Noosa Council turns green

Not only is their logo green, but the staff are too!

Bike racks at the council offices are once again filling up as Noosa Council staff no longer have a long commute to Nambour, Maroochydore and Caloundra for work.  Council's new CEO Brett de Chastel hopes to see this trend continue and for staff to think about commuting to work by bike.

On Thursday 13 February more than thirteen staff donned their bike helmets and rode to work, including new CEO Brett de Chastel, and Directors Alan (Fox) Rogers and Martin Drydale.

Leading by example, Brett said cycling to work is a great way to start the day.

"Noosa has excellent on-road and off road cycling facilities making it easy to leave the car at home and ride instead, if one is fit and able. Most people find it achievable to cycle up to 5km each way to work", Brett said.

"We are encouraging staff to consider their alternative transport options to travel to work, not only to assist with parking demand, congestion and air pollution, but also for the health and wellbeing of our staff.  It's fun, free, it's good for the individual and the environment."

Noosa Council's Director of Community and Development Fox Rogers said he travelled approximately 500 kilometres each week between commuting to work and travelling across the region to meetings during his time with Sunshine Coast Council.  "I'm thrilled to be able to leave the car at home and enjoy the journey to work by cycling 12 km to work and back instead," he said.

If 1 in 10 of Australia's working population cast aside their cars and take to the bike for their weekly commute - a million tonnes of carbon could be saved, as well as cut down on transport costs of running a car.

14 February 2014