As we head into our colder months, with political overtones on numerous fronts, it is always interesting to see what comes up at election times, including warnings from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) regarding those postal vote applications that we have been lobbying state government to do away with for the last three years. May the federal efforts see our new state government prioritise transparency for Queenslanders and end the ‘hoodwinking’ that there is no need for. Now, to some updates!
Small businesses have your say.
Visiting our businesses throughout the year provides valuable feedback in order to advocate to state government, and my office recently posted updates to Noosa 360 on progress made on these, including further support for our small businesses. However, more is needed, and we are currently asking for owners and operators to have their say on the Small Business Commissioner’s reducing red tape and small business impact surveys. Links are available on our Facebook page at facebook.com/SandyBoltonNoosa, and please send copies of any submissions to our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au to inform our ongoing efforts. A reminder that state government has staff available to discuss any business issues and give individual advice regarding supports or services available – call 1300 654 687 or visit cdsb.qld.gov.au/small-and-family-business.
Increased police and maritime patrols
Tactical plans over the school holidays for Noosa and the Sunshine Coast are seeing a ‘zero tolerance’ approach, which includes deployment of extra highway patrol officers to North Shore, Teewah Beach and Rainbow Beach, roadside breath and drug tests, speed enforcement, seatbelt monitoring, and illegal modifications and defective vehicles compliance. Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) are also conducting an intensive compliance campaign on our waterways, focusing on failure to wear a lifejacket and excessive speed, the two leading causes of boating fatalities.
Noosa River Management Plan
Speaking of waterways, as previously advised, the next stage of safety improvements to our Noosa River will be implemented on 31 May. Vessels over five metres will no longer be able to anchor within 30 metres of the northern shore of the Noosa River from the Noosa Coastal Bar to Lake Cooroibah, including Goat Island, or the southern shore from Lake Doonella to Lake Cooroibah, including Makepeace and Sheep Islands. As a result of our advocacy, the existing trial, which allows an exemption for vessels between five and 7.5 metres to anchor near the shore for up to two hours a day, will also apply to these new areas. While there has been some commentary questioning and criticising each stage of these changes, there has also been many supportive of the progress to date, including the preparedness of MSQ to respond to feedback. As we travel through these final changes, I ask anyone with concerns to contact MSQ direct at sunshinecoast.maritime@msq.qld.gov.au and please cc us via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au to ensure historical issues are addressed in line with community expectations.
Noosa Hospital
We recently met with Noosa Hospital chief executive officer Karl van der Merwe, Director of Finance and Support Services Dean Moore and Ramsay Health Care Australia chief executive officer Carmel Monaghan to check on the emergency expansion progress, with no concerns raised by Ramsay. Having reiterated to the new Queensland Health Minister the importance of continuing to move forward as quickly as possible, the Minister advised Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) continues to work with Ramsay to further expand the Noosa Hospital, to meet growing community demands and deliver high quality public health services locally.
State Facilitated Developments (SFD)
Given my stand against the Bill that allowed this process from the start, the decision by the Deputy Premier to revoke the SFD for Tewantin was welcomed by the community and demonstrated the new state government’s commitment to not override local governments and their planning schemes. Although we can all become fatigued in answering surveys or providing feedback when asked, this result shows how important it is, and I thank every resident who takes the time to do so. The Minister’s decision has provided relief for the community, who overwhelmingly opposed the project due to several factors, including excessive height and lack of genuinely affordable units. All levels of government understand the importance of delivering affordable housing, and after years of inaction and then overreach through the SFD pathway, we look forward to seeing upcoming projects where developers are collaborating with Noosa Council being realised, including the state-owned Doonella Street site. Meanwhile, we will continue to advocate for revising and refining the definition of ‘affordable’!
Electric bikes, scooters and illegal motorbikes
In Parliament, I requested the government implement innovative and proactive solutions to further curb reckless and dangerous electric bike, scooter, and illegal motorbike usage. We have raised the dangers since 2022, and while there has been some action, including new enforcement laws, it has not been enough. We compiled and sent recommendations to the relevant ministers from our first responders, local community groups and residents on what urgent reforms are needed to increase community safety, including enhanced monitoring, awareness and education in schools, and potential licensing and registration for legal e-bikes. We thank the previous state government for the progress so far and look to our new government to listen to communities across Queensland. Excuses that licensing and registration are too hard or expensive do not pass the ‘pub test.’
2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games update
With the plan now released, we have seen many positives, including those in line with the 2023 United Crossbench Statement, such as the halting of the Gabba rebuild, adherence to the $7.1 billion budget and more regional legacy infrastructure. Although the government announced that athlete accommodations, including in Maroochydore, would be used for housing after 2032, the term “affordable“ was absent, and we will continue to advocate that this accommodation be transferred to community housing providers to ensure affordability for key worker families. There’s much work ahead in a short time, including resolving housing, transport, and infrastructure issues before the Games and ensuring sporting facility upgrades for training.
Domestic and family violence (DFV)
We sought confirmation that improvements to the Maroochydore Courthouse to provide greater services to those impacted by DFV will continue as planned, with the new Attorney General (AG) providing reassurances in response and, while a specialist court is not currently planned for the Sunshine Coast, key elements will be introduced in Maroochydore to improve the experience and safety of residents with DFV matters. For specifics on what is being delivered and what more is needed, please check Noosa 360.
Queensland Procurement Policy (QPP)
The QPP is the state government’s overarching policy for the procurement of goods and services, with the intent of the local benefits test being to evaluate the benefits any supplier would bring to the local area. We have been advocating for reform of this policy due to clear flaws, including lack of public consultation and inclusion of whole of community impacts. While the policy appears to focus on benefits, procurements choices can cause and impose costs on local communities, such as inappropriate volumes of heavy haulage passing through towns, impacting amenity, infrastructure, wildlife and local businesses, and these effects need to be captured in procurement assessments. The QPP is currently under review, and in their latest response, the Public Works Minister has confirmed that our suggestions for public consultation and consideration of impacts on the community will be considered.
Queensland Day Awards
Nominations are now open for the Queensland Day Awards to celebrate our Noosa volunteers, and I look forward to that part of the ceremony where I can give each volunteer a huge hug to thank them for their tireless work in our community! Until 12pm on 19 May, local community groups can nominate up to two individuals who have not received one before and have volunteered for at least two years within or provided services to the Noosa state electorate. All successful nominees will receive a personalised medallion and a certificate of recognition at the ceremony on Friday 6 June at The J. For more information or to complete an online nomination, visit sandybolton.com/qld-day-awards. Hard copies of the nomination forms are also available from our office.
With our columns, social media and newsletter never ‘enough’ to share all information, please visit our website (sandybolton.com), where you can search by topic at Noosa 360 and subscribe to our newsletter while there, which ensures you receive any state-related Noosa polls or surveys. As always, please contact our office for assistance via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au or 53193100, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
To finish, putting on my ‘mother and grandmother’ hat regarding keeping everyone safe, I call on ALL parents/grandparents to check the rules and laws surrounding e-bikes, scooters and motorbikes and discuss the realities with your children and grandchildren. No one wishes to see the trauma and tragic consequences for any rider or those they collide with, and we need EVERYONE on board to end these dangers!
As I write, I am with Shoey on his ’annual’ trip, this time in Egypt, with poor internet, unrelenting dust, 43-degree heat, very sore feet and a spinning head from all we have learnt in a week! Much is so different, and then similar. Young professionals unable to afford housing, spiralling cost of living, and how to manage plastics, pollution and other byproducts of our existence. My main takeout? We are truly blessed to live where we live, and every day need to give gratitude, be kind, and avoid sweating the ’small’ stuff!
Have a wonderful Easter, everyone, until next month!
Sandy
