Noosa Council’s investigation into management frameworks to deal with conflict in Noosa Junction led officers to recommend a Business Improvement District (BID) model be further investigated in consultation with stakeholders.
The conflict in the Junction stems from the friction between the live music and vibrant entertainment precinct and the impact of noise generated by it on surrounding residents with the investigation initiated by a council-backed motion.
But after lengthy debate at Council’s general meeting on Monday councillors voted unanimously to convene a roundtable discussion with key stakeholders including residents, and continue engagement as it has been with stakeholders and lead agencies, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR), Queensland Police Service and the Collaborative Approach to Liquor Management (CALM ) to manage issues and improve the precinct.
Council discussion focused on issues including existing structures and agencies operating in Noosa Junction, council’s resource requirements to progress investigation with stakeholders on a BID model, the potential use of council’s already existing placemaking program and council’s shire-wide commitments.
After presenting a report to council on their management framework investigation council officers told the meeting the next steps leading from their findings would involve engaging with stakeholders about a BID-like model, scoping out what opportunities it may offer and the governance around it.
Staff said they thought establishing a framework could help manage the massive change the Junction was going to go through, providing stakeholders a source of communication, enabling them to weigh up opportunities and challenges and have a voice in the direction of the Junction.
They said the infrastructure model needed to be something the landowners in the Junction would want, not something to be imposed.
Staff expected if stakeholders decided to progress a BID-style framework it may require stakeholders contribute some form of financial levy and council provide resourcing to assist in its establishment.
The steps to an initial set up would be to have a meeting with stakeholders and establish boundaries, look at how a levy would be funded, then a steering committee would be formed, staff said. Council would sit on the committee but would step away, not necessarily run it.
Officers said with no BID legislation in Queensland the framework would be regulated through existing local and state legislation.
During the debate Cr Tom Wegener said after finding quite a lot of enthusiasm from staff for the BID framework moving forward he believed it would provide an opportunity to get these people around the table.
“I see that the junction does need some sort of intervention with stakeholders because they are at odds with each other,“ he said. “I think this is needed. The Junction needs it’s own identity.“
Cr Amelia Lorentson said the Junction’s ongoing issues around noise and safety were getting worse not better and had the potential to worsen further with the precinct undergoing significant development including a new five star hotel.
“We have the opportunity to get key stakeholders together around the table. Staff have done a lot of work in precinct management frameworks. It’s proven effective in areas like this where there are land use conflicts,“ she said.
Cr Karen Finzel raised the possibility of the Junction adopting a town team approach that had been researched through Council’s Placemaking program and was being embraced as a community-led approach in Pomona.
After much discussion councillors agreed on a motion to convene a roundtable discussion to enable all stakeholders to come together to discuss the issues, to have regard to all the models and principles that came to light through council’s research, and allow Noosa Junction to set its agenda for future needs.
Council will make a final decision on the issue at its ordinary meeting on Thursday.
