First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 12 August 2014 I’m sure many of you would have read the stories about the full cost of Noosa’s de-amalgamation over the past few days. The Queensland Government Audit Office report and the subsequent parliamentary committee examination of that report show the real cost to be at least $10.2 million ($8 million more than estimated by Free Noosa) – with the potential for another $6 million on top of that. That initial figure is very close to the $13.6 million put forward by the Queensland Treasury Corporation prior to the de-amalgamation vote – which is same figure I used to explain the issue in the lead up to the poll. The Queensland Treasury Corporation also showed Noosa would receive about $40 million as a cash transfer when the council de-amalgamated. As it turned out, following the methodology set down by the de-amalgamation transfer committee – the final figure came in at just over $40 million. Does this matter anymore I hear you ask? Well it does now because Noosa has asked for an extra $20 million on top of the money which has already been transferred. Sunshine Coast Council has followed to the letter the de-amalgamation implementation regulation, the transfer committee’s agreed position papers and the QTC’s financial methodology. This attempt by Noosa to re-write the rules is simply not on. The Minister for Local Government quite rightly said before the de-amalgamation vote that the ratepayers of the Sunshine Coast wouldn’t have to pay a cent if the split went ahead. If this request for a $20 million donation to Noosa was approved it would cost every ratepayer on the Sunshine Coast $150. As you would know in recent columns I’ve shone the spotlight on worthwhile community groups and charities; this week I’d like to focus on Maroochy Waterwatch in Nambour. Maroochy Waterwatch is an award-winning, community-based organisation engaged in the protection and enhancement of the Maroochy River catchment. It’s involved in many strategic planning activities and has a strong volunteer workforce actively improving Maroochy River and surrounds. Its team of scientists, land managers and environmental educators deliver environmental programs which cover a broad spectrum of initiatives from flora and fauna surveys to Eco Safaris. All our waterwatch groups do a great job; their help is critical to our vision for the region to be vibrant, green and diverse.
