HAPPY New Year all! This is always an exciting time with resolutions made, events to enjoy and opportunities in abundance! Thank you to all volunteers who made our Community Christmas Day so special, wrapping presents and preparing a feast for over one hundred. A big thank you also to residents who completed our annual Community Survey, which is currently being collated with results to be released shortly.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) once again conducted Operation Sandstorm, which has been operating since 2019, across Noosa North Shore, Teewah Beach, and Cooloola Coast during the break to target unacceptable behaviour. This resulted in over four hundred Traffic Infringement Notices and fourteen DUIs from over eight hundred and fifty Random Breath Tests. During my first meetings with the new Minister for Environment and Minister for Police regarding our ongoing advocacies, I reiterated the importance of the implementation of automatic sharing of essential enforcement information between agencies, so that permit restrictions can be placed on offenders in our national parks, as well as recommendations regarding decreasing the volume of day trippers during peak periods.
Following reports on social media of several houseboats moored at Woods Bay being used for STAs on the river, we contacted Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), a Federal Government organisation that regulates commercial boating activities and registrations, to investigate. In response, we were informed that they conducted an on-water joint patrol, with regulatory actions issued against those non-compliant and a commitment to increase monitoring.
With so much to share and limited space, please stay ‘in the loop’ via Noosa 360 with updates on a range of important issues we are working on. In addition, follow ‘Sandy Bolton MP’ on Facebook to receive information as soon as available, and subscribe to our e-newsletter at www.SandyBolton.com/Newsletters, which also ensures you are advised when Noosa-specific surveys are held, with one in the coming weeks on fluoridation in our water. Always, if you have any questions or require assistance regarding state-related matters, do not hesitate to contact my office at 5319 3100.