Victory! Big Bob’s GOT the big job!

In an outstanding result for all who supported Bob Abbot on Saturday, March 15, a staggering 70% of the primary vote backed the former mayor of Noosa Shire to become the first mayor of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

It was clear from the early results that Bob had regional support for his policies and the plan to provide strong leadership with a passion for good governance to the new council. Bob said he was looking forward to implementing the policies (available for perusal on the POLICY tab on this website) over the next four years.

“I’m extremely happy, very proud and very much feeling that the people of the Sunshine Coast have put their confidence in me, and now I’ve got to deliver.

“It’s a powerful mandate and an overwhelming ‘yes’ and I will do what I said I was going to do – create the foundation for a good council long term, establish the basis that’s needed to make the Sunshine Coast Australia’s first sustainable region and deliver to the Sunshine Coast a council they can be proud of,” Bob said.

 “My message to the voters of the Sunshine Coast is thank you. Thank you dearly. I’ve committed myself to a job I know I can do and I will deliver,”

Bob went on to thank his campaign team (Ian Williams and Karla Hobson from Sunshine Coast based Iconic Events and Communication) and his partner Susie Coburn saying they had been an amazing support during the campaign.

“The Iconic team kept me focused and ensured I was everywhere I needed to be and ahead of the game every step of the way,” Bob said.           

Former Maroochy mayor Joe Natoli was gracious in defeat, saying he accepted the people’s choice and wished Bob well. Mr. Natoli said he hoped the council will support their new leader and that the Sunshine Coast would move forward as a united region.

In a final thank you, Bob said he was delighted so many people visited the Big Bob website during the campaign, taking the time to blog and leave messages. Whilst that part of the website will no longer be in operation, Bob encouraged supporters to check bigbob.com.au for updates and news items in the months ahead.

The Announcement

On Monday, 17 December 2007 Bob Abbot announced that he will run for the position of mayor in the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

About the Launch

Speaking in front of 50 guests at Noosa Marina, Bob unveiled his "BIG BOB FOR THE BIG JOB" campaign as Sunshine Coast voters go to the polls next March. Once the announcement was made he was joined by some of the volunteers who have long admired his no-nonsense leadership approach and his strong belief in protecting community interests.

A veteran of 25 years in local government and the last 11 as mayor of Noosa Shire, Bob knows he brings his own unique, uncomplicated style to the vacant position in the new regional council.

I'm excited about what I know I can offer the people of the Sunshine Coast. I want to deliver a service oriented council not a regulatory or compliance based one. It's going to be a big challenge but I'm ready and feel lucky to be involved with the team of volunteers who will be supporting me in the months ahead" he said.

"I've long followed a common sense approach and I'm keen to apply that to my vision for the first Sunshine Coast Regional Council. What I can share right now is that a vote for me will be a vote for a sustainable coast community and for sensible policy development in all council decisions".

Support for Big Bob

Hi Bob HARRISON HERE I have been busy telling peple to vote for BOB. mummy sent you a email last night when i was on youre website. I'M 7. and i dont want to see where we live wreked so I am telling evyrone to vote for you. i am foliwing evything you do and I herd you on the radio this morning with NASTY joe and I herd you get angry. but dont wory i'm on the job! i have youre picture above my bed @ if any one says they are voting for joe natoli then I get very very very very very very very angry with them. I am sending you fotes of me with my BIG BOB FOR THE JOB resumay. I love NOOSAS nature and the clean places and the beach and I want all the buildings on the sun shine coast bulldosded and bushes planted and I never wanted NOOSA COUNCIL to go away becase they looked after Noosa really really good. I worked hard on saving NOOSA you are my hero from HARRISON ps I went and saw you in the porche last year at the hill climb

The Campaign Office

The campaign office has become a hive of activity and Bob has asked that all interested volunteers and supporters get in touch with the team by calling 5449 8222 or registering their interest online by clicking here.

Click here to visit the new Iconic website

Click here to view Bob’s video files and photo gallery

The Sunshine Coast

There has been a bit of a furphy doing the rounds that I am only interested in Noosa long term and wont be interested in the rest of the coast. This seems to be based on the fact that I fought so hard for Noosa in the amalgamation debate. Below is a copy of a blog I placed on the Daily On Line last night.

When elected to the office of the mayor of Noosa in March 2004 for the third term, I, in a sense, signed a contract with the people of Noosa Shire to protect and enhance their environment and lifestyle to the best of my ability as I had done in the past.

Thats what they elected me to do, expected me to do and I believe is what I have done in all of the day to day matters of Noosa Council.

The amalgamation announcement came from way out of left field and was a battle I didn’t expect to have to fight, but fight it I did. Thats what I was elected to do and my “contract” called for me to do and I honoured that committment again and again until I believed the battle was well and truly lost.

I finally came to that belief after the plebicite when Premier Bligh quite clearly stated that regardless of the results of the plebicite, there will be no change to the Commissions report and the three councils on the Sunshine Coast will amalgamate!

I made the decision to stand for Mayor of the Sunshine Coast in the full knowledge that I would make the same committment to all the people on the Sunshine Coast.

If elected in March 2008, I will be required to read and sign the Oath of Office as the Mayor of the Sunshine Coast to represent all of the people of the Sunshine Coast. The Oath of Office is sworn under the law and I don’t take that lightly. That will be my contract with the people of all the Sunshine Coast and I will honour that contract to the letter.

The policies I have already released, and will continue to release, during this campaign are all written with a view to creating a solid foundation for the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council to be built on well into the future.

Since the formation of the Local Transition Committee I have committed myself to ensure a smooth transition for Noosa ratepayers into the new Regional Council as have Cr Aldous and Cr Natoli on behalf of their constituents.

Since that time I have not been involved in Friends of Noosa’s deliberations and nor will I be in the future. They agree with that but have chosen to continue their anti amalgamation campaign which they believe is their right in a democratic society.

My goal now is to ensure the Sunshine Coast develops into Australia’s first Sustainable Region as an example to all Australians.

About Bob Abbot - Curriculum Vitae

In 1982, Bob was first elected as a Councillor of Noosa Shire in the rural Division 1.  He spent six of those 15 years as Deputy Mayor before being elected Mayor in 1997.  Bob is the first Mayor elected in Noosa from a true community development platform.

Bob has combined his extensive knowledge and experience in local government and its own particular environment with a burning desire to help those in need, and to develop the social infrastructure essential to the Noosa community.  Bob is committed to providing all Noosa residents with opportunity - regardless of age, race or disability - and to providing support to those who are less fortunate than others.

Some of the achievements of Noosa Council since 1982 with Bob as a member include:

• Managing growth but not at the environment’s expense.
• Introducing an Environment Levy.
• Gaining recognition for environmental excellence and receiving National Awards.
• Gaining recognition as one of Australia’s premier tourist destinations.
• Introduction of 4-storey building height.
• Approval for Development Control Plans for environmentally prized Noosa North Shore & Marcus Shores
  
• Preparation of a Vegetation Management Program for the whole of the Noosa Shire - including protection for the farming sector
• Preparation of three Strategic Plans and numerous Town Plan Reviews.
• Provision of innovative and ‘state of the art’ infrastructure for Water & Sewerage.
• Maintaining a strong financial position.
• Massive growth in facilities of a leisure and recreational kind, eg. Sports stadium; Library; Arts & Crafts Centre; Olympic size swimming pool, etc.

Bob is also involved with the following Council related associations:

• Chairman of NORSROC (Northern Regional Organisation of Councils)
• Junior Vice President of LGAQ (Local Government Association of Queensland)
• Director of ALGA (Australian Local Government Association)
• Executive Member of ULGA (Urban Local Government Association)
• Council representative on SEQROC (South East Qld Regional Organisation of Councils)
• Chairman of Northern Implementation Group of the Moreton Bay Healthy Waterways Partnership
• NORSROC Representative on the Regional Coordination Committee (RCC)

Bob has also been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2003.