Your say

THE Cooroy Chamber of Commerce is an integral part of our community. Many aren’t aware that in addition to supporting and promoting businesses, we also provide the community with many exciting events that bring our town together. Our next event is ‘Dinner with the Mayor’ and will be held at Saw and Mill on October 12. Be sure to book in quickly as the annual event is always a sellout. It offers local residents and businesses an opportunity to mingle, get to know the Mayor and discover all that is happening in our Noosa and Hinterland region. The evening will include a delectable two-course meal. Tickets are $60 and available through www.cooroy. com.au Did you know the Cooroy RV park is managed by the Chamber of Commerce? It provides a regular income that is returned back to the community through Chamber initiatives. In particular, these funds assist with the functioning and maintenance of the Chamber-funded CCTV system in Cooroy, which is an invaluable asset in keeping Cooroy safe. And now to a very good news story about how a community comes together at a time of need. Many of you may know Di, as the caretaker of the Cooroy RV park. Recently she experienced a family tragedy and needed to travel to Sydney. Amidst her grief, she was confronted with the news that Sydney was going into lockdown. The Cooroy Chamber rallied together and initiated a plan to bring Di home to Cooroy as soon as possible. With government regulations making it impossible for Di to drive home, flights were organised and Andrew Denny from Carsales (who is an executive member of the Chamber) arranged to have her vehicle freighted back to Cooroy. Di is now back in town and is forever grateful for the assistance that she received from not only the Chamber but the many locals who have been supporting her since her return. Welcome back home Di! We welcome new members to the Chamber. If you would like to join, please visit: www.cooroy.com.au/ community/cooroy/memberships or call Tina on 0406 118 233.

HERE IT IS: 10 DAYS FOR $30*

Rebecca Steele Craig Steele Jo Buffin

Simone Bifuko • SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPY • WOMEN’S HEALTH • MANIPULATION • SPINAL PAIN • ARTHRITIS • DRY NEEDLING • PILATES

Phone: 5442 5556 7 Garnet St, Cooroy www.hinteractivephysio.com.au

Tougher laws on the way for drink driving offences

WELL, in what has been a huge lead up for our community and Council, I and senior Council staff met with the operators of the Kin Kin quarry, Cordwell Resources, and their representatives. We were able to advise the latest meeting of the Kin Kin Roundtable that the talks considered possible options to prevent the matter going to the Planning and Environment Court. This ‘without prejudice’ meeting is the first time Council and the quarry operator have been able to arrange a suitable time to hold such talks with legal representation, due to Covid restrictions and lockdowns. The discussions must remain confidential to allow Council and the operator to consider options, prior to any proceedings being lodged.

We’ve begun a nationwide search to fill the role of CEO at Noosa Council. As many of you know, our current CEO, Brett de Chastel, has announced his retirement and will step down in November 2021. Brisbane recruitment firm, Davidson Recruitment, is overseeing the recruitment process. We are looking for an experienced, inspirational leader who can work collaboratively with Councillors to deliver our strategic vision. We will be finalising a recruitment panel shortly, and the final appointment will be a decision of the full Council.

It’s been an incredibly busy year for Council, made that much more challenging by Covid-19. The CEO’s Year in Review report makes for positive reading. Some highlights include: 71,227 customer service enquiries handled, 18,228 visits to our libraries, 1,608,152 bins emptied, and 11.88km of roads resurfaced. Important achievements also include the Queensland Audit Office giving Council another clean bill of health by issuing an unmodified audit opinion, and the Noosa River catchment maintaining its A- rating in the 2020 Healthy Land and Water Report Card, with the river also scoring a five-star economic and social benefit rating. We adopted the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Management Plan and the Noosa Bushland Reserve Strategic Fire Management Plan, both of which will outline how we will better manage our bushland reserves and in particular how we will manage fire risk in our council bushland reserves.

We’ve also worked closely with local businesses through the Business Roundtable to provide targeted economic development support through the Covid-19 pandemic and we’ve signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the Sunshine Coast to see more collaboration on projects and joint research as well as to enable work experience opportunities for university students. Securing over $23 million in funding commitments from the State and Federal governments for our region to support our community means our infrastructure budget at $51 million is the largest it’s ever been. The Noosa River Stakeholder Advisory Committee has been established in line with Maritime Safety Queensland to advise on priorities for Noosa River and we’ve introduced a new online portal called ‘Open Council’ to make our council more transparent.

Above are just some highlights, but it’s fair to say that while there is lots going on with much more to do over the coming months to support our community and our residents, all Councillors and Council staff are well and truly up to the challenge.

Until next month, stay safe, Clare

Rob Skelton

Member for Nicklin

Business Basics Grants Round Two

THE guidelines for the second round of the Business Basics Grant Program are available now with applications opening on September 8. This grant round is exclusively for businesses in regional areas and is focused on smaller emerging businesses just starting out. The first grant round was exceptionally popular, so businesses should take the time to read the guidelines carefully and have an application ready to go. For more information visit https://bit.ly/ QLDBusinessGrants

Hotel quarantine pause eases

Queensland’s hotel quarantine pause will ease, allowing Queenslanders to return from interstate hotspots earlier. From Saturday 4 September, limited numbers will be able to enter, with officials contacting approved applicants. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said more will be accommodated as rooms become available. From Monday 6 September, the application process will reopen to those seeking to relocate to Queensland, as well as for returning Queenslanders. However, those wishing to relocate will have to prove they are genuine, either with proof of employment or a change of residential status.

Tough new drink driving laws

To make Queensland roads safer, the Palaszczuk Government is cracking down harder on drink drivers, with new, tougher laws commencing on Friday 10 September. Under the changes, the alcohol interlock program, which requires sentenced drink drivers to unlock their cars by passing a breath test on a device installed in their vehicle, will be expanded to apply to mid-range drink drivers. The new laws will also require all drink driving offenders to complete an education intervention program before they can reapply for their driver’s licence. The Palaszczuk Government is investing almost $1.7 billion to make our roads safer, but it needs everyone to do their part and avoid the Fatal Five – drink and drug driving, speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, fatigue, and driving distracted.