3rd July 2012 letter to council re quad bikes · MCU12/0012

3rd July 2012
Mayor Mark Jamieson
CEO John Knaggs
Sunshine Coast Council

The Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry writes to support the application by Charles Marais to extend the number of people allowed on his property for business purposes from six to 12.  We understand that without this approval, the tourism attraction becomes financially unviable.

In brief, our investigation indicates Mr Marais wishes to establish a tourism business running 12 Quad bikes along the road through a National Park.  This has received Department of Environment and Resource Management approval.  In brief, this is a four-wheel drive road only. A company running an unlimited number for trail bikes is already operating along the road.

Chamber representatives have spoke with the two neighbours closest to Mr Marais’s property. Both sets of neighbours are fully supportive of the use of Mr Marais’s land for this purpose.

The noise from the Quad bikes is significantly quieter than the noise of most four-stroke motor mowers.

Mr Marais has faced considerable and, we would suggest, excessive red tape to gain permission for the extension of the number of people on his property.

We note that one of our board members had been strongly opposed to this business until visiting the site, and is now fully supportive of the Chamber’s support for this application.

We request your urgent attention to this tourist attraction opportunity.

Yours faithfully,

Carl Beck
President
Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry