$3.8 million of State funding to Noosa Council
A great outcome, as part of our efforts for greater accessibility, this funding is for two projects including an enhancement to the Cooroy Sports Complex, and wayfinding signage and cycle street for pedestrians and cyclists, linking to the Sunshine Coastal Pathway at Peregian Beach. I am sure everyone is looking forward to even more links!
Cooroy overpass to be fully resurfaced starting mid-September
Even though outside of the Noosa Electorate, our advocacy has continued to see resident concerns regarding the state-controlled Cooroy intersections and overpass addressed. As reported, following the pavement works late last year that didn’t meet community expectations, we provided feedback to Transport and Main Roads (TMR). In response, they announced a complete resurfacing of a 1.3 kilometre stretch of Cooroy Connection Road (Myall Street), incorporating the overpass and both approaches to the bridge, and including pavement rehabilitation, new line-marking, shoulder widening, and additional guard rails. The works will begin mid-September and even though this is good news, we still need TMR to re-engage with the community on longer term upgrade options for the Myall and Elm Street as well the Elm and Diamond St intersections.
L-R: Beautiful moments and people during the Cooran Mobile Office aka ‘Moby’; Our Noosa Coastguard QF5
State funding for Sunshine Butterflies
It has been 10 years since I first heard the magic of the ‘Flying High’ song, the theme song for Sunshine Butterflies, and I still love it! It was another heartwarming moment to be at the official unveiling of their new commercial kitchen and pantry made possible by State & Federal Government funding, as well philanthropists. Leanne and the Sunshine Butterflies team, Board and members continue to inspire, with our school youngsters and ‘mums n bubs’ enjoying play dates each week, and expanded employment and volunteer opportunities. Beautiful!
Noosa now has a local digital PET/CT
Congratulations to Dr McMenamin and the Noosa Radiology team on their new Digital PET/CT, which will provide a complete range of imaging and services all in one spot. In addition, earlier detection of certain cancers, and precision monitoring of existing. Thank you to all fellow attendees including Dr Spall who looked after my own Mum for many years and to all of our amazing health professionals. As one attendee of the celebration said, we are blessed in Noosa to have world class facilities, and so many renowned specialists living and working among us!
L-R: At the Kabara Q&A; With new ‘Aussies’ at the Citizenship Ceremony; The Bendigo local economic forum; At the emergency services workshop; With the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club
New State funded vessel for Noosa Coast Guard, and drones for our State Emergency Service (SES)
Following advocacy that resulted in the Bluewater review, the State funded Vessel Replacement Program is set to provide a new boat to our wonderful QF5 Coast Guard in January. This comes at the same time as the transition to a single integrated state-wide organisation called Marine Rescue Queensland. Congratulations to all and Commander Lindsay Hall for joining for an update! In addition, the North Coast SES region will be allocated new drones over the next financial year to assist in supporting ground crews during and after disaster events. Now we just need some extra ones or our police!
New Cooroy Police Station opens
This, to ensure the delivery of modern, mobile and flexible policing services with allowance for future growth, is now fully operational, with a design that fits in with the feel of Cooroy. The station will be supported by neighbouring divisions and other district resources including Highway Patrol, Tactical Crime Squad, Dog Squad, Criminal Investigation Branch and Child Protection Investigation Branch. Our police work incredibly hard day and night, seven days a week and we need to ensure they are supported with the resources and facilities that responds to demand. Special mention to OIC Mal Scott who after serving us incredibly for 27 years, will be sorely missed in retirement!
L-R: Meeting with the Screen Collective; Noosa Radiology Opening; @ the Tursa Community Morning Tea; OIC Mal Scott
Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS)
From 1 August, Queenslanders travelling to access healthcare under the PTSS won’t have to pay for accommodation, in full, thanks to the removal of the four-night rule. Information is available at www.qld.gov.au/health/services/travel/subsidies.
HOT TOPICS
Kin Kin Quarry Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) application
Thank you to Save Noosa Hinterland for their petition urging the Federal Government to decline the EPBC application for expansion of the Kin Kin Quarry. The response to our submission to the Federal Environment Minister and our previous updates regarding are available at www.sandybolton.com/?s=Kin+kin. You may also wish to contact our Federal Member of Parliament (MP) Llew O’Brien via llew.obrien.mp@aph.gov.au and Federal Minister Tanya Plibersek via Minister.Plibersek@dcceew.gov.au.
Teewah Cooloola Recreation Area Management Plan
In response to some community questions and confusion regarding the Teewah Cooloola Working Group and submissions, please see our latest update on Noosa 360 (sandybolton.com/noosa360). This also includes details on our own submission!
Noosa River Management
Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) has updated their webpage at www.msq.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-and-stories/noosa-river-anchoring-restrictions to include FAQs on the anchoring restrictions on Noosa River. As of writing in August, we have nearly completed our investigations into claims that what is being rolled out is not in line with the recommendations from the Noosa River Advisory Committee and ensuing community consultation.
FROM THE CHAMBER AND BEYOND
Rural Fire Service concerns remain
There are remaining fears regarding the Disaster Management Bill that need to be addressed to avoid alienating our Rural Fire Service (RFS) volunteers across Queensland, their families and communities. These include the need for an independent Commissioner for the RFS, and a separate quarantined budget. Additionally, local control and decision making remain with the RFS officers and crew when on the ground fighting bush fires. Noosa has incredible volunteers in emergency responses, and I send my gratitude to everyone from our rural fireys and SES through to our Coast Guard, and will continue as I did during Estimates to monitor whether these fears will be realised.
L-R: Getting the ‘goss’ during the Noosa industrial Moby, rain and all!
ON THE HOMEFRONT
Noosa Community Support Morning Tea
Such awesome people all in one place! Thank you to Tracey and the Tursa Employment and Training team for organising a morning tea to further partnerships, share knowledge and resources. It was lovely to catch up with everyone including Kate from Pomona & District Community House, Michael who is the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort Chaplain, Mathew and Leah from WeDoo Care, Arthur and Rachael from Noosa Community Training Centre, Tess from SunnyKids and so many more! Emergency and support contacts are at www.sandybolton.com/keycontacts.
Lunch with our pioneering families
To know where we are going, we must know our heritage and our pioneering families who have helped create the home we love so much! We learnt so much through stories shared by the attendees and everyone took a moment to remember those who have passed on. Huge ‘thank you’ to Gail and the Tewantin Heritage & Historical Society, the Parkyn’s Hut crew and all who made this favourite annual possible. Gratitude to fellow speakers including Ron, Lola, Rosslyn, Jane, Bruce, Joan, Daphne, Ian, Marion, Linda, Laurie and Trevor, who shared what we are unaware of!
Pink Stumps Day 2024
The sun shone and the cricket competition was super-hot between Kin Kin and Noosa Council! Now a decade old, this fabulous annual fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation to support our residents, both guys and gals with breast cancer, saw plenty of hijinks, questionable calls by an umpire (yours truly) and an inspirational warm up session for the teams! Gratitude to Anita Poteri and all who worked so hard to host and who played, cheered and enjoyed chilling under the trees. In addition, to my fellow umpire Shane, and to the best commentators ever!!
L-R: Kin Kin Pink Stumps Day 2024; Such a fabulous time with our Noosa pioneering families
Cooran Cutters final home game & fifty years of the Noosa Pirates
It was great to watch the Cooran Cutters ‘under 10s’ and ‘11s’ in the beautiful winter sun and I could not stop myself cheering like their parents and grandparents! August also marked fifty years since the first Noosa Pirates match, an amalgamation between the Noosa Reef and Cooroy Hotel teams! Such a rich history reaching back to the seventies, showcased in the great doco by Robert Burgin, celebrated by an awesome birthday party made special by seeing those that I have known, and loved for 30 years since my own kids played, including their mates. Thank you!
Bendigo Economic Forecast Breakfast
It is always good to attend this alongside our Noosa businesses, hosted by David ‘Robbo’ Robinson who as Chief Economist for our Community Banks makes a ‘dry’ topic always digestible! Our local Bendigo branches give eighty percent of their profits back to the community, with the benefits demonstrated by major projects such as ‘RISE2’ housing for families impacted by Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and seventy organisations including Noosa Arts Theatre, Noosa FM, our Coast Guard, Noosa Jazz Club, the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A key takeout from Robbo’s presentation? That Oz and Queensland indicators show our productivity is lagging, and that neither of the major parties have done what is needed in line with recommendations from the Productivity Commission, including that of education which we have been raising. Thank you to the Bendigo Bank team, and to Robbo for the good, and not so good news!
L-R: Sunshine Butterflies Pantry Unveil; ANZAC memorial seat @ Pomona; the Cooran Cutters’ final home game
State Disaster Management Plan Workshop
Representatives of our local frontline services gathered together at ‘The J’ as part of reviewing and renewal of the 2018 State Disaster Management Plan. This was the first of many workshops being held across the state with further consultation to be undertaken. Thank you to the Queensland Police Service (QPS) for the presentation, and to all who brought their invaluable knowledge to this essential work in efforts to keep our communities safe.
Sunny Coast Showdown
This was absolutely brilliant and bursting with our super Noosa talent! So many ‘must have’ discussions of our aspirations in sharing knowledge, enhancing our incredible world, and embedding creativity in all that we do. Special shout out to Jon Coghill, Bill Missett, Emma and Dani Thomlinson, MC John Caruso, Kim and Margaret Ingles, Janneke Williamson, Andrew, Liz and the Noosa Alive team, and to Andrea Kirwin for setting the awesome vibe. In addition, the amazing Sunshine Coast Screen Collective, who met with me afterward to discuss all things film!
Scone Time
To put on an apron and run riot with Martin Duncan and the sensational volunteers including from Cooroy State School and Noosa District State High School to serve renowned scones, tea and love for our awesome matriarchs and patriarchs was such a joy! Our beautiful Matilda shared her incredible talent, with the Katie Rose Op Shop’s fashion show a sell out! Deep gratitude to all as to catch up with much loved buds including Joyce is so deeply appreciated, as well to give and
receive hugs, which I always treasure.
Noosa’s Citizenship Ceremony
These ceremonies always brings tears, when we see our newest Noosa ‘Aussies’ take their pledge. Thank you to all who continue to add to our beautiful ‘tapestry’, that is the Noosa family, to the Noosa Council team for organising, and to fellow speakers as this is always a wonderful celebration of appreciation, warmth, love and laughter.
L-R: So many trips down memory lane at the Noosa Pirates 50th birthday celebrations!
New ANZAC Memorial Seat for Pomona
The unique design of this beautiful seat, reflecting loved faces of the past, is positioned near the Rotunda War Memorial and is a truly wonderful spot to reflect, and share our own stories of love, loss and hope. Special thanks to Heather Manders, Brian O’Connor and the Cooroy Pomona Lions Club, who were instrumental in obtaining funding through the federal ‘Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants’ Program. Lest we forget.
Mobile Offices aka Moby’s, ‘Drop Ins’ and Meetings
Our ‘mobys’ this month took us to Cooran and Noosa’s industrial areas. To speak with our innovators and a journey on the Noosa Country Drive, through our unique and very beautiful villages, is always a joy. Blessings to all, from our ‘biz’ who were super busy, to locals we saw on the streetside. All superb! The Noosa MP Q&A sessions were also a delight, this month at Arcare Noosa and Kabara Cooroy where the love and hugs were in abundance, as well updates on State matters such as crime, our Noosa River, the Tewantin Bypass and more.
L-R: Noosa Yachtie Sausage Sizzle; New Cooroy Police Station Opening; At ‘Scone Time’; Jacqueline from RDA
Meetings included with Regional Development Australia, the Lung Foundation and industry leaders from transport, shipping, agriculture and construction sectors to discuss energy. We also had ‘DV Safe Phone’ drop by our office to collect resident donations, which after renewing, is provided to police so they can distribute to those who need it most. Please consider donating any old phones to our office at Noosa Civic, as well ‘Hope in a Suitcase’ donations.
AND FINALLY….
This month has brought reflection in amongst a very large workload! The passing of my own Mum, as well Shoey’s within a month of each other, highlighted what is
important, including the resilience, connectiveness and unconditional love passed to us. We are the sum of those who inspire us to do better, and as always, a massive thankyou to all in our community including my staff and volunteers pictured with me who do exactly that. You are all deeply appreciated every day in every way.
Please know that we are all here if you ever need help with a State Government matter on either 5319 3100 or via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.
Until next month.
𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮
𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙖
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘢. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦
For Emergencies, head to www.sandybolton.com/keycontacts where a comprehensive list of contacts numbers is available to assist.
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