Noosa’s deputy mayor has outlined his priorities for the region, after launching his campaign to take the helm at council.
Frank Wilkie said he would place the needs of residents and the environment first in council decisions, if elected as mayor in March.
Cr Wilkie officially got his election campaign underway alongside 70 volunteers at the Cooroy Community Gardens on Saturday, before sending out a media release detailing his areas of attention.
“We don’t need more consultation to know we need to better protect Noosa’s quality of life from traffic congestion, overscale or out-of-zone development, environmental degradation and overcrowding,” he said.
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“Noosa Shire is a community first. If we do all we can to make it a great place to live and raise a family, it’s also a great place to visit and to set up a business.”
He said he had plans aimed to bridge the hinterland and the coast.
The media release said Cr Wilkie’s other focuses were:
- Effective services and responsible budgeting: Delivering quality services, assets and facilities while keeping rates as low as possible below CPI.
- Smart development: Vigilance against over-scale and out-of-zone development, reducing short-Term accommodation impacts on neighborhoods, ensuring Noosa Shire retains its community connections and identity.
- Traffic solutions: Delivering on strategies for traffic and parking relief with residents the priority.
- Responsible environmental management: Evidence-based efforts to protect natural assets, forests, beaches, waterways and wildlife.
- Housing solutions: Delivering dwellings for residents on modest incomes in partnership with the state, community housing providers and private industry.
- Balanced tourism: Managing peak period crowding in a way that respects Noosa’s community, environment and identity.
- Seizing opportunities: Leveraging the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics to secure upgrades to community sporting/cultural facilities and improving all-abilities access to council-owned facilities.
- Fostering economic diversity and resilience: Recognising that small businesses support many Noosa residents and their families, preparing young people for the future through innovative projects like the Peregian Beach Digital Hub.
Cr Wilkie has served with four mayors and is a former journalist and teacher.
He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is involved in Noosa community sporting, arts and cultural groups.
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