Ordinary Meeting - 20 February 2025 Transcript

3 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶

▶ 00:00:37

00:01:00 Speaker 1: Okay, question one. We are told that Noosa Shire is expecting a housing shortage, but I wonder whether this extends beyond death. The Tewantin cemetary is not accepting any more prospective guests in repose and the council has given up land set aside for expansion of the Cooroy cemetary for use as affordable housing for the living instead. At Pomona, the dead are buried beside the cemetery, Speaker 3: Thank you, and through the Chair, thank you Mr O'Connor for your question. And interesting, our cemetery services, Council operates three cemeteries at Tewantin, Cooroy and Pomona.

8.1 BRIAN O'CONNOR ¶

▶ 00:01:01

00:02:00 To clarify, although I'm sure Mr O'Connor was being tongue-in-cheek, people are not buried beside rubbish at Pomona Cemetery. Our Pomona Cemetery is a beautiful garden-sided cemetery surrounded by trees with a 200 metre vegetation buffer between the cemetery and the waste transfer site. Council officers are currently undertaking a research and analysis stage to develop a cemeteries plan to guide the future internment needs for Noosa residents. This includes understanding the impacts of changing trends, which is broadly seeing a reduction in demand for traditional burials and an increase in requests for ashes internment, memorial plaques and contemporary offerings such as green burials. This plan will guide requirements for... ...for land requirements for cemetery purposes. Speaker 1: Thank you. Next question. Okay, the second question. Noosa and Gympie Councils have signed a memorandum of understanding that aims to explore efficiencies in waste management and potential cost-sharing arrangements across the two-council area.

00:03:00 Would this be a model for cooperation on possible development of a management model for establishing a regional cemetery in the hinterland serving a wider catchment area? Speaker 3: Thank you again for your question. Thank you Mr Chair, thank you Brian for your additional question. Council is researching a range of options for the planning of future cemetery needs, regional models for service delivery can be very effective in relevant scenarios, however we would need to investigate a range of factors such as land availability, community willingness to travel to a regional cemetery and importantly the priorities of our neighbouring councils before considering whether that would be appropriate for cemetery services. However we do meet with cemetery staff from other councils in South East Queensland every month to share knowledge, trends and approaches which supports a locally strong public cemetery sector. Thank you.

00:04:00 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you Director Contini. The second application with two questions is from Patricia Spicer. Ms Spicer if you would like to come to the lectern and deliver your questions and they will be answered by Kim Rawlings, Director of Strategy and Environment. Pat Spicer: Thank you Mr Chair. I noticed that it says in the application to read out your supporting documents. Do you want that or not? No, just a question, thank you. Thank you. How much of the $3.3 million initial budget allocation has been used in the process of investigating, getting reports, subdivision, tree clearing and remediation efforts? The $3.3 million is used for the investigation planning for the 62 Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy. Please include when the budget allocation was made and the details of costings for each report and plan that has been done for 62 Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy to date.

8.2 PATRICIA SPICER ¶

▶ 00:04:21

00:05:00 If investigations, plans, reports were done prior to this budget allocation, what was the cost of these and how was this cost met? Speaker 1: Mr Senator. Thanks Pat for that question. None or very little of the $3.3 million has been used for the investigations. This allocation is in the 24-25 budget for delivery and costs and remediation and civil works. The budget allocation for site investigations was $500,000 in the 23-24 budget. Most investigation expenditure was completed under this budget year with some carryovers in the first half of the current financial year. Most of the plans and reports undertaken form part of the civil works package, approvals and remediation package. The total expenditure for the investigations to date is approximately $380,000.

00:06:00 But it's important to note Council was successful in a $178,000 federal grant that contributed to these costs. Mayor Wilkie: Do you have a second question, Ms. Spicer? Yes. Pat Spicer: Council has an item C, the resolution below, approved all remediation and subdivision works to create lots 1, 2 and 3 at 62 Lake MacDonald's site. Council in part D has seemingly made the decision. Part C contingent on a loan grant, loan or grant, sorry. Some at Council have publicly described the resolution as a once in a generation opportunity for the Shire to definitely have 25 social housing units built.

00:07:00 Part E uses the word should. Question. Does Council have a rational basis to approve remedial works before even tenders, a loan, or a grant has been obtained? What is Council's strategy to give credibility that the ratepayers of the Shire will be given a genuine opportunity to influence the final development of lots 2 and 3, if it even proceeds, when the only obligation on Council is that it should? How could a grant be offered to Council or a loan be taken to remediate lots 1, 2 and 3 if most of the land becomes public open space parkland in Noosaville Shire of all places? Surely the insistence of Council to seek loans or grants ties lots 2 and 3 to housing on a significant

00:08:00 scale and casts considerable doubt over part E of the resolution. There are four aspects to this question. Please address each aspect in your answer. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you Pat. Council considers that it has a duty of care to clean up contaminated land and make the land available for future uses. Currently no community uses can be undertaken on the land, including for cemetery purposes because of the contamination. The remediation work will unlock the land so that it can be used for community needs. The cost estimate of the remediation work was undertaken to gain an understanding of the cost of the work. It is a normal process to seek endorsement with a cost estimate and then go to tender. The Council resolution of 23 January 2025 clearly indicates that investigations for proposed lots 2 and 3 consider a range of land uses and includes and include community consultation.

00:09:00 The residents closest to the site have been consulted and their concerns have been taken on board with the revised subdivision layout and going forward will continually be kept up to date on the process and will continue to be taken on board with the revised subdivision So the final step here is to put these around the table and recognise the potential use for the remaining lots. Local government are able to access loans subject to meeting certain requirements to deliver essential infrastructure. There are a range of opportunities that are available to local government that may not necessarily tie the proposed future lots to any particular outcome. As per the resolution of Council from January, housing will be part of the consideration for these lots. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you Mr Sengstock. The next is an application with two questions from Deborah Walsh. Ms Walsh, welcome. Would you like to come to the lectern and read your questions, which will be answered by Director Richard MacGillivray of Development and Regulation.

00:10:00 Deborah Walsh: Good morning everyone. My two questions are about dog registrations, which stem from a deputation last year and under which the Council's responsibility with the Queensland Animal Management Cats and Dogs Act 2008, which says to ensure their dog owners have access to their dogs. And in regulating the Animal Welfare Services Appendix C of the Auditor General's Report 6-2021-22, it clearly states that Council need to review its processes, enforcement outcomes and community feedback to ensure its practices are in line with legislation best practice and community expectation. In addition, effective regulation of local laws, including infringement notices, local councils need to ensure minimum prescribed standards are met, but also consider risk-based and intelligence-led information for enforcement.

8.3 DEBRA WALZ ¶

▶ 00:10:07· Carried unanimously 7-0 from council's minutes

00:11:00 So my question with that background is, at November's ordinary meeting last year, I asked Council to consider changing the timeframe of dog registrations due to many community members receiving infringement notices for not renewing their annual dog registration on time. An amount of over $225,000 was collected by Council during the dog renewal infringement period. That's over and above, around about $500,000 for actual renewals of registration. Despite Council's efforts to advise residents of their responsibility, I know Council did make an effort there, whilst Council confirmed lifelong registrations will not be considered, the Queensland Animal Management Cats and Dogs Act 2008, Section 50, Duration of Registration states,

00:12:00 registration of a dog is for the period of years fixed by resolution of the relevant local government for the dog and, however, the period must not exceed more than three years. On behalf of Noosa residents who own a dog or dogs, will Councillors please consider a resolution to extend the dog renewal period from one year to three years, whilst maintaining the same fee structure that currently exists? That is, pensioners being free, entire dogs $193.50 and de-sexed dogs $48.50. This would be seen as a positive change by Council, particularly in assisting with the cost of living crisis, as well as acknowledging the value that dog ownership provides to our residents.

00:13:00 Speaker 2: As mentioned previously, registering your dog helps Council provide essential animal management services. These services include managing aggressive and barking dogs, responding to and investigating dog attacks, providing pound services, reuniting lost dogs with their owners and maintaining off-leash areas, litter bins and doggy bags where needed. Council is always mindful of minimising any additional costs to ratepayers and dog owners, which is why the current fee and associated revenue reflects the cost of service delivery for our community. Any changes to dog registration from a one to three year period will require further consideration from both an operational and a budget perspective, and may take some time to investigate further. Thank you for that. Appreciate it. Mayor Wilkie: Next question please.

00:14:00 Deborah Walsh: Can Council confirm how the dog renewal infringement funds will be or have been spent, and whether Council has begun to look into possible reasons for the increase in overdue registrations, as identified last year as a priority by Council's Environmental Health Manager? Speaker 2: Thank you again, Deb. Infringement revenue is used to fund the operational expenses for regulatory functions and services to our community. In terms of animal renewals last year, we had more than 10,000 dog owners pay their animal registrations on time. Around 7% of owners did not pay on time, despite multiple reminders being sent and media releases being issued to our community. These ratios are not considered high when compared with other local governments. As I'm aware, similar local governments nearby had up to 25% that didn't pay on time. Council continues to encourage payment for animal registration on time through improving awareness and education,

00:15:00 as well as exploring opportunities to make it easier for customers to register and update their details with Council. Thank you very much. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Ms Walsh. Next is a question from Craig Vela. Mr Vela is not in attendance. I first requested Councillor Lorentson read out his question, which will be answered by Shaun Walsh, Director of Infrastructure Services. Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: A question. The Go Noosa interim report prepared by the Infrastructure Manager and tabled at item 8.1 of the General Committee Agenda, considered on the 20th of January 2025, recommended the cessation of both the free weekend bus services and the Go Noosa free bus service for peak season, in light of 50 cent bus fares implemented by the State Government, and identified that the service was funded to the amount of $900,000

8.4 CRAIG VELLA ¶

▶ 00:15:25

00:16:00 through Council's sustainable transport levy. That recommendation was unanimously approved by Council and now necessitates a reconsideration and update of Council's response given to public question. Question 2 on the 20th of June 2024, given that existing services have now been curtailed. So please now advise, could the sustainable transport levy which is budgeted to raise $933,000 in the 23-24 draft budget be used to repair and or reconstruct the on-land component of the boat ramp and associated car and trailer parking at Hilton Esplanade or at any other boat ramp in the Noosa Shire? If not, then why? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Director Shaw. Director Walsh: Good morning. Thank you for your question regarding the Go Noosa program

00:17:00 and the potential use of the sustainable transport levy for boat ramp and parking improvements. Firstly, to clarify, whilst the sustainable transport levy is budgeted to raise approximately $933,000 in the 23-24 financial year, these funds are allocated to various sustainable transport initiatives including the free weekend bus services, congestion reduction and the like. The free bus service, while significant, does not account for the entire levy amount. Following Council's recent decision to cease the free weekend bus services, options will be considered in due course. However, under the existing levy, all funded initiatives must align with the primary objective of sustainable transport management, congestion reduction and encouraging active and public transport use. The sustainable transport levy is not intended to fund infrastructure improvements for private vehicle and boat trailer parking, including those at Hilton Esplanade or other boat ramps in Noosa Shire.

00:18:00 As outlined in Council's transport policy, the levy is specifically designed to support initiatives such as public transport, park and ride facilities, intelligent transport systems and congestion reduction strategies. Council acknowledges the importance of boat ramp facilities and associated parking for the community and note that the on-land component of the Hilton Esplanade boat ramp and parking area has been identified for planning and design work in the 25-26 financial year. Council will continue to also explore funding opportunities for these desired upgrades. We appreciate your engagement on this matter and encourage continued community participation in shaping Noosa's transport and infrastructure priorities. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Director Walsh. The next is an application with two questions from Andrew McCarthy. Mr McCarthy is not in attendance but has requested Councillor Phillips read out his question, which will be again answered by Shaun Walsh, Director of Infrastructure Services. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. Good morning. When will Council contact the Minister for Transport

00:19:00 to access the $2.5 million pledge for boating infrastructure on the Noosa River? And further advocate for immediate due diligence to be undertaken to assess the most suitable boat ramp upgrade due to the ageing infrastructure in consultation with the Noosa community, which was first canvassed in the Merrill Minute on the 17th of January, 2023. Director Walsh: Director Walsh. Thank you for the question. Firstly, Council acknowledges the importance of boat ramp facilities and associated parking for the community and the desire for upgrades. However, relevant officers from the Council and the Queensland Government have not been able to confirm that the Liberal National Party pre-election pledge of $2.5 million to Noosa River boat ramp upgrades has actually been confirmed as a budget commitment for the elected government. Council will continue to await confirmation from the relevant Minister and staff to avail ourselves of any funding opportunities. However, I can confirm that Council officers

8.5 ANDREW MCCARTHY ¶

▶ 00:19:38

00:20:00 have been proactively meeting with Maritime Safety Queensland officers to discuss boat facilities upgrades and the opportunity for funding from all available sources and will continue to actively progress the matter in a collaborative manner. Mayor Wilkie: Director Walsh. Next question, please. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. John's Landing was purchased for $2 million in 2017 by the Noosa Council with a five-year plan to complete the rehabilitation and removal of contaminants on site, which should now be completed. Does Noosa Council have any plans for development or use for this site or is it going to be let return to a natural state? Mayor Wilkie: Director Walsh. Director Walsh: I'm answering this on behalf of Kim Rawlings, Director of Strategy and Environment, who's on leave at the moment. In 2017, Council acquired a block of land in Cooroibah known as John's Landing, with approximately 70% of the site allocated for nature conservation and 30% earmarked for future consideration of recreational use.

00:21:00 The restoration of John's Landing and Noosa represents a significant environmental initiative with the parcel being purchased through the Environment Levy and designated as a nature refuge across 70% of the entire land parcel. An ecological restoration plan was developed and has been diligently followed by Council. However, the 2019 bushfires severely impacted the nature refuge section, hindering the previously set restoration targets. Council will likely update this restoration plan soon to better inform restoration efforts. Despite this setback, ongoing efforts continue to focus on rehabilitating the affected areas, with roughly $12,000 per annum spent in the nature refuge section. The remaining portion of the site has $10,000 per annum allocated for the maintenance of the slashed access tracks and open paddocks, managing hazardous weeds and priority weeds. A fire management plan has also been developed for this reserve, which Council is managing accordingly. Council acknowledges the community interest

00:22:00 in the potential use of John's Landing for public and community purposes. Any future consideration of development and use of the site would involve a thorough assessment process, including site evaluations, due diligence and feasibility studies in accordance with Council's strategic land activation policy. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Director Hawks. There are no mayoral minutes, and we have one notified motion from Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson, would you like to move your motion? Councillor Lorentson: I will, thank you. Okay. Motion is that Council agree to amend the scheduled time for ordinary Council meetings from 10am to 5pm, effective immediately. Mayor Wilkie: Is anyone willing to second that notified motion? I'll second. Councillor Jessica Phillips will second that. Councillor Lorentson? Councillor Lorentson: The decision to change the maintenance time to 10am was introduced this term

10.1 CHANGE OF ORDINARY MEETING TIME ¶

▶ 00:22:38· Lost 2-5 · 1 division from council's minutes

00:23:00 to help balance work-life commitments for staff and councillors. However, community feedback has highlighted concerns that this change has made it difficult for residents, working residents, to attend and participate in Council meetings, particularly, as we've just seen, during public question time. As most residents are engaged in work or other commitments during the morning hours, the accessibility of meetings has been significantly reduced. While work-life balance for staff and councillors is important, Council has a fundamental commitment to community engagement and transparency. Given that ordinary meetings occur only once a month, it's reasonable and appropriate to revert that to the 5pm time slot to ensure that residents can be involved in the decision-making process. Adjusting the meeting time will help address the concerns raised by the community and reinforce our commitment to an open and participatory local government.

00:24:00 Can't you speak a little bit more on it? The question I think I'm simply asking today is, what time best allows our 27,000 plus working residents to attend our ordinary meetings, 10 o'clock or 5pm? I've moved this motion today because I've been approached by residents and business chambers across the Shire, and I'm talking from Pomona to Noosa Heads to Noosaville business chambers, and I've circulated letters to all the councillors who believe that the current 10am meeting time creates a barrier for working people. It limits their ability to observe and sit in the public gallery. It limits their ability to ask questions or participate in person during public question time and deputations. As a council, we've committed to public access, engagement and participatory local government. Yet it seems that our schedule excludes many

00:25:00 from having that opportunity. Right now, we hold three meetings, a planning and environment meeting at 9.30am. We hold our services and organisation meeting at 1.30pm. And our ordinary meetings, a tradition that was held since 2014, it was always at 5pm. This term, we've changed that to 10am. And again, I reiterate, this is only once a month. The reality is that these daytime meetings force working residents to submit questions by proxy rather than attending in person. Again, we witnessed that today. What they've argued is that that's not real community engagement. It can be seen by some as community exclusion. Again, from 2014, we held ordinary meetings at 5pm, and it worked. That changed this term to accommodate the councillors and staff work-life balance,

00:26:00 which I fully acknowledge and fully respect. But I don't believe it is too much of an ask for just one evening meeting per month to commence at 5pm to allow, again, if I quote our stats, say that 27,536 residents are employed in the Shire. So, I've also done a quick review of our last 12 ordinary meetings to understand how long we actually sit at the ordinary meetings. Out of the 12 last ordinary meetings, we had six that lasted an hour or less, which meant they finished in less than an hour, three of the 12 that were under two and a half hours, and only three out of the 12 that exceeded three hours. And I do note one was extraordinary. It was extraordinarily long. And in my five years, I've never witnessed a meeting that went on for that long. So, my point is that if business changes,

00:27:00 resident community groups, surf clubs can adjust their schedules, holding breakfast meetings at 7 o'clock or networking nights at 5pm, or community forums at 5pm to include our working members, why can't we? They're volunteers, and they don't get paid. We are paid, and we're here paid to serve the community. So, I ask again that you support the notified motion in front of us and revert back to a practice that commenced in 2014 to hold ordinary meetings at 5pm that served our 27,536 employed residents and community well. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Anybody else wish to speak to the motion? I'll say a few words. The tradition of having a meeting start at 5pm

00:28:00 didn't begin at 2.14. It goes way back to, it could be 1910. It went over a century ago when councillors were part-time or worked and that most of the district where residents' population were worked full-time or were farmers and couldn't get to a daytime meeting. Even in the 1980s, the demographic of Noosa had a greater proportion of full-time employees and they were, it was a younger demographic. Now our most engaged demographic are in the retirement bracket and many have told me that they don't like driving at night. So it's in recognition of the changing demographic, also it's in recognition that times have changed. There's a good reason why no other council in Queensland has nighttime meetings. No other council in Queensland. It's because

00:29:00 technology allows anyone interested in council decision-making processes to log on anywhere in the world and watch live or watch a recording over and over as many times as they like of that meeting. There is no, absolutely no reason why anyone would need to be here. The numbers at our general committee meeting where all the robust debate takes place haven't suffered as a result of they've been traditionally held in the day and this gallery has been full on many occasions during that. The other question raised was about the ability for people to be present and ask their questions. Now that's puzzling because today we had two questions that weren't being able to be asked by the writers but those two people weren't able to ask their questions when the meetings were held at night either.

00:30:00 So I'm a bit puzzled why that was raised and most questions are asked by people in person. The other thing that's happened in this term is the very real considerable factor of council fatigue during daytime meetings which must be respected. And last month's ordinary meeting took the best part of seven hours. So have we started that at 5pm we will be finishing close to midnight. And the goal of the meeting structure is the best decisions on behalf of the community. So councillors need to be sharp and healthy and that's why daytime meetings another reason why daytime meetings are a better option. We unanimously approved the meeting schedule for the 10am ordinary meeting in May with a review to happen towards the end of last year. We did that in November when we approved the 2025 schedule

00:31:00 with the 10am start. Again, unanimously approved. I talked to a lot of people and not one has mentioned wanting to go back to last century, the time that was instituted last century given the availability of technology now and the ability for anyone to watch a live council meeting over and over at their leisure anytime, anywhere in the world as many times as they want. So I think we need to also do more than just say we support staff health and wellbeing. We need to demonstrate that through our actions and decisions. So although Councillor Lorentson is doing an excellent job representing what people are telling her, people are telling me opposite and I think there are very good reasons for being in step with all of the councillors in Queensland and given the advent of new technology and our commitment to a good life work balance.

00:32:00 So I'm in, for those reasons I'm only supporting this notify motion update. Councillor Lorentson: I'll just get on it. I'll stop there. Thank you. In terms of the other councils in Queensland, Councillor Mayor Wilkie mentioned that no other councillors have night time meetings. I've got in front of me the benchmarks and I note that Barkildine Council hold their general meeting at 8.30 a.m. Blackwell Tambu, 8.30 a.m. Hitchinbrook Council hold their general meeting at 8.30 a.m. McKinley, hold their ordinary meeting at 8.30 a.m. Richmond, hold their meetings at 8.30 a.m. and Winton, 8 a.m. So they may not be, so the question through the chair is,

00:33:00 I take, what you stated which was that there were no night time meetings, is that I argue that 8 a.m. starts are the equivalent of starting a meeting at 5 p.m. and that's not a question. Point of order. Okay. So my question. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, point of order is, large areas of data, there was argument then saying I'm arguing, it's clearly not a question. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Wilson, could she ask a quick question because you're accomplished. Councillor Lorentson: Sure. Mayor Wilkie, can you explain why there are so many councils across Queensland that have 8 o'clock meetings and 8.30 meetings? Mayor Wilkie: Well, that would be a decision for them. I guess it's about working during daylight hours and having a good, healthy work life balance and the point we're arguing here is moving from daylight meetings to night time meetings. I'm arguing against night time meetings and I've cited that data

00:34:00 there as in support of daytime meetings and I can only assume that all these other councils have opted for daytime meetings for the reasons I've cited. The advent of live technology, recordings, healthy work life balance for their staff council fatigue, happy to avoid council fatigue, all those reasons. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. In my other question, in reference to the 6 of the 9 meeting that we had just recently, again, I've never experienced that before. If we had a 5 o'clock meeting in the afternoon and the meeting did go on long, can council move a procedural motion to adjourn the meeting or to move the meeting to another time to allow councillors time to refocus and rethink or is there an opportunity

00:35:00 in those instances when there is a lot of community or public interest in the matter that we actually move it to a special meeting? Mayor Wilkie: You're absolutely right. Councillors could opt to adjourn a meeting, a nighttime meeting to another date. But then again, that's, in my opinion, that's not very effective decision making. It will slow down the decision making process. It costs, the rate pays a lot more to reconvene another meeting when the purpose of a daytime meeting is you can get the business done there and then in the one meeting. It's all part of effective decision making which is what we unanimously endorse this meeting schedule to do and ensure that we can deliver the best outcomes for the Shire in terms of our decision making processes. Councillor Finzel. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. This is a question for the CEO through the chair. The Queensland

00:36:00 psychosocial hazards in the workplace legislation was taken effect on the first approval of April 2023. This council at the time was actively engaged to ensuring that this workplace meets code of conduct and the new requirements. I'm seeking your opinion in terms of the risk and meeting our requirements under legislation around psychosocial hazards and how we'll manage them especially around meeting times after hours. Speaker 1: This is Ian. Thank you Councillor. I mean it's a very broad question. Very difficult to answer I suppose. But technically from a staffing point of view for our senior management staff particularly our directors we have a new contract that we're making ourselves available for various times of day and night for meetings and work commitments. For other staff particularly in the below

00:37:00 to be available outside of regular work hours. And they do in the new legislation they do have the right to say no. So we're conscious of that as well. And we are conscious of workloads in this environment. So that was part of the whole initial discussion around having meetings during the day. And that still stands. But it's up to you to make that decision. But all I can say is yes that we do have obligations to our staff to ensure that they are overworked or working outside of hours that's not appropriate. Not acceptable for that. Councillor Phillips: Just a question please to the CEO. Just in relation because I'm hearing all of the different points of view. When we recently did the workplace survey

00:38:00 Speaker 1: we had discussions around work life balance and that's something that we are very conscious of and making sure that that is available to all of our staff. Because it's a real concern this day and age. And we want to make sure that we provide that as best we can. This is obviously just a small part of it. The council meetings monthly. But certainly in general it's all about looking after our staff and making sure that they aren't put in a situation where they don't have a choice or they are expected to do something that puts pressure on them in their own life. Councillor Phillips: Just a quick question then thank you. So in the directors contracts the hours can vary but if there is a staff that is required what if this was to proceed what considerations will council make? What will happen? Speaker 1: Well generally it would be the directors would take

00:39:00 control of that and they would be the ones who would be here to answer questions or provide the feedback. In terms of we do have because we have staff working different hours so we have flex time, we have overtime, we have things like that that we can draw on time for our staff for that very very reason but it's not something that we want to force on them if we put them under undue stress. Councillor Phillips: One more question and it will get to a question but I want to make a statement first because in my previous role in the police we used to have social events which were after you know a big day at work to take off the police hat and really build some trust around the group because I've only been here nearly a year I think I had one evening session which was good for Arthur to speak

00:40:00 to staff and counsellors. My question is potentially is an observation now around the table and the elephant in the room maybe that there isn't quite that same level of group camaraderie. Question. Question is could potentially going back to the evenings give us the ability to do some more team group dinners and bonding I guess. Speaker 1: Well I guess that's really a question for you as a group as well. To do it during the day doesn't mean we can't do lunches as opposed to evenings and dinners or gatherings or just opportunities to get together just allocating that time. Generally it's with directors who have got more flexibility with their time anyway I guess in terms of that. But yes it was a tradition or a useful

00:41:00 thing that we did in the past but it's not to say we can't do it again. It's just up to councillors to do that and pick a time to do it really. You're saying we could do it at lunch after? Well it could be done any time. I think yeah. But again that's for you to discuss. Can the councillor switch to Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Wilson. Councillor Wilson: I'll speak to the motion. I do fully respect the engagement of our working community and their desire to attend meetings in person but I do want to point out that not all workers are available at 5pm either. Many people work beyond 5 o'clock and certainly shift workers hospitality workers all of those people also in our community are working at 5 o'clock. Speaker 3: Young families Councillor Wilson: parents won't be able to attend at 5pm either. So I do feel like this discussion is kind of favouring one type of worker over another to be assuming that they would be available at 5pm. And so it's one of those situations where we can't

00:42:00 please everyone. I do also consider our own staff. They by legislation have the right to disconnect after work. They also have the right to have hobbies to have sporting commitments volunteer commitments any night of the week and we can't ask them to stop doing that once a month. We do have community meetings we have committed to having community meetings in at least three times a year and they so that's three or four times a year where we're already asking staff to extend their working hours and I think that actually represents quite a good compromise for those people who can attend at five versus at ten. I also want to consider councillors decision making as well as we've already stated. If we've had a we and staff have had a long day working all day and then start decision making and discussion at 5pm I don't know if that leads to the best outcomes. Our schedule is available ahead of time online. Workers who would really want to attend

00:43:00 for a particular meeting could potentially make themselves available if they can and obviously can watch the meeting afterwards or lastly. That's it. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you Councillor Wilson. Any councillors wish to speak? Councillor Lorentson any wish to close? No, no. Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes. A range of contexts where moving and giving a notice of motion is quite useful. This is not one of them. We decided to go down this path at the beginning of this term and we all agreed that we'd review it after six months which we did and in the appropriate format with input from all councillors not in a debate at the serial position we decided to continue having considered all the relevant matters. That was only a few months ago. And the problem with bringing these sort of issues to a notice of motion is we haven't got substantive reports upon which to base our decisions so we've heard a emotional plea about 27,000 workers

00:44:00 being benefited but as Councillor Wilson highlighted not all workers are available during the day. In fact our biggest two or two of our three biggest employees sectors are health and also in hospitality and accommodation where it's equally likely they're working at night. And you add to that nearly 20% of our working population that works from home which is likely that they have a high degree of flexibility in their hours. And then you add on top of that over 25% of our population who are retirement age. And quickly it's quite easy to put the reverse argument that the majority of our residents are more available during the day. I'm not going to repeat all the other internal considerations. All I'm going to say is this was a decision by us as colleagues in consultation with the staff only a few months ago.

00:45:00 It's appropriately decided that we did and there was no need for this motion. Councillor Lorentson: Just a question through the chair. Yes. I can't recall that six month review. Can I get some idea of when that happened? Mayor Wilkie: There was a report to council in November where we discussed the schedule and we ratified the schedule which had the times, meeting times and dates for all of 2025 in November. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Morrison, Mayor Wilkie: you wish to close? Councillor Lorentson: I do. The question today is about it goes beyond just 5pm. It goes into public access and community engagement and allowing our community access to any forum, any community forum,

00:46:00 any part of this local government decision making. I'm sitting here and I'm a little bit sort of confused with some of the conversation. What I'm asking is once a month, once a month we allow community access to our ordinary meetings to our working residents and and you know again, I sit back and go let's understand what this role demands and I'm talking as a councillor and also as staff and we have excellent staff and I see them working on Saturdays and I see them working on Sundays and I see them this morning I was emailing one of our excellent staff at 7 o'clock in the morning. That's part of our role. It's not a 9 to 5 job. It's working late into the night. I was working till 10 o'clock two nights ago.

00:47:00 Last week, myself and councillors we're at a function till almost 11 o'clock at night. This Friday I'm at a meeting at 7 o'clock. I go to community forums at 5 o'clock, at 6 o'clock at night. Working late into the night is part of our job. It's about weekend commitments. We go to conferences. This is the responsibility we, as councillors and also as local government employees, accept. That's what we've signed up for. We take on this job. We've all been through an election period. There were a lot of people who put their hand up for this position understanding fully what this position takes because a lot of them have been volunteers that work 7 o'clock in the morning, conduct network meetings at 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning. Again, I go back to the original question that I asked today is what is best for our community?

00:48:00 The comparison that's been made today with other councils to me, important but not relevant. We are different by nature. We serve our community. We don't align our interests to the community values of other councils. We align our interests to what's important to this community. Again, I've circulated quite a few emails from residents across from Cooroy to Pomona to Noosa Heads to Noosaville to business chambers again asking that we revert back once a month to our 5pm meetings and in the instance that it impedes on a staff member's social life or extracurriculum activity or it's or they're just carrying too much weight at the moment they have the option to say no. They have that option. And to

00:49:00 the councillors who have other commitments they also have the option of attending online. That option is available. But again as our commitment to public access participatory local government we need to put our communities access to these forums before in my opinion before the interests of councillors and staff not and I'm not dismissing work life balance. But you know again I go to the last 12 ordinary meetings. Which means we would have finished at six o'clock at night. Three meetings out of the 12 finished under two and a half hours which means we could be home at 7.30. And three meetings which went over three hours. Again one in exceptional circumstances and again we have the opportunity to adjourn

00:50:00 those meetings or move into a special meeting to allow again work life balance. But working until six o'clock until 7.30 at night it's part of our role councillors. So I ask that you support the amendment and motion a notified motion in front of us. Thank you Councillor Lorentson. Mayor Wilkie: Those in favour of the motion. Councillor Phillips and Councillor Laurison. Those against. Councillor Wegener Wilson Finzel Stockwell and Wilkie. Motion is lost. We now move on to consideration of committee reports. Planning and Environment Committee report was referred to the General Committee meeting. 7.1. 8.1. Planning applications decided by delegated authority December 2024. 9.1. Is it confidential or not for public release of Environment Levy proposed land purchase. I have a mover and seconder for the Planning and Environment Committee. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Moved. Mayor Wilkie: Moved. Councillor Stockwell. Seconded. Councillor Wegener. Those in favour. That's unanimous.

11.1 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE REPORT - 11 FEBRUARY 2025 ¶

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00:51:00 Now move on to services and organisation committee reports. 7.1 is contract renewal. Provision of contingent staff labour hire. 8.1. New South Holiday Parks update. 8.2. Cemetery fees GST determination. 8.3. Capital program 2024 2025 delivery status. We've got some declaration here Councillor Phillips. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. I Councillor Phillips inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter in relation to an upcoming tender for the Corroy sports multi-purpose gymnastics club mentioned in the capital program update report. I've been hired as a consultant by the Corroy gymnastics club to assist in resourcing of their coaching staff and I'm currently coaching the senior competitive program on an interim basis. I do not believe

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00:52:00 a reasonable person would have a perception of bias because the information in the report is merely for noting that a tender is upcoming in the future. Therefore, I will choose to remain in the meeting room. However, I will respect the decision of the meeting on whether I can remain and participate in the decision. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Perhaps someone to Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm happy to move that the standard resolution that Council note the conflict of interest by Councillor Jessica Phillips and determine that in accordance with one section 150 ES the Local Government Act 2009 having and having considered the Council's conflict of interest as described is decided that Councillor Jessica Phillips may participate and vote on this matter to the capital works update report including mention the Corroy sports complex and multi-purpose area which includes the Corroy gymnastics club. Mayor Wilkie: I just speak to it. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, I think it's I think it's quite clearly as the grounds that Councillor Phillips identified

00:53:00 is merely saying that a tender is in the future when that tender comes up it may be something that we have to consider the declaration again. Mayor Wilkie: Okay. Thank you. Okay. All in favour. That is unanimous noting that Councillor Phillips did not vote on that. Now we have this item had to be the capital program item was pulled out so we need a mover for the capital program delivery status item and moved by Councillor Finfield seconded by Councillor Stockwell all in favour that's unanimous and now we can have a movement seconder for the services and organisation committee Council of Finzel all in favour now come to the general committee report the first one is MCU

00:54:00 210154102 which is an application for a minor change to development approval for home based business meat processing facility at 82 Paterson Drive Tin Beela Councillor Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Lorentson move as further general committee resolution Councillor Stockwell Mayor Wilkie: seconded Councillor Phillips Councillor Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll waive my right to speak at this stage Mayor Wilkie: thank you Councillor Lawrence Councillor Lorentson: first amendment I would like to move I can have that on the screen please speaking okay we have one yes please please so it's C amend condition 10 to read the access handle must be densely landscaped with native plants and shrubs to provide a dense screen of vegetation between the driveway and neighboring residents the landscape garden bed along the southern boundary adjacent to the lot area must be enhanced with supplementary planting being eight.

11.3 GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT - 17 FEBRUARY 2025 ¶

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00:55:00 particular types of plants with a minimum plant stock size of 45 liters at a density of one plant per meter or supplementary planning works must be undertaken at one month from the date of this approval. Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm Cm The request for additional screening and planting in certain locations along the driveway is so that it complies with condition 19 and 20 of the approval, which states that the access handle must be densely landscaped with native plants and shrubs to provide a dense ground of vegetation between the driveway and neighbouring residents.

00:56:00 It also allows compliance with condition 19 and condition 20. Any questions, councillors? Councillor Wilson: Councillor Wilson. Yeah, question for the Chair. Given that the application that we're looking at was a request for a minor change to conditions around staff attending on site and the frequency of the review process, I was just questioning whether this is relevant to those conditions.

00:57:00 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Director MacGillivray, if you can help with that question. Speaker 2: Yes, thank you, councillor. Through the Chair, this seeks to a minor modification to an existing condition to allow some further landscaping to be undertaken, which should be considered in context of the change, which includes two extra employees operating. So, reviewing some details, there are some areas where there may be some viewpoints. From one property to the other, so the condition would support some further enhancements to the screening to allow more of a visual buffer between properties. Does that answer your question fully, or would you like some more clarification? Councillor Wilson: Yes, I'm not really sure why having two employees attending on site requires any visual changes.

00:58:00 Speaker 2: Through the Chair, yeah, it's really just to help with further buffering the vegetation screening between subject properties and surrounding properties. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Wegener. So, how long is the driveway that would require one plant per metre? Speaker 2: Through the Chair. So, let's see. So, the existing condition actually has already been met, the substantive, so offices have been out there, that vegetation has been planted and is growing and maturing as we speak. There's a further addition where there's a small area towards the front as vehicles enter the site, which we've identified there's some small gaps where there's a visual, an ability to visually see vehicles coming to from the site.

00:59:00 So, this amendment would further restrict, I guess, the visibility of access to vehicles. And from the property as a result of the changes being proposed. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll talk to the motion. The way I understand it from the advice of staff is this addition would allow a few other smaller shrub plantings to just block the lower under storey below some toilet shrubs. I don't think it's a large request. It's probably something we can approve. Mayor Wilkie: Anyone else wish to speak to the amendment? Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: I don't think it's a large request. I don't, I'm not familiar with the names of the plants. I'm not, I don't see, it just sounds very haphazard. What, what are we actually talking about? How many plants that are 45 liters are we talking about? It's so nebulous. I just see this as arguments erupting, even if it's done to some extent. I don't see this as an actual amendment.

01:00:00 It doesn't mean anything to me. I'm just saying that at some places there has to be some plants planted because there appears to be a, a gap. And, and the type of plants here is, nobody's told me exactly what sort of plant this is. What, why we're imposing this type of plant on there. I mean, you know, I always just, just bamboos. They want, you know, a solid wall. But, yeah, I don't get it. I'm not, I'm not going to support it. Mayor Wilkie: I, I do have, Sarah, you first. Councillor Lorentson: Can I ask a question? Yeah. The Condition 19 already reads, that's the existing permit, Councillor Wegener. I'm, I'm, I'm sure. Can, can I ask Richard to actually explain that the amendment is within one month of the 2025, additional planting must be provided. The Condition 19 is already existing that specifies the type of plant and plant stock

01:01:00 that needs to be planted. And that's already been adhered to in, in the most. Speaker 2: Through the Chair. Yes, you are correct, Councillor. So the, all the wording that's not in bold is essentially already as per the existing permit and has actually been fulfilled. What we're seeking due to the fact is, is further people, employees coming to the site. We've had, had a close look at some of the, some of the, some of the, some of the, some of the images of the site and there's a couple of areas where possibly a handful of shrubs could be planted to create a further buffer to one small section of the property. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. Can I just ask a question just for Councillor Wegener? I think Councillor Wegener was talking about Cystogysium, Cystogysium australii and Luminae. They're, is it correct that they're both lily-pillies, the bush cherry has a red berry and the, the

01:02:00 Luminae has a bluish one, but those advanced trees have already been planted and what we're looking at here is actually just being a little more specific in terms of the first sentence about provide a dense green of vegetation of native shrubs and plants so they could be smaller. Is that correct? That's correct, Councillor, yes. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Lorentson, did you wish to close? No. Okay, we'll put it to the vote. Close in favour? No. Wilson, Finzel, Stockwell, Phillips and Wilkie against, Councillor Wegener. The amendments carry and it becomes part of the original motion. Do you wish to protest another amendment, Councillor Williamson? Councillor Lorentson: I'll start by asking the question, can we condition vehicle movements and site activity? Speaker 2: It's a broad question. In terms of the home-based business code provisions, we have to be mindful that any condition we apply has to meet the legal tests around being reasonable and relevant.

01:03:00 The lawfulness around whether on any application you can apply those will depend on the facts and circumstances of each application and whether it is considered reasonable and relevant. Obviously you're requesting in relation to this particular application, can we control the number of vehicles moving? In my view, I don't believe we can put a restriction on vehicles because it'll be linked to the number of the activity, the scale of activity that we actually approve under the planning scheme. And so in this particular case, we're talking about numbers of employees. The difficulty is, like all businesses, they might have to come and go to or from at a certain time. And there might be things that happened in the day and they might need to go and then come back again. So it's very difficult for us to probably manage those things in reality, particularly with employees.

01:04:00 So the challenge is, I think it's a difficult thing to put numbers around vehicle movements to and from a property, given there may be residential elements to this as well, where people, friends, family, guests might be coming to and from. So how do you distinguish between that? You know, workers to a home-based business versus friends and guests? Councillor Lorentson: I just want to ask a couple more questions. And I asked this question at the general meeting and just want to sort of ask a couple more. Condition 21, I think it is, talks about the permit lapses on the 17th of December, unless written consent is required. The permit lapse is provided by Council to extend the approval. In assessing an extension, Council will have regard to any complaints received from nearby residents concerning breaches of the development approval conditions and any other relevant matters.

01:05:00 And I want to really just ask a couple of questions about other relevant matters. Understanding this is not an impact assessable, so relevant matters has a different meaning in this context. My question is, can you explain what other relevant matters, what's captured under other relevant matters? Speaker 2: Through the Chair. I know this exact point was discussed at the general committee, because the planning manager answered that as well. So other relevant matters. As described in the condition doesn't refer to the other relevant matters which is described in the Planning Act, which is a lot of a more broader consideration. I understand, and again, the context was that a broader consideration for staff when evaluating compliance with 21 would consider in terms of the types of impacts.

01:06:00 And for example, I would consider the previous amendment, which we've just discussed, is where we might require further buffers to prevent visibility of activity happening. So that's, I would say, in other relevant matters, whereas it's not just about the noise or the light impacts. It's actually about other things such as being aware of activities happening. And can we put in measures that might assist to alleviate any of those impacts? On immunity at all, which could include visual, the presence of the use happening at all. Councillor Lorentson: So does other relevant matters.

01:07:00 So my question is, do other relevant matters capture psychological or mental health effects? And are economic impacts also captured under other relevant matters? Speaker 2: Through the Chair, difficult to answer that specifically because it's not defined at all. And I would say generally no. Planning matters are relevant to planning grounds and planning matters. And obviously we have the planning scheme which provides our benchmarks, which we must assess against. So my answer would be no, it wouldn't include other matters such as that. It needs to look at materials of planning impacts because obviously that's the role of the planning scheme is to assess those particular impacts. Mayor Wilkie: So we have an amended motion now. We have a motion before us which has been amended. And moved by Councillor Stockwell, he's waived his right to speak first.

01:08:00 Any other councillors wish to speak for motion as it stands? Councillor Stockwell, do you wish to close? I'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? That is Councillor Wegener, Wilson, Finzel, Stockwell, Phillips and Wilkie. Against? Councillor Lorentson? The motion is carried. And now the next item is the new 8.1, New Tenancy Aid to Curritjian Beach Digital Hub, 8.2. Thank you Richard. Thank you. Financial Performance Report January 2025, 8.3. Operational Plan 2024-25. Quarterly reporting for second quarter. May I have a mover and a seconder for the General Committee recommendations? I'll make that one. Stacking your feet, Councillor Wilson, like a rocket. Happy to second. Followed very closely by Councillor Finzel. All in favour? That's carried unanimously. Ordinary meeting reports.

01:09:00 There's no reports direct to the ordinary meeting. There are no confidential items on today's agenda. The next ordinary meeting will be at Noosa Council Chambers on Thursday 20th of March 2025 at 10am. I declare the meeting closed at 11.09 and I thank everybody for their attendance today. Thank you councillors, thank you gallery, thank you staff. Speaker 3: Thank you.

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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.