By Diet Simon and Mark Rodriquez
“When you have a state government that is saying the Sunshine Coast must accommodate this level of population and where the Council might be struggling to find areas to accommodate that level of population, the simple suggestion of the minister is that you either do it the state’s way of doing it or if you’re doing it the Council’s way, you’re not doing planning. I don’t really know what the community can do except make a hell of a lot of noise.” The words of Paul Summers, former Noosa Shire Council planner, introducing our 13 April What’s Going On? led by the population stoush with the Bligh government.
Our council is practically begging everyone to get noisy about the state government’s mega development plans for our region. The state government has finished looking at Council’s submissions and will now only take note of community feedback, before making their rulings. We also urge you to give that feedback if you care about where we live. This is the plot for the next 30 to 40 years.
The opinion in our coverage is ours or that of the people talking to us, not necessarily that of Noosa Community Radio.
The edition also included
- a commentary about the huge powerlines to come down from Gympie to Eumundi – also a population-related issue,
- a councillor championing live music
- Tourism Noosa having to promote more areas under a Coast-wide rearrangement
- and theatre notes about upcoming shows
Council’s “Now or never” campaign needs you to speak up
Mayor Bob Abbot and others are using phrases like “now or never”, “crunch time” and similar ones as they appeal for all of us to back council in resisting state government bullying over development plans. Councillor Russell Green explained:
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It’s only the community feedback that can now be included
So, do one of the things he suggests: Get on the council website, or down to your library, or council office. It’s about your lifestyle and that of your kids and grandkids. The Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC), an alliance of about 40 groups, has long talked about a population explosion here. Their manager is Narelle McCarthy.
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Almost natural limits to growth
One expert warning against overpopulation on the Coast is Paul Summers former planner with Noosa Council for 15 years, now a private consultant. More of our local politicians than would probably want you to know about it still pick his brain.
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Government doesn’t appear to be listening
Paul argues that the Coast needs to enhance its family-friendly, more laid back, outdoor type of feel. Diet suggested to him that Noosa especially is becoming too expensive to fit that bill.
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Why so much destruction when there is the highway option?
Another group of people with plenty of reasons to be furious at the George Street bullies are the residents of the pristine Eerwah Vale and Ridgewood Valleys in our hinterland, through which huge powerlines will slice if the government gets its way. Commentary by Alex Harris, magazine writer, consultant and co-founder of the Koala Diaries website set up to protect the koala.
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c/o Andrew Millner "Koaladiaries"
If you no longer wish to be silent, you can download and sign petitions. Also have your friends, neighbours, Landcare and community group members sign them. They’re at PAGE’S save Eumundi website.
More street life appropriate in parts of the Coast
An issue Council would dearly love to go away is complaints about loud music by residents, and complaints by musicians that they can no longer make a living, although it’s official policy to promote their art along with the others. We visited this topic on 10th march 2010. State liquor licensing laws impose the restrictions and now there’s a move afoot to transfer that power to council, as has happened with The Valley in Brisbane, which has been zoned as an entertainment precinct. Councillor Lew Brennan wants the same to happen here.
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“We’re part of a region whether we like it or not”
Tourism promotion on the Coast has been carved up into what are being called “destination desks”. Michael Donovan, chair of Tourism Noosa, explains Noosa’s new role in the rearrangement:
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Familiar songs in Coolum, La Ronde to Mooloolaba, wind classics in Eumundi
Synda Turnbull of the Sunshine Coast Theatre alliance previewed
three shows in Coast theatres.
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To hear the whole program as it aired, click here
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We put all our programs up on our 101.3 fm website for those who can’t tune in at our allotted time. We’d love your hot tips, your community stories and your feedback.
Our email markrzz@bigpond.com and comment box at the end of every story, are yours..
Thanks for your interest.
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