10 years ago, in 2016, the Noosa Council introduced a new program called ZEN (Zero Emission Noosa) aiming to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gas to zero within 10 years. The very brave and audacious project had many well known critics shaking their head and seriously doubting that it could ever be achieved. 10 years on and the council is only a few months away from achieving this wonderful milestone. But let me take you back to the beginning and show you how it happened.
Early 2019, the Mayor realised that their program was way behind schedule, so the hard decision was made to ban all cows in Noosa shire, and immediately a huge drop in methane gas put the project back on track, but more needed to be done.
A few months later it was decided that waste management was the main culprit for gas emissions, and therefore should be banned! Noosa citizens were asked to bury their own rubbish in their backyard and the problem was solved. The locals were grateful for the extra physical work, and felt involved in the project.
But in 2021, the council realised something drastic needed to be done and therefore announced a full ban of fuel combustion of all kind – cars, trucks, buses and boats running on petrol and diesel with only vehicles running on indirect emissions (electricity and steam) left on roads and rivers. Surprisingly The Noosa community embraced this new concept and what a great sight it was, hundreds of elderly people zipping around on their electric mobility scooters, bikes, canoes, kayaks…
In 2023 it was decided to take it one step further and introduced their pet project “Daylight Living“ which basically requires Noosa residents to only been active during daylight, allowing all street lights to be turn off. This fantastic project not only had a massive effect on greenhouse gas reduction, but was also well received by the locals, as most of them were already going to bed by 7pm and getting up at 5am. A win win situation again for Noosa.
And here we are now, 2026, only few months away from the ZEN project deadline, and unfortunately still a small amount of carbon emissions needs to be removed to make it a complete success. Therefore after hours of deliberations the council have decided to introduce ‘The body emissions police’… You guessed it, council will employ their old parking officers (obsolete since the Withdrawal of cars) to patrol Noosa streets with “Sniffer dogs” to catch and fine any gas emission offenders. Repeat offenders will be rehabilitated in holistic clinics and taught to hold on.
This last step will guarantee Council reaches their Zero emission deadline in a few months.
What a wonderful achievement, congratulations Noosa council.
Dom Massoni
