ELECTION 2024 – NOOSA DID IT!
Noosans worked and fought hard to keep Noosa independent – AND YOU DID IT! How proud I am of our beautiful community and, in the spirit which has seen us through fires, floods and pandemics, Noosa sent a strong message for remaining unique and continuing to lead the way in Queensland on how politics can and must be done differently. To be elected, as again the only independent in Queensland, to represent Noosa in its diversity, passion and, at times, opposing viewpoints is the greatest of honours, and a privilege unlike any other. Thank you to all including the ‘Team Noosa’ army, as well fellow candidates and their volunteers, and to voters who rejected the US style grubby tactics that disrespected our community. Every single one of you is deeply appreciated for the love you have for Noosa, and the outpouring of support during a really tough campaign has left me humbled.
L-R: Election 2024
Holding Governments to Promises
The campaign cycle saw both political parties commit to a swathe of projects and legislative promises that would be enacted if they formed Government that were publicised without caveats, and now it is time for Noosa to collect on those! With the LNP forming Government we will be holding them to the various commitments they made, as well seeking assurances regarding commitments of the previous government. For Noosa these included the construction of the Factory Street pedestrian crossing, $30 million to partially fund the Tewantin Bypass (estimated at over $100m), $2.5 million for land boating infrastructure and that even though this and the $1 million for public toilets is Noosa Council domain, we will happily accept it! There was also a variety of grants for local sports teams and of course their promise to ensure any State Facilitated Developments in Noosa conform with our planning scheme. My list is long, and I look forward to meeting our new Ministers as we have requested before the first sitting. There are also commitments that concerningly appeared out of no process that involved community consultation or even an application from Noosa Council, such as a Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority and Safe Night Precincts (SNPs). SNPs for over two years have been discussed between Council, Hastings St Association and police, and yet no application for one had been made prior to the election. These types of last-minute election promises should raise concerns, as they can appear to be more around buying votes from specific vested interests, versus responding to what has been ascertained by stakeholders such as our broader community and its needs. This includes what will be put in place to ensure other areas of the electorate do not suffer due to extra resources being redirected to these potential SNPs.
Traveston Dam 2.0
With the LNP releasing their water security plan earlier this month, they announced a potential new dam in SEQ with no details. This served as a grim reminder to our north-western neighbours in the Mary Valley, but also to Noosa, and we called on the LNP to categorically rule out building a Traveston Dam 2.0. Thankfully, they have now done so, however, we will ensure they keep to this going forward.
Cooroy Intersections
While outside of the Noosa Electorate, it was great to hear that both parties promised funding of $500,000 for a business case to address the infamous Cooroy intersections that impact Noosa residents who travel through this daily. With the LNP forming Government, we will remind them of their commitment for these intersections on Diamond and Myall Street and the Myall and Elm Street crossroads, as well seek construction funds and timelines.
L-R: Live Music Protest; Majestic Lights Pomona; Cooroy Car Show
Independent Environmental Protection Agency
Following our efforts since 2021 for an Independent Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Labor committed to create an IEPA should they have been re-elected, and we continue to call on the LNP to do the same. Queensland is the only state not to have an EPA, and we have fought for one as it can potentially provide another avenue to address local environmental issues including the trauma being experienced in our hinterland by inappropriate and dangerous levels of heavy haulage. The commitment by one of the major parties for an IEPA is testimony to the power of genuine, credible advocacy for the benefit of Noosa and all of Queensland.
L-R: Charity Champions Breakfast; Sconetime; Tewantin-Noosa Bowls Club 75th Anniversary
Youth Justice Recommendations
With Labor having supported the recommendations from the Youth Justice Reform Committee (YJRC), as well implementing over half, we are still awaiting a response from the LNP as to what they will or will not commit to from the YJRC interim report. With victims, their families and the many frontliners who must live every day with the policies and decisions made by Government, we will continue to seek that the new Government adopt the YJRC recommendations including to lower the threshold and expand the criteria for serious repeat offender declarations, as well provide interventions in line with what was evidenced as successful.
Land Tax Review
Following our advocacy for a review into the land tax threshold, the previous Government made a commitment to review all property taxes, including land tax, in 2025. We will continue to track this review and seek assurances from the new government regarding this, as well the implementation of an automatic exemption process for a principal place of residence, which the previous Treasurer responded would occur.
HOT ISSUES
Peaceful protest from our creatives
Live music can be the lifeblood of a small business, musicians and communities, however as with any spaces we share, whether our roads, river or facilities, there are regulations and laws to manage safety, amenity and noise. In response to recent petitions both for and against live music in Noosa Junction, I have sought from Noosa Council their support in hosting a community forum or roundtable for everyone to get together and consider all perspectives and needs, with the aim of working together positively towards a good outcome. For more information on this head to www.sandybolton.com/live-music-noosa-junction-october-2024.
Noosa Main Beach Shark Nets
Recently, another whale became entangled in our shark nets off Main Beach. We are continuing to work with Oceans for All Noosa to see an end to this whilst addressing community concerns. The results from our Noosa MP survey, which were taken forward to the previous Minister earlier this year, showed that a majority of Noosans supported pursuing alternative shark control methods and the removal of nets with drone trials also currently underway. An independent review is due on alternatives by the end of the year and any proposed changes will require consultation with the community. With the change in Government, this is just one of many items we will be meeting with the new Minister on, and when consultation opens, we will be sharing via Facebook, our newsletter and in media as this is a decision that needs to be made by our whole community, including key stakeholders Noosa Council.
L-R: Walk in Wings; Great Noosa Trail Walk; Goodstart Early Learning Centre
Non ‘peaceful’ protest against Asparagus Fern!
In response to this very pesky invader and residents’ concerns, our office recently funded the production of another six ‘Asparagus Assassins’ which is a tool to effectively remove Asparagus Fern from our community for our Noosa Coast Care groups. This tool was developed locally by Ron Gooch, and we will soon put the call out for volunteers to help for a day event planned to remove these invasive pests from our beautiful coastline.
ON THE HOMEFRONT
Local Disaster Coordination Centre
This new centre, a collaboration between the three levels of government, will be the heart of disaster management, response and recovery efforts in the Noosa Shire. Among their new tools, which will all be of great assistance to our frontliners, is a simulator, which uses topographical data to map the path of fires and floods. There is no greater priority than community safety and resilience and this new centre stands as a testament to that!
L-R: Noosa Coast Guard 50th Anniversary; Local Disaster Coordination Centre Opening; Queensland Police Awards
Noosa Coast Guard 50th Anniversary
It was an honour to join our incredible Coast Guard Noosa QF5 for this special occasion. For five decades our Coast Guard have been saving lives and boats, while providing essential twenty-four seven search and rescue for our community. For so long they have had to fundraise to fuel up and maintain their vessels, as well pay for their own uniforms and memberships, which is why we advocated for change in 2018. This resulted in the BlueWater Review and eventually the establishment of Marine Rescue QLD that has seen our QF5 volunteers receive better support, including a new $1.13 million Naiad inflatable that is on its way. Gratitude to all the organisations that continue to assist our Coast Guard including the Tewantin Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank, which has funded a second $8.5 million Naiad and Rotary Noosa who have funded a $6.4 million vessel due sometime in the new year. Thank you to Flotilla Commander Lindsay, Deputy Commander Michael and every single member for the lifesaving work you do every day.
HAVE YOUR SAY. BE HEARD.
Ensure you are subscribed to our newsletter to participate in our 2025 Noosa Community Survey opening 1 December 2024.
Your responses are invaluable in helping to identify priorities and issues that are important to you and our community. Head to www.sandybolton.com/newsletters
Queensland Police Awards 2024
Our police officers were honoured for their bravery, tenacity, and commitment to service earlier this month. Too often their incredible sacrifice and service go unacknowledged, so these ceremonies provide us with an opportunity to give gratitude to our QPS. Awardees included retired Noosan Senior Constable Stephen Fitzpatrick, who was awarded the Queensland Bravery Medal along with nine others for conducting their duties, saving lives and property, during the Peregian Fires in 2019. As well Chief Inspector Jon Van Egmond was awarded a clasp to commemorate forty years and Seargeant Joel Bryant who received multiple awards for his ethical and diligent service. Gratitude to all frontliners who have served, or serve, our community.
Great Walks
So many walks this month! We joined the Great Noosa Trail Walk for a delicious breakfast out at the Cooran Cutters footy field to celebrate their 12th anniversary, which was a trip down memory lane as I remembered my own wonderful experience trekking through our beautiful hinterland. We also caught up with Carole and the team for the Pink Up Cooroy precinct walk and Pink Up Breakfast where they broke their previous year’s record of $21,000 by raising over $30,000. Go team! Gympie Terrace was also a kaleidoscope of colour with Walk in Wings, and it was a joy to dance, run and help cut the ribbon at the start line for this amazing event. Hundreds turned up to support Sunshine Butterflies and share the message of inclusivity, love and the healing powers of laughter!
L-R: Noosa Cyclones Basketball; New Equipment for SBSLSC; Noosa Chamber of Commerce Sunset Drinks
Happenings Abound!
Where do we start as there was so much on! Examples included where Coco and I had a great time seeing old friends and meeting new ones at the opening of the new Spring Hub facility in Tewantin that will offer opportunities for all abilities to socialise, connect to lifestyle supports, and level up their cooking and craft skills. Over in Cooroy we put on an apron and helped serve our matriarchs and patriarchs at Sconetime with Martin and the team, which is always so much fun! The Pomona State School Spring Fair was awesome with reptiles, face painting, talent shows, stalls run by students and teachers, as well as opportunity to snuggle up with some furry and woolly friends! The Majestic Theatre was lit up for the first time in twenty years which was sensational, as was the fabulous music including by Barry Charles whom Shoey is now totally in love with! We also got a chance to catch-up with some of our local business leaders at the Noosa Chamber of Commerce Sunset Drinks that was so fun, but also important as their insights are invaluable to understanding the issues affecting our small businesses, which are the backbone of the local economy.
L-R: Springhub Opening; Pomona State School Fair; Monterey Morning tea
Grants and Sports Club News
With over nine hundred players from across our electorate it was wonderful to celebrate the legendary Noosa Cyclones receiving over $34,000 from the State Government to upgrade their office, and we look forward to assisting them further at a state level with their vision for expanded facilities. Our Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving club team benefited from a Community Benefit grant of $35,000 to purchase eight new surf skis and two racing ‘mals’ that everyone is loving with one already having a win at Lifesaving World Championships 2024. Meanwhile, we celebrated all the sponsors and supporters of the Noosa Surf Life Saving Club, as well our Nipper’s and athletes, at this year’s Sponsorship Breakfast. Finally, The Tewantin Noosa Bowls Club celebrated their 75th Anniversary this month and I was honoured to present their board members with commemorative shirts to mark this milestone.
Charity Champions
Our generous and loving community came together for an amazing charity breakfast to help raise over $50,000 to purchase much needed wheelchair accessible vans for two of our beautiful Noosa residents, Daisy and Ramsey. We also heard from some inspirational speakers including Sunshine Beach State High School teacher Robbie, ultra-endurance enthusiast and athlete Brendan Neil, and singer/songwriter and Autism Queensland ambassador Emma Tomlinson. Gratitude to all including sponsors, donors, and organisers including Cr Amelia, as well legends Jo and Dixie. Top job everyone!! On this front we were also happy to contribute $3,500 from our office operating budget that will go toward the purchase of a new beach wheelchair.
Morning Teas with Meaning
These are always appreciated as they are rare due to the ‘schedule’ and this month amongst pre poll I got two! First with the lovely folks over at Monterey, where I shared parts of my past and those of my ancestors, as well answered questions about my role as the Noosa MP and what it is REALLY like being the only Independent in Queensland! Then with the Noosa Men’s Shed where I ‘drooled’ over the fabulous leather, wood and metal works, as well other super creations. Gratitude to all for the invites and to all who shared their yarns and words of wisdom.
L-R: Noosa SLSC Sponsorship Breakfast; Grandschools Pomona; Noosa Men’s Shed ‘Smoko’
Incredible Car Collections
We had another two amazing car shows this month, with classic beauties, quirky cuties, and modern marvels. Over two hundred cars were competing for forty awards at the Cooroy Classic Car show, and I had the honour of presenting each passionate owner with their trophies. Then the annual Noosa Charity Car Show, which has raised a total of $30,000 in previous years, made over $10,000 this year for our much-loved Katie Rose Cottage Hospice.
L-R: Pink Up Cooroy!
Learning at All Ages
From our youngsters to our elders! We rejoiced in meeting with our educators and childcare providers on a tour of our Noosaville Goodstart Early Leaning Centre, where it was so fun to be taught how to build spaceships and dancefloors, as well how to fish. Then to Pomona with the Grandschools team and community stakeholders who were exploring the possibility of how an intergenerational integration of learning and living could work in Pomona.
And finally…
Pheww! Are you as exhausted from reading about October as I am from revisiting it? No doubt yes, however we are now already in a much busier time with a new government, two sittings of Parliament to fit in before end of year (seven weeks?), and the multitude of pre-Christmas events, fire and storm preparations and somewhere in amongst, time to give gratitude. As well, to respond to the thousands of messages and emails I have received, and I again as in my Facebook post send my apologies as it is going to take weeks to respond individually, even with a ‘love heart’!
Blessings and hugs to all, and as I always say, how very lucky we are to live in such an incredible community. You are magic in all ways, even in ways you may not realise!
𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮🙏
𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙉𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙖
𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘢. 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦
