2018-12-11 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 10 - Noosa Cultural Plan 2019-2023

THE LOCAL NOOSA CONTEXT
Home to over 53,000 residents, Noosa Shire Council encompasses
urban coastal communities, hinterland villages and rural localities set
in and around the Noosa River catchment



Noosa Shire is located 120km north of Brisbane in         People in the arts, culture and heritage sector were
South East Queensland and covers an area of 871           closely aligned with and active in the environmental
km. It is widely known for its stunning environment,      and social movements of the 1980s and 1990s.
idyllic lifestyle and as an iconic tourist destination.   The unspoiled, natural environment was a magnet
                                                          for artists, particularly visuals artists and craft
                                                          artisans, who could support themselves through the
Our heritage                                              increasing tourism sector such as at the emerging
                                                          Eumundi Markets.
Noosa’s cultural heritage has rich roots with the
Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people being the original           The focus was both on protecting the natural
custodians of the land and waters. Although there         environment and creating a special built
was significant disruption and dislocation in the         environment for Noosa Shire. During the 1990s
19th and early 20th century, the resilience of the        and 2000s, Noosa Council also focused on building
Kabi Kabi/Gubbi Gubbi people has ensured that             community capacity. This included the development
their important connection to the Noosa place is          of major community infrastructure such as libraries,
ongoing today.                                            gallery, an aquatic centre and sporting facilities.
                                                          During this period, key community arts and heritage
The early European settlement period saw a focus
                                                          organisations formed in the strong community
on timber and fishing as well as being a gateway to
                                                          environment, many of which have survived until
the Gympie goldfields. The natural beauty of the
                                                          today.
area was recognised early and Noosa became a
regular tourist destination from the 1960s.               The 2008 amalgamation of Noosa Council with the
                                                          former Maroochy and Caloundra local governments
It was from the 1960s that the current Noosa
                                                          was a pivotal point in the shared community history
Shire story began to emerge. Like many coastal
                                                          of Noosa. The Noosa community were strongly
communities, Noosa was facing choices about
                                                          opposed to the amalgamation and rallied to protect
how it would develop. The 1980s and 1990s saw
                                                          their Shire. Despite not winning the initial campaign
significant environmental battles where the Noosa
                                                          in 2008, the Noosa community did not give up
community fought to retain Noosa Shire as a unique
                                                          and continued the fight for what they believed in.
place – unfettered by rampant development.
                                                          This culminated in the Noosa Council being re-
These environmental battles defined that period
                                                          established on 1 January 2014.
and successive Strategic Plans provided a town
planning framework to ensure that Noosa would             The Noosa community is now re-defining itself,
differentiate itself from other places. The concept       aiming to respect past heritage and community
of a population carrying capacity was introduced          values while ensuring we are progressing towards a
together with height limits on buildings and Noosa        bright future that is uniquely our own.
Council focused on the “Noosa look and feel” design
of public spaces.

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