Before the first item ¶
00:00:00 Councillor Lorentson: The services and organisation meeting today, Tuesday. Good afternoon and I declare the meeting officially open. I'd like to start firstly with an acknowledgement to country. I would like to respectfully acknowledge the Kabi Kabi people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters that form the region that we call Noosa. Council pays its respects to elders past, present and future and welcomes the ongoing role that Indigenous people play within the Noosa community. Attendance and apologies. There are no apologies and I note everyone is in attendance. Councillor Wilkie, Mayor Stewart and Councillor Joe Jerusevig and I note Councillors observers, Councillor Finzel and Councillor Tom Wegener are in the gallery. Can I please request before we commence the meeting that everyone have their phones silent or turned off and I would also like to remind Councillors of their obligations under the Councillor Code of Conduct to treat fellow Councillors and Councillor employees respectfully.
1 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶
00:01:00 I go straight now to confirmation of minutes. Can I please have a mover and a seconder? I'll second it. Second Councillor Stewart, move. Thank you. No discussion. All in favour? Thanks. We now go to presentations, deputations. There are none so we'll move straight to reports for consideration or noting of the committee. So let's move to item 5.1, cessation of March 2024 Council meetings and I'll hand it over to Acting CEO Larry Sengstock for a summary or overview. Speaker 4: Thank you, Chair. We have actually received file and notification back from the Minister now that we are able to or not necessary for us to conduct our meetings during the March period.
2 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ¶
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3 PRESENTATIONS ¶
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4 DEPUTATIONS ¶
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5 REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE ¶
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5.1 CESSATION OF MARCH 2024 COUNCIL MEETINGS ¶
00:02:00 We did initially ask for February and March but we've got obviously we're holding our meetings now in February because we've got things to deal with. But during the March, during that time, we've got things to deal with. We've got things to do with the meetings of March. Like a number of councils across Queensland, they've asked for that to be allowed for councils and we've been given that right. The reason being that the meetings were in caretaker period. So from a council point of view, it's really just doing the business as usual activities, which we can continue on with and hold through. Some of the reports hold through to when the new cycle begins after the election. And the final election or the final council meeting was going to be on Thursday evening prior to the Saturday election.
00:03:00 So it was just getting a bit too close. It gets very messy with electioneering and what's, you know, when we're dealing with matters on the table here with the public getting confused. So it's best just to keep things clear and clean. And that's the position that we've taken. And the Minister has agreed with us and has allowed us to do that again, like many other councils across Queensland. So we're not on our own. This is a, this is pretty much a standard thing, given the time. Councillor Lorentson: Any questions? Councillor Teresita. Speaker 5: Yes. So, you know, will it have any impact on the ability of council to operate during that time? Will there be any decisions that are delayed as a result of a meeting being missed? Speaker 4: We've tried our best to make sure there is no major decisions coming through at this time. And we don't believe there will be. But if something does happen, for example, if there is a disaster and we need to act, something that's going to cost more than what my delegated authority of costs and expenditure is,
00:04:00 then the Minister has actually provided us with a letter saying that all councils, that if that does happen, then we can apply to the Minister for exemption. And within 24 hours, we'll get that response. Speaker 5: So we have a special meeting. Extraordinary. Absolutely. Yeah. So we're covered in case of emergency. That's all I was trying to say. Yes. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: And Councillor Wilkie. Councillor Wilkie: Will it have any negative implications on development applications that are before the council? This is a set period. I think they have to be dealt with in 20 working days. If not, some are deemed approval, some are deemed refusal. How is that going to be managed? Speaker 4: We're continuing with that because remember there's a number that we do on through delegation anyway. So we're able to continue with those. We don't believe that there'll be anything that'll come before us during that March period anyway. Which is normally items of significance. Yes. Or refusals. Yes. Which we couldn't make decisions on anyway.
00:05:00 Yes. Yes. Councillor Lorentson: Any further questions from the table or in the gallery? Speaker 5: Can I have a seconder please? Councillor Lorentson: Hello. Thank you, Councillor Stewart. All in favour? Carried unanimously. Thank you, Larry. Speaker 6: Thank you. Thanks, Larry. Councillor Lorentson: We'll now move to reports for noting by the committee. And we'll go to 6.1, the capital program 2023-24. A delivery status and a welcome to the desk. Speaker 1: Melissa. Councillor Lorentson: Beautiful Melissa. And Craig, are you... Yes. And Sean. Excuse me. I'm thinking it was Craig. Okay. Thank you. I'll hand it over to you, Melissa. No worries. And if you could just provide us with an overview of the report in front of us. Councillor Wilkie: Well, Madam Chair, just a question. Sure. Does that superlative beautiful apply just to Melissa or Sean as well? No biases. Speaker 1: Both.
6 REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE ¶
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6.1 CAPITAL PROGRAM 2023/24 DELIVERY STATUS ¶
00:06:00 Thank you. Okay. No worries. Thank you for seeing us this morning. Just to give you an overview of the report, so this report summarises the capital works program as at the 31st of December for the second quarter. At the 31st of December, we had an expenditure of $16.9 million, which was 33% of our capital budget, which is currently $51.3 million. Of the 51.3 million, 19.5 is carry-forwards from the prior financial year. We have $5.8 million in commitments remaining as well at that point in time. Forecast expenditure for 23-24 is currently $43.6 million, and that includes $26.7 million remaining to spend in the second half of the financial year. For the road reseal program, $2.9 million of the $5 million budget has been expended as at the 31st of December. The design services team are working on a new project.
00:07:00 We have over 62 projects at the moment, which have a combined design and delivery value of over $18.5 million, and the planning team is supporting key master planning initiatives that value up to $1.7 million in the current program and have a forward investment value of over $55 million. In addition, there's 73 multi-year projects that are in various stages of completion at this point. Speaker 2: Do you want to do a correction to the report? Speaker 1: Yeah. So there's also a discrepancy I just wanted to flag within the report. Under the annual reseal program on page four, Olivine Street has been listed under Tewantin, so this just we would like minuted, corrected to Cooroy, if possible, please. Speaker 5: So it's Cooroy. I thought as part of the process we must have moved from Cooroy. No. Speaker 1: Sorry. That was just a small oversight, but it should read Cooroy, Olivine Street. Thank you. Thanks. Thank you, Melissa. Councillor Lorentson: Questions from the table, please.
00:08:00 Speaker 5: Not many at all. As a matter of work being achieved and undertaken, a number of projects being done. Road reseal program is exceptional with the number of roads being done and the reseals being undertaken. And the level and scope of works that have been done is exceptional. And across the range of areas that Council's involved in is quite extraordinary. So quite an achievement to undertake $15 million capital works program and try and get somewhere near achieving that to full financial yield with everything else we've got going on. So I think it's a great credit to us that the team is doing such a great job. And the works that have been undertaken have been done to such a high standard. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Councillor Lorentson: In terms of the bridge and beach skate park, I've had a lot of people ask about that. I note in the report on page 10, Lou, so the upcoming tenders.
00:09:00 So that will be published publicly, just normal procurement process. And expression of interest will be offered easily. Speaker 1: Yes. So that one will follow the standard Council procurement processes. And we'll be looking at that. And that will be commencing shortly after receiving approval for the development application. Thank you. Councillor Wilkie: You mentioned the design team is working on 60 plus projects. How many in the design team? Speaker 1: At a rough . Councillor Wilkie: Sorry. Yes, that's correct. Yes. So we've got , , , and then we've got one . Yes. Councillor Wegener: So there's six staff with . Councillor Wilkie: So they're all working on that, an average of 10 projects each?
00:10:00 Councillor Wegener: And outsourcing as well. Councillor Wilkie: Okay. And would you say that's a manageable workload? Speaker 2: Evidenced by the amount of carryovers in previous years, none. So, you know, if we noted that we've had, you know, an uplift from $20 million up to $50 million. Yes. And noting that that is expected to be sustained over the next three years at least. You know. So that, you know, does require significant outsourcing and, you know, workflow management and process management. So I've been working with the executive on a proposal for next financial year to refine our program and the way we deliver in terms of efficiencies and some more focused resources to assist in better work. Workflow management. Because I think, you know, dealing with a $50 million uplift for one year and then back down to $20 million, you know, is fine. You know, you can deal with an aberration. But when it's continuing to be that level, it requires some reconsideration of how we
00:11:00 organise our design and delivery projects. Speaker 6: So will that, will you be requesting for next year in the budget assistance with staff? Because there's 62 projects and. Speaker 2: Yes. It's a, it's a, so it's a new initiative that will need to be further considered by the executive and also the new council, it's part of the budget. But there's a, some additional resources applied both in terms of direction and leadership to actually coordinate the teams as well as on the ground. So, but the workflows also need to better consider how we more efficiently outsource some of our work. Because a lot of the design projects that we're doing are actually incredibly complex. You know, both like a coastal engineering perspective or a traffic management perspective. And as a, you know, smaller medium organisation, it's actually quite difficult to attract that level of, you know, design talent. And we need to use our staff to enable the process. But, you know, some of the design challenges we're facing would be complex in Sydney or
00:12:00 Melbourne. You know, so, you know, we shouldn't shy away from actually tapping into really good external expertise to lead really good design processes to solve our contemporary problems. It's about workflow management and processes, not just about deployment of resources. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. I'm sure. Thank you. Yeah. Any other questions from the table before I go to the gallery? Councillor Finzel: No. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Karen. Councillor Tom. Any questions from the floor? Speaker 2: No questions. Thank you. All good. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you, Mel and Shaun. I'll ask for a mover and a seconder. Please, Councillor Stewart and for a mover and a seconder. Thank you. Well done. Well done. Speaker 6: Thank you. It's a huge amount of work. It's a lot. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks, Mel. Councillor Wilkie: Mr. CEO, it just seems like record-level capital works programs are near record levels Speaker 4: each year.
00:13:00 Amazing. Yes. It's just continuing. Amazing. And that's, again, it's because of the work that we've undertaken. It's just carried forward because we've had that rivers of gold with the stimulus funding. But now we're also now just continuing to deliver. This is what we've got the capacity to do in terms of the funding coming forward. So we're doing our best now to make sure we resource it appropriately and deliver it. And they're doing a great job. Speaker 5: Fantastic job. Over six months, a level of funding in the form of this case. Wow. That's huge. That's what we have to last. Councillor Wilkie: And then the council is 15, was it? 11, 15. 12 rings of bell. Speaker 5: Somewhere between 12 to 15. 10 to 15. That's a number I'm aware of, yes. Amazing. Yep. Councillor Lorentson: And then you add 30 to 50% in inflation costs. And add the recovery. Disaster recovery. Disaster, yep. Okay, let's move to item or report number 6.2, Lake MacDonald Dam Improvement Project,
6.2 LAKE MACDONALD DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - FEBRUARY 2024 UPDATE ¶
00:14:00 February 2024. I welcome to the desk Ian Williams, hello Ian, and Shaun, thank you, great shirt, we sort of match, I'll throw it to you Ian if you can give us an overview of the report in front of us. Speaker 3: Thank you very much everyone, great to be here, it's on what is going to be a fairly sizeable topic I think for the next four to five years of our Shire for sure. You probably would have heard through the 10th of March obviously that the Minister made an announcement that the Lake MacDonald Dam Improvement Project would begin with works planned for mid-year. So in close consultation here with Shaun we've obviously started the ball rolling internally
00:15:00 and externally. So internally we're going to have a meeting this Thursday with our stakeholders internally and externally next Tuesday the 13th we'll be having our first external meeting or this is the Sec Water meeting. So the first thing to point out here is that Sec Water is obviously the asset holder here, so this is a state government funded project. And all engagement, communication with our community will be led through them. Our interests obviously lie with various points of sensitivity around that to do with the traffic and the disruption that will occur over the next four to five years with other projects namely obviously the thing that is going on with Black Mountain and Kin Kin Quarry and various things that significant amount of truck movement needs to be clarified with our community over time. Where it's going and why it's going. So engagement with our residents has started with Sec Water already and really this is
00:16:00 around obviously the failure risk position of the actual existing dam and the works that are going to happen in that case. So that involves what we call a cofferdam, so that's going to be a dam wall in front of the existing wall, so the construction of that, then the removal eventually of the existing wall. And then putting obviously then a new wall there and then a remover of the old cofferdam. So it's a quite a large and segmented project over a number of time, over amount of time, but it will also involve an awful lot of involvement around works and disruption to our community. Councillor Lorentson: I have a ton of questions, but I'll throw it to the table first. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Ian, can you just highlight the roads that are going to be built, the roads that are going to be built, and whether or not we have an opportunity to request that those
00:17:00 heavy vehicle movements be restricted during school hours, for example? Speaker 2: Can I answer the question? Sure. Come on in. The early indications from SEQ water is that they're intending on using Lake MacDonald Drive and Elm Street to access the Bruce Highway interchange north of Cooroy. But they've also referenced the possibility of also using Gumball Road and Sibiz Road. But we've sought, and this is referenced in the report, is that we're seeking clarity from, this is an approval issued by the Coordinator-General of the Queensland Government, it's called up so it doesn't technically require Council approval. But in the previous approval of 2019 for the previous scope of works, they've referenced that Council would still need to approve various aspects of the proposal, and we're seeking clarity from the Coordinator-General. At the time of drafting this report, we didn't have any further updates, but I understand Richard MacGillivray actually has an update on advice from the Coordinator-General, so yeah. Speaker 7: Yeah, just through the Chair, we've just had conversations with SEQ water regarding
00:18:00 the approval, which was dated 2019. So we're just seeking formal advice back from them now around whether the Coordinator-General approval has been amended or modified since that date. At this stage, verbally, they've said no, they're still relying on the same approval as stated from 2019. So we're just requesting that informal writing, I guess, to make sure that those provisions remain as they originally stated in that 2019 approval. Speaker 2: That 2019 approval seemed to indicate that Council is required to actually approve the actual Traffic Management Plans and the routes, so we can actually have quite a significant say on what we're considering to be the approved routes. And obviously make representations about the hours of operation, because obviously, you know, congestion outside the Cooroy State School is a key issue, you know, and I drive through that site, you know, morning and evening, so I'm well aware of, you know, the intersection
00:19:00 issues at the Lake MacDonald Drive and Elm Street as well. So we need to explore, you know, all options with SEQ water about traffic management and construction management. Does that answer your question, Councillor Wilkie? So there's one. Councillor Wilkie: It does. Yeah. Yeah. So is Noosa Council required to monitor the traffic as well? Yeah. Like if you approve the Traffic Management Plan, then Noosa Council is required to monitor it as well? Speaker 2: Yeah. So we'll, you know, as I said, we're entering into our first discussions internally with all our, you know, relevant stakeholders, and then with SEQ water next week to actually talk about that. But yes, I'd say there would be an expectation for us to monitor both the traffic movements to ensure compliance, as well as obviously monitor damage of the roads, because they'd need to do a, you know, a construction assessment prior to the road, and presumably also maintain the standard of the road through the construction assessment. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. Because we certainly wouldn't be drawn into monitoring and approving something that's adverse to, something we disagree with.
00:20:00 Speaker 2: That's right. Councillor Wilkie: Yeah. That's what you're saying. Meanwhile, when you're saying we've got an opportunity for significant selling in the outcome. Speaker 5: If there are other options that may not have been considered, there is the opportunity to present those and say, well, there may be some roads here that you haven't considered that you might be able to utilise that won't cause disruption or won't go through school areas and things like that. Speaker 2: Yeah. So I think in some earlier discussions, you know, the possibility could, because this is a long project of over a number of years, four years at least. Speaker 5: It's a lot of disruption. Speaker 2: It's a lot of disruption. So, you know, is there the possibility of using Kennedy's Road and, you know, doing some, you know, upgrades to, at the moment, part of it is unsealed construction, other parts of it are basically a four-wheel drive track, you know, but it's actually a direct link through to the dam site. Speaker 5: Kennedy's Road has been utilised by Forestry and is in pretty good shape. Speaker 2: So that is something we can certainly table with SEQ Water, that they should be considering
00:21:00 as part of their traffic management, considering the level of disruption upon, you know, residents along Donald Drive, as well as, you know, the Cooroy State School. Noting that, you know, where Kennedy's Drive comes out, it comes out at Leon Lane and there are residents along there as well. So, you know, there still is going to be some people upset and at that end of the road, it's a very, Leon Lane is a very quiet, you know, you know, no through road, essentially, you know, so they would have major construction traffic going through there. So, I need to be aware that it's not just a simple solution, we have to look at, you know, pros and cons of each, each outcome. Speaker 5: Well, I'm suggesting that all options should be at least on the table to consider and look at, look at the, the advantages and disadvantages of all. Obviously, if Lake MacDonald Drive, for example, is going to be used for heavy haulage and access through the town of Cooroy in any way, shape or form, that will have an impact on the road, the road network through there. We're travelling on state roads, we're travelling on council roads.
00:22:00 One of the implications of that are four years' worth of traffic, you know, heavy haulage traffic through there. One of the results of maintenance, repairs and improvements on that road at the end of the year. Speaker 2: And, and that's why we're keen to actually, we've approached this quite strategically about setting up an internal working group. So, we've got, you know, clear coordination between all the different areas of council involved, whether it's infrastructure, whether it's approvals, whether it's, you know, engagement with the community. And then we're being in a really astute, coordinated manner in our, in our negotiations with SEQ Water and, and our comms. And being very targeted in the way we approach them in a coordinated manner. So, I suppose we've, as, you know, the community disruption arising from the Kin Kin Quarry has been a great learning exercise about how we approach these disruption events better. And we've tried to create a model here that actually deals with disruption events in our community a lot better for the land of Donnelly. Speaker 5: And you know, you've talked about the connection to the north of the highway.
00:23:00 And in theory, folks wouldn't have to come to the Groy down to Groy. Yeah. Speaker 2: As I said, we've only had a, a brief overview of the project. The material that we've referenced on the report is extracted from the SEQ Water website. We haven't actually had an opportunity to go through all of these matters, you know, in detail with SEQ Water. That will happen next week. But we thought it was opportune to present this to council at the earliest opportunity to receive, you know, thoughts and ideas about how we can manage the impacts of this project. Speaker 6: Thank you. 2019 was the original approval. We're in 2023. What community consultation has been undertaken by ACQ Board to residents who will be affected? Ian's the best person to answer. Speaker 3: Sure. So there's been actually pre-dates that, so 2013 was the first engagement. 2019 was the last.
00:24:00 These are just in the form of letterbox drops. There's another one that happened today, which Ken's aware of, which is just the thousand-odd residents that are sort of in that downstream area explaining things are starting. So it's just letterbox drops. The face-to-face engagement starts at a number of six different dates that are set down through February and March, which are all on their website, which, just so you're aware, our customer experience team have that particular link, which is sent through, it's a living FAQ, questions, various things on their website, and they're all on there and that's also listed in the drop that is happening today and tomorrow. So it's just nothing face-to-face, just letterbox at the moment. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Speaker 3: Yeah. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Can I ask, Ian, so four to five years is the anticipated length of this project. Is that worth it? Or is that best-case scenario? Speaker 3: Yeah. So on their website, it has weather permitting with 28, 29 in brackets. Speaker 5: Yeah. Speaker 3: So weather permitting, it's how long is a piece of string, but in relation to our engagement with community, it could, it's certainly going to be, you know, minimum, I would say minimum four to five years.
00:25:00 Councillor Lorentson: So this is going to be a big community piece. Speaker 3: It is. Councillor Lorentson: Yeah. This is going to have some serious impact. Speaker 3: Yeah. And probably in areas that haven't necessarily seen this sort of amount of disruption before, depending on what we end up being as the status quo for, or I should say more of a living plan of what traffic management looks like. Councillor Lorentson: So amenity impact aside, I'm imagining there's also going to be some economic impact with businesses in that precinct and even the gardens, botanical gardens. Is there any proposal to, with SEQ, to offer compensation for that? Speaker 2: So the good thing about the update of the program since 2019, because the 2019 program was a full drain down of the lake, whereas this updated proposal maintains the lake level at a, you know, 40% capacity.
00:26:00 So, you know, they would argue that the visual aspects of the lake are fairly well maintained. So, and they regard that during our recent dry, it was about a metre lower than what we saw in our recent dry. That was 40%. So that's what they regard. Yeah. So they've been careful to point out in their proposal that the, my apologies, that the botanic gardens can still remain open, you know, and can still operate and the like. We have actually had a representative, SEQ Warder, on the stakeholder reference group. My apologies, Councillor, that's my fault. I'm sorry, despite your instructions. Councillor Wilkie: I think the Chair was very specific about that. I know. Speaker 2: So my apologies. Accepted, thank you. So we've got a representative of SEQ Warder on the Noosa Botanic Gardens Master Plan so that we can leverage off that relationship as well. So I think it's probably going to be important, though, in terms of, and I think back to the Brisbane floods, you know, in 2011, not 2022, and to ensure activity in, you know, key areas.
00:27:00 You know, they started a flood off program at Southbank Parklands, you know, you know, come and party, it's flood off. So they tackled the activation program head on, to actually engage people in the space. So I think we're going to have to, in particular with the botanic gardens, to ensure the message is that the gardens are still open, come and enjoy it. We probably need to work with the Friends to ramp up some of the PR to ensure there's business as usual. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Stewart, you had a question? No, I'm done. Councillor Wilkie: One more, please. Councillor Wilkie. Shaun, the dam will be at 42%. Has there been any discussion about its potential to sustain us through a dry period? Like the water supply, how is that going to be ensured? Do we have a backup plan? Speaker 2: Yes, so the water security is one of the reasons that are going for the cofferdam proposal. Because, you know, it's a very reliable water supply, even though it's small.
00:28:00 It has frequent, you know, one good rainfall fills the dam, you know, which is really good. But you have to remember that we also have an intake, or SEQ water has an intake on the Mary River, and brings water from Mary River through to the treatment plant at the Lake MacDonald dam. So that supply will be continued. So we have redundancy now in our water supply in worst case scenario. Speaker 5: Thank you. My question is on the other side. With the dam two metres lower than it normally is, what are the implications for environmental flows downstream in severe events? And the potential for additional flooding in those events? Because we don't have a dam wall holding back the water. The flows will, obviously two metres lower, be flowing downstream. Speaker 2: So our environment staff are in the internal working group. So the approval references the minimum requirement for environmental flows to maintain flows in six month period. I can't technically answer the question. Speaker 5: And the residents downstream have obviously been advised of what's happening.
00:29:00 So they've got... Yeah. It'd be interesting to see what the difference... You know, we're getting back to, I guess, pre-dam levels with... You know, when a creek used to flow through there and flood waters used to flow through there. It's without the... An element of protection of the dam, I suppose, holding back some of the waters. Speaker 2: So our council's environment manager has already tabled that as an issue, environmental flows. And would like to pursue that in discussions with SEQ Water in our first meeting. Speaker 5: Not only worry about environmental flows, but worry about flood waters and residents, clearly residents downstream that may be impacted, that potentially don't get impacted as a result of the dam having, since the dam's holding. Speaker 3: We do anticipate, obviously, there are flora and fauna impacts here, but obviously all covered under SEQ Water's plans. We're also... Speaker 5: I know in discussions that they're well aware of the... Yeah. And the residents have been informed of all the risks. Yeah. It'll be interesting to see what... Not what I'm interested in seeing, but what I'm hoping we never have to see, that there's
00:30:00 an impact downstream as a result of an event during the time that the copper dam is in place. Speaker 2: So they've had to update their evacuation plans through the Local Disaster Management Group, arising from the increased risk profile. And that's almost like a worst case scenario in the event there was a dam failure. And that does indicate, you know, the areas of inundation. And their consultation program has been targeting those specific residents who could expect, you know, a worst case scenario, increased inundation. Speaker 5: It's an element that may not have been considered. What about insurance for those properties downstream? Were their insurance being impacted? Speaker 2: I can't technically answer that question. Speaker 5: Those things are certainly coming into my head. I know I've been talking through this with the LDMG for a while with SEQ Water, but even now, of course, there's still a rise about, you know, what the potential impact of an event as a result of this is going to be. Councillor Wilkie: Council Wilkie. Thank you. I'm fascinated by the process where the fish will be removed.
00:31:00 So, do we have any idea of how that's going to be done? Are they going to be netted? Or what's... Is a purpose-built fish transport vehicle will be used? Speaker 6: How are they going to catch the fish? Not with a scoop. Councillor Wilkie: Not with a scoop, no. Speaker 6: Fishing away. Speaker 2: I don't think there's that many fish there because I go kayaking on the lake and the fishermen don't catch many fish. So, I think we need to be realistic about the number of fish, but we can inquire exactly on the methodology at our first meeting with SEQ Water and be happy to distribute further information. Speaker 5: I think there were some elements of stocking in the lake in the past, but they've probably stopped since the discussion about the... Since the Cod Farm has been ceased operations and since the discussion of the lake level being changed, I'm gathering that fish stocking hasn't occurred for some time. Speaker 2: No, but they are keen to pursue fish ladder and updating the ability for fish to migrate
00:32:00 upstream, to actually access the water body. So, that will improve the performance of this in terms of aquatic fauna in the longer term. Speaker 5: Okay. The fish hatchery has relocated, doesn't it? Has it not? Speaker 2: I don't know the current status of the fish hatchery. Speaker 5: No. I know it was talked about. I know it was talked about closing in the report and I thought it already had because I know the scout grounds there have been closed for some time and they haven't been able to utilise those since this has come into... The plans have come into being. Councillor Lorentson: In terms of the internal staking... Yes. ...stakeholder group. We'll get the opportunity to ask residents that have been impacted from Kin Kin Quarry to Black Mountain Landslip just to get some real insight, advice or feedback and maybe invite them onto this stakeholder group. I always just think, you know, when you live through these disruptions, whether it's noise
00:33:00 or traffic impacts or whatever, there's... I mean, maybe something we're missing and just be great to acknowledge at a minimum that they've gone through this before. Speaker 2: I think the idea of an internal working group was just council staff to ensure... So it's not for the sake of... But what I am thinking, which is a really good idea, is that we can certainly recommend to SEQ Water in their engagement with the residents to expand the scope because we definitely have disaffected residents who have been through significant disruption at Black Mountain and Kin Kin. That they could learn from in their messaging. So I think that would be a very good recommendation to take through to SEQ Water. That they're thinking more broader than just the directly affected people. Speaker 5: I guess once there's an understanding of the number of truck movements likely per day, that would be... Yeah. Agreed. Speaker 7: And if I may, just to Shaun's points, councillors, in Schedule 1 of the Coordinator-General's approval, there's a number of requirements set out that the applicant must fulfil.
00:34:00 And one of those is including the development of a community and stakeholder engagement plan that the Coordinator-General must approve. And that lists a whole range of factors. So we certainly can feed in some of these ideas into that process. So they build it in there to reference some of these other groups to get some feedback on how these disruption events have been managed and handled in the past and how they can get ahead of it with good community engagement and buy into that process. So I'd strongly encourage yourselves to have a look at that document, particularly the Schedule 1, because it outlines all the key documents, including the construction environmental management plans, flora and fauna management plans, community and stakeholder engagement plans, which all need to be prepared in the upcoming months, at least two months before any works happen. So there's a lot of work to be done, still to flesh out some of the detail yet. And obviously that will likely be put up on the website as well as part of the Coordinator-General's requirements as well. So there should be greater awareness of what those things will look like.
00:35:00 Speaker 2: It's a good point, Richard. And we've referenced the link to that Coordinator-General's approval, if you remember. Yeah. Which the community can access as well. Speaker 7: Correct. It's a public document as well, so anyone can have a look through what those requirements are. Speaker 2: It's not an easy document to find, but it is on the public record. Speaker 7: And that's why we thought it would be handy to actually include the link. Fantastic. And just on that point around the road impact assessment, which that requirement does sit with Council, the opponent must, second quarter, must undertake a detailed road impact assessment in confirming the upgrades, roadworks that must be undertaken to get to the required standards. So there will be the opportunity for us to have a closer look at some of those elements as part of that road impact assessment that must be done prior to any works commencing. Speaker 5: The other side of that, if there are remediation works to be undertaken, one would expect that their responsibility would be to return it to the State that it currently is. Does that present an opportunity for Council to partner with Sec Water going forward to
00:36:00 look at what upgrades may be able to be done as part of that work, i.e. widening the roads, cycle lanes that don't exist and the rest of it? Yes, certainly. Speaker 2: And we're really happy to explore that with SEQ Water. This is a long water to see how we can actually get some reasonable outcomes to the community who are, you know, as many of these have been compromised by the project. But, you know, we also have to remember that the project is about securing, you know, water security for Noosa. So, you know, there's a lot of work that needs to be done to make sure that the water is safe. So we should commend SEQ Water for that as well. Absolutely. Councillor Wilkie: We're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Speaker 3: Take all the damned photos you like, Councillor. Councillor Lorentson: And I think on that note, excuse me, I've got a question from the gallery. Councillor Tong, what's your question?
00:37:00 A damning one. Councillor Wegener: Okay, after that. First, Ian, I'm so happy that you're on this project because it is a very good deal. I'm a little bit of a worrywart and so, councillors, I suggest looking at the worst case scenario when it comes to trucks running through Cooroy because it's already gridlocked quite a bit of time. Other times it's not gridlocked at all but there's times of the day where it absolutely is gridlocked and there's just no way a big truck would get through Cooroy at certain times. It would be, it would just create havoc and it would take a long time for one truck to get to the other side holding up the entire project. So I'm just saying, think of, if it's, just because it's going to cost a lot of millions of dollars to buy Kennedy's Road and then put a surface in and do all that, it's probably worth it in the long run because we might end up doing it, you know, way too late. I just, I just, yeah, don't take that off the table. Put Kennedy's Road and any other way to get around Cooroy on, squarely on the table and
00:38:00 think big. Speaker 3: Thanks councillor. Councillor Wegener: Because it's, I think, Cooroy, they'll just lose their minds up there, I think, you know, that and Pomona and all those towns with all that's happening. So I think it's really important. Okay. Speaker 3: Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Finzel, you've got a question yourself. Yes. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you. It's been a good report and it's good to see we're heading towards, you know, water security for our community. Just a question for people that want to engage, like, either as individuals or groups. What's the best step for them to take forward now? Is that through the SEQ website? Correct. Yep. Speaker 3: Yep. And those engagement sessions are now on that, on the website as well. Councillor Finzel: Okay. Speaker 3: So Jason and the team are all aware that that's the way that they do it. Speaker 2: Yeah. That's the most effective way. Yep. If council does receive submissions directly, then we'll channel that through our internal working group and then table that with SEQ at our monthly meeting as well. Councillor Finzel: So if people want to do it through the council process, who, where do they sign on to that?
00:39:00 Speaker 2: We're, as referenced in the report, we'll be, you know, putting a sub page on our website. Yep. So we haven't quite got there yet. But I think the primary message is, because at this early stage of the project planning, it's most important they lodge it directly with SEQ Water and advocate, you know, really strongly their views. Because they're the entity actually undertaking the project. Yep. So rather than us. Yep. We can follow up, but I think it's more important they directly engage with SEQ Water. Councillor Lorentson: So as an advocacy piece, can we put pressure on SEQ to ensure that their comps plan will reach the right people, whether it's the Cooroy Rag or the Noosa today? Yep. Can we put some pressure on them? Because this is, this is, this is really significant, this project. Yeah. So I like the idea of just working with SEQ. Mm-hmm. To let them know.
00:40:00 Yep. Speaker 3: So just an update on that. Just so you're aware, next, on Thursday, Ken and Caroline will be part of the internal meeting group. Okay. But also the external group. Speaker 4: Yep. Speaker 3: So they're both well aware of that. I know that calls, much like they do to me, do creep through. And they will get to you. There's, for instance, we've had some calls in the last week for, so Swift Drive is obviously one that, that's, and you can, as you, for those who know and drive it regularly, you know that that's a Cooroy State School little sidetrack, cut through Swift to get through to Cooroy Noosa Road. So there's already concerned residents with those sort of things too. Yeah. And until we have, we have the size and shape of that and how it can be communicated, but we do have the mechanisms, mechanisms in place in theory to get that, that done. Yeah. Yeah. But we'll keep, we'll update you as we go. For sure. Speaker 4: Can I just, can I maybe finish questions, but just to summarise for those listening and those in the community. This is a, this is a state. Yeah. Project.
00:41:00 Yeah. SEQ water project. Yeah. Our job in this is to try to, is to make, potentially at this point in time, is to manage the, the traffic plans and influence or, or, or at least try to support our community as best we can. Yeah. In terms of disruption. But we can't take away from the fact that this is the security of our water going forward. And this is a necessary project because that dam wall and what's wearing, that wall is, is, you know, under some, some duress and we need to, we need to make sure that that Speaker 5: gets repaired. Yeah. Speaker 4: And we just need to, we just now need to work out the best way and support our community as best we can. So I think we just need to keep that, that front of mind. Yeah. That it's, that's, that's where we sit in the, in the scheme of things. Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: And forgive me if I've missed it in the report, but this is, this work is just to shore up the dam wall. It's not to increase the capacity of the dam. Speaker 2: There's no proposal to increase the capacity of the dam.
00:42:00 Yeah. Councillor Wilkie: At this, at. So we're sure that the dam lasts for another. Doesn't collapse. Yes. Another year. Yeah. Yes. The water levels won't change. No. Speaker 3: That's, that's how I understand it. One in 500,000 year event is what they've tabled it as. Councillor Lorentson: Wow. Any more questions from the gallery or the table? No. Okay. Ask for a move on. Councillor Gerritsen. Councillor Stewart. Second. No discussion. All in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Speaker 6: Thank you Richard. Thank you. Thank you Richard. Councillor Lorentson: So that's it. That's it. So there is no confidential sessions. Thank you very much. Speaker 2: Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. So now. Councillor Lorentson: Excuse me. Can I ask a quiet please. We're live streaming please. There is no confidential session. So I now declare the meeting closed.
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.