Operational plan 2023–24
149 initiatives in 2023–24
Theme 1: Environment
Objective 1.1: Maintain and improve water quality and the health of waterways, wetlands and catchments
- Deliver a Modern Water Quality Monitoring Program for the Noosa and Mary River Sub -catchments including prepare the Mary River sub -catchment report card, complete annual reporting to identify sub catchment water quality grades, support and monitor outcomes of the Keep it in Kin Kin project in conjunction with Noosa & District Landcare.
- Monitor, investigate and make progress towards ongoing restoration efforts of aquatic habitats such as wetlands, seagrass and oyster reefs, and improve riparian vegetation and foreshore management.
- Enhanced management of bio basins in formal asset management systems incl. asset management and renewal.
Objective 1.2: Partner with landowners and community groups to manage, protect and regenerate natural environment assets, improve resilience, and incorporate Indigenous knowledge.
- Continue to deliver the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan 2021 and deliver planned burns and mechanical fuel reduction where conditions allow.
- Continue to deliver a Community Bushcare Program for the active volunteers across the bushland care groups and improve reporting and monitoring of bushland care activities including review of the Community Bushland Care Guideline.
- Continuation and expansion of the Private Conservation Partnerships Program which supports private landholders to achieve improved conservation including updating all agreements to align with the newly endorsed Private Land Conservation Partnerships Guideline.
- Continue to deliver the Environmental Grants Program to support community projects and programs.
- Provide ongoing support to the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and help advance collaborative opportunities with Council and the wider community.
- Continue to convene an Environment and Sustainability Roundtables to provide a mechanism for local community groups, government stakeholders and experts to have input into the development of council projects, program and policy.
- Continue the delivery of the Shire wide biosecurity program for pest animal and plant species incl. review and update of the Biosecurity Plan as required.
Objective 1.3: Fund and implement Coastal Foreshores and Coastal Hazard Management Plans to protect and enhance coastal and foreshore areas.
- Identify high-risk erosion prone areas of the CHAP and scope a forward works plan.
- Develop the Noosaville Infrastructure Foreshore Management Plan.
- Implement the Noosa Heads Main Beach Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP).
- Finalise the Eastern Beaches Foreshore Management Plan.
- Implement the Encroachments Policy and Operational Procedure including the development of a community awareness and education plan.
Objective 1.4: Discover, respect, conserve and celebrate Noosa’s unique heritage values in all forms, for current and future generations
- Complete Stage 4 of Local Heritage Register Review including preparing for recommended planning scheme amendments.
- Prepare Conservation Management Plans for at least two Council-controlled, heritage properties.
- Document the iconic story of surfing in Noosa to capture this unique aspect of Noosa's heritage and lifestyle.
- Complete Stage 4 of Heritage Noosa with a focus on making donated materials publicly accessible
Objective 1.7: Deliver and partner with State and Federal Governments to protect threatened and vulnerable species identified in the Environment Strategy.
- Initiate implementation of the Noosa Threatened Fauna Roadmap including develop 2 action plans per year for priority threatened species identified in the Noosa Threatened Fauna Roadmap.
- Manage flying fox impacts on the community in accordance with the Noosa Council Statement of Management Intent (SoMI) and through community education.
- Continue providing records of flora and fauna records to WildNet and updating internal mapping/databases to include current data.
- Complete Fine Scale Regional Ecosystem Mapping across the Noosa Shire in collaboration with the Queensland Herbarium to improve the accuracy of local and state vegetation mapping datasets.
Objective 1.8: Reinforce Noosa Design Principles to shape the look and feel of our distinctive built environment to ensure it responds to our climate, environment and unique character.
- Continue to update and maintain the Noosa Plan 2020 through various amendments to incorporate and respond to new, revised, or updated Council strategies, policies and requirements.
- Complete the review of the Noosa Design Principles and promote and increase awareness with key stakeholders.
- Continue to implement best practice Development Assessment services that deliver the strategic outcomes of the Noosa Plan 2020.
- Ensure all Council capital, civil and maintenance works are planned, delivered, and maintained in accordance with the Noosa Design Principles, legislative requirements and best environmental practice including minimise impacts on environmental values and incorporate fauna/flora sensitive designs into project planning and delivery where practical. Infrastructure/Dire ctor Corporate
- Develop employee competencies through targeted training to increase environmental awareness in operational works in roads and vegetation management.
Theme 2: Liveability
Objective 2.1: Facilitate greater housing choice which meets the changing needs of the community, improves liveability and affordability and includes partnering to increase provision of social and affordable housing.
- Continue to implement key actions of the Noosa Housing Strategy including: Continue to work with the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group on implementation and community education; Develop a Housing Monitoring program; Implement a Community Education progra m; Partner with State Housing Department to advance the planning and development of affordable housing in conjunction with social housing in central Tewantin; Continue site investigation at Lake Macdonald Drive Cooroy for housing outcomes; and Continue to advocate for a Legislative pathway for social and affordable housing through planning instruments (inclusionary zoning).
- Continue to implement the Short Stay Letting Local Law to manage the impacts of short-term letting including increased resources towards compliance.
- Support local not-for-profit organisations to undertake projects targeted at improving access to accommodation, shelter and housing options for vulnerable people.
Objective 2.4: Advocate and partner with all levels of government for increased funding for connected transport nodes, transit hubs, including walking, cycling and public transport and explore opportunities through smart city, smart biosphere and innovation to transform the way we move around and engage in our community.
- Scope the review of the Noosa Transport Strategy including higher emphasis on movement and connectivity.
- Scope the Noosa Parking Management Plan.
- Commence a Northern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy including investigations of Cooroy and Noosa Shire Business Centres Transits Hubs.
- Scope upgrade of Noosa Heads Bus interchange as an iconic arrival point to Noosa Heads.
- Accelerate delivery of the Cycling and Walking Implementation Plan.
- Continue to support the planning and delivery of the maintenance programs for the Noosa Trails network (also relates to 2.2.2)
- Continuation of the Go Noosa program including free weekend bus program.
- Undertake Noosa Woods Jetty investigations.
Objective 2.5: Ensure community facilities and services are inclusive, accessible and meet the evolving needs and interests of residents across the shire.
- Deliver services and activities across Council facilities which meet the contemporary interests and needs of residents including increasing use by existing non or low-user groups
- Continue implementation of Master Plans for Cooroy and Noosa District Sports Complexes.
- Complete the feasibility study of the potential Re Gen Physical and Wellbeing Hub.
- Complete new Noosa Libraries Business Plan.
- Complete the non-powered water sports feasibility project.
- Complete construction and commence operation of McKinnon Drive facility.
- Scope Community Halls DDA compliance and asset management condition assessments to ensure quality, accessible and fit for purpose community facilities.
- Deliver an Accessible Adult Change Facility under the Changing Place program on the Noosaville Foreshore.
- Commence a review of community purpose land and the Infrastructure Tenure Policy.
Objective 2.6: Facilitate strong, vibrant, inclusive communities where people have a sense of belonging and are active participants in a rich community life.
- Review the Community Grants program and policy.
- Implement a 12-month program of volunteer workshops to increase capacity and sustainability of community organisations and activities.
- Undertake the preparatory phase for proposed new Community Strategy.
- Support community led programs, events and activities through advice, funding and partnering.
Objective 2.7: Fund and deliver sustainable assets and facilities and associated services responding to the changing needs of the community and the challenges and opportunities of the future.
- Progress Asset Management Planning for Council's community services buildings and community infrastructure.
- Complete needs assessment and forward plans for Noosa Leisure Centre and Noosa Aquatic Centre.
- Complete the Noosa Cemeteries Plan.
- Undertake the Noosa Heads precinct traffic management technology trail.
- Investigate a new revenue system which ensures visitors contribute to the provision and maintenance of transport facilities and services they utilise.
Objective 2.8: Provide opportunities to enhance the health, wellbeing and safety of our communities.
- Deliver range of programs and activities which enhance health, wellbeing and safety of the Noosa community.
- Deliver the Living Well Noosa program.
- Facilitate improved access to mental health services for young people.
- Prepare Noosa Community Support for transition to new funding model and quality standards to ensure ongoing viability.
- Review the public swimming pools monitoring program which includes privately owned, publicly accessible pools in resorts, etc.
Theme 3: Prosperity
Objective 3.1: Deliver and fund the Smart Biosphere - Economic Strategy, partnering with and supporting Noosa Shire’s business community and industry sectors to deliver key outcomes.
- Develop and Implement Noosa Economic Development Smart Biosphere Strategy (NEDS) Action Plan and identify and advance priority projects aligned to NEDS to be implemented. (also relates to 4.7.5)
- Finalise Green Economy Industry Development Plan Director Enviro.
- Implement Priority economic development and business support initiatives including: Economic Development Grants program; Business support programs incl. Boost; Business Support Panel; and Continue to collaborate with the Business Round Table.
- Complete Shire wide Employment Land Review.
- Advance the Sustainable Procurement Policy and establish practices for Council's procurement of services and products.
Objective 3.5: Partner with government agencies and industry to deliver a Business and Innovation Precinct at the Shire Business Centre supported by the Peregian Digital Hub.
- Complete the next stage of the Peregian Digital Hub and continue to invest in the ongoing development of Noosa's position as a technology and innovation hub incl. Work with Industry Partner to generate and s ecure Business/Industry Leads, Develop a joint Innovation Precinct investment prospectus.
- Complete amendments to Noosa Plan to support and enable the Innovation precinct at the Shire Business Centre to develop.
Objective 3.7: Deliver the waste program focused on accelerating actions and solutions including circular economy opportunities to cut waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use and regenerate natural systems.
- Finalise the development of the new Waste Management Strategy.
- Implement best practice waste management practices and continuous improvement across all waste functions and assets.
- Continue to pursue interventions to reduce contamination in household waste recycling bins.
- Undertake feasibility studies and development plans for new waste infrastructure projects incl. anerobic digestion, composting, biochar and solar and utilisation of landfill gas.
- Develop Noosa Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility Master Plan.
- Investigate further options to increase waste diversion from landfill.
- Review and agree KPIs with Waste's main contractor for continuous improvement to the contract.
Theme 4: Future
Objective 4.2: Complete and implement the Destination Management Plan in partnership with the community and Tourism Noosa to protect Noosa’s quality of life, environment and iconic places through planning for sustainable tourism and managing visitation and events.
- Progress the development of the Destination Management Plan to incorporate community engagement feedback on the draft plan for Council endorsement.
- Initiate implementation of the Destination Management Plan (DMP) Action Plan in collaboration with priority internal and external stakeholders. (also relates to 4.2.1)
- Undertake a review of the Tourism Noosa Partnership Agreement to align with DMP outcomes.
Objective 4.5: Implement a place-based approach to working with individual towns/villages and address their specific needs within a whole-of-Council framework.
- Initiate the Place Pilot Program in Pomona in collaboration with the community.
- Commence implementation of the Place Action and Implementation Plan.
- Finalise the review of the Noosa Design Principles and engage with key stakeholders to increase awareness and application of these principles.(also relates to 1.8.2 and 4.7.6)
Objective 4.7: Fund and implement the Climate Change Response Plan to support Council, community and the local economy to build resilience and preparedness for climate risks and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2026.
- In conjunction with key stakeholders initiate development of a community education and engagement plan to assist the Noosa Community reduce its emissions.
- Advocate to the Federal Government and State Governments for funding to support our business community to support emissions reductions.
- Deliver the community battery for Noosaville and identify further strategic locations across Noosa LGA for Community Batteries, microgrid opportunities, EV charging in readiness for future grant funding.
- Scope the development of a Food and Agribusiness Industry Development Plan which supports landholders on regenerative agriculture methods and sustainable food production.
- Finalise the Green Economy Industry Development Plan and initiate implementation. (also relates to 3.1.1)
- Finalise the Noosa Design Principles update to embed climate resilience, nature positive and low carbon considerations into the principles. (also relates to 1.8.2 and 4.5.3)
- Develop the Emissions Offset strategy/plan for council emissions.
Objective 4.8: Deliver best practice approaches to combat and plan for natural disasters and climate change including supporting safety, preparedness, resilience and recovery capacity.
- Advance the Sunshine Coast and Noosa Regional Climate Action Roadmap by delivering the Regional Cascading Risks and Critical Infrastructure Failure Project with Sunshine Coast Council.
- Advance Phase 2 of the Urban Greening Strategic Action Plan, including further investigations into heat risk reduction.
- Launch the Climate Wise Communities Program in partnership with Disaster Management.
- Continue implementation of the Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan, including planning for Living Foreshores Noosa, Coastal Wetland Restoration Project.
- Advance flood resilience projects including updating the Noosa River Flood Study, Six Mile Creek Flood Study and Noosa Flood Management Operational Plan.
- Deliver Disaster Preparedness, Resilience and Recovery activities to support Council and the broader community.
- Implement the Disaster Recovery Plan for the 2022 Floods & Rain Event.
- Continue to Deliver the Disaster Recovery Funded Projects including Black Mountain Landslides, Black Pinch Landslides and other funded projects.
Theme 5: Excellence
Objective 5.2: Continue to deliver a financially sustainable Council that has the Provider resources now and into the future to achieve its strategic objectives. This will be supported through the introduction of enhanced sustainability reporting and performance indicators, as well as ESG (environment social and governance) accounting practices as guided by statutory requirements.
- Identify efficiencies in Council Utilities incl (water, sewerage, electricity, gas.to ensure cost effective and efficient services in line with sustainability principles.
- Review the long-term financial plan with enhance linkage key future strategies including the Corporate Plan, the new Capability Plan, Asset Management Plans and other key Council strategies and master plans.
- Develop Council's Performance Measurement Framework.
- Review sustainability and reporting practices which are appropriate to council and in accordance with statutory requirements.
- Finalise the Contract Management Framework and develop an implementation plan.
Objective 5.3: Embrace technology and innovative practices to support the provision of contemporary, efficient and effective levels of service for Council operations.
- Develop a new ICT and Digital Strategy to provide the foundation for technology requirements and digital transformation over the next 5 years.
- Implement license plate recognition in Local Laws parking management.
- Implement Noosa Libraries app to allow library members virtually manage their library account, loans and bookings
Objective 5.4: Provide a progressive working environment and practices which prioritise the wellbeing, safety, inclusiveness and development of our people and establish Noosa Council as an employer of choice
- Develop an appropriate capability framework/plan (finance, systems and people) that supports the Corporate Plan objectives.
- Develop a workforce planning model and process and partner with managers to undertake workforce planning.
- Provide programs that support the wellbeing of employees.
- Review the Workplace Health and Safety Policy and develop a new Workplace Health and Safety Management System Plan.
- Prepare for and commence the negotiation process to negotiate Council's new certified Agreement.
Objective 5.5: Provide robust and transparent governance systems to build and strengthen community trust, supported by the implementation of an enterprise risk and opportunity management framework.
- Implement the Opportunity Risk Management Policy and Framework with a focus on Council's strategic risks and working with the organisation to identify and mitigate against risks and strengthen risk management.
- Implement actions to increase the effectiveness of the Audit and Risk Committee and the internal audit function.
- Review and adopt a new Council Privacy Policy for our staff and community to strengthen our governance framework.
- Seek endorsement of a future technology solution for the automation of corporate performance reporting, risk management and governance-related processes for Council and commence implementation of the preferred system/s.
- Plan for the local government elections in March 2024 and the induction of the new Council.
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