The month of ‘many long weekends’ brought with it relaxed restrictions, ‘mostly’ beautiful weather, celebrations, rejuvenations, and those ‘collaborations’ with family, friends, and fur-buds! For myself, the challenge of the moonboot was included, giving the term ‘balancing act’ a whole new meaning!! ???????? As we slowly transition back into some form of ‘normalcy’, as was shared with me during ‘drop ins’ across the electorate, there remains hesitancy in several realms, as well some restrictions, and a shortage of staff from zero accommodation available. We have much to do!

L-R: Queensland Tourism Industry night; The Mobi Mat launch; ANZAC Day commemorations

From the Chamber and Beyond

Due to the school holidays, there were no parliamentary sittings this month. This was welcomed to catch up on a back log of work and to get our advocacies to Ministers on priorities for funding consideration. As always, there are a number of upcoming Bills (10), including the Public Trustee amendments, to investigate.

My Legal Affairs and Safety Committee had numerous meetings and hearings, including the inquiry for the Personal Injuries Bill which includes amendments to those already made in 2019 for people with a terminal diagnosis. In addition, the inquiry into Matters Relating to Donor Conception Information was launched, with submissions now closed and the public hearing expected in the middle of May.

As always links to upcoming Bills and Legislation, including where they have been allocated to a Committee, can be found here.

You can also view all my parliament speeches via my website.

From the Inbox

This month we had our final Housing Action Group meeting before we transition into Noosa Council’s Noosa Housing Roundtable as part of the soon-to-be-released ‘Housing Strategy’????. There is still much to be achieved and I thank all who have worked with us over the last year, including Mayor Clare and representatives from Noosa Council, YouTurn, Coast2Bay Housing, Department of Housing and Bendigo Community Bank, to identify and address some of the contributors to what is an ongoing emergency. We look forward to the release of the strategy in the coming days.

Cooloola Great Walk continues to be contentious, and it was really appreciated to attend the Cootharaba Association AGM, where we went overtime to ensure that everyone had time to ask questions and voice any further concerns. With only a small portion of the ‘walk’ in our electorate, most of the queries remain on the Poona and Double Island drafted sites, and I shared again that my meeting with the Minister was reassuring that these would also be addressed.

For any new or outstanding queries regarding process or legislation, please email these through, though check Noosa 360 first as, after 2 years of questions, most have already been answered several times over! This includes that we do not have access to the finer details regarding the partnership between our Kabi and state government, as that is considered ‘commercial in confidence’, and it is the listed ‘claimants’ on the Native Title Claim whom government must liaise with, as per the Native Title Act 1993.????????

It has been exciting to see nominations for our annual Noosa Electorate Queensland Day Awards coming in! Every year we acknowledge those who go ‘above and beyond’ in volunteering and providing pro-bono services to our community, so please give thanks to our local legends by contacting the not-for-profit organisation that they are associated with to get their nomination in! This year we are linking up with Cooroy RSL and Noosa Today. For more information, click here. Nominations close 15 May 2022, so be quick!

We’ve also had many residents contacting us with innovative ideas and projects for our Seeds for Change Funding Program. With both minor grants, as well expressions of interest open for the major $10,000 grant, these are for not-for-profit organisations with a ‘changemaker’ project that addresses any major community issue through partnerships, as we achieved with the Mobi Mat ????. For more information on both please visit my website. Submissions close 31 May 2022.

For updates on all major Noosa issues, including Short Term Accommodation, Kin Kin Road and the Glossy Black’s, please head to Noosa 360 and simply type the topic into the search bar.

L-R: Celebrating YouTurn’s Tiny Homes; Sharing lamingtons at Noosa Arts Theatre; Tricia Bradford

On the Homefront

ANZAC Day is always extremely moving, giving opportunity to reflect, thank and commemorate those who have served and continue to serve our country❤???? This year marked 80 years since the Banka Island Massacre, where 22 Australian Army nurses and 60 wounded Australian and British soldiers tragically lost their lives on the shores of east Sumatra after initially surviving days in the ocean when their hospital ship was bombed. These horrific stories bring us back to the realities of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we take for granted today. From a tearful Cooroy Dawn Service????, to the Gunfire Breakfast, then to the Tewantin Parade and Service where streets turned into a rainbow of remembrance, and finally catching up with many friends at the Diggers lunch – a day of deep sorrow and gratitude. Thank you to Cooroy Pomona RSL Sub Branch, Tewantin Noosa RSL Sub Branch, guest speakers, agencies and volunteer organisations, parade participants, wreath layers, singers and bands, and to all who lit up the dawn. And our eternal gratitude to our past and current service men and women, and their families. Lest We Forget ????

Noosa was host of the Queensland Judo State Championships for the first time in its history, and I had the honour of opening the event and stayed to watch some of the ‘littlies’ compete! Over 240 athletes travelled from across all the state to take part, as well their families, supporters and club associates. It was a wonderful way to showcase an often-overlooked sport that encourages participation from everyone – all genders, abilities and ages.

We were finally able to officially launch the Mobi-Mat on Noosa Main Beach after it has been test-run with much happiness by thousands! Thank you again to all who helped us make this a reality including Libby Doherty and Daisy, Tewantin Noosa Lions Club, Noosa Council, Surf Life Saving Noosa, Seahorse Nippers, the Mawby’s and Councillor Amelia Lorentson. And it was wonderful to see Anne-Marie test running aquatic wheelchairs in the surf, such a gift.

At YouTurn’s ‘thank you’ event we finally met the first of our highly-anticipated tiny homes which are just gorgeous – Shoey and I are all packed and ready to move in! ???????? These two transitional homes for our youth will be located next to Tait Duke Cottage Community Support Centre at Earl Street. Deep gratitude to all who made this possible, including those who contributed to raising the funds needed and who, for 5 years, never gave up in their advocacies.

The Mobile office aka ‘MP Moby’ headed to Tewantin, Boreen Point and Kin Kin. As I hobbled on streets or amongst the fabulous KK market, the energy everywhere was magical with businesses bursting with visitors and locals enjoying the long weekends! Thank you to all who came to share and for the unexpected generosity, including an awesome coffee-to-go and other goodies ????. Even though 90% of what was brought to us was local or federal government related, we were able to provide the appropriate contacts, or in one case, send photos through to Council of a particular issue. It was also a wonderful opportunity to take our newer staff, Katie and Kim, on a ‘famil’ to see a couple of frustrating and dangerous issues, including the damage on Kin Kin Road.

There was so much more! Thank you to all that invited me to their events, and it was wonderful ‘time out’ to get to the new Surf Museum, Noosa Arts Theatre’s production of Australia Day, the unofficial ‘official’ opening of new seafood hub Notch Noosa ????, Tourism Queensland’s industry event, the Noosa Surf Club Sponsors breakfast and the Friends of Noosa Alive evening.

L-R: New friends, 2 and 4 legged, made at our Mobile Offices – Tewantin, Boreen Point and Kin Kin

Grants and Reminders

Parliamentary Speeches

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

Have Your Say

For a complete list of Queensland State Government Consultations, including on Incident and Disaster Warnings in Queensland, head to Get involved

Mobile Office

POMONA & COORAN – Saturday, June 18th Mountain Stop Cafe 8:15am – 9:15am; Cooran General Store 9:45am – 10:45am

NOOSAVILLE – Saturday, July 22nd Gympie Terrace 8:15am

PEREGIAN BEACH – Sunday, August 21st Peregian Beach Markets 8:15am

L-R: With our QPS and QPWS teams for Easter; QLD State Judo Championships; Friends of Noosa Alive!

Office Reminders

Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday, except during public holidays or lockdowns.  For community organisations we have the photocopier, marquees, and trailer available at no charge for your use ????

Connect

With so much to share, stay up to date via  Noosa 360, Facebook page updates or our monthly newsletters. Columns are in Noosa Today, Coolum Advertiser, Cooroy Rag, Your Local Lifestyle and Eastern Beaches News.

And Finally….

This month in my Noosa Today column I will tackle another gremlin – ‘engagement’; whether that be with each other, as part of the various levels of government in community feedback to bills, or the importance of responding via Facebook. It is the one aspect of our world we need to grapple with and improve upon, as the low percentage of residents that engage when needed, including in annual surveys, may be ‘acceptable’ in relation to statistical norms however is way below what it should be!

The question is – how do we affect positive change if we are not engaged? And how do we encourage more to jump onboard and have their say on many ongoing debates on and off-line, whether that be in relation to shark nets, land usage or sharing of spaces? ????‍♀️

Speaking of sharing spaces, it is an honour to now have a stunning portrait of the incredible Tricia aka Trish Bradford by Helen Lawson greeting everyone who enters our office. ???? Trish had no problem in engaging on many issues via her creativity, and she now keeps an eye on us to ensure we continue her works to embed colour, passion, love and energy into our community. As well a gentle nudge to all to be the change you wish to see as she did in her life. Yes, she definitely is a ‘guiding star’ as the portrait is so aptly named. ????

Blessings to all and I am loving these cooler moments!

Sandy ????