On 2 January 2024 I announced that I would love to be your next mayor of Noosa Shire.
The support from that point on has been amazing, to say the least. It has been humbling that so many community members believe in me and what I bring to the table.
After the announcement, everything snowballed. The community started to reach out.
My understanding of the issues facing Noosa’s residents and ratepayers deepened.
I attended all the Meet the Candidates events. They have been enlightening, although it has been challenging to put across who I am and what I stand for in the allotted time frames of just a few minutes.
But the meetings have been an opportunity for the audience to compare the candidates standing for mayor and as councillors, to raise issues that concern the community. And they have given me the chance to better understand the issues faced by residents, as well as providing an opportunity for me to learn more about the other candidates and their platforms.
Having met with, and listened to, the other three candidates for mayor over the last two months, I truly believe I am the best person to be the new mayor of Noosa Shire.
I bring more to the table than any other candidate. I have no hidden agenda; I have no relationship with any developer or community focus group; I have no aspirations to use Noosa as a springboard to state or federal politics; and I am totally committed to our community and all our needs: residents, ratepayers, and community.
There have been so many questions raised about what I will do if I am elected.
I’ve been told that Noosa Council is not a business.
Are you kidding?
Council’s balance sheet is worth $1.35 billion and council assets are valued at $1.4 billion. It is a big business.
Yes, the CEO has ultimate responsibility for operations.
But the ratepayers of Noosa contribute significantly to that balance sheet and choose a mayor and councillors to represent them. They are entitled to expect value for money and for the mayor and councillors to ensure that council services are delivered to the highest standard.
I will work very closely with the councillors, executives, and administrative staff to run a truly professional organisation that provides a clear vision, strong financial management and value for money outcomes for all residents and ratepayers.
What about the river?
I’ve used the river for recreation for 26 years, focused on my own needs.
Now I have a greater understanding of the bigger picture, thanks to community members who live and breathe the river. I understand the issues impacting the river and I get it! No, we don’t want a conservation park for our river. We must work through all things river with the State Government and try to bring solutions to the table. Boat access to the water (ramps), a dog beach solution, speed limits work through that make sense.
There are so many problems facing us in Noosa: STAs, the impact of van life, an imbalance between spending and delivery of services in the hinterland and the rest of the shire; protection of Noosa’s natural assets; infrastructure, transport and parking issues; lack of focus on sustainable growth; a shortage of affordable housing for our workers,; lack of support for small businesses; lack of quality facilities for our sporting community; conflicting demands on the way we use and manage the river; lack of leadership within the council; workplace culture issues and high staff turnover among council administrative staff. I could go on forever.
If elected, I pledge to create two lists of priorities: one for the hinterland and one for the coast. The needs of both are different and this must be recognised and addressed.
This is crisis management in business. Fix the problems.
Vote 1 John Morrall for Noosa Mayor – I’ll get it done.
