This just happens to be my 30th Friends of Noosa Report since our council was surreptitiously removed in March 2008 and through the ineptness of the State Government and Regional Council I have never been short of material.  This month two issues confronting Noosa stand out.

The first is Unitywater which follows a long list of policy and managerial debacles of the Beattie/Bligh Government.   Of course, none more damaging than the forced amalgamation of the Noosa Council, followed by the Traveston Dam catastrophe in which millions of dollars were spent acquiring properties before obtaining approval from the Minister for Environmental Protection.  It didn’t eventuate as Peter Garrett later damned the dam.  At about the same time a desalination plant was being built on the Gold Coast initially estimated to cost $260 million dollars and due to commence operating in 2008.  Described by the Courier Mail as a ‘Rusty White Elephant’ because of its rusty pipes and ballooning costs now exceeding 1.2 billion dollars the plant is still not working and many think it will never be commissioned.

More recently, with her usual spin, Bligh announced development of a new computer program aimed at streamlining payroll delivery to Queensland health workers.  What emerged was a $40 million dollar program that has now grown out to $65 million and still counting, without adequate surveillance mechanisms or contingency plans in place to deal with potential problems.  The outcome so far?  Heath workers have had their wages held up for months on end and a Government in damage control for the past eight months over what has been described as a total ‘balls up’. (Have I missed any others?)  Is it any wonder Labor lost 8 seats and suffered a five percent swing against it in Queensland?

This government couldn’t run a ‘lolly shop’ in a primary school playground let alone manage a State in desperate need of new infrastructure to accommodate a growing population and a booming resource industry that southern States would die for.

This just happens to be my 30th Friends of Noosa Report since our council was surreptitiously removed in March 2008 and through the ineptness of the State Government and Regional Council I have never been short of material.  This month two issues confronting Noosa stand out.
The first is Unitywater which follows a long list of policy and managerial debacles of the Beattie/Bligh Government.   Of course, none more damaging than the forced amalgamation of the Noosa Council, followed by the Traveston Dam catastrophe in which millions of dollars were spent acquiring properties before obtaining approval from the Minister for Environmental Protection.  It didn’t eventuate as Peter Garrett later damned the dam.  At about the same time a desalination plant was being built on the Gold Coast initially estimated to cost $260 million dollars and due to commence operating in 2008.  Described by the Courier Mail as a ‘Rusty White Elephant’ because of its rusty pipes and ballooning costs now exceeding 1.2 billion dollars the plant is still not working and many think it will never be commissioned'

More recently, with her usual spin, Bligh announced development of a new computer program aimed at streamlining payroll delivery to Queensland health workers.  What emerged was a $40 million dollar program that has now grown out to $65 million and still counting, without adequate surveillance mechanisms or contingency plans in place to deal with potential problems.  The outcome so far?  Heath workers have had their wages held up for months on end and a Government in damage control for the past eight months over what has been described as a total ‘balls up’. (Have I missed any others?)  Is it any wonder Labor lost 8 seats and suffered a five percent swing against it in Queensland?

This government couldn’t run a ‘lolly shop’ in a primary school playground let alone manage a State in desperate need of new infrastructure to accommodate a growing population and a booming resource industry that southern States would die for.

So it’s no surprise their latest QANGO (Quasi Autonomous Non Government Organisation)  which was hastily put together by the Bligh Government  to distance itself from a  predicted huge surge in water and sewerage rates,  has failed on  every front.  Historically, local Councils generally managed this essential life necessity efficiently, none more so than Noosa who over the years invested heavily in infrastructure to access water from the Mary River at the twice raised Borumba Dam and to dam Lake McDonald.  This asset was surreptitiously taken away following amalgamation and assigned to Unitywater. (The name itself has become something of an oxymoron)

During its brief existence Unitywater has enraged Noosa residents by massively increasing water and sewerage rates, in some instances by up to 600%, through failing to read water meters and relying on guesstimates of usage to determine rates. Topping it off by billing Community Groups like sporting organisations, Meals on Wheels, Sea Scouts and Retirement Villages, thousands of dollars for the first time as previously this was seen as a community service obligation by the Council.

The second issue this month is a good news story for a change. It relates to the restoration of the Noosa Woods Spit beach which for a number of years has looked more like an environmental apocalypse than a popular family beach. Constant erosion over years has seen trees, the beach and even a concrete footpath surrounding the beach collapse into the water.   This beach was extremely popular with young families over many years as it was both shallow and safe but now through erosion the tidal currents are quite capable of sweeping young children or pet dogs out into deep water putting lives at risk.

Prodded by over 1000 signatories on a petition demanding action to stabilize and repair the damage, there at last is activity by council to fix the problem and restore the beach returning it to a safe protected and user friendly destination for Noosa residents and visitors to again enjoy.  The loss of this beach and the subsequent erosion of large trees is visually distressing to many people.  Comments left on the petition are heartfelt, reflecting serious public concern over the unnecessary loss of trees.

The restoration plan involves preventing any further erosion by building a combination groyne to redirect the tidal flow away from the beach area.  Part of this groyne will be submerged and not visible and what remains visible will be unobtrusive as it will be hidden behind the restored beach.   It’s anticipated the restored beach area will have a width of 10 to 15 metres of dry sand above flood level similar to the beaches around Munna Point making it once again a delightful family area with safe swimming in calm water.

It’s an indictment on our Council and the various State Government departments for allowing this devastation to linger for so long as it has become a blight on the image of Noosa.

However, at long last approvals have been granted and Council has allocated funding to stabilise the area permanently, recreating this lovely family beach area.  It’s always nice to finish on a positive.