MARCH
Cyclone watch
Noosa is on cyclone watch with Tropical Cyclone Alfred expected to cross the Queensland coast between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Thurs- day evening or Friday morning bringing signifi- cant wind, rain and coastal hazard impacts.
Noosa Council activated its Local Disaster Co- ordination Centre on Monday in preparation for the category 2 system and closed its holiday parks at Noosa River, Boreen Point and Noosa North Shore, urging campers and caravaners to leave.
Heroes of the sea
Cyclone Alfred brought treacherous surf, re- lentless rips, and dangerous conditions. Here are the extraordinary stories of that week:
Saving up to 100 lives in deadly surf (2 March) Lifeguards Thomas Cervi, Jake McKellar, Parish Watts, and Timmy Mulder, with a combined 60 years of experience, performed one of the most gruelling rescue operations ever witnessed. From 11am to 6pm, these professionals fought relent- less four-metre waves, 10-wave sets, and pow- erful E/NE swells to pull up to 100 surfers from deadly rips. They worked tirelessly to ensure ev- ery individual safely returned to shore. Without their heroics, it’s estimated that at least 10 lives would have been lost that day. Their endurance, skill, and determination turned a potential disas- ter into a miracle.
Workers strike
After negotiations since October have failed in obtaining an acceptable result, members of The Services Union (TSU) working at Noosa Council took strike action on Wednesday in pursuit of a fair Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA).
Surf dogs triumph
The sun shone on Noosa Main Beach as 14 teams of talented surf- ing dogs and their humans manoeuvred their way through an excited crowd of spectators at low tide for the 2025 VetShopAustralia Surf- ing Dog Championships in the much-loved event of the Noosa Festival of Surfing.
State revokes Tewantin SFD declaration
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie welcomed the planning minister’s decision to revoke the State Facilitated Development declaration for the pro- posed four-storey, 40-unit project in Tewantin. “The SFD process bypasses council and po- tentially allow developments of any height on any site, which if left unchecked could negatively impact the profile and liveability of Noosa forev- er,” he said.
APRIL
End of era as Noosa RSPCA shuts
After 32 years on the Sunshine Coast, RSPCA Noosa will relinquish its lease of the Noosa Council facilities on 31 May.
Transforming the lives of more than 33,000 animals since 1993 (with these figures only repre- senting data since records were digitised in 2002) through both the Noosa Council contract and delivering support for RSPCA animals through- out Queensland, RSPCA’s passionate staff and volunteers have positively impacted responsible pet ownership in the region over the past three decades.
Idolising Marshall
The crowd erupted in screams, cheers and over- whelming feelings of joy, pride and relief when 19-year-old superstar Marshall Hamburger was announced the 2025 Australian Idol on Monday night. Supporters had gathered at New York Minute at Noosa Junction to cheer on Marshall, affection- ately known as Burger Boy, at an event organised by the Channel 7 reality show and involving live crosses to the show throughout the grand final episode.
Council hit by strike
Six months after wage negotiations began in October without resolution, members of The Services Union (TSU) working at Noosa Council stepped up their action in pursuit of a fair Enterprise Bargaining Agreement with a march down Hastings Street last Thursday and work bans placing restrictions on emails, phone calls and meetings.
Workforce crisis
Noosa’s ageing population, housing too expen- sive for its “productive workforce“ and a low gross regional product (GRP) growth are strongly impacting Noosa’s economy and need urgent action, Noosa Chamber of Commerce president Ralph Rogers told guests at a chamber event host- ed by Noosa Today last week.
MAY
Crisis worsening
Data released from Anglicare Southern Queensland’s (ASQ) 2025 Rental Affordability Snapshot this week confirms the stark reality of the region’s housing crisis, with nearly zero af- fordable and appropriate rental properties avail- able on the Sunshine Coast for people on income support.
Since 2010, Anglicare Australia and a network of state and regional partners have conducted the annual Rental Affordability Snapshot. The 2025 data was captured by ASQ on all rental properties available across the region over the weekend of
16-17 March.
Of the 732 rental properties available in the
Sunshine Coast, only 2 (0.3percent) were afford- able and appropriate for households on income support, only 7 (0.1 percent) were affordable and appropriate for those on minimum wage, and across all household categories median rent on the Sunshine Coast for a couple on minimum wage with two children doesn’t fall below 44 per cent of household income.
Twinnies call out for help
Sunshine Coast twins Bridgette and Paula Powers have turned an interview last week that went viral into an opportunity to raise money to assist their rehabilitation of sick and injured pelicans and sea- birds.
The insync twins, captured the world for their ability to finish each other’s sentences, even ap- pearing on the US TV host Jimmy Kimmel show, after they spoke to reporters following a fatal acci- dent on the Bruce Highway and a second one on Steve Irwin Way.
Funding locked in
After a two hour special meeting Noosa Coun- cil last week voted 5:2 in favour of continuing its funding of Tourism Noosa (TN) with a one-year agreement reducing its annual payment from $2.5m to $2m, the transfer of events management and funding from TN to Council, the inclusion of a roadmap guiding future operations and new KPIs related to identifying new revenue sources.
Llew retains Wide Bay
It was a comfortable return to the division of Wide Bay for incumbent MP Llew O’Brien for the Lib- eral National Party, winning almost 39.36 per cent or 35,281 first preference votes and 58.43 per cent or 52,132 votes in the two party preferred prefer- ential vote count in the 2025 Federal Election.
Biggest ever tobacco raids
Wide Bay region were at the cen- tre of Australia’s biggest operation against illegal tobacco and vapes and largest ever haul, with more than $20 million worth of illicit products seized in March, the state government has revealed.
More than 30 locations were targeted under the Queensland Health-led Operation Appaloo- sa, with support from the Queensland Police Ser- vice and the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Officers seized 76,000 vapes, 19 million ciga- rettes and 3.6 tonnes of loose tobacco, with a combined estimated street value of $20.8 mil- lion, the spokesperson said.
50 years of meals
It’s been 50 years since Tewantin Noosa Meals on Wheels dished out their first community meals, cooked, at the time, by volunteers and ladled out of pots carried in the back of the car to clients who collected them in their own bowls and contain- ers.
At their Noosaville base to mark their mile- stone on 7 May, Noosa Meals on Wheels’ Jo Cun- ningham-Pettet said the organisation, that prepares and home delivers about 400 meals to clients across Noosa each week from its commercial kitchen, was “a lot better organised now“.
Noosa surf club shake up
Surf Life Saving Queensland has taken action to address serious allegations that were substantiat- ed during an independent investigation into Noo- sa Surf Club and appointed a “special manager” to take on the responsibilities of general manager and club president.
SLSQ appointed former Queensland police as- sistant commissioner Andy Henderson to conduct an independent investigation into the club after a Newscorp article reported on “a toxic culture at the club”.
Luxury hotel approved
A development application for a five-star hotel at Noosa Springs was approved at Noosa Council’s ordinary meeting, held last week at Cooroy Me- morial Hall, four years after an application was first submitted by resort owner GH Australia.
Over the years concerns raised about the de- velopment included the sites split zoning, the potential odour impacts of the nearby sewage treatment plant, bushfire risk, the impact on bio- diversity, car parking, the use of recreational fa- cilities and built form.
Deputations were put to council for the devel- opment from the applicant GH Australia and op- posed to it by Noosa Springs residents and sew- age treatment plant operator Unitywater which advised they were opposed to the proposed de- velopment based on insufficient separation being provided to the existing sewage treatment plant.
The approved application included several changes from the original including the reduc- tion in the size of the hotel from 106 to 69 beds with the removal of a pavilion located closest to the sewage treatment plant, a reduction in the size of its swimming pools, an increase the size of its amenities building for wellness facilities and an increase in a tennis court to pro-tour size.
Hinterland home triumphs
A Noosa hinterland haven has won the 2025 HIA- CSR House of the Year for architect-builder Sarah Waller.
Held in Melbourne, the award win recognised the integrity in both design and construction for the Blackwood Doonan project.
