Noosa Today looks back at the stories that made news in 2025.
JANUARY
Murder on Screen
The picturesque Glass House Mountains are set to captivate audiences around the globe as the dramatic backdrop for a thrilling murder mystery intertwined with the breathtaking beauty of the Sunshine Coast.
The second smash-hit Stan original series of the acclaimed detective drama, Black Snow, is pre- miering this New Year’s Day and promises to de- liver a gripping tale and visual feast that highlights our region’s iconic hinterland.
Travis Fimmel, known for his roles in Boy Swallows Universe and Vikings, stars as Detective James Cormack in this new six-part series, which
delves into the mysterious disappearance of a young woman from her 21st birthday party in 2003.
Noosa visitor spend soars to $1.4 billion
Tourism Research Australia unveiled visitor statistics, revealing a surge in spending within the Noosa region.
Total spending in the Noosa Local Govern- ment Area (LGA) soared by 26 per cent to $1.45 billion in the year ending September 2024, show- casing Noosa’s enduring appeal and economic resilience, despite a drop in visitor numbers.
Tourism Noosa chief executive officer Sharon Raguse highlighted the significant increase in vis- itor spending as a testament to Noosa’s enduring appeal as a premier destination.
“While the drop in overall visitor numbers is a challenge, the increased spending per visitor is a positive sign that those who do come to Noosa are deeply engaged and enjoying their stay,” she said.
“We are especially pleased with the growth in international markets, with the UK showing re- markable gains. This reinforces the importance of our continued investment in international marketing and partnerships.
River safer under plan
After five stages of a six-stage Noosa River water management plan have been intro- duced, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) say the river is a safer area and they have been relatively pleased with the level of compliance with core safety issues but it is still too early to draw firm conclusions.
Over the busy holiday period people have taken to social media with several posts of bad boating behaviour including speeding, blocking beach access at Noosa Woods and overcrowding doggie beach.
An MSQ spokesperson said anecdotally, while most boaties are doing the right thing, the number of vessel operators not com- plying with speed and safety equipment remains a concern, and several Marine In- fringement Notices have been issued.
Elder abuse spike
The Sunshine Coast (237) and Wide Bay (253) ar- eas were the third and fourth most common plac- es in Queensland for elder abuse to be reported after Brisbane (462) and the Gold Coast (272), according to the latest Elder Abuse Statistics in Queensland 2023-24 Year in Review.
$7.2 Billion highway pledge
Gympie ambo Wayne Sachs was the hero of the moment when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese came to Gympie, pledging to spend $7.2 billion saving lives on the Bruce Highway.
It was Mr Sachs who 16 years ago convinced Mr Albanese, then Transport Minister, to begin upgrading regional sections of the Bruce High- way, starting south of Gympie.
He told Mr Albanese of the terrible toll of lost and damaged lives and the horror he experienced first hand as an ambulance officer.
Effectively launching Labor’s 2025 election campaign from that Gympie roadside, Mr Alba- nese was accompanied by Treasurer Jim Chalm- ers, a Queenslander, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and Queensland Senator Murray Watt.
All were effusive in their praise for the Gympie ambulance officer who they said had saved hun- dreds of lives already as a result of his powerful lobbying for a start on what is now Gympie’s Co- oroy to Curra bypass.
It was the start of what will be a decades long push to upgrade the most lethal length of national highway in Australia.
Crossing victory
After a parliamentary petition, lodged by Hinter- land resident Nick Cooke, advocacy by Noosa MP Sandy Bolton, an LNP election commitment and a ministerial meeting the wheels have been set in motion to deliver a pedestrian crossing on Factory Street, Pomona.
From corpse to beauty in one night
Neil and Lisa Paterson have some rare and un- usual plants at their Goomboorian nursery but few as odd as the Titan Arum or Corpse Flower.
Amorphophallus titanum has the larg- est unbranched inflorescence (flower) in the world.
It has taken five years to flower at Odd Spot Plants nursery and it blooms for one night.
Sport has not LGA boundaries
The Sunshine Coast Region 2032 Sports Legacy Taskforce has provided a submission for The Games Independent Infrastructure Review Au- thority’s consideration ahead of any infrastruc- ture and funding decisions.
In it they have highlighted the benefit for sporting infrastructure to be distributed across the region not only as a 2032 legacy but to meet the needs of the whole growing region.
A fare change
Noosa’s Go Noosa free holiday buses and free weekend bus service will be scrapped in light of the state government’s 50 cent fares and the funds diverted toward managing congestion, alleviat- ing pressure on the road network, and addressing parking challenges, according to a transport strat- egy report before council.
Noosa mourns two lives
Noosa teenagers Beau Liddell and Honor Ward are being mourned by the Noosa community af- ter their lives were tragically lost at Wappa Falls.
Beau Liddell, 17, is being remembered for his bravery and courage in his last moments when trying to save his friend Honor, 17, at the popular swimming hole.
ZEN sets out transport plans
Noosa Council’s Transport Strategy 2017-2027 was a great plan but without measurable out- comes, a clear action plan and insufficient funds it’s a failure of governance and impossible to progress, Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) members told council before suggesting four key outcomes and ways to achieve them.
“Number 1 desired outcome – residents of Noosa Shire are able to go about their everyday business without being reliant on private vehi- cles,“ ZEN member Vivien Griffin said.
Housing locked in
Noosa Council say new social housing will be delivered “as promised” and formerly unus- able council land freed up for other uses after a development at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive Cooroy was approved with the adop- tion of a confidential planning report in a closed council session. Described by council as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Noosa Shire, the proj- ect involves a subdivision for Lot 105 on Lake Macdonald Drive which “includes an architect- designed 25-unit social housing project, representing a significant investment by community housing provider Coast2Bay and a key action of the Noosa Housing Strategy”.
The project was met with significant opposition from residents raising multiple concerns on issues including its housing density, isolation from services, land remediation issues and loss of cemetery land.
All smiles as dispute ends
A new chapter has been marked in the Tewantin Noosa RSL Club’s history on Sunday 26 January as they revitalized their bond with the Sub-Branch.
It was all smiles at the official re-opening of the iconic Diggers Bar with live entertainment, games, raffles and free food.
The Club and Sub-Branch have resolved a drawn-out dispute and returned to a relationship that is now reflective of unity, pride and mate- ship.
FEBRUARY
New hub for all
The first step in creating a community-driven Hub to help people in need in the community was taken last Saturday with a meeting held at Events4GreaterGood’s (E4GG) new office at the former Tewantin police station on Poinciana Av- enue.
Well known as a global philanthropist who has long helped people through organising music fes- tivals and thrill-seeking events and in Noosa for helping the disadvantaged and disabled, Oz Bay- ldon initiated the meeting that was attended by
about 50 people.
Noosa’s top issues
With over 500 Noosa residents taking part in the an- nual Noosa MP survey, hospital and health services, crime and policing, and the management of the Noo- sa River were identified as the top three most impor- tant issues to our community.
Capital works challenges
Staff losses, construction industry pressures and a Capital Works Program well behind schedule have Noosa Council admitting to an over-opti- mistic budget target and the need to complete current projects ahead of seeking out grants for future ones.
At its Services and Organisation Committee meeting this month Council was presented with a mid-year status report that showed only a quar- ter of the $53.8 million Capital Works Program annual budget expenditure or $13.6 million had been achieved.
Johns Landing progress slow
More than seven years after Noosa Council pur- chased about 49 hectare of land in Cooroibah known as Johns Landing for $2 million, it plans to update its ecological restoration plan, but has made no progress on developing the land for community use though acknowledging com- munity interest in the site which borders Noosa River.
Strategy and Environment director Kim Rawlings said about 70 per cent of the site had been allocated for nature conservation and 30 per cent earmarked for future consideration of recreational use.
