What is your working background?
Electrician – primarily in building automation.
Fruit Juice and beverage distribution Noosa – 5 years
Joe the Handyman and Electrician Noosa – 7 years
Why are you running for Council?
To continue the work that I have put in for many years before I commenced on Council advocating for better services and improved facilities across the region and as a Noosa councillor for over 10 years delivering outcomes for this community.
What qualifies you to be a Councillor?
One of only three candidates with over 10 years experience as a Noosa councillor.
Only candidate with experience in Local Disaster Management Group as Deputy Chair and Chair of Recovery for past eight years
Local small business operator Involved with many local community groups through sport, environment, arts, education and community Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Are you a member of a political party? No!
What organisations in Noosa are you affiliated with?
NICA – Clean Up Australia Day volunteer co-ordinator for past 15 years Queensland Veterans Cricket – player, former committee and regional co-ordinator Tewantin Cricket Club – fill in player only these days.
Noosa Golf Club – Social member
Noosa Arts Theatre – member and occasional performance
Noosa Chorale – volunteer and former tenor
Noosa Men’s Shed – honorary member
If elected, will you be undertaking any other paid employment?
No, I have worked full time as a councillor since 2014 and intend to continue to commit my time to the role if re-elected.
List the 4 top Council issues you believe to be the most important to Noosa:
There are always many important issues for the Council and Community to deal with so I have listed 5.
The Noosa Plan – The state government is intent on an expanded population of over 5 million across SE Queensland as part of the SE Qld regional plan. Managing the increased population, traffic and other issues that will create, and the challenges to accommodate more affordable and social housing in our region.
Disaster Management, Recovery and Resilience will have to continue to be a major focus with the number of severe weather events on the increase along with the impact to our community, economy and assets. Currently over $100 million is being spent on repairs to Council Infrastructure from the 2019 floods alone thanks to QRA and State Disaster Funding arrangements.
Waste management – The transition to the removal of food waste from our landfill is a major undertaking as is the further development of a circular economy to better manage recycling into the future.
Further upgrades to aging community facilities, infrastructure and pathway networks such as new Olive Donaldson Pavillion, New Regional Gallery, Cooroy Sports complex Master Plan delivery and an additional indoor sporting facility.
Better public transport, road network upgrades (particularly State assets in Cooroy), congestion and parking continue to be a challenge to advocate for and deliver improvements.
