With support from skilled staff during rigorous budget discussion sessions, councillors have worked to deliver a compassionate and responsible shire budget, ratified on June 28.
The budget absorbs record high cost increases for Local Government materials and services, which sit well above the household CPI, while delivering for community needs and recognising the cost of living pressures households are facing.
Noosa Shire’s council fortunately remains one of only 20 among the 77 Queensland local governments able to sustainably cover the costs of maintaining and improving services for its community.
Despite challenges, including an increase in State-imposed waste to landfill levy, rates rises for the majority of households has been kept at the same as last year, 5.5 per cent, or $1.82 per week.
A new Financial Hardship Policy was adopted, meaning no interest is to be charged on overdue rates for owners facing personal or financial difficulties.
The five percent rates discount for early payment has been retained, unlike in other councils, and the $230 pensioner rebate for couples or singles is available also.
Councillors also reduced the rates for properties with secondary dwellings, as they are part of the solution to the housing affordability crisis.
Commitments to partnerships providing social and community housing, a new field for Noosa Council, have also been funded.
We took on board what we heard during recent consultations on the Destination Management Plan, Corporate Plan, Liveability Survey and election campaign and aimed to place people’s needs at the heart of this budget.
We’ve also taken a more patient, whole of term approach, meaning worthy initiatives that were not funded this year due to cost of living sensitivity will be considered for future budget reviews and introduction over the next four years.
Learning the lessons
The first community meeting for the term at Pomona featured both informal discussion on any topic of interest between residents, staff and councillors and the more formal, highly structured Ordinary Meeting. This is where council decisions are ratified, submitted questions are answered and deputations are listened to.
The strongest feedback received were questions around why issues raised in the deputation were not responded to as the questions were. We’ve taken that on board and councillors are considering a way of addressing this during future formal meetings.
Apart from helping to retain Pomona’s heritage and village feel while improving the town’s liveability, lessons learned during the Pomona Place Making Pilot will be put to good use when the next township is engaged.
Listening
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond to the public consultation underway for the Planning Scheme amendments which aim to address housing availability and affordability by limiting the spread of Short Term Accommodation businesses and providing opportunities for more smaller and social dwellings.
And also Phase 2 of the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan, intended to provide over the next 10-20 years better access, more all-abilities facilities, safer pedestrian and bicycles paths and more shaded, recreation space on the much-loved foreshore.
Feedback will be carefully considered so the draft proposals can be transformed into an upgraded foreshore we all can be proud of and enjoy.
Are you living well?
The free and low-cost, shire-wide community health exercise program, Living Well Noosa has expanded to include yoga and balance classes. Details on the website www.noosa.qld.gov.au/living-well-noosa
Snap it, send it, solve it
For a quick and easy way to resolve problems, such as potholes or graffiti, damaged infrastructure etc, try the free Snap Send Solve smartphone app.
Take a photo of the geo-located issue, note the details using the app and it will be sent to the relevant body, be it council, Telstra, water providers no matter where you are in Australia.
