The demonstrations across Australia regarding the federal government’s immigration/population policies, and lack of clarity around, have highlighted what can occur when action appears too slow or absent. Noosa’s historical and current efforts for sustainability have never been in relation to migrants or immigrants which really, we all are, and we love our multi-cultural community! It is about how we manage volume of residents and visitors, hence why we continue to defend our planning scheme. Some have reported that genuine concerns around sustainability including housing were sadly ‘hijacked’ by some extremists and is a reminder for us all to be aware of this when holding community voice gatherings which should be about resolving and uniting, not dividing. As I have shared these song lyrics many times during my speeches at Citizenship Ceremonies, ‘We share a dream and sing with one voice’.
Now, to some updates below including from the 2025 Budget Estimates which is where we scrutinise how government is spending your taxpayer dollars. We covered a broad range of areas such as environment, business support, tourism, education and more, with all our these and answers we have received so far available on our summary at www.sandybolton.com/estimates-hearings-2025-summary-august-2025.
Education
We requested a timeline for the release of the final School Resourcing review report as without the transformative reforms we have raised on behalf of our teachers and students, they will continue to experience avoidable duress. As when we brought Pasi Sahlberg and Peter Hutton to host a Future Schools forum in 2019, there are examples including Templestowe College in Victoria, which I spoke about in Parliament that provide individualised learning, resulting in improved behaviours, decreased disengagement and less stress on teachers and students. Our efforts for improved infrastructure includes for upgraded school fencing, an additional alternative/flexi school to alleviate waitlists and updates on the advanced manufacturing hub for Sunshine Beach State High School with the schematic design anticipated during Term 3. After reports of government proposedly cutting the VETS to Career Ready program, advocacy has led to the pathway now being reinstated.
Regarding the decommissioned Tewantin TAFE site, the minister advised this has been transferred to successful proponent, NRA Collective (NRA) who are now reassessing the buildings, which over the past four years has continued to deteriorate substantially from their original assessment. We have requested that NRA keep us updated and reiterated the importance of also reassessing community needs, which also may have changed since 2021, including for a Learning Hub.
Housing
The minister responded that transferring government owned stock to community housing providers is on the table as currently, only 16.8 per cent of Queensland’s social housing dwellings are community managed, lower than every other Australian state. The importance of transferring stock is twofold, with community housing tenants able to access the Commonwealth Rent Assistance, which is not available for social housing properties under state government management, with the income thresholds not as stringent if the affordable subsidy is used. This is extremely relevant given that eligibility limits for government housing have not changed since 2006, and the review, which commenced in 2024, currently has no completion timeline. Regarding the Doonella Street project, government has committed to expedite delivery, and given the importance of community consultation, it was appreciated that the department has extensively engaged with Noosa Council. However, we have asked for confirmation that the project will meet the requirements of the Noosa Plan, including building height and off-street carparking to address potential concerns of residents and road users.
Amongst other news, the Tedd Noffs Foundation project at the former House With No Steps site in Doonan is progressing, which I look forward to updating on shortly including regarding transitional accommodation sites that are essential for our women currently utilising a safe carpark initiative, and for emergency service frontliners.
We gathered for the intergenerational learning and living workshop at Pomona, a very cool Federal Government funded project involving Queensland University of Technology, Australian Catholic University, Deakin University and Mark Trotter Architects. This is about housing and education, connecting the two ends of the age spectrum through sharing of spaces, education, skills development, volunteerism and existing services and buildings, in a village style atmosphere, with community designing the missing parts. Currently outcomes from the feed in from seniors living and educational organisations, community development teams, local government planners, urban designers and a host more are being compiled to take to the community. In Parliament, I asked our government that when we come knocking for assistance whether financial or policy, to look to what can be, not what can’t be, due to systems that segregate versus integrate.
Sunshine Coast Waterways Authority (SCWA)
The details are still a mystery, and questions remain regarding ‘why’, given issues raised historically by our residents are in the final process of being resolved by Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ), and we really need to understand how Noosa would benefit from what essentially looks like another level of bureaucracy. The challenges Noosa faced historically were the result of a long-term lack of resourcing to ensure compliance in multiple realms, and we need to ensure achieved resourcing increases don’t drop off after the final stages of the river plan are completed, and that our current direct voice with MSQ is not watered down. Reassurances by the minister that Noosa Council would have a seat at the table isn’t sufficient, as being one voice amongst many on an authority that covers multiple regions with potential opposing views could see an outcome similar to when Noosa was amalgamated into a broader Sunshine Coast Council, which is not an outcome sought. We have asked that consultation be undertaken immediately with key Noosa stakeholders before any further consideration is given of the Noosa Shire being included in the SCWA.
Short Term Accommodation (STA)
The Deputy Premier advised that the Cabinet Housing Ministerial Taskforce has considered the matter of STAs and decided councils are best placed to regulate this through their planning schemes and local laws, with the University of Queensland’s report in 2023 rejecting a statewide blanket rule as they felt that removing the ability for councils to customise and intervene at a local level would be detrimental. As STAs can be detrimental to liveability in high tourism areas, we have asked consideration be given to amending the state planning act to address injurious affection, which would provide more certainty and flexibility in how local governments manage this. Other related advocacies include a statewide register, mandatory data sharing and a funding stream to support existing management schemes.
Teewah, Cooloola, national parks
$84.6 million has been allocated over five years to the ‘More Rangers, Better Neighbours program’, and to address poor behaviours such as the inappropriate use of e-bikes and e-scooters, Queensland Park & Wildlife Service (QPWS) are increasing compliance patrols outside regular working hours and peak times with the Cooloola Management Unit restructured to incorporate a new compliance and education team. Regarding our efforts to ‘drill’ into how funds have been allocated for managing and mitigating the impacts of projected visitation increases, the minister responded that consideration of the balance between conservation and tourism development was key to the development of the Destination 2045 plan. This lacks detail and we await a response to the priorities formed by Teewah and North Shore community groups, the final Cooloola Management Plan as well Noosa Council’s Destination Management Plan, which is due out in November.
Tewantin Bypass
The delayed planning is underway for the Tewantin Bypass utilising the $8.5m we achieved last year, with survey works and flora/fauna investigations as of writing scheduled for late August to inform the remaining stages and enable construction to commence in 2028, subject to environmental approvals and in readiness to utilise the $30m election promise. TMR is also investigating opportunities to advance early works in line with planning milestones following our meeting with them and Noosa Council. While we appreciate this, it is disappointing that the preceding years did not see further progress towards the needed final designs.
Safe Night Precinct (SNP)
Noosa stakeholders contacted during the independent review into SNPs advised that they remain unsupportive of the current model, which does not guarantee additional funding for police special operations. In response to our inquiry about the consultation’s outcome, the Attorney-General’s office advised that the final review report is anticipated in September. Our recent meeting suggests that the SNP model may be revised following the review, potentially creating a new program that could obtain Noosa’s support.
Kin Kin Quarry EPBC application
As reported, the Federal Minister for Environment has determined the application as a controlled action due to the significant impact on listed threatened species and ecological communities. This is a positive as it requires a new application to the Federal Government for further assessment, which includes public consultation, before a decision can be made. We have met with the relevant federal department, who advised the assessment process has a primary focus on the impact on endangered species, including offsets, as well direct and indirect impacts, such as the deaths of protected species on our roads due to heavy haulage, and socio-economic impacts. More information is available at www.SandyBolton.com/Noosa360.
As always, if you have any questions or assistance in finding the topic you are interested in on our website’s Noosa 360 page, please email noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au or call 53193100.
With spring officially here, and the lorikeets having the best messy parties at my home, I wish all from beach to bush many happy days feasting on the native blooms which are glorious!
