Noosa Council Somehow Thought 2 Weeks Notice For A 6-Month Bridge Closure Would Be Adequate In A Town That's 80% Boomers

SANDY FRASER | Youth | CONTACT

About two weeks ago, the Noosa Council informed residents a major bridge between Tewantin and Noosa would be closed for the next six months. 

Doonella bridge, which reportedly carries over 20,000 vehicles a day, was first built in 1968. 

Since then, it has little cosmetic or structural attention, and so naturally, the council decided its long overdue upgrade should proceed in the first week of the school holidays. 

Though the council justified the construction as imperative for the bridge's safety and long-term performance, it would appear a central consideration was absent from the decision. 

Noosa shire is predominantly populated by caucasian people aged over 65 with property portfolios exceeding $5 million - and they are not afraid to voice their outrage to the council. 

“Yeah look, we just totally forgot about that part,” said councillor Greg Wayne. 

“It’s on us. You know, if we'd considered the fact that the Noosa Waters retirees won’t be able to reach Tewantin golf club without detouring a couple kilometres, we would’ve pulled the pin on the whole thing entirely.”

“So yeah, we apologise. We have seen your posts on the Facebook community noticeboard and we see you and we hear you.”

Yet despite this admission, Cllr Wayne said the upgrades are final and the bridge will not be reopening anytime soon. 

“We just don’t really care enough, sorry. We recognise the other half of the population is young families trying to get their kids to school on time and owners of small businesses and everything, but yeah. Not really our prob tbh.”

“Oh and also we just said 6 months but it’ll actually be like 12-18 months AT LEAST, you know how we are with these things, ha ha!”