NOOSA PLAN 2020 PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 2 - POST PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR FINAL STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL APPROVAL · Attachment 1 Table of submissions

 Your Say    ECM         Submitter comments                                                                                                 Response   Recommendation
 Reference   reference
                         compound and worsen this problem and as nights proceed, is likely to begin transforming the Junction
                         into a new version of the Valley and other less appealing seedy night spots- a far cry from healthy nature
                         oriented Noosa. It will require heavy policing and local vandalism etc is much more likely. I already
                         wouldn’t choose to walk around by myself any time much past 9 and I have daughters in their teens and
                         it already causes me concern when they and their young friends are in the Junction particularly if they are
                         working there and have to return later at night. As we all know, the outcomes of drunkenness and drug
                         intake are devastating for all communities and to be actively seeking to create the conditions for this to
                         become a much more serious problem in the heart of our local community defies rational comprehension.
                         I also do not believe that this is the type of environment that nature loving, or high end tourists and visitors
                         to Noosa are seeking and nor should Noosa be promoting. In keeping with our beautiful natural surrounds,

                         People come here to escape city living and continuously noisy lifestyles so why are we trying to create
                         another toxic city scape? There are enough of those. Noosa is very lucky to be a unique and special place
                         but this type of change will only serve to degrade it down to the level of many other places. As we all know
                         Noosa is more of an early to bed, early to rise place. Most families go to bed before 10 as they start the
                         day with sunrise and the beach so high noise levels at 10pm are already intrusive. Extending these to
                         midnight and beyond 7days a week will have enormous impact on local community. Poor sleep quality
                         results in serious health consequences sleep is linked with multiple degenerative conditions, while
                         sufficient good quality sleep is now well recognised as one of the most important factors contributing to
                         optimal health. Midnight closures are far from consistent with that. 2 extra drinking hours also naturally
                         means a much higher levels of alcohol consumption and drunkenness which go hand in hand with
                         increased levels of violence, abuse, accidents etc. Turning the noise off and shutting venues at midnight
                         also does not mean the noise automatically stops there as drunker people loiter longer and continue to
                         make a lot more noise for some time after things are meant to ‘quieten down’ so midnight closures will
                         naturally mean ongoing noise and disruption well into the early hours. This is not rocket science.
                         Introducing a late night, loud party scene is NOT going to solve issues regarding opportunities for younger
                         people-if anything it is likely to only encourage more alcohol abuse, drug use etc and worsen levels of
                         depression, anxiety etc as well as violence, dangerous driving and other highly detrimental behaviours as
                         these things do To my knowledge there has been no open community consultation nor discussion to make
                         people aware of the changes , what the implications are, and to assess local opinion. Most of us are busy
                         with families and too overwhelmed with our day to day to be able to stay on top of lengthy council
                         documents with things in the fine print. Making submissions processes are difficult and most people are
                         so time poor that by the time they even hear about things (or not) and work out how to make a submission
                         the window has passed. There needs to be open and transparent community consultation. There is also
                         the issue that these licenses fall into the jurisdiction of the Liquor & Gaming (OLGA) department which
                         means problems effectively fall between the cracks as if there are issues, local community have to go
                         via OLGA which makes it much more difficult to resolve problems on a local level. The horse has bolted
                         by that stage and once the beast is unleashed, there is no going back. All the more reason to not create
                         the potential problem in the very first place. And as I mentioned, we are already experiencing significant
                         noise problems with a couple of the venues so the idea that this could be worsened 20+ fold is extremely
                         concerning. I sincerely hope that Noosa council can make the time to discuss this directly and urgently
                         with concerned local residents, and assist us with addressing this problem and ensuring that the hub of
                         our wonderful local community does not degenerate into a drunken loud nightclub zone. Let’s strive keep
                         this wonderful place that we are so privileged to call home truly special and unique, and respect and
                         honour our natural surrounds. We don’t need a thriving party scene, we need a thriving community and
                         natural ecosystem. Thank you for your urgent attention to, and action on, this matter.
             23145648    I am writing to strongly object to the proposed amendment to the Noosa 2020 plan, specifically concerning
                         businesses and entertainment in Noosa Junction. The amendment, as highlighted in the attached
                         document, would permit restaurants and bars to stay open and feature amplified music until midnight
                         every night, effectively turning Noosa Junction into a nightclub strip. This amendment is deeply concerning
                         for several reasons: 1. Residential Disruption: Noosa Junction is at the heart of a residential and family
                         community. Extending operating hours and allowing amplified music until midnight will exacerbate noise
                         issues, already a significant problem, and lead to increased drunken and disorderly behaviour, requiring
                         heavy policing and likely resulting in vandalism. 2. Safety Concerns: As a parent, I am concerned for the
                         safety of my teenage daughters who frequent the Junction, especially if they are returning late at night.
                         Increased alcohol consumption and potential drug use will undoubtedly lead to higher levels of violence,
                         abuse, and accidents, making the area unsafe. 3. Impact on Tourism: Noosa is renowned for its serene,
                         nature-oriented environment. Turning Noosa Junction into a party zone contradicts the very essence of
                         what attracts high-end tourists to the area. We should not transform Noosa into another noisy, urban
                         environment. 4. Health Implications: Extending nightlife until midnight will severely impact the sleep quality
                         of local residents, leading to serious health consequences. Good sleep is essential for overall health, and
                         the proposed changes are inconsistent with this. 5. Lack of Community Consultation: There has been no
                         open community consultation on this amendment. The local community must be made aware of such
                         significant changes and have the opportunity to voice their opinions. The current process is not
                         transparent or inclusive. 6. Jurisdictional Issues: Licensing falls under the Liquor & Gaming (OLGA)
                         department, making it difficult for local communities to address issues effectively. This bureaucratic
                         complexity further underscores the need to prevent potential problems before they arise. Given the gravity

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Table of Submissions made regarding Noosa Plan 2020 Proposed Amendment No. 2, 2024