Friday, 12 April, 2024
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New councillors take the reins
Opposition in town to talk health
MP offers clarity on Noosa River
28-page liftout Property Guide
PAGES 4-5
PAGE 8
PAGES 24-25
INSIDE
On the Great Walk.
PR OP ER TY
Picture: QPWS
NPA walks away Noosa Parks Association (NPA), the shire’s leading conservation group for more than 60 years, has walked away from its conditional support for a commercial Cooloola Great Walk, calling on the state government to do the same. Under the heading “Update on a commercial Cooloola Great Walk” in the NPA’s latest newsletter, president Darlene Gower wrote: “In the lead up to the coming state election in October, Noosa Parks Association is calling on both Queensland’s Labor Party and Liberal National Party to withdraw support for a commercial Cooloola Great Walk. It is time for both sides of politics to face up to the fact that a Cooloola Great Walk with overnight accommodation owned and run by a private developer has failed to get past square one.” She added that Noosa MP Sandy Bolton “has been assured that the outcome of the Cooloola Great Walk will be in line with community expectations, and that government will work with the traditional owners, the Kabi Kabi people, and the local community. However, to date nothing has been offered. “Over the past five years the selected proponent has been unable to produce a detailed
Artist’s impression of the proposed CABN structures. proposal for a commercial Cooloola Great Walk that is financially feasible—one that does not require both direct and indirect financial subsidy
Picture: SUPPLIED
from the state government, and hence taxpayers. It is time for both of Queensland’s major parties to rule out both direct and indirect subsidies for
this project. It is time that both sides of politics listened to the clear message from the Noosa/ Cooloola community and said no to a Cooloola Great Walk with overnight accommodation that is privately owned and run.” Ms Gower added in closing: “Noosa is on a precipice—we need to ensure that it is navigated in the right direction.” Which, to many observers, would seem to be a rather different direction to that which the Parks Association has followed on the Cooloola issue over the past few years. However, since 1992 the added complexities of the Mabo and Wik judgements and the evolution of native title law have changed the way environmental organisations think about national parks, and NPA has had to adapt accordingly. To better understand its adjusted position on Cooloola, Noosa Today interviewed current NPA vice-president and long-term policy strategist for the group Michael Gloster. Noosa Today: Is this the end of the track for a commercial Great Cooloola Walk? Michael Gloster: NPA is hoping so. After five years, there is no commercial proposal on the table that stacks up financially, environmentally, or enjoys public support. Continued page 3