Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

9:25 pm

Council’s oyster project deal is not in public interest

As you may have seen on social media, there will be an important Council vote held next Tuesday 19th April 2022 to decide whether the Council’s Oyster Project should be extended.

The Noosa Chamber of Commerce and five other leading local resident and business associations have asked Noosa Council to end an ‘alliance agreement’ with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) stating that its Noosa Oyster Ecosystem Restoration Project has not achieved agreed upon milestones.

A joint letter and letter of support by the associations to Noosa Councillors expressing great concern about the project and requesting that, at this month’s meetings, the Council not approve an extension of the current three-year contract beyond its end date of 30 September 2022.

Council documents show that the Council has already paid more than $230,000 to the project and there is nearly a million dollars of taxpayers money still to come of the total $1.2 million grant.

Our associations are determined to see ratepayers’ funds used wisely for projects of the greatest priority and benefit to Shire residents and ratepayers, particularly in our current economic state and unsustainable eco-environment which has been adversely impacted by floods, storms, shortages of affordable housing, bushfires, and an ongoing pandemic. Immediate and urgent action on environmental risks such as un-treated stormwater entering the river and oceans is part of a long list that should have funding priority by council.

Our six associations are urging that the Council, when it meets this month, not to proceed further with funding this project, and to redivert taxpayer funds to more essential projects.

This important Council decision impacts all Noosa Shire residents and ratepayers, and we urge you all to make your voice heard by insisting Councillors vote against the Oyster project extension.

The submitted letters were signed by and/or supported by representatives of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Noosaville Business Association, Hastings Street Association, Peregian Family & Friends Association, Sunshine Beach Association and Eastern Beaches Protection Association. ... See MoreSee Less

Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

10:19 pm

Letter reprinted in Noosa Today - August 27 edition.

Govt must pay up, pay amply and pay fast, says Chamber

Head of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ralph Rogers, has called on Federal and State governments to recognise the unfairness of their treatment of the private sector in dealing with Covid outbreaks.

Mr Rogers said that State governments are imposing unsustainable trading restrictions on business and both Federal and State governments are providing inadequate support for businesses seriously affected by lockdowns.

“We recognise that governments must respond swiftly and strongly to public health emergencies but, where private sector businesses are threatened with extinction, there must be greater funding available from the public purse,” he said.

“All of us in the private sector understand the urgency of reacting appropriately when outbreaks occur, but the consequences of taking actions that close or limit our businesses are massive.

“Many businesses have been seriously damaged and even crippled. This cannot go on.”

“Each time a lockdown is called we are told ‘we are all in this together’, but that is manifestly untrue,” Mr Rogers said.

“The big boys in town have it sorted as they are permitted to stay open and trade normally.

“Meanwhile, independent and small and medium retailers are forced to close, foregoing cash flow and providing windfall profits to businesses allowed to stay open.

“This unbalanced response has exhausted or seriously depleted the savings of individual business owners and forced them to lay off most employees.

“But it also threatens the whole economy and is killing off innovation, yet government somehow expects all sectors of the economy to survive.”

Mr Rogers said it is not good enough for governments to think they can let small business, often stated by politicians to be the key driver of the economy, to be largely neglected.

“Here in Noosa the tourism, hospitality and accommodation sectors are on their knees,” he said.

“Government is leaving us to swing in the breeze.

“Providing adequate support to small business is now up to government, which needs to pay up, pay amply and pay fast.

“Enough is enough, get your act together and save what's left of our independent business community.”

Mr Rogers said the Noosa Chamber had ideas on other fair solutions for the predicament facing independent business but first government has to listen.

“Big business has been favoured for long enough, we cannot over-emphasise the urgency of Federal and State governments getting their act together, stop treating small business as disposable and provide an adequate level of financial support required,” he said.

Mr Rogers said the Chamber was calling on Premier Palaszczuk to deliver “immediate and direct” financial compensation for Noosa businesses affected by Covid restrictions.

“While the Queensland Government has imposed these restrictions, it has failed to fully acknowledge or compensate affected businesses that have been directed not to trade or to severely minimise their trade,” he said. ... See MoreSee Less