Annual Report 2023-24

                                                                                                                                  Our Shire
     Early on, Noosa residents recognised the environmental         Historically, Noosa has chosen a different path to
     significance of the region. Pig Island and Sheep Island        other Councils and Noosa continues to build upon this
     were declared wildlife sanctuaries in 1934 in response         successful legacy and reap the benefits, with large tracts
     to the community’s demand to protect their birdlife. The       of retained vegetation, the healthiest waterways in the
     headland, earmarked as a reserve in the 19th century,          region, and an engaged and active community. These
     was made an official National Park in 1939 to stop             great strengths also form the basis of Noosa’s economy,
     interest in its development. Local protest stopped a sand      creating a point of difference, recognised brand and
     mine proposal in 1952 and the 1960s saw community              green credentials where people travel from all over the
     organisations form and advocate for greater protection         world to enjoy Noosa’s natural environment.
     of the local wildlife and environment. In contrast, the
     commercial development of Noosa Sound was then                 For thousands of years, Noosa’s natural environment has
     pushed by the State Government in the 1970s.                   been integral to First Nations people’s cultural values,
                                                                    customs and spiritual beliefs. Aboriginal peoples have
     Through the 1980s and 1990s, the Noosa community               been environmental stewards of the region around
     continued to fight to remain a unique place, ensuring that     Noosa for millennia, and still maintain a deep relationship
     both commercial and residential developments were              today with the biodiversity, waterways and wetlands of
     constrained within a planned framework. This placed a          the area.
22   focus on protecting the natural environment and creating                                                                      23

     a special built environment that continued the ‘Noosa          More than 50 years of environmental and community
     look and feel’, where built infrastructure is integrated       activism has resulted in a community that places a high
     into the natural environment rather than dominating            value on the natural environment and a community that
     the urban and rural character. Aspects such as building        seeks to live sustainably in harmony with nature.
     height limits, lack of traffic lights and low volume signage
     became iconic. The strategic land use plans of the             Noosa Council declared a climate emergency in 2019,
     1990s and 2000s included limitations on development            making a strong statement in support of taking action
     to support a sustainable residential and visiting              on climate change, and contributing to a collective voice
     population. Ultimately in 2007, Noosa Shire was awarded        across local, state, and federal governments worldwide.
     UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, which recognised              Decisive action is needed by all levels of government and
     the community priority of managing the environment             industry to address climate change. Noosa is working
     sustainably in balance with community needs.                   hard to achieve its commitment to reduce its carbon
                                                                    emissions to zero by 2026.
     The forced 2008 amalgamation of Noosa Council with
     the former Maroochy and Caloundra local governments            Noosa Shire continues to thrive, seeking to do so on its




                                                                                                                                  Noosa Council Annual Report 23/24
     to form Sunshine Coast Regional Council was strongly           own terms, with its own heritage and culture in mind,
     opposed by the Noosa community. Despite not winning            with its own community and environment at the forefront;
     the initial campaign in 2008, the Noosa community did          with its own future vision: Different by Nature.
     not give up and was successful in re-establishing the
     Noosa Shire on January 1, 2014.