By JONATHON HOWARD
THE Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli has reaffirmed his position around a re-boundary bid to include Doonan, Eumundi, Verrierdale and Weyba Downs into Noosa Council.
Mr Crisafulli had previously said that in order for a re-boundary of Noosa Council and Sunshine Coast Council to occur, it would require an agreement from both councils.
However, the minister created wide-spread confusion when a letter to members of the Sunshine Coast Alliance Inc, who oppose the re-boundary, surfaced in September.
In the letter, Mr Crisafulli appeared to have quashed the EDV move despite having not received an application for the re-boundary.
“You may be aware that I recently received confirmation from the Sunshine Coast Council mayor Mark Jamieson that on 24 July, council unanimously adopted a resolution not to support any request for a local government boundary change in respect of localities proposed by the EDV Residents Group,” the Minister’s letter read.
“Therefore, as both councils do not agree to this proposal, a boundary change as suggested by the EDV Residents Group will not proceed.”
A spokesman for Minister Crisafulli said he rejected claims he had ruled out a boundary change, saying the minister has not had to make any decision because no submission had been received from the EDV Residents Group.
He said the Minister’s position had always been that both the Noosa Council and Sunshine Coast Council “must agree on any boundary changes”.
“There’ll be no movement from one council to another unless both councils can agree,” the spokesperson for Mr Crisafulli said.
CORRECTION: A Noosa Today article entitled “border dispute” (23 October) incorrectly stated that the Minister for Local Government was now appointing a boundary commissioner. This should have stated that in order for the EDV re-boundary to proceed, the minister would need to appoint a boundary commissioner – this step has not yet occurred.
