Speaking out

MAYORAL candidates faced tough questions last week at a breakfast meeting held by the Noosaville Association and Noosaville Business Association.
Members of the associations joined mayoral and council candidates to discuss issues relevant to the Noosaville business community which included tourism, traffic, commercial expansion and the Noosa River Foreshore.
MC Andy Phipps asked the mayoral candidates where they stood on the issue of permanent residents “taking up tourist beds” and asked what steps candidates would take “to stop the loss of holiday beds in the region”.
Cr Bolton said the issue of permanent residents in holiday accommodation, while monitored by council, was linked to an underlying issue of affordable housing which needed to be addressed first.
“This is a cause and effect issue; there is limited affordable housing so people live in holiday accommodation,” Cr Bolton said.
“We need to address this in a holistic fashion by addressing the underlying cause, which is affordable housing, and lack of, so we can move on from there.”
Candidates were also asked if they supported the Noosaville Business Association’s proposed monthly riverfront markets, recently rejected by council.
Cr Wellington responded to the question by clarifying council had not rejected the proposal as it was never put before council. Cr Wellington said it was in fact staff who made the decision and if the application did come before council the “pros and cons would be considered”.
Cr Wellington said a master plan would need to be considered in regards to the use of the entire foreshore as the demand for different activities by multiple applicants was “never ending”.
“We don’t just have the market as an opportunity here, we also have the situation with the coffee shops utilising community land for their purposes and we have constant pressure on this foreshore,” Cr Wellington said.
The Reef Street roundabout was also a hot topic at the breakfast. Mayoral candidate Ray Kelly said he was concerned and suggested possible solutions to battle the congestion.
“A couple of ways to address the traffic could be to look at a carpark which is out of town a little bit and running buses backwards and forwards,” Mr Kelly said.
“The ferry is also very important here, too – you can park your car and utilise the ferry.”
“We could also look at a no-car zone for particular hours during the day.”