Ugly election
IT IS so disappointing to read the ugliness in the Letters to the Editor regarding mayoral candidates for the coming election.
Supporters should speak about why their candidates are the best person for the job, not denigrate others.
We are constantly reminded about the impacts of bullying and intimidation this has on people and communities.
Why then do we allow this in our papers? What example does this set for children?
I am sure all three candidates have good qualities however I have given my support to Sandy Bolton because of who she is and what she does on a daily basis.
She has given organisations, including ours, so much assistance and has personally helped a number of our mums dealing with domestic violence while living with the stress of looking after their disabled sons or daughters.
It is distressing to see supporters of another candidate writing total rubbish about Sandy to try and discredit her and the work that she does for political gain.
Maybe they should spend some time with her, or talk to those who do, and know.
Noosa is so much better than this and it is time that our media stop supporting this type of behaviour, and not just at election time.
I’m sure anyone in this community would want a mayoral leader who has compassion, empathy and a real and genuine care for our people.
Thanks Sandy for always making time, especially during the past couple of years, to mingle with our members and attend our events.
Leanne Walsh,
Noosa.
Ken gets my vote
I HAVE lived in the Noosa shire for 40 years, worked here all that time, raised a family here, been a member of numerous community organisations, and a councillor representing this community in both the Noosa Council and the Sunshine Coast Council for a total of 15 years.
In all of this time I have never seen a greater need than now for there to be a change in Noosa Council.
What this community needs from this election are elected representatives who are honest, have a passion and some clear vision for a positive future, have integrity and work ethic.
I believe Ken Coleman is such a person.
Lew Brennan,
Cooran.
Everyone’s candidate
F BRANDT, (Noosa Today, 10 March) implies that because I have election signage outside certain businesses, that I must be the candidate for those people.
As a genuinely independent candidate, I want to represent the people who desire positive change in our community.
I also have my signs in front of a single parent’s home, a middle-class family’s home, a retired couples home and a struggling young family’s home, as well as other business premises.
I guess I am a candidate for all those people too.
Ken Coleman,
Tewantin.
Look at me, not the truth
IN THE final days before a local government election, we’re familiar with the spectacle of candidates desperately hunting for headlines that might win some attention and a few votes.
Truth and common sense are often the casualties as candidates entice the electorate to “look at me, look at me”.
Candidate Ingrid Jackson appeared to be taking this low road in last week’s Noosa Today front page with her claims that Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation’s “governance seems muddled, and there is no transparency”.
I’m not aware of any contact or approach the candidate has made to the foundation since it started operations eight months ago, so it’s difficult to know exactly what ‘transparency’ she seeks.
The foundation reported to council last month as part of its funding agreement and it issues media releases when it has something to report.
The candidate also claims the foundation appears to be “failing” at its “primary task” of raising funds. Wrong again.
The foundation’s constitution says its principal objects are “for the charitable purposes of protecting and enhancing the natural environment”.
Even so, the foundation has secured almost $300,000 in external funds to add to $600,000 of Environment Levy funds and almost $1 million of in-kind contributions to fund six projects over the next three years.
That includes major projects to reduce erosion in the Noosa River catchment and improve fish and prawn stocks in the river and lakes.
All of this was revealed in local media last month.
It’s difficult getting noticed in the heat and hyperbole of an election campaign but that’s no excuse for ignorant and unfounded criticism of volunteers who have done a tremendous amount of work in a short space of time.
Noel Playford,
Mayor of Noosa.
Exaggerated claims
SAM Scanlon’s letter (Noosa Today, 10 March) makes a series of wrong claims.
He says I joined the Friends of Noosa committee in January 2008. This is not true. I was invited by Jim Berardo to join the committee in August 2007.
Mr Scanlon says I was not a paid up member of the organisation.
When Friends of Noosa was established, they asked for a membership fee but the organisation rapidly came to the conclusion that it was better to have a free, open membership.
I was on their mail list as a member from the time I joined the committee.
It may be that I wasn’t on the final membership list in November 2012 because by that time I was representing Noosa on the Sunshine Coast Council.
Mr Scanlon asks me to explain my leadership roles in the de-amalgamation movement. Here is a very brief summary.
I documented the entire process in photographs, many of which have been used by newspapers, community groups, websites, in books etc.
In 2009, I established the Greater Noosa Collective and an interactive website greaternoosa.com to push for de-amalgamation with inclusion of the EDV area.
Between October 2009 and January 2012 I wrote and published an email newsletter, The Noosa Gumshoe, which had de-amalgamation as its primary aim.
I was a founding committee member of the Noosa Independence Alliance in 2010, and remained on that committee until I was elected to the Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) in 2012.
I stood for the SCC on a de-amalgamation platform. The only candidate to replace a sitting councillor, my election was widely viewed as an endorsement for de-amalgamation.
Whilst on the SCC, I spoke up on Noosa’s behalf at various meetings held between Local Government Minister Crisafulli and council.
I argued within council for Noosa’s de-amalgamation and took on the SCC mayor publicly over claims being made about costs and impacts.
If Mr Scanlon views my role in the de-amalgamation of Noosa as “an exaggeration”, then I would like to know what more I could have done.
Tony Wellington,
Noosa.
Paid-up poll
THERE appears to be similarities to the last council election campaign occurring again this time.
An all-out effort, including TV ads, was made to have Patricia Petersen elected as mayor.
We asked then, as we do now, who is paying for all this and is there a hidden agenda.
If candidates have nothing to hide, declare donations before pre-polling opens next week so that we the people of Noosa Shire can make an informed choice on who we give our vote to.
We will not be rushing in to pre-polling until there is more information available.
J. Pegan,
Noosaville.
Biosphere branding
TO THE reference to Noosa Biosphere Backlash. I believe in the principle theory behind the biosphere is good. Scott Williams is quoted as saying the biosphere boost tourism in Noosa. What is the evidence to that statement?
And continues on that the Europe visitors particular understand the economic and environmental benefits of being in a biosphere.
Well Scott, if you have been travelling along the Croatia coastal towns and coast line and through the Adriatic sea, the damage that was done by the war back in 2000 in the biosphere regions and heritage list areas was horrendous.
Did UNESCO provide any assistance – no! The allied forces were the ones that came to help the areas out. UNESO is an arm of the United Nations and no action was taken, it fell on deaf ears.
So why do we belong to a left wing social academic organisation.
We should be exporting not importing our environmental and economic ways in Noosa.
Mr Horn’s statement about what can the biosphere do for you, but what you can do for the Noosa biosphere, that is fine but most people of the Noosa shire have not got a clue what is the a Noosa biosphere, is it NCBA, or NBFL.
Go to the web site and more confusion. What about a good community communication program? The other way is get out of the UNESCO, go back to Noosa doing its own brand.
Ray Kelly,
Noosa.
Plan for the future
WITH local government elections looming I hope that the people of the NSC area realise that many of the current NSC councillors are either members, married to members, or are affiliated with the Noosa Parks Association.
During the past term many of these councillors have done exceptionally well at delivering many sizable grants to both the NPA and the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, of which we have seen absolutely no economic benefits for a business community that is faltering.
Other community groups have been denied grants in favour of the NPA/NBRF.
Clearly many of the current NSC councillors’ integrity is severely compromised and there had been major conflicts of interest.
Noosa needs more than just an environmental plan – it needs an economic development plan to drive sustainability of existing local businesses. Noosa needs a new council that is not being run by the trustees of the NPA.
Noosa needs councillors whose integrity is not compromised and are independent from the NPA and affiliated groups.
People like Ray Kelly and Ken Coleman who are honest, reliable, community minded and have integrity.
Steve Bennett,
Noosa.
At the edge
NOOSA has its bats problem but Doonan-Verrierdale surely has a crow problem.
Yes, the crows are again in flight and squawking on the Noosa-Sunshine Coast boundary.
The EDV pressure group were there in numbers at the local government Meet the Candidates night at Eumundi on Tuesday night causing havoc.
The agenda was hijacked by the same line of questioning at every opportunity.
Their sole interest appeared to be which mayoral/ councillor candidates would be active enough to get them a Boundary Change Commissioner to change the Noosa-Sunshine Coast Shire boundary.
This would involve carving off part of our shire just to be part of the Noosa image with no economic or social benefit.
No or unseen interest in what would bring jobs for our young people and little if any opportunity for candidates to elaborate on their vision beyond motherhood statements.
In two words – bloody disgraceful!
Others in the room came to hear what the candidates had to offer having no doubt given thought to the opportunities being presented here on the Sunshine Coast.
I came away from the meeting with the conclusion that we won’t be able to get any better than who we have representing us now.
Jack Twyford,
Doonan.
Community cause
THE Eumundi/ Doonan/ Verriedale (EDV) organisation’s renewed activity seems to be a lost cause – Sunshine Coast Council has no interest in relinquishing these long-held communities.
Why would anyone want to leave one of the best councils in Queensland for a de-amalgamated, under resourced, retrograde council that’s focussed on vested interests?
John Lobb,
Peregian Springs.
Sinking feelings
JOY Ringrose your misinformed attack on Sandy Bolton makes those who worked and volunteered with her, very upset.
You have no knowledge of the circumstances nor the history of the passionate efforts by us and Sandy to save both the sport of bowls for Cooroy and the hall.
The facts are testimony to this person that never gives up, and even when the chips were down, found ways to keep us afloat.
Karen Marriott,
Noosa.
Ideas man
THE most important thing to say about Mr Scanlon’s letter (Noosa Today, 10 March) is that he represents a political class displaying all that is wrong with politics in Australia.
His biggest problem seems to be ‘time served’ on Friends of Noosa, instead of ‘action taken’, or ‘results achieved’.
I served alongside Tony on FON and can set the record straight as follows.
Tony was an integral part of FON from August 2007 until well into 2008.
He and I both exited the committee which was being massively ‘side-tracked’ by a Labor party sympathiser and ex-public servant whose biggest aim was to drink cups of tea with peripheral Labor party time wasters.
The point is, Tony was an extraordinary committee member, full of great ideas and ways to implement them.
He has continued this form across subsequent gigs on the Sunshine Coast Council and now Noosa Council.
He is, by a wide margin, the only mayoral candidate Noosa can trust with its future.
Greg Reddaway,
Noosa.
Experience and skills
WHEN weighing up what qualifies the candidates to represent the Noosa region as mayor I am looking for experience where it counts.
Ray Kelly certainly has experience as a councillor but I am unsure of his leadership and management skills.
I am not convinced that Tony Wellington has the qualities required for mayor.
He states his experience as a councillor, being involved in de-amalgamation (like 80 per cent of Noosa locals), writing books and making DVDs qualify him for the position.
I understand he wrote a newsletter denigrating Sunshine Coast Council and then worked for them.
I wouldn’t want someone without honesty and integrity leading our local council.
In contrast, Sandy Bolton has demonstrated experience in leadership, displays integrity and achieves what she sets out to do for her community and fellow councillors.
While she doesn’t claim to have achieved results on her own, you can rest assured that she drove the implementation and collaboration needed to achieve results.
As for changes in the town plan, Tony Wellington, Ray Kelly and Sandy Bolton along with several councillor candidates have stated there needs to be some slight changes to the town plan to bring it up to date.
This does not mean building height restrictions will change (fear mongering etc).
Changes that result in economies of practice without compromising on the environmental principles that underpin the town plan are a result of smart governance.
I believe Sandy Bolton has the experience and skills to deliver smart governance.
M. Davies,
Sunshine Beach.
Try working together
IT WOULD be great if all environmental groups in the Noosa area could work together but with the recent attack by the secretary of the Noosa Parks Association Ingrid Jackson on the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, it would appear not.
This is a pity, because there are many dedicated and knowledgeable people in NPA.
I am sure that members of the reserve, Noosa Council, NICA, Landcare and the Bushcare groups, all have the best interests of our natural environment at heart.
It wasn’t so long ago that an independent legal report found a lack of accountability in projects run by NPA, and we all know what they say about people in glass houses!
Bruce Hallett,
Noosa.
In to bat
IT IS interesting to note that in spite of constant barrage from the press, TV and would-be voters, none of the candidates for the coming council elections has mentioned the bat problem, except in three cases and that was in passing.
The bat problem has reached plague proportions, is causing a deluge of ill health in our community, is destroying local forests, is getting rid of local wildlife, is causing damage to property including houses, yards, rooves and cars and is making outdoor living impossible.
Are we surprised that the issue is not on the agenda? No, we are not surprised.
For four long years we, the residents of Wallace Park, have been begging, beseeching and pleading with the current council to do something about the bats but they have adopted a do nothing policy.
Only three would-be councillors have mentioned the subject.
They are Brian Stockwell, Ken Coleman and Mark Denham, and two of them claim that they have had experience with bats and have a remedy for them.
There has not been one word from the current councillors. So those who are affected by the daily onslaught of bats should think about who you might vote for in the next council elections. Do not waste your vote this time.
Now that the bats have spread to Gympie Terrace and Hasting Street, tourism, apart from health issues, the economy, not to mention Noosa’s reputation, may all be affected.
K L Fielden,
Tewantin.
Waving goodbye
DURING the Noosa Festival of Surfing I entered in the over 65 event.
The contest was to be held over one week at First Point, Noosa Beach.
However, due to lack of swell and large tides they could not fit in the large amount of contestants that entered.
So the powers to be sent all the “no name” long boarders to surf Access Eleven between the rock walls, where the conditions were appalling.
Myself and others had got to the semi-reporcharge to surf at this break only to be told that if we got through this heat we would have to surf at this location for the repo final.
On our schedule it was to be at First Point at midday, the officials had changed our times half an hour before out surf.
The gripe is the organizers had too many sponsor ridden events and novelty events and pro-surfing events to look after first and foremost, leaving out the genuine long boarder surfer last on the list.
We all payed our $140 and should be treated equally.
The surf festival should be what it started out as originally, a long board contest.
I will not be surfing in the overcrowded Noosa Surf Festival again.
Bobby Aitkin,
Noosa.
Biosphere support
I AM writing with some important clarifications to the front page story Lashing Out at the Biosphere (Noosa Today, 9 March).
The headline distorted my message, misrepresenting my stance. In my media release I made no criticism of the biosphere – which I value and support.
Also, in my media release I had been careful to differentiate between the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation and the Noosa Parks Association (as many people confuse the two).
I specifically wrote: “The Association was set up as the community counterpart to the Foundation and it’s performing well with few resources.” This statement was not published.
Finally, to clarify any misunderstanding, I want to stress that I was speaking on my own behalf as an independent candidate standing for election in the interest of Noosa Shire residents.
The article’s references to the Noosa Parks Association seemed to imply a possible linkage between my remarks and the NPA.
This was and is not the case. At no time as candidate do I speak on behalf of the NPA or on behalf of any of the associations and groups of which I am a member.
Ingrid Jackson,
Noosa Council candidate.
