After weeks spent in Parliament and travelling throughout Queensland with the Legal Affairs and Safety Committee, and then in self isolation due to the now passed lock down, I am more than looking forward to the long weekend to curb the garden gremlins and spend time with loved ones ???? And clean my house! ????

L-R: A super birthday surprise! With the fabulous MelB ????; Noosa Chances Scholarship Recipients ????.

From the Chamber and Beyond

Another step forward in reducing our impacts, was the Waste Reduction and Recycling (Plastic Items) Amendment Bill 2020, with the Consent and Mistake of Fact Bill a technical change that I trust delivers more to sexual assault survivors that what my Statement of Reservation relayed. The key message? It is up to every single one of us to make the difference, as legislation cannot do it alone ????

My Adjournment speech highlighted what is a major system failure. When an inappropriate volume of heavy haulage vehicles can travel a road not built to ever accommodate, with no mechanism, law nor piece of legislation to review the authority that allowed this to happen, is wrong. Find this and other speeches here.

Outside of Chamber was frenetic. Between the inaugural Parliamentary Friends of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, lunchtime panelling in an education seminar for Government staff, QLD Future Conversations, QLD Beef Week and Surf Lifesaving QLD where I met with those who are working in the space of swimmer safety through drones, there was much to consider in both opportunities and challenges.

The opening of the Beyond Duty Exhibition saw Holocaust survivors share stories of diplomats who saved them and so many, even defying their own governments to do so. One alone saved 6,000, leading to 100,000 people of their next generation now thankfully with us. Yes, I did have tears, in both sadness, and gratitude.

Successful meetings with State Planners to address our housing crisis focused on legislation around secondary dwellings and dual occupancy. Council will now be workshopping what this looks like. In the meantime, if you know of anyone homeless or at risk of, there are emergency and other supports available, so please call the Homeless Hotline on 1800474753 or our office on 53193100.

My Legal Affairs and Safety Committee held public hearings throughout QLD for the Youth Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2021.  Balancing the rights of children who offend repeatedly, with the rights of residents to be safe in their homes and community, is intricate and divisive. The predominant message across the state unsurprisingly were calls for greater responsibility, accountability, consequences, and respect, which is a common theme and one that we all have a role in. ????

L-R: IWD 2021 at Government House; A very special Welcome to Country; Cooroy Rag celebrations! ????

From the Inbox

Our housing crisis continues to impact residents here and throughout QLD. Having lived in a shed myself years ago, and frequently assisting others, a place to call home is vital for all. Our Housing Action Group has made significant progress, with additional emergency and transitional accommodations secured, and changes as mentioned previously around secondary dwellings being workshopped, as well progressing longer term options. Updates are posted to https://www.sandybolton.com/?s=housing. For anyone at risk of or experiencing homelessness, there are supports available www.sandybolton.com/emergency-housing-contact-list/. If you are currently awaiting assistance through the Housing Service Centre and your situation changes or worsens, it is important that you update them immediately on 5352 7333 or via maroochydorehsc@hpw.qld.gov.au. We have an incredible community, only too willing to help those in difficulty, so please ensure you connect to the supports available or if you are not being assisted, we want to know. Please be aware that some have be offered assistance but decline for reasons of their own.

Thank you to everyone who reported turtle hatchlings on Noosa North Shore which resulted in prompt responses and some very happy youngsters making their way to the ocean! A timely reminder for anyone travelling on the beach, especially from Freshwater Lake track up to Double Island Point, to go slow. This will be discussed at the next Teewah Cooloola Working Group, was raised with the Minister for Environment during Question Time in Parliament. Changes to camp site bookings at Cooloola Recreation Area and number plate recognition cameras are some of the measures implemented as part of addressing poor and dangerous behaviours with more improvements to come, including dealing with those mobile blackspots.

Design work has begun on the replacement Six Mile Bridge #7, with an expected completion date by late 2021 and construction scheduled to start in the first half of 2022. This project is now listed on Department of Transport & Main Roads website via www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/kin-kin-road-six-mile-creek-replace-timber-bridge. Finally, we have been updated on the Cooroy intersection improvements after TMR investigated both roundabouts and traffic signals as part of early planning for upgrades. Whilst TMR identified traffic signals as the preferred option, the community did not agree hence TMR will re-engage with key stakeholders and the community when funding is available to progress this project.

L-R: Beef Australia 2021 ????; Life Flight Gala Fundraiser; LASC Public Hearings ✈

Maritime Safety QLD and Noosa Council have jointly selected the members of the new Noosa River Stakeholder Reference Group from submissions received during the recent Expressions of Interest. Mayor Clare and I as observers look forward to the first meeting and subsequent improvements to many aspects of our river management, including those ‘gremlin’ moorings!

Heavy haulage vehicles in our hinterland continues to be a priority, with community frustrations from TMR works daily to keep the road serviceable. The response from Minister Scanlon surrounding our call for a review of the review process of environmental authorities has yet to arrive, and in the meantime multiple efforts continue including Council’s preparation for legal action against the operators.

Having met recently with multiple representatives from locality-based groups regarding Councils Coastal Hazard Adaptation Plans, it was welcome news that an extension in time for submitting has been granted from State to provide residents and Council some breathing space to engage further.

The Federal Government’s phased roll out for those in category 1B has commenced, you can book online via www.hotdoc.com.au or phone 5313 7778. For more information regarding the vaccine rollout please visit https://www.health.gov.au/ or if any concerns, please contact our local Federal MPs with contacts available at https://electorate.aec.gov.au/. We have seen with this most recent Greater Brisbane Lockdown that the situation is volatile, so please keep updated on all things COVID-19 at https://www.covid19.qld.gov.au/

With so much to say and so little space, stay updated via  www.sandybolton.com/noosa360/ . It is easy to use! Just type a topic into the search bar, and the most recent post will be at the top. More information is available on topics above as well those not mentioned here. If you cannot find what you are after just call us on 53193100 or email noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

L-R: A wonderful morning with our Noosa Biz at Meet the Makers 2021!!! ????

On the Homefront

Our youngest Noosa Citizens featured prominently this month, with school visits, scholarship ceremonies and community awards. The St Thomas More Primary School Q & A touched on everything, from tree clearing to government processes, sewerage treatment plants to plastics, renewables and ‘repurposables’! A great lead into their visit to Parliament House, where we got to marvel at those chandeliers whilst ‘ghost’ hunting! ???? The Noosa Chances Scholarship Ceremony emphasized the importance of breaking the nexus on intergenerational hardship, and it was again a great joy to be on the judging panel at the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club Zone Youth Awards. Congratulations everyone!!

Welcoming visitors to the Noosa Rainbow River Festival is always fabulous, even more so the ‘repeat offenders’ who are now in their 6th year of being ‘Noosafied’! ???? As the longest running community newspaper on the Sunshine Coast, and one that keeps giving ‘back’ it was wonderful to celebrate the Cooroy Rag’s 61st year!! ???????? and the first night at Noosa Arts Theatre since COVID rocked to Mamma Mia ???? Candlelight vigils, the Lifeflight Fundraiser, and did I mention, my new interns? Pheww!! ????

The Celebration of Queensland Lunch was instrumental to our economy, showcasing the vast diversity of our QLD produce and talent, as well giving everyone an introduction to ‘skin contact’ wine, ‘under the veil’ and long chain molecules? ???? ???? Meet the Makers 2021 was HUGE where our producers came together, showcasing world class product and sharing their export stories, including our Noosa biz Hello Honey shipping container loads of that soothing propolis candy to Korea! ???????? Go #teamnoosa!!

Our Mobile Office at Pomona saw catch ups with new and ‘old’ biz, street side ‘goss’ and home visits, followed by the 20th anniversary of the Pomona Railway Station Art Gallery.  From decommissioned railway buildings rose a space that ensures we will remember what is important through artisans and photographers who take us to the past and future, bringing heartful discussions and people together.

Round 107 of the Community Benefit Fund saw $155,427.00 distributed to local community organisations around the Noosa Electorate. Once again, Noosa is leading the way!!

To finish, the journey to zero emissions got that much closer with the third Noosa Electric Vehicle Expo ???? With the QLD Electric Superhighway the longest in any state across the world, we are on our way, however, have a couple of ongoing challenges including price point that will assist us to get ‘electrified’ ????

L-R: Noosa Electric Vehicle Expo ????; Lions Zone Youth Awards; Surf Life Saving QLD antics!! ????‍♀️

Grants and Funding Announcements

For current government grant opportunities see the QLD Government Grant Finder or Grants Guru.

Parliamentary Speeches and Questions

Recent Questions on Notice (QONs) can be found here. The latest speeches can be found below:

Recent Questions Without Notice can be found here. Estimates Hearings can be found here.

Have Your Say

Current Government public consultations can be found at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi.
Current Committee inquiries can be found at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/inquiries

COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Links

More information on COVID-19 recovery support by visiting www.sandybolton.com/covid-19-business-support/

Mobile Office

Tewantin on the 17th of April from 9am-12pm. To organise a meeting, please let us know on 5319 3100 ????

Office Reminders

Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday, so please stop by and say hello!  For community organisations we have the photocopier, marquees and trailer available at no charge for your use, though you will need to book? ???? We also have those fab Energex ‘lights’ to give, and Anzac Day memory booklets available for those not on Facebook.

L-R: With our newest intern Genavieve ????; Pomona Railway Art Gallery ????; Parliament House visits!!

Connect

With so much to share, stay up to date via  NOOSA 360 , Facebook page updates or our monthly newsletters. Columns are in Noosa News , Noosa Today, Coolum Advertiser, Forest Star, Cooroora Connect and Eastern Beaches News.

And Finally….

Like all other MP’s, I was thrilled to be released from our self-isolation, with first task to visit our shopping precincts in response to reports that ‘lots’ of people were not wearing their masks. ???? Happily at least 99% of shoppers had their essential ‘accessory’ firmly on, with some enviable designs that left me looking a tad boring! For some reason I was still recognisable leading me to ask one shopper how? “It’s the way you walk” she said “And the way you talk!! ???????????? So fellow Noosans, hunker down to avoid the holiday rush, or get out amongst and enjoy! Either way, masks firmly on, keep to the 1.5 and hand washing, and huge hugs for a happy Easter!! ???? ????

Sandy ????