and 24% across various areas. This movement in costs has factored into consideration when we set the pricing so that we ensure that we maintain our operating margins and also ensure compliance with national competition policy principles. The proposed fees have also been benchmarked and tested against fees and charges adopted by other government and privately owned camping and caravan parks that are similar in size, location and type so that we ensure we're in line with industry pricing. Overall this budget review continues to show council in a strong financial position. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. A couple of councillors may have some questions. We weren't able to attend the workshop. Joe, do you have a question? Councillor Jurisevic: I was at the workshop. Just to reiterate, just the three things. In the original budget, what was our forecast deficit or otherwise? What was it in BR1 and what was it in BR2?
00:40:00 Speaker 6: If I may just say, I think I've got the top of my head. Bear with me two seconds. Councillor Jurisevic: It was a surplus. Speaker 6: I was going to say 121 off the top of my head but bear with me. No, you're right. It's okay. I had it before and I didn't bring it with me. I do actually have it in here so I'll just look at it. Councillor Wilkie: What was your question again please, Jack? Councillor Jurisevic: It was a surplus and deficit as of the original budget, as of BR1 and now BR2. Councillor Wilkie: It was a deficit of 760? Councillor Jurisevic: Yes. So the adopted original budget Speaker 6: was a $121,000 surplus and then it was budget review one, it was 761 deficit and now it's a $304,000 surplus. Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you. And thank you for the hard work that creates that turnaround
00:41:00 in the financial position and brings us back to the surplus. Councillor Wilkie: Questions, Councillor? Councillor Stewart, you have some questions. Mayor Stewart: Thank you, Councillor Wilkie. Thank you, Pauline. Just going through. I've just got a couple of questions and it's just to do with each attachment so I'll go through attachment by attachment if that's okay. As you highlighted, $173.3 million is incredible for Post Capital Works. It's unbelievable. And I see that we've got 64 submissions received from Capital Works programs for 2023-24 and a revised decrease in works of $5.1 million. Can you give me an explanation or Larry, perhaps someone from Infrastructure of the decrease in works? Is that just because it's carry over or we're just holding off or... Speaker 6: I can comment if you want. Pauline, you get the first point. No, that's fine. So in terms of the decrease to the initial program, there was about $8.6 million
00:42:00 of reprogramming of multi-year projects. So some of those were grant funded, some of those are relating to supply and delivery timelines, so they've just pushed out into the next year so we're taking that up. There's some emergent works and variations that we've taken up which is about $4.2 million and then some other savings and overspends that we've netted out which brings you back to the $5 million. So a lot of the push out relates to either multi-year programming or new grant funded projects that have come on board or some variations that have happened. Mayor Stewart: Okay, terrific. Thank you. Just another question. The financial services, the operating submissions attachment one, so we've seen an uplift because of higher yielding deposits of $2.1 million, is that correct? Speaker 6: Correct. So in terms of offsetting some of the submissions that have come through, we've taken up the year to date upside in interest revenue which is about $2.1 million and that's due to the higher yielding term deposits
00:43:00 from the surplus funds that we're currently carrying. That obviously may not continue and probably won't continue into future years as we consume that project money for the QRA projects. Mayor Stewart: Okay, thank you. In regard to attachment two, in regard to the bridges and revetment wall, can you just talk me through, I went through and I noticed that the larger discrepancies were, just the differences. Speaker 6: Okay. Mayor Stewart: $450,000 and $400,000 I think. Speaker 6: So there's a slight variation in relation to Garth Pryor which is an increase of about $250,000 and then there's also a reprogramming of the Doonella Bridge renewal as well which is about $400,000 that's pushing out. Mayor Stewart: Okay, thank you. Councillor Finzel: That's okay. Mayor Stewart: Attachment three, revised statement. Sorry, I wasn't, I was away when you did that. No, that's okay. You've got the floor.
00:44:00 Thanks, thanks Councillor Wilkie. Attachment three, revised statement of incoming expenditure. Interest received, the change is considerable as in grants and donations. Is there a $13.4 million changing or additional grant funding or is that just, again, due with, to do with timelines and money coming in? Speaker 6: Sorry, could you just repeat which line you were looking at? Mayor Stewart: Attachment three, revised statement of incoming expenditure. Speaker 6: Yep, and the line that you were looking at particularly? Mayor Stewart: Hang on, I'll just get back. Sorry, Pauline. Speaker 6: No, that's okay. Sorry, the $1,300. Mayor Stewart: I'm on the computer here. Speaker 6: That's okay, I think I know what you're referring to, the operational grants, the $1.3 million. Yes. Yep, okay. Yep, so that relates to some additional grant, operating grant programs that we have had come online. Let me just find that for you, if you bear with me. I can, one of them is a QCoast grant, one is a flood resilience management program and the other one was part of a QRA resilience program,
00:45:00 was an operational component of those programs. Mayor Stewart: Okay. Okay, so we have had those. Speaker 6: So that's additional grant that we're, grant renew that we're forecasting. That obviously also has a corresponding expenditure line item, because they offset each other. Mayor Stewart: Okay, perfect. Thank you. And can you tell me what capital works constructed assets specifically means? Speaker 6: Whereabouts exactly are you looking? Mayor Stewart: The capital expenditure, there's a big difference. Capital works constructed assets, that one was 40. Speaker 6: And to the 165 million? Mayor Stewart: Yeah, correct. Speaker 6: So that's us recognising the QRA program. Mayor Stewart: Okay, so this is, and that's all to do with just with accounting processes, is it? Speaker 6: Yep, so that's just the capital component of in and out as well. So the top section is operating, the below section is capital. Mayor Stewart: And in attachment for Pauline, contract assets under liabilities.
00:46:00 Yep. I know it hasn't featured before, but it is in this, these set of documents. Can you talk me through that? Speaker 6: Sure, so for accounting purposes, we're required to undertake a review of all the grants, levies, funds that we receive in terms of how we recognise that revenue over time. So depending on the criteria, so if they're sufficiently specific and measurable, we're required to recognise them as a liability going forward. So we remove them from revenue and recognise them as a contract liability. Now in terms of the 24 million that's recognised there, that is pretty predominantly QRA. So we had advance payment of QRA funds. So we took that up at the end of last financial year. So that's why it's flowing through in this budget review, because we've now finalised our audited financial statements for 2023. So those numbers have now picked up in this budget review. Mayor Stewart: Thanks Colleen. And last question, I apologise. Non-current liabilities on page three. Provisions. The term provisions. Speaker 6: Yes, is that the increase
00:47:00 you're referring to? Mayor Stewart: Yes. Speaker 6: So as part of, again, the finalisation of the 2023 financial statements, we recognise an additional $8 million of rehabilitation costs for the landfill site. So that's pushed up that provision amount. Mayor Stewart: Okay, thank you. Thanks so much, appreciate all of that. Speaker 6: Thanks Councillor Stewart. Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: Thanks. I've got a couple of questions also, Pauline. In terms of Webb Park upgrade, I note that that's been pushed out. But I also note in the report that Belmore Terrace Parkway renewal has been included as part of VR2. Correct. Can you just clarify what's happening? Speaker 6: I was going to say, did Sean want to talk to that? Because he's probably better placed to do that as the infrastructure director. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you, Chief. So what we've done is we've commenced the early works, which is the Belmore Terrace Pathway networks, which is really good because it's the circulation network around the edges of the park. And it's also a substantial budget component
00:48:00 of the overall project. So for the community, it'll appear like we've actually started work on the park. And it'll make it much easier for the community to be able to do that. And we're actually expanding the grant funds prior to the acquittal date, which is June this year. So it's sort of like it's two stages. The early works, which is the Belmore Terrace Pathway works, and then the balance of the landscape works actually within the park. Councillor Lorentson: Terrific. Thank you. Okay. In terms of stormwater drainage, current budget 4.485. Proposed budget review 1.052. So on page 41. So stormwater infrastructure is a significant part of our infrastructure services. What my question is,
00:49:00 does our strategic asset management plan align with our annual approved budget? So I'm doing sort of playing with my calculator at the moment. And working out what percentage of our capital works program is dedicated to our stormwater infrastructure system. And I actually pulled out, I think it was the stormwater infrastructure asset management plan 2019 just to get a benchmark. And at that time, I think it was 2%. In my calculations, unless it's wrong, we're at about 7.78% of total budget. So there's been... I'm on page 41, Joe. Councillor Jurisevic: You can't be on 41. 41 is holiday funds. Councillor Lorentson: I'm on page 41 of 145. Of the... Of the report. She's not... I'm on the report. I'm on the general committee report. Councillor Wilkie: She's in the full agenda, Joe.
00:50:00 Councillor Jurisevic: I'm on the full agenda. Page 41 refers to... Capital works. It's just a summary. Councillor Lorentson: It's just a summary. Speaker 6: Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: So my question is, given how critical our infrastructure managing our assets are to financial sustainability, is this a good percentage of total capital works program to sustain future risk? Would you like to take a permanent seat here? Speaker 6: That's okay. I was going to say that the reason I pushed out was to do with Ross Present, which is a grant funder program. That's just the timing of grant funding. Councillor Lorentson: And my question also stems from the 2022 rain events and population increase and our visitation numbers have also increased. So stormwater infrastructure is high priority, and I actually get how it is critical to our council's
00:51:00 financial sustainability. So that's really been my focus. Just are we spending enough? Speaker 1: Through the Chair. So as you recollect, the council's had a briefing from Brian O'Connor, our assets manager, on the status of our asset management plan in recent months. And the general summary is that our asset management system and the renewals budget tied to it are very strong when it comes to roadways and drainage systems as a result of work and that being high priority. The areas we're still to develop better quality in our asset management system is parks and also buildings and facilities. So they'll be our priority moving forward. So I have confidence in our asset renewal system and the amount of money applied to it for our stormwater assets and our roadways. I'm not so confident when it comes to parks and buildings and facilities. But they're areas for significant improvement in the next year to two years. When we're de-amalgamated and trying to actually get good quality information and survey
00:52:00 to actually get an asset management system working has required tremendous effort. So in some of the work they've done in the stormwater they've actually put robots up all the drains to determine their level of clearing, to determine whether they're blocked, determine whether they're collapsed to give us confidence in the stormwater management system. And we also need to be careful that stormwater is different from flooding. You know stormwater is to deal with you know predicted events where the water runs through the system and discharges into the river. Of course when we have an extraordinary event like river flooding that's a different scenario whatsoever where you're looking at protection of our critical assets. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you very much. Would you like to say anything? Yeah I'd certainly like to say okay. A lot of infrastructure. Councillor Lorentson: Probably I've got lots of questions but probably the only other one I need to really answer in terms of retaining wall construction Sunrise Beach, 56 David Lowe Way. Where exactly Speaker 1: is that? So that's the
00:53:00 one that's below the old caravan park if you want a better word. Above the old caravan park Speaker 2: in Sunrise. Councillor Lorentson: So has that got anything to do is that the one closest to the Burgess Creek? No. It's close. It's quite close. Oh so we're the last two points. Speaker 2: So Soberon Street. Near the bridge. Very near the bridge. Not far past the bridge, south of the bridge. Councillor Lorentson: South of the bridge. I know exactly where it is. Speaker 2: It's just an area that we identified last year so the money that's in the budget now is to do the review to do the planning and the design and then future budget will be to actually repair it. Fantastic. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Excellent. Thank you very much. Councillor Wilkie: I'll wait here until any other questions come through. Councillor Finzel: Karen. Thank you through the Chair and the CEO. I just have a question around stormwater breaking as well in relation to the infrastructure across the Shire and the prior originalisation process.
00:54:00 Can you just talk me through how if we review the budget and then extra money is allocated in what way does that affect how we roll out the upgrades? So for example with the bioretention basins rehabilitation programs and things like that? Speaker 2: Sure. So you notice there is an allocation of money in there for the bioretention basins and there is an ongoing program. We've got 42 bioretention basins across the Shire. I've done a little bit of research on this as you can hear. Thank you. But in terms of prioritisation there was a report done in 2022 that itemised all those bioretention basins and audited them essentially and put them in a good, bad or indifferent order in terms of what they're doing, what they're supposed to do and the maintenance level. I think that there is an ongoing question and understanding of residents in terms of
00:55:00 the level of what we call maintenance. Speaker 1: Appearance is probably a better word. Speaker 2: Appearance is probably a good word too in terms of it being a reserve therefore being fully natural versus being manicured or kept in a different state. So it's along those lines we need to do a bit more work in terms of education of people because there is a definite line between the two that we need to work through and I get some people look at it and go that's not well kept and I think that because of the amount of land and space that we do have under control and under reserve then it's difficult to keep up with it and difficult to keep it at the level that we need but we are working through that program and that's why with those 42 particularly the retention basins we're working through those in terms of some of them have been got out of hand a little bit
00:56:00 in recent years and we are working through our best to prioritise those so I don't have the answers for you in terms of which ones but we do have a program in place. Councillor Finzel: And where can we access that program sir? Speaker 2: No that's in their internal operational documents here. Speaker 1: If I can add to that it's just of interest that a lot of these bioretention basins are actually in environmental reserves so you know the spaces are being maintained for both their stormwater qualities as well as their environmental properties and as you can appreciate a highly known surface is not consistent with an environmental reserve you know so and I think that there needs to be at the same time a number of these spaces are immediately adjacent to residents who pay a lot of money for their land and they have different expectations of those spaces so I think part of it as Larry said is education this is an environmental reserve this is how it should look, this is what it should look like but at the same time we need to ensure
00:57:00 that those bioretention basins are actually doing what they said they do which is you know detain and treat stormwater and not contribute to health hazards as well so it's probably in terms of residents expectations there's a balance or a middle ground about maintaining environmental qualities stormwater qualities but certainly not achieving a high amenity standard in terms of it being manicured to ensure biodiversity properties are maintained. Councillor Jurisevic: But of course I don't understand your council's part in theories on maintenance talent, bioretention basins and probably weren't quite maintaining Speaker 1: In the last 12 months the bioretention basins asset portfolio as part of the asset program that I talked about has actually been transferred from the environment team over to the infrastructure team to ensure that there's much more rigour applied to ensure that it meets stormwater parameters and the skill set is actually appropriate. Of course they need to consult with the environment staff to ensure
00:58:00 that biodiversity properties are maintained but to give a better emphasis on retention or you know maintenance of the stormwater assets. And that's been an agreed process between infrastructure services and environment services. Councillor Lorentson: Any more questions? Just one more. Page 46 of the report Pauline. Local laws. This is operating submissions made I'm assuming by the local laws officers. A submission of $42,000 for an increased legal cost for prosecution of offenders. Correct. Did they also make a submission for just increased local law officers? I've been, not inundated but I've been receiving quite a few emails about dogs on beaches and have they made a submission in terms Speaker 6: of resourcing? No, we didn't receive a submission for additional resourcing for local laws but obviously I'm assuming obviously as part of the 2025 budget they'll review their service levels and what they're
00:59:00 going to need in terms of that. So at this stage no they haven't requested any additional resourcing. Thank you very much. Just to Councillor Wilkie: clarify this extra unasked is due to enforcement actions. Correct. This is to do with the enforcement. Yes. Of infringement. Councillor Stopper. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I know I was just pointing out we were discussing a budget review not a... Speaker 2: Yes exactly. We're going down a bit further. Councillor Wilkie: We're going. I know that's right. No question. Councillor Jurisevic: I think based on what's already been said we could see a return to surplus for BR1 which typically happens. We do some shopping changes in the inter-financial year but looking at the programs going forward we're predicting a surplus for the inter-financial year. It shows sound financial management and it was greatly honed by our financial team to understand the very last very vast sums of money that we deal with and that go through the various departments and
01:00:00 I'd like to commend the financial team for their prudent financial management of our council funds and all of the council team in that regard. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you John. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Oh yeah. There's an interesting comparison to be made on this budget and I reflect back to last term where there's a great deal of certain amount of community concern that we weren't getting our capital works done. So the capital works budget now for this year is about three times just for the stuff that the ratepayers are funding, three times that which was average during the Sunshine Coast Council era. But if we add in the amount of capital work with disaster it's over ten times as much capital works than what Sunshine Coast Council is putting into the Noosa Shire area during the amalgamated period. Now
01:01:00 you know sometimes it's just one wise decision. We can thank our CEO when he was in his substantive position suggesting very early in the disaster recovery process that we should get expert consultants in to run that disaster recovery program. Without them we'd be pulling our hair out and so 123 million of over 120 million of disaster funding that's coming in. It's also really important to understand how disaster affects the budget. Now we're dealing with successive climate related disasters and we think about our other budgets in terms of our climate action budget. It's clear that the new normal will have probably a fairly constant stream of disaster recovery for local councils to deal with.
01:02:00 So while we may get that state government funding to do the work, there is a whole host of administrative responsibilities within this building that need to be met. And that's something we really have to understand is as long as the state government continues to fund it, it's not going to be a do or die thing. But if we had to come up with over 120 million our ratepayers couldn't afford it. There'd be projects that just wouldn't be getting done. There'd be residents who would continue to have to take the long rate around for the rest of eternity before we could do some of the repairs that we're getting done through the state funding. So it's really important to say short term yes this is what we're going to do in the next six months. Long term our budget, we have to think about what's ahead of us for the next 10 years and realise that recovery from disaster is going to be an impost on the ratepayers of this community for at least another decade and probably a lot longer. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Councillor Stockwell.
01:03:00 Councillor Witner. Councillor Wegener: I'd like to thank Councillor Stockwell for your cheerios there. First day, first meeting back in Sunderland. Thank you to the team, everybody. I'm hoping that as we do go forward there's been such a fantastic succession of our first Michael Michael Councillor Wilkie: Michael Councillor Wegener: Michael to maintain this transition of great, great, great, talented thoughtful, generous and qualified people in your space. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Horst. Just a really quick note. Thank Pauline and team. You know it's free money. We're getting the money from the state but there's also human resourcing implications with that funding.
01:04:00 So I know there's passionate, hardworking people working in infrastructure under this roof and we don't say thank you enough. It's big business and they're really good people making really big things happen in this council. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Councillor Stewart. Mayor Stewart: Thank you Councillor Wilkie. Just to reiterate what's already been said. Thank you Pauline, Trent and all the team. It's remarkable to turn around $1 million in such a short amount of time. It's a terrific way to finish off the council term as well. So I want to thank you for all your hard work in that space. Also the infrastructure team. Larry, Shaun, thank you. That is unbelievable. $173.3 million of capital works. We are a small council and that is certainly as Councillor Stockwell said the largest that we've seen. Probably 10 times what's been done. And it's great for our rate payer because we are receiving funding from QRA
01:05:00 and we're receiving grant funding from the feds and the state. But also it's a lot of hard work and investment by our council staff too. So please pass on our thanks to them because that is just a remarkable level of work that's been achieved. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Councillor Stewart. Anybody wish to speak before Councillor Jurusevic closes? Councillor Jurusevic. Councillor Jurisevic: I'll close, thank you. Yes, some good points raised there. Thank you Brian. Yes, the level of capital works goes down to exactly what Shaun was talking about. Our understanding of our assets with an element of resilience. Knowing what goes on with regard to fires and floods and disasters and what the future brings. So we're getting ahead of it. It's taken a bit of time, we're planning to catch up and that's why the spend is where it is. The QRA funding of course
01:06:00 is significant. And you're right, we'd be challenged by that. I've just recently come back from the Shoalhaven Shire where as a result of disasters over the next three years their council is proposing to raise rates by 46%. Because of the impact on their council of recent disaster events in that area. So there are realistic challenges going forward for any council. The impacts are huge. Particularly in Flood's Devastator and Fire's Devastator region. They've had the impact of a number of events over the last few years. A lot of those southern councils do. So you can see the sort of challenges that councils can face. So we're on top and thank goodness we do have the QRA funding to renew these assets. And thank goodness that they now understand the element of resilience which is in the Queensland Disaster Recovery Plan. Resilience is part of asset renewal going forward. But all good. Again, the asset management plans
01:07:00 are the crucial nature of those and to continue to drive the renewal of assets. Particularly with the aging assets that we've got. Community facilities and the like. We'll continue to challenge our budgets for years to come. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. I'll put the motion to those in favour. It's carried unanimously. Thank you both very very much. Larry. Speaker 2: Can I just make one point. We have focused a lot on our assets and our infrastructure in here. Because they're big numbers. It's a massive spreadsheet in front of you with a whole lot of staff. There's 500 staff out there working, delivering services. All meeting their budgets and all meeting the delivery levels that they need to. It would be remiss of me if we didn't say that it's a whole council effort here. And we need to thank them all. From my perspective. Please thank them all. And I know our focus went to the infrastructure. And I know you're well aware of
6.6 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT – DECEMBER 2023 ¶
01:08:00 the overall services that we deliver. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you Larry. Thank you. Thank you Shaun. Now next item is the financial performance report. Don't go too far though Shaun. Financial performance report for December. Pauline Coles. You have the floor again. Speaker 6: Operating revenues continue to out perform forecast. And operating expenditures are under forecast year to date. This is the end of December. Operating revenue is $3.2 million above budget which is being driven by $2 million of interest and $1.4 million of sales of goods and services from holiday parks, community facilities and waste. We also have a slight above budget amount of about $300,000 in operating grant revenue. Excuse me. This has been offset by lower than forecast revenue in rates due to some valuation changes and category changes. And fees and charges are about half a million dollars below budget year to date.
01:09:00 Operating expenditure is $1.2 million underspent with the majority of this underspent relating to employee costs resulting from vacancies and recruitment timing. Materials and services are expenditures marginally under budget at this point in the year. Many of these year to date variances that you'll see in this report have been addressed as part of the budget review too which will be reflected in the January report. The quarterly update on tourism and economic development expenditure shows that this program is on track year to date. Also included in the report is the quarterly summary of legal expenditure which shows $1.2 million spent of the full year budget of $1.6 million at this point in the year. Overall Council's operating position at December is $4.4 million above budget. Capital revenue is above budget $5.2 million due to the further advance funding from QRA. Year to date excluding disaster projects Council has expended 33% of the full year capital program which equates to about $17 million with a further $6 million currently committed.
01:10:00 A further $12.6 million has been funded year to date on QRA disaster projects but as I mentioned with BR2 coming into place that will adjust those budgets back in the January reports. Council householdings at the end of March was $106 million with $30 million invested in term deposits. The quarterly update on the breakdown of cash holdings has also been included in this month's report and you'll note the major movement in the graph compared to the previous quarter is in working capital as we're at the end of the first rating cycle of the year so we issued rates in July and we've spent that money through to December which is why that's come down. Once we issue rates in January Feb that'll kick up once that comes back in and that'll fund through the operations to the end of the year. Restricted and unrestricted cash has also declined and that's basically due to the delivery of the capital works program and also the utilisation of QRA disaster funding that we received in advance. With half the financial year complete Council's financial performance
01:11:00 continues to be strong. Councillor Lorentson: In terms of the lean legal costs, can you explain so general legal wise so we've got an in-house legal council she or he started in December probably too soon to ask the question are there any savings but I did notice CEO and governance that seems to be quite high $65,000 of the $74,000 allocated budget that seems to be quite high and industrial relations advice. Is that unusual? Or should questions to the CEO? Speaker 6: Do you want to answer? I can answer. Speaker 2: It's the advice that we've been requested or needed to get
01:12:00 in this recent six to 12 months I don't know whether that's me or whether that's just Daniel but the advice that we get obviously comes at a cost. So anytime that we ask for external advice then it does come at a cost so there's been quite a bit of that in recent times. So for a whole range of purposes so that's been reflected there in that budget. Speaker 6: It's all dependent on really what types of work and what's happening at the time that impacts on that budget. In some years it's quite low and other years it can be quite high. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Just in terms of details of the expenditure or advice that's been sought is that protected under Privacy Information Act? It is. Thank you. Councillor Fincilis. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Just coming off the back of that with the expenditure through industrial relations for the CEO
01:13:00 would that have anything to do with the change in legislation that we're working hard towards trying to minimise some of our social hazards in the workplace? Speaker 2: Question. To some degree there is some advice that we've been seeking for that but there's also in terms of the training and education for our staff in general that's been accommodated in our budgets through the people and culture. Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Can we move to staff? Councillor Wilkie: Move Councillor Jurisdicts. Do we have a seconder? Second. Seconder, Councillor Lorentson. Joe, you have the floor. Councillor Jurisevic: Yes, Mr. Chair. I know here in BR2 we tend to focus on the capital, but here we've got a lot more information about the operating budget. But we do sometimes tend to forget that we are operating in the realms of $100 million of operation and expenditure of revenue and expenditure with regards to year in, year out and the detail and the challenges
01:14:00 that our staff do have with regard to staying within the budgets and trying to maintain the budgets with every element and every facet of council through this. And you can see those that are below and those that are above and the swings and roundabouts that go through the organisation and where those challenges is month on month, year on year. So it's a very comprehensive report on a monthly basis and it gives us a good snapshot of how we're tracking with our financial performances and should alert us quite regularly of any concerns and be able to, as our financial staff do, alert us to any challenges and try to address those challenges as they arise. So I think for anybody that wonders about the financial performance of councils should take the time to read each of these financial reports and understand what happens and what happens
01:15:00 going on in council on a regular basis. We often challenge some of the elements and the one that I like to bring up with the CEO is staff training. And I think it's important that we have that approach and we do meet that and it's often difficult when we don't have a full column of staff to facilitate all of that training. So how are we going with staff training for the CEO? So how annoyed is the CEO going for a while? Speaker 6: I think we're actually behind budget at the moment. Speaker 2: We are behind budget to some degree but we've also got a number of things in train in terms of what we're going to be using that budget for. And one of those is psychosocial but also there are things in play. Councillor Jurisevic: It was a nice little lead you did there, didn't you? Speaker 2: Absolutely. We've also in this round in this last 12 months looking at staff and what training needs they want individually. So we're actually trying to cater for that as well particularly in the management area.
01:16:00 There's the regulatory training that we need to do for various things like licences and permits and things like that but then there's also the training that we want our management training to get from our coordinators, supervisors all the way up through to the CEO. Everybody needs to be afforded that ability to improve their personal development and professional development. So we're looking at all that and that's part of the program that we're now putting in place and where possible, where we can afford it, we're going to implement those. Councillor Lorentson: In terms of psychosocial hazard training that's going to be made available to council employee staff given that councillors are not considered employees will there be an opportunity to maybe extend that training to councillors? Speaker 2: Absolutely.
01:17:00 That's part of what we're looking to and there's a whole program or discussion that needs to happen around that but absolutely we're in the induction program that's for the new round of council new cycle that will be certainly part of the program that we'll be looking to implement. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: Question, Pauline. The holiday park revenue to date is $660,000 above budget. That's an extraordinary result. What is it due to? It can't just be efficiencies. Speaker 6: Some of it's to do we've had record high occupancy of sites across the board so a lot of it's driven through that. We do have offsetting upside as well in expenditure that relates to that as well. But predominantly it's the utilisation of sites and maximising the occupancy on the sites. Councillor Jurisevic: 203 increasing expenditure at the moment. Councillor Wilkie: And even though it was included
01:18:00 in the BR2 there's a downturn in rates revenue because of revaluations. Yeah, so there's been Speaker 6: so there's been some changes in whether it's been through the individual property owners or questions from reviews from the value general's office on the valuations of some properties. But there's also been some changes in categories of properties so it might be where say a rate payer was previously in a transitory category and they've gone through and gone actually no we're not in transitory anymore and that's moved out. So there's been movements in terms of valuations and category movements. Councillor Wilkie: Are we noticing many property owners shifting their properties from transitory back to Speaker 6: I couldn't tell you numbers but there has been some movement but I wouldn't have the quantum of that unless Richard does. Speaker 5: Any indication of trends? Through the Chair. Speaker 4: It's we're finding Speaker 5: we've been following up in relation to short stays just recently
01:19:00 particularly with transitory rating categories are being applied. We're finding that some of those properties that we suspected that were short term letting have actually been rated they haven't been basically following and checking their rates it is a principal place of residents and they've actually been playing the transitory rate. So we've been making adjustments as we've been dealing with that. So we suspect and you'll be aware around the total number of possible STAs was as high as 4000 you might recall. We suspect with the work that we've been doing in the team recently it may not be quite as high as that. In fact we're rolling through those other numbers at the moment. So it might be a lesser number than the 4000 we suspected. We're still working our way through that as we ground truth and undertake those detailed investigations and which means in a good sense that potentially overall less STAs than we first envisaged. We've still got a bit of work to do and during this year of 2024
01:20:00 we'll be doing a bit of work to narrow that down to get that total number more accurate. There will always be a bit of fluidity there in terms of people going into STAs and coming out on some of those 460s and things like that. And we'll just have to continuously keep our eye on that. But the good news is potentially that number is not quite as high as we first envisaged. Still more work to be done. Councillor Wilkie: And while you're here Richard the $101,000 above expenditure above budget and expenditure for development assessment is that a combination of a high workload and needing to outsource the work or why is it? Speaker 5: Yes, so we're actually we're about 25% under in terms of establishment for planning assessment at the moment. We've been outsourced to cover some of that resource gap and that's possibly where we've got a lot more expenditure and that we've been outsourcing to cover that gap. We are slowly filling those positions
01:21:00 in fact we've got a new senior development planner that arrived today so we've filled another role there. We've got one more to fill in there. So we are making inroads this year so that number should come back down shortly. Now we've got a full establishment or working our way towards a full establishment. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. In terms of STA will you be able to provide us with some data and how many applications were approved during this term of Council? Just be great to understand what the real number is. Speaker 5: Absolutely and in fact it's good timing we're working on a dashboard that will get some material for you and then for the general public around overall numbers of STAs. Also looking at the trends since the start of the local law in terms of what's been happening in terms of hotline requests, different trends, number of approvals that have been issued for the different categories. So we're working on that. We'll hopefully have something for councillors shortly and the general public. Councillor Jurisevic: And that will give us the number of approvals
01:22:00 the number of outstanding applications that are still being assessed and suspected number of... Speaker 5: Yeah potentially that's right and it is an assumption number on the total numbers. It'll be always hard to probably lock down. Yeah we're slowly making good inroads through that number of properties on there. Councillor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yeah just sitting back it's interesting to see when we're talking about swings and roundabouts so the upside that we saw in budget review too is interest rates going up to our investments and our capital is earning more. The downside is that's pushing the downward pressure on the building industry and the development industry. So we've actually seen a quarter of a million dollars less than what expected in development applications and 57k less in building and plumbing and if you look at the applications coming through you can still see that's going down. So over the... probably maybe not the next slide
01:23:00 but the one after you if that continues we're going to be back into a fairly tight budgeting environment whereby we're going to have to look at the resources we've got and how we do it. The interesting thing is the juxtaposition of holiday park revenue going up in the cost price but that may be just people choosing for a slightly more affordable holiday rather than a more expensive one that more people choosing to go camping rather than staying in a unit or whatever so we'll be interested to see how that holiday park revenue goes over the next year or so because it will give us an indication of how the local economy is going to be faring over this inflationary period. Councillor Lorentson: A quick question Pauline through the chair. On page 79 under materials and services I've just got a big question mark I haven't seen this before administration supplies and consumables can you explain what's meant by that consumables?
01:24:00 Speaker 6: It can include entertaining a whole range of things I did have it up here but I've closed it that's ok but I can certainly take it on notice and come back to you if you'd like Speaker 2: But consumables is not necessarily food? Speaker 6: No it's basically it can be materials it can be travel it can be entertainment it can be consultancy it could be a number of different things Councillor Lorentson: but I can certainly come back to you. Speaker 6: Thank you very much. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Councillor Jurisevic: Good bye Councillor Stockwell Councillor isn't immune to the pressures out there in the in the real world we go through the challenges of having sufficient staff to fill trying to fill those voids and vacancies as all businesses do as has been pointed out around the table we also want to get under the pressures of increasing costs and expenses with everything we do and all businesses and all governments
01:25:00 currently go through this so we want to get under the pressures and the financial management fiscal management going forward as we have done for the last 10 years continues to be a critical element of the learning and counselling skills one of the the graphs at the end the operating surplus ratio the cash expense covers the assets sustainability ratio the net finances liability ratios all those ratios are indicators that the state government expect us to hold within targets and it's important to see we've been in those and well above those ranges for quite some time we need to keep our eye on those and ensure that we continue to maintain those we're getting good returns on investment at the moment we've got a bit of spare cash for investment as well which is helping that will run out so all those challenges going forward will be ones for our new council to try and uphold
01:26:00 and upkeep it's very easy to be critical of the outside when you're on the inside you understand the work that goes in here and you see these results it's very pleasing to see the financial position of council on a year to year basis Councillor Wilkie: thank you council juristic all in favour that's unanimous thank you Pauline next up is the audit and risk committee membership Mr CEO you're presenting this report Speaker 2: yes unfortunately Deb Yetzi's not able to be with us today so I'll present this so the first one is the audit and risk committee membership item 6.7 in accordance with our local government act we need to have an audit and risk committee ours comprises of two councillors appointed councillors and two external members one of the external members our current chair his tenure finishes
6.7 AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ¶
01:27:00 the 19th of March this year and so we need to have a decision on either renewing that or going for a new chair the recommendation here is that we renew and continue Tim Cronin's chairmanship of the audit and risk committee we've just done a review and you've been privy to that as councillors that the audit and risk committee is doing its job and doing it well and so the recommendation is for Tim or Mr Cronin to his term to be extended to the 10th of October 2025 the maximum he can do is six years currently in our regulations he was a member of the committee first and then he was chair for three years so that's why it's not another three year term it's actually about two years that takes him up to the six year mark so we're recommending that it goes to 10th of October 2025 we've spoken to Mr Cronin
01:28:00 he's comfortable with taking that on as well so we're putting it to you for the recommendation Councillor Wegener: I'll move the staff recommendation Councillor Wilkie: Moved by councillor Wegener seconded by councillor Finzel councillor Wegener Councillor Wegener: first I invite other councillors to come to the audit and risk committee because you get to actually you get the pleasure of watching staff squirm as you all know they get asked the hard questions but also you get to ask the hard questions we all are speaking to individuals that do this with councils all across Queensland and bigger councils and smaller councils and you can ask really honest questions how are we faring compared to these others like waste for example and NIT enormously helpful I'd like to back Tim Cronin he's absolutely fantastic and really you were there before me he said you were very excited when he came on board
01:29:00 he's enormously well qualified to give us really great advice and he's very clear and he's patient I've tested that he's very patient that's okay Councillor Finzel: so have I Tom but yeah I think Councillor Wegener: I support the recommendation he's fantastic Councillor Lorentson: I'd like to speak so I also have had the privilege and opportunity sit on the audit and risk committee and like Tom it is I encourage everyone to put their hand up I just want to just add to Tim so I looked at the report looked at his expertise and his financial management and risk experience what's been left out is his local government experience so I want to just highlight that Tim's had over 30 years as an insurance and risk advisor but he's also been a CEO I think from the of the Cook Shire Council
01:30:00 and he sits not only on Noosa Shire Council and risk committee but also on three other local governments in Queensland so I totally support the extension and a really big supporter of Tim he adds a lot of value and certainty and assurance which I think in this financial and environmental political arena that we're all in it's really much needed Councillor Jurisevic: Thank you Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Joe Councillor Jurisevic: Happy to support the appointment of Tim as the chairperson for another three years I think it's good to have the external oversight that we do have with our Ordinaries Committee with people like Tim and Ed independent members that give us their outside experience
01:31:00 and outside oversight from an independent perspective to help guide chips on track and even review the processes that are within and ensure that we're meeting our obligations going forward I too have spent my time in the Ordinaries Committee to enter the workings of not only council but also that external oversight that makes you look at things from a different perspective I was very fortunate to have Scott Williams as Chair for a large part of the time I was there and I learnt a heck of a lot from watching and listening to Scott so happy to support the staff recommendation Councillor Wilkie: Mayor Stewart Mayor Stewart: Thanks Councillor we're very happy to support Tim on the audit risk along with Councillor Wegener and he's an outstanding leader and it's great he's got a fountain of information
01:32:00 experience as Councillor Orniston said so this is a great appointment and I think we should be really grateful because he comes up from Brisbane it's no small fee coming up and back in a day with traffic he gives up his time and I think he does a wonderful job and a real service to Noosa Council Councillor Wilkie: Thank you All in favour? That's carried unanimously The next item is the Councillor Remuneration update Mr CEO Yes again Speaker 2: this report was put forward by Deborah Yetsey but she's not here today so I'll carry it through This one is interesting in the Queensland Local Government Remuneration Commission is required to complete a review during 2023 they've done that review and have determined a new set of
01:33:00 council remuneration categories so they've restructured it and have a new maximum remuneration levels be implemented on the 1st of July 2024 so this doesn't affect this council it affects the new cycle of council what's happened is that Noosa was previously a category 3 council and is now under the new structure being categorised as a B3 along with Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council so we're now a B3 with that B3 comes a change in the remuneration it's a slight increase this commission also takes into account CPI and a whole range of things in its normal review but this is a restructure as well as a review so it's come through so from July 1 2024 we will be categorised as a B3 council with the maximum remuneration rates being applied to
01:34:00 mayor and councillors and so the recommendation is that this I say this comes from the commission it's called the local government remuneration commission and it's a state government directive if you like so essentially this is where we fit now in the full scheme of local government across Queensland. Councillor Wilkie: So we're up there now with Isaac Regional Council, Whitsunday Regional Council and Lockyer Valley Regional Council they all seem to be larger in geographical area Speaker 2: yes, yes I don't know how again it's to go through and analyse the size of the budget Councillor Jurisevic: well financial element to it I understand is within the operational and the operational budget yes Speaker 2: that's right yes so it takes in a whole range Councillor Jurisevic: yeah Speaker 2: yeah that's right so it takes in a whole range of those things and it's obviously Councillor Jurisevic: my understanding is the council former mayor of Noosa and Sunshine Coast
6.8 COUNCILLOR REMUNERATION UPDATE ¶
01:35:00 Councillor Bob Abbott is the chair of that committee Councillor Wilkie: yes any questions Councillor Joe Councillor Jurisevic: I know we've only talked about council remuneration here and it doesn't seem to make a large change to the way that that's been calculated over the years Speaker 2: which increases Councillor Jurisevic: but as far as workload or anything else does this impact in any other way shape or form on council do we is the change of reporting from staff in any way shape or form because I know there was some talk about this taking us to a different realm with regard to when this was first proposed is there any other changes that would impact on council Speaker 2: my understanding is no that's a more considerable it's just a change to the category which comes with its and reflects what we do our budgets the services we provide and Councillor Wilkie: so on Councilor Stockwell seconded Councilor Jurusevic
01:36:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think so yeah there has been a good review of council remuneration and while we're now banded a little bit differently previously for example we're on the same band as Gympie Regional which are now B2 it means that everyone gets a massive $200 more a year than Gympie Regional colleagues and if you look the next step up to Central Highlands Regional Council and Western Down Regional Council they are much more substantive Shires that have large road networks, large impact of mining etc so it's probably probably to me looks like a logical break up and it's still the remuneration for a councillor is still something that's probably not enough to attract people if they were looking for a job so it is going to once again mean that most of the candidates won't be younger which is always the down side of this is that it does tend to sort
01:37:00 candidates for local government based on their ability to afford remuneration which is just above median wage at this stage Councillor Wilkie: Does anyone else wish to speak to the motion? Would the Councillor Wegener: councillor on that Councillor Wilkie: it's a voluntary well I'd put the motion those in favour it's carried unanimously thank you Mr CEO we now have three confidential items Councillor Jurisevic: and Councillor Wilkie: so we need to close the meeting so Councillor Stockwell moved and further recommendation on the board Councillor Lorentson is second for the meeting to be closed to the public pursuant to section 254 J3
7 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION ¶
01:38:00 negotiations relating to a commercial matter involving the local government for which public discussion would be likely to bridge the interests of the local government of the local government regulation 2012 for the purpose of discussing a tender award for a bridge nurse's spit nourishment and the register of pre-qualified suppliers for construction of pathways for channel drain and pitch associated works with the motion those in favour Deputy Mayor Stockwell: just before we do sorry it's just a a parenthesis that hasn't been opened is closed so and as you read it didn't quite make sense see how you've got a parenthesis after global government it's not clear where that starts that starts before G I see yep so we're all good Councillor Wilkie: okay we are in parenthesis yeah we are Councillor Lorentson: okay one moment Councillor Wilkie: we'll put that to the vote all in favour
01:39:00 that's unanimous thank you Councillor Stewart Councillor Jurisevic: can we have a little break one second Councillor Lorentson: okay Councillor Wilkie: okay welcome back everybody welcome back everybody back in open session we have a few recommendations Councillor Jurisevic: I'm happy to move 7.1 Councillor Troutbridge upgrade Councillor Wilkie: okay move Councillor Jurisdict seconded Councillor Lorentson speak to the motion all those in favour Councillor Jurisevic: thank you anybody else Councillor Wilkie: all in favour it's carried unanimously next item and this is that Council note the report by the project manager of the general committee meeting to award contract for the spit nourishment to haul contracting for a schedule
01:40:00 of rates contract for the construction contract value as provided in the conforming tender documentation with works being completed on or before 30th September 2024 and delegate to the chief executive officer the power to negotiate finalise execute and administer the contract on behalf of the Council move Councillor Jurisdict seconded Councillor Stockwell to the motion Councillor Jurisevic: to reiterate what I said the first time to do works and hopefully this will be the facilitate the ongoing of the property Councillor Wilkie: all in favour that's carried unanimously last item this is about the awarding of the contract for a register of pre-qualified supplies for construction of pathways curb channel drainage pits and associated works for a period of two years commencing on 1st February 2024 the following supplies exceed concrete construction propriety limited pentacon propriety limited sunshine civil
01:41:00 solutions the trustees for integral concreting services family trust as assured concreting services wilson concreting construction and yeti services propriety limited to delegate to the chief executive officer of the power to negotiate finalise execute and administer the contract on behalf of the Council move Councillor Jurisdict seconded Councillor Finzel any discussion all in favour that's unanimous that's the last item on today's agenda thank you everybody for your attendance comments and patience thank you Mr CEO Sean and Kathleen and Vicky I declare the meeting closed thank you
7.1 CONFIDENTIAL - CN00427 GARTH PROWD BRIDGE UPGRADE - TENDER AWARD ¶
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 CONFIDENTIAL - CONTRACT AWARD REPORT - CONTRACT NO. CN00511 - NOOSA SPIT NOURISHMENT ¶
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 CONFIDENTIAL - RP00359 - Register of Prequalified Suppliers for Construction of Pathways, Kerb, Channel, Drainage Pits & Associated Works ¶
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 ¶
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.