Ordinary Meeting - 20 November 2025 Transcript

7 DEPUTATIONS ¶

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

7.1 Applicant: ROB DESSAIX, COOTHARABA COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Topic: community safety - traffic and foreshore concerns Speakers: ROB DESSAIX, JAN GREEN ¶

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00:07:00 Without more lighting in the streets to solve that problem. There's a bit of history with that but just wanted to make sure we understand the village precinct concept I'm talking about. No more curb and channel, no footpath increases. We're really looking for that village precinct set of lead. The membership focus is that we have that atmosphere as a high priority and safety in science. Including the safety awareness monitors as well. Speed and van U-turns in the camping ground to avoid the van passages past the Lake of Thurrah Sailing Club. In other words the bottom of the hill here. There's a roundabout, it's really not signed. Some people don't understand that that's what it says there. The pauses, green points, increased popularity, confusing audible signage. Distracted drivers, for example at 20km an hour speeds.

00:08:00 Sign on green parade coming down the hill. It's not seen, we can see the lake first. Missing direction U-turn at the bottom of the hill and a review to deploy pavement markers. In a village, we'd walk down the side of the street. We'd like to retain that. Left hand outbound shoulder for pedestrians and cycles going out of town around the corner. Needs the support of the state government, main roads and we hope the council will be able to step up to the mark and give us some assistance there. Foreshore working group is the next major issue. It's been going for a while. Shaun Walsh has been heavily involved as one of the members of that working group as well as members of the community. We have beach, tree root and tree stability concerns. That's another part of our safety anxiety at the moment.

00:09:00 And getting a better understanding of the cause of the erosion on the beach. I've had a chat with Shaun today. We've come to grips with understanding how it was dealt with in the past by councils on the quiet. That's what happens in yesteryear. Dog off leash was an issue. The pipes and taps replacement along the foreshore, which is a work in progress I understand. But that was on our list. So, how do we deal with this? We are requesting, can this community be moved onto the placemaking plan in order to expect, you know. Thank you very much. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you Rob. Thank you Rob. The next speaker is Randall Delaney and the topic is the Frisian Beach Active Street. Mr Delaney, the microphone is yours.

00:10:00 Can you hear me? Speaker 3: I hope I get through this in time. While residents are generally supported by the Noosa Council's broad goal of enhancing walking and cycling infrastructure, and the specific approach adopted in the Frisian Beach Active Street initiative has provoked strong and widespread opposition. Many in the community, myself included, are particularly troubled by the plan to establish a recreational cycling route made of four interconnecting active streets traversing a quiet residential neighbourhood on the way to the village. The proposal directly contradicts the preferences of most local residents who have consistently raised concerns and expressed their objections to the concept. The depth of feeling against the initiative highlights the disconnect between council's current plans and the wishes of residents. The handling of the Frisian Beach Active Street initiative has resulted in considerable time in community confidence and trust towards council.

7.2 APPLICANT: RANDAL DELANEY, PEREGIAN BEACH RESIDENTS AGAINST ACTIVE STREETS TOPIC: PEREGIAN BEACH ACTIVE STREET SPEAKERS: RANDAL DELANEY ¶

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00:11:00 Many residents perceived that the project as poorly planned, overly radical, largely unwanted and failing to meet community needs. This widespread view has intensified due to council's misrepresentation of the extent and nature of local backing for the initiative. Members of the community feel council has failed to engage in genuine consultation with local council. There has been little efforts made to involve or listen to those that would be most affected. The lack of processes fuelled further dissatisfaction and reinforcing disconnect between council's actions and the community expectations. Residents have not received clear, impartial or thorough information from council regarding the actual impacts that these projects may have on their local community. From the outset, council has treated the initiative as a beneficial idea and has subsequently sought to justify its implementation. Even though the proposal does not align with or address the needs of the community or suit this particular residential scenario.

00:12:00 Despite numerous inquiries and requests for further details from residents, significant concerns and issues remain unresolved in council communications. Major topics raised by the community have either gone unanswered or have not been meaningfully addressed. Despite council's claims that the Frisian Beach Active Street project is a good idea, council claims that the Frisian Beach Active Street project does not align with the priorities that residents expressed during the 2021 Walking and Cycling Strategy Consultation. Feedback from the community highlighted a clear desire for the development of additional off-road pathways and bikeways. Enhanced connectivity between residential neighbourhoods and key local amenities. Enhanced connectivity between and facilitates safe crossings and improved crossings across major roads. Enhanced connectivity between residential neighbourhoods and key local amenities. In addition to the council's desire for a safer recreational parkways, the focus was on the projects that will benefit access to activity centres, schools and recreational facilities.

00:13:00 Further, council's own transport strategy reinforced the need for safe road crossings and prioritised encouraging walking and cycling as a preferred daily transport option. The current proposal however does not deliver on these expectations, particularly with respect to overall connectivity. There is a lack of adequate safe crossing opportunities on major roads such as David Loway and E.U. Mountain Road, together with a noticeable absence of interconnected off-road shared pathways within the precinct. As a result, these recreational-focused projects are unlikely to encourage walking and cycling as practical choices for everyday transport. Additionally, the initiative fails to address challenges linked to increased visitation in the foreshore areas and does not provide solutions for reducing traffic, congestion and parking issues or vehicle emissions along the residential streets within the village

00:14:00 centre or David Loway. The proposed design will channel more cyclists and pedestrians into neighbourhood streets that are already experiencing increased traffic volumes and visitor pressures. This means genuine cycling safety concerns will remain unresolved as the use of the on-road cycle zones exposes a growing number of cyclists to direct conflict without any physical separation. Moreover, the proposal does not account for the risks associated with unlicensed reckless e-bike riders, nor the behaviour of a number of cyclists who spin, cut corners and fail to yield as required by law. Introducing higher volumes of visitor cyclists and fast-selling e-bikes into essentially residential streets will significantly increase the risks for all road users. Council maintain that the Active Street design is practical, evidence-based and specifically

00:15:00 adapted for Noosans' unique environment. However, the assertion rests mainly on an internal literary review of planning materials, which provides neither substantial or independent evidence. To date, Council has not referenced any comparable Active Street project in any city within Australia or elsewhere that mirrors the multi-street approach planned for Peregian Beach. This addition raises significant doubts about the suitability and effectiveness of the proposed solution in the local context. One councillor argued that if similar systems are successful in establishing cycling in cities in Europe, then the same model will succeed in Peregian Beach. This stance is both unfounded and an axiological basis for drawing such a direct comparison between a dissimilar context. Further, Council has not offered a clear, credible justification for the introduction of on-road priority cycle zones, especially as existing infrastructure such as wide cycle lanes along Babelway already accommodate cycling. Local streets in Peregian Beach have long

00:16:00 operated effectively as shared spaces already, without any dedicated footpaths. Additionally, with proposals to implement the new 1.5-metre off-road shared parkways, the need for an active street design remains unsubstantiated. Granting cyclists and mid-bikes riders preferential access to residential streets undermines the rights and safety of residents, without delivering clear and measurable benefits to the community. Instead, Council continues to promote unverified advantages, while minimising and ignoring the negative impacts on local amenity and safety which have been consistently raised in the Community Council's submissions to Council. Another significant concern pertains to Council's exclusion of any mention of active streets in its current five and ten-year implementation plans. The Community has yet to receive a comprehensive explanation regarding the criteria by which these projects were prioritised over other, potentially more deserving, issues

00:17:00 identified within Council's own project prioritisation documents. This lack of transparency diminishes public confidence in the decision-making processes and raises legitimate questions about the rationale for this project selection. Despite repeated calls from residents, Council has not provided an adequate explanation for the decision to reject the off-road shared pathway within the road reserve west side of Davidlow Way. Community members argued that this alternative is not only safer and more straightforward, but could be a more cost-effective solution and could be better suited for preserving local amenity. The kilometres of shared pathway along Davidlow Way on the west side in Coorong are already falling part of the coastal pathway. This sets a strong precedent for seriously considering this option. Additionally, developing a dedicated pathway along the edge of the National Park

00:18:00 would help to maintain a fire buffer for the residential prisons, offer a more scenic route and provide the opportunity to create shaded rest points entirely free from driveways and motor vehicle conflicts. These recreational and tourist benefits are not achievable through the Loretty Drive alignment. Even the Pritchin Beach Community Association has refrained from endorsing the extension of the pilot to additional streets, instead urging Council to give consideration to the use of the western road reserve along Davidlow Way. Council's claim that the preferred route was chosen following consultation of the 2020 consultation pathway corollary study is insufficient. Particularly as these findings from this study have not been made available to the public or subject to an independent review. The assertion that these factors such as safety, connectivity, comfort and feasibility guided the selection process lacks credibility, given the absence of a thorough feasibility assessment and cost benefit analysis specific to the Pritchin Beach scenario.

00:19:00 Council has misrepresented the actual level of local community support for the active streets, despite the submission of the formal petition with signatures from the local community. Council appears to have placed considerable weight on the recommendations and support from special interest groups such as those involving tourism, events, cycling and associated business. There are concerns regarding whether the guidance from these financially invested and non-local groups can truthfully represent or prioritise the needs of the Pritchin Beach community. Justification for both the chosen route and the implementation of cycle zones lacks transparency and detail. No additional solutions have ever been presented to the community. Additionally, the grant application that has secured the $1.6 million in state funding for the pilot project remains inaccessible for review. The lack of transparency leaves residents in a position of having to trust council decisions

00:20:00 without critical information. Many community members are now only becoming aware and understanding the impacts these projects will have on their streets. It is important to note that this is not the first time that these projects have been Even the most recent Digital Doorknock news update, which was intended to address previous complaints about inadequate communication, was vague and failed to provide the necessary detail. The ongoing lack of clarity and authentic engagement rages serious concerns about whether council has learned from experiences such as the criticisms levelled at the Noosa Corshaw Master Plan for its over-designed and insufficient consultation. Council has neglected to follow Tewantin principles and its own established design values. These principles call for considering the broader context, avoiding isolated project views, accounting for the effects of design decisions, respecting the unique character of towns and villages, and creating a transport network that integrates with rather than overwhelms

00:21:00 the environment. Despite these values, council has not developed a comprehensive or holistic walking and cycling master plan for the Peregian Beach Precinct. Even the PDCA has not developed a comprehensive or holistic walking and cycling master plan for detailed design from Jabiru Street to Sestrania Drive and for meaningful consultation with the community before any further action is taken. Many residents in Peregian Beach have expressed strong opposition to the prospect of living on a coastal recreational pathway. A source of concern is the expected increase in cycle traffic through residential streets, a situation that is likely to be made worse by ongoing development and population growth south of our border, and increased tourism ahead of the 2032 Olympics. These changes are anticipated to add pressure on local streets, intensifying existing infrastructure and concerns within the community. The community is united in its preference for safe streets, not overactive streets. Residents overwhelmingly support the use of off-road shared pathways instead of on-road

00:22:00 cycle zones. Residents favour recreational pathways routed through scenic bushland rather than residential areas. Viable alternatives to council's current plan exist and would ease, rather than increase, the pressure on local streets. Some residents have already put forward alternative ideas, demonstrating the community is actively discussing solutions tailored to local needs. Residents believe the effective consultation would enable council to identify and implement these locally-informed alternatives. Consequently, residents are calling on council to halt both the current pilot and any future planning of active streets in the area. We urge council to engage in genuine consultation with all directly affected residents, and ensure that the current plans and route routes are as effective as possible. We urge council to engage in joint efforts to ensure that the new designs are informed and guided by community feedback. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr. Kiliany. We have four submissions for public question time. The first is an application from Mr. Alan Dearing. Alan, if you'd like to come to the lectern, please.

00:23:00 Thank you. Yes. Speaker 5: Good afternoon. It's a background question. I'll keep it brief to 150 words, because council has changed it from 300 words to 150. Now, the response to my public question of the 18th of September this year concentrated on silica dust and the workplace exposure standard. Residential homes on dirt roads are not workplaces, should not be compared. Workplaces have exhausts and filters to deal with dust, and the standard is eight hours, five days a week. Residents don't have the luxury of exhausts and filters for the standard. For some residents, it would be 24 hours, seven days a week. Silica is not the only ingredient of road dust that can cause health issues. It may also contain aluminium, calcium, iron, titanium, and magnesium. As stated in the response from Shaun Walsh, in terms of health risks, council has undertaken a technical assessment of the potential health risks associated with silica dust generated

8 PUBLIC QUESTION TIME ¶

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8.1 ALAN DEERING ¶

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00:24:00 from unsealed roads. If the ratepayers have paid for a technical assessment, it should be released to ratepayers. Now, the question. In answer to my public question of the 18th of September this year, part of the response was, based on current material usage, maintenance practices, and environmental exposure conditions, there is minimal to no health risk from silica dust generated by unsealed roads. There is no confirmed evidence of harmful silica dust concentrations in these areas, and no recorded public health impacts attributable to road dust. As a 40-year property owner on Croy Mountain Road, I have concerns about the health effects of long-term exposure to fine particle road dust for myself, and especially on my partner, who occasionally has nosebleeds at times of severe dust-covering conditions.

00:25:00 I would like to ask the council to confirm that there are no health impacts from road dust. Does Noosa Council confirm that there are no health impacts from road dust? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Alan. Your questions will be answered by Shaun Walsh, Director of Infrastructure Services. Director Walsh: Does that work? Is that okay? Thank you. Thank you for the question. In terms of health risk exposure from dust on unsealed roads, there are no health impacts from road dust. Council can advise that unsealed roads in these regions typically carry low traffic volumes, between 30 and 500 metres a day. Dust exposure is intermittent, outdoor and dispersed, significantly reducing concentration of infected and closed-occupation centres. A New Zealand Transport Agency study found that while particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less of dust from unsealed roads can be present, respirable silica levels are generally below and not linked to adverse health outcomes in ambient settings.

00:26:00 The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety and Health Evaluations of Dirt Road Maintenance found no aeronite and only occasional silica incidences, primarily in active roadwork zones and not general public exposure. The workplace exposure standard for recyclable crystalline silica in Australia is 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre on an eight-hour time-weighted average. Ambient exposure from unsealed roads is not known to exceed this threshold in South East Queensland. Based on current material usage, maintenance practices and environmental exposure conditions, there is minimal to no health risk from silica dust generated by unsealed gravel roads in the Noosa Council region. There is no confirmed evidence of harmful silica dust concentrations in these areas, and no recorded public health impacts attributable to road dust. The use of natural gravel and recycled asphalt, combined with routine grading and dust suppression, ensures compliance with engineering and environmental standards. Council has also sought further advice from Queensland Health about the topic, but unfortunately

00:27:00 have not received a reply by this meeting. Mayor Wilkie: Mr Deering, would you like to ask your second question, please? Speaker 5: Back round to the question. The dirt section of Croy Mountain Road has been assessed by a qualified road engineer, and then the report found deficiencies and a clear risk of crashes. This is due to the fact that the dirt section of Croy Mountain Road has been assessed by the Noosa Council and other safety hazards. There has not been an assessment released by Noosa Council on the same section of road, therefore not disputing the dangerous assessment of this section of road. Croy Mountain Road is a through road that is sealed to 65% of its length at the western end. The last sealing was 26 years ago, and the eastern end carries more traffic. Roadpayers have offered to seal sections of the road to a width of 7 metres, but Council has refused to do so. Under the Noosa Plan, it must be to a width of 9 metres.

00:28:00 In the 10-year capital program 25 to 34, under sealing of unsealed roads, there is no money budgeted for the sealing of dirt roads until 2032, that being 1.5 million. The question is, overall it seems that Noosa Council has a policy of not sealing dirt roads, and if residents offer to seal sections at their expense, will they be able to do Council will make that impossible to achieve. Besides the sealing of the $5.6 million Dr Page's Road Upgrade in 2016, the former man I'll play would call a win for hinterland tourism, in Noosa Shire, what dirt roads in Croy Land have been sealed since the amalgamation? Director Walsh: Thank you for the question. Council has undertaken the following road sealing program since the amalgamation. In 2012, the road was sealed. In 2015-2016, Dr Page's Road, McKinnon Creek Road, Cootharaba, 5.6 kilometres in length,

00:29:00 as you have referenced. 2018-2019, Donnelly's Road, Bridgewood, to 800 metres length. 2019-20, Ty Road, Boring Point, 200 metres length. 2019-20, Ambulance Street, Pomona, 100 metres length. 2021-22, Tablelands Road, Cooran, Bridge Approaches, 150 metres length. Council has recently asked for a review of its Road Sealing Priority Program and consideration of a budget allocation for the 26-27 budget for its further consideration. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Kieran. The next application for two questions is from Mrs Pat Spicer. Rob and Pat. Thank you. Answers to your questions will be provided by Kim Rawlings, Director of Strategy and Environment, who is online. Thank you. Our CEO, Larry Sengstock.

8.2 PAT SPICER ¶

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00:30:00 Pat Spicer: My name's Pat Spicer. Through the Chair. Background information. In the March update to the Noosa Housing Strategy, Coaster Bay has State Government funding to purchase the proposed Lot 1 at 62 Lake MacDonald Drive and construct 25 social housing dwellings. In the Resolution on the 16th of May, 2024, Coaster Bay will be able to purchase the proposed Lot 1 to Coaster Bay, subject to purchase price being market value outlined in the report. The Coaster Bay CEO said he was looking at a parcel of land in Cooroy that already had a DA approval that went above the threshold for Government funding for purchase of the land. But 62 Lake MacDonald Drive came in under the threshold for purchase of land. Which suggests the valuation was under market value.

00:31:00 The Local Government Regulation 2012, Regulation 236.3, a local government may only dispose of land or an interest in land under this section if the consideration for the disposal would be equal to or more than the market value of the land or interest in the land including the market value of any improvements on the land. Coaster Bay has a commercial and confidence sale contract with Noosa Council, which is not a standard contract as it has special clauses that relate to the Capital Funding Agreement with the State Government. The sale will not be completed until remediation and other matters are concluded. So my question. As the independent valuation of Lot 1, does that mean that the sale will not be completed at 62 Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy, was carried out before remediation, subdivision

00:32:00 and infrastructure works? Is the price quoted and agreed upon with Coaster Bay the estimated undeveloped value or the estimated developed value, taking into consideration the remediation and infrastructure provisions occurring before the actual sale? Speaker 7: Thank you for the question and I'll answer this on behalf of Kim Rawlings, our Director. Yes, the independent valuation of proposed Lot 1 was undertaken on the community facilities zoning of the land, assuming multiple dwellings as a permitted use under the planning scheme and including all remediation and civil works were completed, resulting in a fully serviced allotment. The proposed sale of Lot 1 to Coaster Bay is fully compliant with Section 236 of the Local Government Regulation 2012.

00:33:00 Pat Spicer: Question 2. Background information. Council's resolution financial incentives to include them. The Council's next review clarifying the general rate donation policy of not-for-profit organisations providing crisis or risk to the local government. For emergency transition housing or affordable rental premises are eligible to apply for up to 100% donation on general rates on such accommodation. The Local Government Regulation 2012, Regulation 236, a local government may dispose of valuable non-current asset other than by tender or option if the land will not be rebatable land after the disposal. My question. Prior to the resolution incentivising building of social housing, Thursday 15 May 2025 Council

00:34:00 Ordinary Meeting, was Coaster Bay, a community housing provider, exempt from paying rates on housing at 64 Lake MacDonald Drive, Cooroy, under Local Government Regulation 2012, Regulation 236? Question 3. Speaker 7: Thanks again Pat. I'll read this response from our Director, Kim Rawlings. It seems this question is referencing two different issues. Section 236 of the Local Government Regulation addresses the disposal of Council-owned assets. 1b2-2 allows a Local Government to dispose of an asset other than by tender or auction, if to a community organisation which Coast to Bay is. As addressed in the Council meeting of May this year, a not-for-profit community housing provider such as Coast to Bay may apply for a donation up to the value of 100% of the general rates for affordable rental premises of a property they are responsible for, which is being used for that purpose.

00:35:00 If the donation is granted, they would still need to pay any applicable levies and other charges itemised on rate notices. 62 Lake McDonald Drive is a rateable property. And if it were disposed of, the rates would be payable by the new owner up to a time it was used for qualifying affordable rental premises. Thank you. Thank you Pat. Mayor Wilkie: The next application of two questions is from Mr David Phipps. David, the lectern and microphone is yours. Speaker 8: Thanks to you Mr Mayor and the Council for this opportunity. My first question, the associated background material is as follows. Council has advanced plans to convert targeted streets into active streets in the Peregian Beach area without undertaking proper consultation with residents to evaluate suitability and acceptance of these proposals.

8.3 DAVID PHIPPS ¶

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00:36:00 Despite mounting widespread opposition, the Council has proceeded with implementing the application. The proposal is to reduce the number of residential streets to the number of active streets designed on an isolated 800m stretch of lorikeet drive, disregarding calls for more inclusive engagement and transparency. The petition submitted to Council underscores the substantial opposition from local residents to the proposed conversion of quiet residential streets into active streets as part of Council's coastal pathway vision. The majority of the local community is against these changes, citing several specific concerns that would directly affect the daily life and neighbourhood amenity. Of particular concern is the implementation of on-road cycle priority zones that will severely impact residential amenity by restricting parking to one side of the street, which, when coupled with formalised parking arrangements, may reduce parking by as much as 60 per cent.

00:37:00 And will necessitate lowering speed limits to 30 km an hour, a limit which many believe would be unenforceable. Further apprehension stems from the provision of preferential access for unlicensed cyclists and e-bike users on residential streets. Residents contend that this could undermine both the rights and safety of those living in the area, while failing to provide clear or substantial benefits to the local community. The active street concept, as currently applied, will not address increasing traffic, visitation, parking and associated safety issues raised by residents with Council. Instead, it risks adding further demand and conflict rather than reducing it, especially given the significant development of population growth just south of Noosaville's border.

00:38:00 WAI have proven low-cost safety measures such as yellow line markings, clear safety measures, and more. You successfully know the parts of Noosa not being applied here. My question is, given the significant opposition, will Council stop the ill-conceived, unwarranted, unwanted and illogical plan to convert an 800 metre section of lorikeet drive into an active street? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Timms. Director of Infrastructure, Shaun Walsh, to answer your question. Director Walsh: Can you hear that? Is that working? Councillor Phillips: There we go. Excellent. Thank you. Director Walsh: Thank you for the question. Council understands that some residents have concerns. Council has also received positive support and feedback on the project. While staff have not been directed to pause or stop work on the project, the project team is discussing next steps and exploring opportunities for additional community consultation with the councillors later this month. It's important to note that the active street proposal for lorikeet drive is the result of several years of technical work and strong support for safer, more connected walking and cycling options in the area.

00:39:00 It directly responds to long-standing issues raised by locals, including speeding, pedestrian safety and driveway access challenges. An active street was chosen because it offers the safest and most suitable treatment for this corridor. It slows traffic, creates a calmer neighbourhood feel. It makes it easier for people of all ages to walk, ride and move around. Communities across Australia are embracing this approach due to its proven benefits for safety, health and safety. Local and energy and street green. Importantly, the project is fully funded by the state and federal programs, not by reduced ratepayers. And also enables council to upgrade curbs, improve stormwater and drainage, replace the ageing lorikeet park bridge and enhance landscaping along the street. Our goal is to deliver a safer, greener and more accessible street that benefits the entire neighbourhood.

00:40:00 Mayor Wilkie: Mr Phipps, your second question please. Speaker 8: The associated background material. Council has not produced a comprehensive and detailed walking and cycling master plan for the Peregian and Marcus Beach precincts. This omission stands in direct contradiction to established principles of good town and urban planning, as well as council's own stated planning values. These principles emphasise the importance of considering a broader context of any project, rather than reviewing proposals in isolation. They also highlight the necessity of evaluating the potential ripple effects of all design decisions, respecting the unique character of existing towns and villages, and ensuring that new designs are not forced or contrived to fit environments where they do not belong. Additionally, council's guidelines call for the creation of transport networks that the community needs,

00:41:00 and integrate seamlessly into the surrounding environment rather than dominating it. There has been a failure to engage the community on the design and implementation of Active Streets, specifically regarding the key features that define the council's vision for these projects. The overall communication and consultation surrounding the pilot initiative and future Active Streets projects has been viewed as inadequate. Furthermore, there is a lack of clarity regarding how council intends to implement a uniform and active street design across all streets leading to the village, especially those with more complex topographical challenges. Challenges that include narrow roadways, intersections and bends with crests and blind spots, sloped verges and steep driveways, all of which complicate the feasibility of a consistent design. Uncertainty remains over council's ability to secure sufficient funding to realise its vision

00:42:00 for a coastal pathway through Peregian Beach and the wider Noosa region. The same financial concerns apply to the proposed conversion of 60 additional streets identified for transformation into new shared streets or active streets. My question, will council cease all Active Street design and implementation work until a detailed design and costings for walking and cycling throughout the entire Peregian and Marcus Beach precinct is complete to prove that these projects are both physically and financially viable? We also ask that the design and development encompasses genuine and meaningful consultation with impacted residents and that such residents have an active role in co-designing the plans. Thank you, Mr Keiris. Dr Walsh. Director Walsh: Thank you for the question. Council appreciates that some residents would like to see a pre-supplied planning walking and cycling design

00:43:00 completed before any further work progresses. It's important to note that this broader planning is already being undertaken through Council's Cycling and Walking Strategy and Implementation Plan, adopted by Council in July 2021. These strategic documents assess routes across the entire Peregian and Marcus Beach area and identify the most suitable corridors and priorities for investment. An active street on Lorra Key Drive is one of the top ranked projects in this work and has already secured full stage and freeway funding. Pausing the project now to redo increasing wide design and costings could be perceived as wasteful and would significantly delay the degree of risk in using that funding. Council agrees that community involvement must be genuine and ongoing. That is why for this project engagement has not been limited to a single stage. We have involved residents and community groups through the project reference group, during route and treatment selection, held multiple information sessions during the preliminary design phase, undertaken door knocks and offered one-on-one meetings, continued adjusting the elements of the design based on visitor feedback,

00:44:00 particularly around parking, traffic management, connectivity and environmental values. This approach will continue as the project moves into the developed design and Council will be continuing with community information sessions. Council's focus remains on creating a safer, greener and better connected local network for all residents. This is a process of working and writing in a way that reflects community needs and enhances the character of the area. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you Mr Phipps. The next application for two questions is from Mr Tony Wright. Tony, would you like to come to the lectern and your questions be answered by Director Walsh. Thank you. Speaker 10: Council has a project prioritisation table.

8.4 TONY WRIGHT ¶

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00:45:00 We have included a three-metre wide off-roaded share bath, some on the bridge and the beach round about to Jamboree Strip. I'm leaving out a few extra rooms here. Both of these off-road paths are located within the road reserve of the rest of the side of David Bowie Way and together would provide approximately 65% of an off-road cycle path along David Bowie Way. The project represents a clear opportunity for extension which could facilitate the creation of an off-road recreational pathway, connecting the village from the new path along the mountain road.

00:46:00 And such a pathway would offer safe connectivity for Peregian Breeze Reservance and especially kids to Peregian Beach and its facilities. Furthermore, utilising this route as part of the textile pathway would help avoid negative impacts on the character, amenity and safety of the largely tranquil residential cities. Fully tranquil. Council's fragmented approach to urban planning has resulted in uncertainty regarding the feasibility of implementing a consistent and safe active street design across all targeted streets. The challenges stem from physical characteristics of the streets,

00:47:00 including narrow widths, undulating sections, intersections, bends, blind spots, existing utilities, infrastructure and residences on both sides. Many properties also feature steeply sloping verges, extremely steep driveways, and multi-unit dwellings that share a single exit or entry point. These factors collectively complicate the implementation of a uniform and safe active street design. So the question here is, can Council explain in detail why it has chosen to implement a challenging path through four interconnecting residential streets with hills, intersections, bends and blind spots,

00:48:00 rather than a simpler, viable, safer and less disruptive alternative route along the road reserve? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you for the question. Director Walsh: Council did look closely at the David Lowe Corridor during the cycling and walking strategy. This study sought to plan-safe the more connected walking and cycling routes between Tewantin and Cooroy Beach and was supported by a project reference group made up of representatives from local residence associations, community and sporting groups, bike shops and tourism providers. Whilst it may appear simple on a map, the David Lowe Way was not evaluated as a safe or feasible location for walking and cycling route. The corridor carries high-speed traffic, has complex intersections and includes narrow, uneven and environmentally sensitive areas in the Western Road Reserves. Building a continuous, accessible pathway there would require major earthworks, vegetation removal and significant structural warnings,

00:49:00 with poorer safety outcomes for users. In contrast, the Laura Keith Drive Route scored the highest across all assessment criteria. Residential streets offer a quieter, low-stress environment that is safer and more comfortable for people of all ages, especially children, seniors and less-confident riders. Active Street Treatment is specifically designed to manage bends, hills and intersections by slowing traffic, improving visibility and creating a calmer neighbourhood feel. Importantly, this route also delivers the best long-term connectivity, linking homes, parks, schools, the coastal pathway network and the village. It also enables Council to address existing issues along Laura Keith Drive such as drainage, curb upgrades and other safety improvements. Mayor Wilkie: Mr Wright, would you like to ask your second question, please? Pat Spicer: No. Thank you.

00:50:00 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Speaker 10: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

00:52:00 Improvement activities that Council should be undertaking to expand the practice. Furthermore, questions have been raised regarding the prioritisation of road surface and quality of drive, particularly in light of the poor condition of other roads throughout Noosa, including down the road just here. This has led to further doubts about the allocation of resources and the decision-making process behind the selection of water and road drive for resurfacing in the town of Benedict. The question here is, can Council please explain how the implementation of a recreational cycle pathway through residential streets, focusing specifically on active street, features such as the priority cycle zone,

00:53:00 how will that provide any benefit to occupants of the streets? Mayor Wilkie: Thank you for the question. Director Walsh: Firstly, the existing street is already used by recreational cyclists. The active street is designed first and foremost to improve safety and livability for the people who use the streets every day. While it will support recreational walking and cycling for the broader community, the locals also benefit. A 30km-hour environment with traffic calming will create quieter, calmer and more predictable street, making it safer to exit driveways, walk to the beach or visit the park. The project also benefits due to the spitting and upgrades, new kerning, improved drainage, footpath resurfacing and the replacement of the lower peak, keep that bridge, all funded entirely by the state and federal grants. Features such as priority cycling zones help organise how cars and bicycles interact,

00:54:00 reducing unpredictable movements and improving safety for both riders and riders. Formalised parking and clearer sidelines also make day-to-day access easier and safer for residents. Beyond safety, the active street brings broader amenity benefits, more greenery, better pedestrian access and fewer short car trips, which means lower noise, cleaner air and more pleasant neighborhood feel. In short, while the group will be enjoyed by many, the people living along these streets will experience the greatest improvements in safety, infrastructure and overall street amenity. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Mr Warren. Ladies and gentlemen, we now have a 10-minute adjournment. Those who are wishing to leave, feel free to. Those who wish to talk to councillors and staff can do so as well. We will be back in 10 minutes. Speaker 1: Thank you.

01:12:00 Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Okay, we declare the meeting open again. Welcome back everyone. We're up to item 9 on the agenda. There are no mayoral minutes. We have one notified motion. Investigation into a local policy on electronic gaming machines on council owned or trustee land. Councillor Lorentson, would you like to move your motion?

9 MAYORAL MINUTES ¶

▶ 01:12:40

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10 NOTIFIED MOTIONS ¶

▶ 01:12:55

01:13:00 We have the floor, Councillor Lorentson. Can you hear us, Amelia? Councillor Lorentson: I can. Not very clearly, but I can hear you. Can you hear me? We can hear you. We can hear you loud and clear. Mayor Wilkie: Oh, great. Councillor Lorentson: And great floor. Oh, okay. Thank you. I missed that part. I have a notice of motion. I'll read it. Investigation into a local policy on electronic gaming machines on council owned or trustee land. Recommendation that council aim. Note that several Queensland local governments, including Logan City, Council have adopted policies to guide decisions regarding electronic gaming machines on council owned or council controlled land with the objective of reducing social harm and supporting community wellbeing.

10.1 Investigation into a Local Policy on Electronic Gaming Machines on Council-Owned or Trustee Land ¶

▶ 01:13:03· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:14:00 Acknowledge that while the regulation of gaming machine rests with the state government under the Gaming Machine Act 1991, Council has an important role in determining the role of gaming machines under the Gaming Machine Act 1991. and the appropriate use of council owned and trustee land. C. Explore including a policy position on gaming machines as part of a community purpose land and infrastructure tenure policy currently under review to guide decisions regarding installation, expansion or relocation of gaming machines on council owned or trustee land. And D. Consider reinstating membership. With the Alliance for Gambling Reform to Strengthen Advocacy and Collaboration on Harder Minimisation Initiatives. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Can we have a seconder for that motion? Seconded by Councillor Stockwell. Councillor Lorentson, you have the floor.

01:15:00 Councillor Lorentson: Sure. Again, I'm having difficulty hearing you, but please let me know if there's any difficulty in hearing me. In 2018, Noosa Council joined the Alliance for Gambling Reform and supported stronger local control over poker machine approvals. However, in 2021, Council withdrew its membership and currently there is no formal policy that exists to guide decisions regarding electronic gaming machines on Council owned or trustee land. While the regulation of gaming machines remains in place, it remains a state of responsibility through the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulations. Community concerns persist about the clustering of gaming venues and the potential for social and economic harm. Developing a local policy would provide transparent guidance for decisions involving gaming machines on Council or trustee land,

01:16:00 ensuring that community wellbeing and harm minimisation are key considerations. It would also support constructive engagement with the State Government and local stakeholders. Logan City Council's gaming machines policy offers a clear precedent demonstrating how gaming operations on Council controlled land can align with community values and responsible gambling practices. Including this policy position as part of the current review of the government. This policy is an efficient approach that integrates gaming machine considerations into broader land use principles. Given current operational priorities and resource constraints,

01:17:00 no further work on this matter is proposed until the 2026 budget process and Council can consider whether to proceed with policy development and allocate appropriate resources. Rejoining the Alliance for Gambling Reform would further strengthen Council's advocacy and collaboration on harm minimisation initiatives. I'm just going to just add a couple of little things. I pulled out some data and I just think that data speaks for itself. In Queensland, Queenslanders lost 5.1 billion dollars. In the year 2022 to 2023. Pokies alone accounted for 3.2 billion dollars of that, representing 63%. On the Sunshine Coast, losses reached in 2022-23, 231 million dollars, with more than 3,400 machines in operation.

01:18:00 Nationally, Australia has the highest gambling losses per capita. In the world, about 15% of adults report some level of gambling-related harm. Everything from financial distress to family breakdowns and mental health issues. I also pulled out a little bit of data from Noosa. And alone in one month in July in 2024, pokey losses were just over 2,664,000 dollars. And understanding we have a population of approximately 57,000 people. Poky machines in Noosa totaled 501. So again, the data speaks for itself. And the reason that this formal

01:19:00 policy or this notify motion is so important is because social well-being is at the heart of who we are as a community. Our Noosa plan and our community vision talk a lot about protecting our lifestyle. It talks about protecting our health. And it talks a lot about social cohesion. So to have a policy on gaming machines would help us make decisions that reflect those values and also reduce the risk of harm. It's really interesting, as I was pulling out all this data, what also became really quite clear was that particularly at the moment when we're in a crisis, in a cost of living crisis, it's people spend more on gambling machines than we think sort of economies together. And it's more they enter, you know, whether it's an RSL or a pub or a surf club, they enter there with $20 thinking that $20 is going to,

01:20:00 they're going to go home with $40 or $100. So I keep coming back to what role we play as a council. And we seriously play a significant role. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Amelia, that's five minutes. Do you need much more time? Councillor Lorentson: Ensuring that our community is safe and healthy. And that decisions... Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Amelia. Councillor Lorentson: ...support positive community outcomes. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Amelia, can you hear us? Can you hear us, Amelia? Councillor Lorentson: I hope you all support. I know that around the table we had this discussion on Monday when we were looking at the application at Tewantin RSL. I know that we are all on the same page. Again, opportunity for us to put our values into practice. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Amelia, can you hear us all right? Can you hear us? I can. Councillor Lorentson: Now I can. Thank you very much. It was... I just had so much background noise. That is horrible.

01:21:00 Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Councillors, any comments, amendments? Councillor Stockwell. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I think I can do it. Okay. I support the motion. I do think it's time for a policy. We have previously been as part of the gambling alliance. When we joined, it was substantially cheaper than it would be now if we were to rejoin. But I remember the presentation given to us, and the data on gaming machines in Australia was horrifying. The number of gaming machines per head of population in Australia is not a little bit higher than the next nation. It's orders of magnitude higher. And we know from what Councillor Lorentson said that it's disproportionately responsible for social harm as a result of problem gambling. We do know that our responsibility as a landholder is...does extend to both our land by...own by ourselves and state land, which we are responsible for as trustee.

01:22:00 We have, in the past, put conditions on leases without the policy backing, such as the Prindjian Beach Surf Club, which had a lease that prevented it from having gaming machines. I think having a policy that can be consistently applied to...across all our leased areas in the public estate makes good sense. So I support the motion and believe that we...consideration of rejoining, the cost of the gambling alliance. It is an issue that will take very extensive advocacy. I read an article two years ago about the number of immediately ex-federal politicians and existing politicians who have, in one way or another, got very strong relationships with the clubs and gambling industry. It is a...the lobby is being very effective at getting the ears of decision-makers in Canberra.

01:23:00 And I suppose that the flip side is then that local governments have to also make our voices heard. Thank you, Councillor Solomon. Mayor Wilkie: Any other councillors wish to speak to the motion? No, thank you. Councillor Morrison, do you wish to close? Councillor Lorentson: No. Once again, just a real opportunity for us to just put our values into practice and do what we have the power to do in terms of setting expectations on council land. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Morrison. Motion to the vote. Those in favour? Yes. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: That is unanimous. That brings us to the end of the session. That brings us to consideration of committee reports. 11.1, Planning and Environment Committee Recommendations. 11.2.1 was referred to the General Committee. That was a minor change to the Royal Mail. 11.2.2, Planning and Environment Court Appeal.

01:24:00 Number 2698 of 2025 was an application for a material change of use for a dwelling house at Six Arrow Coon Crest at Sunshine Beach. Planning and Environment Court Appeal number 2697 of 2025, application for a material change of use for a dwelling house at Six Arrow Coon Crest at Sunshine Beach. 11.2.4 was P&E Court Appeal number D92 of 2025, 58 Seaview Terrace was referred to the General Committee. 11.2.5, Planning Applications Decided by Delegate of September 2025. 11.2.6, do I really need this microphone? That's dodgy. No. Speaker 5: Confidential, not for public release. Mayor Wilkie: Planning and Environment Committee. Planning and Environment Court Appeal number 2420 of 2025, application for a material change of use for a dwelling house at Three Allambi Rise. Who says? 11.2.7 was referred to the Planning and Environment Committee Recommendations on block. May I have a mover and a seconder for the Planning and Environment Committee Recommendations

11 CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ¶

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11.1 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS DATED 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ¶

▶ 01:24:14

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11.1.1 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 ¶

▶ 01:24:18

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11.1.2 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 2698 OF 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR A DWELLING HOUSE 6 ARAKOON CRESCENT, SUNSHINE BEACH ¶

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11.1.3 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 2697 OF 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR A DWELLING HOUSE 4 ARAKOON CRESCENT, SUNSHINE BEACH ¶

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11.1.4 PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. D92 OF 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR A DWELLING HOUSE 58 SEAVIEW TERRACE, SUNSHINE BEACH ¶

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11.1.5 PLANNING APPLICATIONS DECIDED BY DELEGATED AUTHORITY – SEPTEMBER 2025 ¶

▶ 01:24:45

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11.1.6 CONFIDENTIAL - NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE - PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT APPEAL NO. 2420 of 2025 – APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR A DWELLING HOUSE 3 ALLAMBI RISE, NOOSA HEADS ¶

▶ 01:24:55

01:25:00 to be adopted please? Speaker 5: I'm happy to move. Mayor Wilkie: Moved, Councillor Lorentson. Seconded, Councillor Stockwell. All in favour? Thank you. Yes. That's unanimous. We're now at the Services and Organisation Committee Recommendations. 11.3.1, Extension of Appointment for the Audit and Risk Committee, Chair and Appointment of New Independent Committee Member. 11.3.2, 2025 LGAQ Conference Noosa Council Motions Carried. 11.3.3, Capital Programme 2025-2026, Delivery Status Report. 11.3.4 is the Services and Organisation Committee Recommendations. On block. May I have a mover and a seconder for the Services and Organisation Committee Recommendations to be adopted. That was moved by Councillor Finzel, seconded by Councillor Phillips. All in favour? Councillor Lorentson: Yes. Mayor Wilkie: That is carried unanimously. Now the General Committee Recommendations. 11.4.1 is Application for Minor Change to Involvement and Approval for Material Change

11.2 SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS DATED 11 NOVEMBER 2025 ¶

▶ 01:25:32

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11.2.2 2025 LGAQ CONFERENCE - NOOSA COUNCIL MOTIONS CARRIED ¶

▶ 01:25:48

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11.2.3 CAPITAL PROGRAM 2025 - 2026 DELIVERY STATUS REPORT ¶

▶ 01:25:51

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11.2.4 SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ENBLOC ¶

▶ 01:25:56· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:26:00 of Use Hotel, Extension to Existing Hotel and DBW 23007.02 Building Work Development. That is the Royal Mail. Councillor Wilson, do you have a declaration? Speaker 9: I do. Sorry, I'm just going to cut to you this screen. Pat Spicer: Um. Speaker 9: I have my cat attacking me. Oh! Well, that's alright. I will get it. In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, I, Councillor Wilson, 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 tendered use, hotel, extension to existing hotel.

11.3 GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS DATED 17 NOVEMBER 2025 ¶

▶ 01:26:22

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11.3.1 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) ¶

▶ 01:26:26· Carried 6-0 from council's minutes

01:27:00 Mayor Wilkie: Is that your cat? Speaker 9: That's it, yes. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Wilson, don't cross the line into animal cruelty. It's a fine line. Tell them you broke the standing orders. Broke the standing orders. Can I have a movement of seconder for this committee recommendation regarding Royal Mile, please?

01:28:00 No. Move Councillor Stockwell, seconder Councillor Phillips. All in favour? Councillor Lorentson: Yes. Mayor Wilkie: That's carried. All councillors bar Councillor Wilson. May we... Get Councillor Wilson back to the meeting, please. Speaker 5: She's back. Welcome back, Councillor Wilson. Mayor Wilkie: Next item is Planning and Environment Court Appeal No. D92 of 2020. Application for a material change of use for a dwelling house 58 CDU Terrace, Sunshine Beach. Next item, Financial Performance Report, October 2025. Next item, Operational Plan 2025-26, quarterly one, quarterly reporting. Next item, Confidential Contract Award Report, Contract No. CN25113, Western Banner Missing Link Cabin Construction.

01:29:00 Next item is another confidential item, not for public release. Planning and Environment Court Appeal D44. Application for a material change of use for food and drink outlet and short-term accommodation at 203, 207, Kinney Terrace, Noosaville. Can I have a mover and seconder for the general committee recommendation to be adopted except where dealt with separately, please? Councillor Lorentson: I'm happy to move. Mayor Wilkie: Moved Councillor Phillips, seconded by Councillor Lorentson. All in favour? Yes. Speaker 5: Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: That's carried. Yes. We have two reports direct to the ordinary meeting. Item 12.1 is the 2025 NUSA Council Community Satisfaction Survey results, and we have Director of Community Services, Kerri Contini, here to give us a summary of the report. Thank you, Kerri. Thank you, councillors. Speaker 6: We're just going to share a screen here and bring up...

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

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11.3.6 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 ¶

▶ 01:29:28

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11.3.7 GENERAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS EN BLOC ¶

▶ 01:29:38· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:30:00 Councillor Lorentson: Portal? Portal? Portal? Portal? Portal? Portal? Speaker 6: Thank you, councillors. This evening, we're really pleased to present the results from our Community Satisfaction Survey 2025. The Satisfaction Survey provides a comprehensive overview of residents' opinions on council's performance and priorities. The results serve as a key measure of how well council meets community needs and expectations. The findings highlight council's strengths and weaknesses. The survey helps guide our governance, our customer service, our strategic planning and our operations. Thank you. And as well, importantly, it helps us meet our paying resources.

12.1 2025 NOOSA COUNCIL COMMUNITY SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS ¶

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

01:31:00 The feedback covers a wide range of community services, both council services and, most of all, it supports informed future progress. The last time that we conducted a Community Satisfaction Survey was in 2021. And we had a history of participating in the LGAQ-coordinated Community Satisfaction Surveys. However, those approaches use a very traditional survey approach, which was land-wide telecom surveys. And those, obviously, are very challenging to deliver these days. Our last survey took place in the summer of 2020. And we had over 5,000 phone calls to negative by sample size. So, confronted with these challenges, the team have done a fantastic job in actually exploring what contemporary models are. And partnered with our, with Place4, who are our trust partner in the liability survey

01:32:00 space. And through this, we have piloted, with Place4, a digital-first approach, which replaces the traditional survey approach. So, this is the outdated land-wide surveys with randomised email invitations and targeted social media to ensure that we have an inclusive survey that is representative of our ABS profile. This has enabled a broader demographic reach. It's reduced costs. It's improved accessibility. And, most importantly, it gives us a rich and reliable data. It has the added benefit of being able to relate to liveability areas. Councillor Finzel: The survey was administered by Place4 between 28 April and 23 May 2025. Speaker 6: It assessed 50 service areas, grouped in five dimensions, community programs, community places, transport, waste and water, management of communications and planning for the future.

01:33:00 It achieved a representative sample of 398 residents and for a population of our size, the required sample size is 300. The margin of error is plus or minus 5% at 95% confidence, and residents and ratepayers were invited to participate aged 15 years and over. Councillor Finzel: To the most important aspect, the results. Speaker 6: I'll just go through a couple of the overview results, and then Emma and I are just going to show you a little bit of the portal so that you can get a sense of the difference between how we used to receive the survey. Which was just a PDF copy of a lot of graphs, to the ability now that we have to really interrogate and draw out samples to assist with our understanding of our community. The overall satisfaction was, we, the Minister's Council, rated 79% performance as either very

01:34:00 good, good, or average. Important to note that this was a different methodology from our previous surveys, so this is a much improved contemporary survey. So while the results are completely comparable, Placeport have done a fantastic job of adjusting previous methodologies to be able to give us some comparison. And that suggests that there's a 14% decline in overall satisfaction since 2021. Now obviously that's concerning, but what we also understand is that that is similar to other local governments, and other government levels generally, that are facing the same decline in levels of satisfaction amongst, I guess, issues of potential mistrust with government and increasing expectations. The performance scores of our individual service areas ranged from satisfaction levels of 58% through to 99%. And I think really positively, 27 or 54% of the 50 service areas scored a very high level

01:35:00 of satisfaction at 80% or above. So that was a fantastic result. Our top performance, and this is for the full survey running, were life services, which scored a satisfaction rating of 99%. So they've been given that KPI of next time getting the extra 1%. Waste management, scoring 95%. And our community places area was the highest leading dimension at 88%. The survey also looks at price. What are the priorities? What are the communities, I guess, areas of importance right now, and their priorities for council in the coming two years? And those included value for money for rents, parks and public spaces, road maintenance, and transparent decision making.

01:36:00 I think one of the interesting aspects of this survey is that, and we'll be able to show you this in a moment, that we included a don't know element. So many of you will be able to see this in a moment. You will be familiar with a scale in a survey from one to five. And for those people that don't know a service, aren't quite sure what we're talking about, or don't have a strong opinion, we'll often pick the middle, which can sometimes cloud survey results. So we included a don't know, so that those elements could be removed from the calculations of satisfaction. And that's been quite instrumental in us understanding what our community actually knows about the service. And what the true level of satisfaction is by the people that actually know our service. So Emma, if I can ask you to go, let's jump into service performance.

01:37:00 Fantastic. So I think, what are we sitting on there? We've got breakdowns. So it breaks it down, and it's a little bit difficult to see on the screen ahead, but the councillors will be able to see that in front of them. It breaks it down, as I said, across five dimension areas and 10 service areas in each dimension. So that's a total of 50 service dimensions. Previously, we only surveyed 41. So it's giving us a much thorough understanding of our services. It enables us, importantly, and this is the big difference from the previous service, we can now go in and interrogate. So for example, we could look at ages and start to see the difference in what ages might be rating. So Emma, if you want to just choose maybe over 64. And you start to see, for example, that you can certainly see the grey section, which

01:38:00 is the don't knows. And you can see, for example, it's quite understanding that that doesn't mean that over 64s wouldn't have a good knowledge of potentially our youth services. But in this sample size here, we've got 36% of our over 64s who don't know about our programs for our older residents. Those that do know them, though, rate them very highly at 88%. So this gives us a really good opportunity to go out and help market, help promote and educate, to enable our community to better understand the services that we offer. So that's the first example. Another aspect that we have is to be able to look at it from a geographic dimension and really help understand what our different areas, what's important to them, and what their performance and satisfaction ratings are. So we could, for example, have a look at Boreen Point, and you start to see the differences

01:39:00 there around what different communities are. So you can start to then see here for Boreen Point, road maintenance, we've got a growing dissatisfaction in things like road maintenance. So you can see here, we're looking at road maintenance. We're looking at grass. It enables us to actually download all of that data so that we can actually dive very deeply into it. And we've had a lot of training with our staff across the organisation, and we can already see them starting to use it to help understand what the priorities should be. If we just jump into service priorities, I think is where we'll go to.

01:40:00 Great. So this area is quite interesting. It enables us, you know, when we do surveys and we ask people what is important, people will often tell us everything is important. With this survey, we forced a choice to say, what are your three most important things at the moment for council? This process now, what the portal does is it enables us to bring together satisfaction as well as importance to help council understand what's important and what's not. Well, what should we be trying to focus on? And what this chart is showing is that anything that would appear in the red area is very urgent. This is what the community is saying is performing very low and is very, very important to them. Now, it's really pleasing that for council, there is nothing in the red area. But in that orange area in the middle, there are a range of things, such as providing value

01:41:00 for money for rates, council making decisions in the best interest of the council. This is one, for example, if we chose, once again, let's choose Boreen Point and see, we can start to see the differences in communities and what might be, you know, more of a priority to that community. And that starts to change around slightly. If we, since, Pat, you're here. Councillor Finzel: Thank you very much. Let's have a look at Cooroy, shall we? Speaker 6: Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We start to see, you can see that each of those numbers moving around, starts to represent, you know, different areas of priority for our community, particularly it enables us to look at different ages. And so, for example, if we look at our under 25s, you'll need to, you'll need to, you'll

01:42:00 need to look at the red. And we start to see that we actually, in under 25s, we have something that has popped into the red. And that is around provision and maintenance of public toilets. And so, for our young people who are out and about, you know, they're visiting our parks, they're downtown, they're riding their bikes and they're riding them safely, that public toilets are a thing that's very important to them. So, this gives us an example of how we can delve deeply into the data to be able to help us understand where we should be prioritising our efforts. The survey also enabled a free text field and we had the vast majority, I think 345 of the 398 respondents provided information into that free text field, which, once again,

01:43:00 helps us understand where we should be. So, it's really important that we get below the numbers, what the community wants us to focus on. So, the next survey that we will run will be at the end of 2026, which will enable us to benchmark against this survey. As we are the first council to come through this survey process, we don't have directly comparable other local governments that we can benchmark against. However, many councils are lined up behind us and as they come through, that's the fantastic thing about it, being able to benchmark against them. And, again, online, we will be able to get those comparable results. I just want to really acknowledge PlaySchool. They were fantastic to work with. A pilot is always a challenge. We've all learnt along the way. It was a little bit like the days where you could only have so many characters in a text and we had to reduce our descriptions down to fit a certain character with, which was

01:44:00 quite interesting, getting everybody to agree. I'd also very much like to acknowledge the team, led by Emma. It was a fantastic, it was a long journey, a brave one to take a different approach. And now we've got, you know, we're already telling other councils who want to understand how we've been able to deliver this. We're trying to move away from telephone surveys as well. So, I present the report to you. Happy to take any questions. Thank you, Alan. Mayor Wilkie: We are now in formal meeting, so if someone would like to kick off by moving and seconding the report. Happy to move. Move, Councillor Finzel. We're going to have a seconder, please. A seconder, Councillor Wegener. Councillor Finzel, do you wish to speak? Councillor Finzel: Yes, I do, actually. Thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. It's a great pleasure to hear the report this evening and celebrate that libraries are at the top, and not to mention arts, culture and heritage. Yay.

01:45:00 I'd like to speak from the heart of who we are here tonight, not just as locals sharing streets, beaches and bushland, but as a community connected by something deeper, a love of place and a belief in the power we hold when we act together. The recent community satisfaction survey, which was published by the New South Wales Library Survey, reminded us that while we celebrate much, the beauty we protect, the services we rely on, the resilience we've shown is the true message, not the numbers. Although they do count, but I'm speaking from the heart. It was the story behind them, a story that says we care. We care about how we live here, how we treat each other, and how we safeguard the people we love, what makes Noosa extraordinary. But caring is only the beginning.

01:46:00 What this moment asks of us is responsibility, a shared responsibility to shape a future that reflects not fear or division, but collaboration, trust and hope, a future built not by a single voice, but by a chorus of many. Every one of us holds the power of Noosa's story. The long-time custodians, the families who arrived last year, the kids whose footprints in the sand are still small. These stories matter. Not one that is, sorry, one that is not their own. These stories matter. But in how they weave together to guide our choices, our priorities, and our legacy that we leave behind. So I encourage everyone tonight to step forward, not waiting for others to lead, but recognising

01:47:00 that leadership lives in each of us. Let us listen more deeply, speak more generously, and show up more often. Let us turn concern into action, passion into passion. Participation and ideas into shared solutions. Because the Noosa we dream of, protected, connected, and thriving, is something we inherit. Not just something we inherit, it is something we build together. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Councillor Finzel. Do any of the councillors have any questions for staff or would like to speak? Just one. Councillor Phillips. Councillor Phillips: Thank you. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know if I need that. One quick question around how the results will feed into the next operational plan or even the corporate plan. Will that, is there a thought about that?

01:48:00 Speaker 6: Yes. Thank you, Councillor Phillips. So we will take this, and all of the teams have been trained in it, and are now exploring it for how they actually use it to determine what priorities might go into that. For one of the areas, one of the issues that I think we need to address is that we need to look for gaps in ways that they use it to look for gaps. We put it with the suite and other engagement that we do. The value in this is that it is statistically valid. So it is a true representative sample. So it enables us to have confidence in the results. And so we might have other surveys that are open to anyone to be able to respond to. They can use this to get a statistically valid result and say, well, actually, according to this survey, this is what we're looking for. This is the thing that we should prioritise. So you will start to see this come up in various reports. It will be used in things like budget, corporate plans and strategies to help you as representatives

01:49:00 making decisions, and help talk to the community around what their priorities have been as it comes through here. Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Lorentson, do you have a question? You're on mute. You're on mute, Amelia. Can you hear me? Councillor Lorentson: Oh, hi, Kerri. A lot of background noise. So, again, I hope you can hear me. Given that there has been a noticeable decline in community satisfaction, has council analysed whether any of the issues raised correlate with the findings from the recent staff wellness survey? And where I'm going to with that is, are some of the low-performance surveys that have been made available to you? Are they areas where staff have reported resourcing, workload, or morale issues?

01:50:00 Speaker 6: That's a great question. Thank you, Councillor Lorentson. The staff are starting to look at correlations to understand how it fits with the rest of our system. There's the work that we do to understand what root cause sits behind things. In some areas, so for example, you'll see there's low performance scores in, for example, some of our local laws enforcement. And we can see that show up in areas where we have had issues, for example, with illegal parking. So you can see that there is a correlation there. In that the staff in those areas have a high workload and additional issues coming through with things like illegal camping. So for some, you can see it.

01:51:00 Others, they're quite separate issues. What I would say is, for example, as well, what we look at is the long-term trends. And road maintenance is one that regularly sits at the top of the list of issues. And road maintenance is one that regularly sits towards the lower portion of the survey. So you wouldn't, we wouldn't draw a direct correlation with that in the employee wellbeing survey, no. Councillor Lorentson: Thank you. Kerri? Any other councillors have any questions or want to speak? Mayor Wilkie: Councillor Finzel would like to close? Speaker 9: No, thank you, Mr Chair. Mayor Wilkie: I'll put it to the vote. Those in favour? I wanted to speak. That's all right. Thank you. That's all. That's unanimous. Councillor Wilson. Sorry. You there? Speaker 9: Oh, I thought Councillor Lorentson said she wanted to speak to Marietta. Councillor Lorentson: Okay.

01:52:00 Councillor Lorentson, do you wish to speak? I do, actually. Thank you, Mayor. I think the report provides a really important snapshot on how our community sees us and where the priorities lie. There's lots of areas of genuine strength. And we heard our director, Kerri Contini, outline those. And our libraries, our oases, our parks, our community wellbeing programs, they perform extremely well. And that's a result of the, you know, the dedication and excellent staff of these teams. But again, I, when I look at these surveys, I, again, I sort of just go, what are the red flags? Where are the opportunities? Where are the opportunities? Where are the opportunities for improvement? So, sort of just outlined, again, value for money, transparent decision making, road maintenance, parking and planning for the future. Those seem to be the most important issues.

01:53:00 And they're also the most important priority issues. But they're also the same areas amongst some of our lowest performers. And probably the last one I really want to make is what I've just mentioned. Before that, I, I don't think that we should be looking at these results in isolation. On Monday, the general meeting, we looked at the operation, operational report. Last month, we had the CEO report. In August, we had the staff wellness survey. And I just think that those reports, when you look at those, they highlighted high workloads, vacancies, skill shortages, overtime pressures. And I just think that we should be looking at these results in isolation. And I think that we need to, it's reasonable for us to consider that internal capacity challenges may be contributing to some of the external satisfaction reflected in the community survey.

01:54:00 And I keep, you know, I feel like a broken record sometimes. But if staff are stretched or struggling, then the service quality inevitably suffers. So, again, I would love to see some overlay of data or some internal capacity challenges to be included in the survey to get a complete picture of organisational health. And I think that is going to give us sort of a more complete data set when we come into budget deliberations and strategic direction. Thank you. Any other questions, Mr. Speaker? Mayor Wilkie: I'll put, would you like to speak? No. Okay. Those in favour? Yes. That's unanimous. We're now come to final item on the agenda, which is the annual update for the Peregian Beach

01:55:00 Digital Hub. And we have Chris Bowden here, the director of the Peregian Beach Digital Hub. Could you give us a summary of the report, please? Chris, the lectern and microphone is yours. Thank you. Thank you. Mayor Wilkie: It's the only one that works. Speaker 4: Good evening, Mayor, councillors, colleagues, members of the public. Chris Bowden, executive janitor, director of the Peregian Beach Digital Hub. I'm here to present the Peregian Beach Digital Hub report for 2025. I've been shackled to my computer for a few weeks, and I'm thankful for the beautiful drive-out tour you've come to this afternoon. Peregian Beach Beach is fantastic. There's a pretty diverse geography we live in. And coming down Louie Baza with those trees and the sunset is pretty special.

12.2 ANNUAL UPDATE - PEREGIAN DIGITAL HUB ¶

▶ 01:55:13· Carried 7-0 from council's minutes

01:56:00 Reminded me how lucky we are to live here. The Hub is into its eighth year of operations, having been launched by council in 2018 to catalyse the development of the digital and technology sector to help build a more diverse and resilient local economy. In that time, it's become critical economic infrastructure in our region. It's operating at 100% capacity, and it's delivering a measurable return. In terms of our core business, as it were, the Hub is fully tenanted across its four office spaces, and it's at 100% utilisation of its shared desk space with 72 paying vendors across 25 different companies. Demand remains strong because the digital sector of the economy continues to grow, and the programmes that council offers via the Hub are in high demand. The impact of our programmes moved this year, if you like. It's led by John General to delivering specific high-impact programmes to bolster the local economy.

01:57:00 We recognised earlier that AI was going to have a big impact across our community, and we launched a programme this year called Uplift, specifically focused on the SME sector, recognising that assisting pure technology companies was, of course, a very important and core part of what we do. But given the impact of AI, if we could assist our established businesses, in this case helping 90 business leaders that represent around 2,400 employees on the coast, may indeed be just as impactful, if not more impactful. This programme is helping major employers pilot technology solutions that help improve their competitiveness, so that they can protect and grow local jobs. We've shown national leadership and innovation, particularly in AI. This year, we established the Tokenizer series, which was funded by the Queensland State Government, with over $300,000, or $100,000, to be more precise, to support local businesses. We've also been working with the Tokenizer for over a year, for three years, as a model for AI skills development.

01:58:00 This included running an online event called Viacamp, which was a hackathon slash campathon, just out here at Elanda Point, where we had 100 innovators from the community come together to work on bringing their ideas to life with AI in ways that haven't previously been possible. And this really helped put Noosa on the map as a serious destination for this kind of tech innovation. We've continued building a long-term talent pipeline. It's the seventh year that we've been doing that, running programmes for people, young people of all ages. In 2025, we engaged 178 students in our programmes. We ran advanced AI and screen cadetships for senior students, where high school students built prototypes and produced films under industry mentorship. These programmes are effective. They help give direction and inspiration to young people. And the participating students often go on to pursue engineering, computer science, and other degrees in the creative sector.

01:59:00 And then we often see them come back to our community and secure paid work in the local sector. We've also contributed to closing the digital divide in our community, in partnership with the Noosa Libraries team. Our young digital leaders, who are graduates or alumni from our various youth programmes, helped nearly 400 residents. Navigate the digital world by assisting them with their phones, computers, and various internet services and apps that they use. I like to think this is intergenerational connection in action. On the financial performance and value side, our FY25-26 budget shows a strengthening of our net operating position by 8%. And this is due to some operational efficiencies and strong membership revenue. And there's a very tight link between the demand and the need.

02:00:00 It's also worth noting that Council, through the Hub, has secured over $400,000 in that period of external funding. Almost all of which is unmatched funding, other than with some in-kind salary matching from the state and from the state government. And also, through the support of the Council, we've been able to increase our revenue. This means that we're securing investment from outside the Council budget. And every dollar that we secure, in that form, flows straight into the programmes that we deliver to the community. It's a real leveraging of the investment that Council is making. So when you combine this with our previous social return on investment analysis, which we ran a few weeks ago, it's a real leverage of the investment that Council is making. It's a real leverage of the investment that we ran in 2021, which showed that we generated, or the Hub generated, $4.8 million in annual social return on investment value.

02:01:00 It means that Council's net return on its investment is exceptional. For the last five years, the Hub's FireTech Connect programme has been the leading change agent in Australia, or a leading change agent in Australia, for accelerating tech adoption to help build bushfire resilience. That programme has achieved a lot of success. It has achieved its primary mission of helping improve Noosa's bushfire resilience through tech adoption. But the broader sector changes that we've seen are required, require policy and regulatory changes that sit far closer to Canberra than they do to Perigee and Beech. And Council leadership on those activities is increasingly risky, increasingly capital intensive, and a struggle to justify to ratepayers. And meanwhile, if in 2021, the, oh sorry, in 2021, the Council is going to be able to do something that is on our mind at that particular time, AI is certainly something that is

02:02:00 on our mind. And to that extent, as a disruptor, it is something that the Hub must help Council ensure that our community is well prepared for, because there are both opportunities and challenges that await. In terms of the strategic outlook, the Hub runs a very lean operation. There are just two full-time staff and a trainee. However, there's a lot of work to be done. AI, artificial intelligence, represents a once-in-a-generation economic shift. And despite our successes, the many programs that we run, there actually is a genuine strategic risk that our current scale is simply not sufficient to adequately prepare our community for this change. We may indeed look back. There is a risk that we look back and go, perhaps we didn't invest enough, which seems paradoxical at this point, because we're investing a lot more than many other councils are. So to address this, and ensure that we make the right sort of decisions, in 2026, we're going to undertake two specific actions. We're going to commission a refresh on the social retirement investment analysis that we

02:03:00 did in 2021. And this will provide the hard data that we need to determine if our current investment levels are sufficient to secure our economic future. And secondly, we're going to explore options that, should that not be the case, we're going to consider expanding the hub facility to provide the infrastructure that we need to continue investing in the space. And we'll look to do that via a public-private partnership so that we can meet that demand without leaning heavily on council capital. In conclusion, the hub's performing exceptionally well. We're bringing investment to the region, upskilling our workforce, and creating high-value opportunities for our youth. Our focus is to ensure that we have a sustainable future. Our focus now is on simply ensuring that we have the right scale of investment to sustain this and meet the challenges ahead. I'd like to close by acknowledging the efforts of my colleagues at the hub, Deborah Marchinski,

02:04:00 who leads our youth and ecosystem efforts, and Mia Woodridge, our trainee. And the very many people in our network who help us deliver those programs that I talked about. Because, of course, it's not us doing every single one of those. We are very lucky to have you. We are very lucky to have a virtual team of many others that, through their volunteer and other sorts of engagements, assist us with that. I'd also like to thank the leaders of the various ecosystem groups and industry networks who do tireless volunteer work to help build this particular sector. They are, from a council perspective, force multipliers of our economic development strategy. And finally, I'd like to thank the mayor, councillors, and the executives, or the executive, for continuing to support this project. Thank you very much. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you, Chris. Does anybody care to move the motion?

02:05:00 Can we move it? Councillor Stockwell? We have a second? We have a second. Councillor Finzel? Councillor Stockwell? Deputy Mayor Stockwell: It was a great report. And your presentation to us today just reinforced the, I think you used the word, exceptional. It was a great report. And that's not used lightly. I remember back in the early days when we were considering it and we were looking at other models, local government models, around these sort of tech incubators. And what we've, what you and your team have achieved with the support of the investment by council is exceptional. It was interesting, the last report identified residents suggesting, you know, value for money was one of the lower scoring, whereas if you were to explain to them, to the council, the story of the Peregian Digital Hub, I'm sure, with respect to that investment of council, they'd join me in saying that is exceptional.

02:06:00 The ability of the Digital Hub to start developing the capacity within our own community to address the technology opportunities and to reduce the risk flowing from the digital hub to the hub and the new technology is so important to achieving our economic development strategy. You know, becoming a smart buyer here means that all the knowledge, all the innovation can't just happen in the hub, it has to happen by going out through the huge ecosystem that you've developed that links in to our local businesses, our local start-ups as well as, you know, in the case of Firetech, international networks working on problems that are at the heart of the development of the economy. All of those who have helped to develop the climate challenge in terms of fire. So I completely understand that we do need to move on with fire tech, that particular innovation, that particular investment, and we have to thank the state and federal governments

02:07:00 for their investments and the range of these programs. It has helped prepare our community because while we haven't had a major bushfire since 2019 and 20, they will occur in the future and our big camera network system, our sensor Thank you for your report. I look forward to the social impact assessment and just and I understand that each year we have to look at budgets but I think when we look at our investment in economic development that what we've done so far has returned an excellent reward and what we could do in future budgets may, as you say, build on the benefits of the AI disruption that's happening as we speak. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Councillor Wilson, you have your hand up.

02:08:00 Speaker 9: Oh, thank you. Just a question. Given that we are at year's end, is there a long-term plan to make sure that the hub is making a profit? Speaker 4: Councillor, I think it really depends on what you mean by profit because I think if you look at the Peregian Beach Digital Hub as a facility, a sort of commercial office space as it were, one could probably get to some sort of profitable outcome if one took a sort of landlord mentality and ran it purely with the objective of generating rental returns from it. But that is not indeed our objective. Our objective is probably closer in spirit to what we do at our libraries, for example,

02:09:00 where we're trying to create social capital, we're trying to develop the economy, we're trying to create opportunities for young people, we're trying to create a strong employment brand for the region and do other things that you simply wouldn't be doing if you were just running a physical facility looking to drive as much rental or bottom-line profit as possible. To give that some colour, there are many things that we do at the hub that are just fundamentally not profit-seeking or even revenue-seeking because we see them as vital public service contributions. The holiday programmes that we run for kids, the meet-ups that we host for various networks. If we were to have to charge for those things, we immediately would lose the benefit of the engagement of the people that come from all over the place to attend those things and give their kids the opportunity or their colleagues in the industry the opportunity to attend,

02:10:00 build relationships and create new pathways for their businesses. So this is indeed why the social return on investment is a really important way for us to be able to answer this question when it's asked by the community to say, what is the sort of net cost to council of running this digital hub? And indeed, what is the total value from a social capital perspective that is generated from this? And that's not something we mark our own homework on. We go to the stakeholders through a wide consultation and ask them to describe the value that our activities have added to their various endeavours, whether it's helping them attract investment and create jobs or whether it's helping their talented kids get direction on where they want to go with their careers and many, many other things that are very difficult to measure in a pure dollar and cents sense. Mayor Wilkie: Thanks, Chris. Any other further questions for Chris?

02:11:00 Any councillors wish to speak? Chris, I'd like to thank you for the work you've done in encouraging the creation of the different networks that operate out of the Parisian Digital Hub. The Firetec program, for example, as you say, has developed to the point where it's become too big and expensive to run there. But we may see, well, I think we're at the stage now where drones can operate at the same time as aerial, other aircraft during fire emergencies where they couldn't previously thanks to the trials that were run out of the Parisian Digital Hub. We're at the verge of a sunshine... A film industry, fully fledged film industry occurring on the Sunshine Coast because of the work done through the Sunshine Coast Screen Collective which has its home and birthplace in the Parisian Digital Hub.

02:12:00 When that occurs, there's just a missing element they need to get which is a sound stage and work is well underway to establish that. When that appears, everyone, people across the whole region will benefit but very few people will know that that work was conceived, at the Parisian Digital Hub. I can't articulate the programs and the social capital that young people enjoy better than you have already. I'd like to particularly commend you on the work done, the coding programs offered to young female students, for example, the STEM program. That's wonderful work. And I also notice, for those interested in dollars, you mentioned grants and partnerships. By virtue of the quality of the programs you offer, we were able to attract up to just shy of a million dollars in partnerships and grants which didn't need to be matched with council funding. And that money goes back out into the community, enriching their knowledge and skills and capability.

02:13:00 The Parisian Digital Hub is a great way that the Noosa Council can contribute to the economic, social development of the entire Sunshine Coast region. And I commend you for your work because it does take a special touch. It is an unusual arrangement. And thank you very much for your work. Speaker 4: Thanks, Constance. If I can maybe just take the liberty of commenting on one of the things you said there. You know, the Sunshine Coast Green Collective, indeed, sort of born out of the Digital Hub, has had its home there for seven plus years. And the people that have volunteered and sat around the middle table in the Hub all those years ago have really done incredible work to build that sector. Indeed, we don't see that much of them these days because they're developing headquarters as part of the revitalization of the Nambour CBD, which, you know, from a regional perspective, would be an absolutely wonderful outcome. I think we would all agree.

02:14:00 And if that's the right home for them to be and they get to build a significant sector there, build a sound stage and so forth, there will be many Noosa residents that can travel a mere 15 minutes down the highway and go and have a high-value job, you know, a 15, 20-minute commute away. So I think it's an example where Council is not taking a postcode approach to the way it thinks about the value that we're creating out of the Digital Hub because we recognize in the round we will benefit from a regional perspective if we create value without being too focused on postcodes. Mayor Wilkie: Awesome. Thank you. Councillor Sopcich, please. Deputy Mayor Stockwell: I thought for posterity we should record that the introduction of being Chief Janitor and Director is a real nomenclature because I remember going for a bike ride when the Digital Hub was quite new and I couldn't find Chris in the office because he was taking out the wheelie bins.

02:15:00 But that is a part of the leadership that has brought us success. We have to be very thankful that Chris is here. Chris has come here from an international career and really does give back to this community his knowledge, his expertise. It's a form of leadership that brings others along with him. So thank you, Chris. Speaker 4: Thank you. Not possible without the support of the Council, the Exec, Kim Rawlings. Mayor Wilkie: Thank you. Thank you, Chris. Wouldn't you like those in favour? Yes. That's unanimous. There is no confidential session. The next ordinary meeting will be at Council Chamber. It is on 9 Perkin Street, Tewantin at 10am on 18 December 2025. Before we close, I would like to make a special thanks to our staff of IT and also the Executive Assistants for transferring Council's operations out to Boring Point, establishing communications, connecting us to the rest of the Shire.

14 NEXT MEETING ¶

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15 MEETING CLOSURE ¶

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02:16:00 It's a major logistical operation. We get better and better at it every time. We're deeply grateful for the work you do. Thank you members of the public who have turned up and I declare the meeting closed at 7.12pm. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Thank you councillors. Thank you.