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Encompass March 2010 4 Oil spill funds put to good use In the wake of last year’s oil spill, council is using the $700,000 received from the Australian Government’s oil spill recovery project to shore up Coast beaches. Working with more than 32 partners, council is coordinating a coastal resilience program to strengthen beaches which were affected when the Pacific Adventurer lost 270 tonnes of oil from her decks during a storm last March. The oil washed up on Coast beaches including Kawana, Marcoola and Coolum, for days. Hardest hit was Moreton Island, with Bribie also needing an intensive clean-up. While council’s quick response to the oil spill significantly reduced the impact on our beaches, the event highlighted the need to build strength and resilience into our coastal zone. The oil spill recovery project aims to achieve a range of outcomes that will bring long-lasting benefits to the Sunshine Coast including: ► dunal rehabilitation on at least 17 sites along the Coast ► further support for the turtle conservation program ► community-based monitoring of the rocky foreshores ► training of key personnel in emergency procedures ► establishment of a new monitoring program for critical frog habitats ► support of the sea grass, mangrove and Reef Check monitoring programs ► community capacity building in dunal restoration and revegetation ► increased capacity building for three local native community nurseries ► a partnership between the University of the Sunshine Coast, Department of Environment and Resource Management and council, to establish vital ecological baseline data and shoreline accretion/ erosion patterns of areas associated with the oil spill disaster. The data will assist the development of a Regional Coastal Management Strategy. Sunshine Coast Council One way for Tooway It will be one way at a time for traffic over Tooway Creek at Moffat Beach for much of this year, with council’s $5.6 million bridge replacement project scheduled to start soon. Council plans to begin preliminary work in late March to early April, subject to the appropriate permits – including those addressing a range of environmental requirements – being signed off by State Government agencies. The existing timber bridge must be replaced before it becomes a public safety concern. Constraints around the site mean council faced significant challenges when planning the project, including the impact on the local community, businesses, schools, emergency services and public transport. Following extensive community engagement and stakeholder consultation it was determined that the best solution was for council to provide a temporary one-lane bridge across Tooway Creek during the removal and replacement of the existing structure. The temporary bridge will be under traffic signal control at all times and will be open to traffic as much as possible. However, there will be times where it will need to be closed, such as when the crane is lifting bridge deck units into place on the new bridge. Council will, where possible, undertake these works on weekends and at off-peak times to minimise impact on road users. However, people are advised that the project will result in possible delays. An alternative route is available via Nicklin Way. Tooway bridge to be replaced
Firing the imagination It’s official – the Noosa Regional Gallery is among the best in Queensland. The gallery’s Floating Land exhibition scooped a prestigious Queensland Gallery and Museum Achievement Award. Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot accepted the award, which included a $1000 cash prize and a specially-designed trophy, at a gala presentation at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane’s South Bank. Floating Land 2009 was a 10- day festival held last June at Lake Cootharaba that allowed the public to interact with live art as they watched sculptors at work, attended forums and saw daily photographic and writing exhibitions take shape. A highlight was the sunset firing of paper kilns (pictured) that were floated on the lake to slowly smoulder before shooting flames into the sky. Participants included renowned Australian performer Robyn Archer, Queensland sculptor Terry Summers and leading academics from Queensland University, QUT and the University of the Sunshine Coast, as well as Aboriginal and Pacific Islander dancers. Council’s Creative Planning and Programs Manager, Christine Ballinger, said staff were delighted to be recognised for an exhibition that attracted 15,000 people. “Floating Land is a special art event on the Sunshine Coast that the community just loves,” she said. “A combination of the magical setting and the fascinating theme brought out the best in creativity from everyone who took part.” She said judges were especially impressed that the gallery had made a DVD of the festival. The DVD is a significant educational tool on climate change and the role artists can play to build community awareness of this issue. The biennial event is UNESCOendorsed, with the next planned for June 2011. Residents flock to Cr Green asked residents to keep an eye out for more opportunities to get involved in the preparation of the new planning scheme throughout 2010 and 2011. Sunshine Coast residents responded with more than 3000 submissions to the twomonth Our place Our future community engagement program – results of which will help shape the region over the next 20 years. The program invited community comment on 12 direction-setting documents that will guide the creation of the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme and the way the region looks and feels during the next two decades. Statutory and Regional Planning Portfolio holder, Russell Green, said the community response was unprecedented and thanked everyone for their feedback. “About 1800 people visited 36 roadshow displays that stopped at close to 25 locations around the region,” Cr Green said. “Council had more than 2800 hits to the Our place Our future website page and received about 3000 submissions — all this demonstrates just how keen the community is to be involved in planning for the region’s future.” “Council has now reviewed all the submissions received and this feedback is being used to draft the ‘detail’ of the new planning scheme and will also inform other council policies and programs,” Cr Green said. “The draft planning scheme will be available for community comment within a year and a half and we look forward to the same enthusiastic community interest in the next key stage.” Keep your eye on council’s website for updates and opportunities to get involved. Encompass March 2010 Sunshine Coast Council 5
Page 1 and 2: encompass Issue 5 March 2010 in thi
Page 3: Wasting away: let’s cut landfill
Page 7 and 8: Green changes at Sunshine Coast Air
Page 9 and 10: Pianos on the beach at Caloundra Mu
Page 11 and 12: Street smart: Coast towns get a mak
Page 13 and 14: 3 4 5 1 Best in BMX: New and improv
Page 15 and 16: Are you prepared for disaster? Taki
Page 17 and 18: From super models to ceramics at Co
Page 19 and 20: Planning on target for the Maleny C
Page 21 and 22: Smart management reduces bushfire r
Page 23 and 24: Picnic anyone? The Sunshine Coast h

in this issue - Sunshine Coast Council

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