SPECIAL MEETING - 6 November 2024 Transcript

2.1 DRAFT NOOSAVILLE FORESHORE INFRASTRUCTURE MASTERPLAN - ENDORSEMENT FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ¶

▶ 00:00:40· Carried 5-2 · 1 division from council's minutes

00:01:00 Speaker 2: Thank you. That would be great. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you. The Minister of Council respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and the waters of the Noosaville area, the Kabi Kabi people and pays respect to their elders past, present and emerging. So what we'd like to talk about is the draft Noosaville foreshore infrastructure master plan and the concept designs for resilience. This is the presentation of the special meeting today. The agenda for today is why a master plan? Listening to the community and key topics. Have your say in further opportunity. I'd like to play a video that we produced for the project. Thank you.

00:02:00 Speaker 3: We come down here most days and we just love it like this. Most weekends, come down the river with the dog, just go for a walk, watch the sun set. Speaker 4: We've heard your views and are working on a simplified revised master plan that protects and preserves what you love most about the Noosaville foreshore. We know this 2km long public space is cherished by locals and we are committed to keeping it that way. I just want to enhance what's there. So why do we need a master plan? Our beloved foreshore is facing challenges. Timber walls by the river are collapsing. We're looking at over $10 million in the coming decades. To maintain and repair playgrounds, upgrade paths, replace old storm water pipes and erosion and extreme weather events are also threatening the space.

00:03:00 A master plan helps map out future work and gives us the ability to seek external funding to make things happen. Mayor Wilkie: It's a 2km long recreational area that's so loved by everyone. The river gives us the love that it deserves and the attention that it deserves. And proper planning is all part of that. Speaker 4: This master plan aims to create a vision for the next 20 plus years while keeping the vibe and character for generations to come. Your input will help shape that vision and we're excited to get your thoughts when the revised draft plan is released for comment in November. Speaker 2: Thanks, thank you. So in summation, why a master plan? These points highlight the need for the master plan similar to what was expressed in the video production.

00:04:00 You know, particularly around the $10 million in asset renewals and maintenance costs that we're going to face moving forward. And, you know, really to address some of the infrastructure that's above the ground and below the ground that we currently have. Along the foreshore. We also have, we need to manage the threats of, you know, erosion and inundation that we're facing on the foreshore. And we want to attract external funding and attract and retain local investment. It's really important that we work with businesses along the foreshore. And attract, you know, investment around that area. So, and finally we just want to enhance the living room. We want to make sure that we have the mobility and community wellbeing that everyone enjoys. Director Walsh: And if I could just reinforce that some of those opportunities for improvements are like very few of the shelters at the moment are disabled.

00:05:00 And a master plan, you know, reinforces that opportunity so that when we invest money we actually provide disabled compliant facilities. Most of our stormwater pipes down there don't have any pollution devices on them. So they discharge untreated, you know, stormwater into the river. The master plan embeds, you know, the opportunities to actually enhance, you know, stormwater treatment to actually help protect the river. So these are the sorts of things which are really important to claim for that area. Thank you. Speaker 2: So listening to our community, we've got to summarise this within kind of eight key topics. This is in response to the draft master plan that we went out in June. So we've listened to the community. And we've changed. And they were really around the pathway network, the playgrounds, the tennis court, boat ramp facility, car parking, public amenities and changing places, beach nourishment and revegetation, concrete and structures.

00:06:00 So I'm going to run through those eight topics. And then it's really the first is what the community said and then how we've updated this revised draft master plan. So the pathway network, most of the respondents use the foreshore for walking. This was really, you know, vocalised through our kind of conversations with the community and through the Have Your Say. So we're providing a continuous shaded shared pathway along most of the two kilometre foreshore length. We facilitate for future connections beyond. So we, you know, we plan for connections through to Noosa Heads and Tewantin. We establish a pathway hierarchy, ensuring safe, inclusive shared pathways of high legibility. We also forge safer, convenient connections for shopping, parking, public transport.

00:07:00 And we utilise tree plantings to ensure a well shaded pathway experience. So here's a plan of the revised draft master plan. Again, around the pathways, it's all around a safe, connected, inclusive, accessible Noosaville foreshore. The next topic is playgrounds. Many of the respondents wanted additional and improved playgrounds. So Pirate Playground will be retained as the main playground node. This will be upgraded and expanded to more accessible, inclusive elements as well as traditional play equipment. It provides for inclusive all abilities and a wide demographic range of recreational play experiences.

00:08:00 It also introduces additional small recreational play nodes across the foreshore. So beyond this Pirate Playground, we'll also have these other smaller recreational playgrounds. Director Walsh: This is a view, you know, we've been at length to actually express the master plan as sort of a simpler, more relaxed graphic treatment, which reflects the vibe of what we want to achieve. And if you think about the video and the way people are enjoying the spaces, these sketches try to exemplify that. This shows the pathway winding past the beach with accessible pathways down to the beach. And in the backdrop, you can see, you know, a revised Pirate Playground. With improved shade structures. When you look at it in more detail, there's a replication of the traditional play or, you know, the conventional play equipment you tend to see. But then supplemented with all abilities, playground equipment, as well as nature play, which is a really significant trend. And you can see the before and after photo.

00:09:00 It's meant to enhance the quality of what's already there. Speaker 2: In the future when we do design, we will again work with the community, the mums and bubs, the families. You know, disability advocates and ensure that we achieve a result that we set out within the strategy. The tennis court. Many of the respondents expressed to retain the tennis. So we've retained the tennis court and we're looking to diversify the sports activities played on the facility, a multi-court function. Provide a new spectator pavilion and sports lockers for equipment. We facilitate for improved accessibility, sustainability and community wellbeing. We celebrate the foreshore heritage and it's part of the cultural walk. We enhance the visual amenity in the foreshore landscape character around the tennis court as well. Director Walsh: This is a sketch which shows the, you know, the pathway experience between the Obonahue and the tennis courts.

00:10:00 And the idea of putting in a new spectator pavilion. And interestingly enough, in discussions with the tennis club, they indicated that's where the original pavilion was. Because it's on the centre line of the tennis court. It also allows us, by relocating their structure to this location, allows us to have a much wider path down the other side of the tennis court. So that people are really encouraged to continue walking right beside the river, rather than on the other side of the toilet blocks at the moment. So it really helps open that area up. Again, really focusing on the existing character. But with some enhancements which actually improve the amenity and appeal of the area. Speaker 2: And through discussions with the Noosaville Tennis Club, they were very much in support of what was proposed and discussed. Mayor Wilkie: The boat ramp facility. Speaker 2: Many of the respondents expressed both to retain and remove the boat ramp. As such, though, we have retained and enhanced both the land

00:11:00 and proposed to enhance the land and waterside boat ramp facilities. This includes permeable paving, tree plantings to create cooler spaces. We also want to enhance the shared pathway for pedestrian safety and wayfinding around the facility. We want to provide improved resilience and biodiversity to the river. We also want to enhance the visual amenity and foreshore landscape character again. Director Walsh: This essentially shows the area of the boat ramp, which is essentially retained in a very similar configuration. But the master plan acknowledges that we can actually work to actually improve the on-water facilities, such as the pontoons and jetties, because discussions both with Maritime Safety Queensland and various boaties acknowledged that if we had different structures, more contemporary structures, we'd get higher turnover rather than unduly causing delays at those boat ramps. And hopefully creating more capacity at the boat ramp.

00:12:00 So this sets us up for a detailed design exercise to work with all the boating, and the boat ramps to actually increase the efficiency of that structure. The planning does show a very wide and shaded path alongside the boat ramp adjacent to different terrains. One of the key public safety issues that we're dealing with is people walking through the boat ramp area and creating a beautiful context. And by encouraging a wide shaded path through that area, that makes it the primary source of movement so people think, All this as we walk around the program through a really pleasant, wide-channel experience which really accommodates pedestrians, cyclists, slow-moving cyclists and the location. Speaker 2: Yeah, it should be noted that we did have many interactions with the Boating and Fishing Alliance representatives to try to enhance the facility in order to change and redirect, but we ended up maintaining that current layout.

00:13:00 The car parking. Most respondents had a strong desire to retain car parking across the foreshore. As such, we reinstate car parking along the foreshore with a revised car park master plan. We provide additional PWD spaces for disability. The only change to that is that we're proposing to convert approximately 10 spaces on Gimby Terrace alongside the boat ramp, which we convert to 16 scooter spaces. This facilitates that shared and shared pathway. Director Walsh: Again, I've sort of already talked about the shared and shared pathway, but whilst we accept the community views about retaining car parking, we think the safety and amenity issues alongside the boat ramp really deserve a reconsideration of the community in this specific location to provide a comfortable, wide path around the boat ramp. Because we also had a lot of respondents in the community who talked about the need for wider paths and the concerns around the vehicle in the boat ramp.

00:14:00 And there was also some people in the community who wanted the boat ramp to go. So we're trying to provide a design which actually marries or reconciles lots of the community views for the benefit of safety. And in terms of emerging transport, we know Noosaville people love their scooters and their motorbikes. And we think this proposal would be valuable if available by replacing the car park with scooter spaces. It actually provides a way of the future in terms of mobility in Gimby. Speaker 2: This also facilitates for a consistent shared pathway for the length of the foreshore. So from Chaplin Park right through to the eastern extensive side. Public amenities and changing places. Respondents have a strong desire to see an additional 12 o'clock facility proposed at Boathart.

00:15:00 As such, the proposed amenities and changing places and facilities is to be retained. And we cater and care for those vulnerable in our community. The design of the new amenities is currently underway for the community with the master plan informing the design intent. This leaves us with equally spaced amenities. Director Walsh: The yellow box there shows the approximate location of the toilet box, which is halfway between the toilet box. So we've engaged design architects who are starting to work on the designs. We know this is a very popular part of the proposal. And we also know that it's a program which is actually already forecast for grant funding under council's take on funding programs.

00:16:00 Speaker 2: Another key topic was beach nourishment and re-vegetation. The respondents told us that maintaining sidelines and access through the beach was important. Council currently carries out regular beach nourishment and work and we acknowledge that this should continue to protect the area and to retain its natural look. The reintroduction of grass slopes to high use areas along the foreshore in combination with the low planting areas is proposed. So we are maintaining and enhancing key access and sidelines to and from the river. And we improve also the nature based stormwater management. Director Walsh: This is a sketch which shows a grass area. And the proposal, as you can see in the sketch, is that there are still significant grass areas. But they are supplemented with ramps which make it easier for people with less ability to actually access the foreshore.

00:17:00 And then also low planting, which we think, as well as improving erosion, actually also complement the natural character that you are after. So in that area. None of that planting structures were used. Speaker 2: Concrete and structures. So we heard that the respondents loved the natural, relaxed vibe of the foreshore and high landscape character. So we intend to maintain the natural look and feel of the foreshore by significantly reducing new paved areas. Mayor Wilkie: And focusing on upgrading existing areas as they reach their end of life. Speaker 2: We wanted to celebrate the heritage and character. With the pitched roofs, weatherboard, facades, picnic tables, open grass areas, wall shaded pathways. An informal part of nature. And shady trees down the water. Similar to what it is today. Director Walsh: We just pulled an excerpt from the plan.

00:18:00 But you can see that the wider part graciously weaves through existing trees and all the activity areas such as the genies and the boats. And then off those paths are new shelters which are frequently accessible by pass. Which allow disabled access to those areas. But you know, it's also important for us to make sure that we have access to those areas. So it's almost like taking the existing character of the foreshore. But applying a new lens on it in terms of looking to the future. To provide safer, higher amenity. But you know, really respecting the character of the existing layout of the parkway. This shows just sort of, you know, one of the areas we just wanted to point out is that we know people love celebrating this particular space. You know, with lawns dropping down to the middle of it. And we just wanted to point out that you know, this is the aim of this is to retain those sorts of character in those areas. Perhaps with, you know, or perhaps in this case with the wide path. And you know, some, you know, shelters which capture the character of the existing ones.

00:19:00 But obviously in relation to the age of the timber. Speaker 2: In summary. Extensive foreshore improvements of new and upgraded park features in the area. And new features and elements have been undertaken for well over a century. Council has a hand in facilitating improvements and upgrades across the foreshore. Which has helped to make it the beautiful place it is. Director Walsh: If I just want to note that, you know, part of the success of the business of the foreshore is in particular the infrastructure process of cleaning by incident. Which has provided the pathway for all the shelters and all the retaining walls. And that's why we love it. But it's time to refresh that. Because it's the age that they need to know. And set a common direction for the community. Speaker 2: And that deep history we want to embrace. And introduce cultural walks. And really celebrate that heritage of the local foreshore.

00:20:00 So your say, another opportunity. So half your say goes live from the 15th of November to the 15th of December. Just over four weeks. I'm going meetings with key stakeholders and partners. I'm going meetings with key stakeholders and partners. And I want to make sure that the events will continue. Video and back sheets. Community releases will also be out in public. We intend to undertake four short pop ups. Mayor Wilkie: Walking tours. Coffee chats. With the community. We have project flyers and cold food boards. To go down and help inform so the community really understands what we were proposing. We also have radio, newspaper and social media posts. Speaker 2: Once the feedback is received from the your say and your say, please take your place. Mayor Wilkie: We will again revise and re-present for a further review and endorsement of all the initiatives. Thank you Ian. Thank you Dan, thank you Shaun. Any questions councillors?

00:21:00 Nicola. Councillor Wilson: The last draft that went out was the 80% complete draft. What percentage would you say this latest revised draft is? Director Walsh: Well, 80% complete draft is a technical term used in the architectural landscape of architecture in our world. So it was probably inappropriate to use that reference because it certainly led to a lot of confusion. The next version will be as complete as it needs to be to satisfy council and any community views. So that's probably a fair question. In terms of the content, if you could just... In terms of the volume of the master plan and the details behind it, it is technically 80% complete. But this is why we go back to the community again to make sure that we've got it there. What we're anticipating is that once we get views back from the community, we'll revise the lines on the map, we'll revise text in the document, perhaps introduce some new ideas.

00:22:00 But it should look about the same size as what we've got there at the moment. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. I just have a couple of questions. In the detail, if that's all right, just with the car parks. When we spoke about car park being one of the topics of the community board in that last round. In this document, it looks like near Ogo, just near the tennis courts, that that... Deputy Mayor Stockwell: We're in a special meeting, so candidates should be standing in line. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. Yes. All right. Thanks for the reminder. Thank you. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Councillor Phillips: In relation to the Ogo car park near the tennis courts, please. We spoke about 10 losses near the boat ramp. But in this image, it looks like there could be some loss in the little inlet near the Ogo toilet block, tennis courts. Can you just explain that to me any time?

00:23:00 Speaker 2: Yeah, sure. Yeah, we'd have to look at that. But I don't see that there is a loss there. What we wanted to do was provide for disability spots there, next to the amenities. So that's kind of shown. And also for Ogo's, that kind of commercial operation to continue. But we can review if there's any additional spots there that seem to be lost. Yeah. We won't propose them to lose, yeah, any spots in that area. Councillor Phillips: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Another question about the car parking on, just to give me some more information around the ones off the boat ramp. My understanding is to create a wider path for wheelchair access, something like that. Is there opportunity, because of the trees that I can see are being planted, is there

00:24:00 any way that there isn't loss of car park on that stretch where we're proposing that there's no white house? Speaker 2: We had an extensive look at the design of that particular area. Mayor Wilkie: We went through a whole regime of different layout changes and how we could really, to Speaker 2: the point where if we could move the boat ramp further, but it was just impractical. And you only have a limited amount of space there. And currently we've got, when you look at the width, you can't leave the boat ramp for five minutes of asphalt to asphalt to asphalt. When you consider the road, the pathway, and the boat ramp. So we did go through a range of scenarios to try to maintain those car parks. But if we want to respect our walking and cycling master plan and our primary footpath, you know, we needed to, something that could give.

00:25:00 So it was the car parking, but we felt we've found we've compromised with the scooter parts. Because we know that providing the scooter parts, it means one less scooter taking up the car space as well, which is very efficient. Director Walsh: If I may add to that, Chair, the 3.5-minute width is actually what's recommended by engineering standards. And we know we have significant problems with conflicts between passing cyclists and family groups and the like. So having that 3.5-minute width is not just for wheelchair users, it's for every user to actually use. And I think the trees are a really important element to making it attractive for people to actually not walk through the boat ramp. You know, because that's creating delays in the boat ramp, and also creating safety issues. So the more attractive we can make and save for that wide path, the more I think we think the conflict issues will be resolved and we'll be much more successful at that.

00:26:00 Councillor Phillips: Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: I have a question. A couple of questions in relation to consultancy fees and perhaps questions to the CEO. I've got the report in front of me and I just wanted some clarity. So the cost of the first draft released in June was $336,305. Those costs were subsidised by a $100,000 grant. And then further down it says the re-drafting of the plan following Council's resolution in 18 July is $336,305. That is budgeted for an additional $209,401. So can I ask the question, what is the total cost? Director Walsh: To the Chair, that is actually the total cost. Councillor Lorentson: Sorry. Director Walsh: That includes, yeah, it's both those sums added together, the $336,305 plus the $209,000 a second. So the thing I will note about that figure is that includes consultancy costs, but also

00:27:00 the staff costs. And also all of our staff costs. And then also all of our, the costs that are catalogued such as community engagement, which can be expensive, like PayPal, etc. Because these type of costs are catalysed which means operating costs of the organisation are actually attributed to the overall asset programme and then depreciate over time so they don't impact the private accounts as people are operating on the budget. Councillor Lorentson: So the total cost is $545,706 and that includes the $100,000 that was subsidised by the grant Director Walsh: So it would be the $200,000 to the $300,000 plus the $200,000 to the $200,000, so if your compilations are correct, it seems to be quite correct. Councillor Lorentson: And just one further question to the CEO. How does Council fulfil their obligation to ensure that consultation fees are transparent and deliver value for money? Is there clear reporting structures? How can community understand or see that the fees are justified and being allocated for the right purposes?

00:28:00 For instance, we had a list before of all the engagement from pop-ups to media to fact sheets. Can community or even councillors access those costs? Not the costs. I don't know. I couldn't find costs. Two figures in the report. Mayor Wilkie: You're referring to the... Director Walsh: Those costs and total costs. Oh yes. Versus... Oh. Compounded with those costs. Start costs. Mayor Wilkie: Yeah. Director Walsh: Okay. So... Councillor Lorentson: So is that information available? Director Walsh: So I'd need to defer to transparency, you know, throughout the process. So all our works in this nature don't take up so many of the choices that go into that. You know, we're only going to talk about those for the tender process.

00:29:00 So are those consultants selected in these various criteria, including price, quality, reputation and the like? Those subject to recommendations which come through to the CEO and subject to significant scrutiny. They're also subject to, you know, counsellors' early audit and processes to ensure that they've undertaken the appropriate procurement. It is difficult sometimes to share exact costs of consultants because they're not necessarily I'm not going to go into the details of this because we're dealing sometimes with commercial confidence and the like and not wanting to give no competitiveness and an upper edge on the cost of the submitted. But I can assure Council that the consultant selected was actually at the bottom range of costs that were submitted as part of the tender process. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Well councillors I'll move the recommendation which is to the council note the report by the Acting Director of Infrastructure Services to the special meeting dated 6 November. And note the feedbacks received from previous community consultation on the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan has informed a significantly revised approach.

00:30:00 And B, endorse the draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan for a final round of community consultation for the period 15 November 2020. He will report to 15 December 2024. May I have a second please? Thank you Councilor Wegener. A second. Councilors, today through this motion we are acknowledging that community feedback has shaped a different draft master plan. We're also seeking to release this new draft for further community input. It's worth noting that, like the previous draft, it contains only proposed ideas, not the expectation of his finalies,

00:31:00 All councillors and key staff remain committed to listening and finalising a plan that respects our community's connection with and love for the Noosaville foreshore and it's earnestly hoped that our community will see their feedback reflected in this revised draft plan and that they feel it was a worthwhile process. Many of the ideas received seek to significantly improve on the first draft, such as the idea of leaving Pirate Park in its current location and including not replacing it with a natural play area, like not replacing the tennis court but increasing public use of it by upgrading it over time into a multi-use court, possibly also for basketball and pickleball. On-road car parks are proposed to remain virtually unchanged. Instead of improving pedestrian safety through two separate foot baths running the length of Gympie Terrace, which would have involved removing on-road parking in

00:32:00 the narrower strip of parkland east of the Thomas Street boat ramp, it's been proposed to achieve a similar result by having one wider, engineering-compliant shared footpath in the narrow sections. The boating and fishing community are very strong on wanting the layout of the boat ramp to remain untouched and this has been proposed to stay as is. I must flag that in order to fit a wider, safer and shady path around the boat ramp in this narrow section, it is proposed to convert 10 car parks into 16 motorcycle or motor scooter parks. As motorbikes and scooters can legally take up a car space, it is hoped that locating more numerous smaller motorbike parks here will free up more spaces for cars elsewhere along Gympie Terrace. And if you see motorcycles as also motor vehicles, we have actually increased the number of parks

00:33:00 for vehicles along the foreshore. This draft makes it clear that views to the river will not be blocked by any raised banks as feared and that there will be gentle slopes planted with grass to the water's edge in well-used areas and low plantings to beautify and help protect against erosion. The boardwalk proposed to be built over the rock wall at the eastern end of Gympie Terrace is now drafted to end at Howard Street and continue on through Howard Street instead of continuing along to William Street as originally drafted. This proposed shortening is in direct response to residents concerns about impacts on their amenity. A proposed wider footpath between Howard and William Street is intended to enable safer and more inclusive pedestrian access if approved. On street parking in this area will be built on the road to the other side of the road,

00:34:00 and the intersection is proposed to be flipped to the other side of the road to allow this to occur. Along with the community members who took the time to respond, I like to thank and commend all councillors and the Keefe staff who have not ceased working in good faith to listen to our community and help shape this draft master plan. When finalised it will enable council to apply for the $10 million plus in external funding needed for the upkeep and improvements on this two kilometre long strip of parkland over the next 20 years, so it can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come despite predicted increases in storm intensity and frequency, heavier public use and increased wear and tear on the infrastructure. Our collective commitment to listen and create an effective master plan that reflects the community's strong connection to the Noosaville foreshore, will continue long beyond this next phase of community consultation. We encourage everyone

00:35:00 to view the revised draft. Please let us know what you think, either via the Your Say portal, online survey, at community pop-ups, by email, phone call, or contact your councillors directly and arrange to meet with us in person. We will be happy to meet with you face to face. The Noosa community is rich in knowledge and good ideas, and absolutely necessary for the community to help us create a shared vision for the Noosaville foreshore we can all be proud of. Thank you. Any further questions or would like to speak to the motion? Councillor Finlayson. Councillor Finzel: Thank you through the chair. I do thank you for the report today, and in respect of the person at the table. I just have a general question relating to infrastructure, in terms of power, co-op, and infrastructure. I have a general question relating to infrastructure, and I think it relates to cables, in the interest of businesses and residents that belong

00:36:00 there, with regarding inundation and flooding and things like that. Can you just give us an overview of how that will be managed in the future? Director Walsh: As we've always said in the master plan, this is the first stage, which is framework of the school, as usual. Each of the precincts will be subject to detailed design. Sometimes we'll be in charge of that, and sometimes we'll be the developer operations, but that's only across the street. That we need to consider options. Infrastructure resilience is going to be a critical issue with that inundation. And I'm also conscious that we have some really ugly power poles and other infrastructure on there. So we'd be really keen to explore as part of the detailed design, what improvements can be made to both the resilience of the infrastructure, to withstand weather events, and also seeing the amenity. And we'd be happy to pursue discussions with any individual handler that wants to consider that more detail. Thank you. Councillor Phillips: I have another question before we close on from that, please, around the inundation.

00:37:00 When the modelling for the foreshore has been done, can I have some information about the risk to the North Shore, given if we make changes to the foreshore? Please. Director Walsh: I probably can speak generally, but I can refer to Shane. So one of the ways we've approached the news of the foreshore is not filling it, you know, because an easy way to make the foreshore more resilient is to actually fill it, you know, create floor levels above the foreshore. But this plan doesn't propose that. It proposes to actually keep the natural levels as is, which means that, you know, it's going to be sort of subject to inundation. The benefits Councillor Lorentson: of that is it prevents catchment flooding and does not make the problem worse anywhere Director Walsh: else. So it's sort of like an inherent design restraint by not filling it, that we're actually protecting the balance of this sort of catchment from an under-effects. But I'm happy to defer

00:38:00 to Shane, who's got significant data on the size of the inundation. Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree with a lot of Sean's comments. I agree with that. But the solutions that were proposed and modelled by our consultants, all of you know, in this space, more coastal engineering and flood engineers, showed that the solutions that have been proposed in this master plan should not increase risks to other areas around the least of the rest of the area. So that was considered as part of the multi-criteria assessment for options for resilience. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 3: Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. A question that was posed to me recently, why did the foreshore management plan take priority over the destination management plan and which one should it come first and now that the foreshore management plan is in place, will the DMP need to be adjusted to align with its goals and priorities?

00:39:00 Director Rawlings: Thank you for that question. It was, as councillors will know, a difficult decision around how we would juggle these couple of really important projects. The feedback through the last consultation period for the municipal foreshore master plan was far more than probably anticipated. So... We re-routed as an organisation and councillors were involved in those conversations to consider which projects need to proceed given that they all require consultation.

00:40:00 We also had feedback from our community that they do not want multiple projects out there at the same time, complex projects or projects that are of scale, that are of interest to the Royal Shire and also potentially impact it. Both of these projects, the municipal foreshore, which is incredibly significant and loved by everyone in the Shire and so does the destination management plan, have that level of interest. So we had to make a call and given that there was a really high level of engagement in this and we were part way through, the collective decision was to proceed and finish this project which meant a delay to the DMP. Okay. The DMP, in terms of alignment, the DMP will absolutely consider all of the contemporary feedback from the community around a range of issues.

00:41:00 You know, the issues the DMP are considering, whether it's traffic, movement, access to important places or iconic places, are all issues that were considered or featured in the notice of the foreshore master plan. So it's a very contemporary information, very contemporary feedback from our community which will be considered as part of the DMP. Absolutely, thank you very much. Mayor Wilkie: Any other councillors wish to speak to the motion or more questions? Councillor Phillips: Just another question, just to fix some clarification on the numbers that Councillor Lorentson has spoke on. The proposed final round of council... Isn't this going to be a final round? I thought we were going again. But this consultation from the 15th of November to the 15th of December, is that included in the funding that's already been allocated? Speaker 2: Yes, it is. Okay. And this will be the final round of community consultation. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay.

00:42:00 Speaker 2: Yeah. Mayor Wilkie: Credit councillors, would you speak to the motion? Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Lorentson. I'll speak to the motion. Okay. I'm genuinely pleased with the progress that we've made and I reckon... I recognise that we're still not there yet. This final round of community consultation on the draft plan is a critical opportunity to ensure our community's input and vision are accurately represented. So I encourage everyone to please let us know what matters most to you. Do you support the overwater structures? Would you like more information on what in fact are the boat ramp improvements? Do you agree with removing any car parking? Have we allocated enough disability parking? Should we clarify or give you more certainty around the slipway? And would you like forecast modelling on inundation levels

00:43:00 or additional details on our climate change response made clearer? So I want to thank the residents and the business owners and the members of the Noosaville and Fishing Alliance who have already shared a lot of their feedback to us. Your input is invaluable, so please keep it coming. Consultation. Consultation, and this is just my opinion, should be more than just community buy-in or having your say. In my view, consultation is about a partnership, a partnership between Council and the community. This process should be about respect, it should be about collaboration, and it should be about honouring the trust our community has placed in us. This is our plan, this is our park, and it's our investment. So again, please continue to share your thoughts. Remember that this is a draft, and we are open to your input

00:44:00 and ready to amend and refine the plan based on your feedback. Finally, I'm deeply grateful to our community who throughout this term have guided us on the best ways to engage, reminding us of the importance of meaningful engagement, the importance of public participation, the importance of local knowledge, heritage, and evidence-based decisions that truly reflect community values. Again, I encourage our community to stay engaged, hold us accountable, and help us understand how we can best listen to you. Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to our dedicated staff who have honestly worked so hard on this final draft. Their hard work has been essential in reaching this stage, and I'd like to acknowledge and thank you for that.

00:45:00 We are all in this together, staff, councillors, and community, and I believe we are on the right path, with valuable lessons learnt to guide us forward. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Morrison. Councillor Kinzer. Councillor Finzel: Yes. Yes, thank you. I'd like to... I'll be quick because I know there's a lot of things to do. Firstly, big gratitude to our community that engaged really proactively in this space. It's wonderful to see this collaboration between community, staff, and councillors. You know, community has called for action. I think there has been a call to action. We've responded. I think what is good that we have proven leadership through ability by our capability and capacity to be able to take on board the feedback from our community, which was taken on board, taken seriously, and considered carefully. So I think we've come here to table... round the table today to show that we are responding

00:46:00 and adapting. To future challenges that face our community. Moving forward to listen to what people have to say and adapt, take on board, and together we are stronger. I think this is a really good indication of this term that collectively how we have taken on board what everyone has said, and together we've been able to work hard with everyone involved, listen to your voices, and present back to community a draft that we understand is not fully, completely, exactly that everyone has specifically asked for, but we have attempted to the best of our ability engaging everyone's voices to come back to the table and together we can have another look at this, let us know if we've missed something, if there's something significant that you would like to further contribute to. Council is open for business.

00:47:00 We are outward facing and listening to our community, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor. Thank you. Any other councillors wish to speak to the motion? I'll wait. Councillor Phillips. Councillor Phillips: I'll be very brief. Firstly, I also want to thank the committed staff who have listened to me and the other councillors with my many, many questions in all the workshops. So thank you. You've shown patience and understanding. And I do hope the community sees that you've listened and revised the plan to reflect maybe more closely to what they have asked for. This new draft, it's certainly a big improvement on the first. I'll give it that. In fact, I tried to put a mindset when I looked at it if this was the first draft I was seeing rather than what we've dealt with through the year.

00:48:00 So I did try to put that lens on. And fundamentally, I kept coming back to a point that I wanted to raise that it's our responsibility to spend ratepayers' money wisely. So I do hope now we go out for final consultation, if we do, if this is endorsed. And I hope that community have a say. They've obviously voiced how this part of the Shire is near and dear to so many people. If this is the final round, then I do hope they take the time to give us every bit of detail so we get it right. And I'm just going to end with something that I overheard when I was recently down river. And it was someone that said, oh, Noosa, it's at least 10 years behind Melbourne. And in my mind, I smirked. And thought, and I hope we always are.

00:49:00 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Phillips. I'm going to wave my... Did you wish to speak, Councillor? Yes. Yes. Go on, Councillor Wilson. Councillor Wilson: Thank you for your report and all your work on this plan. I'll start with the importance of community consultation. Sorry about my croaky voice. Both the process to date and the next round coming up. I was first aware of the plan about six weeks into my term on council, so it wasn't really across the process that had led to the draft that was published in May this year, other than the initial engagement in 2023 that said, don't change it. We love it the way it is. Fix the broken bits and add some more toilets. So personally, I wasn't surprised at the content and volume of the feedback that we received in June, particularly around parking and our most accessible, safe, flat place to walk, gather and play. My interpretation of community sentiment based on that was, we're at point A, we need to make a few tweaks and get to point B.

00:50:00 But the draft released in May I think took us somewhere else, so let's call it point T. I think this latest draft now takes us back to point B or maybe C. And the main positives that the community has expressed so far are really the parts that put us back to where we started with the parking, the tennis court and Pirate Park. But the process we've taken in getting back there has been very thorough and I commend the staff and the consultants for their tireless work over these last few months to gather feedback, talk to stakeholders, rework the draft plan, brief counsellors and present options in multiple workshops. But I do believe that those workshops may be focused on those key themes that we saw in the report and possibly missed some of the other feedback that was expressed as well. I did express my concerns along the way on the timing of this process and felt we were rushing towards a deadline so that this final round of engagement could happen before the end of the year. I also thought that the amount of feedback

00:51:00 and depth of issues deserved a longer time to work through and make the changes really clear. However, with my finance hat on, we also had to balance the cost of undertaking further work, not just in the additional fees paid to consultants as we've heard about, but the many, many workforce hours for council staff and executives as well as counsellors. It's my understanding this wasn't necessarily a priority plan at the start, but it's taken priority this last few months to the detriment of other important work. So we need to ensure we get value for money for all of that work in arriving at the next final draft. At this stage, this document doesn't feel like a master plan to me but rather a stepped change of the last draft to this draft. A summary of the feedback, some clarification of proposed changes that are not necessarily that clear in the drawings. If we move into this final round of consultation, I ask the community to please make sure you use it. Go to the pop-ups, have chats with counsellors, ask questions.

00:52:00 This latest draft is deliberately shorter and easier to digest. The drawings are abstract and there's much less detail. So if you wanted to compare the two drafts side by side, you'd see there are gaps. So if there's a specific item that you had strong feelings about, it may not be clear whether it's still included in the latest draft plan. So please ask. I still have concerns about the cost to go from A to B via T. I'm pleased that this latest draft reflects what the community has asked for on some key issues, but think there are some more issues to resolve before this can be a plan we can all call our own. So I do want to reiterate that this is still a draft. It's not perfect or finished. The community can continue to give feedback, suggest changes and ask questions over the next month. The master plan is a vision for the foreshore over 20 years and there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved in the detailed plans as each project is funded and designed over the years.

00:53:00 Nothing will change immediately. This process has been an important lesson in engaging community along the way and checking in before major decision points and major costs. So that we go from point A to B without diversions. When we solve problems together, we can find the best solution. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Wilson. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Perhaps the most important point in this revised plan is the vision. Because it's a 20-year vision. I think if I was to ask the community to think about one thing when they responded to this, this vision, is don't think about yourself. Think about the families in 20 years' time. And I'll use an analogy from a bit further east. A lot of people, when we had that first round, say, don't change anything, don't change anything.

00:54:00 And I'll give you the analogy of going out for a surf dinner and get caught in a riptide. If you don't do anything, you're taken to a place where you don't want to be. And the riptide equivalent for the Noosaville foreshore are the challenges that are outlined in this plan. The challenges of foreshore erosion, of foreshore inundation, of the pedestrian experiences, of ageing stormwater infrastructure, of increased heat and the discomfort it will bring, of the loss of habitat and biodiversity. This is one of the most loved recreational assets of this Shire that I've enjoyed every part of for 40 years or more. Every different... thing from walking, running even, playing tennis, launching boats, teaching kids to fish in the playground. Every stage of life is catered for along this foreshore. And as we've heard, it's a very narrow green strip between the river and a large area that is dedicated to cars.

00:55:00 I think this plan has addressed a lot of issues and refined the design. There are key things that will happen in 20 years. So the first draft did actually have high amounts to give more resilience to rising sea level. And we know in our chat we said, what's going to happen in 40 years' time, in 2040? That's in the vision this time. And we know that's now considered to be a very conservative estimate. So some of this ageing stormwater in its life, if we don't do anything to address it, it might more often be used to take river water into the street than stormwater out of the street and into the river. These are the things that people have to think about. Think about the long term. Think about that family in 20 years' time. Does it want to enjoy the experience that your family's had over the last 20 years

00:56:00 and maintain that experience? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Are there any councillors to speak? I'll waive my right to speak because everyone's presented a great diversity of views around the table. Which of the vote goes in favour? That's Councillor Lorentson, Councillor Stockwell, Councillor Wegener, Councillor Finzel, Councillor Wilkie. Against releasing it to public community consultation is Councillor Phillips, Councillor Wilson. That's carried. That is the final item. There's no confidential matters. I declare the meeting closed.

4 MEETING CLOSURE ¶

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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.