Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart
As many of you know, Council is currently midway through the development of its 2023-24 budget. The budget has been supported by the new Corporate Plan, which Council will be adopting this month. It not only sets strategic priorities for the 2024 budget, but also longer-term over the next 5 years through the next election term.
One of the key challenges facing Council’s budget next year (apart from land valuation increases) is the pressure of increasing prices. Whilst CPI last quarter was 7.7 per cent, and ABS are about to release updated figures this week, the goods and services that Council buys are unique compared to most households and businesses so are often subject to different price pressures. For instance, the cost of Council’s key supplies for fuels, asphalt, concrete and other building materials has increased well above 20 per cent over the last 12 months. Our certified agreement for staff wages being pegged to CPI also adds pressure to the budget.
Our record capital works program will continue to be a key feature of the 2024 budget, with many larger multi-year projects already underway leading into next year and are part-funded through significant State and Federal grants. These include the Garth Prowd bridge, sand erosion works at Noosa Woods dog beach, Ed Webb Park, sustainable transport initiatives, McKinnon Drive Sports Complex and upgrade of the Eumundi Road Waste Management Facility
Added to the workload of the record capital works program is the ongoing impacts from the March 2022 flood events. The total cost of the infrastructure repair works is anticipated to exceed $80 million, which includes the key works on Black Mountain road which is out to tender this week to source a supplier to undertake the construction later this year. Beyond the initial grant-funded road repair works, Council has also been successful in securing grants for various recovery and resilience programs during the 2024 financial year which will continue to support our community’s recovery efforts.
Once the draft budget has been prepared, Council will again seek community feedback on the draft budget during the last two weeks in May before it is finalised and adopted in June.
Council is already well-informed with setting budget priorities, following the very successful community engagement of its new Corporate Plan which saw over 1,000 responses late last year. Then more specific comments on the draft plan a few months ago.
Rest assured that as we continue through budget deliberations, I am advocating strongly for a back-to-basics approach. Let’s stick to core business as financial pressures are being faced across the board. I hope all councillors support me in this endeavour as we deliver a budget focused firmly on community with the notion that we must ‘save where we can to spend where we must’.
In regards to the Noosa Heads Lions Park, during the council debate, I, along with councillors Lorentson and Finzel, felt it was important to support the staff recommendation to approve the use of the greenspace for paid parking on a temporary basis for a further 12 months for all Queensland school holidays and long weekends. This would allow time for community consultation and allow us to discuss options with the Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club.
We all want the park returned to a green space, which it will be, but we wanted it to be done in accordance with what our staff recommended. I respect that a majority of 4-3 vote at the council meeting opted to endorse the alternate decision.
For over 20 years, the Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club has continuously managed and operated the paid parking on Noosa Heads Lions Park on behalf of council with the revenue shared equally between council, to fund park refurbishment and traffic management costs, and the Lions for their charitable works.
Not only have Lions Club members worked 16,500 volunteer hours over the years running the paid parking, but let us not forget, that the paid parking is paid for by our tourists, who directly inject those funds into our community through the support of the Lions. The Lions Club’s 50 per cent share directly benefits the wider Noosa community through their activities and administration such as the installation of the all-abilities beach mat at Noosa Main Beach. Paid parking, by tourists, enabled things such as the beach mat to be purchased for our community.
The Lions Club has presented a petition to Noosa Council to keep the Noosa Heads Lions Park open for parking during all school holidays. In just 10 days, the Lions gathered 2315 signatures to support this position.
This group has done an amazing job and I thank them for all that they do for our community.
Until next month,
Stay safe,
Clare
