Noosa News December 6 2011
By Peter Gardiner

COUNCIL - whether it be a new Noosa Council or the regional status quo - is set to have a new Cooroy community voice buzzing in its ear.

And Cooroy Community Association steering committee head, former Noosa Councillor Ray Kelly, said it can only be a good thing for the local council representative to have some grassroots guidance.

Mr Kelly said 40 people attended the meeting last Thursday, keen to proceed with a new lobby group to address issues identified at a Bendigo Bank community forum.

“We have had Cooroy Chamber of Commerce which is active in this area, and they do a good job in their areas of concern, but the community is looking at bread and butter issues like rates, roads and footpaths,” Mr Kelly saaid.

Local traffic issues included the need for better access across the reailway line for vehicles and pedestrians, to emergency accommodation for single men were raised at the meeting.

He said whether de-amalgamation came in or not after the next state election, Cooroy needed to be heard at all government levels.

“I had many years in council and found it very helpful to have community input to bounce off - to see if things were generally headed in the right direction with locals,” Mr Kelly said.

He said a follow up steering committee meeting will help set the wheels in progress for the association, whihc will look to become incorporated.