Mayor Clare Stewart delivered her final address to Noosa Council’s Ordinary Meeting last Thursday, the final public meeting for council before the 16 March local government election, and her retirement from the role, before being commended for her service by fellow councillors.
“Firstly, let me say I leave with gratitude, respect, and thanks. Gratitude for the opportunity to lead this council over the past four years, respect for the work that our council team do and thanks for the support and opportunities to serve that this role has created,“ Cr Stewart said.
“But most of all I leave with pride. Pride for all that we have achieved together. We may not always agree but what I can say is that no matter what our differences, we all want the best for Noosa. Of that I have no doubt.
“I am incredibly proud of what we have completed over four years. Four years that saw the interruption and devastation of covid, a major flooding event, rising costs, logistical nightmares and staff shortages that occurred not just here in Noosa but right across Qld. And to add to that the largest ever disaster recovery costs and support required amounting to over $120 million for our shire.
“We have done much. Works have been significant, substantial and are ongoing. “There are too many to mention but for me, some highlights include:
1. Our council has taken the most proactive and aggressive step towards helping address the housing crisis. Our Housing Strategy and the recommendations formed from that work will make real, meaningful, positive change to the lives of many of our residents. This council was the first in Qld to pilot two tiny homes with the support of Youturn while supporting and providing funding for more transitory accommodation and crisis accommodation for our most vulnerable: bringing real and meaningful change to the lives of many.
2. Council formulated, adopted, and ratified our new Corporate Plan- a plan that will see this organisation flourish for decades to come. Priorities of our community were listened to, integrated, and strategised. They will guide decisions going forward for many years to come.
3. Year after year of record spends on capital works and infrastructure.
• Delivery of four bridges to our Hinterland community, the Hinterland Playground, Noosa Parade upgrade, Orealla Crescent Bridge Replacement, Beckman’s Road Upgrade, The Peregian Community House, upgrade and expansion of our Peregian Digital Hub, The Olive Donaldson Sports Facility- all these projects leave a lasting legacy for our residents.
• Record spending on footpaths and road works. Prudent spending to improve amenity for our residents.
4. Continuous engagement with our residents has been key. From our initial Councillor Coffee chats, we have listened and supported our residents through our roundtables- our ongoing Business Round tables and our polystyrene disaster round table, our Chap roundtable and our Kin Kin Quarry Roundtable.
5. We have stood with our Hinterland community through the initiation and support of legal action against the operators of the Kin Kin Quarry and we will continue to do so. We eagerly await a final judgement on the court case.
6. Fire management and mitigation has been increased by over 100 per cent in this term of council. We are now world leaders in the works that our fire tech program is undertaking at the Peregian Digital Hub; our spending has substantially increased on back burns, fire trails, fire detection, implementation of an in house fire safety officer and bushfire levy; all alongside the significant works we are doing with our community in disaster resilience and preparation with our emergency services in fire management and mitigation.
7. The Waste Plan that this council has recently adopted is the most innovative we have ever undertaken. Machines recently purchased including our polystyrene thermal processing machine and our Containers for Change sees this council continuing to wage a war on waste by diverting recyclable material from landfill to both reduce emissions and conserve landfill space.
8. The rise of short-term accommodation is an issue across the world. Not just here in Noosa. I am incredibly proud that this council was the one of the first councils in Qld to introduce a separate rating category for short term accommodation- making rates more expensive for those who use their homes as a ‘business’. The short-term local letting law that this council introduced also saw us as the first council in Qld to enact such a regulation to protect residential amenity. Our 24-hour hotline to monitor short term accommodation is also another first that this council has implemented to assist residents.
9. Environmentally, we now have more land under conservation than ever before with the purchase this term of more land for conservation. 43 per cent of our shire – or 34,499 hectares of land – is now being managed for its environmental value and we’re steadily nearing our target of 48 per cent by 2028.
10. On a personal note, I am incredibly proud of having led and championed two Mayoral Balls, with the assistance and support of our community and wonderful community groups. These balls raised enough money to increase counselling services in the area of domestic violence across our shire and the proceeds of our more recent ball has seen an MOU signed with the Salvation Army to assist in accommodation for our at-risk residents.
11. The instigation of our Mayoral Christmas Appeals have also helped families in need across our shire have a happier and more memorable Christmas as has our incredibly popular Christmas Convoy which began during this term of council.
12. The resilience tours I initiated with our local Paralympians, Olympians and sporting heroes were a highlight. Speaking at schools right across our shire we reached thousands of students to promote a message of courage, hope and resilience in the face of adversity and I thank all those involved for helping make this happen.
13. Forging stronger and closer ties with other councils has been a priority of this council. Joining the Southeast Council of Mayors has ensured that Noosa Council now has a voice at the table, part of a decision-making process. Importantly it has secured vital funding for our shire. We will receive $3.58 million for liveability projects from being part of the Council of Mayors and we are now part of a wider working group in regard to SEQ Waste strategies and part of the $40 million funding pool for resilient rivers. All because we joined the Council of Mayors.
14. Our MOU with Gympie Regional Council in regard to waste will also drive innovation, collaboration and investment in the waste sector going forward and I look forward to what our two councils can achieve together. Similarly, our work with the Sunshine Coast Council in regard to management and support of our eastern beaches is significant.
On a personal and concluding note, I’d like to thank and acknowledge Brett de Chastel, our first CEO, Scott Waters, and now Acting CEO Larry Sengstock for their support, advice, and hard work. It is appreciated and acknowledged.
Thanks to the council executive team who have led us this term: Carl, Michael, Deb, Trent, Kim, Kerri, Richard, Shaun. Thank you for all that you do for this organisation and the hard work you put in daily.
Our wider council team, inclusive of all our managers and staff both indoor and outdoor, need to be thanked and acknowledged. Their work is appreciated by us all and is often the very public face of us all.
I’ve worked incredibly closely with Ken, Nathan, and all the communications team over the past four years and I thank them personally. I will miss you guys.
Deputy Mayor Frank and all Councillors around this table. I say thank you. It has indeed been a team effort and the achievements above are collective ones.
I’ve been fortunate enough to make two close friends over my time as Mayor, Amelia and Karen. Thank you for your friendship and support. I will miss it.
Cathy my EA- thank you. I think I’ve driven you crazy with my diary commitments and I promise one day I will learn to say ‘no’ but thank you for your care, friendship, and support.
Jobs like ours take their toll- most significantly on our families. I want to acknowledge my own. My parents who have walked this journey every step of the way with me (and who are probably owed a million dollars in babysitting fees) and my husband and children who have sacrificed much to enable me to do my job. Cam- thank you. I know I drive you crazy but thank you for being the rock and sounding board I so often need.
Finally, I want to thank the people of Noosa Shire. They took a chance on an unknown and I hope I’ve earned their respect and validated their choice. It has been the ultimate privilege to represent you and work for you. Whatever I do and wherever I go, I will always have the incredible honour of being the first female Mayor of Noosa Shire.“
Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie led the councillors in thanking Cr Stewart for her “commendable service“ at the forefront of council for “four difficult years“.
“It’s easy to remember the accomplishments, but it’s easy to forget these were achieved during a very difficult time,“ he said.
“If there’s a word to describe it, it’s disruption.
“We had the worst bushfires the shire had ever seen in the build up to the 2020 election.
“An infection in Wuhan avalanched into a global infection, first in a century.
“There were almost no staff in the Pelican St building, the streets were deserted, the shire was a ghost town. It was the age of online meetings and zoom.
“The vaccination debate raged and divided our community, businesses were pivoting, thriving, closing or struggling.
“When the CEO turned up for his first day Noosa was hit by the most damaging rain in 30 years.
It damaged 100 roads, there were 30 landslips including the largest ever at Black Mountain.
“We had very high land value increases, some as high as 300 per cent, made setting rates very difficult.
“The new CEO departed. Construction cost increased, staff were hard to come by. We had three CEOs.
“Through it all we had a Mayor who was always well briefed, well prepared, you did it well.
“Perhaps your most admirable quality was your capacity to fiercely debate any topic but after the matter was over you’d be the first to be cracking jokes. I respect and admire that.“
“You’ve been more than just a Mayor, you’ve been a trailblazer, your dedication to the community has been unwavering,“ Cr Amelia Lorentson said.
“You will be remembered for your kindness, your sense of humour and your genuine compassion for others.“
“Thank you for being a leader, you’ve been an exemplary Mayor,“ Cr Joe Jurisevic said.
“Democracy would be boring if we all thought the same,“ Cr Brian Stockwell said.
“Anyone who puts their hand up and makes those points in something you believe in, that’s a big step.
“It’s something this community will remember and respect.“
“You’ve always been very warm. That’s what we appreciate most and what we’ll miss most,“ Cr Tom Wegener said.
“It’s been an honour and a privilege to work alongside you. Your door and your heart have always been open,“ Cr Karen Finzel said.
“You’ve been a fearless advocate for the most vulnerable, and you’ve worked tirelessly to make sure no one’s been left behind.
“It’s been a tumultuous ride and we’ve experienced that together.“
