The following article was authored by Sandy Bolton MP and published in the Noosa Today on the 21st of February2025:
Welcome to February, and a host of important updates! However, to start I would like to speak about ‘intentional communities’ which Noosa is, even though we may not realise!
What is an ‘intentional’ community you ask? There are numerous definitions, including “a group of people who deliberately choose to live together, sharing a common vision, values, and lifestyle, often with a focus on cooperation, mutual support, and creating a social environment that differs from mainstream society”
Every day I see multiple examples of this ‘intent’ including differing from mainstream trends of the time, such as our historical stance to retain and enhance our natural environment. When Noosa became part of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program ‘way back’, it set out to demonstrate how we could live amongst our natural assets with the least impact as possible, in essence we became a ‘living laboratory’.
Along the way it has often been a challenging, contentious journey, however a worthwhile one as confirmed by our home being one of the most desired and well-known destinations on the planet.
It is often out of some heartache we learn more as part of being a ‘living laboratory’, with the Sunrise Beach development just one example. Dry wallum heath land designated by Noosa Council for aged care/living at least since 2006, unknowingly set the stage for future angst. Why? The dry wallum heath changed its makeup as a result from surrounding Sunrise Beach development and ensuing water runoff over years, creating the perfect environment for the casuarina to grow which is the feed tree for Glossy Black Cockatoos. This was fabulous, however when it came time for the site to be utilised for its designation, understandably the loss of these feed trees led to outrage.
From the work of many, including young Spencer, the ‘living laboratory’ is in full evidence and the offset site where casuarinas, specially propagated from the original Glossy Black feed trees, now stand two metres high. In addition, the 300mm layer of soil taken from the host site, is sprouting casuarinas naturally at a rapid pace, with a bird ‘buffet’ estimated to be available in eighteen months. With the site being monitored, and Spencer taking photos along the way, this is a positive example of our ‘living laboratory’ with the learnings invaluable for all in how we manage our needs and planning schemes to reduce impacts on our wildlife.
There are many other examples of how intentional we are beyond our relationship with nature. Whether working out how to share our home harmoniously (the roads especially!) with each other, issues of congestion, parking and at times being ‘over loved’, through to providing a safe and caring space for our children and grandchildren to grow, every day within an intentional community there are many communities of interest with shared intentions over multiple realms including sporting, creative and much more!
In amongst those ‘working out how to’, there are what may seem to be ‘outside of the box’ initiatives that are often our greatest path out of newer societal concerns, whether that be isolation of our elderly, or youngsters without the guidance of grandparents and their invaluable wisdom.
Examples of what is being investigated include Grandschools, which integrates retirement living with education facilities for our youngsters in town centres to create connectedness with community activities, skills and volunteerism. Aging in place amongst vibrant energy has been identified as having positive physical and mental health for all, and I am looking forward to seeing how we can do this!
Then others are working on the provision of accommodation, education and work skills for our youth that are at risk of homelessness through domestic violence, connected to our community organisations and endeavours.
That is just a taste of how intentional we are and although as a ‘living laboratory’ we may get caught up in debate over the finer details of our living together as well some angst in the ‘how’, on the broader vision there is never any doubt. Whether through our annual survey, responses to state government overrides, river management or environment, the messages are consistently clear. We love our home and will always fight for the reasons as to why we all came here to live. The natural beauty, village feel, laidback lifestyle and really good people with great intentions!
Annual Survey
Thank you to all who took the time to share their views with hospital and health services, crime and policing, and the management of the Noosa River identified as the top three most important issues for our community. The significant majority ‘for’ votes included to increase funding for hospice and in-home palliative care and the capping of election donations among others. With many of the state concerns raised already in the process of being addressed, we encourage residents to check the full survey results as well other updates at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360
State Facilitated Developments
As we posted on Facebook, the Tewantin State Facilitated Development (SFD) has entered public consultation phase, closing on Monday 10 March. The application does not address the community’s previous concerns regarding compliance with the Noosa Planning Scheme, particularly regarding height. As updated in November, the new Government passed legislation to allow the Minister to revise or revoke a SFD application, not to prevent the process, therefore residents need to be very clear in their message to the Minister regarding. Please join us in sending submissions to SFD@dsdilgp.qld.gov.au and copying in our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au. Information on the application can be found at www.planning.qld.gov.au/planning-framework/development-assessment/state-facilitated-development
Noosa River Management Plan
As most are now aware, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) have commenced the next stages of the river management plan advising that anchoring restrictions for boats over five metres would be extended to the Woods Bay and Dog Beach areas beginning 24 February, as well Little Woods Bay from 24 March. Following our advocacy during the commencement of the initial anchoring restrictions in July 2024, a trial to allow vessels between five and seven point five metres to anchor for two hours a day was implemented and will also be extended to these new areas. This demonstrates that MSQ continues to respond to community feedback and we encourage residents to continue providing this via sunshinecoast.maritime@msq.qld.gov.au and our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Noosa River Moorings
Given increasing anchoring changes, we ask those on the waitlist for a registered mooring to please ensure that MSQ have your updated information including current vessel registration to ensure you don’t miss out when it’s your turn to be offered a mooring!
Survey – Public Child Sex Offender Register and Fluoridation
Our issue-based survey on two very different topics, fluoride in town water and a public child sex offender register, is open until 24 February. These topics have been included due to recent commentary and developments including calls from the Australian Dental Association for State Government to manage and mandate fluoridation for all of Queensland as was previously the case before being transferred to Councils to manage. In addition, as part of its election campaign, the new Government put forward a proposal to implement a public sex offender registry in Queensland. We want to know residents’ views on both and have included the background, and research on claims both for and against to ensure an impartial and objective survey process. The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/2HX32YK
Safe Night Precincts
The Attorney General, in response to our request for information regarding the new government’s commitment to establish a Safe Night Precinct in Noosa, gave assurances that stakeholder consultation would be undertaken. Having recently met with both the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) and Griffith University as part of this review, we look forward to the outcome following their consultations with other stakeholders and sharing information with our residents when available.
Lake Macdonald Dam Upgrade
We have received the requested graph of the estimated monthly volume of truck movements over the next four years for this project which does not break down specific routes as this will be dependent on which of the four quarries, including Kin Kin, are supplying and at what stage. Following recent community information engagement sessions, there have been requests from residents for a speed reduction on Lake Macdonald Drive during construction and Seqwater has written to Noosa Council accordingly. The full update is available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360 via the search bar ‘Lake MacDonald.’
Policing
With unacceptable incidents and theft in our rural communities over the last month, we met with Sunshine Coast District Inspector John and Noosa Station OIC Nick for an update, as well on strategies relating to their zero-tolerance approach to crime and youth anti-social behaviours. We ask all residents to report any incidents to police in the first instance via Policelink on 131 444 and spread the word to neighbours and networks. Reports indicate the majority of this behaviour is not being committed by locals, rather individuals visiting from elsewhere. It takes a village, and we need to assist our police by being vigilant and responsible for who we have in our home and under our care, including youngsters.
With a focus on sharing as much information with residents as possible to ensure our intentional community is a very knowledgeable one in order to make good decisions, please let neighbours and friends know about www.sandybolton.com/noosa360 where we post regular updates on many Noosa state related matters, as well broader Queensland issues which you can find by using the handy search bar. Whilst there, subscribe to our monthly newsletter at www.sandybolton.com/newsletters to keep up to date and be alerted on any of our surveys or polls.
With the first Parliament of the year underway as I write this, you can listen/watch via the Parliamentary TV at www.parliament.qld.gov.au, alternatively access videos of our speeches and other important information via Facebook www.facebook.com/SandyBoltonNoosa or www.sandybolton.com
As always, if you require further information or assistance, please contact our office on 53193100 or noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au
Have a great month everyone and enjoy, as well promote, being positively ‘intentional’!!