Noosa Council will expand its community engagement with new initiatives.
The new-look group, which started its term in April, will take some of its monthly ordinary meetings to different locations around the shire.
Councillors will also meet residents for coffee and conversation at cafes in the area, and will ask for feedback on a variety of projects.
Council’s customer service team has also branched out with the launch of a new satellite help desk at Cooroy Library.
“Quality engagement between council and residents across Noosa Shire is critical to good governance and supports strong, resilient communities,” mayor Frank Wilkie said.
“We are delighted to bring council ordinary meetings back to communities around the shire so that our residents have an opportunity to come along and meet with us and watch the decision-making process first hand, close to home, without having to make the trip to the council chambers at Tewantin.”
The first Council in the Community meeting will be held at the Pomona Memorial School of Arts Hall on Thursday, June 20, from 5pm.
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Council will also begin seeking community feedback on a variety of key projects including: Phase 2 of the Destination Management Plan; Amendment No.2 to the Noosa Plan 2020; the Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan and Concepts for Resilience Phase 2; the Pomona Placemaking Plan Phase 2; the Noosa Botanic Gardens Master Plan; and the Noosa River Catchment Management Plan.
Cr Wilkie encouraged people to stay informed about council projects and take the opportunity to help shape decision-making on important issues.
“Council’s Your Say community engagement platform is a great way to get across any new projects that are open for community input or under consideration,” he said.
“It provides all the background information you will need to provide your input on a council project.”
Cr Wilkie said the new Cooroy Library service desk was in response to residents asking for more services to be located in the hinterland communities.
Community services director Kerri Contini said the hinterland trial built on efforts to make council and its services more convenient.
“This trial will tell us if face-to-face customer service should have a permanent presence in the hinterland and what that service should include,” she said.
“We will be gathering data on what suburbs people are coming from and the types of inquiries they have.
The new customer service desk is located just inside the Cooroy Library near the library’s help desk. It will operate from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
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