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INSIDE
PR OP ER T Y
Enviro leaders awarded By Margie Maccoll Winners of the 2025 Noosa Biosphere Awards were announced on Thursday 13 November at The J Theatre at an Awards Ceremony that included a special presentation titled Our Noosa Biosphere. Telling the story of Noosa’s Biosphere Reserve, Our Noosa Biosphere, featured guest presenters Kabi Kabi Tribal Link and speakers Tony Wellington (President, Noosa Parks Association), Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, Phillip Moran (Environmental Steward), Peppie Simpson (WhaleSongs Noosa Charters), Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie and youth conservationist Jarrah Small. Professor Ian Lowe emceed the event, guiding guests through a program that celebrated local champions contributing to a more sustainable and resilient Noosa community. Continued page 4
Environmental Steward Award (Under 30) winner Chaka Wood and UniSC vice chancellor Alex Elibank Murray. (Supplied)
E-bikes banned By Margie Maccoll State High Schools of Sunshine Beach, Noosa District and Coolum will ban all e-bikes and escooters from school sites from the beginning of the 2026 school year. Parents were notified by email of the ban which comes after schools consulted with the Queensland Police Service and reached out to school families regarding the use of non-compliant vehicles. “Despite repeated requests for parental support in managing the use of non-compliant ve-
hicles we continue to see students riding and storing e-mobility devices that do not meet Queensland road laws. This has led to ongoing, numerous concerns from community members who have contacted our schools with reports of unsafe student behaviour,” the letter states. “A recent audit conducted by QPS revealed that the vast majority of e-bikes and e-scooters on our school grounds are not compliant with Queensland legislation.” The move comes after reports of several recent fatalities involving young people and e-mobility
devices and multiple serious injuries and in light of safety concerns over the additional fire risk posed by lithium battery storage. Schools have told parents from 2026 any student reported to be breaking the law by riding a non compliant e-bike or e-scooter in school uniform will face a school-based consequence. The school encourages students to travel to school via school bus services or using conventional bicycles. The reaction to the notification was swift on social media with a mixed reaction but a majority applauding the move with comments such as
“brilliant ... great news ... wise decision ... finally someone taking a stand on the prevalent illegal use of these vehicles”. Some opposed the move. One saying, “a few kids do what I agree is stupid things on the road on e-bikes, and every person is punished. You know, what’s stopping the police from working harder and actually getting those shits doing the wrong thing and leave the other kids alone? I did my job well, my child rides his ebike safely, I think it sucks that you can’t just punish those doing the wrong thing”. Continued page 2
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