By JONATHON HOWARD
A GROUP of residents opposed to the EDV re-boundary bid has emerged this week under the title Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc.
Alliance chairman and fourth generation Noosa shire resident, Steve Bennett, said the group was opposed to Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs joining Noosa Council.
“Noosa can’t afford us… they can’t continue to offer the same level of service and they can’t keep the maintenance up on the areas,” he said.
“We want to make it quite clear that the alliance loves Noosa – we work and play in Noosa and frequent the shops and attractions there.
“However, the romantic idea of de-amalgamation is simply not stacking up, we don’t want to be a part of it – nor do we want to be a part of what we see as a failing Noosa Council.”
Mr Bennett said the alliance favoured the Sunshine Coast Council’s divisional structure and heaped praise on Cr Steve Robinson.
“These areas should remain part of the Sunshine Coast Council as they have done for more than the past 100 years,” he said.
“While we love Noosa and we love the Sunshine Coast, we just don’t want to be a part of a council that we believe is on track towards financial ruin.”
Mr Bennett said the alliance saw the future of Noosa Council as unstable.
“The Sunshine Coast Council is sustainable and stable, but Noosa Council appears like a basket case,” he said.
“We’re seeing a future forecast for the Sunshine Coast region that’s bright and we’re happy with Mayor Mark Jamieson and Cr Steve Robinson and they have done good things in our area.
“We don’t want to be lumped with a tourism levy or service levy that’s imposed on places like Hastings Street.”
Mr Bennett said his members, which total 65 and growing, were concerned about future bus services under Noosa Council.
“There’s some concern about whether Noosa Council would support a bus route to service Eumundi,” he said.
Despite Mr Bennett’s strong views, he said he was not interested in a head-butting competition with EDV president Johanne Wright, however, he has raised concerns about Ms Wright’s survey results.
He said the survey results to determine public sentiment were “questionable at best”.
Surveys carried out by the EDV had revealed a majority, 80 per cent, of residents living in the EDV areas were supportive of joining Noosa Council.
“There are some questions around the EDV’s survey results including the way in which the survey was carried out and who was included,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli has been informed of the Sunshine Coast Council’s mayoral minute against the EDV re-boundary.
The Sunshine Coast Council is awaiting a response from the minister who has previously advised that both councils would need to agree on the boundary changes in order to proceed.
To find out more about the Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc, contact chairman Steve Bennett on 0407 544 888 or 0412 274 235.
