By Noosa Mp Sandy Bolton
Social media continues to be a fabulous arena, though sadly still full of disinformation and misinformation that is disempowering people and our communities.
Even though the recent tree clearing at the Civic may be deemed a Council matter, the comments posted recently on Facebook demonstrated a lack of knowledge around the roles of representatives, levels of government, planning schemes, Noosa’s Biosphere status and our individual responsibility. Clarity brings greater understanding, and I hope the following ‘digging around’ and simplification assists in your dinner table discussions!
The current works relate to an approval given by Council in August 2020 on a site that is referred to as Stage 2 in a Masterplan, which was developed back in the 1990’s.
This designation was endorsed by two planning schemes for business services including vet clinics and dentists as examples, as well an enterprise zone to accommodate emerging businesses and residential accommodations for workers in key industries. This, to meet the demand our community drives in some way, including jobs for our kids through diversification and services sought.
Back in 2016 the site owner Queensland Investment Corporation, submitted an application to build, and incorporate retail into Stage 2 which was rejected by Council as it was outside the designated use in the planning scheme. As a result of this refusal Council defended its decision in court which was successful as it could support the rationale for the original designation. That the most recent application was approved, indicates it complied with the designated use and conditions including what trees could be cleared. All documents and data we refer to in relation to Noosa Civic is publicly available through Noosa Council’s website www.noosa.qld.gov.au or phone them on 53296500.
Any loss of any habitat is saddening, and we get many complaints including when individual houses are built on vegetated sites. However, the works of people and organisations has ensured that loss through planning scheme designations has been counteracted in the last 40 years by additions to the National Parks as well as considerable increase in land protected which sits at around 45%. More instruments have been provided through State legislation such as Special Wildlife Reserves that individual property owners can submit to, safeguarding their properties well into the future.
Noosa had been a dedicated flora and fauna reserve for many years, and in 2007 UNESCO saw how the community had grown and prospered while not allowing unfettered destruction. Instead increasing its environmental ‘kudos’ which led to our being awarded the “Man in The Biosphere Reserve“ status. Why? Because this community had demonstrated a genuine desire to plan and live with nature at its core and work towards offsetting our impacts. We still have much to do, and more ‘digging’ is available at en.unesco.org/biosphere/wnbr
This is not a conversation about whether certain approvals are right or wrong. It is to simplify what is complex, as the complexity leads to misunderstandings and much anger. Legislation set by State Government has processes, policies and procedures including environmental to adhere to, with local governments formulating their own within this. Representatives such as Councillors and MP’s must make lawful decisions within their level of government, its jurisdictions and their roles. To not do so can lead to great costs for ratepayers and taxpayers. We must ensure when in court to have the base from which to succeed, and our planning schemes and associated instruments reflecting the vision and requirements of our community. This is why we are always posting to get you involved through submissions to master plans and planning schemes, with organisations who work in these spaces, as well to ‘have your say’ when development applications are submitted. If it is State legislation or other instruments letting us down, we must work on identifying which, and how to rectify. That is where my role comes in, and where you can help!
Previously I have stated my theme for this year is ‘responsibility, accountability, and consequences’. In response to our fabulous Year 6’ers ‘Q & A’ session this week at St Thomas More when asked regarding Noosa Civic, I shared an inconvenient truth. We have all contributed to habitat loss and we all need to understand how we contribute. Whether we are asking for hospital expansions or aged care facilities, carparks or extra sporting fields, there are consequences of doing, or not doing. The convenient truth is that every day we can effect change through what we seek, what we share and what we do! That includes our social media contributions. Our youngsters are increasingly ‘savvy’ regarding credible online information, with our high schoolers taught a method of checking the objective reliability of information sources. It is called CRAAP, an acronym not hard to forget? It stands for CURRENCY (most recent), RELEVANCE (self-explanatory), AUTHORITY (who provided, and is it a credible source) ACCURACY (Can you verify claims via other sources, and is the information in its entirety, or only a portion out of context?) and PURPOSE (is it to entertain, inform, educate, push an agenda, or create havoc?) It would be fabulous if we all could take a leaf out of their book, as well as take some of our ‘diggings’ into your thoughts, caf¨¦ chats and online comments. Contact those who can relay the ‘how’s’ and ‘whys’ and take these forward in your discussions . For local government matters, our Councillors, myself for State and Llew or Ted O’Brien for Federal. If we do not know, we can refer to a source that meets the ‘CRAAP’ criteria. At times different levels of government are all involved, and that is when we get together to untangle. Sound easy? Not always, however that is for another time as I think this was enough in one sitting!
Enjoy the beautiful start to autumn everyone, and happy ‘digging’?
Sandy
