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General Committee - 17 November 2025 Transcript

Monday 17 November 2025 · 2 hours 54 minutes of recording · 1,795 lines · 14 voices, 7 named

This is a machine transcript of council's recording, produced by automatic speech recognition and not checked line by line against the video. Councillor and place names are corrected where a human has approved the correction; everything else is what the model heard. Quote the recording, not this page — every timestamp below opens council's own video at that second. Recording © Noosa Shire Council; the transcript is ours, made from it so the meeting can be searched and read.

Speakers: the machine separated 14 voices and names 7 of them — only where the recording itself establishes who it is (they introduced themselves, were called on by name, or their voice matches meetings where they were). The others stay “Speaker N”. Hover a name to see why it is there.

Before the first item

00:00:00

00:00:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Some of us looked a little bit more dishevelled than normal, particularly three people here. We're all partaking in Movember, a very good cause for men's health. I will now declare the meeting open and acknowledge that we have all councillors present, and I will acknowledge that we're meeting on Kabi Kabi land and respect the contributions made to this place by Elders past, present and emerging, and to reflect also that one of our matters today deals with the local area, with the Royal Mail, which has been a meeting place for locals ever since the pioneer times, and Indigenous people here gathered here for annual oyster festivals, and there's large oyster mounds here. And if you look at the application in front of us today, it is a really icon in terms of European culture in Tewantin as well. So we acknowledge that there's been contributions made to this community over a long time, to make the place what it is today.

3 ATTENDANCE & APOLOGIES

▶ 00:00:36

Nothing was transcribed under this heading — a stretch of the recording with no speech the model could make out.

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

▶ 00:00:39

00:01:00 As I've mentioned, we have no apologies, everyone's in attendance. Can I have someone to move the confirmation of the minutes of the General Committee meeting on 13th October? Moved by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Amelia. I presume there is no discussion. All in favour? That's unanimous. We have no deputations or presentations. So we move on to the first item. And that is MCU 23 0090.02, Application for a Minor Change to a Development Approval for Material Change of Use Hotel, Extension to Existing Hotel and DW 23073.02, Building Work Demolition at 118 Poinciana Avenue and 26 Diyan Street, Tewantin. And that's been referred from the Planning Environment Committee meeting. And we have Patrick and Richard. Oh, we've got a declaration by Councillor Wilson.

4.1 GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 13 OCTOBER 2025

▶ 00:01:44· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

00:02:00 Speaker 6: In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest for item 7.1 MCU 23 0090.02, Application for a Minor Change to a Development Approval for Material Change of Use Hotel, Extension to Existing Hotel and DW 23 0073.02, Building Work Demolition at 118 Poinciana Avenue and 26 Diyan Street, Tewantin on this agenda today because I have a financial interest in a neighbouring property that may be affected by the outcome of this application. As a result of my conflict of interest, I will now leave the meeting room while the matter is considered and voted on. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: If we could have an executive summary.

7.1 MCU23/0090.02 - APPLICATION FOR A MINOR CHANGE TO A DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE - HOTEL (EXTENSION TO EXISTING HOTEL) AND DBW23/0073.02 BUILDING WORK (DEMOLITION) AT 118 POINCIANA AVENUE AND 26 DIYAN STREET, TEWANTIN (Item 7.1 Referred from Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 11 November 2025)

▶ 00:02:03· Carried 6-0 · 2 divisions from council's minutes

00:03:00 Sorry, Patrick. Speaker 4: If this is a summary, thanks. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As you have said it, it is a minor change to the existing development approval for the site. The key proposed changes are the addition of a 78m2 outdoor playground area in the northern beer garden, amendments to the noise conditions and associated operational parameters. That would include the removal of the requirement for amplified music to cease at 7pm. Also, the applicant is seeking the removal of conditions limiting the number of gaming machines and the requirement for end-of-trip facilities, being showers and lockers. The revised application was... When it was originally submitted, the revised application was supported by an acoustic report and our initial review before accepting that application was that we were not satisfied that the report suitably demonstrated that the proposed changes would not result in further impacts

00:04:00 associated with the development, primarily around the noise associated with the playground. That was a very key point that needed to be clarified because if it wasn't a minor change application, it would be another change application and would require re-notification. So an action notice was issued on this basis because the applicant had applied for a minor change and the applicant went away and provided a more robust acoustic report that was reviewed by our acoustic consultant prior to the acceptance of the application and it was able to be determined that the proposed changes would not result in the exacerbation of the known impacts and that therefore, the application was accepted as a minor change. And in that regard, the acoustic modelling looked at the playground area and did an analysis of the

00:05:00 playground being occupied by 30 children at a time, 15 of those being at ground level and 15 of those at an elevated level upon the playground equipment. It also included further modelling around the use of amplified music within the venue and that being in part located at the northernmost end when there were entertainers with the speakers facing in a southerly direction. Again, the acoustic consultant reviewed the report and was satisfied with the modelling that was undertaken to demonstrate that the changes were supportable from an acoustic point of view. The changes do result in the installation of the increased acoustic barriers, some of which are located on the playground equipment. In terms of that acoustic reports also looked at the modelling around the speakers and the amplified

00:06:00 music and has come up with suitable conditions on changes to the conditions in that regard. The removal of the end of trip facilities is not supported on the basis that the scheme does have provisions we seek for alternate means to access the site and get those services to be on the site to facilitate those different forms of access. In terms of the removal of the conditions relating to the gaming machines, Council is not the authority in determining the number of gaming machines for a site. There is a separate process through the Office of Appearance Gaming through which increases are applied for and managed and in some instances involved.

00:07:00 To the community. Due to this, it's recommended that that condition be deleted and again, retention of conditions around the end of trip facilities. The recommendation has been, the conditions supporting the recommendation have been slightly tweaked. There was a need to amend condition 23 to correctly... Thank you.

00:08:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Do we have any questions? Councillor Wilkie. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, Patrick. You mentioned that by believing Condition 52 acknowledges that Council has no power to limit the number of county emissions under the Planning Act and the Planning Scheme. You discussed it briefly last week, but for the benefit of those who may be listening, could you reiterate the benefit for what an advisory note might indicate in its place? Speaker 4: So the decision notice will include conditions and there will also be a section within the decision notice titled advisory notes. And advisory notes are a non-reinforceable component of the decision, but they do provide Council with the opportunity to reinforce, a requirement to comply with other forms of legislation,

00:09:00 or detail a position in terms of an aspect of the development that is non-reinforceable. Mayor Wilkie: So Condition 52, as it stood, was non-reinforceable in any way? Speaker 4: That is correct. Mayor Wilkie: Mr Chairman, in order to get things going, a motion needs to be moved. I'm prepared to move a motion. Sure. Thank you. It can be amended, depending on where Council is going to go with this. Can you bring up the motion? So, Item B is being changed to note the updated attachment to the minutes, which have those technical corrections. Item C advises that, well, indicates that an advisory note has been added in place of the deleted, condition 2.

00:10:00 And the advisory note states our view that this Council is committed to minimising the social impacts of gaming within the community, and therefore does not support any increase in the number of gaming machines in the rest of Shire. And the rest is as to why. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Do we have a seconder? Seconded by Councillor Wegener. You have the floor. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Chair. As the manager of planning indicated, the updated attachment will not be updated until the end of the year. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. But we can include a conversion note which has people standing under the law which states

00:11:00 the nursing council's position on gaming machines and we do not support any increase in the number of gaming machines in the nursing shop. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Would others wish to talk to the motion? Move an amendment. Councillor Lytton. Councillor Lorentson: Just a question. First of all, I support the amendment. I'm just sort of a little bit curious. This links directly to a notified motion that I'm proposing to bring on Thursday and that's in terms of council actually having a formal policy on gaming machines. At the moment we don't have one. So my question to the CEO is, given the notified motions coming to council on Thursday, is it okay to keep this? Because I don't want to delete it, but a formal policy at this stage council hasn't endorsed.

00:12:00 Just what is your recommendation? Speaker 2: So I can just read it now? I don't think it affects it. Councillor Lorentson: So you're happy? Yeah. And come Thursday? There will be hopefully endorsement of the notified motions so the two work. Great. I'll speak to it and I'm happy to support the advisory note. I keep referring to NUSA doesn't at the moment have a formal policy. We used to be part of the Alliance for Gambling Reform. We stepped away from that I think in 2021. And I think in 2018 we also had a LGAQ motion, which I understand you've just recently written to LGAQ for a follow up.

00:13:00 So given that there is a notified motion coming on Thursday, which hopefully formalises our position in terms of gaming machine. I think this is critical. It's an intent that I think is unanimous around the table. And in council. Thank you for adding that. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I might try my first amendment. Thanks, Cathy. Since it follows on. The one about. Okay. Condition 52. Yep. Oh, we'll need to add to that. All the words that were in. So I'll do it. The intent is to instead of the words delete condition 52. That we include the word the gaming area is limited to 260 metres squared in accordance with approved plans and include the advisory note as we'll get that up if we can.

00:14:00 Okay. Councillor Lorentson: Do you want me to copy and paper that. Councillor Wegener: Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Sorry. It might be a second. Sure. Just sort that. Okay. Mm-hmm. Okay. Okay. Okay. Yeah.

00:15:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: No, you need to put mine up the front and then take out agree to delete condition 52, so everything amended and then put what you had before the words in red and then just the words agreed to delete condition 52 get taken out.

00:16:00 Yes. That's what I'm moving. Sorry, Councillors, I shouldn't have said that before. Do I have a seconder? I think you're seconded. Seconded by Councillor Lorentson. So Councillors, the Mayor was correct in terms of interpretation that we don't have an ability to control the numbers, however, we're dealing with a land use application. The land use application showed an area for gaming, which we don't have an ability to control, which was 260 square metres. It didn't show any increase in that area. I think it's totally appropriate to limit the gaming area to what is there and what is shown on the plans as a land use decision. I think it's also good to add the additional elements as proposed in the original motion about the advisory note in terms of the number of gaming machines. I just think it's an issue that we have previously prosecuted. We know that there is a range of social factors associated with gambling.

00:17:00 We know that Tewantin has a large number of existing gaming machines and any additional growth is not something that we support. We do in this application have the ability, as it's an impact assessable application, to consider any other relevant matter. And while Councillor Lorentson is right, we don't have a specific policy at this stage on our position on gambling. We have had historically taken action to seek to mitigate the impacts of gaming machines or excessive use of gaming machines, but we do have in our corporate plan a commitment to provide opportunities to enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of our community. And when we make this decision, it is about doing that. It's about not necessarily providing an opportunity to do that, but it's about providing an opportunity to do this, but to reducing the potential for activities that would threaten that objective. So I do think it is something we can validly put into a planning application, particularly

00:18:00 since the development application in no way indicated there was an intent for growth from the footprint of the gaming area. Anyone else wish to talk? Councillor Finzel: Well, I just have a question. I'm not sure if you can hear me. I fully support your intent and where you're going around the social impacts and supporting health and wellbeing. The gaming area to be limited to 260 metres square could be a bit of overkill, because I think that's already firmly stated in the plan. Do you think that's relevant that we need to put that in there? That's already clearly stated. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So the original condition had that in there, as well as the number of machines. So I think that's something we need to put in there. So this amendment just takes out the reference to the number of machines, but includes the area that was suggested by staff in the original application.

00:19:00 I suppose it's explicit in terms of the approved plans. Councillor Lorentson: Just a question to Richard or Patrick. Is it better to be more specific and actually have the number of gaming machines, or would you prefer to have the number of gaming machines, or would you prefer to have the number of just the area limited to 260 square metres? Question which is the better or preferred condition as planning experts? Speaker 4: Yeah. It's an interesting one. Sometimes when we do a development approval efforts for a material change of use for a range of users, you might have a condition that says the nature and extent of the users, and it will stipulate the different amount of areas to each of those users. In circumstances where the use itself as a hotel encompasses sub uses within the property it just sort of changes my thinking. I do note as Brian has said it was part of the original officer condition so there may be some validity in actually removing the element.

00:20:00 I don't think we should keep the, more specific to your question, the element around the gaming machines. I think that's problematic in terms of us not being able to regulate the numbers. It is somewhat redundant by virtue of the fact that the actual plans already show the amount of area to be 260 square metres but I'll leave that for Council to decide whether it wants to have a condition that reinforces the plan. Councillor Phillips: Question. Sure. Does this say stop? Stop them from let's say renovating, which is not a reno, but going okay here's another 100 square metres over here. That's the intent, yes. Okay so just, it's really just being very specific around you've already got 260, you can only have 260, so whether you can fit in there.

00:21:00 I think you might be able to make machines smaller. They will come from the notified version but basically we're just, your intent is to say it's 260 and no more. Okay. Thank you. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. I'm happy to support the amendment. I think given that we don't have any legal, any legal levers to restrict the number of gaming machines, I think restricting it in terms of limiting the space allocated to the gaming machines is the next best step. I also want to note that my concerns is just the potential over concentration of gaming machines in Tewantin given, you know, almost across the road. There's a huge concentration of gaming machines, over 130 gaming machines.

00:22:00 And I also want to highlight the proximity of these venues to vulnerable communities, including youth services and residential areas. So happy to support the amendment in front of us. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: So Patrick, if the building is built and all of a sudden you go in there and it's 300 metres square of gaming area, I would assume that something would have to be done. Would this actually change what you would do if you will walk in there and there's 300 metres? Would this have any effect, this amendment? Speaker 4: Well, it does show on the plan 260 square metres. And it's not just an area that we've measured to be 260 square metres. It actually states on the plan that number as a gaming area. So I think there's some element of enforceability associated with that.

00:23:00 Speaker 3: And a condition makes it very explicit as opposed to just relying on the plans, which are generally in accordance. So the condition can be very explicit. And a condition will override any inconsistency on a plan. So it has the higher level of authority, I guess, from an inconsistency and enforceability perspective. Councillor Phillips: Anyone else? I'll speak to support it. I think wherever we can, we've got obligations to make it Council very explicitly say, I think around the table we've spoken about, that we can agree on this one. We see when there's opportunity that we can restrict it. I think we should because it's certainly something that we see hurting community when there's addiction to gambling or not saying that everyone is. So that's just to be clear. But just, yeah, there's certainly social impacts that I feel we have an obligation to make sure we can do what we can.

00:24:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Anyone else wish to talk? Councillor Finzel: Yeah, I'm happy to support it. It's always good to have a bit of extra information. I think it was captured in the plan, but happy to support this to really put out to the community that we support, you know, health and wellbeing. And look towards minimising the impacts and possibilities of increasing opportunity for people to access gaming machines. I think moving forward, you know, I think it's great this opportunity to be able to raise conversations around it and where collectively Noosa Shire sits within this space. I think it'll be great if this can elevate action towards social strategies and further embedding the Council's desire to support health and wellbeing,

00:25:00 aligned with our corporate plan and aligned with our community, who shares those values. So thank you for bringing that forward. And having this conversation around the table where we can have opportunity to clearly state where as a Council in our community that we wish to support strategies and policies or any opportunities that can reinforce our collective views of supporting our values to support health and wellbeing throughout our Shire and especially our young people coming up. So, yeah, thank you everyone around the table. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I don't need to close. I'll put the amendment. That's carried unanimously. It becomes part of the motion. Okay. Councillor Lorentson: I'd like to move an amendment also, please. Councillor Morrison. Mayor Wilkie: 4A. Councillor Lorentson: 4A? Yeah. 4A and 4B. Yeah. 4A first.

00:26:00 So, I'd like to move an amendment. That item F be added to read. That condition 4A be added to read A, the playground located within the Northern Beer Garden must only be available for use between the hours of 10am and 8pm, seven days a week. Outside these hours, the playground area must be closed and access restricted to prevent use. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Second. Second. Councillor Morrison. Councillor Lorentson: Where do I start? I start by saying that the original approval removed the playground and it was reintroduced at a later stage and unfortunately because it went through as a minor change, not as another change.

00:27:00 There was no need for full public notification. So, the amendment that I have in front of us basically gives respect to the original submission where residents, adjoining residents, actually made some detailed submissions just in terms of the playground and in terms of potential impacts. The introduction of the playground at the Northern Beer Garden, I think the site directly interfaces with the homes on Blakeslee Street and I just fear that without limits on operating hours, the noise associated with children playing could extend into early mornings and late evenings when the residents expect peace and quiet. So, setting defined hours of use from 10am to 8pm. Protects residential amenity and provides a fair balance in my opinion between the venue's

00:28:00 operations and the community's rights to reasonable living conditions. Again, I stress that the amendment basically reinforces the importance of respecting the expectations of the residents who participated in the original approval process. The playground was removed during assessment. And its reintroduction raises, to me, some concerns about incremental impacts. So I hope you support the amendment in front of us which supports and respects the concerns raised by the adjoining residents in the original approval process. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Others wish to discuss or ask questions? Mayor Wilkie: Questions? The two consultants, acoustic consultants who recommended acoustic barriers.

00:29:00 Are they intended to adequately mitigate, well, they're intended to adequately mitigate the noise coming from the playground, correct? Speaker 4: That's correct. So we didn't apply conditions around the operating hours because the material supporting the application, from an acoustic point of view, demonstrated that at all times, the sound would be suitable. And the barriers are a part of that. Mayor Wilkie: Yes. And that would include mitigating against the noise of adults from the beer garden? Speaker 4: The modelling looked at a total of 400 patrons in the northern beer garden. Three hundred, sorry, thirty thousand patrons in the northern beer garden. Twenty children on the playground. The use of the amplified speakers and 40 patrons in the southern beer garden on the other

00:30:00 side of the building. Mayor Wilkie: And just a reminder, the hours of operation for the Royal Marble? Speaker 4: I don't, off the top of my head, apologies. Mayor Wilkie: It would be much later than OPA. Speaker 4: Oh, that is correct. It would be later than OPA. Yes. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you. Look, I'll start with a question. I wonder if, given the acoustic consultants for both the council and the applicant have agreed 4.1 metre high acoustic fencing model to mitigate the sounds of 400 patrons in one beer garden, 300 in the other, amplified music, plus 30 children on the playground. I just wonder if restricting the hours that children can, 30 children, up to 30 children can play on the playground is a bit of overkill, and that the noise of children on the playground would be perhaps less than 400 patrons in a beer garden.

00:31:00 Some may think the noise of children on a playground is more enjoyable than 400 adults in a beer garden. And just... I question that this is overstepping and over-regulated, given that we have two consultants agreeing that a 4.1 metre high, maximum 4.1 metre high acoustic barrier fence is adequate to do the job for all the patrons, amplified music, and any children that may be on the playground. Restricting the hours of operation for the playground is... is... just problematic in our view. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Finlayson. Councillor Finzel: Look, I support this amendment. We've just taken a conversation around the table about supporting social strategies, health and well-being, and standing up for the values within our community that reflect our narratives through over-Nurses Shire for many years, I believe.

00:32:00 And also the fact that, you know, this did not go out. The public health and safety act was not approved. I'm sure all of us received concerns from residents about their amenity. I support it. I think that 8pm is a reasonable time to have children out playing on playgrounds. When we're trying to find a balance of, you know, complying to regulations and getting data-based decisions, we also, in my opinion, have to align with lived experience and our own values to come together and support our lived experience and our values. And I see this as a great opportunity,

00:33:00 and I thank Councillor Lorentson for raising it, to have a discussion around the table as to how we want to support our values and our health and wellbeing. And I personally think 8pm for a children's playground, and I understand the reports and I respect that, but the other side of the story is that social... the social aspect and how do we provide that for our community in...as reasonable people. Councillor Phillips: I'll speak to it. I went there for dinner last night with my seven and nine year old because I thought, well, I better... They first asked, is there a playground? I said, not yet. Maybe there isn't one, maybe there is, I'm not sure. Because they said we only want to go somewhere with a playground and both of them took a book and started to run a book. So I am also... I'm aware that maybe I'm a little bit different in my parenting style. We were home and well and truly in bed by 8 o'clock. It was there 7 and 9 and it's Sunday night. So I think we left at 6.45, maybe just before,

00:34:00 in bed by 7.30. So to me, very reasonable 8 o'clock, I think for the kids who are going to be using the playground. I don't know if it's an overstretch. Whenever we go to hotels, the pool always says closed 9 o'clock, I think. So I think it's pretty reasonable to say for those parents that need a little bit of extra enforcement or a sign that helps them say time to go home, time to wind down. They also have ice cream with their kids menu. So it's really important that you would be thinking about trying to let them have a little bit of extra, you know, burn off that sugar on the top. And I think 8 o'clock's reasonable to go home and try and wear it off. So thank you for bringing it, because I do think it comes back to respecting the residents, trying to find balance. We just spoke about the gaming. This is no different. If we can put conditions that help find a balance, I think that's our absolute obligation.

00:35:00 It covers lunchtime, you know, means that kids can be there for lunch with their families. I don't think it's unreasonable. It's not reasonable to say a park should be finished at 8 o'clock. I am supportive of seeing a playground. Not so keen on the way that it's been done, but it is what it is. And then I thought last night looking across the road at the park, if there's not one in the pub, they will probably be running across the street to the playground next door. So I had a bit of, you know, a real think sitting there that it's important that if they can provide it and they're obviously doing the restrictions around it. I do live on the other side of like over Bushlands Way and I can still hear music from the, the, down here at the wharf on a late night. So it does travel. And I know those conditions would have been approved. We can, I think there's still an element of, I believe all the acoustic, you know, treatments and all of that. But it's still, we live in a really beautiful, quiet area at night,

00:36:00 because of, typically this is just, yeah, it's quiet. So I think noise does travel. And whenever we can, we've got a right to make sure, or an obligation to strike a balance for our residents and commercial operation of the pub. So thanks, Amelia, for bringing it in. Councillor Lorentson: A question through the chair, please. Patrick, when I spoke with you regarding the hours of operation, we had a discussion about our local laws. In terms of swimming pools, and when children could swim in pools, and the operating hours of pools. Can you let me know what they are? Speaker 4: I don't, I'm sorry. I don't believe there's anything in the local law that I'm aware of. Councillor Lorentson: But we condition, we have conditions on quite a few occasions.

00:37:00 Speaker 4: I think nine o'clock at night, as Jess said, is quite common in resorts, with, probably, I would expect in a resort, earlier than 10 a.m. Councillor Lorentson: Yep. Speaker 4: When we did the, at Cooroy, at the Bowls Club, I think we did nine o'clock at night. That one is a bit different to this one. In terms of it's smaller. It's at ground level. And there's a building that separates the residential areas from that playground. Councillor Lorentson: That's fantastic. Yep. Thank you very much. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll speak. I appreciate that what council are trying to do is to respond to the concerns raised by the adjoining landholders. And we're in a bit of an unusual situation that we've already had the ability to test whether the measures we put into the approval of the original application were working.

00:38:00 And on opening day, there was quite a crowd there, and you could hear quite a lot of noise as you walk in front of it. But as soon as you go around the corner, the effect of the noise abatement measures was really clear. And while we do want to consider the concerns of the adjoining residents, we have to also be really clear that the expert advice to us is, and I'll read it, with the inclusion of the children's play area and limiting deck speakers to 73 decibels at three metres or live performances via two speakers under the northern awning roof speakers facing south at 78 decibels at three metres, the resultant overall change in noise levels would be minimal and generally imperceptible. So... Sustaining an argument to limit use

00:39:00 based on advice that it makes imperceptible difference is a hard one for me. And as Councillor Phillips mentioned, if we artificially limit children's use of playgrounds, does that actually increase noise nuisance by sending them across the road? I'm not sure. Um, it's just... While it is something that, no doubt, had this been an impact-accessible application that the adjoining residents would have made representations on and they have given us unofficial versions, it's hard to marry that, the need to be so restrictive on a play area, when the advice is imperceptible. And I think also that the 8am... 8pm's probably quite early when... for other applications, 9pm seems to be something that we generally tick off.

00:40:00 So, I don't think I can support it. Mayor Wilkie: Just a question for staff. If this becomes a condition of approval, what happens if a child is playing on this equipment after 8pm? Is the Royal Mail potentially in a breach? And then a breach action may be taken? Speaker 3: That's correct. There will be... Yeah, so if they do breach the conditions, and we get complaints, then we sometimes undertake random audits as well. And if they're detected, then they're in breach of their approval, which carries some pretty significant penalties. And you'd obviously look at the case-by-case elements of the particular offence. But, yeah, it does constitute an offence. Mayor Wilkie: So, does that mean that Noosa Council would be... Town planning officers may be called to the Royal Mail to investigate whether or not a child may have been playing on a playground at 8pm? Speaker 3: Correct. Director Walsh: Okay. Councillor Finzel: Just a question through the chair of the staff.

00:41:00 Would that be at any time, even if it was conditioned to 9 o'clock or 10 o'clock? Do the local laws still apply? Speaker 3: Yes. So, the conditions will apply and run with the land. So, at all times. And, obviously, council will investigate those matters. You know, at the earliest convenience. Sometimes that's the next business day, as opposed to getting out there at the time. But if there's a systemic period of maybe non-compliance, then council will potentially step up its compliance efforts in that regard. Councillor Finzel: So, to clarify, it would be the same outcome whether that was 6 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 10 o'clock? Yeah, correct. Yeah, yeah. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Does anyone else wish to talk, I think? Councillor Lorentson: No. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Lorentson, would you like to close? Councillor Lorentson: I will. The amendment was placed in direct response to the submissions that were received during the first approval process.

00:42:00 So, to me, it was just respecting the expectations of the residents that lived close by to the Royal Mall. I think in the discussion around the table, there's sort of, like, maybe an idea that the residents were not allowed to come in and sit in the Royal Mall. I don't think that kids need a playground to be entertained. I recall bringing my children, when they were little, to lots of coffee shops and restaurants, and there were no playgrounds. So, I don't think it restricts the commercial use. People can still go to the Royal Mall and have coffee, have breakfast. Kids can still be entertained by talking to their parents or digital devices. What the restrictions in the Royal Mall are, I don't know. In terms of what the playground does, is, again, it's just respecting that the Royal Mall is located within close vicinity to people who live in the precinct, and, again, gives

00:43:00 respect to the fact that the playground was taken. It was taken out during the original negotiations and reintroduced as a minor change, and that did not allow, again, public notification. It did not allow the community, again, to say whether they approved or didn't approve. So, I believe this is fair, but to respect the views and the decisions that will be made around this table. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. I'll put the amendment. Those in favour? That's Councillor Lorentson, Finzel and Phillips. Those opposed? That's Councillor Wegener, Wilkie and Stockwell. It's a tied vote. Therefore, I get a deciding vote, and on this case, I will use my deciding vote to support the staff recommendation, which didn't have this amendment in it, and, therefore, it will

00:44:00 be lost. Councillor Lorentson: I'd like to move another amendment, please. Sure. Can I read this? Can I read this? Can I read this? Can I read this? Councillor Lorentson: Okay. That condition 4B be added to read be the playground must display clear, durable and weather-resistant signage at all entry points, and within the play area, that includes 1. Age-appropriate usage guidelines. For example, for children aged 2 to 12 years. 2. Supervision requirements, e.g., children must be supervised by responsible adult, adult Three, emergency contact information and location of first aid facilities. And four, noise awareness, e.g. please be mindful of nearby residents.

00:45:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: This was a back-up amendment in case the amendment before didn't go through. Councillor Lorentson: Again, the idea of the amendment is to respect the expectations of the residents who participated in the original approval process. The amendment in front of us, it's basically just some clear rules, restricted access and visible signage. And the signage is simply to demonstrate that the venue recognises and responds to concerns raised by the residents. And that also council takes seriously its role in safeguarding neighbourhood liveability. Also, the requirement for this sort of signage also ensures that safe and responsible use of the playground within the licence venue.

00:46:00 So, age guidance, supervision, expectation, emergency contact details, and noise awareness messages, again, just contribute to public safety and responsible behaviour and support the operator's duty of care while reminding the patrons that the venue sits within a residential area. So, just the idea again is to encourage greater consideration for the nearby households. So, again, I hope you support the amendment in front of us. Which again, respects the expectations of residents who participated in the original approval process. Mayor Wilkie: Question for Councillor Morrison. Really, what's the idea behind age appropriate usage guidelines to ensure we don't have any enthusiastic adults?

00:47:00 Yes. Councillor Lorentson: And any... If the playground is suited for children, up to 14, 15 years, then again, it's just got to be visible and clearly displayed. Mayor Wilkie: I'll speak in favour of the amendment. I think it's good to have this general safety information, usage information. It doesn't restrict children using the playground quickly. I'm sure you can remember the last amendment. It ensures that children are likely to stay within the venue with their parents, and not operate the empty going across the road to play on the other equipment, which is not noise mitigated.

00:48:00 I think it's just very sensible and responsible to have some sort of appropriate signage near the playground. I see it's probably a very responsible thing to do. Any minutes? I have a question. Councillor Phillips: Where's the age appropriate usage guidelines come from? Like, I actually should know this, but I feel like I'd like to know. How will the playground be determined as ages? Speaker 4: Well, I would expect, and this is just an opinion, that a playground is, as you construct it, you would be advising that this playground is suitable for someone that's 0-7 or 0-9, that there would be some information there. Councillor Phillips: Have they indicated that in the... Speaker 4: No. Councillor Phillips: Okay. I'm like, I'll support the amendment. One of the reasons why we stopped coming to the villa is because there was always these teenage kids, all of kids just absolutely,

00:49:00 like, almost knocking over my kids when they were little. So, yeah, I think age appropriate guidelines is certainly something that I would, as a mum, think, would suggest. And I also think another soft suggestion is supervising your children, which would be lovely if we saw that more often. I'm supportive of all of it. Yeah, I think it's... Again, sometimes I wonder, you know, why we have to do these things, but then remembering that we do have to, because not everybody... Most people do the right thing, but it's always a good reminder. So, yes, thank you again, Amelia, for thinking of the extra things that make the place more enjoyable. Speaker 4: Councillor Wegener.

00:50:00 Councillor Wegener: If we are imposing this upon the establishment, shouldn't we be leading the charge by having this signage across the road at our own public playground? Speaker 3: Councillor, we do have some information at some of our playgrounds that talks about the specifics of the equipment and a bit of a disclaimer around the use of it, and obviously supervision and encourage those things. I'm just trying to recollect exactly what is on our own signage in relation to our own playgrounds. I can remember... Yeah, there is some information there. It probably doesn't go to maybe all of the detail around noise awareness and things like that, but it certainly does make reference around being mindful of the equipment and obviously personal liability and supervision. But, yeah, I don't have the specifics on that and whether it's in every single playground and every play equipment across the Shire,

00:51:00 I'm not 100% sure. Councillor Phillips: I think our website says that, like, these playgrounds really suit more for these ages, but I don't... I think it's more around when you go there, it's got the, please, supervise, and I think our website has some of the ones that... Yeah. ..are under... Oh, this one's good. Speaker 3: We've got a Director of Restoration Services that might be able to provide some advice. Joanne, can you provide any illumination on this issue? Director Walsh: Thank you, Chair. I think it's inconsistently implied. Contemporary playground equipment does provide guidance about the natural use, but it's always under conscious supervision. Yeah. Because there are some children who will exceed age restrictions and some children who are in the excess of age restrictions and shouldn't be able to do it, and that's the parents' choice. So those signs always rise to the parents' discretion. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, just another question through the chair. Sure. Please, for clarity. It's my understanding also that people that produce and manufacture children's playgrounds these days,

00:52:00 they are built to certain ages. Is that correct? Director Walsh: Yeah. So, for the chair, playgrounds are certified by... Certified. Yeah. Design Providers, in terms of the play experience and the safety that's associated with them. And the playgrounds need a quite extensive inspection regime to ensure that they are maintained to service those needs and meet those. But in terms of... They provide a recommendation for children to use it. But again, it's up to the child and parent to determine the way they use the equipment. So there's nothing to enforce a four-year-old getting onto equipment which was designed for a single child. Councillor Phillips: Yeah. Director Walsh: And I know from my background in playgrounds at South Maiden Primary Street, young girls, in particular, are high risk... Not high risk, but a high archetype risk and will easily exceed playground equipment which is designed for children. Young boys are often trapped on playground equipment. They can't go to school. .

00:53:00 . . . . . . . . . . . Councillor Finzel: . Councillor Lorentson: . Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think it's good. I think a little bit of prompting about awareness of neighbours is good and the other things are essential. So I've got no problems with the proposal. Councillor Lorentson, Mr Close. I put the motion. All those in favour? That is Lawrenson, Finzel, Phillips, Wilkie, Stockwell and opposed is Councillor Wegener. Okay, so that becomes part of the motion. Do we have any other amendments? If it's not other people's, I will move another one.

00:54:00 If you could show the picture first so we know what we're talking about in case people haven't seen it. Oh, go on. It doesn't matter. I can just tell people what it is. Is this the one you wanted? Yes. Okay. Do you know what the item will be now? Is it item G? G, I think. That this be, that item G be added to read, restriction of six car parking bays for the use of VIP customers of the games. Oh, wait a minute. There is a precursor to that. It was that the CEO be requested to advise the applicant.

00:55:00 This is the wording you gave? There was a precursor before then. Speaker 3: Yeah, there was a sentence in the email. Do you want me to read it out to you? Councillor Lorentson: Yeah, I'll just type it in. Where does it go? Speaker 3: Just above it. Above one? Yeah, so it says that the CEO... Above one? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: That the CEO be requested to advise the applicant that, one, the restriction of six car parking bays for the use of VIP customers of the gaming room was not included in the proposal plans. The restriction of six car parks to a very limited number of clients is considered a violation of the rules. Two, it is considered to result in inadequate parking provision for the overall development. And three, the removal of the exclusive use restrictions on the six bays is required to meet the conditions of substantive development approval.

00:56:00 Do I have a seconder? Councillor Wegener. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Wegener. Could you second the motion? No, that's fine. Yeah, it wasn't Councillor Wegener. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So, councillors, yes, I was quite surprised when, on opening day, when the car park was full and there were six empty car parks painted bright green with the words VIP gaming only. I've been back there twice since and each time the car park has been relatively few and there's six car parks with the words VIP gaming only. So, I think from planning grounds, when we were asked to adopt a plan, we were asked to adopt a plan. It was an originally generous method of calculating car parking. We weren't asked to consider whether six of those should be kept aside for some unknown VIP clients. I've been doing, tried to search on the weekend to find out what a VIP gaming room client for the Royal Mail Hotel is and there is nothing in the public.

00:57:00 But we do know from the Alliance for Gambling Reform that VIP packages for gaming is a real trap for problem solving. It is an incentive for poor gaming behaviour, enticing people to stay and giving them special privileges by gaming for longer. Now, I'm not a wowser, I don't mind people who bet, but we do know that problem gambling behaviour does create social harm. So, both on the planning grounds that we came up with a set of numbers for car parks based on them being available for the whole use. That they haven't applied to restrict that use. And the fact that we know in Tewantin that car parking is a premium and that we've had letters recently from businesses saying how hard it is that this concept, that we can just allocate six of the 121, I think, required car parks to some unknown VIP clients, to me does suggest that,

00:58:00 the development as proposed in the original application is not providing adequate car parks. So, hence why I've given that. The further explanation is it's not a condition of this approval because it wasn't a subject of the modifications. So, it is virtually advice that the CEO advise the applicant. It's really those staff that are required to seek compliance with the conditions of approval. Does anyone else wish to talk? Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: It just seems to be a blatant misuse of the parking requirements. I think it's just totally inconsistent with the concept of there's so many parking spots you have to have.

00:59:00 And then they put six of them as VIP gate gate because it's ridiculous. And I don't remember seeing anything else like that. This is foreign. So, yeah, thanks for seeing that. Mayor Wilkie: I agree. Mr Chair, good pick up. If, as you said, parking is a premium in Tewantin and certainly in this establishment, I hope to see a family be excluded from buying parking in a parking area as a result of six positions being reserved exclusively for VIP vehicles. I think it's against our policy of inclusivity. Very exclusive. And it doesn't send a live message. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll speak to it. Councillor Phillips: I support the amendment. Good pick up. In the training that I was delivering before I ran for Council around the nation between communication and safety training, we talked a lot to young team members from retail if they

01:00:00 were parked really far away from their workplace and they were working late into the night in their 15-minute break to, if they can, try and grab their car and come closer to the venue. So it's not as unsafe to walk to at night. I think, I can't suggest what they do with their VIP parking, but rather than gaming, I would almost suggest that there was quite a lot of young staff over there waiting on tables. It would be great to see them, if they're not catching public transport to and from work, that they can get their car from somewhere around the streets of Tewantin and bring it closer up for them to be safer to walk to. So, yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yes. Councillor Loughlin. Councillor Lorentson: Total support of the amendment in front of us. Again, this just goes against the grain of who we are and what we want to be as a community.

01:01:00 You mentioned, Chair, that we stepped away from the Alliance for Gambling Reform. Again, it's part of the Notified Motion I'm proposing to bring forward on Thursday. There's a request that Council reconsider rejoining the Alliance for Gambling Reform and that's a discussion we can have on Thursday. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Cooper. Councillor Finzel: Yeah. Just, the Attorney-General and the Minister for Justice and Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence noted in a media statement with the new laws, it was about minimising gambling harm and hold Queensland casinos to account. So I think we're well and truly in line with, you know, the federal, state and local laws. I think it's important for the local government to bring this, to be able to help, you know, bring around these reforms, support that and also ensure that these places operate with

01:02:00 integrity and that they have measures in place to prevent gambling harm and combat, you know, the associated issues around that. So I'm fully supportive of this. Again, it just reflects everything we've spoken around the table in terms of our values and our community. And, you know, aspiring to see a future where, you know, we're supporting good health and wellbeing and good social policies in our local Shire. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll close. Thank you all for your support. And I think we are all on the same page in respect to how we think we should be managing this issue. I will say that Councillor Phillips brought up a good point. And since I've gotten part bright green, there have been a number of comments that have been, you know, absolutely no problem with planning staff because there's always staff. So they'd be always utilised. You know, part of the planning grounds is they're terribly underutilised. So, yeah, good point in terms of if you want to provide some precedence on your property,

01:03:00 the first place to look for is the safety and ability for your staff to find a car park. So I'll put the motion. All those in favour? That's unanimous. That now becomes part of the motion. Do we have any other amendments? If not, back to debating the substantive motion. I believe only Councillor Wilkie and Councillor Lorentson have spoken to it. Anyone else wish to speak? Councillor Phillips: I'll speak to it. Again, after going to it last night, I'm happy to see the Royal Mail in its, you know, kept with heritage and it's such an iconic place to sit at. Especially, you know, I've got a long history here and it was, I think every second table was locals. So I really do hope it ends up being a place that locals can socialise, bring community

01:04:00 back together, be up, watch the cricket, do whatever. You know, it's a really nice thing to, it's an Aussie, you know, thing we should cherish. Thank you. Yeah, sure, there's going to be people that take advantage of stepping outside but that's, you know, not our role today after we've put in the conditions. I'd like to see that, yeah, that Tewantin has a bit of an injection of something like that because I think it was needed. And yeah, so I'm supportive of, again, I will reiterate, I'm probably more for the residents. I wasn't, I didn't like the way that it came to us as a minor change. That said, I appreciate the staff for presenting it the way it has and the amendments made it, made me feel a little better for me to support it. Councillor Finzel: Thanks. Yeah. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Finto. Councillor Finzel: Yeah, just along those lines. It's great to see, you know, that we have had a developer come in and, you know, look

01:05:00 at the overall identity of Tewantin, value the heritage, work with staff to deliver it, you know, in a timely manner. We went there first. We had the opening the other afternoon and it was full of locals. Everyone was, you know, engaging and it was all positive. So I think it's great when we talk about planning and linking to who we are, responding to our identity and our story and our connection to place. And I think this development has managed to capture that and it's great for our locals and visitors alike to come along to a place that's had a long history and a connection to Tewantin and our community. So overall, I think this should be celebrated. And I think I'm glad we've had the opportunity today to, you know, reflect our community's social values and the things that we support in this community. So, yeah. Thank you to everyone around the table and all those involved that have seen this come

01:06:00 to this point and have a lovely meeting place for people. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So I'll speak. It is interesting. It is a development that people have been wanting for decades. And on top of all that, the good work in terms of the design and how they finished that redesign to be in keeping with character and heritage and a place where locals can meet. The other big thing is it's re-established Tewantin's link with the river. There can be so many people, you know, sitting there in the outside area looking down that river. You know, this building that was built probably blocked some of that traditional views of the river. But, you know, Tewantin is really our river village. And that facility will actually make that connection a lot more, a lot stronger. It will be, I'm sure it will be something where locals will go to. And I think, you know, on the whole, when we did our heritage study, it was really

01:07:00 interesting. We went around the whole of the Shire, the many different places. And I think the most frequent thing to be nominated for heritage and character was the local pub. Remember that big Kin Kin here? And it is, you know, the Royal Mail has so much history. The pioneer families who have their lunches there will tell so many stories. For example, the first commercial fishing in Noosa Shire happened during the Sawmillers strike when all the strikers were sitting there running out of money to buy the beer in the Royal Mail. And they decided, let's throw in some money. And they put nets over the back there. And if you ever read the accounts of what they caught in one day, it was absolutely amazing. And they took it up to Gympie. So it is both a place of many stories, but it's also a modern development that's been well done. So I support the minor change. And I do respect the fact that the adjoining neighbours had genuine concerns.

01:08:00 And that our staff have gone to sufficient rigour. In the noise assessment to ensure that those impacts or the feared impacts are unlikely to occur. And the conditions are specifying the noise limits that can be applied if they are breached. And that is an area where we can make sure that the facility doesn't have a significant impact on the adjoining neighbours. Speaker 1: Councillor Wickman, did you want to speak to the overall motion? Councillor Wegener: No, I don't think so. Okay. It does justice. It does justice to the wonderful place that it is. And to the Royal Mail. And you're right. The view of the river is spectacular. Anyway, that's probably not as important as the motion here. Mayor Wilkie: Along the way, it's upgraded to an iconic location. And apart from that, it's all been set up.

01:09:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. I put the motion notes in favour. That's unanimous. Thank you. We can now invite Councillor Wilson back into the meeting, if she's still awake. Just while we're getting, are any councillors intending to seek information regarding to the next item? Or are they likely just to support the previous item? I would like to make a recommendation as proposed. Councillor Lorentson: I would like to put it into confidential, please. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So, I'm going to move the next item. It's on the screen. So, I'll move as the Chair to move item two, Planning Environment Court Appeal number D92

7.2 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. D92 OF 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR A DWELLING HOUSE 58 SEAVIEW TERRACE, SUNSHINE BEACH (Item 7.4 Referred from Planning & Environment Committee Meeting dated 11 November 2025)

▶ 01:09:30· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:10:00 of 2025 to the last item on today's agenda. Oh, you don't want to comment on that? No. No. We'll move to the last item on the agenda. And then we'll do with that. Last item? Director Walsh: Yeah. Sorry. I was . Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I don't think it has to be a motion. So, we move on to the next item. Thank you. Done? You get to wait around. Okay. Councillor Wegener: Okay. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: And we have the Financial Performance Report for October 25. And we have the Directorial Report for October 25. And the Acting Manager of Finance.

8 REPORTS DIRECT TO GENERAL COMMITTEE

▶ 01:10:44

Nothing was transcribed under this heading — a stretch of the recording with no speech the model could make out.

8.1 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT - OCTOBER 2025

▶ 01:10:48· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:11:00 So, Managers Act, I presume you're going to do the overview for us? Speaker 5: I am. Thank you. Through the Chair. I'll take the report as read. So, October provides us with four months of actual data for the financial year, or one third of the total financial year. Again, providing us a great evidence base for full year predictions. There's been no substantial change to the update provided in September. We are tracking ahead both in revenue in terms of operating position, and again, with a working eye across our Capital Works Program. As noted in the financial report itself, we are tracking ahead of NIF surplus by 21.16%, and operating result is 8.78% actual against the Budget. A couple of detailed comments just related to the report itself. Councillor Wilson had raised a question relating to the Tourism and Economic Development Investment Summary on the bottom of page four.

01:12:00 There's a $66,000 variance to the Budget for this year. There's a $6,000 variance to the Tourism and NUSA Funding Agreement line item. Just to simply note, that is a timing issue based on the underlying modelling itself. It isn't actually a variance of the actual funding. So, that will be corrected over the next couple of months. In regards to the capital expenditure and WIPP, my comments from the previous financial report withstand. Again, there is lower than expected Capital Works to date, but we would expect to see the upward hockey stick analogy swing of Capital Works over the period of the year. As a working note, we will look through Budget review which is scheduled for early in the new year to look at the Capital Works Program and whether in fact it needs to be recast or whether the actuals are at that point in time. We did take on board a query from Councillor Finzel in the previous round around the WIPP. We will bring that back to a monthly report following the conclusion of our financial statements this year. We will have been in a formal position to provide that, plus the detail that was requested then. Director Walsh: Thank you. Speaker 5: And then one further note as part of the cash management and investment performance

01:13:00 itself, historically there have been questions from Councillors around our cash position. So, noting that the Director of Corporate Services in the previous meeting had noted we will do an external review of our cash position, which again will be built into the future budget workshops that will be presented to you early in the new year. That looks at our cash management and reserves and ultimately how that is tied to our capital position as well. Happy to take questions. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Wegener will head his hand up first. Councillor Wegener: On the fees and charges, numerous lower than expected fees and charges, about $465,000. I am always watching how many fees and charges that are going through the planning, going through the plumbing. Is that reflected in this? Because I am wary of the downturn in the market. I was just watching if there is any change. Speaker 5: Yes.

01:14:00 So, to answer that through the Chair. So, the comment there is there are a number of fees that obviously make that up. At this point in time, it is just a watching brief. Again, it is hard to predict fees as they come through the year due to the poor dependency of the market itself and actual works. So, at this point in time, we just highlight that it is the case between minor variance of actual to budget. Again, our modelling is based on our best efforts at the start of any year to predict future works, patterns, development, et cetera, et cetera. So, does that answer your question? Mayor Wilkie: Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. Councillor Ronson, I think, was the next person to indicate their question. Councillor Lorentson: Oh, I have a few. I am going to start with employee benefits. So, have I read correctly? So, the impact of vacancies across Council total 2,289,000. Wow. That seems significantly high.

01:15:00 Which departments have the highest vacancy rates? And how is this impacting service delivery? Speaker 7: So, I am going to start with employee benefits. I am going to start through the Chair. I can initially respond to that. Councillor Ronson. I will have to take that question on notice in terms of which department are carrying the highest number of vacancies. As councillors would know, the finance area within corporate services has had a number of vacancies over the last couple of years and we are working actively to recruit to those. We actually anticipate that the vacancies within the finance area will all have new employees within the next couple of months. So, I can just respond to the corporate services area. But for the other departments within the organisation, I can take that question on notice and provide that answer to you by the internal communications or via the next council report. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Still, in terms of vacancies. So, I am noticing in the report we are managing the risk with external labour hire.

01:16:00 Is that correct? And I have got 501,000 that we are managing the risk with external labour hire. That is correct. Again, in terms of just some of my red flags. Employee benefits also show offsets due to lower than anticipated sick leave, $320,000 and superannuation payments of $199,000. Overtime, $236,000. Other league payments, $224,000. Again, they seem quite significant and my questions are probably what controls are in place to manage excessive overtime and what does the current turnover and staffing gap,

01:17:00 how does it affect financial reporting, compliance and operations? In critical areas like finance and revenue services. Speaker 7: Through the Chair, I can attempt to answer that question. For all of those particular areas, context is very important because for each business area, the context around the amount of labour hire, the term of vacancies, the superannuation, the other offsets, it is all contextual for each department. So, it would be hard to provide you an overall response to that that would be consistent for the whole department. But, I can again take that on notice and I'll have a discussion with the CEO whether we can come back with a more detailed report on vacancies, overtime, reasons for, et cetera, et cetera. We could bring that back to you. Through the CEO. Councillor Lorentson: I would appreciate that. Thank you very much. Speaker 7: You're welcome.

01:18:00 Speaker 6: Oh, you go ahead. Councillor Lorentson: I've got quite a few. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Speaker 6: Thank you very much. The rates arrears. When we look at the percentage of total arrears over this year's rates revenue, should we be separating out what's the arrears that's relevant to this financial year and what's for previous years? Because does that kind of skew the percentage if it's multi-years against one-year's revenue? Speaker 5: Yes. Through the Chair to answer that question, yes. So, the previous report, which was in September 2025, you would have seen there was a much detailed summary. So, what we're looking to do is get that regular reporting of it. It's quarterly. We bring up that more detailed analysis. Yes, it does obviously sway some of the information, but you will hopefully see it routinely three month basis, the age arrears and what that looks like as well. If it's required, it could be done more formally at each month.

01:19:00 So, it's just a balance of how much is included in each month. So, happy to take advice on board if you would like more detailed summary on each month. Councillor Finzel: All right. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Just a follow-up question. I'm reading it correctly. There's been 1.8, no, 1.9 million arrears in the prior month. Does that mean it falls back 1.9 million per month? Speaker 5: Through the Chair, yes, simply. Noting arrears is just rates that are outstanding. So, yes, we received $1.9 million of payments in the October month. Mayor Wilkie: Is that a reminder notice that's been sent out? Speaker 5: No, that's a... Mayor Wilkie: Or is it just a combination of payments coming in over time? Speaker 5: Yes, a combination of both. Some people on direct debits, payment plans. There's a number of different factors that would factor into that. Some people simply paying late. So, the combination of all of those and the reminder notices going up speak probably to the 1.9. That's not inconsistent with the previous period a year ago. We're seeing relatively similar tracking in terms of payables over the respective months. Speaker 7: Through the Chair, I could just add a bit more detail to that.

01:20:00 Our Councillors would be aware when we provided you that workshop around the rate arrears, there was one significant outlier. Councillor Lorentson: Yes. Speaker 7: We successfully were able to enter into a payment plan with that particular... property owner. And we have received some substantial amounts of revenue to come in, in relation to that outstanding arrears. Mayor Wilkie: It looks like something might have occurred. Speaker 7: Yes. Yes. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. Councillor Lonton. Still a follow-up with the rate arrears. In terms of the ratio. So, we have 5% rate arrears ratio threshold. Is that correct, Zac? Yes. Speaker 5: As a general best practice market in the industry. That's the intention is to get to about 5%, yes. And where are we sitting at the moment, Zac? 7.2. Yep. So, the important thing to remember with rates is kind of cyclical that you always get an upswing in July and January.

01:21:00 So, based on where we're currently sitting at 7.2%, we're tracking for there or thereabouts for about a 5% at the end of December period. Noting that the broader rate we will eventually work to work through, that is the new debt policy, that will become operational early next year. Councillor Lorentson: Okay. So, in terms of a trigger level, at what point do we get a little bit nervous? Is it 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%? What's the trigger level? Speaker 5: Well, again, it's cyclical, because we get the spikes after both of the respective periods. So, I think if we were starting to see an upward trend in terms of that percentage nearer the end, so your December and your June's rates become very important, because that's the absolute minimum point. If we were seeing them significantly in excess of 5%, again, our eventual plan over the course of the next year or two is to ultimately bring it down past best practice into 2%, 3%, 4%

01:22:00 with the new policy. That is tracking there or thereabouts for historic years. So, I don't think there's any reason to flag that. It's more of a working notice to hope that you should see over the preceding six months that come down over time. Okay. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Phillips: Councillor Phillips? It'll probably be to Director Walsh, because it's about fleet. So, just down, talking about fleet, it's, I like the yellow-green markers, by the way. So, it's on 100 Watch. Do you think maybe you can help me understand that? That's right. They're on the capital expenditure fleet. Director Walsh: We have... Fleet. Fleet. So, fleet is currently managed through corporate services. So, I can ask... Okay. Back to you. Got it. I thought you said police.

01:23:00 Speaker 7: Fleet. Councillor Phillips: I am not... So, fleet is currently managed through corporate services. Speaker 2: That's right. Sorry. Councillor Phillips: I thought it was you. It has been. Speaker 2: That's how it is recently. Councillor Phillips: Oh, right. Speaker 2: And it's in the process of transition. Yes. Yes. So, your problem. Director Walsh: Okay. Okay. Speaker 7: Yes. Through the Chair. Just to clarify for our community, it currently is sitting within the corporate services department in terms of responsibility and accountability, but we've just concluded a transition and consultation process. So, that function will be transitioning to the infrastructure services area. So, in the future, if you have any questions, you could direct it to there, but for the purposes of this report, as at the end of September, it's still within my remit for responsibility. So, in summary, the reason for that being a watching brief is, generally, your fleet replacement program really does have a very long lead time and doesn't have a high level of actual expenditure against the budgeted, usually within the first six months of the

01:24:00 year, dependent on the type of plant that's in the replacement program. If it's your standard light vehicle or, say, potentially a ute, you would expect to be able to get those into the organisation fairly quickly and operational. If you've got large pieces of yellow plant, say, a drum roller, a digger, a grader, etc., they take a longer lead time. Because, generally, those parts have to come from overseas, they come via a ship, obviously, then it needs to be put together once on Australian soil and then brought to site. They generally take a long lead time. So, this, whilst it says it's a watching brief, I'm fairly confident with the detail of planning for the fleet replacement program and the schedule that by the time you come to probably March, April, May next year, you'll see a significant amount of that expenditure has been drawn down. Councillor Phillips: And it's probably, I'm having this be taken on notice as well, because I am aware, you

01:25:00 might not have this one on straight off, but what I'm aware of is we're trying to move to electric without fleet. However, we've got not many electric chargers, so we're using diesel generators to charge our electric vehicles, costing us more. So, something maybe for a notice that I would like to unpack this. I'm aware that we want to move our fleet to electric and I'm, while I'm okay in principle, I also want to understand the financial implications of a council that we're going to be investing in diesel generators that are a higher emission to charge than in the first place. So, I really need to understand a little bit more of that. How are you for that not to be today? Speaker 7: Through the chair, I can initially respond to that. So, I think it's a good question. So, our manager for fleet has started that initial analysis of what it would actually

01:26:00 look like in a 24, 48, 48 months, sorry, a year to 12 months to two years. What am I saying? I'm getting confused with my dates, sorry. For what it looks like for a year to two years to three years around converting all plant and vehicles to a green fleet where possible. So, we have started the initial financial analysis. Obviously there are all those alternative offsets and benefits for the financial whatever that cost is so we have but it's really high level at the minute so yes we can come back to you and that will probably be through Shaun as Director Infrastructure Services will come back at some time in the future with what that looks like. Councillor Phillips: So just a quick follow up then, in the meantime if we're purchasing fleet what's happening, are we purchasing electric fleet without the infrastructure and relying on the diesel or is that, do we have a policy?

01:27:00 Speaker 7: Through the Chair, Shaun's going to help me with this response, thank you. Director Walsh: I just want to note that certainly with regard to yellow paint there has not been sufficient advance in electric batteries to make that point. So there's still some way, so Michael and I are completely ready to have extensive discussions and he's abreast of industry trends. So certainly there's scope for us to transition to small fleet or electric places. We do have recharging facilities at the municipal level but we don't have recharging facilities at the local level. There would be a significant cost impact. Yes we know of that. Yes we do.

01:28:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So I think there's a little bit of misinformation. Do we have charging facilities at Tewantin? Director Walsh: Yes we do. We don't. Oh we have. Yeah we do. Sorry I'll correct that. We have one charging facility which is available for one vehicle only which is used by the IT crew. That charging facility is not available to any other vehicle. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So it's got a specific plug. Thank you for questioning. Speaker 2: Can I also say, I don't know the information regarding using generators to charge up our electric vehicles. I'm not aware of that being the case with us. We don't use generators to charge electric vehicles. The electric vehicles we only have a couple in the fleet in Tewantin and then they use, exist or charges, that we have available electric chargers. So we're not using diesel at this point. Okay. Just to clarify. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Wellington.

01:29:00 Councillor Lorentson: Where is the $1.9 million fraud loss reported in the financial statements? Is it? Through the chief? Speaker 7: I can answer that. So in the preparation of our end of financial year statements, that will be a special note or what is referred to as a disclosure note. That will be contained within those financial statements and at the back of the annual report. Okay. Councillor Phillips: That's fine actually. Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Other questions? Mayor Wilkie: Just a question on nodes perhaps. How much of the, in our cash at hand, how much of that is QIA disaster recovery funding? Speaker 2: How much of that is QIA disaster recovery funding? How much of that is QIA disaster recovery funding? I'd have to take that on those. Mayor Wilkie: Yeah.

01:30:00 Speaker 7: And through the chair, I'll just, I'll try to find where it is in the report. We have made a commitment in here that for our internally restricted funds that we will bring back a report to council that explains the percentage differences and where things are at. So that's a future report that will come to council that will talk about the balances of all of those. Yes. Yes. That's not answering your question. Thank you. Just to provide some extra. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. Would someone like to move the motion? Speaker 5: Move the motion. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Move Councillor Phillips. Seconded by Councillor Lorentson, I move. We have the floor, Councillor Phillips. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. It'll be very quick. I appreciate how well the reports are written for me to understand. I like the systems and I appreciate again that you looked back at questions around the

01:31:00 table because I think it's pretty clear when you're reading them that they're a lot clearer for the everyday person with our accounting background. So that's hopefully what we can do for community to see and easily pick up the financial documents and have a fairly good understanding where we're sitting. So thank you. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Well look it's, thank you again for the reporting, the clear reporting, the regular reporting really helps us understand what's going on in the organisation and I think it's played a big part over the years of ensuring that this council remains one of 20, or around 20, 177 Queensland Councils that are on a surplus budget and I think it's very clear financial reporting plays a big part in actually sustaining one of the staffs of the council. So thank you. You're welcome.

01:32:00 Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Lorentson. First thank you for the report in front of us and I think I've raised this just in questions, just some of my concerns in terms of significant staff vacancies across council. The amount of overtime, the amount of lead payouts, I'm just concerned about staff. I keep saying, you know, we're as good as the staff that we have working for us. So for me, where I sit when I look at these reports, I look at the red flags, what's the story it's telling and what can we do? To strengthen our processes, again, in order to protect our staff from burning out and, again, how we can attract the right people to do the right jobs in the organisation.

01:33:00 So these are the things that, like I said, keep me up at night. We really need to take care of our people and really need to understand the underlying issues behind the numbers in these reports. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'll be brief. I was just interested when we were looking at rate arrears and we had a report that sort of said we're going to focus our efforts on it. And I thought it would be good to have a little bit of a challenge for an acting manager. And I noticed that to get from the current 7.2% rate to 5% is just under 2.7 million. And based on the month's reporting format, we should be there by Christmas. And then getting better after Christmas, so you can take that as a challenge. Thank you, through the Chair. Councillor Lorentson: We're motivated by challenges.

01:34:00 Councillor KPI. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think anyone else wish to talk? No. Councillor Filch, do you wish to close? No, thank you. Okay, I'll put the motion. All those in favour? That's unanimous. Thank you. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So we then move on to Section 8, Number 2, Operational Plan 2025-26, Quarter 1 reporting. And we welcome up Yonchi. Speaker 1: Good afternoon, councillors. Councillor Finzel: Good afternoon. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: For those online, Yonchi is our Executive Officer. Speaker 1: Correct. Acting. So the purpose of this report is to provide council with a progress update on the implementation of the operational plan and the status of key performance measures for the Quarter 1 of this financial year. Of the 98 initiatives, 85% are currently on track.

8.2 OPERATIONAL PLAN 2025-26 Q1 QUARTERLY REPORTING

▶ 01:34:39· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:35:00 Some of the key achievements in this quarter were the floating land B&L, education campaigns for pool safety and responsible dock control in public spaces. They have commenced. Consultation for the draft destination management plan has concluded, has completed, which is fantastic. 650 community engagements to strengthen community disaster resilience have been conducted. And the implementation of a new contract management framework. There have also been some delays. 10% of initiatives are experiencing a minor delay and 5% a major delay or disruption. Thank you. The major disruptions are caused by competing priorities, as you all would be very well aware. There's an increased focus at the moment on the finalization of the destination management plan and tourism roadmap, which is quite resource demanding for the teams.

01:36:00 And there's obviously also unplanned staff movements, which can impact the delivery of operation plan initiatives. The effect is initiatives, key initiatives are Kabi Kabi engagement and commitment plan, the coastal hazards adaptation plan, the progression of stage four of the regional art gallery, and the scoping of a workforce planning model. Attachment two, so the update has provided an attachment one on these operation plan initiatives. And the second attachment, attachment two, provides an overview of council's current key performance measures. Overall, the majority of KPMs performed in line with targets in previous reporting periods, with two exceptions. The indicator for workplace safety has significantly increased, which is mainly due to two long term staff absences.

01:37:00 The second one is return on investment. We'll slide that in. Reflecting current downward trends and interest rate market conditions. Happy to take any questions. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I don't have any questions around here. Councillor Wegener: Councillor Wegener. As you'll probably know that I'm going to be asking about the agriculture which is 3.4.1 and it says that it's on track and says that there's plans but it says it's what the sector of economic development is refreshing a food and agriculture development plan in collaboration with the food and agribusiness network. It says it's about to get profulent for a proof of concept for a food and agribusiness is about to commence with successful proponents to be appointed by the end of quarter two.

01:38:00 So I just wanted to bring that up because as you know I'm a stickler about this. But sometimes I wonder if it's actually on track or about to start. You probably aren't aware across this particular one it's a pretty small piece in the big puzzle. Speaker 1: I think all pieces are very important to the puzzle but obviously for more specific insight into this initiative update I would rely on the team to be here as well. So I'll take that on notice if you want to have further information. I'll take it. Councillor Wegener: Thank you. Speaker 1: Thank you. Absolutely. Not a problem at all. That's fine. Thank you. Councillor Phillips: One of the only ones that really flags to me is the asset management.

01:39:00 Can you tell me if progress is constrained by available resourcing? That one, what's the risks I guess for the CEO, but what's the risks of not having this position? To me it's just really important that we have our asset management top notch. Yeah. But are we recruiting? Is there something in that? Speaker 2: Yes. We've got a, well in that area we've got a long term, a person on leave, long term. So we're dealing with that. But also it's not to say that the asset management's not continuing. We've still got a very large or a good group of staff that are working through that. It's just that it is a major, major piece. And with every asset management plan it's, we've talked about this before, it's an ongoing thing. You never finish your asset management plan.

01:40:00 So it's constantly updating. And I think we're in a reasonable position in terms of our asset management. But we can always be better. So we're working through that. And it is a focus. We are looking to actually put more focus on our asset management delivery and development. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Phillips: I think maybe, not most of it, I guess to me the one thing I think of is what's the risk to us not having it. It's all mowing, I understand, but having it in our construction, is it financial risk to us? Is there like an ageing asset that we miss? What's the... Speaker 2: So our planning has been really very much on the civil infrastructure, so everything below the ground and the roads, and we haven't really focused in recent years on our, we've recognised on our buildings as such, and some of our other assets, so that has now become more of a priority, so that's now being picked up and being driven harder, and we've already, we've recognised that, we're sort of working through that progressively, and yes, it does come with a financial risk,

01:41:00 because any piece, any asset doesn't have your own home, you look at it and you say, well, I've got that under control, but I haven't really looked at that piece, and that's the piece that catches you out, so we're working through that, and trying to understand where the biggest risks are, so we can address those first. Councillor Phillips: Follow-up question, and just for that, when we identify an asset that we might be decided that we are running to end in life, because that's the best financial decision? How are we communicating that with our community? Because, you know, I just think, say they see something, and they go, you know, why isn't it being fixed, how is it that we could, or is there a way we can communicate that better, that actually, we've identified that one, but we've, the first thing that springs to mind was foreshore plan back in the day, you know, people would say to me, why is the pillars, you know, falling, whatever, and then through foreshore plan, it was identified that, yeah, that it may not,

01:42:00 that we might need to run that to life, was the cost, I just don't know how that's communicated to our community that would see it every day, is there, is there a suggestion, or can you think of how to take it on notice? Speaker 2: I think that's a really good point, is to be, you know, again, communication, and I know that's a key piece for you, and it is for all of us, but I think all of those suggestions are really good, because the more you bring them up, the more we can address them, and I think the more we can be ahead of that sort of stuff with the community, the better, because people understand, if they know what's going on, and know what we can and can't do, or why we're doing it, then you're going to get a much better response, so I agree, I'm totally with you. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Williamson?

01:43:00 In terms of our investment returns, they were below the target of Bloomberg, Osborne Bank, Bill Index 0.25, but despite being below the target, the average monthly returns are 4.1, 5.2, 4.39, we're above RBA, cash rates, Yep. to a question, go back to, I think what I've raised quite a few times, in terms of our QTC investments being quite high, and whether there's opportunities to adjust our investment strategies, or portfolio? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I guess I'm going to put it up there, is this a operational plan, or a financial report question, because it sounds like a financial report. Councillor Lorentson: Both, it's both a combination, okay, let me change the question. Okay. So is, does Council's investment performance, Okay. how does it compare, say, with similar sized councils or other local governments in Queensland, and are there best practices that we could adopt?

01:44:00 I'm just wondering, is, how do we assess performance against risk? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: So I'll, I'm sure Yonji would give a very interesting answer to the Director. Thank you. Speaker 7: Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, Councillor Alston. As you know, predominantly our funds are invested in QTC, because they generally do give us the best cash rate. At the same time, as they also advise us, not just by the government, but the State Government. And also, during the period, when we do a credit review with Council, to look at the health of our, our finances, and they also look at, and they're quite independent, ironically. And we're provided by a system where they think that we could do alternatives to our investment portfolio. So we have credit reviews. Excellent. And as I mentioned before, I have also requested that they do a surplus cash and debt review.

01:45:00 The Council will be up to a 26, 27 year budget. So both of those things are in the planning stage. So a credit review, that will come to Council in the early year of the calendar year, next year. Thank you. And also that surplus cash and debt review. So when you can combine those things, what's also our sustainability ratios, and how we report against those, the local government monitors those. And if they have any calls for concern around our liquidity. So at the moment, our liquidity is beyond the sustainability ratios of over three months. At some points in time, we're up to nine months we have liquidity. So we've got enough cash to cover operations in the event that something occurs. So I would go with that. Thank you. And I think that gives you a little bit of confidence that between our bank up, for want of a better word, and our treasurer up, so the local government and also the QAO, we have essentially those statutory bodies looking at how we manage our finances.

01:46:00 So if there was a concern, you would know about it. Councillor Lorentson: Fantastic. I look forward to the upcoming reports. Mark? Thank you very much. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. No question. Just people. There you go. Yes. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. The customer service average phone rate time in seconds is about half of what's, what the target is of 60 seconds. What's happened in that department to get that significant reduction in previous years? Any more stuff? Speaker 1: Through the Chair, there was... Mayor Wilkie: There was a few demands coming in via the phone. Speaker 1: Yeah. There was a significant improvement in the customer service average phone rate time with the team moving together into premises next door, where there's a better exchange and better training opportunities for new staff members. So that has significantly increased the response time, pretty much, or reduced the QA time

01:47:00 for customers. And that has, that remains unchanged at the moment. Whether we want to review the KPI and make it a bit more challenging is obviously up to your view of these KPMs. But I think, really, having the data, the data, the data, the data, the data, the data, All of these different places at council, different departments, but they were really spread out across different departments, where there was pretty much space available, and now that we've moved together as a team into one location, that has caused quite a significant improvement. Simply because they can help each other straight away when there's more information required. It's basically more like a collective brain than, you know, isolated groups of customer service officers. Mayor Wilkie: Customer service teams are one of the most outward-facing teams. One of the challenges they've faced in the past is because they're so well-trained, they're built with a lot of departments.

01:48:00 Has there been a slowdown in the loss of the customer service team to other departments as well? Is that one factor? Are they more stable? Speaker 2: I don't know the statistics on that, but it certainly has been in the past where there's been a practice of coming through the customer service and then moving to the organisation in other areas, and that's been quite successful for us in terms of the rest of the organisation. But unfortunately, from a customer service, they're continually retraining, but that's certainly one of the processes. I'm not sure if that's changed of late, but I don't know. Speaker 1: And for the chair, in addition to that, I think customer service officers are very highly regarded because they have the incredible knowledge and understanding of council because they work with customers to find response to their inquiries for all aspects of council.

01:49:00 So therefore, for operational teams, having a person on board is quite valuable. So there will always be a healthy competition for those officers. Councillor Lorentson: Councillor Lovedon. Back to staff matters. Again, concern for me. So the 12 month moving average staff turnover rate for the reform is 19.5%. That's consistent with previous periods, and the average staff turnover rate for permanent positions is approximately 13%. Again, probably concerned. What happens if the current rate continues? What type of risk does that pose to the organisation and should we be concerned? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think that's probably best answered by the CEO.

01:50:00 Speaker 2: That's right. I wanted to make that or show the difference between overall rate of change as well as to permanent because we have casuals, we have people on short term contracts, so we have a whole range of that and we have people coming in from various areas. There are areas that we have had issues and Mark brought that up before in the finance area. We have quite a bit of turnover in our operations team, civil operations team that we have had in recent times. Over the last couple of years but that's now starting to slow down. You'd be surprised over the COVID and then post COVID period there was a hell of a lot of turnover because people were just moving around and it was very difficult also to attract the appropriate people.

01:51:00 Our attraction rate now is much higher. We're getting much higher numbers of people applying but also much better quality of people applying. So people more appropriate to the positions that they're applying for. So I'm really comfortable that that number is actually coming down. I don't think that we're not unusual. I talk to CEOs across the state and we're not unusual in terms of the turnover. It's just one of those things that we have. I also think that in this world, particularly in local government, we attract good people, we train them up. And because we're a smaller council, they're looking to grow so they're often looking to move around and move on. And other councils are looking at our good people and no question they're cherry picking. And that's a risk for us even though we've now put in a number of steps to try to retain and keep people on board. But you're never going to keep everybody.

01:52:00 There's people who have got other ambitions or are attractive or particularly down south they're going to Sunshine Coast or to Moreton Bay Speaker 1: because they may live down that area. And it's just more convenient for them as well. So a whole range of things in there. Speaker 2: But what I am confident of is that whilst we have gone through quite a bit of turmoil, I think that the majority of our departments are now quite solid in their staffing. And the ones that aren't we're working really hard to make sure that we rectify that. For example, Finance we're with now. I know there's a number of interviews going on today. There's some very good quality applicants for some important roles that will stand as inputs here going forward. Okay. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Councillor Wegener. Councillor Wegener: The graphs are fantastic in the KMT report. I don't think I've ever seen them this good before.

01:53:00 They just really speak very clearly in colours and lines. For people that are listening, you can see the graphs in all of those. Yeah. Yeah. So thank you, Johnston. I like that. I really like that. The graph literally shows what's happening. Speaker 1: For the Chair, thank you. Councillor Thom, it's much appreciated. However, I'm very glad that they're well perceived. But I think the plan is to further improve these quite significantly for more easily, to make them more easily visually digestible pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 2: It's a work in progress. Great. Thank you. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I'm going to move the recommendation. Councillor Lorentson: You can have a question. Just a last question and I can't not ask this question. Burgess Creek Water Catchment Management Plan. Where are we up to and which agencies going to take the lead on this council or unity

01:54:00 water? I'll have to take that one. Speaker 2: That was a lot of argument. Thank you. We've got the final before. These reports are done by our practice managers. So I'll take what's on there. But to give you any more further information, no, I have to take that one. I'll have to go back to you. Thank you. Yep. I should provide that. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay. So I had moved it and Councillor Wilkie had seconded. So thank you. As always, it gives a very good picture of a lot of good progress across the organisation. Just picking up on a few points that were raised in the question, that the issue of where we have minor and significant disruption, and I did a quick look, there's a lot in future and in excellence. And when you look at those, they tend to be the more strategic. And I suppose that's always my area of interest is the more you discount the future and it's

01:55:00 the easiest ones to push off, it becomes harder the longer. The longer you push them off. So as an organisation, we just have to keep on saying, make sure we're not discounting it. And so one of those examples in relation to coastal hazard, and it's easy to push that off until you have a coastal storm and all of a sudden we've got huge problems. So that's one. The other one was talking about the customer service and I was trying to flip back and remember what the guarantee was. We've got a long standing member of our community, Bob Ansett, who built the reputation of a company based on how quickly they'd answer the phone. And so it is a really good indicator to people about when you're customer service and you're customer focused, that improvement that the Mayor had picked up on, that is a really good indicator. And then we looked at the turnover rate and I started thinking, well, that's good to identify a few problems. But maybe we should also think about some indicators, whether it's quarterly or annually, about identifying where our strengths are.

01:56:00 So each time we do recognition, we have a series of people coming up and getting 10 years of service, 20 years of service, and occasionally 30 years of service. It might be equally as important to identify how much of our organisation is actually really solid, really long term, because that's where your corporate memory's in. And it would be, yeah, it's both that strength, but also if you see that reducing rapidly, you also know you're at risk of losing your corporate memory. So just a thought. But other than that, obviously when you compare the amount that's on track versus those that have had disruptions, it's a very worthwhile picture. Others wish to talk to this motion? Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Lorentson: Just the, oh, thank you, Johnston, for the operational plan. And I think it shows how big and how great and how much we do as an organisation. I think what I really just want to say, just really quickly, again and again and again,

01:57:00 our people are our greatest asset. And I really want to thank them. And concerns I raise is to ensure they don't burn out, to ensure they don't leave the organisation, and to ensure they're being valued. Because we value them here. Thank you. Councillor Phillips: Absolutely. Quickly, when I sort of, every time I see an operational plan, it's really hard for me not to do operational policing, because it's so important. So I understand it's very different. But when I think of delivering for the community, all the extent that you've listed, it's amazing. I can't help but sometimes always think of these really simple things like, you have the right people with the skill set, the wrong culture. And I think that's a balance in, and I'm not suggesting that's happening. But I really want to make sure that we're focusing on the two things, the right people and

01:58:00 the right skill set. Because I think you can have one without the other. And I think that's really detrimental to what communities see. And when you want to work, I can relate it to that. I can relate it to the police station that I work with, the guys that, you know, I'm good to work with. I know that they, you know, since my car accident in a police car just two weeks ago, my phone hasn't stopped from the guys that have checked out and reached out, not because they're just ticking the box, but they actually care how I'm travelling. That's culture. That's not in part of their KPIs. So I think we've got to make sure that we're constantly looking at how we've got the right mix. Because I think you can teach people a lot of things on paper. I didn't go to uni. Oh, I did, but didn't finish. But it's, you can have a piece of paper, or you can have the right attitude and the right core values. And I think that's a really important mix of having the right, the values that align

01:59:00 with what we want to see. And people will, the community will see that through the operational plan. That's all I've got to say. Speaker 2: Yep. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Yep. Agreed. Can we switch talk? Sure. Councillor Wilkie. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you for the report. And I'll say it's, it's only been a few months since July when Council, Council has unanimously endorsed the operational plan for this financial year with 98 major initiatives and projects in it. It's, it's good to see that 85% of them are completed and are on track already. That's very encouraging. And it's important to note that every, almost all recommendations that come before this Council are driven by the initiatives that this Council has put in place in the operational plan. So that's the origin of all of the material that the Council has stated for ratification by the Council. The Council are driven by the initiatives that this Council has put in place in the

02:00:00 Again, please pass on our thanks to the hard-working staff, they're the ones that are actually doing the work, and we are very grateful to them. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Anyone else? No? I don't need to close. I'll put the motion. Those in favour? That is unanimous. So councillors, the next three items are all in confidential session. May I suggest we move the motion to go into confidential session, but then have a short break for convenience. And it's up there, we've got three items to discuss. So that's got the three listed. Move, councillors. Councillor Lorentson. Councillor Finzel: Happy to second.

02:01:00 Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Seconded by Councillor Finzel. I don't think we need to debate. All those in favour? That is unanimous. Thank you. Thank you.

9 CONFIDENTIAL SESSION

▶ 02:01:54

02:51:00 Will you need to swap? Okay. Councillor Wegener: We'll find out. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: Okay, so welcome back, we're now in open session. Patrick, do you just want to open the door to see if no one's waiting? And the item we're dealing with is section nine, number one. It's the contract award report, contract CN25113, Western Batam Missing Link Capital. We'll open it up for discussion. Is there someone who'd like to move the recommendation? Councillor Wegener and a second? Councillor Wilkie.

9.1 CONFIDENTIAL - CONTRACT AWARD REPORT - CONTRACT NO. CN25113 – WESTERN BATTER MISSING LINK CAPPING CONSTRUCTION

▶ 02:51:47· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

02:52:00 Do we see anyone who wish to talk to this? No? I'll put to the vote. Those in favour? Speaker 6: Yes. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: That's unanimous. We then move on to item 9-2, which is the Planning Environment Accord Appeal D44 of 2025, Application for material change of use for food and drink outlet and short term accommodation at 203-240. 207 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville. Do we have a mover? I'll go for Councillor Lorenton and seconded by Councillor Wilkie. I presume there's no discussion. All those in favour? That also is unanimous. We then move on to the last item on the agenda, which is the one we moved earlier in the meeting. It's item 7.2, which is a Planning and Environment Court appeal number D92 of 2025 for an application for a material change of use for a dwelling house, 58 Seaview Terrace, Sunshine Beach. We have the recommendation up there. Do we have a mover of the recommendation? Moved by Councillor Wilkie, seconded by Councillor

9.2 CONFIDENTIAL – NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE – PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL D44 OF 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR FOOD AND DRINK OUTLET AND SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION AT 203 - 207 GYMPIE TERRACE, NOOSAVILLE

▶ 02:52:32· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

02:53:00 Wagner. Do we wish to have any discussion? No. I'll put the motion those in favour. And Councillor Phillips. That's also unanimous. Thank you, Councillors, and thank you, staff. That brings us to the end of the November General Committee meeting, and it closes at 3.23pm. Thank you, everyone.

10 MEETING CLOSURE

▶ 02:53:37

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.

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