Supporting Agriculture in Noosa
The economic strategy vision paper echoed this new direction: “Scope the preparation of a Food and Agribusiness Industry Development Plan” and “Scope and prepare a pre-feasibility for a Food and Agri Business HUB.”
Earlier in the term, I strenuously advocated for local agriculture to be included in the Climate Change Response Plan and this is reflected in the Strategic Priorities:
The following strategic priorities are identified for Theme 6: Sustainable agriculture and food systems
6.1 Support agri-businesses and landholders to create a sustainable and regenerative food system that includes consideration and preparation for climate change risks
6.2 Promote sustainable, locally produced food and improve local food access for farmers, residents, visitors and vulnerable people
6.3 Support agri-businesses and landholders to reduce their emissions through changes in farming practices and technology implementation, and to take up opportunities for income generation through carbon drawdown activities.
During my campaign in 2020, I shared my vision for a vibrant, bespoke agriculture economy in the Noosa Hinterland. Over the past term, this vision was realised or encoded in Noosa Council through Plans and Strategies:
The Corporate Plan 2023 - 2028 states:
Prosperity: Objective 3.3 Work with agricultural organisations and agencies to support and educate landholders on regenerative agriculture methods and promote local and sustainable food production.
3.4 Investigate a rural/hinterland innovation hub to support our hinterland communities and grow our rural, artisan and creative industries.
These substantial changes in Noosa Council direction were influenced by community actions supporting local agriculture. I took the baton from Country Noosa’s work on the Rural Enterprise Plan and began to further and implement their work. I put an enormous effort into learning about and promoting local agriculture. As a director of the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation, I headed an action called the Agri-Hub. I described the vision in Noosa Today:
Tom Wegener with Country Noosa President Tom Kendall (right) and secretary Zaia. Photo by Rob Maccrol
The chair of the NBRF, Rowan Rafferty, and I went on a mission to share the vision and to bring local farmers on board. We held three public forums and met with the local leaders to create a plan forward. On the 11 of June, 2022 NBRF hosted the Agri-Hub Symposium where over 50 key stakeholders came, enjoyed 12 presentations and set out a plan for moving forward. This was compiled into the Agri-Hub Symposium Findings and acts as a foundation for further actions, including the new shift to supporting local agriculture in the Corporate Plan.
Kate from Young Farmers Connect, Bryant User from Eastwell Farms & Country Noosa President, Tom Wegener, Mel Anderson former CEO Tourism Noosa, Rowan Rafferty.
The program climaxed with the Grow For Noosa Gala where experts met on stage and discussed the way forward. Master Chef, Matt Golinski, created the menu for the event from all locally produced foods and explained the importance of creating our Noosa food identity by supporting our local growers. There were 150 guests and it was a brilliant afternoon. I personally made bespoke seedling boxes with 6 lesser known Noosa climate loving crops. They raised $1,200 towards the Grow For Noosa Fund. All the funds raised from the Gala went to a local social enterprise, SevGen, to help purchase a refrigerator truck to distribute produce from the Galeru, an indigenous food farm in Cooroy.
The entire project is caught in this video made for the Gala:
Permaculture Noosa
I stepped into the role of President of Permaculture Noosa in October, 2021. This became a very big undertaking for me! The club had previously raised $115,000 toward building a pavilion for the Cooroy Community Gardens, however during covid the plans became problematic, with skyrocketing material costs and future uncertainties. I joined the executive team with a fresh commitment to finishing the project. I felt the pavilion would be the key to facilitating a major shift toward growing and eating climate appropriate crops. In January 2022, the club spent their savings on laying the slab, plumbing, some electrical and purchasing materials for the walls and roof.
For one year no new construction was undertaken as the club furiously raised funds. We had BBQs, played movies, had headline speakers, ran raffles, plant sales, garden projects and lots of other fundraising events. In September 2022, Bendigo Bank donated $50k to the pavilion and Noosa Council a further $25k for building the cob walls. The club had succeeded in raising the funds!
In February, 2023 the frame was put up and the roof was added. Next came the big, volunteer intensive job of making the walls from clay, straw and aggregate. This was a much bigger job than the team anticipated and the Cooroy community volunteered to help. Seasons IGA donated food, Bruce Forsyth the electrical works AND Bendigo Bank donated a further $40k to finish the project and have an opening day celebration. Over 2000 volunteer hours and a very bumpy ride later, the Bendigo Bank Community Pavilion was complete. On September 2nd, 2023 there was a great opening celebration!
The Pavilion now stands as an architectural masterpiece and a testament to the quality of the Noosa community. I believe it should be heritage listed in the next council term. Here is a video, Two Years in Two Minutes:
Upon the completion of the Pavilion, I stepped down from the president role at the AGM October 21, 2023.