The hot topic on everyone’s lips in Noosa right now is the news that Peter Beattie plans to push ahead with his legislation to amalgamate Queensland’s councils into a series of “super councils”.

We are being inundated with inquiries from people who are worried about how this will affect property values here in the Noosa Shire, our environment, our landscape, and our eco-friendly principles.

Residents have visions of developers with cheque books and legal expertise at the ready, finding the cracks and pushing on with development in the areas we hold most dear.

We have fought for Noosa before and we will continue to fight.

We also have to try to continue be positive about the situation as it stands, frustrating though it may be. This region is one of the sought-after destinations in Australia, if not in the world, and we believe it can remain that way.

It is inspiring to see the way our special community here in Noosa has banded together to show the depth of feeling over this matter.

The interesting fact is that so many of us have moved into the region to escape the over-development and over-crowding in the cities.

All of us – including born-and-bred locals, residents such as myself who have lived here for more than 30 years, and the “Newsans” who now call Noosa home – truly appreciate what makes our home such an incredible place.

Property may be our livelihood here at Laguna, but we feel privileged to live and work in this area and we will stand with the community to do what we can to preserve the area as we have in the past … no matter what the outcome of the legislation.