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from Eumundi Voice Magazine - Issue 70, 8 June 2023

by EumundiVoice

WHAT’S ON?

Pedestrian access update

Eumundi Voice recently contacted Dan Purdie, MP for Ninderry for an update on the progress of the proposed pedestrian access on Seib Rd. The bridge upgrade was reported in the first issue of Eumundi Voice almost three years ago.

The MP followed-up with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in parliament who reassured him that TMR remains committed to working with council to deliver the pedestrian access over the North Maroochy River.

“I’ve been informed by the Minister that council is in the process of redeveloping the project’s concept design and the project site is being prepared for construction. As the pedestrian bridge will become part of council’s local road and pedestrian network they are leading the design process,” said Dan Purdie.

“I completely understand the community’s frustration at the ongoing delays with this vital infrastructure project and I will continue to work closely with both council and TMR to ensure it is delivered as soon as possible.

“I will also continue to raise the issue in parliament, including during budget week later this month, to ensure it remains a top priority.”

Cr David Law has confirmed that council is in the process of redesigning the bridge following direction from TMR however there is currently no date for work to begin. Council provided its part of the funding in the 2020/21 budget ensuring their commitment is firm for this important project.

Noosa Hill Climb

Now in its 26th year the Noosa Hill Climb returns from 9-11 June at Gyndier Dr, Tewantin. Over a 1.5km stretch of cambered bitumen contestants will face a blend of 14 tight and moderately sweeping corners through the National Park. The Rotary Club of Eumundi will be supporting the Climb with breakfast and lunch offerings. Spectator tickets can be purchased at the gate or at: noosahillclimb.com.au.

Electric vehicles

The stone age didn’t end because we ran out of rocks … and the fossil fuel era won’t end because we run out of oil. It is becoming more evident that our reliance on fossil fuels is not only damaging the Earth and its atmosphere but we are also reliant on foreign powers and economic forces to drive our infrastructure.

Something we can do is look at alternative energy sources to give us secure transportation for ourselves and all things that come to us by road – enter the electric vehicle (EV). These are cars or other vehicles with motors that are powered by electricity rather than liquid fuels. Currently there are four main types: battery (BEVs), plug-in hybrid (PHEVs), fuel cell electric (FCEVs) and non-plug-in hybrid (HEVs).

Whatever you think of them they are the way of the future. Australia has more sunshine than any other country yet it is the slowest of developed countries to roll-out EVs and the necessary fuelling stations. This is despite the obvious benefits of reduced fuel costs, lower maintenance costs, enhanced energy security, reduced air pollution and associated health benefits and an improved driving experience. Greenhouse gas emissions can be eliminated if EVs are charged using renewable energy.

There are alternatives to buying new EVs. Electric conversions are now available together with safer and smaller batteries. Don’t want to move on the old ute or give up trips in the Porsche? There are conversion kits, workshops in conversion and professionals who will do it for you. How about a men’s shed where you can learn and share experiences in EV conversions –wouldn’t that be amazing?

Watch this space for details in the future. In the meantime visit the Electric Vehicle Motor Show in Noosa Junction on 18 June. Janet Millington

Electric vehicle expo

Electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes are taking over Noosa Junction for the ZEN Inc. 2023 Noosa EV Expo and Street Festival from 10am-2pm on Sunday 18 June.

This free community all-weather event will highlight the first EV ute in Australia and is an opportunity to test ride e-bikes and e-scooters. There will be guest speakers and a panel discussion on buying and owning an EV. With more than 60 exhibitors in one location and live music there will be plenty to see and do. Sign-up for a forum on EVs and test drives with The Good Car Co and Polestar as an add-on activity in the week following the event.

Sunshine Beach Rd will be closed. Take the free bus, walk or use e-transport to earn two free trees from Landcare. Park at the usual Noosa Junction carparks. Bus stops are moving to Noosa Dr for routes 620, 626, 627, 629, 631. Through traffic will be detoured. Visit: noosaevexpo.com.au.

swap or donate toys. Trade tables are available for those who would like to make a little extra cash by selling their pre-loved items and there will be family entertainment and activities.

Choose the ‘Tude and The Kind Communities Project founder, Robyn Simpson and SPARK POP experience marketplace for kids' founder, Melissa Soutar are the people behind this unique event. Both mothers of two they wanted to help solve the toy room clutter dilemma while avoiding putting plastics into the environment.

“The Re-Play Toy Trade is a fun way to bring the community together, raise awareness of the harms of plastic in the environment and provide opportunities for families to be part of the toy circular economy. It’s great for the environment, our children and the not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) we support,” said Robyn.

“As a working mother of two boys under 8yo I’ve experienced the overwhelm of all the 'things' – sports equipment, puzzles, books, crafts, electronics, toys, games, collectable cards and the rest! Many items are only played with a handful of times at best. Research supports the concept that the less toys our children have the more creative and engaged they become. I truly believe our kids don’t need more things, they need more adventures,” said Melissa.

Currently more than 26 million toys end up in landfill in Australia annually and it takes between 20-500 years for plastic to break down. Initiatives such as these help reduce the number of toys becoming waste and polluting our lands, oceans and wildlife. Visit: choosethetude.com/ toy-trade-july-23.

Our donkey defenders

After 13 months of watching and waiting a whopping baby donkey finally popped out of the last of our female donkeys, taking our donkey herd to 11.

What the heck are cattle breeders doing with donkeys? Well our cows are dropping calves all over the place and usually in the dead of night with vicious wild dogs waiting to savage them. On still nights the howling of dingoes is blood curdling. Many times we’ve dashed across paddocks, lights blazing and horn tooting, to find the remains of a baby calf and its mother bellowing brokenly beside it.

That’s the reality of dog attacks. Seeking solutions we searched Mr Google and discovered graziers out west had successfully integrated donkeys into their herds and found them fiercely protective. It sounded good to us and so we bought two males – Jacks from out west – and tamed them in the yards before introducing them to a herd. Things went well so we bought two heavily pregnant Jennies and put them with another herd. Sadly one foal died a few weeks later but the other Jennie foaled and the three of them have been with that herd for almost a year. On a roll we bought three more pregnant Jennies who have since foaled. These are with our heifers and will stay with them after they calve in Spring. We now have five Jennies, two Jacks and four foals. When the foals are older we’ll wean them, castrate the males and put our two Jacks out with the Jennies. The two Jacks absolutely love each other and it will be a huge wrench separating them.

Donkeys are fascinating to watch and wonderful mums. The two Jacks are so friendly they’ll knock you over for a carrot but the Jennies are a bit wary probably because of their foals. In the future we hope our guardian donkeys protect our calves from increasingly vicious attacks.

Jenny Wellington

Macadamia nut season

In our last issue of Eumundi Voice we informed readers about the initiatives of Amamoor local Ian McConachie regarding his efforts to preserve the wild macadamia nut. For farmers who produce macadamia nuts commercially however it is now nut harvest season.

Early nuts start dropping in late March but the bulk fall occurs between April and July.

Producing macadamias takes patience and care as it can take 10 to 15 years before a macadamia tree reaches maturity and maximum yield. Mature trees grow to heights of 12-15m and have shiny, dark green leaves.

Macadamias are prolific producers with each tree bearing sprays or racemes of long, delicate, sweet-smelling white or pink blossoms. Each spray of 40-50 flowers produces from four to 15 nutlets which will eventually ripen into nuts. Flowering occurs in early spring with nuts forming in early summer and by early autumn clusters of plump green nuts appear. The nuts grow encased in a hard, woody shell protected by a green-brown fibrous husk.

In recent years sweeper harvesters have become popular to collect the nuts from the ground as these harvesters can get right under the canopy of a tree. Hand harvesting has not gone away completely and is used on steep slopes or when the ground is too wet for machinery.

While macadamia production is expanding overseas and particularly in China, Australiangrown macadamias are still highly regarded. Local company Nutworks began in 1993 when four Sunshine Coast macadamia growers joined forces to build a processing plant at Verrierdale. They soon realised that supply was so great a larger plant was required and a café, retail shop and tourist facility was built at Yandina in 1996.

In a bid to increase demand for macadamias locally and internationally Nutworks has invested in expanding its retail product range with the launch of new snacking, chocolate, confectionery, muesli and home chef products.

Nutworks is currently running a competition to 'name your flavour idea' for the perfect macadamia treat and win accommodation at Mayan Luxe Villas in Kin Kin and more! Entries: nutworks.com.au/win. Tania Watson

Health

Celebrate and recognise the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth

Everyone is invited to come, celebrate and support NAIDOC Week on the Sunshine Coast from 2-9 July. This year’s theme is For Our Elders. Across every generation, First Nations Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families. Check out Council’s website for event details and more information.

Saddle up for Coastal Country Music Fest

Chase away the winter weather blues with a warm dose of country vibes at Coastal Country Music Fest on 22 July at Venue 114. The sunset session will feature some of the industry’s freshest home-grown artists including Melanie Dyer, Andrew Swift, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Pete Cullen and Liam Brew. Tickets on sale via venue114.com.au.Watch

CUSTOMER CONTACT sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/Contact-Council

Does your child like to draw?

Enter their native plants and animal art for a chance to win a share of $3000 in the Wild HeART Student Art prize. Entries close 16 July. Head to Council’s website for details.

Watch Council’s 2023-24 annual budget being delivered online or at Sunshine Coast City Hall Chambers - 22 June at 9am. It will be followed by the Ordinary Meeting at 11am.

Get excited: 10 days of fun for everyone

Horizon Festival is back from 25 August to 3 September. From the coast to the hinterland, enjoy 10 days of free and ticketed art events, live music, theatre and circus, comedy, family events and more. Visit horizonfestival.com.au to book.

Learn more about dog safety this July

Dog Safety Week, 3-7 July, is the perfect time to talk to children about dog safety and maybe learn a thing or two yourself about responsible pet ownership. See Council's website for details.

Get the latest Council news delivered directly to your inbox each week. Sign up for the OurSC enewsletter here

Wellness Wednesdays

Noosa Council has developed a low-cost preventative health initiative called Living Well Noosa to improve the health and wellbeing of the Noosa community. There is yoga, tai chi, aqua aerobics and events designed especially for seniors with the Living Well Seniors program. The initiative takes a holistic approach in addressing a range of health dimensions including physical, social, mental and spiritual health.

More activities will be added to the program and council would love to hear from residents what types of activities they would like to see included. Visit: noosa.qld.gov.au/living-wellnoosa.

Tai Chi classes in Eumundi

New Tai Chi classes will be offered in Eumundi from 6.30pm on 28 June at the Eumundi State School Hall. Sessions are designed for beginners with the first session obligation-free and continuing weekly thereafter. They are offered by the Taoist Tai Chi Society, a not-for-profit organisation. Tai Chi involves a sequence of slow, continuous movements which improve balance, flexibility and wellbeing. Register your interest at: taoisttaichi.org.

ISSUE 71 DATES:

Advertising booking deadline: WEDNESDAY 14 JUNE 2023

June 2023

8 Watandar – My Countryman film, The J, Noosa, �� thej.com.au

Copy & advert artwork deadline: THURSDAY 15 JUNE 2023

Available from: THURSDAY 22 JUNE 2023

PUBLISHER: Eumundi Rotary Initiatives Ltd trading as Eumundi Voice. ACN 628 234 891

EDITOR: Narelle Schuh - One dog, two ducks communications

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Heidi Jenkins - The Creative Frog

PRINTER: SunPrint

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All advertisements and submissions will be published at the discretion of Eumundi Voice and may be subject to editorial changes. Eumundi Voice does not accept responsibility for claims published in Eumundi Voice. Factual errors in material submitted are the responsibility of the contributor. All submissions received, including photographs, are deemed to be authorised for publication by the contributor who has gained any required permissions to publish. All editorial and advertising in Eumundi Voice is published in good faith based on material provided by contributors and advertisers. All care is taken by the publisher Eumundi Voice however responsibility is not accepted for errors or omissions and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher of Eumundi Voice.

9 Watandar Documentary – Exhibition and Q&A with Muzafar Ali and Jolyon Hoff, Cooroy, �� sondergallery.com

9 Heart of Gold Short Film Festival presents A Golden Evening, Pomona, �� themajestictheatre.com.au

9-11 Noosa Hill Climb, Gyndier Drive, Tewantin, �� noosahillclimb.com.au

10 Katie Noonan sings Joni MitchellBlue, The J, Noosa, �� thej.com.au

10 The Barleyshakes Eumundi, �� imperialhoteleumundi.com.au

10 Katie Rose Cottage Hospice ForgetMe-Not Gala dinner, Alba, �� katierosecottage.org.au

10 Noosa Libraries 50th Birthday Event, Pomona, �� libraryevents.noosa.qld.gov.au

13 Biggest Morning Tea, Cooroy Memorial Hall, �� trybooking.com/CHXBG

15-16 Tim Freedman, Eumundi, �� imperialhoteleumundi.com.au

16 Etampa - World Folk, Pomona, �� themajestictheatre.com.au

16-18 Sunshine Coast Agricultural Show, Nambour Showgrounds, �� sunshinecoastshow.com.au

17 Cinema on the Roof – Toy Story 3, Cooroy Library, �� libraries.noosa.qld.gov.au