Transport action
2023 is underway and just like the previous three years at council it is shaping up as a big one. This week our free holiday buses have clocked up more than 1 million passengers. Clearly, Noosa locals and visitors have embraced the Go Noosa Holiday program since its introduction. Along with providing free travel on all five local Tanslink bus routes, the program has introduced the Go Noosa loop bus and a temporary Peregian Beach to Noosa Heads service. This Christmas/New Year holidays also saw the introduction of the first electric bus, powered by 100 per cent renewable energy. On the back of this incredibly popular initiative, Noosa Council has continued to fund another 12 months of the Free Weekend Bus Trial. The trial includes existing Translink services 626,627,628,629 and 632 covering Tewantin, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Noosa Heads, Noosa Parklands, Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Cooran, Cooroy, and Pomona. We’re encouraging everyone to get out of their cars and on the free buses and take full advantage of the trial.
Hinterland works
Trail 5 works, including upgrading the trailhead facilities in both Pomona and Cooran will improve the trail experience and town connectivity. Works include realignment and widening of the trail, drainage upgrades and new wayfinding and interpretative signage. In Cooroora Mountain Park Pomona works include sealing of existing gravel car parks, pavement rehabilitation and drainage works, a new filtered water station and a new shelter, table, and chairs and in Pioneer Park Cooran, works include the installation of new concrete car parks, installation bollards and new hitching rails. To assist our trail users, new wayfinding and interpretative signage will be installed at Pioneer Park Cooran, Stan Topper Park and Cooroora Mountain Park, Pomona. This $1.68 million project has been made possible via funding from the Australian and Qld Governments’ Local Economic Recovery Program.
Hinterland infrastructure
Speaking of the hinterland, roadworks are set to get underway on Middle Creek Road in Federal this week. In a boost for the hinterland, the roadworks will improve safety and road conditions on Middle Creek Road, Federal between Federal State School, and Andersons Road. Middle Creek Road will remain open during the works and traffic control will be in place where needed. Council is conscious of the additional traffic using Middle Creek Road, while the Black Mountain landslide is being repaired. The upgrade of Middle Creek Road will provide a safer route for vehicles, once completed and all efforts will be made to minimise the disruptions during the upgrade works. Council is hopeful works will be completed in three months weather permitting and we thank residents and motorists for their patience while work is under way.
Health and wellbeing
Like most years, I start the year off with a resolution to be healthier and exercise more. This usually lasts until mid-February and by then life has gotten in the way and my best laid plans are just that, plans. However, with Noosa Council’s 2023 Living Well Programme up and running, getting healthy has become that much more accessible and easier providing low cost and free activities to improve your physical, social, spiritual and mental well-being. Living Well Noosa allows you to try yoga, tai chi, aqua aerobics, plus other activities, and events specially designed for seniors with our Living Well Seniors programme. The initiative takes a holistic approach addressing a range of health dimensions and is the first fully funded programme of this kind delivered by Noosa Council. Find out more at noosa.qld.gov.au/living-well-noosa
Environmental support
Noosa Council is pleased to be a part of the annual Clean-Up for Turtle Hatchlings Day. The event brings locals together to help clean-up local beaches to give turtle hatchings a clear passage as they make their way from the dunes to the water after hatching during February. It’s a long running and successful event, now in its 9th year. The dunes near Beach access 50 at Peregian Beach – a known turtle nesting area, will be this year’s Noosa clean-up site (northern end of Peregian Esplanade, opposite Lowry Street) and volunteers can now register for the clean-up between 6-7.30am on 4 February. Please see eventbrite.com.au/e/clean-up-for-hatchlings-peregian-beach-tickets-516374208157
Community Support
Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who donated as part of the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal. We were able to share several thousand dollars’ worth of gift vouchers between the charities and distribute plenty of wrapped gifts to those in need. A special thanks to the Tewantin RSL for being a collection point. Your generosity has helped make a big difference to those doing it tough at Christmas.
Until next month, stay safe, Clare.
