12:00a.m. 14th October 2007

| By Alan Lander

Noosa has done it again – but this time may be the last time.

Still on a high after being honoured with biosphere status by the United Nations, Noosa council has had further community praise heaped upon its name – even though the iconic shire won’t exist in five months’ time.

At a Lions convention ceremony yesterday morning at Noosa’s Leisure Centre in Wallace Park, the council was presented with the coveted Melvin Jones Award – a rarely bestowed trophy.

“It’s an international award,” chair of Lions River Convention Mike Roach said.

“It has been awarded to both Noosa council and Bob Abbot in recognition of their contribution and involvement in the community, and working with Lions.”

Mr Roach pointed out it was no routine yearly handout.

“It’s not an annual award,” he said.

“It is only given out to specially recognised activities.”

The “trigger” for the award had been the decision of the United Nations to award Noosa biosphere reserve status.

“Lions played a small part in that,” Mr Roach said.

Mr Abbot said he was very pleased the council had been specially chosen and described the award as “a high honour”.

“It’s an extra honour for Noosa council (on top of the biosphere award),” he said.

“It is indicative of the way we try to make the council work well with the community.

“It is a real pat on the back for council’s policy.”

But come March 2008, Noosa council will most probably cease to exist under plans to forcibly amalgamate the shire with Maroochy and Caloundra.

Mr Abbot has just returned from France, where he was present for the UN award ceremony.

Despite suffering jet lag and a cold, he was keen to hear further details of the proposed merger plebiscite.