NOOSA COUNCIL’S FIRST CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY SEE PAGE 6
YOUR TOWN, YOUR PAPER
THURSDAY APRIL 10, 2014 | ISSUE 102
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CELEBRATE CULTURE PICTURE JOLENE OGLE
United Synergy’s annual Booin Gari festival went off with a bang on Tuesday as hundreds of people packed the Ernest Street Park to learn about local indigenous culture, watch indigenous dancers, and be entertained by local bands The Floating Bridges and OKA.
“We are part of the community” OPEN LETTER FROM BRETT GODFREY, CO-OWNER, MAKEPEACE ISLAND “I refer to the story ‘Riverfront Rumble’ dated April 3, and specifically to the comments made by Ms Natalie Miller of Cambridge Court and a disappointing lack of fair treatment from Council.
Ms Miller states: “We bought this house in 2006 before Sir Richard bought the island”, further she states that it was a very quiet area. The fact is that we have owned and used the island since 2003 and our use of the
island has not varied in that time. I suggest the area is still quiet in 2014 and, providing we comply with the measures accepted by us, it will remain a place we all can peacefully enjoy. Ms Miller was invited to the island earlier this year to discuss her concerns but her comments in Noosa Today failed to acknowledge, as she did to us, that noise often emanates from other sources on the river. For example, on any given Saturday night in summer our guests have to put up
with loud music and partying aboard houseboats moored in the river, often well into the early hours of the morning. This is not specified to divert our responsibilities but to recognise that there are many potential sources of noise and the Council should treat each of us equitably. Makepeace Island was purchased and has been used by Sir Richard Branson and myself for more than 10 years. In our time in this community not one, repeat that, not one complaint was made to us or from the
Council to us by anyone other than the one concern raised by Ms Miller. We are respectful of our neighbours and the change in use sought will simply allow our 10 rooms to be offered for individual sale instead of someone renting the entire property. As anyone who wishes to understand our request to Council would appreciate this will be advantageous to our neighbours. Renting out the entire property to one group is often going to create more noise than individual rooms booked by different guest groups. Common
sense should see this request supported, if noise is really an issue. Ms Miller and her family and, of course, our other neighbours have the right to enjoy their neighbourhood. What Ms Miller may not be aware of is that we have in fact agreed to noise restrictions throughout the day and night, parking constraints, boat use after 10pm and overnight guest number limitations to get our application through, even though these were not required of us before the application.
Continued on Page 6
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