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.
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📌 Latest update from Noosa Council re:
🚌 FREE LOCAL BUSES EVERY WEEKEND 🚌🚌 FREE LOCAL BUSES EVERY WEEKEND 🚌
On Saturday, we kick off a 12-month trial that sees free weekend travel on all existing Translink buses travelling within Noosa!
✅ The trial includes existing Translink services 626, 627, 628, 629 and 632 covering Tewantin, Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach, Noosa Heads, Parklands, Noosa Junction, Noosaville, Cooran, Cooroy and Pomona.
🙌 The success of the trial will depend on the uptake and patronage of the weekend buses, so we encourage everyone to get out of their cars and on the free buses and take full advantage of the trial
👉 Download MyTranslink app, call 13 12 30 or visit: bit.ly/3GkACgC
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REMINDER - Modern Manufacturing Grants will be closing Friday 14 January at 5:00pm.
These sectors have guidelines available and applications are open now:
Space
Medical products
Resource technology and critical minerals processing
Food and Beverage
Recycling and Clean energy
Defence More information
CLICK HERE & FIND OUT MORE: business.gov.au/news/modern-manufacturing-initiative-round-2
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THIS FRIDAY 19TH NOVEMBER:
Register now at walkinwings.com.au
*Register before 12noon on Wed 17th November to enter the draw to win Vuly Medium Ultra Trampoline with shade cover and ladder. Valued at $1,333
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NOOSA CHAMBER PLANNING UPDATE: During July & August 2021 the NCCI committee developed a draft three-year strategic plan focused on delivering significant benefits for members & expanding the role of the Chamber in the Noosa community. The plan is now being refined prior to it being circulated to members for comment before the end of this month, along with a statement on how it will be implemented. The plan includes a range of programs intended to strengthen the role of the Chamber and to improve its services to members. We’d like to thank Judi Lalor for facilitating the planning workshops and Noosa Council for sponsoring them.
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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.
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NCCI MEDIA STATEMENT:
Noosa business urges Covid fairness on government.
The Noosa Chamber of Commerce has written to Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk to express great concern at the ad hoc approach to providing financial compensation to Noosa businesses as a result of the need to comply with Covid lockdown orders.
“Financial compensation has been insignificant compared to the cost incurred by the business community,” said Ralph Rogers, Interim President of the Chamber.
“Whilst 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.”
Mr Rogers said by government order many sectors, like accommodation providers and tourism operators, were not compensated at all while major retailers were allowed to trade.
“It is the view of the Noosa Chamber of Commerce that this fails the compact government is asking the business community to enter into, which has practical and moral dimensions,” he said.
He said the government needed to embed into legislation matters such as compensation and the methodology and timing of payments.
“The moment government imposes restrictions, it must immediately trigger appropriate compensation to affected businesses,” he said.
Mr Rogers also urged the Premier to ensure a level playing field between major retailers and the specialty retail sector.
“If a haberdashery store, specialty furniture store or photo shop are forced to close, so must their bigger direct competitors like Lincraft, Ikea, Harvey Norman and Officeworks,” he said.
“Anything less fails any test of fairness and demonstrates to the broader community that the government is not treating all businesses equally.”
Mr Rogers said the government did not seem to comprehend the extent to which the livelihoods of businesses were impacted by current legislation.
“People are struggling, families are struggling,” he said.
“We anxiously await the Palaszczuk government’s immediate recognition of the severity and unfairness of this situation and your immediate steps to remedy this situation.”
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