By BENNY PIKE
WELL I see Gary Bright of Noosaville had a shot at me re my recent opinion piece regarding the development extensions proposed for the Noosa Civic.
Mr Bright suggests the letter writer Ian Lawson and myself “believe that all development is good development, and Noosa should become more like everywhere else”.
He then goes on to call the then Noosa Council “stupid” for allowing it to be built there in the first place.
Then to top it all off, he compares Noosa and the Civic to areas in Europe and USA who he says “has many of the big shopping centres closing down”. And to wrap up, his analysis pontificating that on-line shopping and the desire for more personalised shopping experiences are the way of the future.
I can only say this in response, my article was not about the Civic and more relating to what Noosa and its residents need to address as we look to the future.
I quoted LNP’s John Paul Langbroek’s thoughts on what Noosa residents needed to address, with youth, employment and stop living in the past being some of his points.
I also put the question as to which direction local member Glen Elmes would take – listen to a vocal minority or follow his party’s line and remember John Paul hails from the Gold Coast where there are five LNP to match the four here on the Sunshine Coast.
Development or progress is going to happen, unless you put up a tick gate on the Bruce Highway to stop people moving here.
I wonder how long Mr Bright has lived in the area, is he working or retired, or is a shop-keeper and is involved in any community groups in the area.
I am all for progress, you are quite right but I strongly support community involvement in any decision making.
But what I can’t put up with is people who come here and want the area to remain the same, and bugger everyone else.
I would love Noosa to remain as it was, that way I would be living at the Beach House on Hastings Street, surfing, playing golf, eating at the local snack bar, and walking the National Park with a few others.
The only problem I’d have, every time I wanted to watch a movie, buy clothes, go to a hospital, or most other normal things I would have to drive south.
I just wish people could take some time and have a look at how and why local sport thrives here.
Yes we’ve got the climate and our state government and councils have done a great job in financing our terrific facilities.
But it’s the passion of locals who give their time to put teams on fields week in and out, 12 months per year.
These officials, referees, board members, volunteers and fund-raisers go about their roles to help give kids a good start in life, and personally to just be part of something good.
They don’t create boundaries and know they can only guide the future.
Until next time.