A massive ‘Happy New Year’ to all fellow Noosans, I trust you enjoyed the holiday season which had both the ‘fabulous’ and sadly some ‘not so fabulous?  From festive Christmas events to New Year celebrations, our community spirit has filled me with excitement, and with the last newsletter penned early to allow for printing and delivery to all households with our annual Connect, we just had to share some of the Christmas joy experienced! On Christmas Day, I hosted a community lunch alongside the wonderful Jude from Making Lives Matter and Noosa Chef Tony Crossin, which was magic. Thank you to all who volunteered and shared this day including furry friends, and to the Salvation Army who donated not only the venue, but lots of goodies! Next year we will start preparations earlier and look at options including an Elf Picnic?!

Santa’s Classy Helpers each year is an occasion I always love and look forward to, now going on a decade!! A true demonstration of our amazing community with over 1000 of our children each year provided with new clothing and gifts, and trolley loads of groceries and household goodies for their families. This from the efforts of the phenomenal Lorraine from Noosa’s Classy Lady and her fabulous band of volunteers and supporters, which ensures anyone experiencing hardship can enjoy a better Christmas. Thank you all!

However, with the highs there are also lows such as traffic congestion, poor behaviours on New Year’s Eve and youth crime which I wrote about in Noosa Today 20 January and have a posted on Noosa 360. In this I shared complexities gleaned during public hearings on high numbers of repeat youth offenders at Townsville, Mt Isa, and the Gold Coast, as well proposed extra options for the courts including relocation sentencing to ensure community safety.

Thank you to all who participated in this year’s annual Noosa MP Survey which saw the highest number of responses ever! A summary will be available at www.sandybolton.com/your-say-annual-survey later this week. The MSQ Noosa River Future Management consultation has also wrapped up and we are looking forward to seeing the outcomes in April, as well the results from the Teewah visitor compacity survey due mid-February and the full route assessment on Kin Kin Road and the Kin Kin court case. We also have community consultation coming up on the Cooloola National Park Plan projected for mid-year and the Teewah Airstrip towards the end of the year.

L-R: Beautiful Vollies @ MP Christmas Lunch; Tewantin Bypass Stage 1 Completed! Xmas Visits  

From the Chamber and Beyond

Whilst everyone enjoyed a reprieve from Parliament, my Legal Affairs and Safety Committee (LASC) continued to work including on the current Birth Deaths and Marriages Bill. As posted, I encourage all to complete a quick survey as to your thoughts on this Bill which allows Queenslanders to change their sex on their birth certificate to align with their lived identity at www.surveymonkey.com/r/V8YK2V3

The LAS inquiry into the Building Units and Group Titles Bill saw issues extended way beyond the scope of the Bill. As such I reiterated the concerns from our community in my Statement of Reservation and was reassured by the Attorney Generals comments that the Community Titles Legislation Working Group will address these going forward. In a Private Members’ Statement, I raised that sustainability must be affordable. Exampled is where this is not happening with the proposed new Australian Standard for onsite sewage treatment plants being made mandatory under Queensland’s Plumbing and Drainage Act which will implement a minimum eight-person capacity for an onsite domestic wastewater treatment system. This makes no sense in an era where households are growing smaller including granny flats and tiny homes that are being utilised to address our housing crisis. Then we have environmental upgrade agreements, or EUAs. We have been seeking these for both commercial and residential buildings since 2019 as they are an affordable way to install solar panels. The government has announced that EUAs are coming for commercial businesses which will reduce their carbon emissions, however, with half of our homes being without solar panels, why would these be left out?

Many events were held during the final sessions of Parliament including QLD Futures Conversations where key takeouts included the success of the development of the Butterfly Project for Women and how we need to move beyond our negative language and labelling when working towards solutions. Data shows it costs taxpayers over $13,000 more per person per year when someone becomes homeless, confirming what has been well known for many years. We now have a Social and Affordable Housing Tool for government and community housing providers, which moves from a cost-based approach to benefits based where housing is not just an asset, it is essential social infrastructure, and a basic human right. Furthermore, on the subject of housing, the  Summit outcomes report has been released and as posted on Noosa 360, includes that Government is reviewing the economic impacts of short-term rental accommodation, however outcomes of that review are not yet available. We have requested further information including timelines and will provide an update when the information is received. Coming up is an announcement regarding housing for our domestic violence families, however I still have to be ‘shhhhhhh’!

L-R: Santa’s Classy Helpers; Sconetime @ Cooroy; Citizenship Ceremony 2023 @ the J

The Ombudsman does vital work ensuring the public service operates effectively for Queenslanders, and with last year being their 20th anniversary, they have collated findings of the review of files from over the 2 decades. Again, in a Committee speech, I took opportunity to raise the importance of empowering Parliamentary Committees in their oversight role to initiate investigations of integrity bodies in line with recommendations from the Coaldrake Report. As well, for a review of the Committee system which as a ‘de facto’ Upper House, needs to be efficient, transparent, and not have a government chair with a casting vote! Currently I am waiting on my latest request to the Committee of the Legislative Assembly on when a fairer system for QLD will become a reality.

Speaking of ‘fair’ systems, another example of ‘unfair’ is the ‘guillotine’ which prevents MP’s from speaking in their allotted spot. This led to my being unable to deliver my speech on the Animal Care Amendment Bill, resulting in my posting to Facebook and our website instead. Being extremely supportive of the improvements the Bill made to safeguard retired racehorses, I was disappointed that there were not recommendations for further consultation on prong collars; omissions regarding calf roping (though there is a new code of practice), and 1080 baiting. Even though not in the scope of the Bill, I included the welfare of battery hens and the need to reduce the time for banning as 2036 is too far away.

It is always an honour to do the end of year Valedictory speech, or yearly ‘wrap up’ on behalf of the crossbench, though never easy! Made up of 3 political parties plus yours truly, the diversity is extensive, as is the size of the 7 electorates represented which combined makes up 28% of the 1.28m sq km that is QLD! For now, 5 years plus, we have managed to debate our differences respectfully, and just wish this could apply to the rest of Chamber?

From the Inbox

Youth crime continues to dominate the headlines and emails into the inbox. With changes to be debated in Parliament shortly, the biggest question for MPs to consider is whether proposed changes will be ‘enough’. The devil is in the detail, and we look forward to the Bill being introduced to see what is proposed. It was good to meet with our new Officer in Charge of Noosa Police Station Anthony, Acting Inspector Mick, Mayor Clare and Noosa CEO Scott regarding how we mitigate a repeat of the appalling behaviours by a disrespectful cohort of youngsters from Brisbane. To address, a ‘zero tolerance’ approach will be enforced, and I ask any parent who is unaware of where their youngsters are New Year’s Eve or at any time late at night, make sure they know!

Yes, the North Shore, and some who seem to believe it is okay to treat it as a racetrack? The Teewah Cooloola Working Group (TCWG) met before the holiday break, with the Department of Environment & Science briefing us on the processes following the Cooloola Visitor Capacity Study. We are all now awaiting their target of mid-February for an action plan and timeline to address this situation through proposed changes to the management of this area and its visitor numbers. The TCWG includes representatives from two Councils and two State Electorates that share the Cooloola region, together with QLD Parks and Wildlife officers as well as other stakeholders including Kabi Kabi. We will provide further updates as more information is available, including dates for community consultation. Yes, this has been a long journey, however we are getting closer to realising much better outcomes.

Thank you for everyone’s patience with multiple infrastructure projects underway to create greater safety including the Six Mile Bridge #7 replacement and the endless efforts to patch up the impacts from heavy haulage. We are still awaiting outcomes from the court case and full route assessment of Kin Kin Road undertaken in 2022 delayed due to being peer reviewed by an independent expert, and yes, my patience is tested as sorely as others! These outcomes will give TMR the blueprint necessary to undertake the works needed to see an end to the ‘patching’/‘holding treatments’. As well, the official opening of Stage 1 of the Tewantin Bypass at the Cooroy-Noosa and Beckmans Rds intersection which will feed into further stages. Currently we are awaiting the business case for these and have already been advocating well in advance for the funding for detailed designs once this ‘case’ is released.

L-R: TCWG meeting; Tourism Noosa Xmas; Meeting with New Noosa Officer in Charge Anthony

On the Homefront

Where to begin?  From the Combined Noosa Business Associations and Tourism Noosa celebrations, to drop ins. Again, our fabulous Noosa ‘biz’ have met the challenges of the year head on, with lack of staff due to no accommodations still predominating, demonstrating resilience and true grit, in amongst the many awards received!

It was fantastic to attend the opening of a Sunny Street Clinic that resulted from a partnership with Waves of Kindness and is the first of its kind in Queensland! Located at the WOK site, 25 Production Street, Noosaville, the service will provide access to health services and counselling for residents experiencing vulnerability. Fabulous people doing fabulous things and demonstrating that by asking ‘how we can’ versus ‘why we can’t’ is ‘how we do’!!

Catching up with the Sunshine Butterflies team is always a joy! They have many new initiatives including playgroup and fab construction (what a barn!) with more scheduled for 2023. Thank you to the Cooking School members for sharing their superb festive creations made from produce grown on the property. I did lick my plate clean!

It was an honour to assist in cutting the ribbon on Noosa Care’s new 32-bed memory support unit at Carramar, providing a secure, safe, beautiful place including sensory gardens and some very gorgeous chickens for those living with dementia. And to catch up with volunteers and staff including Leonie who has been caring for our loved ones at the centre for 26 years.

As always, a special time is with our matriarchs and patriarchs at residential care homes. Even though COVID had prevented parties, a special treat was a snuggle with 4 legged buds from Positive Pathway Lifeskills who were visiting Carramar on a secret Reindeer Mission, with one of their gorgeous ponies extremely interested in the snowman!

Many, many, meetings were had with advocates! This included Q Shelter regarding how we can utilise the 2032 Olympics to the betterment of creating affordable housing, and Lee from Coast2Bay Housing Group in preparation for an imminent announcement. As well, Viv and Geoff from Zero Emissions Noosa, who are now in full advocacy mode to ensure Noosa is included in Federal Funding for a trial of community batteries, Narelle of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council and Jen from the QLD Environmental council regarding my efforts for an Independent Environmental Protection Agency for QLD. This is vital to assist with  challenges in our community including the inappropriate volume of heavy haulage devastating our villages. With every state in Australia having EPA’s, it is time for Queensland to not only have one, but we also need an effective one. I thank the 38 organisations across QLD who have banded together in a submission to Government on the importance of ensuring this entity is independent as I have spoken about in Parliament.

L-R: Sunshine Butterflies visit; ‘High Five’ with Lee from Coast2Bay; Parkyn’s Hut Xmas Party

Grants and Reminders

More upcoming grants:

For further State Government grant opportunities see the QLD Government Grant Finder or Grants Guru.

Parliamentary Speeches and Questions

Recent Questions on Notice (QON’s) can be found at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Questions-on-Notice-and-Answers. and latest speeches at www.sandybolton.com/parliament/speeches

Upcoming Mobile Offices

KIN KIN – Sun 5th February 7.30am to 8.30am

Have Your Say

For a complete list of Queensland State Government Consultations, including on Incident and Disaster Warnings in Queensland, head to www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi

New submission periods are always opening for bills going through parliament committees so to hear firsthand and to receive other updates, you can subscribe at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Visit-and-learn/Have-Your-Say/Subscribe

Office Reminders

Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday, except during public holidays.  For community organisations we have the photocopier, marquees, and trailer available at no charge for your use, simply phone and book on 5319 3100

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, Forest star and Eastern Beaches News.

L-R Waves of Kindness Xmas; Sunny Street clinic opening; Calvary Care market day

And finally….

As we head into what Government has termed ‘Path to Treaty’, I have learnt much. Not only from the volume of misinformation that emanates when the various levels of government involved in reconciliation efforts do not articulate clearly what is involved, from what I have seen and experienced in relation to the Cooloola Great Walk. This includes the conflict between our First Nations people regarding who from the recognised families should represent them in Native Title negotiations and Indigenous Land Use Agreements, all the way to the difference between matriarchal and patriarchal lineages.

Ultimately ‘Path to Treaty’ is about truth telling, sharing stories and how government can best facilitate and support this. Finding common ground and dealing with conflicting views is something faced by indigenous and non-indigenous alike, though we may each have different approaches or cultural challenges to consider. Government needs to be open to hearing of any policies, processes or politics that may pose difficulties for the cultural outcomes of our fellow Australians and in turn, issues need to be clearly articulated by those impacted.

This is an important discussion for us all, and this may be a topic for an upcoming Noosa Today column. Until then, we need to remember something that is so important for our future; anything that brings us together is a positive, including those tough, at times painful conversations. Not easy, however, essential if this ‘path’ is to lead to the togetherness sought.

There is no doubt we all look forward to the day that all Australians can truly be ‘one mob’ in all ways. A time when no one should ever be made to feel guilty about celebrating being an Australian on a day dedicated to just that. As one beautiful youngster said on Australia Day, just change the celebrations to the last Friday in January, or any month, so that we can move beyond the narrative that casts a shadow on the amazing country we live in, with the most beautiful of people from all parts of the world. The wisdom of our youth in its simplicity, as who would not welcome another long weekend rather than a disruptive public holiday mid-week – something to consider?

Even though we have sweated through the last few days, may we enjoy the last month of summer and the incredible sunsets we have all been taking photos of! We live in paradise and should never forget how blessed we are.

P.S. I hope my ‘grandyspam’ and ‘roadyspam’ on my personal page during the break was not too much for everyone? You know I love to share.

Welcome to 2023 everyone! Together WE CAN!!

Sandy