Following my previous Friends of Noosa article in which I highlighted the unique features that make Noosa so special, I have been inundated with emails from residents apprising me of what they find most attractive and unique about Noosa.  So I thought I would share with you some of the many emails received over the past few days.

‘Noosa simply is something we can’t buy or possess; it is a celebration of life itself.  ‘Noosa is the joy of a child playing in the swell, the serenity of the rainforest with night approaching, the majesty of Mt Tinbeerwah overlooking the Noosa coast like a faithful lighthouse, the power of a whale eating plankton along the coast, the colourful songs of the birds throughout the day and the contentment of fishermen waiting for their evening meal along the river or beach.’

‘The National Park; so much of the milieu, social and cultural backdrop to Noosa revolves around the aura and natural beauty of its parks. The fact that Noosa as it is today is obviously the product of input from the community.  This is a town made up of articulate, proactive people willing to stand up and protect its environment.’
‘Coming up the crest of Noosa Drive and seeing Laguna Bay sparkling in the sunshine; early morning boating on Lake Weyba and watching the sea eagles soar; walking along the beautiful riverbank is what makes Noosa special for me.’
‘Noosa today is a very vibrant, stylish community that enjoys rare recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere.  It is a privilege to live here; the task is to maintain our environments, both built and natural and if possible improve upon them.  My favourite aspect of Noosa is no doubt our environment complimented by a world class restaurant cafe culture, embodied by the fact that you can be dining on fresh seafood with an absolute seafront view and a short walk later be in Australia’s most visited (spectacular) National Park, spotting koalas if you’re lucky, dolphins or turtles and even whales in season.’

‘For many residents Noosa may be a surfing Mecca, a cultural hotspot or sea-change dream.  But for almost everyone there are two distinguishing features to Noosa; its sensitive, low key development and natural beauty’.

‘For me, Noosa is a community of communities which enable people to live wherever it suits them where they should be able to influence how that community evolves.  It is also a unique, very special place where the natural environment can motivate people to engage and deliver a quality of life unlike any other.’  

‘To live in a place where you can wake up at daybreak, jog from Sunshine Beach to Hastings St through the National Park, swim the bay with friends, have breakfast together and still be at work by 9:00 o’clock must be the ultimate in lifestyles.’

‘How lucky can we be to have a range of beaches from the open ocean at Sunshine beach to the protected northerly facing Main beach, supported by a number of beautiful little coves encircling the National Park, so that rarely are we unable to find a spot for a leisurely ocean swim.’

‘What I love about Noosa is its passion.  For decades locals have cared sufficiently to not only debate with each other but also, where necessary, do battle with outside forces.  This has resulted in a unique locality that tries its very best to integrate urban sophistication with a palpable love of nature.  Understanding Noosa’s history only deepens one’s appreciation for what we now share.’
And a cautionary note as we are warned; ‘Noosa is special the way it balances conservation and lifestyle.  The result of 50 years of community activism, this balance is now threatened by an imposed regional council.  Characteristically, Noosa’s community is fighting to win back its own council and its ability to get conservation-lifestyle balance right over the next 50 years.’

What more can I say other than to thank all those who sent me emails expressing your love for this very wonderful place we call home.  It’s why we will never give up our crusade to re-establish  Noosa’s council for it’s the only way we can protect most of the features described in your emails and thus avoid being part of the South Eastern Queensland urban sprawl generating a sameness from the Gold Coast to Noosa.

Bob Ansett