Noosa Council is set to become a Queensland and national leader in sharing decision-making with its community.

A Noosa Community Jury of 24 randomly selected citizens will be used to consider certain complex and weighty local issues.  Council could either ask for a recommendation, or in some circumstances Council may agree beforehand to implement the jury's decision.

Mayor Noel Playford, who launched the initiative last week, says the Community Jury will not take over the Councillors' role, but will complement their work when everyday citizens, given time and access to all the information they need, in independently facilitated forums, can make an informed decision that earns community trust. Read more

Noosa Councillors with Iain Walker, Executive Director, newDemocracy Foundation

The University of Queensland research project on humpback whales is about to get underway again this year off the coast of Peregian Beach. In the last of a series, the research will start on September 17 and run until the end of October. It will include a research ship out at sea with eight observers plus crew on board as well as eighty five more researchers and trained observers on shore.

Experiments measuring the effect of noise from seismic air guns on humpback whales’ behaviour will be undertaken. Read more

Keep the children entertained with a great line up of activities being held at Council's venues these school holidays.

With inflatable fun at the Aquatic Centre, interactive activities at Galleries and Libraries, and more sporty ventures at the Leisure Centre, the children won't be bored! 

Council is expanding its garden waste collection service to rural townships to counter the problem of green waste- lawn clippings, leaves, branches, twigs, weeds and palm fronds- going to landfill. Rural residents are being offered the service for a more environmentally-friendly solution to managing their garden waste. This garden waste collection is an optional service.

Currently, most Noosa residents either fill their household rubbish bins with green waste which goes to landfill, or take their green waste to the tip in a trailer themselves. Neither method is satisfactory - green waste in landfill produces greenhouse gas emissions and takes up landfill space, and trips to the tip are expensive.

Find out more about the green-waste service from Council's website.

Thirty-one new citizens from 11 different countries were welcomed to the country at last week's Noosa Council Australian Citizenship Ceremony.

Held at Council's The J venue, MC and Bush Poet Ian Mackay added charming Aussie flavour to the ceremony and local student Lauren Sutherland performed her take on a modern folk song and our National Anthem. 

Noosa’s next Australian Citizenship Ceremony will take place as part of the Australia Day festivities in the Noosaville Lions Park on 26 January 2015.

(Left to right) Shine Sebastian, Shania Shine, baby Maya Shine, Sherlyn Shine