Noosa’s most experienced councillor has announced he will run for a fourth term.
Brian Stockwell this week issued a media release that said he had “unfinished business” in the role.
“A number of key initiatives that I helped get off the ground are yet to be finalised and I want to see them through,” he said.
Cr Stockwell undertook a strategic planning assessment of council land in 2019 to identify parcels that are potentially suitable for community housing to meet the growing crisis, which was initially driven by the loss of rental stock to short-term accommodation.
“Last week, council agreed in principle to sell part of the site I identified as the most suitable in the shire to a community housing cooperative,” he said.
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“While this is looking very promising there is a lot more to do to encourage lower-cost worker accommodation as well as community housing.”
He also developed a discussion paper in 2020 on protecting the Noosa destination and experience.
After broad support was gained from fellow councillors, the beginnings of the Destination Management Plan are up and running.
“While I had hoped this plan would be finished by now, it was too important to rush and the recent consultation shows we need councillors who can help design the transformational approach to visitor management required to protect resident lifestyles,” he said.
“The next council will finish this plan and put it into action.
“It’s absolutely vital we have the right councillors to get that done, and to get the balance right for residents.”
Cr Stockwell also expressed his desire to accelerate action on key programs around river health and climate change in the Environment Strategy.
“As a member of the National Executive of Climate Emergency Australia, I am committed to taking action to achieve council’s zero emissions targets,” he said.
“In the next term, we have important decisions to make around the potential solar farms and waste to energy plants being investigated as part of the Waste Strategy.”
Cr Stockwell’s first stint in council was when he was still in his 20s, in the transformational council of 1988-91. He returned to serve two more terms from 2016.
He is qualified town planner, environmental manager and catchment ecologist: a range of skills he said could benefit residents and the environment.
He said it was crucial that residents elected candidates who put Noosa’s residents above their own political ambitions.
“I think our voters can see through the glib slogans and empty promises, and judge candidates on their record,” he said.
“My record as a battler for what we call Noosa values is there for everyone to see.”
Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie is, so far, the only candidate for mayor.
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