Community collaboration to craft Coolum

Having a say on local issues has always been important to Coolum residents and their community voice is about to get louder.

The Coolum Community Reference Group has been established by Sunshine Coast Council to enable locals more input into the future direction of their area.

Division 9 Councillor Vivien Griffin said the Coolum Community Reference Group consisted of seven representatives from the local community.

"Council recently invited members of the Coolum community to apply for positions in this group and applicants were assessed on their collaborative team approach, civic and social entrepreneurship and commitment to the big picture," she said.

"We had a strong field of candidates, and I thank everyone for the time they took to nominate.

"It was tough to arrive at a short list, but I am confident we have a great group of people with the passion and energy to work for a positive future for Coolum businesses and residents.

"The group has been selected and its key objectives will include providing input into public domain works, building partnerships between community and business and assisting in the development of a Community Action Plan for local projects and activities."

The Coolum Community Reference Group consists of: Mark Bizzell; Dragi Maistorovic; Emma Murphy; Narelle McCarthy; Carolyn Middleberg; Blair McNamara; Noel Mooney; Cr Vivien Griffin; Adam Stewart (Sunshine Coast Council Project Coordinator); and Libby Ozinga (Sunshine Coast Council Place Making Coordinator).

Cr Griffin said although Council would play a role within the group, its longterm direction would be guided by the Coolum community.

"The group held an initial ‘meet and greet’ session on Tuesday 14 December, and it will convene early in the new year to determine early actions and how often it will meet," she said.

"Council sees this new group as an integral part of the placemaking approach to town centre improvements and it will allow the community to be involved in the public domain works that are planned for Coolum.

"It will build on the involvement that Coolum residents, property owners and businesses have provided throughout the local Master Plan process and ensure that we look beyond a purely infrastructure outcome."