Letter: Enterprise must be encouraged

There was no credit to Noosa Council in its vote to axe the hinterland’s much loved mobile coffee kiosk (End of Espresso, Noosa Today, 24 November). Bus Stop Espresso’s demise came about because, not for the first time, most councillors adopted the wrong-headed view that the Noosa Plan is a sacrosanct document cast in cement.

Tom Wegener was the only councillor who voted to keep the coffee flowing. His remark, that the axing of the coffee bus was “an opportunity wildly missed“, was spot on. Indeed the 6-1 vote showcased the poor decision-making that can occur from people too vested in a plan and not vested enough in community benefit.

While the Noosa Plan provides an important framework for decision-making, it lacks the agility to always respond rationally and flexibly to changing circumstances and diverse situations. The last shire planning scheme ran for 14 years without before being full renewed. Noosa moved on. Plans are static; decision-making must be dynamic and always answer the question: what is best in the community interest?

It is the role of council staff to provide advice, and that advice should always be considered seriously. But it is councillors who make the decisions and they need to exercise discretion and good judgement in doing so as they seek the best outcomes for the community.