Hands off our park, was the message delivered loud and clear at a rally held on the foreshore tennis court last Friday afternoon attended by about 300 people who brought signs and banners and an aim to put forward their concerns about Noosa Council’s draft Noosaville Foreshore Infrastructure Master Plan.
Amid heckles and applause and despite wet and windy weather the crowd came to voice their concerns over the proposed loss of car parks, loss of the tennis court, loss of the natural look and feel of the foreshore and creation of sand dunes in the proposed plan at the rally that was organised by a residents group calling themselves Friends of Noosaville Foreshore.
Council states in its master plan its vision is to “support foreshore infrastructure that achieves the overarching vision of a ‘peaceful, relaxing public open space for people to enjoy the river’ into the future, while adapting and responding to the growing impacts of climate change“.
The 80 per cent completed plan that was open for consultation until last Sunday contained “notable improvements“ including an extensive shared pedestrian zone, a new community hub and playground to replace the tennis court, expanding boat ramp, allocated swimming areas, the development of sand dunes and a reduction in car parking spaces from 404 to 301 for more open space.
“Are you feeling unheard, ignored, stifled, dismissed by council,“ speaker Debra Walz asked attendees who replied with a resounding ’No’ at the rally.
“Are you being managed and not heard,“ she said to the response, “yes“.
“For community engagement to work we all need to be part of process,“ she said.
“Send a strong message to council what we’re objecting to about the foreshore plan.
“Initial consultation last year included 298 Noosa resident respondents. Their suggestions are all within the remit of the existing budget. They include nothing more grandiose than improvement and suggestions to pathways, lighting, seating, tables, barbecues and shade. The biggest concern was a difficulty in finding carparks and a request to improve existing toilet facilities and the addition of one amenity block near the Big Pelican.“
Ms Walz said the proposed foreshore plan had created confusion, would create a loss of natural amenity and be a carbon copy of all other foreshore developments across Australia and the world.
“Our foreshore is unique, let’s keep it that way. The general consensus is let’s keep it that way,“ she said.
“Consultants outlined a vision after the initial feedback for the foreshore to be retained as peaceful, relaxed and naturally beautiful public place, accessible to all. “The foreshore is well loved and well used by all demographics from young to elderly who visit to walk swim, picnic, eat or just sit.
“It’s clear you have a clear goal to be acknowledged and have your sense of ownership and wellbeing accepted by council.“
Craig ’Chicko’ Vella emceed the rally, introducing several speakers and encouraging residents to sign petitions, which had garnered about 2000 signatures, make submissions on the proposed plan and speak to councillors.
Grant Upton spoke about the history of the Noosaville tennis court that was earmarked for removal in the plan.
“It was approved by council in 1946. As far as we can tell I don’t believe council built it,“ he said.
Mr Upton said tennis court members had rallied together to rebuild the court in 1976 and this wasn’t the first time council had tried to remove the court. It happened in the 1970s and 80s but residents fought against it and it remained, he said.
Sonja Boric told the rally the foreshore had been borne out of a vision and back breaking work of immigrant working class families who settled there over a century ago particularly of fishing and boating families, and she spoke to the crowd about amenity.
“I think it’s really important we understand amenity,“ she said.
“In property and land use its value is something considered to benefit the location, contribute to enjoyment and increases the land value.
“What does the real loss of amenity mean to the Noosa community? In light of the proposed plan, it relates to a loss of your quality of life as you know it and forced lifestyle changes you will have to endure, and that’s not on.
“It reaches deep into the minds and heart of the community. It strips bare the natural elements of any cultural identity and heritage values and those being the memories in the landscape. This is akin to ripping the soul out of the foreshore, it’s not necessary.“
Retired fisherman Trevor Clarey said he knew a lot of those families who played and made this (tennis) club what it is.
“This particular court was so important for the people here,“ he said.
“Don’t destroy this piece of dirt that gave so much enjoyment to all those families. I’m sure the club could work with Noosa Council and make it part of the redevelopment.“
Andrew McCarthy told the rally his family moved to the area in 1969 and he grew up running up and down the foreshore.
“This is our paradise,“ he said.
“When the beaches are full of visitors you can still get a park here and have a sausage on river. The reality is it only needs a bit of maintenance, repairing infrastructure, not much is needed.
“Who in their right mind would want to reduce parking. My 81 year old mum comes down to river on a weekly basis, just to sit. We have an ageing population, families with young kids and many residents using this space for family picnics.
“Are they being expected to park at Mary street or the library to go to the river? They won’t, they’ll just go home.
“Council are so far from knowing who uses the river and how they use it.
“At the June ordinary meeting of council mum asked why does council want to use our rates to exclude us from river by taking away over 100 carparks. Council’s response was to encourage active transport.
“Did you ever agree with this?“ he asked the rally to a firm “no“.
“Why try pushing people on to buses and scooters. Council needs to show leadership if they want us to jump on buses, bulldoze the council chambers carpark so they can jump on a bus or ride their bicycles. Until then hands off our carparks.
“Tell council to leave our foreshore alone.“
In response to the question from Mr McCarthy’s mum Shirley Nocente at the June meeting council stated:
“Council welcomes diverse views from the community as part of the consultation program for the draft plan to help set the optimal direction for this cherished foreshore and will certainly consider these views as part of its final deliberations.
“A key consideration is the opportunity to create more green space along the beautiful water edge for community enjoyment, which it can achieve through relocation of carparking spaces from the foreshore, to other nearby locations. “The Draft Master Plan proposed several locations to relocation of carparking spaces, but it is noted that drop off areas and disabled carparking spaces will need to be provided.
“In terms of the broader Noosa Council program about carparking management, council is committed to encouraging all residents and visitors to embrace public and active transport to reduce congestion as part of its endorsed Transportation Strategy, rather than trying to accommodate peak time carparking demand, which would be at the loss of open space and further exacerbate traffic congestion.
“Council is also committed to ensuring all our foreshores and public spaces are also as attractive as possible as part of our Noosa character and experience which is coveted by residents and visitors.“
Noosa councillors Amelia Lorentson, Jess Phillips and Nicola Wilson attended the rally to hear from residents.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie provided a letter he said was to be read at the rally but wasn’t. The letter appears in this week’s Noosa Today.
