Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie announced Monday that he will run for Noosa mayor at next March’s local government elections.
Cr Wilkie said he could offer stability and experience in Noosa Council in the face of unprecedented development, the housing affordability crisis and cost of living pressures.
“Since de-amalgamation, Noosa has had to constantly adapt to pressures brought by rapid and relentless change, which is only accelerating,” he said. “Now more than ever, we need our council to hold fast to core principles while improving delivery of quality services and protecting the natural assets and low-key lifestyle we all love. Noosa is a community first and a destination second. If we look after the things that residents value first, then by default it will also be a great place to visit.”
Cr Wilke said Noosa’s resilience had always resided in the community’s support for its planning scheme which had protected residents’ lifestyle and environment. “In recent years we’ve seen record voting against the Noosa Planning Scheme and evidence-based environmental projects, fortunately by a slim minority. With so many pressures seeking to undermine what Noosa is, we don’t have the latitude for that now.’’
The former journalist, teacher and graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors has a record of service within volunteer community groups and has won awards for environmental journalism. He has a strong record of support for the Noosa Planning Scheme and evidence-based initiatives that protect Noosa’s beaches, rivers, waterways and open spaces, and for projects fostering economic innovation.
Cr Wilkie chairs the council’s General Committee where key issues are debated, the Capital Works Executive and the Climate Change Response Plan Community Reference Group. He served for six years on the Tourism Noosa board just after de-amalgamation and is the councillor invitee on the Cooroy Future Group, which runs the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre.
He served as a Noosa Councillor in 2007-08 just prior to amalgamation, from 2014-2016 after de-amalgamation and has served as deputy mayor since 2016.
