Staff losses, construction industry pressures and a Capital Works Program well behind schedule have Noosa Council admitting to an over-optimistic budget target and the need to complete current projects ahead of seeking out grants for future ones.
At its Services and Organisation Committee meeting this month Council was presented with a mid-year status report that showed only a quarter of the $53.8 million Capital Works Program annual budget expenditure or $13.6 million had been achieved.
The meeting heard there are 134 projects on the Capital Works Program in varying stages of delivery. The Design Services team are managing 16 projects, providing design services to another 18 projects and continuing to provide design and survey support to more than 60 projects in the program.
And the Infrastructure Planning Services team while supporting master planning initiatives with multiple sub-projects is undergoing a major restructure and has been impacted by resignations of some key staff.
“We have been taking advantage of funding opportunities,” Council CEO told the meeting.
“It’s time to say, we’ve got to deliver the stuff that we’ve got on our plate and stop looking at new things all the time. That’s very much what we’re planning to do going forward. It’s planning as well. Instead of looking at what we’re doing next year, look at what we’re doing in the next 5-10 years. It’s not just this team, it’s across the whole organisation.
“I think we do have to take our foot off the pedal in terms of some of the projects. It is very demanding. Also if you don’t do it properly it costs you a lot more money than you want to be paying.
“It is a struggle, there’s no question about that. It’s tough out there. Not just for council but in the construction industry. There’s more work outside of this organisation, the Olympics, big road projects, are all putting demands on staff and resources.
“All councils are running catch up and trying to get through as much as they can.
“The community demands are out there. The community wants more and us humans are trying to do as much as we can to cater for that and ultimately it comes back and bites you, so we have to be a bit more discerning.”
“I think there’s a lot of work being done by a very small, dedicated team,” Cr Karen Finzel said before asking how the impacts of resignations were being managed.
“We are looking at a model where we are outsourcing projects, where it’s economic or time sensitive we’ll outsource,” the CEO replied.
“It is difficult to acquire new staff. We have lost a couple of key people, we have gained some key people who are working diligently to get this all done.
“We are comfortable we can continue to do it.”
Staff told the meeting future grants, the implications of them for staff and ongoing maintenance costs of projects would be key issues in discussions in the next budget process for the capital works program.
Cr Nicola Wilson said after going through the challenges the program faced, It was worth celebrating its successes, with the report highlighting projects completed across the shire as well as the many projects in progress.
Some of the completed projects noted in the report were the Container Return Point at Eumundi Landfill, a slide replacement at Noosa Hinterland Playground, Peregian Beach Skate Park upgrade, Apex Park Fitness Equipment upgrade, new roofs for Sunshine Beach Lifeguard Tower and Tewantin Child Care Centre, new outdoor court at Noosa Leisure Centre and new shade umbrellas at Cooran.
“Despite all those challenges it’s good to see all those projects completed that really do make an impact on our community out there,” Cr Wilson said.
