By JONATHON HOWARD
THE battle to re-align Noosa is fast becoming one of the toughest political stoushes since Noosa Council’s divorce from the Sunshine Coast Council last year.
But whether an additional four suburbs can be pried away from the Sunshine Coast and handed to Noosa remains to be seen.
Members of the two opposing groups have continued to raise their voices in support and in opposition to the re-boundary bid that would include Eumundi, Doonan, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs into Noosa Council.
EDV Residents Group’ president Johanne Wright said one of the only ways to settle the ongoing argument was to allow the 3465 residents of the four suburbs a vote and “let the democratic process decide”.
“This is not about the EDV Group or the Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc, on either side of this, it’s about what the majority of residents living in these four suburbs want,” she said.
“That is why the best way forward is for the minister to appoint a change commissioner who would oversee a referendum to determine the public view.”
Ms Wright said the EDV Residents Group would have been happy to disband, had the majority of residents opposed the move.
“The only reason we are still here is because the majority of those residents are in support of this change and their views should take precedence,” she said.
Ms Wright has also addressed several rumours which were voiced by members of the Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc, during the Noosa Council’s general committee meeting on Monday 20 October.
Several Alliance members claimed Mrs Wright was working in cahoots with members of the Noosa Parks Association and that she was under guidance by several Noosa councillors.
Speaking with Noosa Today, Ms Wright said she had previously worked with Noel Playford during the Noosa Council de-amalgamation and she had also contributed funds to Cr Tony Wellington’s election bid.
“These rumours are completely false and any claim I am working with the Noosa Council is a total figment of others’ imagination,” she said.
“Both of these are on the public record and have nothing to do with the EDV Residents Group or the desire of members and local residents to join Noosa.
“I felt passionately about the Noosa Council’s de-amalgamation and I wanted to support Cr Wellington in his run – that is all.”
Mrs Wright has also quashed rumours that she was considering running for council in the 2016 Noosa Council election.
“I can tell you and your readers now, I cannot for a moment imagine running for council, and I do not have any plans to do so,” she said.
Meanwhile, Sunshine Coast Alliance member Dom Massoni of Verrierdale has expressed his “disgust” at the way some of the EDV members have been referring to Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc president Steve Bennett in the media.
“Those bad losers are now getting very dirty and personnel, calling Steve nothing but a “big bad bully”,” he said.
“All Steve and his group have done is reveal to everyone some very disturbing facts about the EDV group leaders connection to many Noosa groups.
“These are true proven facts with plenty of documentation available on the net for anyone to see.
“Getting down to name calling and personnel allegations won’t help with the poor opinion that the sunshine coast people already have of the EDV group.
“The game is over EDV group, the referee (David Crisafulli) has blown the whistle, accept defeat gracefully; It’s the Australian way.”
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you agree that the EDV bid should be put to a vote? Send your comments and/or letters to newsdesk@noosatoday.net.au
