Public Participation at Council Meetings

A petition is a formal written request signed by 10 or more people that can be used to lobby Council.

If the matter relates to normal Council operations, you may more easily choose to log a customer service request on Council's website, via the mobile application Snap, Send, Solve or by contacting Council's customer service team especially for items like:

• road and pothole repairs
• animal nuisances
• attention to trees on public land

PETITION TEMPLATE
PETITION PROCEDURES

Matters for petitions

Petitions are generally used to show community support for a matter that is under Council's control. A petition may request, for example:

• the alteration of a local law
• the reconsideration of an administrative decision
• consideration of new infrastructure such as pathways, roads, playgrounds etc

Petitions can also be used as a form of submission on active development applications during the public notification stage. Please refer to Have your say on applications to learn more about making a submission on a development application.

The petitioning process

Under Council's Standing Orders and Petition Procedures, a petition will not be debated by Councillors at the Ordinary meeting when it is presented. The Chief Executive Officer will generally be requested to refer the petition to the relevant Council Department who will investigate the matter and respond to the principal petitioner.

Rules for preparing petitions

Council will accept petitions in paper form or electronic form (e-petitions) up to 2 business days prior to the Ordinary Meeting.

Paper petitions should:

• Utilise Council’s Petition Template where practicable
• Be received by Council two (2) business days prior to the Ordinary Meeting;
• Include the name and contact details of the Principal Petitioner (i.e., one person who is the organiser and who will act as the key contact for the issue.);
• Clearly state the relevant grievance and action requested of Council;
• Clearly state that the petition seeks to be presented to the Council;
• Be respectful and not contain any offensive language or content;
• Contain a minimum of 10 signatures;
• Clearly state the purpose of the petition on each page of the petition; and 
• Relate primarily to a local government matter.

Electronic (e-petitions) should:

• Be received by Council’s Chief Executive Officer two (2) business days prior to the Ordinary Meeting;
• Identify the Principal Petitioner as defined under section 1 (b)
• Clearly state the relevant grievance and action requested of Council;
• Clearly state that the petition seeks to be presented to the Council;
• Clearly state how the parties to the petition were obtained i.e. via reply email confirmation or confirm click in a web interface;
• Have attached a paper copy of the email or web interface;
• Be respectful and not contain any offensive language or content;
• Have been responded to by a minimum of 10 persons who wish to be party to the petition;
• Relate primarily to a local government matter.

How to lodge a petition

You may choose to either provide the petition to a Councillor, email to mail@noosa.qld.gov.au, or post to:

The Chief Executive Officer
Noosa Council
PO Box 141
Tewantin Qld 4565

Deputations are where an individual or a small group (of no more than 3 people) address the Council on issues that are important to them. The address can be on any topic, it does not need to be in relation to an item on that meeting's agenda. Deputations from the public are welcome at any of Council's Ordinary meetings and Committee meetings. Speaking time is generally limited to 15 minutes.

DEPUTATION APPLICATION FORM
DEPUTATION PROCEDURE

How to apply

If you wish to make a Deputation to a Council meeting please complete the Request for Deputation Form and forward it to the Chief Executive Officer at mail@noosa.qld.gov.au, via post to PO Box 141, Tewantin Q 4565 or deliver to the Council office at 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. Applications must be received at least 5 business days before the meeting. Applications will be assessed and responded to in writing.

A presentation is the acceptance of a gift or an award by the Council on behalf of the local government or the community. A presentation may be made at any of Council's Ordinary meetings or Committee meetings.

How to apply

If you wish to make a presentation to a Council meeting please complete the Request for Presentation Form and forward it to the Chief Executive Officer at mail@noosa.qld.gov.au, via post to PO Box 141, Tewantin Q 4565 or deliver to the Council office at 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. Applications must be received at least 5 business days before the meeting. Applications will be assessed and responded to in writing.

A Public Question Time session is available at each Ordinary Meeting of Council and will be conducted in accordance with Council's Public Question Time Procedure. Public Question Time is not intended to replace the existing engagement mechanisms that Council has in place but is one way for residents and ratepayers to raise genuine questions about a matter within the jurisdiction of Council.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME APPLICATION
PUBLIC QUESTION TIME PROCEDURES

How to apply

If you wish to raise a question at an Ordinary meeting of Council please complete the Public Question Time Application Form and forward it to the Chief Executive Officer at mail@noosa.qld.gov.au, via post to PO Box 141, Tewantin Q 4565 or deliver to the Council office at 9 Pelican Street, Tewantin. Applications must be received at least 5 business days before the meeting. Applications will be assessed and responded to in writing.