Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write with regard to the ongoing issue of the intersections in Cooroy and the need for them to be upgraded. I want to appeal to all those advocating for roundabouts to please consider the children, cyclists, pedestrians and elderly of the town when pushing for the constant traffic flow which seems to be the only reason for roundabouts to be a preferred option.

I feel that most people disdaining traffic lights are doing so as they are in a hurry and do not want to stop for any reason in their haste to reach their destination. And for this, traffic lights are the only solution.

Traffic lights need to be at the corner of Diamond and Elm Streets on all three sides of the intersection. This would also ensure safe vehicular entry to the railway station. The traffic lights should incorporate pedestrian signals and crossings, which would give people of all ages and abilities an opportunity to cross safely knowing the vehicles have come to a complete stop.

Children should be able to walk to school safely. The train station and bus stops should be able to be safely accessed by residents and visitors of all ages and abilities. People living on the east side should be able to stroll to the shops or walk their dogs to the parks on the west side of town.

Drivers should accept that passing through a town this size will require them to cater to the needs of the people in the town. They may need to stop, but traffic lights will provide assurance as to how long that stop will be. It may even be quicker than some of the current wait times. -

Vicki Vale

WE love hearing your feedback on stories we have published or things in our community you want to discuss. Email your letters to editorial@cooroyrag.com.au

AS we keep our promise to deliver more infrastructure to our community than ever before, Lawnville Bridge is set to receive a $2.33 million renovation. The new bridge will help boost safety and connectivity and its replacement is one of several bridge projects Noosa Council is delivering as part of our Bridge Renewal Program for 2023/2024. The new two-lane concrete bridge will require less maintenance and has been designed to ensure it serves the community well for more than 100 years. With works scheduled to start in August 2023, the existing bridge will be closed and traffic detoured via Cooroy Belli Creek Road. The new bridge is expected to be completed by mid-November 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting so we greatly appreciate your patience during the construction period.

As we talk connectivity, Council recently met with the local community of

Cooroy and Noosaville to gather feedback on walking and potential barriers people may face. Information gathered is shaping our Walking Network Plan priority program which will underpin targeted improvements designed to get more people out and about walking. Council contractors have already completed pathway constructions in Maple and Miva Streets in Cooroy which were identified as high priorities and we are continuing our commitment in creating a better connected and safer network.

As we continue to wage our war on waste – our highest cause of carbon emissions for council – earlier this year we invited our community to have a say on how we manage waste and lower emissions by diverting waste from landfill. We’ve been carefully listening to your feedback and perspectives on waste, recycling and working towards a shared vision for a greener future. During August 2023 we will be launching the second phase of community engagement on Council’s Draft Waste Plan and it outlines actionable steps that will lead us towards more sustainable waste management so please stay tuned for updates on how you can have your say on the Draft Plan!

In good news for our community and environmental groups, Council recently distributed more than $442,000 in support of 22 projects and organisations as part of the latest round of Noosa Council’s Environment and Climate Change grants. These grants are funded through the Environmental Levy to support the implementation of our Environmental Strategy which will help make a wide range of community initiatives possible.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the 5% early bird discount on the general rate and pay by 18 August 2023. Council offers a variety of rates payment options including BPAY, online via our website, credit card by phone, over the counter at Australia Post or at our offices at 9 Pelican Street Tewantin.

Finally, a huge thanks to everyone who took part in the annual National Tree Day planting event on Sunday 30 July 2023. This event, held in partnership with the Kin Kin Bushcare Group, helped improve our environment for generations to come. National Schools Tree Day was also a big success. It was a great opportunity to inspire and educate future generations on the many benefits of trees while nurturing their connection with nature. In an initiative proposed by me to get our kids more involved, Noosa Council, in conjunction with Noosa and District Landcare, supplied over 150 free native plants to nine Noosa schools for planting and it was wonderful to see how excited and knowledgeable our students were in regard to the importance of trees and tree planting. Clare

Llew O’Brien

THE Albanese Government is putting so-called misinformation laws before the Australian Parliament, and I’m concerned they will attack one of the cornerstones of our democracy – freedom of speech and expression.

Under the proposed legislation, the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023, there would be one rule for government members of Parliament and a different one for the public who want to have their say.

The bill will give extraordinary powers to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and lead to digital companies self-censoring the legitimately held views of Australians to avoid the risk of massive fines.

Under the proposed laws, ACMA would gain sweeping powers to require any Australian to appear at a time and place of its choosing to answer questions about misinformation or disinformation. Heavy fines would apply for non-attendance.

Some of the problems with the Bill include:

• The definition of “misinformation” is so broad that it could capture many statements made by Australians in the context of political debate;

• Authorised content by the Albanese Government can’t be misinformation, but criticisms of the Albanese Government by ordinary Australians can be misinformation;

• Nothing an academic says can be misinformation, but statements by somebody disagreeing with an academic can be misinformation;

• Good faith statements made by entertainers cannot be misinformation, but good faith statements made by ordinary Australians on political matters can be misinformation;

• Journalists commenting on their personal digital platforms could have their content removed as misinformation.

This Bill is fundamentally flawed, and I will be strongly opposing it.

There are two grant opportunities that will be of interest to local community and religious groups. Eligible organisations can apply for grants between $1,000 and $5,000 to purchase items to help their volunteers, reimburse fuel or transport costs, promote volunteering opportunities, or for training courses or background checks.

Expressions of interest can be accessed on my website llewobrien.com. au/volunteer-grants-program-2023-24/. Expressions of interest close on Friday 1 September 2023.

Religious schools, preschools, places of worship, and faith-based community centres can apply for funding to reduce the risk of religious and racial crime.

Eligible organisations can apply for grants between $25,000 and $500,000 for security infrastructure upgrades, including fencing, lighting, security cameras, traffic barriers, alarm systems, access controls, and engagement of security guards.

Applications for funding close 5 pm AEST on 11 September 2023. Further information can be found at business.gov.au or on my website www.llewobrien. com.au. Llew

THE draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update has opened for consultation, with a projected permanent population into the future for the Noosa Shire, of 76,000 residents, which is not feasible nor sustainable. That is 13,000 more than what we can sustainably carry, equivalent to Christmas peak season every day. There are many who have fought so hard for Noosa over the decades, including for de-amalgamation, and we need to fight again – for our communities, our environment and our economy. To assist in efforts, we ask everyone to ensure they make a valid submission to the state government after attending the information session at 4 pm on 29 August at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church (Noosa District) Parish Hall, 5 Moorindil St, Tewantin. Registration for this and the draft, as well information on how to have your say through submissions, is available via Noosa 360 at SandyBolton.com/DraftSoutheast-Queensland-Re- gional-Plan-August-2023.

In response to concerns raised that crime and alcohol-fuelled violence has escalated in Noosa, we have posted data and information to Noosa 360. Whilst we have a full complement of police officers, with 24/7 manned station and patrols, mobile police beat, and highway patrols that operate random breath tests and speed enforcement operations, the reality is that they cannot be everywhere at once. Hence, it is important for all of us to be their ‘eyes’ and report any suspicious or bad behaviour immediately, in efforts of prevention, to 000 (emergencies), or Policelink on 131 444 (non-emergencies), or online at Police.qld.gov.au/Policelink-Reporting. Also don’t forget to lock your cars and homes as many crimes are opportunistic. We continue to advocate for increased police resourcing throughout Queensland during the state budget estimates processes, as well as for mandatory and relocation sentencing,

and at any time there is a change in crime trends in our community, we immediately seek extra resources as we have done on many occasions which lead to specific responses such as ‘Operation Sandstorm’. Information on policing in Noosa is available at SandyBolton.com/Policing-in-Noosa-July-2023. We have a Noosa MP community survey open until 8 September on the proposed Cooloola Great Walk Eco Project which has created some confusion, and I ask that you take a minute to respond as well as share with your neighbours and friends as it is so important to have everyone’s voice heard! The survey is available at bit.ly/ CooloolaGreatWalkSurvey. With so much time between columns and much to share, please stay in the loop via Noosa 360 with updates on a range of important issues. Follow ‘Sandy Bolton MP’ on Facebook or subscribe to our e-newsletter at SandyBolton.com/ Newsletters. Always, if you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office on 5319 3100 or email noosa@parliament.qld.gov. au. Sandy