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Issue 195 | Thursday, 28 January, 2016
Real Estate Lifestyle Noosa’s Wee
kly Real Esta
Page 15
te Guide 28 January, 2016
Bag ban support in waves RAIN and big waves couldn’t wet Noosa’s passion for a plastic-bagand-container-free environment as protesters battled large swell and pouring rain to spread their litter-free message. The Noosa Community Biosphere Association (NCBA) joined fellow environmental groups, Surfrider Association, Boomerang Alliance, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and Sunshine Coast Environment Council on Noosa Main beach last Sunday 24 January to highlight the need for both a cash-for-containers scheme and also a ban on plastic bags. NCBA vice-president John Wood said the Ban the Bag and the push for a Container Deposit scheme was part of a larger picture for better waste management in Noosa. “One of NCBA’s focuses is
our ‘People in the Biosphere’ and our habits that impact our environment, for example, litter and waste management; hence, ban the plastic bag and cash for containers campaigns,” Mr Wood said. “A solution is the Boomerang Bags Initiative. These activities are in line with the Noosa Council’s 'Towards Zero Waste’ campaign.” Councillor Tony Wellington praised the group’s efforts and urged the State Government to step up to the plate in protecting the environment. “Noosa Council has the ability to introduce a shire-wide ban on plastic bags if the State fails to act,” Cr Wellington said. “Obviously the best outcome for both the environment, and also the council’s resources, would be for the State to step up to the plate.”
Biosphere backlash By MEGAN OGLE NOOSA’S much touted biosphere status has come under fire as a former Noosa councillor demands more bang for the ratepayer’s buck. Bob Jarvis has called into question the benefits ratepayers have gained since UNESCO granted the Noosa Shire the rare biosphere status. In a letter to the editor, published in Noosa Today on 7 January, Mr Jarvis said thousands of dollars had been paid by the ratepayers to secure and maintain the status but the community had seen little benefit. “Noosa ratepayers have paid thousands upon thousands of their hard earn rate money to secure biosphere status and now even more money to the Noosa Biosphere Re-
serve Foundation,” Mr Jarvis said. “Can anyone in this shire brag about one single solitary benefit they can describe from being part of this so called biosphere in the last nine years since its inception?” Mr Jarvis wasn’t alone, in another letter received by Noosa Today, council candidate Jess Glasgow asked for more evidence of benefits for the community’s investment in the biosphere. “Rather than the Noosa Biosphere being perceived as some kind of leech; taking more and more of ratepayer’s money, how about some evidence of the benefits?” Mr Glasgow said. Noosa Biosphere Foundation Ltd. (NBFL) chairman Scott Williams said Noosa’s biosphere status was beneficial for locals on several levels.
“One benefit is that the environment is better maintained, there is a better quality of life, also, it helps, to some extent, to boost tourism in Noosa,” Mr Williams said. Noosa Community Biosphere Association (NCBA) vice-president John Wood agreed saying the internationally-awarded status added value to the Noosa Shire. “Our biosphere status has highlighted Noosa Shire as a place of natural beauty and environmental significance to the international tourism market attracting overseas visitors particularly in Europe where much of the population understand the environmental and economic benefits of being in a biosphere,” Mr Wood said. Mr Wood also said the cost to run the two groups was not an additional
cost for ratepayers, but included in the environmental levy. “Noosa ratepayers do not pay a separate biosphere levy, but pay $60 annually for an environmental levy. Sunshine Coast Council also charges $60 annually for an environmental levy,” he said. Current councillor Tony Wellington said the council had allocated start-up funds to the NBFL and NCBA with an aim for the two committees to become self-funding. “To date, the council has allocated start-up funding to both organisations,” he said. “We have also allocated $250,000 from the Environment Levy to the Foundation’s Public Trust fund to contribute to projects that benefit the local environment, plus a further $80,000 from general funds for
projects that also have an economic focus.” “It is important to note that the foundation has been established with an associated Noosa Biosphere Reserve Public Trust with the aim of garnering tax exempt and deductible gift recipient status. “The ideal aim is for the foundation to become self-funding through this trust.” NCBA ex-secretary John Horn said community members who were concerned about the benefits of the biosphere status needed to “reverse” their thinking. Mr Horn said it wasn’t a question of “what can the biosphere do for you”, but what you can do for the Noosa Biosphere.
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