Tony Wellington

Picture of Tony Wellington
Former Mayor of Noosa, author, photographer, artist, film-maker, lecturer, musician, social commentator and environmentalist.

Your chance to have a say on Noosa’s tourism future

Arguably the biggest issue currently facing Noosa Shire is overtourism. So-called “destination management” is really about how Noosa can survive an ever-growing tsunami of tourists. Right now, Noosa residents have an opportunity to tell the State Government what they think

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How do we fix Noosa’s tourist problem?

As we begin debating the so-called Destination Management Plan, which arguably should be called the Resident Liveability Plan, I want to challenge some long-held assumptions.  When thinking about the impacts of tourism, many people and most stakeholders focus on the

Read More »

Whistling while they work

Dominant amongst the sounds of our local bushlands are the melodious calls of whistlers. The songs are quite varied, with high, sweet notes and, in the case of the golden whistler, tunes that often conclude with a gentle whipcrack. These

Read More »

The problem of precedent in planning

When I was mayor, a development application came to council seeking approval for a petrol station on the Eumundi-Noosa Road, between Rene Street and Eenie Creek Road. I received correspondence and verbal urgings from some residents urging a refusal of the application on the

Read More »

Bunco at the bee’s BnB

Bunco (noun): a swindle or confidence trick The neon cuckoo bee is one of the prettiest of our native bees. The electric blue patches seem quite inappropriate for a sensible bee’s couture.  That iridescent colour is the product of branched,

Read More »

Living with lizards

Residing opposite a national park results in lots of visits from wildlife. Monitors, dragons and skinks occasionally appear in our yard, and some even decide to join us indoors. Pink-tongued Skinks are like Houdini lizards: agile climbers, they seem to

Read More »

Your chance to have a say on Noosa’s tourism future

Arguably the biggest issue currently facing Noosa Shire is overtourism. So-called “destination management” is really about how Noosa can survive an ever-growing tsunami of tourists. Right now, Noosa residents have an opportunity to tell the State Government what they think

Read More »

How do we fix Noosa’s tourist problem?

As we begin debating the so-called Destination Management Plan, which arguably should be called the Resident Liveability Plan, I want to challenge some long-held assumptions.  When thinking about the impacts of tourism, many people and most stakeholders focus on the

Read More »

Whistling while they work

Dominant amongst the sounds of our local bushlands are the melodious calls of whistlers. The songs are quite varied, with high, sweet notes and, in the case of the golden whistler, tunes that often conclude with a gentle whipcrack. These

Read More »

The problem of precedent in planning

When I was mayor, a development application came to council seeking approval for a petrol station on the Eumundi-Noosa Road, between Rene Street and Eenie Creek Road. I received correspondence and verbal urgings from some residents urging a refusal of the application on the

Read More »

Bunco at the bee’s BnB

Bunco (noun): a swindle or confidence trick The neon cuckoo bee is one of the prettiest of our native bees. The electric blue patches seem quite inappropriate for a sensible bee’s couture.  That iridescent colour is the product of branched,

Read More »

Living with lizards

Residing opposite a national park results in lots of visits from wildlife. Monitors, dragons and skinks occasionally appear in our yard, and some even decide to join us indoors. Pink-tongued Skinks are like Houdini lizards: agile climbers, they seem to

Read More »