Thank you to some 600+ Noosans who shared their thoughts and priorities in this year’s Noosa MP Community Survey.  Even though considered an ‘acceptable’ sample, we would like to see many more and seek your suggestions on how we can substantially increase participation in 2026!

The full results of the survey, including graphs are available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-community-survey-2025-26-results-compressed/ with highlights below –

For:

There were a number of significant majorities ‘for’ (over 75%) votes including:

  • Banning gambling advertisements on public transport (93%).
  • Make passengers over the age of 18 responsible when not wearing seatbelts instead of the driver (92%).
  • Increased funding for hospice and in-home palliative care (90%).
  • Government-funded Noosa Dental Clinic to remain open (88%).
  • Further expansion of items eligible for Queensland’s container refund/recycling scheme to promote higher recycling rates (87%).
  • A reduction in the number of Vehicle Access Permits issued during peak times for the Cooloola Recreation Area and Teewah Beach (84%)
  • Reviewing planning legislation to facilitate improved and easier use of tiny homes/transportables (83%).
  • Sentencing repeat youth offenders to remote rehabilitation/work/education facilities and programs (83%).
  • Replacement of shark nets with non-lethal alternatives during whale migration season (81.5%).
  • Improving accessibility to Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) support and services including via Telehealth for remote areas (81%).
  • Creating an independent crime statistics body (80%).
  • Annual rent and income reviews for government and community housing tenants (80%).
  • Installation of seatbelts on all buses contracted for school services (80%).

Against:

A majority (over 75%) of respondents opposed:

  • The development of built accommodation within national parks and other protected areas (85%).

Splits:

Views were split on other items, particularly around Energy, including:

  • The use of nuclear power as part of emissions reduction efforts, with 41% opposed, 39.5% in favour and 19.5% undecided/need more info.
  • Extending coal-fired power generation beyond 2038 under the State Government’s Energy Road Map, with 42% in favour, 41% opposed and 17% undecided/need more info.

Trends:

Compared with last year’s annual survey, several items recorded a clear decline in support, which corresponded with an increase in respondents selecting ‘Undecided/Need more Information’. These included:

  • Mandatory drug diversion options for small quantities of illicit substances saw support fall from 72% to 58% while ‘Undecided/Need more information’ rose from 15.5% to 30%.
  • Removing Government chair casting vote powers in Parliament Committees saw support fall from 61% in favour to 37% while ‘Undecided/Need more information’ rose from 30% to 52%.

Undecided:

Respondents were undecided or needed more information (over 35%) on the following:

  • An inter-generational Learning Living Project for Pomona (52%).
  • Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage project (51%).
  • Reduce amount of time body corporate management contracts last for (43%).
  • Use of hydrogen power as part of reducing emissions (38%).
  • Construction of new dams for Southeast QLD (37%).
  • Permit body corporates to change how communal costs are apportioned by majority vote rather than the current unanimous vote (35%).

Note – Future single-issue polls are being considered for items where a majority of 75% or greater could not be determined due to a high number of undecided responses, where participants indicated they required more information, or where further clarification is needed. These polls would be supported by resources outlining the different perspectives on an issue to provide the information sought by respondents.

Previous & Ongoing Advocacies:

There were also several items raised that we have up-to-date information available for on NOOSA 360. Please see the links below to specific updates on a range of the topics raised in the survey:

Noosa River Management: www.sandybolton.com/noosa-river-management-update-january-2026/

Electric Motorbikes, Bikes and Scooters: www.sandybolton.com/electric-bikes-and-scooters-update-november-2025

Beckmans Road: www.sandybolton.com/beckmans-road-tewantin-bypass-update-august-2025/

Wildlife: www.sandybolton.com/wildlife-warning-signs-2025/

Teewah Beach and Cooloola Recreation Area: www.sandybolton.com/cooloola-recreation-area-management-plan-teewah-update-december-2025/

Pomona Pedestrian Crossing: www.sandybolton.com/pomona-pedestrian-crossing-update-june-2025/

Some items included in comments were state matters outside the Noosa Electorate, including the Cooroy intersections and overpass, however our efforts regarding are available at www.sandybolton.com/?s=Cooroy+intersections.

There were a small number of issues raised that we have not had any correspondence previously regarding, and we have communicated these to the relevant Queensland Ministers and will post up responses as received.

This included a review of the current assessment system for senior school students administered by the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority. If you would like to follow up specifically regarding a comment you contributed, please email us via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Feedback provided on matters under the control of Local or Federal Governments will be forwarded without any identifying information to Noosa Council and Federal MP Llew O’Brien.

Survey methodology disclaimer

Our annual survey is informed by the issues and concerns raised with our office by residents throughout the preceding year including via emails, phone calls and meetings. While care is taken to ensure questions are not leading or misleading, we acknowledge that the binary nature of Section 1 may not capture the nuances and perspectives available through scaling response methods, such as the Likert scale.

In addition, efforts to capture diverse perspectives across the electorate include making the survey available through multiple avenues, such as a link in the annual Connect newsletter delivered to every household, as well as hard copies available on request. Residents are encouraged to contact our office at any time to raise matters important to them, regardless of whether they participate in the survey.

Our office has engaged independent expert advice to strengthen future survey design, including question framing, structure and participation reach, to ensure the survey remains a useful tool for understanding community sentiment and guiding advocacy in parliament, and to expand our listening ‘eco system’. In addition, with a considerable percentage of responses indicating they required further information, we are investigating how this could be provided without any unintentional bias.

Further information

All queries, questions, requests for assistance or feedback can be directed to our office via 5319 3100 or noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au. In addition, to be advised of any Noosa related MP surveys, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook or/and LinkedIn. As well, please share this information with your neighbours and fellow Noosans.

Survey results from previous Noosa MP surveys are available here.

Thank you again to all who participated, and again please encourage others to become involved as effecting change takes all of us!