From President’s Report 2023
The popular Hinterland Adventure Playground has settled in after it opened in May last year. The playground is popular with residents and visitors alike. However, we are requesting improvements to the stormwater drain and shade sails over the splash pool are needed.
President’s Report 2022
Hinterland Adventure Playground
After being affected by flooding earlier in the year, the Playground was opened in May. It’s been very popular, especially with younger kids and their families. There are some issues which have to be addressed. 1. Children need to be made aware they shouldn’t play in the storm water drain. 2. Shade sails over the play equipment have not yet been erected. 3. Dogs allowed in the playground despite best practice is that dogs not be allowed. 4. Water in the wading pool needs to be kept clean.
CARA Newsletter March 2022
Adventure Playground Build Interrupted by Flooding
Work on the new Adventure Playground was interrupted by a flooding event in Cooroy on 24 February. Water covered the whole site and even entered the amenities block. There was damage to the garden beds and Marara St was covered with water just past the library all the way to the church. Of particular concern was the untreated town stormwater which joined with the swollen Cooroy Creek to inundate the site. Completion is delayed by six weeks and will open to the public in mid-April. The official opening is planned for 7 May.
President’s Report 2021
The Cooroy town centre continues to evolve with its retail mix and is becoming a destination for visitors as much as a service town. The Hinterland Adventure Playground has changed the face of the Mill Place precinct and its popularity has the potential to put stress stress on our biggest infrastructure issue, the intersections.
CARA Newsletter March 2021
Adventure Playground Build Continues
Work continues on the new Adventure Playground. Earthworks and built structures show the scope of the project. The poles are going up for the climbing tower, the water pay area is constructed, the ablution block started and mature trees are being planted. Completion is due for the end of the year depending on weather events. Check out the 3D visualization vide of what’s being proposed.
CARA Newsletter April 2021
Adventure Playground Build to Start Soon
Councillors have approved a tender for the Playground. Council Staff have been working through the planning approval process, and adjusting the scale of the development, to suit the budget and requirements of the Cooroy site. Construction will begin soon and completion is set down for November this year.
President’s Report 2020
Two members of the CARA Management Committee have been kept up to date on preliminary planning for the proposed Hinterland Adventure Playground. Staff have been working through the planning approval process, and adjusting the scale of the development, to suit the budget and requirements of the Cooroy site. Once the process is complete, staff will prepare a report for Council seeking approval to start construction on the revised plan. Our Committee remains disappointed at the lack of public input into the project, and particularly that such a large project is being considered for the CBD before necessary infrastructure improvements.
CARA Newsletter November 2020
Adventure Playground to Start Next Year
Mayor Stewart explained recently staff had been working through the planning approval process, which was almost complete. “Construction was delayed slightly while we reviewed the 2020/2021 Capital Works Program in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. The scale of the development, to suit the budget and requirements of the Cooroy site, should be finalised in coming months. Once the process is complete, staff will prepare a report for Council seeking approval to start construction on the revised plan.
CARA Newsletter August 2020
Cooroy Hinterland Playground
Update on project: parking and raised crossing to be completed this year; tenders have been delayed; and budget funding postponed until next year.
CARA will write to Noosa Council asking that the Cooroy Hinterland Playground be redesigned to a less expensive concept, based on genuine consultation with the wider community. The present proposal, which was designed in the pre-COVID-19 era, should be scaled down to make it more affordable, especially since, in its present form, it will cost around $500,000 a year to maintain.
President’s Report 2019
Two members of the Management Committee have been kept up to date on preliminary planning for the proposed Hinterland Adventure Playground. Now, funding of $2.8 m from the state government has been approved, and Council voted to spend $2.40 m. The Committee is disappointed at the lack of public input into the project, and that such a large project is being considered for the CBD before the intersections have definite plans for improvements.
CARA Newsletter October 2019
Cooroy Community Precinct Adventure Playground
The Library and mobile display in Cooroy has been delayed, while Council finalises the project and prepares the materials to accompany these engagement activities. Engagement with the community and seeking feedback remains a priority, and the project team will be available to answer questions and take feedback when the mobile displays take place, and at the Christmas in Cooroy event on 7 December 2019. Feedback from a display at the Noosa Show was overwhelmingly supportive.
CARA Newsletter July 2019
The Adventure Playground
The final budget of $4.6m has been revealed, and it appears that this proposal will include much-needed town infrastructure, including extra parking and an amenities block. The playground has been pitched to Noosa residents rather than planned as a major SE Queensland tourist attraction, which would possibly overload the traffic on Maple Street, and put further traffic pressure on the already problematic intersections. The town is awaiting a consultation process to ensure we have input into the design.
While many residents may miss the open green space in front of the Library, home to annual events, they will be relieved to know that Apex Park will be upgraded to accommodate these events. And if we can persuade TMR to build a new roundabout at the Diamond/Elm intersection, Cooroy will indeed develop in a manner that is sympathetic to its country charm.
President’s report 2018
Throughout the year, CARA was represented on Noosa Council’s Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group to bring Hinterland tourism issues to the fore. Infrastructure, visitor numbers and how we might balance the benefits and impacts of tourism on our local community continue to be the focus for us. We have been kept up to date on preliminary planning for the proposed Cooroy Adventure Playground and hope to be able to inform the community about this project in the near future.
Cooroy benefits from Noosa Council Budget 2016-2017
The historic Boiler House will receive essential repair and safety works, hopefully allowing the site to once again open to the public.
Plans will be developed for an iconic playground in Cooroy.
• The Heritage Levy has been increased from $5 to $10 to support the implementation of the Heritage Plan
• A Six Mile Creek flood study will provide Council with a better understanding of flooding across the catchment, from Cooroy to Pomona and Cooran. It will also investigate flood concerns in the Lake Macdonald area.
• Hinterland roads will share in more than $400,000 worth of gravel road re-sheeting.
• Council is currently finishing an assessment of our sealed road network to highlight where there are roads requiring attention. If rural sealed roads require immediate attention, there are capital reserves available for this purpose.