SEQ REGIONAL PLAN

A reminder, to assist in efforts, we ask everyone to make a valid submission to State Government before, or after, attending the information session, 4pm 29 August at ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church (Noosa District) Parish Hall’ 5 Moorindil St, Tewantin. Registration for this and the draft, as well information on how to have your say through submissions, is available via Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/Draft-Southeast-Queensland-Regional-Plan-August-2023. Submissions close 20 September.

POLICING IN NOOSA

For information on policing in our electorate, head to the latest Noosa 360 update at www.sandybolton.com/policing-in-noosa-july-2023.

SMALL BUSINESS FUNDING

As mentioned in Sandy’s budget reply speech, the lack of increase in support for our businesses in the latest budget is glaring. Given ongoing challenges from lack of staff, increased rentals, inflation and monetary policy responses on interest rates, this is concerning as they are our backbone, and we submitted Questions regarding in Estimates this week which will be available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360 once responses have been received. Made in Queensland funding grant applications will open later this year, and a reminder that Joe and the Department of Small Business and Training team can assist in a number of realms including advanced manufacturing hubs and consideration for future locations.

TAFE SITE

The long-awaited Native Title determinations have been delayed again, potentially until next year. For the Noosa 360 history on this, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Decommissioned+Tafe+site

COOLOOLA GREAT WALK

We have a Noosa MP community survey open until 8 September on the proposed Cooloola Great Walk Eco Project, which has created some confusion, and Sandy asks that you take a minute to respond, as well share with your neighbours and friends as it is important to have everyone’s voices heard! We also have a very detailed and researched update regarding on Noosa 36 at www.sandybolton.com/the-cooloola-great-walk-the-nature-protection-act-and-the-cardinal-principal-update-august-2023. The survey information is available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-issue-survey-cooloola-great-walk-ecotourism-project-august-2023

COOROY INTERSECTIONS

Even though not in the Noosa State Electorate, the lack of progress on the Cooroy intersections is of concern. As highlighted in Sandy’s Budget Reply speech, both Noosa and Nicklin State Electorate residents are at risk daily from these. The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) previously investigated options of both roundabouts and traffic signals as part of early planning for upgrades in response to advocacies. More about this available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/cooroy-intersections-update-july-2023.

LAND TAX

In response to our request for a ‘freezing’ to the 2021 valuations,  the Treasurer has responded the thresholds at which land tax becomes payable in Queensland are among the most generous in Australia – for individuals the land tax-free threshold of $600,000 is one of the highest in the country – and that the key exemption for principal places of residence means most Queensland homeowners have no liability for land tax, with the Government now putting in place an automatic exemption process for eligible owners. We will continue to advocate with our latest update available at www.sandybolton.com/land-tax-land-valuations-update-august-2023.

UNITY WATER

The comparative data from other jurisdictions we requested with a similar profile to Noosa in terms of tourism and hospitality-based industries demonstrated that in most instances, Unitywater’s new pricing is comparable or slightly lower in price. There was exception in the ‘very low treatment tier’ with Unitywater’s annual trade waste permit fee being approximately $350 higher. Should any of our small businesses in that category, be impacted adversely, please email us on noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au so we can raise this.

INDUSTRIAL AND ENTERPRISE MOBILE OFFICE

Our latest ‘moby’ saw visits to a wide variety of businesses in the industrial areas where the diversity, innovation and talent was obvious! A couple of key issues being the impact of NDIS on staffing, difficulty in accessing permanent Visa for international staff, and cost of living impacting ‘spend’.

Next Noosa Industrial Area Stage 2 & 3, Noosa Civic, Noosa Junction – August 2023

Follow ‘Sandy Bolton MP’ on Facebook to receive alerts of Mobile Offices times and locations in our electorate.

STAFFING

We have continued to raise staffing issues with the Government, during Budget Estimates hearings the Attorney-General acknowledged the continuing problems we have with staff shortages and workforce shortages in just about every industry and occupation across this state and country, as she said COVID has shifted the way people look at their employment and how they want to operate—whether they want to work from home, interstate or remotely and just work-life balance. All of these decisions have had an impact – since the borders opened, people have travelled and want to work elsewhere and work overseas.

STAFF ACCOMODATIONS

The Department of Resources handed over a suitable site (the former House with No Steps) for a transportable/Tiny Homes village for our workers and families to the Sunshine Coast Council four years ago. Regardless of Sandy’s efforts since 2018 to secure this site for an interim solution to our emergency, affordable and disability housing needs, this site has been relatively unused. Why? The reasons proffered included that it is ‘too far from town’, which it is not, as our workers have cars and are currently sleeping in them! Instead of ‘why we can’t’ we need to look at ‘why we must’ to avoid homelessness, and evictions of families in their tiny homes from private properties.  This site is currently out for tender, and even though not in the Noosa Electorate, Sandy has again implored our Community Housing providers and the Department of Housing to secure this site to provide interim solutions until permanent projects in the pipeline have been delivered.

Still waiting on information from other Business Roundtable members on the following:

  • Any data from businesses on the number of staff they are short in order to ascertain the need for accommodation.
  • What improvement could be made to State Government small business grants to maximise their usefulness for Noosa businesses.
  • Feedback on branding for Noosa beyond as a tourism destination

Noosa is currently a participant in Better Together Housing, a shared housing scheme for over 55 women, and we are hoping to utilise this platform more broadly for worker shared housing. The Department of Housing is amendable, and the operator is looking into how such an upgrade could be accomplished.

STAFF SHORTAGES

We have received reports from businesses that the competition for staff from NDIS businesses is impacting multiple industries including Retail, Aged & disability care as well as Tourism and Hospitality. In addition, the Federal Government needs to review what skills they are attracting via Visa Requirements.

For those wishing to advocate regarding the NDIS or Visa Requirements, please contact your Federal MP.

Standard Reminders

QLD SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSIONER

Provides dispute assistance and mediation for small businesses. Although they cannot arbitrate matters, make rulings, give directions or issue orders, they will work with you in good faith to help you explore your options and find an informal resolution to your dispute. Contact can be made via 1300 312 344 with further information at www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-assistance/qsbc.

SMALL BUSINESSES SEEKING SUPPORT

Small Business Hotline at 1300 654 687 or you can email the Department of Small Business and Training with further information at www.business.qld.gov.au.

SMALL BUSINESS NEWSLETTER

There is a small business and training department newsletter that you can be subscribe to. This will notify you of new educational webinars and other resources as they become available. Further information is available at www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/support/small-business/connect.

FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE

Our office posts on Facebook all the new grants that have opened and other news that has been notified through the week. We are also now using LinkedIn to notify Noosa businesses when new grants are open.

ARE YOU A BUSINESS EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH STATE GOVERNMENT?

Please feel free to contact our office anytime on 5319 3100 or via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au. Keep up to date on our latest efforts by subscribing to our email newsletter at www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This will also ensure you receive Noosa State Electorate specific surveys. We also have information and updates on many local matters available at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360.