It was an orderly audience in the Cooroy Memorial Hall last Thursday as residents filled rows from the stage to the back wall to hear from candidates vying for places on Noosa Council at the local government election on 16 March.
MC Richard Hansen set the rules of the Cooroy Chamber of Commerce event giving each candidate three minutes, on the clock, to present their pitch to the voters.
Kicking off with the Mayoral candidates John Morrall was first at the podium, setting the standard by giving an overview of his career history and his reasons for running for council and was followed by 15 of the 18 registered candidates. Jess Phillips sent apologies, unable to attend because of prior work commitments. Andrea Newland arrived 50 minutes into the event, missing her chance to respond to the first question.
Giving their reasons for running for Council candidates said:
John Morrall
Why am I running? Because I have a broad of knowledge in three industries – hospitality, retail, fitness. They are big industries in our community.
I have a broad range of knowledge of budgeting, finance, focusing on future development in industry, business.
I love my community, that’s the only reason I am standing up, I love everything about it.
My business has been a high volume business for 26 years. I’ve listened to every person whose been through my store, so I hear you and I know what you want. I’ve never failed in my life I won’t fail this time.
Ingrid Jackson
I will build on previous achievements improving council transparency and accountability, ensure a more respectful council in and outside of meetings, in relations with staff and dealing with residents. One of my important priorities is to achieve the intent of the Noosa Plan, which has a 20-year vision to achieve community wellbeing, economic prosperity and protection of shires natural assets, often this picture is forgotten on focusing narrowing on parts of the plan.
I want to see the biosphere more faithfully reflecting Unesco’s intent to see people working together to create a more resilient and thriving community in harmony with nature. It’s meant to be about people not just environment.
A key priority is to get action on strategies and plans that have seen community consultation but never been fully implemented and includes the transport strategy, cycling and walking strategy, housing strategy and health and wellbeing plan.
With the community I want to minimise Kin Kin quarry trucks, seek agreement on Cooroy’s intersections. I’m committed to listening.
Nick Hluszlo
I believe Council has lost its way.
There are three issues as I see it. Council is in disarray in terms of its staffing. You cannot have over 100 vacancies.
You cannot have an organisation run by 80 contractors and casual staff.
You cannot have an organisation that has a staff turnover of 46 per cent in less than two years and expect the culture to be efficient and productive. I’ve never seen anything like it.
My foremost priority is to make sure we get the right people to do the right job and deliver the right services at the right price.
Frank Wilkie
My focus is on making our shire a great place to live for family and also a great place to visit and set up a business.
Some of my key aims include effective service and responsible budgeting, sustainable finance practices are key to council’s strong rating.
Hinterland residents often feel isolated, so I propose regular Council meetings be held in hinterland townships so you get an opportunity to be face to face with councillors and staff, if you want that.
I will suggest introducing portfolios so councillors can be contacted for specific area of operations.
I support investigating whether you want to expand community support programs instigated for the wellbeing of residents.
When it comes to financial support you will not be forgotten.
I’d request a review of principles on sealed gravel roads.
Mathieu Bankes
I look forward to helping people to support their goals, achieving what they truly value.
I’m in a position where I can help others.
The reason I did it, I kept hearing the majority of people are just surviving, doing their best.
I’m here to support this community.
Joe Jurisevic
My priorities are the Noosa plan. The State Government is intent on a population of five million as part of SEQ regional plan. Our challenge is to manage the impacts to maintain our standard of living, including short term lets and more affordable housing.
We need to focus on severe weather impacts on the economy and the system.
We need to improve removing food and waste from landfill. This is a major undertaking to enhance recycling and recycled products.
I will continue to advocate for public transport including free buses every day, through the introduction of paid parking in the Hastings Street precinct.
I will continue to advocate for improvements to Cooroy. Congestion and parking continue to be a focus for improvement.
Karen Finzel
A driving force in our lives has always been to see people treated fairly and live in a respected community where our natural environment is valued.
I am committed to authentic leadership focused on caring for our environment and each other.
I am committed to advocacy for programs to deliver greater services for young people.
My priorities for 2024 include acquiring housing for all. This requires all levels of government working together.
I will use my leadership capacity to not shy away from informed decision making and delivery.
I will continue to fight for prioritisation of connectivity and safe roads around the shire especially the hinterland.
I am passionate about people and focus on how we can live in harmony with natural and urban environment.
I believe in equal distribution and community input on funding and policy reviews to meet the demands of a contemporary society.
Michelle Ngatai-Stokes
I’ll be focusing attention on five areas:
1. to ensure open dialogues to create a community to make solutions together, have community meetings held monthly with councillors attending each meeting. Get back to basics, get back to the people.
2. to leave a legacy we could be proud of. We live in place of natural beauty but there’s been more destruction in the last four years.
3. to work with local businesses to ensure a thriving economy, to buy local, spend local, making clear this is our goal; less partnership with global corporations whose revenue does not stay in the community.
4. honour our past and protect our lifestyle by allocating resources to the right things.
5. protect the health and safety of our people and the future.
Chris Darwen
Why I decided to run for council, it comes down to frustration.
I drive around the community and I see things I want to fix up.
I see people talking about the same topics. Things I’m focused on – the river. I don’t want to see it locked up, I want to see people enjoying it.
I want to focus on things on the land.
The Noosa plan – I want to see, with our changing environment, it still rings true.
Alecia Staines
People tell me they want hands on, visible and hardworking representation.
The hinterland community feels forgotten, little things like shade has been overlooked, footpaths, parking, public toilets need addressing.
They’re keen to have constituents works across the shire to sort out parking, traffic congestion.
I’m committed to being accessible, transparent in decision making, ensuring we get the best outcomes.
I will be setting aside teaching to serve my community the best that I can.
Leigh McCready
Numbers and people are my two strength and those are the things I’d like to bring to Council.
The reason I’m running is I’ve witnessed this growing disconnect between our councillors, our Council staff and the community. We’ve got an opportunity at this election to heal the rift and start to be listened to especially in the hinterland. I love solving problems and I do get things done. In terms of policies, I have come out strongly saying there should be no commercial development in national parks. I’d like to see us bring back kerbside rubbish collection and I’d like to get back to basics.
Brian Stockwell
This election is all about the liveability of our community and the environment.
I’ll advocate for the top five values in our liveability survey. They were elements of natural environment, protection of the natural environment, general condition of public open space, local businesses, sense of neighbourhood safety
I’ll continue to advocate for increased funding in walking-cycling paths.
Housing crisis – the worst performing area. I’ll continue to argue for major investment from other levels of government to fund new affordable housing for our community. I’ll continue to support our hinterland character and the implementation of the recommendations of the heritage review in the Noosa Plan.
I have the local knowledge and skills to work with community to protect those values you’ve told us are important.
Nicola Wilson
My mission will be to make sure ratepayers money is being used in the best interests of the whole community and is focused on basics – roads, bridges, traffic, parking waste, and protecting our environment. The issue I’m hearing most is housing.
Council can do more like freeing up land, allowing more homes on large blocks. It can also crack down on STA properties and return homes to residents.
The population is just going to keep growing. We need to find solutions to the way our community wants to live now and into the future. I tell it like it is and stand up for what’s right. Tourists are welcome but residents come first.
Amelia Lorentson
I’m dedicated to maintaining my focus on prioritising residents, dedicated to supporting Kin Kin community, lessening the impact of the quarry. Preserving the character of the hinterland is a priority for me.
I’m dedicated to supporting local businesses and acknowledging the vital contribution they make to the community. My focus remains steadfast, I’m delivering results for all Noosa residents.
I’ve been a vocal advocate for environmental initiatives including wastewater recycling. Every decision should be guided by commitment to ensuring fairness to all residents.
Best outcomes are achieved when residents are engaged. I have never been afraid to stand up for what is right, what is fair and community consultation. I’m working for you.
Tom Wegener
What do these incredible groups (in the hinterland) have in common. Their success starts with Noosa Council. Noosa Council has been fantastic for the hinterland. Working in partnership with Noosa Council we have the businesses running well, the economy running well, we have happy residents. You have strong community groups. When you have all three working together, that’s fantastic.
I stand for the hinterland.
Fiona Jacobs
The rise in tourism, population growth has brought opportunities but also pressing challenges, particularly in business operation. One of most pressing issues we face is the housing crisis, and availability of affordable housing.
We must refocus our efforts on supporting all small, local business ensuring their viability. This mean addressing critical issues like parking, traffic congestion and improving our roads.
We can’t afford to delay crucial environmental projects vital for the health of our environment and businesses.
We must strike a balance between promoting tourists and preserving the essence of what makes our community special. We can’t allow unsustainable levels of tourists. Our ultimate goal must be to create a community where residents come first.
