Yep, got my cranky pants on again... I have been reading the info in regard to 'Local government reform', and am pretty confused. A lot of information on changing boundaries, some local councils not being fiscally viable, and my favourite, grouping 'communities of interest'. I can understand how some boundaries could have changed over the years with population growth & maybe some councils have not handled their finances that well, but a lot of the information seems terribly vague to me. It has not been stated that they will play with the Sunshine Coast councils as yet, though I am sure that is coming as we all are, and am particularly concerned as to the 'reasons' that will be given for Amalgamation on the Sunshine Coast, and if they will be valid?

The councils here seem to be doing ok? The last reports were pretty good, we already work together on all sorts of initiatives when it comes to tourism and business, yet we all have our own 'special' identity. We are already looking at a Mega Dam in our backyard, do we want a Mega Council too? I keep hearing comparisons to the Gold Coast, (have the CMC finished with them yet?), ask a few people in the Gold Coast Hinterland how well they get looked after? Big is not always better, just a bigger headache & more money.

Yes we all share certain roads, facilities like the Airport etc. and maybe we would have more power in dealing with the State Government if we Amalgamated into a 'Sunshine Coast Council', but what will we lose in the process? As Noosa is smaller, how many reps would they have in council? I know many in the Hinterland already feel that they get left behind due to larger population centres like Caloundra & Maroochydore being a priority, how will they fare if they are a smaller percentage of the population? Will they even be heard?

The cost of bureaucracy annoys me as much as the next person, though, we still need to take into account 'people' & 'communities'. The Sunshine Coast as a whole is 'special'! Each area has it's own unique style, feeling, and yes, idiosyncrasies. That is what makes us such a special area to live in. You can be in a little country town having a stroll or a beer in the local (where the publican will still have a chat with you), and 20 mins later you are among high rises with the same Food & Beverage and Retail that you would expect in a big city? Why would we want to change that? Maroochy, Noosa & Caloundra all have a similar concern in balancing the needs of the Coastline & the needs of the Hinterland, this is a challenge already, why make it harder?

Lots of groups in Noosa have been vocal about not wanting to Amalgamate, fair call, but do the other shires even want to amalgamate with Noosa? Poor Cooloola council has been mooted as another option instead of Maroochy & Caloundra, but do they really want to join hands & play happy with Noosa? Every area on the Coast thinks they are special, and rightly so, they are!

We have until the 25th to put in submissions on this topic, maybe you just want to "Have Your Say", either way, our backyard could be changed forever. It might be time to bone up on the issue?

Best Wishes, 'Naive' Noely, Community Site Co-ordinator