It’s been another 12 months of progress, hinterland bridge improvements and the delivery of legacy style projects, as highlighted in the Noosa Council 2022-2023 Annual Report.
Adopted at Monday’s General Committee meeting, the report highlights council’s activities between 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023.
The report demonstrates Council’s ongoing operational resilience, amid floods, supply chain challenges and the rising costs of goods and services.
Council, which maintains $1.4 billion in public assets, achieved another positive net operating result of $4.11 million which includes Council’s equity share of profit in Unitywater.
Acting chief executive officer Larry Sengstock said the organisation continued to meet all three of its financial sustainability ratio targets.
“This is a credit to our staff because achieving all three ratio targets is something not all councils are able to achieve, particularly meeting a 90 per cent target for the asset sustainability ratio.
“This ratio indicates that council is responsibly reinvesting in the renewal of its assets for the long term,” he said.
Mayor Clare Stewart said she was pleased to present an annual report, which showed just how much had been accomplished.
“I am immensely proud of the array of projects, services and improvements we have implemented, despite the tough conditions and ongoing external challenges,” she said.
“We adopted a new Corporate Plan, finalised a Housing Strategy, delivered key infrastructure like a new roundabout for the future Tewantin Bypass and upgraded several hinterland bridges,” Cr Stewart said.
She said the Tablelands Road Bridge replacement was named Queensland’s best public infrastructure by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia.
Council received three other awards in the year: a gold in the South-East Queensland Local Government Mutual Scheme Risk Excellence Awards, joint winner of the Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards for the 2021 Floating Land exhibition and Noosa’s communication team was recognised for Excellence in Local Government Communications by the Local Government Association of Queensland.
There was a 20 per cent growth in Counci’s digital media audience during the 12-month reporting period. The largest growth was 29 per cent on Instagram and 25 per cent on Linkedin.
Council’s customer service centre handled 47,309 calls, while 546,000 items were borrowed from Noosa Libraries in 2022-23.
Other notable achievements included the delivery of an improved mobile library van, two library kiosks were installed in the shire, council added more Voluntary Conservation Agreements and completed the partnership with Nature Conservancy on the Oyster Reef Restoration Project.
Council opened the $1.68 million Cooroora Trail upgrade, supported by the Australian Government and completed work on the expansion of the Peregian Digital Hub.
“I also congratulate our hardworking staff for their continued dedication and efforts in serving the community.”
The full Noosa Council 2022-2023 Annual Report can be viewed online at noosa.qld.gov.au
