From koalas to humans – Meghan Halverson will keep up the crusade for a better world. Here are Meghan’s answers to our five questions:
Fixing crumbling infrastructure or keeping a budget surplus – what’s more important to you? Would you commit to prioritising funding for infrastructure that is so important for the well being of residents and visitors alike?
Safety over surplus would be my vote! My priorities include reviewing all shire roads, bridges and related infrastructure.
I am also concerned that there may be health issues resulting from run-off and storm and sewage infrastructure instability in our shire. As a nurse and supporter of holistic health practices, I have always been an advocate for healthy living from organic food supply to safe water and have lived my life with these principals in mind. I grow some of my own food and use organic and permaculture principals when I garden. I am against the idea of poisoning our landscape through the use of herbicides and pesticides.
Active Transport – Would you commit to getting things moving? If elected, would you commit to taking meaningful action and work with our neighbours to improve our active transport network?
I would definitely commit to getting things moving and promoting a safer network of connectivity to “greener” and more efficient solutions for transport. I already support the work of Zero Emissions Noosa and their efforts to be net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2026. Work is already underway and this initiative is an opportunity to connect and link communities including looking further south to the Sunshine Coast as well as into the hinterland. I would work with staff and community groups to further develop and support an active transport solution.
Would you support increasing Noosa Shire’s carrying capacity? So we would like to know where you stand on this and if you would be open for revisiting the population cap and look at increasing Noosa’s carrying capacity?
In supporting an increase in carrying capacity, we must be very cautious. We need to look at what our ecological limits are and how we can live within these limits. We know that the region is going to grow, but we need to look at how we manage this growth and the increased environmental pressures this growth will bring. The current Noosa plan is a start and I think we need to look at this in greater detail and create innovative solutions to what the future will look like. We need to help Noosa Shires heart beat clean and green with current and new businesses to expand our economy. We also need to support the actions that are recommended for climate emergency and incorporate these into future decisions. Affordable housing should also be addressed. These are all things that I would research and look into if I am elected to Council.
Would you commit to trying harder to protect our Sunrise Glossies? If elected would you commit to protecting the Glossies and investigate a Blue Care land swap option to a different site, a site both less prone to fire-danger and ecologically less precious?
I have always spoken loud and clear with my passion for the environment in my work for koalas. Glossy Blacks have been a priority when we have done tree plantings for koalas at Ringtail/Yurol Forest through the inclusion of planting casuarinas in our Noosa Koala Recovery Plan. I am deeply concerned for the ecological tragedy that is upon us post fires. There is a current project in place that will provide nesting boxes for Glossy Blacks and other animals who depend upon hollows in the landscape as well. This is currently being initiated. I would be open to exploring land swap options and look forward to hearing more about the current changes that are being discussed with LendLease Corp. After attending the Burgess Creek information day this past weekend, I will follow up on ideas related to overarching plans for the future of Glossy Black conservation and habitat regeneration.
Which long term climate change action(s) would you champion? We would like to know which longer term climate change action(s) you would champion.
I would support the current actions initiated within Council like Plastic Free Noosa and Zero Emissions Noosa. There is currently a full time Carbon Reduction Officer and a Climate Change Adaptation Officer employed. Noosa Council was a founding member of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership and a symposium has been scheduled for this coming October. So with these initiatives in place, I would attend and further support the actions that come out of such an important meeting of minds to create the solutions to live within our ecological limits and reduce the growth at all costs model that exists nationally. I would research the circular economy model and look closer at initiatives that Noosa could embrace. These could include regenerative agriculture, improved environmental education and principles of permaculture within our community.
More about Meghan on her Meghan Halverson for Noosa Council website or on Meghan’s facebook page.
We wish Meghan all the best and thank her for taking the time to answer our questions. You go good woman!
