Before the first item ¶
00:00:00 Councillor Finzel: Good afternoon and welcome to the Noosa Council Services and Organisation Committee meeting, noting the time is 1.30pm on Tuesday the 10th of June 2025. I know we have all councillors present at the table. Good afternoon and welcome to Councillor Wilson, Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Phillips who's online and I know we have in the gallery Councillor Tom Wegener. Before we start I would like to proudly acknowledge and pay my respect to the Australian First Nations people and their deep and abiding connection to this country. We recognise the Kabi Kabi people as the traditional owners of the lands and waters of the Noosa area. And we offer gratitude for their careful custodianship of this unique environment over thousands of years.
1 DECLARATION OF OPENING ¶
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3 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES ¶
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2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY ¶
00:01:00 Moving on to, um, what are we up to? Confirmation of minutes. Confirmation of minutes, thank you. Do we have a mover? Mayor Wilkie: A mover Madam Chair. Councillor Finzel: Do we have a seconder for that? A second? Thank you. Does anyone want to make a comment regarding the minutes? Mayor Wilkie: Not regarding the minutes. Councillor Finzel: Fantastic, thank you. We'll take it to the vote. All in favour? Yes. That's unanimous. Thank you Councillor Phillips online. Mayor Wilkie: I was going to say that's a very lovely jacket you're wearing Madam Chair. Councillor Finzel: Thank you Mr Chair. Thank you Mr Mayor. That's a comment I like to make. Thank you. Confirmation of the comments. Seconded. Fantastic. Okay we'll bring the meeting back to focus. Um, we have no presentations, no deputations. And we come to item 7 for reports for consideration of the committee. Firstly we're starting with item 7.1. Sunrise Shops. Shop for Revised Lease Renewal.
4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ¶
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5 PRESENTATIONS ¶
00:02:00 We welcome the staff to the table. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. Robert and would you like to give us a brief overview please? Speaker 1: Sure. Good afternoon all. The report in front of you today is seeking a revision to a prior lease approval for Shop for at Sunrise Shops. In April 2025, so two months ago, a report came before you to renew the lease to Sunrise Dental for a cumulative period of nine years, which was a five year base option and then two two year options. Subsequent to that, the tenant has been advised that in order to achieve the finance they're seeking to upgrade their equipment and do shop front renewals, they will need a period, a cumulative period of ten years. So what we're seeking today is for the same conditions except for the lease period to be a base period of five years and then a five year option. The recommendation is to move forward with that. The tenant is a great tenant.
6 DEPUTATIONS ¶
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7 REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE ¶
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7.1 SUNRISE SHOPS - SHOP 4 REVISED LEASE RENEWAL ¶
00:03:00 They provide a strong community service. And this longer period by one year will provide them with the opportunity to invest in equipment and the shop front, which is better overall for the community and for the precinct. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Well, any questions? Mayor Wilkie: I'm happy to move it Madam Chair. Councillor Finzel: I'm happy to second. Yes. Do you want to make a comment? Mayor Wilkie: Yes. No. I agree with the comments made by the officer. This tenant is, it's recognition of this that we have a, we're lucky enough to have a responsible tenant who provides a very valuable community health service and happy to assist them in this regard. Councillor Finzel: All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for the report and as always very thorough and the information certainly will present both today and in the report. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you Robert. Thank you. We'll take it to the boat. Thank you. That's the panellists, noting Councillor Phillips online. Thank you.
00:04:00 Now we're moving to item 7.2, the Noosaville foreshore infrastructure master plan. Before we start, I'd just like to say that there has been a request from two councillors to move this directly to general, given the significance of the matter. However, we'll welcome staff to the table now to provide us a quick overview of the matter. Director Walsh: Thank you, Chair. You might note that Project Manager Dean Arnold is in attendance. He's on extended overseas leave. So, Aidan and I are a second poor substitute for Dean's work, supported by Cheyenne. So, he was very happy for us to present it to this meeting. Councillor Finzel: So, thank you. Director Walsh: Noosaville foreshore is a beautiful and popular location for residents and visitors. It's where the coast and the suburbs and the hinterland come together and our people promenade, launch boats, stroll, picnic and swim and enjoy. Against a stunning backdrop of the river and the hinterland.
7.2 NOOSAVILLE FORESHORE INFRASTRUCTURE MASTERPLAN ¶
00:05:00 However, it's experiencing challenges from ageing infrastructure, tidal inundation, river flooding and erosion, as well as increasing visitors. The infrastructure master planning process that we've undertaken over the last two years has been very important to establish a shared vision for the space with our community. So, we ensure required infrastructure replacement meets the mark and meets climate challenges. A master plan is also fundamental to attract funding from the state and federal governments. As a sign of broad community support and a student investment for their valuable funds. The first iteration of the draft plan that was released in 2024 didn't get it right. The design approach was too overly modern and the community had no appetite to relocate car parking spaces to liberate valuable green space and better cycling lanes. However, the second iteration of the plan that we're receiving today has met community expectations with a softer, more responsive design and bracing for the future. It also provides sound direction for infrastructure replacement.
00:06:00 A key focus for the finalisation of this draft plan has been significant community engagement including many one on one conversations, pop up meetings as well as display on Council's website and media channels that has indicated significant community support for this modified approach. I'll hand over to Aimee just to briefly touch on infrastructure and then over to Shea to talk about climate resilience. Speaker 4: So, the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan was launched last year. It will allow Council to strategically renew infrastructure such as pathways, playgrounds and re-environment walls in line with the 20-year vision for that area. Council has successfully received grant funding for projects such as the Changing Places facility in Coyda Park, based on the Noosaville Fortial Master Plan information, which is 100% funded through SCQCSP grant funding, at a value of approximately $1.8 million.
00:07:00 Council has currently applied for additional renewal projects through grant funding sources such as the re-environment wall through DRF funding, which will be 50-50 funded by Council and state government. Council are currently investigating other projects. There are grant opportunities such as growing regions for Pirate Park playground and other playgrounds along the foreshore. Speaker 2: With regard to foreshore resilience, we were successful in receiving $100,000 of grant funding from the state government and LGAQ to undertake a study on foreshore resilience options through the Crude Coast 2100 program. That study has been integrated into the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan. The project set out to address three problems. The primary challenges are foreshore erosion, foreshore inundation due to sea level rise,
00:08:00 and extreme heat, which are projected to increase in the future due to climate change. We worked with expert river catchment consultants and partnered with the University of Sunshine Coast to develop solutions that complement and enhance the existing Noosaville natural character, improving ecological and environmental sustainability of the foreshore at the same time as improving resilience to growing risks. Through the project, we deployed microclimate sensors on the foreshore. We undertook urban heat island modeling, analyzed the existing site context and projected impacts, assessed nature-based foreshore and shoreline options through a multi-criteria analysis, developed a 12D foreshore model, and developed concept designs that can be taken forward for future detailed design projects. This has led to a set of design responses that are in keeping with the natural Noosa look and feel by using nature-based solutions, cool refuge areas with large shade trees and cool breezes, and non-intrusive, innovative, and living foreshores to ensure the future resilience of this critical community space to tidal inundation, heat waves, and erosion
00:09:00 in the future. Thank you. Director Walsh: Thanks Sian. That's the end of our introduction. We just wanted to thank the community for their diligent submissions and conversations to ensure we get this draft plan right. Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you all so much. Given the significance of the matter and the amount of community engagement, and I do acknowledge the work of all stakeholders, including our community engagement, our staff, and everyone who has been on the journey, we all understand it's been a very complex and tumultuous journey, but we've arrived here, which is absolutely fantastic. So I'm going to move the motion that due to the significance of the matter, we take this to the general meeting. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: I'm happy to second it, Madam Chair. Councillor Finzel: Could councillors ask any questions first? Mayor Wilkie: Well, once it's been moved and seconded, you're still free to ask questions. Yes. Councillor Finzel: Yes, of course. Would you like to present a question? Mayor Wilkie: You need to speak first to the motion, Madam Chair.
00:10:00 Councillor Finzel: Yes. Mayor Wilkie: Which is that it be moved to the general meeting. Councillor Finzel: Yes. I've spoken to the motion the other way. But anyway, I'm moving it due to the significance of the matter. That has been a request that's come through from the councillors, and I feel that to give it its due time for questioning by all councillors around the table, I think it is prudent that we move it directly to the general. However, if you have a councillor at the table that would like to ask a few questions today, you're more than welcome to do so. Councillor Wilson: I'll start with hopefully a quick one, then I think Councillor Phillips has some. Could you just talk us through the process from Hinyu and kind of what a master plan level of detail represents compared to the more detailed planning that might come further down the track? And particularly thinking about it being a 20-year vision, and things obviously will change within that 20 years. So how locked in are we to certain aspects of the plan at the moment, and how might things sort of evolve over time? Director Walsh: In a master plan, the words are actually more fundamentally important than the actual
00:11:00 visuals and the graphics, so about the principles that you apply. And that's why there's a lot of visuals and concepts sort of at the front end of the document. So they're the overarching things that we'll apply. And then as we have funding available for each section of the foreshore, we'll actually reinterpret visually what's relevant to the community. Because we'll be doing a much more detailed design exercise with councillors, with the community, with the internal stakeholders, and also approval authorities, so that things will be tweaked and changed. And we'll also be able to take on new information. Sometimes there's also stakeholders who have specific requests which might emerge, you know, later in the process, in two or three years' time, and it gives them an opportunity to actually look at it again. So, you know, if you think about some of the master plans that council's done in the past, the Koi Loa Mills site master plan was a series of visual graphics that the on-ground realisation is very, very successful and the community love it, but it looks quite different. So because the words are what's important in the overall master plan. Thank you.
00:12:00 Councillor Finzel: Just a question. I'm coming off the back of it. So this really is about councillors ratifying a draft and giving community another opportunity to have their say, is it? Director Walsh: No, no, this is actually proposing to finalise the master plan. This is endorsing the changes that we've made to the document and noting that we've had a series of workshops with the councillors to go through the changes to the document. So this is the end of the engagement process for this draft master plan. But I just wanted to note that, of course, if we start a design process for Pirates Playground, for instance, we'll need to do detailed community consultation for that part of it. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, councillor. Councillor Finzel: Councillor Phillips, do you have any questions? Councillor Phillips: I do have a few, but because it's gone to general, thank you. I will probably, Shaun, I just didn't have time to get some of them to you. So maybe just today I'll ask a couple and then I'll send them through just to be ready
00:13:00 for the general meeting, please. The first question is probably to Cheyenne to get some more information. I just wanted to get some more information about the microclimate sensors that we used. And I just wanted to know how they were validated with multi-seasonal or multi-year data, or was it a trial that was done for a certain period of time? Do you think you could just expand on how that particular part of the report is done? Thank you. Speaker 2: Yeah, Jess, I could probably take on the technical details of that one. I don't know if you can notice and get back to you, but we deployed around 14 microclimate sensors. We had them around a year, which was enough to set up the existing conditions for the NVMET model that University of Sunshine Coast ran for us. It's a model, an urban microclimate model and a urban heat island model that's widely used in planning, urban development planning and climate adaptation.
00:14:00 I relied on University of Sunshine Coast BASCS lab to provide the expertise around whether that data was sufficient to calibrate that model, which they said it was. But I can get you further details on that and take the rest of that on notice for sure. Councillor Phillips: That'd be wonderful, because I guess the other thing that I know community have asked is probably just more around the baseline. If the data shows something today, what was the baseline that that's referring to? So happy for that to be on notice. And again, sorry that didn't come through before today. My next question, just in relation to, it refers to a couple of policies from Council that has helped form the master plan. In particular, the CHAP, which I was just wondering, given that my understanding is
00:15:00 that there's an accelerated pace of climate science that's in most recently some weather changes. We've had cyclone or tropical cyclone Alfred. So we've had some extreme weather events. But how do we use a 2021 document when to influence a 20 year master plan? Director Walsh: So primarily the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Plan and also the supporting plan. And that's a very astute part of that plan. And those mapping layers are all publicly available on Council's mapping system for the community to understand those impacts. So that's been embraced in the infrastructure master plan. Sean, did you want to say anything additional to that? Speaker 2: No, that's yeah. Sean's covered it. I mean, we use those projections, which is based on the best available science.
00:16:00 And evidence to inform the design solutions that we implement in this in this plan. So the plan is taking into consideration the growing future risks and making sure that we don't take an action that will increase and exacerbate that risk into the future. Councillor Phillips: Okay. And because this is probably not my area, definitely not my area of expertise when they look at projects and projections 2040, 2070. Do they look at the worst case scenario or do they somehow, you know, even it out or towards the middle? How do they predict those projections? Speaker 2: There's a number of components that go into the projections for sea level rise, but we followed the Queensland State Government technical guidelines on which sea level to use for those different time periods. As well as a number of other factors that localize the impacts.
00:17:00 So, yeah, we follow state technical guidelines and the 0.8 meters of sea level rise by 2100 is not the worst case scenario. Director Walsh: I think it's based on a moderate or middle range scenario from our recollection, Shayan. Is that correct? Speaker 2: It's the middle range of the RCP 8.5, which is a higher emission scenario for 2100 by recent science and the six assessment report by the IPCC. The IPCC increases that range a little bit. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. Another couple of questions. I just wanted to specifically, since car parking was an issue, and I do also want to thank you because you can tell this master plan is certainly from the last year come back at a lesser scale, which is what community really wanted and keeping the tennis court and things that were really valuable to so many people.
00:18:00 And we saw that through that process. So thank you for acknowledging that. But just specifically on car parks then, can you tell me the total net loss of the car parking spaces across the entire master plan? Director Walsh: Aidan, do you want to give the summary on the number of spaces at Noosaville foreshore and how many are lost generally? Speaker 4: Yeah. So along Noosaville foreshore, there's approximately 404 car park spaces. Adjacent to the boat ramp, which is I think where this question might be directed, there's 14 existing car parking spaces. Based on this plan, where the footpath will be widened to three and a half metres to provide safe access past the boat ramp. The projected car parks would be four car parks and 18 motorcycle spaces. So that would be a loss of 10 car parks.
00:19:00 So from 14 to four. But the addition of 18 motorbike or scooter parks and a three and a half metre wide pathway inclusion. Councillor Phillips: Okay. Thank you. I note it down further towards the master plan. So between Masso and Jetty 17, I think it is in that area there, there was also a car park loss. Right near opposite depot there, from the plan, it looks like the ones that are parallel have been taken out as well. Could you just confirm that or am I looking at it? Director Walsh: Is that adjacent to the Masso slipway? Is that what you're referring to? Councillor Phillips: Yeah. So there's that section in, I want to call it like a dual area where there's a lot of car parking in inside. And then I know that there's also car parks out. Have you just switched that around or can you just explain that to me better? Director Walsh: So feedback from Masso slipway is that they would like to appreciate to have greater landscape buffer from the pathway to their slipway to maintain safety, which is also fundamental.
00:20:00 The Masso slipway is living heritage as part of the river and it's a great place to stop and watch. So their concerns are legitimate. So the suggestion in the master plan is to actually, rather than having an internal driveway servicing car parking spaces adjacent to Masso slipway, is to actually put those car parking spaces directly accessed off the street. So in terms of a different configuration, to actually provide room for the pathway and a landscape buffer. The initial indications from the consultants are that it's at no net loss of car parking spaces. So whilst it's a different configuration, it's a lot safer. It's a lot safer for the slipway and also allows us to achieve the wider cycle path and the wider side pathway in that location. Councillor Phillips: Okay, thanks for clarifying that. And in relation then, that sort of flows onto my next question around the 3.5 metre pathway.
00:21:00 Can I get the minimum width required to meet TMR accessibility standards? Director Walsh: Do you want to answer that, Aidan? Yeah. Speaker 4: Yeah. So I can probably take that on notice to come back with the exact, but I think for accessibility, I'm pretty sure it's 1.2 metres wide for a pathway. The 3.5 metres is based on the diesel walking and cycling strategy and the hierarchy for pathways. So this is a coastal, it's a, I think it's primary recreational corridor. So the 3.5 metre width is a desirable minimum width for our pathway for shared use. Director Walsh: And I think it's important to reflect on this recommendation from staff is that we have a significant pedestrian and cyclist conflict with the driveways to the boat ramp. And that's actually interfering with efficient use of the boat ramp.
00:22:00 And the best mechanism to actually encourage pedestrians and cyclists to actually go around the traffic areas of the boat ramp. Is to provide a wide, comfortable path that they feel naturally use. And the current pathway between the roadway and the boat ramp is not comfortable nor wide enough. So people naturally spill across and use the driveway areas of the boat ramp. So I think, you know, if we're interested in trying to how to reconcile these competing uses and efficient use and safe use of the boat ramp, we also need to provide a much wider, more comfortable and enjoyed, enjoyable shared path adjacent to it. And that's the reason why. The staff have recommended, you know, a wide path in that location to achieve that outcome. Speaker 4: For grant funding. So for to obtain grant funding on the principal cycle network through TMR, we find it extremely difficult to get relaxations to 2.5 metre width. So generally they'll want to see three metres or above.
00:23:00 Speaker 2: And councillor, it's probably important to just note that, that, that the micros close to the boat ramp is the hardest part of the foreshore. So having vegetated shade path along that boat ramp edge is really important. Councillor Phillips: Okay. Thank you. Um, just, I will, like I said, I'll email through so that I'm not, um, there was just one more that I had, please. Uh, there was some feedback, um, again, that the, the plan, the original plan was, um, that it was, you know, too large. And it's intense, but, um, it's been down, downscaled, which, um, is appreciated by so many. But there's, there was talk about, um, in feedback that people wanted minimal intervention. And so I guess specifically I wanted to talk about the overwater promenades, um, and just wondering how that fits in with the minimal intervention.
00:24:00 Cause I think there's still some, some feedback that, um, it may still be too, too much. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Director Walsh: Um, I'll, I'll review the submissions in detail over that, um, specific point, but I, I can't recollect anything, um, particularly adverse coming in through the submissions about, uh, the overwater boardwalk in that location at the eastern end of East Foreshore. Um, it noted that we had significantly downsized that area, um, and the feedback we'd received previously is that the previous boardwalk in that location was too much of an attraction and the residents wanted it to be a lot more low key. So it served as a comfortable place to move through, um, and, um, enhance the viewing scape, you know, in that location, but not act as a, as a, um, um, as a, an attractor. We do also note that that area is incredibly unattractive with the rock wall in that location and provides the narrowest footpath of any location. We also know it's a popular place for people of less abilities to gather because it's actually got the best vantage point of both the river mouth and to the hinterland of the mountains.
00:25:00 So we think on balance, we've achieved a really good outcome that makes the area more attractive. It's fairly low key in its approach and will be very useful for the people who enjoy it the most. So, um, but, uh, in preparation for the general committee, I'll pull out any feedback that we've got specifically about the extent of that, uh, reduced boardwalk in that location. Councillor Phillips: Thank you, Shaun. I appreciate that. And, um, maybe just I'll notice that there'll be a, um, a question around the Chaplin Park or to the, um, other side then, because there's on the plan, it looks like there's proposed boardwalk in along there as well. So I just wanted to touch on that. Director Walsh: Yeah, I think it's proposed to be an elevated walkway. Um, that could be both an earth structure or a boardwalk, and that is to do with usability during tidal inundation at Chaplin Park is at the most risk from frequent tidal inundation and ensure it's usable for users. Um, you know, the idea of an elevated, uh, uh, walkway is probably imperative.
00:26:00 It's a technique that's used by, for instance, Brooklyn City Council throughout the Boondall wetlands so that they can maintain usability, um, due through tidal inundation. Councillor Phillips: Okay. Thank you. Um, and just one last question then, um, I'm circling back to the, the wider pathways. Um, I just think of what the foreshore looks like now, you know, and what everyone loves about it. And I wondered if there's been a visual impact assessment done on how the wider pathway may actually alter the character of, of the place. Director Walsh: Well, I think at a primary level, I think the erosion paths you're seeing in the, in the dirt, you're seeing either side of the existing pathway significantly degrade the overall, you know, visual amenity of the place. And I think that when we go to actually do the detailed design for the pathway, um, those sorts of parameters will need to be, have a lot more detail about what trees, you know,
00:27:00 winding the path in and around the trees, you know, um, improving the amount of landscaping and soft lawn areas and the like. So, um, um, I, you know, I, I say, honestly, that it hasn't been a detailed visual impact assessment. Um, but I think also if you did a visual impact assessment at the moment, you'd actually get a fairly poor outcome from the infrastructure that's in the Noosaville foreshore due to this level of degradation and disrepair. Councillor Phillips: Okay. Thank you. I don't have any further questions until Monday, but I'll get them to you beforehand. Thanks. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Phillips. Thank you, staff. Um, is there any questions from the gallery? I know Councillor Morriston has walked into the room. Do we have any questions? No, Ben, you're awake till Monday. Fantastic. All right. Thank you. Um, thank you to the staff. Thank you for taking the questions. Thank you. Uh, and we look forward to hearing further from you at the tournament.
00:28:00 Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. I'll exercise my right to speak, Madam Chair. Oh, yes, of course. Yes. I'd like to reiterate the Chair, Madam Chair's words. There's been a lot of work done in this. There's, it's a, a vastly improved redesign. Uh, it's great. I, uh, just listening to your feedback to the questions, it's good to take a, a broader view, a broader perspective on what's happening in the entire precinct in regards to car parking, the need for wider shared pathways, and the fact that there's a 20-year plan where we know that the demand for access to this area, the number of people wanting to use it, walking on these paths is going to increase, the number of runners on the paths are going to increase, the number of people on e-bikes are going to increase, the number of people in wheelchairs are going to increase, and we need to accommodate that over the next 20 years. And I understand fully why you're going to a 3.5-metre shared pathway. Also, um, uh, I'll note that in a lot of the area on the foreshore, there's two pathways.
00:29:00 But, um, and on the, the, uh, northern side of the boat ramp where there is one pathway, there's plenty of verge either side of the pathway. But the, the boat ramp really is a pinch point. Whereas, um, anywhere else you can step off the path if people on e-bikes are coming towards you around the boat ramp. If you step off the path to accommodate people on bicycles or wheelchairs or anything, you're stepping either onto the roadway or into the car park at the boat ramp. So I fully understand the reasons why it's recommended we have a wider shared pathway in that location. Um, it's not being done for any ideological reasons. It's being done for very pragmatic, inclusive and accessibility reasons. Um, and, uh, as we've mentioned, there'll be more discussion about this on, at the General on Monday. And thank you very much for your factual answers today and the work you've done today.
00:30:00 Okay. Thank you, councillors. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Thank you. We're going to take it to the vote, turn the order forward. All in favour? Cheers. Councillor Jess? Thank you. Thank you. Uh, moving along to, um, reports for noting by the committee. Uh, we're down to item 8.1, the operational plan 2022-25, Q3 quarterly reporting. We welcome staff to the table. Good afternoon. Speaker 6: Good afternoon, councillors. Good afternoon. Mr Johnsey. Councillor Finzel: Uh, would you like to give us a brief overview of the report, please? Speaker 6: Yes. Uh, this report, as he said, is for noting. It provides a progress update for council's current operational plan for the year 24-25. The annual operational plan is a key component of in-council strategic planning framework. And the initiatives that are contained in the operational plan are designed to fulfil, uh,
8 REPORTS FOR NOTING BY THE COMMITTEE ¶
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8.1 OPERATIONAL PLAN 2024-25 Q3 QUARTERLY REPORTING ¶
00:31:00 the objectives of council's five-year corporate plan, 23-20. The local government regulation prescribes that a quarterly progress update is prior to council, and this report, um, provides the third-quarter update of the current operational plan. Um, in summary, so you will be aware by now, after, uh, two updates provided already, that there are 107 initiatives in our, uh, operational plan. Of these 107 initiatives, 81 initiatives are, um, expected to be completed as scheduled within, uh, the next year. Uh, this financial year. Um, I should also note that as we speak, uh, about the third-quarter update, it's really the timeframe from the 1st of January to the 31st of March. Um, there's a slight, there's been a slight delay in bringing this to you because we've rolled out, uh, the reporting system, um, across council as well, in which, uh, the initiatives
00:32:00 are reported on, and the report is, is based on the original slide. Um, so, of those, um, 81 initiatives, it's roughly 76% that, uh, are expected to be completed. Uh, notable achievements in the third quarter, uh, were the community grants policy, uh, the compliance and enforcement policy, the Pomona Place Plan, the public art policy, housing monitoring program, and the NAC, uh, housing monitoring program. Um, there's a significant, uh, upgrade plan. So, quite significant pieces of work that were completed in the third quarter. 18 initiatives, or roughly 17%, um, are experiencing minor disruptions. However, these are anticipated to be finalized over the coming months. It can be due to adverse weather conditions, um, resource limitations, um, or also increased
00:33:00 community interest, which we, for example, had for the development of the, of the, of the, um, the Noosaville Pretended Garden, um, master plan. Um, so we do expect, uh, these two to, um, be finalized, uh, within the next few months. However, there's also eight initiatives, or roughly 7%, that are experiencing major disruptions. One of them is the, uh, Noosaville Portia Infrastructure Management Plan. It's quite, quite nice to, to hear that this is part of this, uh, meeting round. Um, so while there, there has been a major disruption, um, these items still progressing and, um, will come to completion. And, um, the, one, the reason for this disruption was that the, as you, well, remember, there was significant, uh, community feedback, um, that had to be considered, and, uh, the plan had to be reshaped, uh, in response to that.
00:34:00 Um, those increased time requirements, in itself, caused, um, delays in the development And we have a number of other projects that are in the planning and management plan. But these are again, I'm sharing with them to be further progressed in the new operation plan, 2526. And completions anticipate within that time frame then. There's also one notable item is the community strategy, which has experienced major disruption. This is due to a resource limitation. Then the report also provides an overview of key operational performance indicators, which the performance is consistent with previous quarters.
00:35:00 And so there's with potential effects of the protected industrial action to be visible maybe in the next quarter, which then covers 1st of April until end of February. That's the financial year, but it's not visible. And we don't know what shape they may become visible in those key performance indicators. Overall, it's a very good progress on the operational plan. And with the majority of items anticipated to be completed in this financial year. That sums it up. Councillor Finzel: Thank you for your summary. Speaker 5: My pleasure. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Do we have any questions? Mayor Wilkie: Maybe a question for Larry or Nancy. The operational plan reflects bite-sized chunks of our actions under the corporate plan. Corporate plan 2023 to 2028, we're halfway through that.
00:36:00 How are we tracking in regards to the objectives of our corporate plan as reported in our operational plans over that five year period? Speaker 5: So yeah, the operational plan is an annual plan, but it reflects the objectives and ambitions of the corporate plan for five years. So we're halfway through. It's safe to say that our corporate plan is a very ambitious corporate plan, very broad, takes in a whole lot. And that's part of what we do here at Noosa. We like to try to do as much as we possibly can to cater for as many different wants and needs of our community. We are tracking exceptionally well, I've got to say. We'll be bringing a report to council in a briefing session very soon to just give you a better oversight of that over the longer term, if you like. Whereas this is just the annual report, the quarterly report of an annual report.
00:37:00 But we'll be bringing that to you. But the executive actually reflected on that a couple of months ago. And actually, you know, sometimes you've got to head down and you don't take time to step back and see exactly what we've done. And I think that we're achieving some really, really great things. As I say, a very ambitious five year plan. So we'll be happy to bring that to you in the near future. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. Anything further? Mayor Wilkie: Just looking at the KPIs for staff turnover rate. And for March it's dramatic. We're dramatically under the 2022-23 figure. Consistent with the 2021 figure. We're under 21-22. We're a little bit above 23-24 for March. So it looks like things seem to be stabilising in terms of staff turnover.
00:38:00 As opposed to a high in 21-22. Which looks like it was in COVID when the rate... It's really, according to this graph, spiralled up to 37% in June 21-22. So what's your observations of what's happening with the employment market? Speaker 5: Look, we're subject, like every organisation, to the ebbs and flows of the market. And people's wills. But I think the 21-22 was the end of COVID when people sort of had been locked down. And then it was time to look to move on. So there was quite a bit of movement there. It was the period of the great resignation for long. But I think we've worked very hard to reclaim that. And worked with the organisation in terms of trying to provide a good workplace and a stable workforce. Again, we're still subject to ebbs and flows and people moving around.
00:39:00 And sometimes we're subject to our own success. You know, we bring people in. We train them up. We give them some really good skills. And then they get approached or they move on to bigger and better things. So, you know, we've cut the walk or, you know, accepting of that. But there's no doubt we need to continue to work on maintaining our workforce. But we'll see in the future budgets. We're working hard on our training of our staff and making sure the staff that we have here are either kept or enticed to come here through a good workplace and somewhere where they can actually develop their skills and utilise those skills. Mayor Wilkie: Last year we were hearing from staff that they were having difficulty attracting applicants in various positions. And now, anecdotally, I'm hearing from the same staff that there's a fight about the number of applicants here for positions.
00:40:00 Is this your... Speaker 5: That's my observation as well. It has changed quite a bit. In some of the areas where we're now selecting or going out to the market, we're finding that there's a lot more people looking for roles, which is great. So we've got a better choice. However, in some of the areas, it's still very tight. There's no project management. There's still so much work going on outside of our council to get people in those areas and our planning areas. Some of the areas are still very tight. Some of the other areas have really seen a bit of a standpoint. It's absolutely one where we've struggled to fill our positions. But, you know, again, it's in flows. But, you know, some of the areas have really opened up and that's been a good sign for us. Thanks. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Michelle. Our centre's been moved to the general? Councillor Finzel: Yes, it's been requested due to the significance of the matter to move it to the general.
00:41:00 Okay. And I do believe it's probably a wonderful opportunity for the board of councillors to, you know, pull out something specific that they might want to highlight, you know, a praise point or, you know, a pitch point. And just so I think, yes, it's a good idea. I just have a question to John C, off the back of the CEO's point there, we're looking at the people, also the value of the help desk and the IT, I notice in the KPIs here, we're closing our requests within 48 hours, I think that's really important, we're engaging with our community, I know as councils we're doing a lot of work on that, I think that's really important.
00:42:00 I think that's really good, we're looking at our customer service, because that's what we're here for, we're here for our residents. Speaker 6: I've spoken with the manager of ICT and the increase or the bettering of the response time was actually an increase in the staff member, which basically provided additional resources for a faster response, which in itself would make a good business case for him to ask from the staff. Speaker 5: Well that's fantastic, return on investment. Speaker 6: But yeah, that's my understanding, because obviously when I reviewed these KPIs, whenever there was a bit of a trend, I questioned that and that was the response provided, there was additional resource allocated to provide that service. Oh that's great. Unlike the customer service KPIs where we also see a decrease in time for people waiting in the queue, that is basically likely due to customers.
00:43:00 The customer service team now, having moved into one central location, where the exchange of information is much improved, so that means if there's a tricky customer or like a tricky question, that there's the staff readily available to provide assistance and help them provide the response to that, that's why we see a decrease in phone queue time there. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, that's right, that's where our community wants to be. That we're giving those efficiencies and supporting them in, you know, getting the outcomes that they're looking for. Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, that's right, thank you. All right, yes, we're going to move that, excuse me, we've got a question from Councillor Tom. Yep, thank you.
00:44:00 Councillor Wegener: Going to the 3.1.2, talking about that new economic development smart buy-in strategy. Mm-hmm. Action plan, and on the, on the right, there's quite a lot of aspirational points there that, that did be discussed, including the business core program for businesses, food and agri-hub, proof of concept, strategy, strategic employment of land project, expression of interest, things like that. I would, I would really suggest having a, a meeting with hingeland businesses, and, you know, perhaps through the, especially the farmers, agriculture sector, to talk about this and how to actually have a, a, a, an implementation plan or, a, a, a plan or a, a way to support them, or at least give, give the smaller businesses information on what they need to, to start businesses out there.
00:45:00 Because it has been hard, and I know that the new planning commitments do actually ease some of the restrictions on businesses, so I'd really like to, to, to suggest that we look into this for small businesses in the hingeland, because that, that's really going to be a strong part of our economy going forward, especially now that short-term accommodation is no longer viable out there, no longer legal to take over all those properties out there. They need to make a buck. Mm-hmm. And so we want to support them. Mm-hmm. And so we want to support them in doing that, and not because we've taken away STAs. Councillor Finzel: Mm-hmm. Yes. Do you have a specific question, Councillor? Councillor Wegener: Would that be something that, that, that, Councillor would be interested in looking into? That, that would be it. Councillor Finzel: Ken's got a hand up. Yeah. Ken, would you like to make a comment? Sure. Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks, Councillor Finzel. Thank you, Councillor Wegener. That's a great suggestion, and we're very happy to support hingeland businesses and provide information on, you know, what, what, what's the process and, and how we can support you to, to establish, establish your businesses in the hingeland.
00:46:00 So very happy to take on board that suggestion. Councillor Finzel: Thank you. All right. Moving forward then, we'll take it, all right, so we're at the point back where we're, due to the significance of the matter, we're going to move a motion to... Okay. ...to forward it to the general meeting. Do you have your... Would you have done, Madam Chair, yes. Would you have done? Yeah. I'm having a second. Mm-hmm. And we'll take... Yes. I have a right to speak. Madam Chair. Thank you. Mm-hmm. We'll take it to the vote. All in favour? Yes. Councillor Jess, that's a yes. That's unanimous. Thank you. Thank you, Johnston. Thank you. Speaker 5: You're good, yes. Councillor Finzel: So there is no confidential session, and it brings us to the meeting closure at 2.16 PM.
00:47:00 I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the CNO, the councillors, and...
9 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION ¶
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.
10 MEETING CLOSURE ¶
Council's recording ends before this item. Where a meeting resolved to close its doors, that is what the end of the recording means — see what council discussed in private.