Hastings Street, Noosa.
Hastings Street, Noosa. Geoff Potter / Sunshine Coast Daily

Dwyer says vote for Noosa de-amalgamation 'about people'

A SUNSHINE Coast councillor has explained his about-face on Noosa de-amalgamation as being the result of coming to the conclusion that whatever the argument, the issue ultimately was about people.

Caloundra councillor Tim Dwyer was a surprising vote for de-amalgamation when council considered the issue last Thursday. He was the only non-Noosa councillor to back the split.

"I've had a fair bit to say on it (de-amalgamation)," Cr Dwyer said yesterday.

"But the more thought I've given it, despite the advantages of staying as a region in terms of planning and collaboration, we're dealing with people here.

"I thought the last thing we needed was to have part of the region that didn't want to be part of a bigger local government area.

"Why should we want people who don't want to be part of the family? Why force them? They would just be a thorn in the side.

"The last thing I want to see is people forced to do something against the grain. Council would be left having to continue to work across issues of a disenchanted community.

"I support de-amalgamation. Let them move on and let's get the rest of the Coast working as a team."

Cr Dwyer said debate about the issue had always centred on issues and arguments as to why amalgamation was a good thing.

What had not been discussed was the people and what they wanted.

Free Noosa chairman Noel Playford said there was no doubt some people would criticise Cr Dwyer's change of position on the issue.

"But as is often said, it often takes a bigger person to admit they might have made a mistake," Mr Playford said.

"So I congratulate him on having the flexibility to keep thinking about it."

Mr Playford said the council's majority stand against de-amalgamation should not have any influence on Boundaries Commissioner Colin Meng's final decision.

"There would be no point in us having done all the work we've done, there would be no point in the QTC (Queensland Treasury Commission) doing all the checking their doing," he said.

Boom rookie headlines Maroons overhaul

Premium Content Boom rookie headlines Maroons overhaul

Reece Walsh is among a number of bolters named for Maroons FULL TEAM

‘Russian roulette’: How fugitive murdered woman in her flat

Premium Content ‘Russian roulette’: How fugitive murdered woman in her flat

Detectives are working to track down a convicted Wide Bay killer

‘Our everything is gone’: Tributes for train crash victim

Premium Content ‘Our everything is gone’: Tributes for train crash victim

The 43-year-old southeast Queensland man killed in a train incident near...