As the Regional Council continues to wrestle with issues like their flawed tendering system for beach businesses and whether to take back water distribution from Unity Water and their Supreme Court challenge over losing control of the Caloundra South development, a timely study was published by Professor Ken Wiltshire and Dr. Stephen Jones both eminent academics at the University of Queensland who are experts in government policy.

Their report declared “recent legislative reforms reflect the tendency of the Queensland Government to ignore the deficiencies in its own processes and shift the focus to local governments that are working with compulsory requirements (legislated by the State government) over which they have little influence or control”. They went on to say “The Queensland Governments actions are inconsistent with its own policies.  Since claiming to have created viable regional councils through amalgamation its actions in planning development reform are seriously eroding the powers of these councils and could make them unsustainable. The ongoing creation of a ‘forest’ of Qangos contributes to the demise of local government powers despite the Governments stated opposition to the establishment of such bodies.”

Interestingly, the amalgamation of Queensland councils coincided with the establishment of an Urban Development Land Development Authority (ULDA)  which would lead even the most naive amongst us to believe this entire so called reform was a premeditated strike to centralise power in the state government and largely make local government impotent, certainly insofar as planning is concerned.  One could also argue the removal of water assets and distribution from councils was yet another power play by this most un-democratic state government.

Friends of Noosa have long maintained this centralisation of power by the state government and by its ‘great big regional councils’, seriously erodes the principal of local democracy and thus control by local communities over their living standards.  This is backed up by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) who argues “a reduced concern for the public interest contributes to a ‘democratic deficit’ in representative democracies”.   Queensland has a democratic deficit as a result of the gradual erosion of local government powers by the State Government.

Locally, much of the public conversation on de-amalgamation has focussed on affordability and the economics of restoring Noosa’s Council. As important as this is the issue is much broader than simply the financial impact.  First and foremost we must maintain the rage over the forced removal of our council against the overwhelming wishes of 96% of Noosa voters who vehemently opposed amalgamation.   Our primary task will always be to do whatever necessary to restore our basic democratic right to self govern.  Of course we must be fiscally responsible and Noosa has a long history for effectively managing its financial affairs.  The Noosa Independence Alliance commissioned former Noosa Shire financial officer and now respected local government consultant Bret de Chastel to prepare a 10 year financial model for the new Noosa Council. In forecasting Noosa’s income and expenses over the period and found not only is it financially achievable but can be done without lifting rates beyond CPI increases. See the model on the NIA webpage at www.freenoosa.com

So be prepared to stand up for your rights once again, for as we move closer to the next state election this community will uncountable be called upon to demonstrate its  unrelenting fury over the injustice imposed upon it by the Beattie/Bligh government in removing our council.

If anyone had any doubt about being a minority player in a ‘great big regional council’, Councillor Russell Green’s comments last week should put the matter to rest once and for all.  When questioned about the tendering debacle he said “the majority of Sunshine Coast Councillors couldn’t care less about the tender process because it wasn’t in their division as seven of the 10 businesses affected are in Noosa”. 

Bob Ansett
www.friendsofnoosa.org