Council briefs
A DECISION on whether to refuse the controversial Noosa Civic Shopping Centre expansion will be held over to the Noosa Council’s next General Meeting on Monday 21 September, due to the significance of the issue.
In a report to the Planning and Organisation Committee meeting on Tuesday 15 September, council staff recommended the refusal of the planned expansion based on a number of reasons such as a belief the development won’t diversify Noosa’s economy and that the plan conflicts with the Noosa Plan’s intent for the site to provide “long-term, non-retail employment growth and diversification”.
The report states the development will have “undesirable economic impacts on existing commercial centres” and the applicant has not demonstrated an “economic need for additional retail development in the Shire Business Centre”.
The issue will now be discussed at the General Meeting on Monday 21 September with a final decision expected to be made at the Ordinary Meeting on Thursday 24 September.
Council Swap
A staff exchange program is netting fresh idea ideas from across the Tasman, with the council welcoming New Zealand local government employee Susan Jones to Noosa.
Ms Jones is human resources and administration manager at Gore District Council on New Zealand’s South Island and she has spent the past week sharing ideas with Noosa staff, including planning and infrastructure director Martin Drydale, about different ways of doing business.
Ms Jones spoke with councillors, attended council events, and visited neighbouring Gympie Regional Council during her two-week stay.
Ms Jones said she was particularly interested in Noosa Council’s community jury initiative.
“There are several similarities between our councils, for example the approach to environmental matters, and we are also a tourist area. Although we can’t offer Noosa’s 28 degree weather,” Ms Jones said.
“It’s also been interesting to see the different approach to organisational matters such as human resources.”
