MCU14/0106 Submission NPM Object- Jason Green

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The first question was; what are the most iconic and important buildings in Noosa? They responded with;

wow that is really hard, that's not an easy question, wow I'll have to really think about that. After a while

their responses started to come; the surf club, the bus station at the Junction, Bunnings, the Marina, the

Council Chambers and the Cooroy library (for the record, everyone present saw this building as being

missed placed and a waste in Cooroy). All fairly obvious answers but nobody could really say, which was

disappointing indeed. The point is we don't have one. It's all a bit fragmented and appears disjointed.




Anyway, I then posed the question, what does the Noosa community value? The answers came thick and

fast; the river, the lakes, the beaches, the national parks, the environment, the flora and fauna, the Koalas,

the peace and quiet and no traffic jams. As they thought deeper about the question, the less obvious

answers started to come because I presume they thought about the different groups they know, hear and

read about. They then mentioned our diverse culture; music, the creative and performing arts, education,

sport and the connections people have with others.

I then asked what are the concerns of the Noosa community? Needless to say they rattled off a list quite

quickly. They said that they are concerned that their children will have to leave to find a career

somewhere else other than Noosa. They said they are concerned that their family and friends have secure

employment. They are concerned that the families they know who have small businesses will slowly be

put out of business because oflarge national companies and franchises. They are concerned about shops

and buildings (TAFE) not being occupied. They are concerned that the Noosa council is too focused on

maintaining the status quo and is not being innovative and looking for creative solutions for the

community. They are concerned about large developments taking away the uniqueness and character of

Noosa. They are concerned that there doesn't appear to be a plan for the future. They are concerned that

Noosa is reactive rather than proactive. The list went on and on ...

The last question I asked was what should Noosa look like and feel like five years from now. They said

that Noosa should maintain its style but the dialogue should be that of a community that values a creative

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and innovative culture that is connected to a unique environment. It should have a building connected to a

space that speaks to what the community values and cares about.

The point is we don't really have an iconic building or coherent place that defines who we are. Yes, we

have a number of places and venues that perform various functions but in my experience they are

fragmented and disjointed and often just cater for small select groups of older people. There is no one

place where people can go to get a big hit of culture. The reality is we don't have a building that

articulates what we value as a community. I believe a building that could do those things should be part of

a greater vision for Noosa Junction.

Such a building would form part of a community hub and cultural precinct. It would house our history,

exhibit our creative and performing arts and showcase our unique environment. It would be a mixed-use

facility that would foster education, creativity, collaboration and innovation. It would connect with the

environment and be spectacular, stunning and exciting. It would pay respect to our indigenous heritage,

display Noosa's journey and speak to our future.

Buildings can do all of these things, but this building will not work ifit sits in isolation. It must be

connect to a bigger vision for Noosa Junction.

I love the Junction and I hate to say it, but let's be honest; the Junction is tired and is in desperate need of

a total re-think ifit is going to be viable into the future, especially with impending competition. It's

functional but it could be amazing! Sadly, the shops are tired, the restaurants aren't appealing, the parking

is a pain and no amount of streetscaping is going to fix it. There's no point putting lipstick on a pig! We

don't need to look too far to find examples of other places that are reaping the benefits of rethinking

certain areas. Maroochydore's    Ocean Street and Farmer's Market is a good example of how an area can

be turned around to create value within a reasonable amount of time.




I acknowledge this is an ambitious project indeed and it would not be without its difficulties and

expenses. No doubt some businesses would close and people would lose their jobs. But, as you know,

sometimes its necessary to takes a few steps backwards for progress to occur. However, the long-term

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benefits to the wider community would be great. A project of this nature would be an amazing draw card

for the residents of Noosa and its visitors. It could be a place that people want to be and not just for the

grocery shopping. It could be a place that people could live, learn, work and connect.

However, I do acknowledge the significant investment that council would need to make in regards to

infrastructure, buildings (new and old), and traffic and public spaces. But I'm sure, given the right

conditions, the Coles group and the State Government would be amenable to such a project with its

inherent benefits to the community.

The vision that I put forward is to create a new heart (hub) for the community i.e. a new cultural precinct

that grounds Noosa. A cultural hub that connects with other functions in the area, such as shopping,

dining, business and residential living is an ideal solution. An exciting area that is fresh, modem, vibrant

and innovative achieved through strong design, environmental sensitivity and good architecture.




Now is the time for Noosa to step up and say no to the expansion of Noosa Civic and to say proudly that

we have our own vision of the future and that vision will be provided by its people for its people and will

not be left in the hands of people who don't care about this community and only care about their bottom

line.



Thank you for hanging in there and reading my thoughts on the vision to renew the Junction. I hope they

will add to the current dialogue and be beneficial to you and others.

Please feel free to contact me at any time.




Kind regards,

Jason Green