Friday, 31 January, 2025
ONE Phone (07) 5455 6946
Trades & Classifieds 1300 666 808
12744881-MP04-25
There is only
noosatoday.com.au FREE
Back to school excitement
New chapter for Diggers Bar
Your next travel destination
24-page liftout Property Guide
PAGE 3
PAGE 8
PAGE 23
INSIDE
Newest citizens By Margie Maccoll
Venezuelan born Nella Del Castillo is welcomed as an Australian by Mayor Frank Wilkie and councillors Tom Wegener and Karen Kinzel. (Rob Maccoll)
Seventy Noosa residents born in 15 different countries became Australian citizens on Australia Day in an emotional and uplifting ceremony presided over by Mayor Frank Wilkie at The J Theatre. There were cheers, hugs and tears as the new Australians took their pledge, accepted their certificates and a native plant before enjoying a morning tea of laminations and Anzac biscuits. The Noosa citizenship ceremony in Noosa, operated in line with the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 and was one of more than 280 ceremonies held around the country on Sunday, delivering Australian citizenship to about 14,600 people from 160 countries. In Noosa, New Zealand, UK and South Africa topped the list of countries of origin with others born in Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Brazil, US, Phillipines, Thailand, Venezuela, Vietnam, the Netherlands and Spain. “Making the pledge is the final step in becoming Australian,” Mayor Wilkie said at the theatre packed with new citizens, family and friends. “Citizenship is the common bond that unites all Australians. Our rich heritage stems from the contributions made by all of us. Acquiring Australian citizenship enables you to participate fully in our inclusive society, to realise your aspirations regardless of race, gender, religion, language or place of birth. “Australian citizenship lies at the heart of a national culture premised on all round equality. Our country’s heritage is made richer by the contributions of people of many lands. “And while we celebrate and embrace the diversity of Australian people we also aim to build a cohesive and unified nation. This country gains immeasurably by your commitment here today.” After taking their pledge and singing a rousing rendition of the National Anthem to the accompaniment of Jazz Strings Noosa MP Sandy Bolton delivered a final address. “It is a special day for you. For many of us our lives started as a story of immigration and what it does it brings together a really interconnected community,” she said. Continued page 4
Housing locked in Noosa Council say new social housing will be delivered “as promised” and formerly unusable council land freed up for other uses after a development at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive Cooroy was approved last week with the adoption of a confidential planning report in a closed
council session. Described by council as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Noosa Shire, the project involves a subdivision for Lot 105 on Lake Macdonald Drive which “includes an architectdesigned 25-unit social housing project, repre-
senting a significant investment by community housing provider Coast2Bay and a key action of the Noosa Housing Strategy”. The project was carried 4:3 with councillors Wilkie, Stockwell, Wegener and Finzel voting for it and Crs Lorentson, Phillips and
Wilson against. Members of the 62 Lake Macdonald Drive Cooroy Steering Committee are calling for greater transparency surrounding the project. Continued page 5
Sign up for your FREE weekly digital edition of Noosa Today! 12739897-JB01-25
noosatoday.com.au/subscribe SCAN the QR CODE