Judy Barrass reflects on John Hare’s article in Noosa Matters which suggests that public transport can provide the answers to traffic congestion. Judy believes the broader Sunshine Coast solutions would not necessarily solve Noosa's traffic woes.
At its special budget meeting in June, Noosa Council voted to absorb what used to be the Tourism and Economic Levy into its general rates and took on what was previously Tourism Noosa's responsibility for 'destination management'. In this article, Ingrid Jackson explores what role groups of unelected people played in this and asks whether Noosa Council may become dependent on such people regarding how to proceed.
Aware of the Noosa Council apparent takeover of Tourism Noosa, Ingrid Jackson has been reminded of how in 2000 she project managed the communications for the merger of CBA with Colonial, the biggest merger in Australian history. In 2006, she published this article ‘How to Host a Merger’ in Today's Manager, the journal of the Singapore Institute of Management, about her experience in the takeover war zone. This can be something to compare the struggle that lies ahead for Noosa Council and Tourism Noosa.
Rod Richie sat on the STSRG (Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group) as a resident group representative. Rod explains why he believes tourism is core Noosa Council business. Rod provides a declaration presented to STSRG in July 2019.
The common consensus is that COVID will be around for years to come, so Rod Ritchie believes it's time to take a reality check. Rod outlines how the new normal will impact residents, businesses and tourism in general as we start living with COVID.
Short term accommodation managed via the Noosa Plan will not diversify the Noosa economy, nor will it fix housing affordability, remove traffic congestion or ensure neighbourhood amenity, according to Ingrid Jackson. Effectively managed, short term accommodation could be an important part of offering the Noosa economy more adaptability and flexibility.
Rod Ritchie reflects on the long term impact of short-term lets and how those representing us at the local level have the power to form our hard-won Noosa values on town planning regulations into a commodity that can be bought and sold on a housing market.
Council’s letting proposals are tearing community apart according to Ralph Rogers, prominent Noosa businessman and investor in local enterprise. In Roger's view, a council acting in the best interests of the shire would defer a vote on this draconian proposal, which will be subject to one legal challenge after another.
Short term letting – and Noosa Council’s attempts to design a policy to control it – are hot topics in Noosa right now. And the Future Noosa group, which has three councillor candidates standing for March’s election, is concerned about the policy’s impact on residents. Councillor Candidate Andrew Squires warns not to throw the baby out with the bathwater – the baby being the best interests of residents.
Nick Hluszko investigates the vexing question of 'The Noosa Experience' and argues we should define Tourism first to understand what we mean by Over-Tourism to deliver carrying capacity models, commensurate legislation and controls as agreed by all stakeholders.
First up: I am against airport expansions in general, because I believe we all need to reduce flying in order to reduce our personal carbon emissions. However I believe the current flight path saga makes us all look like bad neighbours and NIMBYs with amnesia.
The expansion of the runway is to take larger aircraft, especially those from international destinations which currently fly into Brisbane. Most people think this is okay, since there aren't, and likely won't be for a while, any international flights.
The new Noosa Plan is out for consultation with a brave new vision for the future of our shire. We get to look into the future and see what sort of place our civic leaders envisage Noosa will become. Get ready for Noosa Resort Inc.
I hate pouring water on an otherwise great parade but let’s consider the ramifications of the news that Tourism Noosa has appointed its Chairman to the CEO’s job. I acknowledge he’s been a good Chairman. But something’s not right.
We live in Sunrise Beach. Our kids go to one of the local schools and we love to walk and cycle for transport. We are fond of our local shopping centre and support the baker, butcher, pharmacist, bottle shop,...
The headline in Noosa news of July 13th reads ‘Council leads in short stay policy?’. Apparently (according to the beginning of the article) State Tourism Minister Kate Jones has already developed a code of conduct for hosts and guests using short stay letting…… but read on…….
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...
