Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie
We’re bringing the council to you.
Looking forward to seeing you at the first “council in community” meeting of this term to be held at the Pomona School of Arts Hall on Thursday, June 20.
This is part of our commitment to regularly host the council’s monthly Ordinary Meetings in different parts of the shire, rather than always at the Tewantin chambers.
Council staff and your councillors will be available from 2pm before the 5pm formal meeting to hear your views on any council-related topic and especially on the findings of the Pomona Placemaking trial and new amendments for the Noosa Planning Scheme.
There will also be time to informally meet with councillors after the Ordinary meeting and at a series of Coffee Chats planned. These involve turning up to coffee shops at various locations around the shire on dates to be set, to again talk to your councillors on any topic close to your heart.
Hinterland Service Desk trial
Noosa Council is reaching out also by trialling for six months a new customer service desk at the Cooroy Library, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Payments can be made via credit card, EFTPOS and cheques. While staff can’t accept cash payments initially – as there is no secure storage for cash handling at the library – we will make sure the library is set up to be able to accept cash if the trial is successful and the hinterland service desk becomes permanent. In the meantime, the 3 per cetn of payments made to council in cash can still occur at the Tewantin Customer Service counter.
Stronger together
The South-East Queensland Council of Mayors (COMSEQ), regarded as a professional and effective advocacy group by government and shadow ministers alike, is proving to be a great opportunity for funding and for councils to have their needs heard by other levels of government.
In a recent delegation to Queensland parliament to advocate for more resources to address SEQ’s housing and infrastructure shortfalls, Noosa’s needs were given a respectful hearing by ministers and shadow ministers ahead of the October State Election. Both sides of the house were committed to continuing the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) funding which has helped Noosa address $130 million in landslips and road damage since the February 2022 floods.
Have your say on housing and short stay
The long-awaited planning scheme amendments aimed at providing affordable housing (ie rent no greater than 30% household incomes) and further limiting the spread of short-term accommodation in residential neighbourhoods are out for consultation.
There’s also a proposal to limit shed heights in low density residential zones to 3.5m instead of the current 4.5m-7.5m height range, which was creating neighbourhood disputes over loss of amenity.
You can read about the amendments and submit your feedback at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au. or at Noosaville and Cooroy Libraries and the Customer Service Centre in Tewantin.
Speak to a town planner also at one of the six pop-up events:
– Noosaville Farmers Markets: Sunday, 9 June, 6am – 11:30am.
– Gympie Terrace Foreshore: Thursday, 13 June, 9am – 12pm.
– Peregian Beach: Friday, 14 June, 2pm – 5pm.
– Noosa Heads: Wednesday, 19 June, 11am – 2pm.
– Pomona: Thursday, 20 June, 2pm – 5pm.
– Cooroy: Friday, 21 June, 9am – 12pm.
Submissions close Sunday, July 14.
Happy Trails
An upgrade of the 14km Trail 7-Yurol Trail linking Lake Macdonald to Pomona via Yurol State Forest and Tewantin National Park is underway.
The upgrade will improve the experience for trail riders, runners, walkers and horse riders.
Noosa Council has enlisted the expertise of Sunshine Civil Solutions and Trailworks, while collaborating with National Parks and the Kabi Kabi community on this 14km trail upgrade.
Going to the chapel
Work has now finished on renewal of the wedding chapel in the Botanic Gardens, Lake Macdonald. The chapel has new courtyard pavement, a new gazebo and arbour walk. May it be used to herald the start of many happy marriages.
