Funding and Traineeships
Catching up with recent recipients of our Noosa MP grants including Rise & Thrive, Noosa Landcare, Noosa FM, and Patches of Cooroy was both a joy and educational! We learnt of intensive trauma intervention, prevention, and recovery programs for both youth and adults, and how defibrillators are not only lifesaving but that they also emit a very loud alarm when you open the cabinet as I found out! Congratulations as well to those who received state funding this month, including over thirty local sporting groups, as well the Solutions Network and Noosa Landcare who have been successful again in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program. This is testimony of how to effect change and create jobs through traineeships for our young Noosans, and the extra staff needed in Noosa!
L-R: Mobile office moments at Noosa Marina, Hilton Terrace & in Tewantin
GenesisCare clinic now open
From meeting with the team when they were concepting, to a site visit during construction, then cutting the ribbon, I saw the enormous efforts, learnt much, and met some incredibly dedicated people. Accessibility is everything especially when undergoing treatments daily for weeks, and this Goodchap Street location will integrate with existing radiology and healthcare services, including cancer care delivered at Noosa Hospital. It was wonderful to hear firsthand from fellow Noosans about their experiences, and of those who have hit the ‘gong’ after completing their treatment before placing their name on the tree of life. Thank you to all who made this possible.
L-R: GenesisCare Opening on Goodchap St
More police, better allocation modelling, new station
During the 2023 Estimates Hearings, we queried how adequate police numbers are determined for a region given the increase we have had in domestic and family violence and mental health callouts since COVID. The Commissioner stated in response at the time that they take into account ‘hidden demand’ however, since then, the Queensland Audit Office has conducted a performance audit report called ‘Deploying police resources’. This found this was incorrect and reforms are now being undertaken, as relayed in my questioning during the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee 2024 Estimates Hearing, to develop better modelling.
As reported previously ninety-eight additional police officers have been allocated for the Sunshine Coast, and we have requested the amount for Noosa as well as their projected timeline. Further information is available at www.sandybolton.com/police-recruitment-numbers-and-general-update-july-2024 . In addition, the first youth co-responder team for Sunshine Coast is also in process, and work on the Maroochydore Courthouse to provide improved services for those impacted by Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) is underway, as well more. Even though outside the Noosa State Electorate, our residents will also be serviced by the new Cooroy Police Station, and we are looking forward to the opening. The ‘old’ station is still manned, fully operational and Cooroy police officers work night and day shifts seven days a week, as there has been some misinformation on social media.
L-R: Noosa MP funded Rise & Thrive projector, Landcare volunteer kitchen & Defib @ Cooroy CWA Hall
HOT TOPICS
Wildlife strikes on Yurol Forest Drive
With three koalas sadly hit on the hundred-kilometre zone of Yurol Forest Drive, we welcomed Transport and Main Roads (TMR)’s swift response in placing flashing ‘Watch out for Koalas’ signs on Yurol Forest Drive, McKinnon Drive as well as Cooroy Noosa Road. We are grateful to our wildlife rescuers and all who stop to assist our furry buds. We can confirm that the process has commenced for a speed review of Yurol Forest Drive, which includes obtaining feedback from Noosa Council and local police and we will update shortly including on strike mitigations we have urgently requested. For anyone wishing to also email TMR direct regarding, you can do so via northcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au. A resource for your emails and one that we use is our Noosa MP funded wildlife study, available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-funded-study-to-protect-our-wildlife-update-january-2024.
L-R: Red Cross AGM 2024
Noosa river management
With a ‘no anchoring zone’ 60m from the southern shoreline commencing on the 15th of July as part of new river management and greater safety there has been some confusion around access, including the trial exemption for vessels under 5m to access shops and recreational activities. We collated and provided issues to Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) for clarifications including around the hitching poles/transit areas with a response expected shortly. This we will update via ‘Noosa 360’ where information obtained so far and requested links to related legislation is also located, as well as FAQS provided by MSQ. Amongst the confusion online was also misinformation that I was involved in Noosa Council’s Conservation Park concept, which is completely incorrect, and we have posted the facts to www.sandybolton.com/noosa-river-management-update-2-july-2024. Must be an election coming up methinks!
Tewantin Bypass/ Beckmans Road
As mentioned last newsletter, we are currently awaiting the response from TMR Minister Bart Mellish to our calls to fast-track detailed designs of the next stages of the Tewantin Bypass regardless of whether the delays were on State’s or Noosa Council’s end. When we had party MPs, with their respective parties holding government during their terms, they did not deliver historical projects such as the Tewantin Bypass and Six Mile Bridge #7, and I will not stop fighting until all stages are completed no matter who is in Government, or the reasons for delays.
ON THE HOMEFRONT
Noosa North Shore Ferry change over
The gathering to farewell our old ferries and their owners for twenty-five years Cliffy, Pam and June, and welcome the new ones, saw a sharing of photos and stories through the years. With some disgruntlement due to price increases and the ‘trainer wheels’ on for our ferry drivers, please be patient. For any operational issues the appropriate contact is firstly Entrada via info@noosa-northshoreferries.com.au or if regarding pricing it is Noosa Council as even though I would love to have influence on everything, I do not!
L-R: New Ferry; Noosa North Shore (NS) Farewell/Welcome; A much earlier ferry!
Red Cross AGM 2024 and Queensland Day Award ‘catchups’
We madly dashed to join our lovely red cross volunteers for their annual general meeting, and to give hugs to awardees! We have such a beautiful, interconnected family here in Noosa, showcased by our Queensland Day Awards last month. With some including Phil Moran, Louise Tully, Carol Johnston, Peter Bold and Beryl Rowan unable to attend the ceremony, we invited them for an ‘in office’ celebration and congratulatory hug! Thank you to our selfless residents for what you do as a vital part of our Noosa ‘tapestry’ of care and support. It takes a village!
Mobile Offices, ‘drop ins’ and meetings
Our regular ‘Mobys’ took us this month to Hilton Terrace, Noosa Marina, Tewantin, and the Outlook and Bushlands shopping centres. My staffer Dylan again had to restrain my urge to ‘buy’, however I circumnavigate him in ways he may not realise? Asking our Noosa ‘biz’ and all encountered in cafes and on the roadside about any state concerns. It was lovely that 99% were all happy, which gave us an opportunity to update on e-bikes, Beckmans Road, and the new river management, an initiative/issue that often gets mistaken for the Foreshore Management Plan and takes some explaining.
L-R: QLD Day Award catchups with Phillip Moran, Beryl Rowan, Peter Bold and Carol Johnston
Meetings were plentiful and included with ‘GSK’ on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention, Seqwater for Lake Macdonald updates, Activity Link, those working in the affordable housing space, and many, many residents. In addition, with the official opening of the new Noosa Heads post office/ hub shortly, we met with local artist Amanda and Hayley to sort through the final ten fabulous designs for post cards submitted by our youngsters. The unveiling of the most ‘Noosafied’ postcard will be at the opening on the 16th of September, and can I say how hard it was to choose a winner? They were all fantastic, and , we would love to see all displayed everywhere, and not only as postcards! Another highlight was joining Ada Zerafa to celebrate her 100th birthday. With her daughter Deanna we enjoyed stories, pried for the secret of longevity, absorbed words of wisdom, and did a chocolate ‘cheers’!
Tourism Noosa networking night
Plenty happening both during and after hours including the Tourism Noosa network night full of connection and inspiration at LAND & SEA Brewery with presentations from Noosa Alive and the Noosa International ‘Surfilm’ Festival, both reasons why we love our home! It was great to catch up with everyone over wonderful food, to check in on any concerns, and enjoy the great vibes. Never forget to check up on the many wonderful nooks and crannies in our beautiful home from bush to beach, by visiting www.visitnoosa.com.au
FROM THE CHAMBER AND BEYOND
2024 Estimates Hearing
For anyone unfamiliar with these hearings, they follow the budget deliberations and gives an opportunity for State MPs to ‘drill’ down into the details on how funds are being spent, or not spent. With our efforts to see the failings of this process addressed via a review of the Committee and Estimates systems, it has been good to see some partial improvements from our advocacies including the amending of Standing Orders 181 and 182 so now we can submit QONs to all Portfolio committees for greater efficiencies.
L-R: QLD Day awardee Louise Tully; ‘Just4kids’ Bunnings sausage sizzle; With Ada Zerafa on her 100th birthday
Other welcome changes have now been made via a Parliamentary motion, which reduced the time allocated for Government questions as they now cannot exceed thirty per cent of the total time, with the remaining distributed proportionately between the Opposition and Crossbench MPs. This year, our questions covered a broad range of budgetary inquiries relevant to the Noosa Electorate from community safety, policing and domestic and family violence to community batteries, land tax, roads, and more. All 49 questions including from my Community Safety and Legal Affairs hearing are posted on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/estimate-hearings-2024-summary-august-2024 and will be updated as responses are received. It is not a short read; you may use the ‘Control F’ search function on computers to skip to the topics you are interested in!
L-R: TN networking night; with TMR onsite on Beckmans Rd; Noosa postcard competition
Another wonderful, progressive and ‘learning’ month, with much to be grateful for, as well fight for! That there continues to be misinformation spread via social wasting much of our office time, please tag me or share our Noosa 360 link, phone number 5319 3100 or email address noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au to posters or 
commenters so that we can provide correct information, or direct to the appropriate level of government. Much is a lack of knowledge, and this is one area we continue to look for ways to improve so that our community can make better decisions.
With Vietnam Veterans’ Day on the 18th of August, please try to make it to one of our local ceremonies with me at either in Cooroy or in Tewantin, to show your support for our veterans and families. We had a new four-legged team member, ‘Coco’, join us this month and she already rules the roost, with attitude, winning the hearts of all she meets!
Have a great final Winter 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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