By JONATHON HOWARD
A DEADLINE has been set for residents living in Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs to make their case in a bid to break away from Sunshine Coast Council and join Noosa Council in what could be an historical second re-alignment move.
Minister for Local Government, Community Recovery and Resilience David Crisafulli MP, has set April next year as the deadline for a submission to consider the re-boundary bid and his announcement has been welcomed by EDV Residents Group president Johanne Wright.
Mr Crisafulli told media sources there was no reason for the state government to stand in the way of the re-boundary bid and if a strong case was agreeable upon by both councils.
Ms Wright said she was pleased the minister had announced the deadline.
However, there are no plans to include Peregian Springs or Coolum and Ms Wright said the two additional suburbs would have to run their own campaign to be considered.
The residents’ group has already spoken to both councils, highlighting their communities’ wishes to join Noosa Council.
“We have to prove we have a community of interest (with Noosa),” Ms Wright said.
However, there are several Doonan residents who have voiced their opposition to the move and called for a referendum to determine public opinion.
Noosa Today sought comment from Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson who said the devil was in the detail.
“We need to see the full details of any transfer proposal before considering any boundary realignment,” he said.
Noosa Council Mayor Noel Playford said it was a matter for the community and for the minister.
Why not Coolum or Peregian Springs?
PEREGIAN Springs and Coolum will likely be left out in the boundary re-alignment bid as these suburbs were not previously flagged and would need to run their own campaign.
Ms Wright said the boundary proposed by the EDV Residents Group was based on consultations that occurred with the residents of Eumundi, Verrierdale, Weyba Downs and Doonan in late 2005.
“Based on the door knock survey that covered 83 per cent of dwellings in these four suburbs,” Ms Wright said.
“The boundary was drawn up based on area localities and confirmed in later consultations that have taken place prior to the forced amalgamation process in 2008 – so we have been entirely consistent over a 10 year period.”
Mrs Wright said at different time’s residents in Coolum and Peregian Springs have indicated a desire to become part of Noosa Council most notably through the lead up to amalgamation, when different communities proposed changes that were more radical in nature.
“The government body that made final recommendations to the then Beattie government, were required to only make recommendations based on existing shire boundaries,” she said.
“During the effort by the local Noosa community to regain their local government back, a four year concerted campaign; it was assumed that the areas of Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs would be included in a ‘Greater Noosa Shire’.
“There was no consideration of either Coolum or Peregian Springs as being part of that campaign. “When the LNP gained power, and the Minister announced the process open to communities to de-amalgamate, the policy position taken was that such de-amalgamation would be on previous shire boundaries.
“He was very aware of our campaign to belong to Noosa Shire and advised that he would be open to consider this if de-amalgamation occurred.
“The minister then announced post the de-amalgamation that there were some outstanding issues in relation to boundary changes that could now be considered prior to the next council elections in 2016.”
