12693779-HP23-24
Friday, 7 June, 2024
INSPECT FRI 4.30-5.00PM & WED 12-12.30PM
65 Lake Weyba Dr, Noosaville
Using surfing for therapy
EV and Electrify Everything Expo coming up
Great results for Noosa Pirates
24-page liftout Property Guide
PAGES 6-7
LIFTOUT INSIDE
PAGE 45
INSIDE
PR OP ER TY
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Triumphant return for festival By Abbey Cannan The Noosa Eat & Drink Festival has relished in its return after a four year hiatus, with multi-award winning chef and restaurateur George Calombaris saying it’s provided reassurance of the hospitality resurgence. Guests flocked to Noosa to attend more than 75 festival events spread across four days from 30 May to 2 June, including a new-look Festival Village, a new long lunch destination, and beach events like no other. “For me, the return of the festival is a bit deeper,“ George said. “The last time the festival was on, it was 2020, and I remember being really lucky to be here while Melbourne was locked down. Courtney Roulston, Olympian-turned-foodie Michael Klim, George Calombaris and Warren Mendes.
Continued page 36
Great walk ditched By Phil Jarratt After many months of failing to address the elephant in the wilderness, the State Government finally abandoned the controversial Cooloola Great Walk ecotourism project last week. In a statement released on 31 May, the departments of Tourism and Sport and Environment, Science and Innovation announced: “The Cooloola Great Walk Ecotourism Project aimed to enhance one of Queensland’s national park long distance walking experiences
by establishing low-impact, best practice ecotourism facilities along the Cooloola Great Walk. It was decided in May 2024 that this project will not be progressing at this time. “The State is disappointed not to realise the original vision, but our shared commitment to protecting and showcasing the distinctive beauty and ecology of the Great Sandy National Park and the unique tourism opportunity it presents to the region and Traditional Owners remains strong.” The Cooloola Great Walk project, announced in 2019 as part of the Queensland Ec-
otourism Trails program, with the state seeking proposals from the private sector, was to include multiple eco-cabins at five sites along the existing 102km Cooloola Great Walk in the Great Sandy National Park, and was described at the outset as “a non-invasive boost to tourism in the region”. According to its website,”The primary objective of the Queensland Ecotourism Trails program is to collaborate with Traditional Owners and regional communities to deliver new tourism opportunities for Queensland, founded on social, environmental and eco-
nomic outcomes,” but the state soon found that in relation to Cooloola it was being asked difficult questions relating to all three pillars. From 2020, the government had worked closely with the preferred proponent, South Australia-based CABN, and the Traditional Owners, the Kabi Kabi, to move the project forward in the face of rising opposition from environment groups, such as Keep Cooloola Cool and Protect Our Parks, as well as the parkloving public. Continued page 4
SUNDAY 16 JUNE, 9:00AM - 1:00PM
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