Noosa Council last week adopted its vision for the future in its five-year Corporate Plan.
A legal requirement of local governments, the plan, authored by chief executive officer Scott Waters, outlines council’s strategic direction and performance indicators for measuring its progress in achieving its vision.
Mr Waters called it the most significant document council would deliver.
“This is your promise to take the council forward to the future,“ he said.
The 2023-2028 Corporate Plan has been described as a major overhaul of the 2017-2037 plan and is based around five strategic pillars – Environment, Liveability, Prosperity, Future and Excellence.
At Thursday’s special meeting, Mayor Clare Stewart said the high-level visionary document was the roadmap to advance the vision of council and the community through collaboration.
“The plan includes key projects such as the Coastal and Foreshore Management Plans, delivery of the Housing Strategy, transforming waste management practices and completing the Destination Management Plan,“ she said.
“This document sets out the future, looks at the opportunities and challenges and determines how best we can capitalise on the emerging digital trends and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.“
Supporting each pillar are clear objectives, key performance indicators and proposed outcomes.
Cr Stewart said the corporate plan, designed in the refreshed council brand, would help ensure council decisions over the next five years focussed on protecting the amenity of Noosa, enhancing lifestyles and preserving the rich natural environment.
“This plan provides clarity around what the community considers important and the level of engagement was very strong, with nearly 1100 respondents providing feedback during the process,” she said.
Analysis of the community feedback identified some common themes such as more affordable and social housing, Kin Kin Quarry concerns, addressing the quality of the roads and traffic, improving public transport, a focus on meeting the 2026 zero emissions target, celebrating Noosa’s natural beauty and continuing to prioritise parks, cycle and walking paths.
“Addressing the impacts of tourism and how it is managed in the long term was also raised by the community,” Cr Stewart said.
Cr Brian Stockwell said community responses revealed the important focus placed on the environment and highlighted two key issues – transport and traffic and housing – that were impacting on liveability.
“Of course we have to invest and work to protect our natural environment, our scenic amenities and other assets the shire provides in the way of benefits to living in this community, but the crucial part is how we get people to enjoy these places with good transport mechanisms that don’t create greenhouse gases and how we can house the full range of our population,“ he said.
Cr Stockwell said while housing was not regarded as a local government responsibility as the community has raised the issue as being its second highest focus it was incumbent on council to create housing choice.
Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie said the response from the community offered what they suspected that the environment, residential amenity and liveability rated extremely highly.
The plan is an evolution of the journey we have been on for a decade now, said Cr Wilkie who described the plan as a beautifully written document that addressed strategies and plans but also presented a challenge to deliver on what was promised.
Cr Stewart said the plan adopted last week reflected community views and would guide council in delivering a sustainable future for Noosa.
Check out the 2023-2028 Corporate Plan at bit.ly/3LuSE5z
