Sandy Bolton MP

20 hours ago

UNITE AND RECOVER COMMUNITY STIMULUS PACKAGE More good news for our community with State Government providing extra funding to Noosa Council for the following projects:
• Public Amenities Upgrade & Renewal - $220,000
• Boreen Point Campground Upgrades - $410,000
• Peregian Beach Boardwalk Upgrade - $230,000
• Sunshine Beach Rd Pathway Lighting Upgrade - $150,000
• Noosa Regional Gallery Foyer & Amenities Upgrade - $200,000
• Tinbeerwah Hall Cladding & Roof Refurbishment - $150,000
• Playground Renewal at Noosa Waters and Lake Macdonald - $175,000
• New Amenities United Synergies Complex – $60,000
• Eenie Creek Rd Pedestrian bridge - $100,000
• Lifeguard Tower renewal Works - $57,000
• Sunshine Beach Skate park shade structure - $150,000
• Noosa Triathlon Club Storage - $3,000
• The J Seating refurbishment - $100,000
• Noosa District Netball Court Upgrade contribution – $310,000

Congratulations everyone involved and thank you to @Minister Hinchliffe. Great projects and benefits for our residents including the extra jobs supported! #teamnoosa #welcomedworks
www.dlgrma.qld.gov.au/about-us/news-media-and-events/unite-and-recover-community-stimulus-package... ... See MoreSee Less

Sandy Bolton MP

2 days ago

UPDATE 10 AUGUST 2020
Evening everyone! For a Monday, the unexpected, hence a long update, however reiterates the efficiency of our frontliners, in which we are thankful for. 🤛👍🙏

NOOSA CIVIC – Thank you to our teams on their work today. Two young teenagers who came by train into Brisbane’s Transit Centre on Friday, allegedly from Sydney and before the strengthened border closure, were located and apprehended today at Noosa Civic after a police search was initiated. It is important to note that they are not known to be COVID positive or associated with a ‘trace’, and that the Civic is trading as normal after following QLD Health directives.
Without an official exemption to enter QLD minus quarantine, the teenagers have undergone testing today, with results expected in the morning and will either be subject to mandatory quarantine or returned home. Police investigations are ongoing, and the issue of whether any charges will be laid is a determination for them to make on the facts, including whether they had misinformed on their ‘origin’ when boarding the train to cross the border. Should there be a positive test result, contract tracing will commence immediately to those who may have had close extended contact since their arrival, and posted up will be a timeline of locations in which you will be able to identify if you should be on alert for symptoms(which everyone should always be!). There is no requirement for anyone who was at Civic or anywhere else to do outside of the usual as part of the suppression. If you have any suspicion of anyone breaking the border directions or other COVID restrictions, please report to Policelink via 131 444 or www.police.qld.gov.au/units/policelink-131-444

CONTACT TRACING – is performed when a case is confirmed, and Queensland Health immediately notifies individuals and the community of any locations they are concerned about. As always, if you experience any symptoms, please seek a COVID test and isolate at home until you have the result. A reminder there is no requirement to have a test unless you have symptoms, have been in close contact with a confirmed case or venue/location, or have been contacted by the tracer team. However if you are concerned in any way, you can pop into the Noosa J as posted previously, or search for Noosa testing locations at www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/testing-and-fev...

TAXI & LIMO OPERATORS – Support is now available in terms of one-off payments and applications are open until Fri 4 Sept, so please be quick! Further information can be found at www.qld.gov.au/transport/covid-19-transport/personalised-transport/additional-financial-assistanc... and operators can apply at www.qrida.qld.gov.au/current-programs/covid-19-taxi-limo-scheme

AGED CARE FACILITIES – Restrictions on visitors, have again been lifted at all Brisbane locations except for Pinjarra Hills, which is waiting another day until full clearance. A great relief to residents and families, and an indication that the amount of testing and controls put in place surrounding the Logan cluster have been effective.

PROTEST RALLYS – The Attorney-General has won a Supreme Court action to cancel a mass protest planned for Brisbane’s Story Bridge. The organisers have been banned from attending and prohibited from encouraging others to attend. Whilst everyone supports the right to peacefully protest, other methods to get the message across, or have our ‘voice’ heard during this time, is available. This without breaking our social contract to each other in keeping all Queenslanders safe, and recover from COVID.

AIRPORTS – In response to a query on our last update, every interstate flight into QLD is met by QLD Police and QLD Health. They have processes in place to check place of origin amongst other requirements, and in response allow or deny entry and then enforce quarantine requirements. Currently we only have two interstate flights per week - Sydney to Sunshine Coast. These are operating as part of the Federal Government’s ‘Minimum Network Operations’ to assist airlines and airports remain functional during this period. All other flights currently to Sunshine Coast Airport are from within QLD.

BORDER BUBBLE – QLD’s Chief Health Officer (CHO) has warned that exemptions for NSW residents in border communities travelling to QLD for work or school, could be scrapped if NSW’s COVID-19 situation worsens. The is being watched daily with the intent of doing all possible to keep Queenslander safe. Those on the NSW side of the border community have been advised to consider their ‘next step’ should their exemption status change. As devastating at this would be to those living within that community, the CHO has reiterated that she won’t risk transmission to QLD residents who then have the ability to travel throughout the state.

To finish. Everyone, I know it has been a big day, however, can I reassure you that all is in hand. We are fortunate to have really good teams, and processes. Over the coming weeks and months, we may have situations such as experienced today, and we need to help our frontliners, not hinder. How? By firstly, contacting them (or me!) on any concerns and for the facts before heading to social media as posting misinformation then jams their systems, and takes up their resources. Secondly, we all know how to suppress this ‘bug’ and reduce the risk of transmission, regardless of whether someone may have entered a shop, sat on a train, or shared a dinner with someone knowingly or unknowingly may be a carrier. It is by what WE do as individuals to keep ourselves safe. Yes, the 1.5, handwashing…you know my usual signoff. When you enter a shop or venue, do the same, as well squirt that sanitizer on entry and exit. Do the ‘high 5’ or elbow greet (I am getting good at variations!) as this bug transmits through your respiratory system. From all advice, to touch or sit where an infected carrier may have sat or touched, can only be transmitted if you then transfer it to your face. Yes, how many times do we do that? So keep those hands sanitized!👍

We are on a journey of recovery, and one that I said would be with challenges. How thankful I am, and we all should be, that at every step of the way, we have really incredible teams.🤛

As I prepare for a big day in Chamber tomorrow, forgive me if I do not get to respond to any queries tonight. We have ‘cognates’ (explain later) in order to get through 6 Bills this week, and the ‘midnight’ oil, and beyond, will be burning!

Sandy 🙏 ... See MoreSee Less