The supporting papers have been published for the next series of Noosa Council meetings which includes a proposal to change the funding arrangements of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation.
Despite some councillors insisting that critics of NBRF were merely “a...
In April we had written an open letter to our mayor Tony Wellington about our concerns with regards to a renewal of a funding deed for the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF). So naturally I was waiting for the deliberations to begin. Before council hands over any more public funds to the NBRF it would be great to find out a few things. These are my top 5 questions for the NBRF.
Taking on the challenge by Noosa identity Bob Jarvis for someone to brag about any achievements that may have resulted from our UNESCO biosphere status, inaugural chairman of Noosa Biosphere v1 Michael Donovan lists a number of outstanding contributions made by the many volunteers and community leaders who contributed to making it an effective and viable organisation.
After years of efforts to get the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation out of the cupboard to demonstrate that it is eager to engage and be more visible and disclosing about its decisions and operations, here we are in mid-2018 and that cupboard door has resisted all efforts to prise it open.
We’ve just had the first electric vehicle expo in Noosa and it was a real treat to finally see some of these legends in the flesh. However, if you are serious about buying a car right now what are the realistic options? Tim did his homework and was happy to share his insights. You are welcome :)!
Kickstarting a mini-series on Electric Vehicles with Jimmy Hirst's brief report on Noosa's first electric vehicle expo.
The very first Noosa Electric Vehicle Expo was celebrated with an incredible turnout on a perfect May autumn day on the Sunshine Coast.
The...
These days complaints about Airbnb's negative impacts are a loudly squeaking wheel. The public and council react whilst local Airbnb hosts count their blessings and quietly hope they don't get slammed with a heavy levy or some sort of...
There have always been holiday houses and apartments to let in holiday destinations, but the internet has brought something new into the mix, and multi-national corporations like Airbnb are there to exploit the opportunities and rake in the money. Will the new Noosa Plan solve the problem locally?
The complexities of the short-term rental phenomenon are well worth debating and in April a public meeting held jointly by resident’s groups NSRRA and CARA and attended by over 200 people showed that just as its impacts are various, so too no one solution will fix the obvious anomalies.
Adventure takes many forms. For some it must involve mountains or wrestling bears, for others it comes from shopping at a different supermarket chain.
I count myself in neither camp. Instead I sit somewhere between. This is in part because...
Last month the city of Cape Town in South Africa narrowly avoided running out of water - a stark reminder of things to come for many communities around the world as we all struggle with changes in rainfall patterns...
Michael Donovan's letter to the editor calls the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation a secretive, opaque and mystery organisation of Frankenstein character. And while many of us have tried to help it turns out that, like a bad blind date, the ‘calls’ are not returned.
While global warming has often been described as THE issue of modern times, plastic pollution is sitting hot on its heels, if not in the overtaking lane!
Countries around the globe are trying to come to terms with China banning...
From the Australian perspective we often think places like Germany, or indeed the whole of Europe, might be ahead of us in environmental and public health measures, but I’m beginning to think we just don’t know how lucky we are.
The current funding deed under which Noosa Council wholly finances the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation (NBRF) terminates on Saturday 30 June and the next day, 1 July, a new three-year agreement will kick in.
When you go down the rabbit hole of plans that relate to the different aspects of Sustainable Tourism, you may never come out again. Have we reached a planning paralysis? How do we move from planning into action?
Let’s take...
“Almost one billion extra people will be travelling in 2022, and as a result, responsible tourism is likely to become increasingly important and necessary, while authenticity and unique experiences will grow in importance for travellers. The issue of excessive...
Is the Biosphere beef cattle project doing the best for a sustainable planet - and our health?
In recent times, grass-fed cattle raised on pastures as a human food source is receiving much attention in the beef industry as an...
As controversy continues to swirl around the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, a major recipient of funding from Noosa Council, KEITH JACKSON reveals his experience of trying to make the organisation more transparent and accountable.
The Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation certainly...
Over the past three years I have talked with Noosa Councillors, Council employees, community organisations, clubs, schools and business owners in this region, specifically in relation to establishing Boomerang Bags Noosa (BBN) as a social enterprise in this community.
Having...
Before he entered local politics as Councillor the Sunshine Coast Council in 2012, Noosa Mayor Tony Wellington numbered amongst his activities the publication of a newsletter, ‘The Gumshoe’.
'The Gumshoe' was used as the main communications vehicle by a small...
