Well, it’s been worth the wait. The brand-new Hinterland Adventure Playground has opened!
The nature-based, all-abilities playground has a variety of play zones to suit all energy levels and is already being well used and loved by so many in our community.
Input from business groups, local operators and industry leaders has been key to developing Council’s new Economic Development Strategy 2021-2030. It aims to deliver a dynamic, resilient economy for future generations.
The strategy builds on Council’s ongoing commitment to diversity and grow employment and economic opportunities. It has a real focus on achieving growth in the smart industry sectors.
The new strategy reflects the very different world to when the last strategy was adopted in 2016. This new strategy includes the rapidly changing technology industry, a highly mobile workforce, unpredictable nature of Covid-19 and the emerging challenges of talent, workforce and accommodation availability.
The 10-year plan connects the strong environmental values of our community to future- focused, technology and data-driven actions to find creative and resourceful solutions to economic and environmental challenges.
We continue to garner feedback from our community.
The results of our first Liveability Survey are in.
Thanks to the 1600-plus people who shared what they care about most in their neighbourhoods and gave a rating of their experience.
Noosa Shire neighbourhoods are performing well where it matters most – meeting community members’ values regarding the local economy and environmental sustainability. A sense of community and the natural environment rank highly as strengths of Noosa Shire. General condition of public open spaces and walking/cycling paths are also highly valued by the community.
The data we have derived will help Council prioritise future investment and works, as well as current budget deliberations.
It was great to see people making use of the free holiday buses to get around town over Easter. Free holiday buses have finished with Easter now over, but our trial of free weekend bus travel continues. Weekend travel is free on all existing Translink services operating within Noosa.
With the introduction of free weekend buses, along with the existing Free Holiday Bus initiative, free public transport is available in Noosa for approximately 145 days of the year.
The weekend free bus trial includes existing Translink services 626, 627, 628, 629 and 632 covering Tewantin, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Noosa Heads, Parklands, Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Cooran, Cooroy and Pomona.
Routes 620, 630 and 631 travel outside of the Noosa Shire Council area and are not included in the free service.
The aim is to help more people trying to get in to busy locations like Hastings Street, where we know finding a park can be difficult, especially on weekends and during the upcoming Noosa Parade upgrade.
Last week Council approved a 10-year lease for the Peregian Beach Surf Club building.
Council’s chief executive officer Scott Waters will begin lease negotiations with the new club.
It will also see volunteer lifesavers patrol the beach from September to May.
Council will consider allocating $71,000 a year for three years to fund lifeguard services on Saturdays and public holidays as well painting of the building.
What has been an incredibly popular addition to Main Beach is the new beach access mat enabling people of all abilities to visit the beach.
Whether using a wheelchair or mobility scooter, or for those who find walking on sand difficult, or even just have kids in strollers or prams, the new mat will make accessing the beach easier. Funded by Tewantin-Noosa Lions Club, Noosa MP Sandy Bolton, and Council, the 50-metre Mobi-Mat will be in place at the access ramp in front of the surf club 365 days a year, except during storms and king tides.
Noosa Main Beach will now be added to a national database of beaches that accommodate all abilities – accessiblebeaches.com
Finally, make sure you’re prepared for severe weather by checking out our Disaster Dashboard and signing up to Noosa Alert for email/text alerts.
The Dashboard has up-to-date information such as weather warnings, road closures and power outages, as well as our Emergency Action Guide for practical advice on what to do before, during and after a range of disasters. For more information, visit noosa.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies
Until next month, stay safe, Clare
