With the festive season nearly upon us, this year we have further reasons to rejoice in the knowledge a state election will be held in few months time.  Queenslanders will then have the opportunity to wave goodbye to an arrogant, autocratic government that forced Noosa and other councils to merge in defiance of community wishes.

The latest Galaxy Poll indicates voter support for the government continues to linger around the 28% mark suggesting Labor will struggle to hold as little as 12 seats in a new Parliament. Not surprisingly Bligh’s top bureaucrats have clearly ‘sniffed the wind’ and are heading for the nearest exit with 6 of her department heads gone and many more to follow.

FRIENDS OF NOOSA INC

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the members of FRIENDS OF NOOSA INC will be held at the Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, Hastings St Noosa Heads at 10.00 a.m. on Monday 28th  November, 2011 to transact the following business:-

ORDINARY BUSINESS

1. Receiving the Associations financial statements and audited report for the last reportable financial year and presenting that to the meeting for adoption.
2. Electing members of the management committee.
3. Re-appointing an auditor, an accountant, for the present financial year.

OTHER BUSINESS

1. President’s report and Vice Presidents report.
2. Open forum discussion.

Nominations of candidates for the Management Committee must be given to the Secretary at Post Office Box 1102 Noosa Heads 4567 at least 14 days before the AGM. Nomination forms may be downloaded here.

A member may take part and vote at the meeting in person, by proxy or by attorney.  Proxy forms may be downloaded here.

On behalf of the Management Committee
AG (Jock) Robertson
Secretary
Friends of Noosa Inc

Irrespective of whether you are a dog owner or not or where you stand on allowing dogs to be on the footpath while enjoying alfresco dining,  all Noosans should be fearful of new Council laws to fine dog owners for having their animal along-side them in outdoor cafes. Why, because it illustrates our long running fear of Noosa’s future being in the hands of others.

In this instance one councillor from the  southern end of the Coast obsessed about allowing dogs near alfresco dining patrons, set about filibustering colleagues until they supported his motion for the introduction of new laws enabling council officers to issue ‘on the spot fines’ to recalcitrant dog owners.  Because of our un-representation on this council--with only two of the 12 councillors—Noosa’s voice was not heard or considered.     
During this same sitting of council other laws were also changed to support the bureaucracy’s obsession with ‘harmonising’ the Coast.  The ‘one size fits all’ objective has taken a further leap forward and offers a snap shot overview of what our future has in store for us.  Effectively, we are in the hands of the philistines.  For example should they decide to increase building heights in Maroochydore then presumably with common laws throughout the Coast it would mean increased building heights for Noosa.

We may not be the ‘City of Lights’ but we are increasingly becoming the ‘City of Signs’.  Everywhere you look these days there are signs warning us to ‘Lock it or Lose it’, Save Water’ ‘Turn right to Noosa, left to all other destinations’ along with the three Q 150 signs costing taxpayers $17,000, to remind us we are iconic. I guess as part of our ‘great big councils’ harmonisation process they feel we need more and more directions or instructions on how to live our lives.  Not only are there more signs but the signs are getting brighter and bigger.  The old colour scheme of green and off white set by previous Noosa Councils appears to be gradually disappearing along with services like kerbside rubbish collections and free tip vouchers, as pointed out by a concerned letter writer recently.  The only place you can find sanctuary from signage these days is in the Noosa National Park.

Campbell Newman came to town on Monday the 8th of August and met with members of the Noosa Independence Alliance.  The purpose of the meeting was for Mr. Newman to clear up any doubts about the LNP’s policy on the de-amalgamation of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

At the outset he made it abundantly clear he was a strong supporter of ‘local government’ and would return to councils responsibilities removed by the Beattie/Bligh government who were obsessed with centralising power at George Street.  He also expressed his personal attraction to Noosa as a family holiday destination where he and his family had experienced many enjoyable holidays over the years.

Noosa’s de-amalgamation is now on Campbell Newman’s website.

See the following link:- http://www.candoqld.com.au/news/noosa-its-up-to-local-community

Bob