Noosa Council to adopt simpler meeting structure

Published on 18 March 2026

Noosa Council will adopt a new monthly meeting structure from May, replacing the current four-meeting system with a simpler, more efficient two-meeting format.

The changes aim to ease demands on staff and councillors’ time and make it easier for the community to follow the decision-making process.

The Planning and Environment Committee and Services and Organisation Committee Meetings - each attended by only three councillors and the Mayor - will no longer occur. 

The General Committee and Ordinary Meetings, both attended by the full Council, and where the major decisions and debates occur, will remain.

Mayor Frank Wilkie said the change reflects contemporary practice across Queensland and will make Council’s decision-making process clearer for the community.

“Matters of significance are already referred to the General Committee Meeting for consideration by the full Council, and then ratified at the Ordinary Meeting to follow, so this change makes the process more efficient,” Cr Wilkie said.

“Importantly, removing the small committee meetings reduces the demands on staff time, gives councillors longer to read and consider complex reports between meetings, and gives the community more clarity around where to catch the debate and witness decisions being made.”

He said the current model - in place since Noosa’s deamalgamation in 2014, and versions of which existed for decades beforehand - has served the shire well. 

“The intention is to give councillors ample opportunity to get the advice needed to make good decisions in the best long-term interest of the shire,” he said.

“Directors, managers and report authors need to attend each meeting and the new structure frees up time for both councillors and staff.”

A review of Queensland councils found that Noosa’s proposed reforms align with broader statewide practice.

Among 15 Queensland councils with populations equal to or greater than Noosa that were considered in a bench-making exercise, more than 80% do not operate small standing committees, and 69% meet only once per month, consistent with the minimum requirements of the Local Government Regulation 2012.

Cr Wilkie said the changes will modernise Noosa’s governance structure.

The new meeting structure will go to Thursday’s Ordinary Meeting to be ratified and will take effect from May 2026.

Council will review the success of the new format after 12 months.

Mayor Frank Wilkie discusses the new meeting structure: