Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie
In the interest of balance, Noosa Today’s front pager “Keep the Carpark” could have mentioned that, as agreed with the community in September 2020, use of Lions Park for car parking on long weekends and school holidays was only ever intended as a temporary measure during COVID.
It was done to encourage the drive tourism/day visitor market while borders were closed to interstate and overseas visitors during the pandemic.
Borders are back open, the state’s COVID declaration ended in October 2022.
The Drive market now has well and truly discovered Noosa. There’s no need to encourage it any longer.
The commitment to return the Lions Park to recreation uses was honoured.
Respected business group representatives are reporting trade being back to above pre-COVID levels.
Tourism Noosa is again targeting the “fly-in” interstate and overseas visitor, who spend more and don’t add to traffic congestion.
There are more options for travel now. During COVID, free buses on every weekend were added to the shire-wide network.
Buses run every 15 minutes between the Junction and the Heads. Average trip time in peak periods is six minutes. The longest trip time recorded is 17minutes.
Walking and cycling pathways feeding into the precinct have been significantly upgraded.
Electric bikes and scooters have made Noosa Hill less of an obstacle for residents of all ages.
The Noosa Transport strategy focuses on moving people not cars. Record numbers are now accessing the Heads by means other than the car.
There remain 1500 other car spaces and drop-off zones in the precinct for those who want to keep driving in.
Work is underway to find alternative funding sources to deliver subsidised free buses all year round and expand the network to include Noosa Woods and Noosa National Park.
It’s true the revenue collected funds great community work by the Lions and council is committed to helping boost alternative revenue sources.
Council’s share of the cash take goes towards repairing the park land’s damaged grass, sub-surface drainage, addressing impacts on tree root systems, the cost of fencing off the children’s playground and barbeque areas, signage and tickets, plus Go Noosa initiatives.
Have your say on future uses.
The Lions Park will continue to be used for car parking, mostly by visitors from outside the shire, next Christmas and Easter.
During that time, there will be public consultation, possibly as part of the Destination Management Plan, to determine what we collectively want residents and visitors to experience in peak periods in our shire.
How we use and respect our green spaces into the future will be a part of that question.
