By JONATHON HOWARD
THE EDV Residents Group has refused to concede the battle for a boundary re-alignment is over, after the Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli said he would no longer consider the bid to include Eumundi, Verrierdale, Doonan and Weyba Downs into Noosa Council.
Media sources went into overdrive last week claiming Minister Crisafulli had quashed the re-boundary application, when in fact the minister could not make any formal decision on the matter due to a lack of any application and an unwillingness from the Sunshine Coast Council to discuss the matter.
The EDV Residents Group remains on course and is preparing an application for submission to Minister Crisafulli in October, when it plans to pressure the State Government to consider the views of residents, despite opposition from Sunshine Coast Council and members of the Sunshine Coast Aliance Inc.
A spokesperson for Minister Crisafulli said he could not intervene with council operations, although the unwillingness of Sunshine Coast Council to entertain the idea was a serious thorn in the side of any re-boundary application.
Years of hard work and surveying undertaken by the EDV Residents Group has now reached a critical crossroads and the cause could have been a single letter from Minister Crisafulli to Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc members.
The letter, which was also sent to alliance president Steve Bennett, revealed that the minister would “no longer proceed with the matter”.
Mr Bennett said the letter was a small win for the alliance, but he was willing to remain strong against any re-boundary application to include Eumundi, Verrierdale, Doonan and Weyba Downs into Noosa Council.
In June, the Sunshine Coast Council put forward a motion to block any attempt to include the four suburbs into the Noosa Council and Mayor Jamieson has also reinforced that he would follow through with any action required to block any future applications.
Mayor Jamieson said Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs had been part of the Sunshine Coast Council area and former Maroochy local government area for more than a century.
“Council welcomes the Minister’s news as we continue to service, support and resource these communities as we have done since 1890,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“I have spoken to the Minister and he has confirmed he has written to residents who made submissions regarding the proposed boundary change.
“Minister Crisafulli’s decision is welcomed as it will ease the concerns and confusion that has been generated for many residents about the potential for a boundary change.”
Noosa Today attempted to contact Minister Crisafulli to clarify the situation and his media representative said the message was “clear”.
“The Sunshine Coast Council has written to Minister Crisafulli expressing an unwillingness to agree to the terms of any additional suburbs joining the Noosa Shire Council, and one of the terms from the minister was that both councils agreed to the re-boundary,” the media adviser to the minister said.
In a media release, the EDV Residents Group said it was aware of various reports in the Sunshine Coast media alleging that the Local Government Minister had made a decision refusing the boundary change proposed by EDV.
“EDV has not been informed of any such decision by the Minister regarding a boundary change and as far as we know no such decision has been made,” the press statement read.
“It would appear that the reports are erroneous. EDV has not yet lodged any submission with the Minister. EDV is currently continuing its campaign of engagement and assessment with the local community and, depending on the outcomes of those consultations, will make submissions to the councils and the Minister in due course.
“Until that time there is no need for the Minister to make any decision on the matter and we understand that he has not in fact done so. Consequently, the EDV will continue to follow due process in respect of its boundary change proposal.”
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think the EDV Residents Group’s battle for a boundary re-alignment is over? Email your letters or comments to newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
