Governance, Administration & Finance (GA&F) - 24 February 2026

Key decisions

• Quarter 2 Council Plan and Operational Plan progress report approved
  The committee recommended approval of the Council Plan 2022-2027 and City Operational Plan 2025-26 Quarter 2 Progress Report, including a variation to the operational plan.
  Residents can track whether council is delivering planned services, projects and commitments.
• Some policy changes adopted; one policy retirement deferred
  The committee recommended retiring the Equitable Access Policy, adopting a revised Water and Sewerage Connection, Metering and Billing Policy, retiring two older water policies, and deferring retirement of the Infrastructure Charge Identification, Monitoring and Collection Policy to the 17 March 2026 GA&F meeting.
  These changes affect how council administers water, sewerage and some development-related charging policies.
• Submitters to water and sewerage policy consultation to be informed
  The CEO is to provide all identifiable submitters to the Water and Sewerage Connection, Metering and Billing Policy consultation with the relevant part of the report.
  People who made submissions should receive direct follow-up on the outcome.
• Funding allocated for Paradise Point and Elanora works
  The committee recommended allocating $121,000 for decorative lighting installation at Paradise Point Parklands and $129,000 for a bus stop installation on Casuarina Drive, Elanora.
  These are direct local infrastructure upgrades affecting amenity and public transport access.
• Corporate centre precinct leasing exceptions noted
  The committee recommended noting a report on leasing in the corporate centre precinct and supported use of a Local Government Regulation 2012 exception for a proposed lease to a community organisation or government agency on terms acceptable to the CEO.
  This may affect future use of council-controlled premises in the corporate centre precinct.
• December 2025 financial performance report noted
  The committee recommended noting the attached December 2025 financial performance report.
  This gives residents a snapshot of council’s financial position and spending performance.
• Staff travel expenses report deferred
  The committee recommended deferring the Travel and Related Expenses for Staff July-December 2025 report to the full council meeting on 10 March 2026.
  Public consideration of staff travel spending was postponed rather than finalised at this meeting.
• Confidential sale process for land over overdue rates endorsed
  In closed session, the committee recommended confidential treatment of the report and attachments, selling land identified in a confidential attachment for overdue rates, and referring the matter to suitably qualified solicitors.
  This concerns council recovery action on properties with overdue rates and charges.

Important topics

• Infrastructure charges policy timing
  The original report proposed review and assessment timeframes for active infrastructure charges, but retirement of the Infrastructure Charge Identification, Monitoring and Collection Policy was deferred instead of being finalised at this meeting.
  Relevant to developers, applicants and property owners dealing with infrastructure charges.
• Water and sewerage policy update
  Council’s water and sewerage connection, metering and billing framework is being updated through a revised policy replacing older policies.
  May affect how some properties, including community titles scheme properties, are connected, metered and billed.
• Corporate centre precinct leasing
  The committee considered legal exceptions that may allow certain leases or renewals without a standard tender or auction pathway in specific circumstances.
  Could influence tenancy opportunities and occupancy of council-controlled premises in the precinct.

Resident impacts

• Decorative lighting is planned for Paradise Point Parklands.
• A new bus stop installation is planned for Casuarina Drive, Elanora.
• Water and sewerage connection, metering and billing policy settings are being updated.
• Consideration of staff travel expenses was pushed to the 10 March 2026 full council meeting.
• Council will continue action on some overdue rates matters through confidential land sale processes.

Places affected

• Paradise Point Parklands (parklands)
  Funding allocated for decorative lighting installation.
• Paradise Point (suburb)
  Location of the parklands lighting project.
• Casuarina Drive, Elanora (road)
  Funding allocated for bus stop installation.
• Elanora (suburb)
  Suburb affected by the bus stop project.
• Corporate centre precinct (precinct)
  Subject of proposed leasing and lease renewal exceptions.
• Division 4 (council division)
  Source project allocation for Paradise Point Parklands lighting.
• Division 13 (council division)
  Source project allocation for Casuarina Drive bus stop works.

Next steps

• Consider deferred retirement of the Infrastructure Charge Identification, Monitoring and Collection Policy
  17 March 2026 GA&F Committee meeting
• Consider the Travel and Related Expenses for Staff July-December 2025 report
  10 March 2026 full council meeting
• CEO to provide relevant report outcome to identifiable water and sewerage policy submitters
  After council consideration
• Refer confidential overdue rates land sale matter to suitably qualified solicitors
  Following council resolution

Extracted minutes text

865 UNCONFIRMED MINUTES GOVERNANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2026 1:30PM The meeting commenced at 1:33pm City of Gold Coast Council Chambers 135 Bundall Road Surfers Paradise 865 Meeting of the Governance, Administration and Finance Committee Unconfirmed Minutes Tuesday 24 February 2026 ORDER OF BUSINESS 1 ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES .................................................................... 3 2 LEAVE OF ABSENCE ............................................................................... 3 3 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES ................................................................ 3 4 CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATIONS ................................