COUNCIL candidate Ken Coleman has criticized the current Noosa Council saying it lacks vision and is missing out on potential economic growth by ignoring the Noosa hinterland.
Speaking at the Cooroy Sports Hub last Thursday, 4 February, Mr Coleman referenced the 2015 council commissioned Community Profile report and said the findings indicate something needs to be done to boost Noosa Shire’s economy.
Mr Coleman said the solution is creating a “more diverse economy” and becoming “less reliant” on the “Noosa brand and its existing image” which can be achieved by investing in the Noosa hinterland.
“I can see Cooroy becoming a centre for industry and growth in its own right (and) the way for this to happen is for Cooroy to seize opportunities as they arise,” he said.
Mr Coleman said the current construction of the Cooroy Interchange, due for completion late 2016, has the possibility of becoming a gateway to the Noosa Shire through Cooroy.
“This interchange could become the jumping off point for holiday makers who want to experience Noosa but don’t want to pay Hastings Street prices,” he said.
Mr Coleman said Noosa Council was “pre-occupied” with current problems and could not see the “opportunities” which lay in the hinterland.
“If Noosa wants to solely focus on traditional tourism, and it seems that it does, then the hinterland can capitalise on the growing eco-tourism industry, combined with an already burgeoning organic produce and livestock industry, and become a destination in its own right,” he said.
“There are hundreds of positive, innovative ideas for bringing the hinterland into its own and turning Noosa Shire from a fading, one level economy into the vibrant, exciting place it used to be.”
But Mr Coleman said this couldn’t be achieved if the “council has no vision”.
“And, believe me folks, right now, it has no vision,” he said.
“It doesn’t have the vision to see that by encouraging innovation and by being a little bit flexible, it will allow people with ideas to invest in their own community.”
