David Phipps

DAVID PHIPPS QUESTION 1 Given the significant opposition, will Council stop the ill-conceived, unwanted and illogical plan to convert an 800 metre section of Lorikeet Drive to an Active Street? RESPONSE PROVIDED BY SHAUN WALSH, DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Thank you for the question. Council understands that some residents have concerns. Council has also received positive support and feedback on the project. While staff have not been directed to pause or stop work on the project, the project team is discussing next steps and exploring opportunities for additional community communication with Councillors later this month. It’s important to note that the Active Street proposal for Lorikeet Drive is the result of several years of technical work and strong support for safer, more connected walking and cycling options in Peregian Beach. It directly responds to long-standing issues raised by locals, including speeding, pedestrian safety and driveway access challenges. An Active Street was chosen because it offers the safest and most suitable treatment for this corridor. It slows traffic, creates a calmer neighbourhood feel, and makes it easier for people of all ages to walk, ride and move around. Communities across Australia are embracing this approach due to its proven benefits for safety, health, local amenity and street greening. Importantly, the project is fully funded by State and Federal programs, not by Noosa ratepayers, and also enables Council to upgrade kerbs, improve stormwater and drainage, replace the ageing Lorikeet Park bridge and enhance landscaping along the street. Our goal is to deliver a safer, greener and more accessible street that benefits the entire neighbourhood. QUESTION 2 Will Council cease all Active Street design and implementation work until a detailed design and costings for walking and cycling throughout the entire Peregian and Marcus Beach precinct is complete to prove that these projects are both physically and financially viable? We also ask that the design development encompasses genuine and meaningful consultation with impacted residents and that such residents have an active role in so-designing the plans. RESPONSE PROVIDED BY SHAUN WALSH, DIRECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES Thank you for the question. Council appreciates that some residents would like to see a precinct-wide walking and cycling design completed before any further work progresses. It’s important to note that this broader planning has already been undertaken through Council’s Cycling and Walking Strategy and Implementation Plan adopted by Council in July 2021. These strategic documents assessed routes across the entire Peregian and Marcus Beach area and identified the most suitable corridors and priorities for investment. The Active Street on Lorikeet Drive is one of the top-ranked projects from this work and has already secured full State and Federal funding. Pausing the project now to redo precinct-wide design and costings could be perceived as wasteful, and would significantly delay delivery and risk losing that funding. Council agrees that community involvement must be genuine and ongoing. That is why, for this project, engagement has not been limited to a single stage. We have:  involved residents and community groups through the Project Reference Group during route and treatment selection;  held multiple information sessions during the preliminary design phase;  undertaken doorknocks and offered one-on-one meetings; and  continued adjusting elements of the design based on resident feedback - particularly around parking, traffic management, connectivity, and environmental values. This approach will continue as the project moves into the developed design and Council will be continuing with community information sessions. Council’s focus remains on creating a safer, greener and better-connected local network for walking and riding - in a way that reflects community needs and enhances the character of the area.