2017-03-13 GC - Attachment 1 to Item 5 - Draft Transport Strategy 2017-2027

Message from the Mayor
There can be no doubt that transport is one of the key issues facing the Noosa Council.
As with many other popular destinations, here in Noosa we are exposed to our national
attachment to private motor vehicles. This becomes particularly problematic at peak holiday
times, when feeder roads to our key tourism precincts can become congested.
It is somewhat ironic that Noosa’s popularity as a tourism destination is partly founded on our
efforts to avoid big city symbols. Yet for a few weeks of every year, our very popularity leads to
the sort of traffic jams that are associated with big cities.
Arguably this is a good problem to have, because it demonstrates that our tourism industry is
thriving. However we are also aware that the pressure on our road network will likely increase
as more people come to live on our doorstep and thus drive to Noosa for recreation.
Transport issues are not limited to peak holiday congestion, of course. We must also consider
how our residents move about throughout the year, whether they live in the hinterland or on the
coast.
The many hundreds of submissions Council has received towards its Transport Strategy
indicate that this topic is a real touchstone for our community. Residents recognise that traffic
solutions are going to be an important component of Noosa’s future, particularly as they directly
impact on the overall “look and feel” of our spectacular Shire.
Such solutions are rarely as easy or as simple as some people might wish them to be. Every
proposed action has ramifications. Almost all have funding implications. Experiences elsewhere
have demonstrated that expected repercussions do not always materialise from implemented
changes. There are also physical constraints to consider, particularly in terms of the size of
existing road reserves, narrow bridges and other public infrastructure.
Added to this is the problem that Council does not control our bus services, which currently fall
within State Government jurisdiction. And then there are the rapid changes to private transport
that are posed by new technology such as autonomous vehicles as well as disruptive services
like Uber.
Council has struggled with these many variables. We have listened to experts and we have
engaged with our community and will continue to do so, including important representative
stakeholder groups.
There is no silver bullet solution. The result will inevitably be a
multi-faceted approach. This is a highly complex issue that can
only be resolved with significant foresight, a dash of courage,
grasp of the complexities of behaviour change, all tempered
with realistic pragmatism and financial sense. If that sounds
like a big call, then Council would certainly agree.
Thanks for taking this journey – to use an apt metaphor – with
us. We look forward to your response to the contents of this
Draft Noosa Transport Strategy.
Tony Wellington
Noosa Mayor