12:00a.m. 14th March 2008

| By Carolyn Tucker

Tomorrow night it will be over.

Within hours of the final vote being cast, the new leader of the Sunshine Coast’s first super council is expected to be declared.

The victor will head the fourth largest local authority in the state, spanning 3,172 square kilometers including 211 kilometres of coastline with a population nudging 300,000 and an annual budget of more than half a billion dollars.

For the past few weeks Maroochy mayor Joe Natoli and Noosa’s Bob Abbot have criss-crossed the region selling their policies and personal styles to residents.

Throughout the campaign, growth and development, waste management, job creation, housing affordability, public transport and how best to protect the region’s natural assets while enhancing its economic future have all been on the agenda.

It has been a fast and furious battle between the two incumbents to convince Sunshine Coast voters they have what it takes.

Today is the last chance for Maroochy mayor Joe Natoli and Noosa mayor Bob Abbot to put their case to the people. The Daily yesterday asked where they stood on key issues affecting the region.

Q1 What is your definition of sustainability, specifically as it applies to the Sunshine Coast?

Joe: Sustainability is about creating and then preserving a consistently high quality of life for our population - for the long haul.

It encompasses a healthy natural environment but also a healthy and growth-focused business environment.

I believe in a carefully managed and balanced approach to growth that will provide job opportunities for us.

Sustainability is closely linked to earning ability, which is linked to affordability, which allows sustainable quality of life.

Bob: In my view, sustainability on the Sunshine Coast will be about finding the delicate balance between the economy, the environment and our lifestyle.

Future development of the Sunshine Coast will require attention to detail in partnership with long term jobs that have minimal effect on our environment and a long term positive effect on all communities in our region.

Q2 What is your program to improve the water quality of rivers and streams, enhance riparian corridors, revegetate endangered plant species and rebuild and enshrine wildlife corridors?

Joe: I have a $50 million Environmental Action Plan which will protect our unique, large populations of wildlife and vegetation.

By pooling and fast tracking the Environment Levies from the three councils we have the opportunity to buy large tracts of land now and protect them or revegetate them as required.

I intend to continue the award winning work being carried out on the Maroochy River recovery program, and expand this to work in partnership with water catchment and landcare groups across the Coast.

Bob: As Chairman of the Northern Implementation Group of the South East Queensland waterway strategy group, I’ll continue to encourage the new council’s partnerships with all the conservation and catchment care groups already established.

I have had two decades of involvement in river and estuary water quality improvement and catchment care projects right across the region that have been enormously successful.

The Noosa River continues to be the healthiest waterway system in South East Queensland.

Q3 Do you believe the Sunshine Coast Regional Council will be forced to accommodate population growth as dictated by the state government?

Joe: The State Government has a track record for forcing its will on councils throughout Queensland – just ask Noosa about that.

However, the sheer volume of population of the united Sunshine Coast region provides us with far greater weight than our previous individual shires. I will fight tooth and nail to support the wishes of our region.

Bob: Under the regional plan and local growth management strategies, I believe that the new council has the majority of say in growth management on the Sunshine Coast.

Q4 Is there a limit to the population the Coast can accommodate and still retain the lifestyle values and environment current residents hold dear? If so what is that limit and how can it be applied?

Joe: Absolutely! There is a limit to the population growth we can sustain and that’s why I have challenged SCEC and asked them to work with me if I’m elected.

We need to develop a rigorous and scientifically based methodology capable of standing up to scrutiny by the State government – with fully justified supporting arguments to ensure that there is ‘no-argument’.

Bob: Yes, I believe that our region does have a desired carrying capacity for the future.

Community involvement across the region and the establishment of the regional planning schemes and the local growth management strategies of the future will dictate the desired outcome.

Q5 What is your vision for the future of the Sunshine Coast and what policies need to be implemented to meet that goal?

Joe: My vision is for a community where residents strive to be the best they can, where meaningful jobs are available for us and our children, where we feel safe on the streets, and where it is affordable to live.

A community which is caring and prepared to work together to achieve overarching goals.

I have policies to create a clever region, a new resilient economy built on knowledge.

I’ll do it by building strong partnerships with other levels of government, community associations and the education, industry and business sectors.

Bob: My vision is to make the Sunshine Coast Australia’s first sustainable region. My policies have been clearly defined and available for perusal on my website for the past two months.

They indicate that the areas of housing affordability, public transport, waste management, community involvement in council processes and the development in new economy (not based on population growth) will be critical in realising the long term aspirations of all the communities that make up the whole Sunshine Coast.

Q6 What are top five priorities for infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast?

Joe: 1) Provide incentive for people to use public transport, and in doing so make public travel desirable; while implementing dedicated bus ways to ensure efficient movement of traffic;

2) a world class telecommunications network laying out optic fibre to educational institutions, industries, businesses and new residential estates

3) Extensive cycle and footpath networks which target specific localities to ease road congestions ie in school and business precincts, otherwise bikeways will simply remain leisure facilities;

4) Fast track the passenger train from Beerwah to Caloundra and Maroochydore;

5) Fast track the East West runway at the airport and deliver an asset management plan to increase maintenance on our existing infrastructure.

Bob: 1. Fast, efficient local public transport;

2. The completion of the arterial road system already under construction;

3. The upgrading of our regional broadband network;

4. The upgrading and development of regional, sub-regional and local sporting and cultural facilities;

5. The establishment of business developments and industrial parks.

Q7 What action can the new council take to reduce greenhouse emissions and do you believe ‘zero waste’ is a realistic target for this community?

Joe: We are already working on a whole range of strategies to deal with climate change and peak oil – specifically to support new technologies, build a bio-reactor landfill that generates enough green power for a few thousand homes, and review all council policies in relation to vehicles and energy use. We must also work with residents to ensure they also reduce their emissions.

Zero Waste is a wonderful ideal, but currently there is no system in Australia that can achieve it. I look forward to future developments that make it affordable.

Bob: By thinking outside the square at all times and:

1. Getting people out of cars and onto public transport;

2. Developing and promoting alternative strategies for local or community based alternative energy generation;

3. Managing the waste stream to minimise CO2 emissions at every turn;

4. Maximising the natural reduction of CO2 gases supporting farm forestry projects and greening Sunshine Coast programs; Yes, I believe zero waste to landfill is a realistic target for this region long term and my aim is to reach this goal by 2020.

Q8 What future employment opportunities do you envisage for this region and what action can you and/or council take to attract these and other employers to the region?

Joe: We need to keep our tourism, retail and construction industries booming, but we must also look to new technologies - IT, medical services, aviation, energy, environment services, rural and exports.

We must foster a knowledge economy though our Uni, Schools, TAFEs and business groups to train our own people so that they have reason to remain here. We must market the liveability of our region along with the close proximity to infrastructure that creates access to capital cities and international travel for pursuing export opportunities.

Bob: As a priority, council will create an economic development strategy that will focus on providing incentives and modern technology to increase local business capacity to provide more jobs in the region.

At the same time we will use those incentives and modern technology and improvements to attract new business in boutique manufacturing, the knowledge economy, creative industries and the health and personal wealth sectors.

Q9 What critical goals can be achieved during the next term?

 Joe: We must form very strong partnerships with state and federal government, as well as with the education sector, industry, commerce and business as well as community. .. the future depends on us working together to achieve our goals as a whole.

We can and must unify the Sunshine Coast and draw together this vast community.

Bob: 1. The creation of an open transparent and accountable council;

2. Establish the framework (and to have under construction) a high speed, high capacity, high frequency public transport and arterial bike way system;

3. Create a culture of actively involving our communities in the development of their own future;

4. Create a culture of good service within the council that will give the Sunshine Coast a Council they will be proud of.

Q10 By what measures should you, if elected, be judged by voters in four years time?

Joe: I want voters to judge me on my strong financial capabilities, proactive leadership, my outside the box ‘regionalist’ thinking, my inclusive management style – I will surround myself with the very best people who will provide the very best advice and action for a sustainable and prosperous future for all Sunshine Coasters.

Bob: The reason for clearly stating and recording my policies early in this campaign was to give the Sunshine Coast a clear understanding of what my intentions will be for my first term. I will be judged on that record in four years time.