Conclusion
For many decades now, the residents of Noosa Shire have been participating in a social and environmental experiment. These attempts to pioneer a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable community are heart-felt and passionate.
The loss of Noosa’s unique character cannot be outweighed by any purported advantages of amalgamation. Amalgamation is a win-lose scenario, with Noosa on the losing side.
Although there may be some local governments which do struggle financially, are unable to meet the essential needs of their communities, and should therefore be considered for amalgamation, plainly Noosa cannot be considered among them.
A recent on-line survey by The Courier Mail newspaper found that 98% of Noosa residents were opposed to amalgamation. On democratic principles alone, there is no justification for amalgamating Noosa.
The following sections provide additional background for the points made above.
In a Sunshine Coast super-shire, Noosa would only warrant one-sixth of the elected representatives: plainly not enough to ensure a strong, independent voice. The future policy and planning decisions of the new super-shire would inevitably reflect the majority stake-holders. Noosa would become a small fish in a big pond.
Over many decades, Noosa residents have strongly campaigned to protect their Shire and its natural environment. As a result, Noosa now has a distinctive character which continues to balance human needs with environmental sustainability. The planned amalgamation with our southern neighbours will inevitably result in a dilution, if not complete decimation, of Noosa’s distinction.
Freedom of choice is fundamental to our culture. When regions are robbed of their essential differences we end up with bland uniformity. This means fewer alternatives for everyone about where to visit or reside.
Noosa’s approach to sustainability
The emblems of fast-paced city life (high-rise buildings, traffic lights, billboards, neon lights, traffic congestion and so on) are absent from Noosa. This is fundamental to its unique appeal as a holiday destination. Maroochy and Caloundra offer alternative holiday experiences for different tastes.
Noosa is not telling anyone else how they should manage their region – just that we have a decidedly different approach: one that works extremely well for both residents and holiday-makers.
It is undeniable that Noosa’s distinctive, pro-environment philosophy sets it apart from its surrounding shires. To prove the point, just a look at our respective skylines and the differing approaches to development of river and ocean foreshores.
Experts have identified more than 60 different regional ecosystems within the Shire. The world-renowned Noosa National Park, which includes the Noosa headland and its beaches, is a testament to the vociferous endeavors of Noosa residents who fought for its establishment.
Noosa’s larger house lots, along with strict local Vegetation Management laws, allow for superior protection of habitat corridors on private land and better protection of areas adjoining waterways. A caring attitude towards the natural environment is one of the defining characteristics which brings people to both visit and reside in the Shire.
Noosa has maintained a strategy in which the primary beneficiaries of development—the developers themselves—pay for infrastructure costs, rather than ratepayers. Consequently, unlike Maroochy and Caloundra, Noosa does not have a backlog of infrastructure costs to be imposed on ratepayers. Noosa’s sewage treatment and water treatment plants have been maintained at a very high level, as have its parks, streetscaping, roadworks, bikeways and other community infrastructure.
Noosa Council received a financial rating of “strong” from Queensland Treasury Corporation’s Financial Sustainability Review. It is one of of only ten Queensland Shires to achieve this.
As a result of conscious strategies, Noosa’s general rates are the lowest on the Sunshine Coast. After amalgamation with Maroochy and Caloundra, rates will rise and Noosa’s financial situation will be plundered.
Is it fair that Noosa ratepayers be penalised for the good management of their shire?
Noosa’s UNESCO Biosphere accreditation
The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Nomination was fast tracked to UNESCO due to the high level of merit that the Federal Government and the UNESCO Secretariat perceived in the Noosa Community bid. Ironically, it also received strong support from the Queensland State Government. This accreditation depends on the integrity of Noosa Shire – amalgamation into a “super council” with a very different planning and development scheme will most likely terminate it.
“Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as ‘living laboratories’ for testing out and demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity. Collectively, biosphere reserves form a World Network.” Source: UNESCO http://www.unesco.org/mab/faq_br.shtml
Noosa’s tourist industry alone generates $900 million per year. The “Noosa” brand is founded on a relaxed cosmopolitan lifestyle, a unique environment, niche experiences and quality products. Noosa has a national and international reputation for being distinctly different from other tourist destinations.
Dilution or loss of the “Noosa” brand would have unfortunate consequences for the major industry in the area, and also the Queensland economy. Noosa tourism is based on a niche rather than a mass market. This would clearly be in jeopardy if Noosa was amalgamated. Many international tourist operators have already voiced their concerns that amalgamation will impact adversely on the flow of visitors to Noosa.
There is no chance that the proposed legislation can fully insure Noosa against the differing attitudes which Maroochy and Caloundra already evidence. Following amalgamation there will inevitably be alterations to building codes (residential and non-residential), population limits, urban sprawl, lot sizes, traffic lights, advertising signage, etc. It is absurd to assume that a mega-council will allow a small, internal region to operate differently. Over time, such differences will inevitably cease to be tolerated.