Annual Report highlights advancement across the shire

Answering 45,000 phone calls, diverting nearly 45,000 tonnes of waste from landfill and lending out almost 600,000 items from our libraries are among the efforts included in the 2023/24 Annual Report, set to be ratified on Thursday by Noosa Council. 

Mayor Frank Wilkie and CEO Larry Sengstock look over the Annual Report.

The Annual Report details Council’s activities from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. 

It documents Council’s achievements and resilience amid labour shortages, material supply constraints and high construction costs.   

“Serving our community is at the heart of everything Council does and we’re proud of what this small but hard-working council has delivered, despite challenges,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said. 

“Our Infrastructure Services team delivered more than $39million in capital works, including more than $6 million of bridge upgrades, $5.3 million of rehabilitation and reseal works to local roads and building the new $1.95 million Olive Donaldson Pavilion at Noosa District Sports Complex.

“The Noosa Spit Dog Beach Sand Nourishment project finished in June, two months ahead of schedule to protect this popular recreational area and Noosa Sound from storm swells.”

There was $1,510,991 distributed in Community, Environment & Economic Grants to support local organisations and activities. Council also assessed 650 lodged development applications, with 599 approved applications aligning with the Noosa Plan.

Council secured $14.7 million in grant funding and $127 million in Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) disaster recovery funding, which enabled repairs and reconstruction of 31 landslides and 15 stormwater culverts and drains impacted by the 2022 flood event. 

“The Operating Surplus Ratio of 5.31% shows we’re operating efficiently and generating small surpluses which are reserved for future investments or to cover emergent costs,” Cr Wilkie said.

Council also achieved another unqualified audit opinion from the Queensland Audit Office (QAO), following its review of its draft financial statements, internal control framework and financial sustainability ratios. 

Council maintains $1.4 billion in public assets and achieved another positive financial result this year. The operating surplus of $7.4 million includes Council’s share of investment in Unitywater’s annual profit.

“This is the strongest possible assurance that Council is providing reliable financial statements which comply with relevant laws and accounting standards and is operating in a financially responsible way,” Cr Wilkie said. 

CEO Larry Sengstock said Council’s achievements were underpinned by a demonstrated commitment to serving our community and delivering essential services.    

“Our focus on flood reconstruction from the 2022 event led to the signing of our largest single construction project, to repair the Black Mountain Road landslide and repair access to Cooroy for impacted residents,” Mr Sengstock said.  

“The Pomona Place Pilot Program was one of 10 major projects which included community engagement this year and saw more than 800 local residents provide feedback to Council on this first-of-its-kind project for the Noosa Shire. 

“Council established a dedicated Local Disaster Coordination Centre at Noosaville to strengthen our disaster management response during emergency events and The Noosa Waste Plan 2023-28 was endorsed, providing a blueprint for Council’s waste diversion target of 61% by 2025.

“I’m also extremely proud that Council achieved two industry sector awards this year.

“The Beckmans Road Intersection Upgrade was awarded best project in the Road Safety and Infrastructure category at The Queensland Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) Excellence Awards.

“Council’s Noosa Biosphere Trail 5 Upgrade project also took out the award for best project between $1million and $2million in the IPWEA Excellence Awards.

“It’s been another extremely productive and successful year for our council and we’ll continue to work extremely hard as an organisation to ensure we meet the needs of our community.”

Noosa Council 2023/24 Annual Report fast facts:

• 42% of the shire’s land is now protected as conservation land.
• 23 new Land for Wildlife properties were added along with one new Voluntary Conservation Agreement.
• More than 4000 trees planted by Council’s Bush Care Group volunteers.
• 44,936 phone calls answered by Council’s customer service team.
• 3,896,412 household bins were collected by Council across the year.
• 44,996 tonnes of waste was diverted from going into landfill.
• More than half of the Noosa Shire’s population now holds a Noosa Libraries membership, with 3,857 new members joining up this year - taking the total membership number to 29,355.
• The Cooroy, Noosaville and Mobile Libraries loaned out more than a million items.
• 10,823 people attended one of Noosa Libraries’ 738 literacy and learning programs.
• The J Noosa hosted 245 events and more than 71,000 patrons this year.
• The Noosa Leisure Centre welcomed more than 250,000 visitors.

The Annual Report is available online on Council’s website.