Noosa councillor Amelia Lorentson
Why I supported the staff recommendation to approve the use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park Reserve for paid parking on a temporary basis over all Queensland school holidays and long weekends until 1 May 2024 and not the alternate motion.
At last week’s ordinary Meeting, Council resolved to support an alternate motion that reduces the period of paid parking to the upcoming Easter and Christmas period only. (Upheld 4:3)
What I said at the meeting:
I am disappointed that the staff recommendation was not supported.
The staff recommendation was a good plan, that would have enabled Council to make a considered and balanced decision about the future use of the park for carparking during peak periods.
This is a greenspace and should be returned to a greenspace.
But you can’t do this without a plan. And without options. Where are all these cars going to go? What does the community want?
What we are now stuck with is an alternate plan that in my opinion has not been properly considered.
What are the unintended consequences of the alternate motion (ie to reduce the period of paid carparking to Easter and Christmas only)?
Will there be an overflow of carparking in residential areas, along Noosa Parade? Will there be more competition for the limited existing carparking spaces? What will be the impact on traffic network and congestion? What’s the impact on Hasting Street workers and businesses? The lifeguards and volunteers?
Also, what impact will it have on the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club.
I spoke with the Lions Club after general meeting, and no surprise, they were upset at Monday’s general meeting decision to go against the staff recommendation to approve the use of the Noosa Heads Lions Park Reserve for paid parking on a temporary basis over all Queensland school holidays and long weekends until 1 May 2024 at last week’s general meeting.
The decision to support the alternate motion (4:3) reduces the period of paid parking to the upcoming Easter and Christmas period only.
The impact on the Lions Club, will be significant.
In fact, it has been estimated that the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club will lose approximately $65,000 through the gate and approximately $30,000 in profits to the club with the reduction of the mid-term and September school holidays.
Said another way, our community will lose these funds as every dollar raised by the Lions Club goes directly back into community projects such as the all access beach mat at Main Beach, the Seahorse Nipper program, personal care packs for those in needs, bladder scanners for Noosa Care and so on.
Last year, the club gave back into the community approximately $60,000 and have already donated that back this year and estimate over $80,000 will be donated when the club finishes their financial year in June.
They gave money to various Lions’ organisations like hearing dogs and various national Lions’ projects but as an organisation’s direction this is limited to 20 per cent of funds raised. That means 80 per cent of what the Noosa Lions Club raises goes into the local community.
Without some major changes to the structure of the current arrangements they will not be able to recoup the lost revenue. And that is upsetting for both the club and our community.
I am hoping that my amendment to offer assistance to transition to the Tewantin Noosa Lions Club in sourcing future fundraising opportunities as they become available will provide some opportunity for the club to recoup the lost revenue.
And finally, food for thought.
Is charging visitors to temporarily park (until May 2024) during peak holiday periods only, in an open space that most locals are not likely to use nor access during peak holiday periods, and using those funds towards local projects, taking from the community or giving back to the community?
Although I did not support the alternate motion, I accept the decision made by the majority of council on this matter.
Please note this is my personal opinion and does not represent the position of council.
