Your Say

Sandy Bolton

State Member for Noosa

BETWEEN our devastating floods, ongoing COVID recovery and horrific events overseas, to again discuss housing seems inappropriate, but necessary, given so much commentary and confusion about ‘social’, ‘community’ and ‘affordable’ housing!

At a risk of ‘oversimplifying’, social housing refers to state government owned or managed properties for those who meet a financial criterion.

‘Community’ housing contains a mix of open market and subsidised accommodation, managed by community housing providers such as Coast2Bay. And the one term that causes the most confusion is ‘affordable housing’, being questioned as ‘affordable to whom?’

Local government planning schemes consider ‘affordable living’ and ‘housing affordability’ in efforts to make provision for varying income levels and household types within their boundaries. However this

AS we are well and truly in the recovery phase from the floods, it was terrific to see more than 150 people attended our 11 community outreach pop-ups following the floods.

We’ve also established a Flood Recovery webpage with links to resources and a range of information to help the community with the flood recovery - www.noosa.qld. gov.au/community-recovery-2022-floods. Council staff have been working non-stop to assess flood damage and begin repairs to public infrastructure.

In regard to our landslip at Black Mountain, our crews and geotechnical experts are analysing the road and, given the extent of damage, it is likely to be at least a six-month repair job. We will of course work as quickly as we can.

Myself, and our CEO Scott Waters and Director Larry Sengstock have had very productive discussions with local residents about the pertinent issues impacting the Black Mountain community. Our community recovery team has made contact with local residents and if you haven’t had any contact with our recovery staff, we ask that you give us a call on (07) 5329 6500 so they can provide assistance. Cleanaway bins are available

THE February floods devastated many parts of Wide Bay including Noosa, Cooroy, Pomona and Kin Kin, with significant damage including flooding and landslips that washed away roads, leaving communities isolated and homes and businesses inundated.

A $558.5 million flood recovery package, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments, has been established to provide financial support for flood-affected small businesses, farmers, not-for-profit organisations, and sporting and community clubs.

Noosa Council will receive a $1 million injection to assist with urgent clean-up works. Personal hardship assistance is also available through Centrelink for people who have suffered damage to their home or a loss of income as a result of the floods. The available grants can be problematic and is a whole other column!

Regardless of claims to the contrary, all levels of government have a role in housing, as do we as individuals, through our expectations, choices and what we will or will not support. This of course impacts government decisions and actions.

In summary, local government has a role through partnerships, its planning scheme and housing strategies. Whether making provision in its zoning for shared living, units, secondary dwellings, tiny home villages or a multitude of other options, there is a path forward.

State government is responsible for the provision and management of ‘social’ housing, whether department owned or through headleases. They also offer grants for public-private partnerships (i.e. with organisations, developers or Council) to build the social or community component of mixed model projects.

Now to the Australian government. They provide the funds to state governments which are understandably critical!

As well various programs such as the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), which is about to come to an end without a replacement, they also have a role through the National Building Code, which some say is out of touch with design options that reduce building costs, as well support sustainable living.

There are aspects that we must consider in our ‘scream’ to governments, as there can be unintended consequences. These may include raising taxes to pay for what we ask for, traffic impacts by duplicating major roads into areas already congested, and strain on our infrastructure or environment. As in all efforts, balance is key, and of course innovation! We have many examples of sustainable, liveable and loveable community projects across Queensland and Australia, that deliver affordable options without the negative impacts, and we look forward to seeing some of these come to fruition as discussed at our Housing Action Group (HAG).

So over your next dinner conversation or café meetings, try flipping the conversation from what we need ‘more’ of, to how we can resolve in clever, collaborative ways that maximise what we have. This is another aspect that has been raised at our HAG, in relation to social housing, and how through ‘upzoning’, sites can be utilised more effectively.

With very little space here to share the much, much more related to untangling the housing crisis and associated confusion of who does what, a further update is posted on www.sandybolton.com/noosa360, including the ‘bug bears’ that hinder and challenge!

Until next time, Sandy

at the end of Black Mountain Road for household rubbish and recycling and are serviced three days a week.

TransLink has arranged additional service for students impacted by the road closures. TransLink can be contacted on 07 5452 1800 for more information.

In light of the floods, Council has extended the deadline for Community Grant applications.

Originally due to close March 30, submissions can now be submitted until Wednesday, April 6, 2022. This will allow additional time for those impacted by floods to work on their applications.

A range of grants are available to eligible not-for-profit organisations needing assistance for events, projects and facilities that will benefit Noosa. Council staff can assist with eligibility details. Call (07) 5329 6437, and for RADF grants, contact (07) 5329 6558.

Given the extent of the rainfall, the Hinterland Playground site appears to have flooded as modelled and predicted.

Most of the floodwaters receded within three hours, once the heavy rain eased. The site drains very quickly as the creek recedes and initial assessments indicate that this is exactly what occurred this time.

Clare Stewart

Noosa Mayor

As part of the project, Council developed a Hinterland Playground Flood Risk Assessment and Emergency Management Plan (FRAEMP), in the event of a flood when the park opens. This includes an automatic audible and visual flood warning system to alert visitors to evacuate the site as soon as floodwaters begin to inundate the playground.

The Federal Government has announced disaster funding for Australian residents who have been seriously affected by the floods in SE Qld LGAs including Noosa. This is the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and it provides lump sum payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child under 16.

There is an application process through Services Australia. For more information visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/southeast-queensland-floods-february-2022australian-government-disaster-recoverypayment.

Further grants also available to help small business, eligible primary producers and sports/community clubs - vist qrida. qld.gov.au.

Until next month, stay safe, Clare.

Llew O’Brien

Federal Member for Wide Bay

include: up to $50,000 for affected small businesses and not-for-profit organisations; $20,000 for sporting and community clubs; and $75,000 for primary producers in the Noosa region. These can be used to cover the costs of: cleaning up; disposal of damaged goods; repairs to buildings; salvaging crops, grain and feeds; repairing or hiring equipment to enable resumption of business; and fencing repairs The loss of personal items, stock, crops and trade can never be replaced but these grants will provide some support through this very difficult time. Please contact my office on 07 41212936 or visit llewobrien. com.au for information about the grants.

This month brings increases to social security payments, and from March 20, the rates for the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment will rise by $20.10 a fortnight for singles to a total of $987.60 per fortnight, and by $30.20 a fortnight for couples to $1488.80 per fortnight.

In addition, asset test limits have been increased to $599,750 for a single home owner or $901,500 for a couple, which will allow more senior Australians to access a part pension.

A new version of the Age Pension Guide, which explains the conditions that apply to the Age Pension in an easy to use format, is now available from my office and will be posted to everyone on my mailing list in the coming weeks. If you’d like a copy, please phone 07 4121 2936 or email llew.obrien.mp@ aph.gov.au and I’d be pleased to send one to you.

Rob Skelton

Member for Nicklin

Emergency Hardship Assistance

Residents in targeted areas of the Noosa and Sunshine Coast LGAs, who have been impacted by severe flooding over recent days, may be eligible for financial assistance, including Emergency Hardship Assistance grants of up to $180 per person and $900 for a family of five or more.Grant applications can be made through the Community Recovery online portal: communityrecovery.qld.gov.au.

Residents without internet access can ring the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to get information or apply for grants and access to support services over the phone. Applications are open until March 26, 2022.

Disaster Funding for Sports Clubs

Up to $50,000 in disaster recovery funding assistance is available for eligible sporting clubs and not-for-profit organisations.

Funding is available to assist with: replacement of damaged equipment, payment of services and hire costs, purchase of equipment and tools that assist in short term clean-up of facilities, reimbursement for the purchase of the above made from the date of the relevant disaster, funds for repairs and replacements when this amount is lower than the premium excess set by the insurance provider, and excess coverage for insurance claims.

Eligible council areas, eligibility requirements and program information can be found at qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disasterrecovery