Climate change 2030 is only six years away, and Noosa voters will elect their mayor and councillors for a four-year term in just seven weeks.
No doubt we will be inundated with hand on heart claims of environmental values, business acumen and community commitment. Personally, I would prefer to hear specific proposals, which show that candidates have done their homework on key issues for Noosa.
In the coming weeks I would like to see a contest of ideas, not broad generalities. In essence, what is the candidate’s 10-year vision for Noosa and how do they propose we get there? To kick off the process, here are three proposals from me. (Hopefully it will be the ideas which are criticised, rather than the author.)
1. Start seriously tackling the transport issues
Where do I start? Frankly, free buses and shopping centre-style signs telling me where there are car parks, are no substitute for a proper 10-year vision for traffic congestion. Similarly, a cycling strategy which goes out to 2040 for completion is no excuse for alternative transport action.
As a beginning, I would recommend car parking fees for visitors to Noosa Woods for the next 10 years, using the funds derived to deliver on a visionary alternative transport outcome, including cycling and shuttle buses to Noosa National Park and Noosa Woods. There are 371 car parks in Noosa Woods, and at $25 a day and discounting for free ratepayer access, these could potentially raise in the order of $1 million per year. Use those 10 years to overcome the age-old resistance by Translink to a shuttle bus and develop real alternatives. At the end of the 10 years, transform Noosa Woods into a people’s park, with access by shuttle bus.
All Noosa ratepayers currently pay the $30 Sustainable Transport Levy, but visitors do not. It seems a reasonable proposition to establish parking fees for them, particularly when ratepayers are funding the cost of the free bus alternative. After all, Noosa Council already charges a flat fee of $20 for parking in Lions Park, Noosa Heads.
2. Noosa Council to build worker accommodation
The lack of affordable accommodation for workers is well recognised, with businesses across the board struggling to find staff. Just as mining companies provide accommodation for their workers, Noosa Council could respond to this problem by building affordable accommodation above key public car park locations near to employment hotspots. Examples would be Bottlebrush Avenue car park, The J car park, Noosa Transit Centre car park and Lanyana Way car park. If constructed at one level, there would be no tree clearing and no visual pollution.
Noosa Council could draw upon the sustainable design principles of Nightingale Village in Victoria, and minimise car parking provision, as excellent public transport is available in this location. With sound economic analysis and affordable rents, the initiative should mean no burden on ratepayers. Surely it is at least worth exploring by the new council.
3. Reintroduce the Tourism Levy
With very limited consultation, the current council arbitrarily removed the Tourism Levy in 2021, thus effectively removing the transparency and partnership which had prevailed for nearly 20 years. The current situation is the worst of all possible worlds for all parties. A complicated and murky rate schedule now applies to tourism properties, so that it is impossible for any parties to know the truth of what funding is raised and how it is spent. Rather than a clearly defined levy with statutory obligations, funds now go into general revenue which may or may not be directed to tourism. The argument that Council needed to develop a destination management plan simply doesn’t justify the removal of the levy, as that option was always available since Council was responsible for approving the Tourism Levy each year.
If newly elected councillors place value on financial transparency, and respectful partnership with business, their only option is to reintroduce the Tourism Levy, conditional on a partnership to finalise a Destination Management Plan.
Concluding remarks
If candidates are seeking a model for visionary leadership, I would refer them to Paris Mayor Annie Hidalgo, who has an amazing vision for making Paris a liveable and sustainable city. Different challenges perhaps, but an inspiring example of someone with a clear vision and working to achieve it in partnership with her community.
