Lower Mill Site - a Buzz of Activity (27 March 2009)

Cooroy residents and visitors will have noticed an increasing buzz of activity in and around the Cooroy Lower Mill Site recently. 

After more than eight years in the planning, Cooroy’s ‘state of the art’ library is one step closer following Council’s recent announcement that Hutchinson Builders were awarded the construction contract.

Local division 12 Councillor Lew Brennan said the new library will be completed and open to the public by the end of the year, weather permitting.

Also, work placement participants of a Queensland Government funded Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are currently working on the other side of the creek. This project is being managed by council and is aimed at enhancing employment opportunities for members of the community through up-skilling.

There are currently four workers and a supervisor laying pavers around the kilns and boiler house.  This project is also demonstrating resource recovery, with the pavers being a combination of left over Hastings Street pavers and signed community pavers.

There are two artworks projects underway at the Mill Site.  In a joint project between council and the Arts Queensland's art+place program, public art for Mill Place has been commissioned from Sunshine Coast artists Glen Manning and Kathy Daly. 

The concept around their artwork incorporates the bunya leaf and red cedar flowers providing a connection to the environment, heritage and indigenous aspects of Cooroy and the broader hinterland. 

“There is also currently a council Creative Histories Project being run in a partnership between the Butter Factory Arts Centre and the Day Respite Centre” Cr Brennan said. 

Under the guidance of local artists Susie Blue and Mal Butterworth, this project will culminate in a ceramic artwork which will be installed at the boiler house entrance. 

“Many of the participants involved in this project have a connection to the Noosa hinterland region and their input will result in an artwork that not only records our history but is also reflective of the mill and the region,” Cr Brennan said.

This project is progressing well with the planning, design and research stages completed and the connective stories currently being transferred into visual images for the mosaic.

“All of this activity is helping to secure Cooroy as a major hinterland centre which is part of Council’s plan for the region.   A large part of this is due to the commitment of the community and in particular, the Lower Mill Board” Cr Brennan said.

Protecting Our Past and Looking to Our Future (10 March 2009)

The Cooroy Lower Mill Site is turning into a real asset for our hinterland town.  It seems that almost daily there are more developments announced and the plans are very exciting to say the least.  The community tree planting held on Saturday 21 February at the Cooroy Lower Mill Site was a fantastic success.  As part of the regeneration of the creek area, community members pitched in and planted 400 natives in the south eastern area of the site in just under 2 hours.  The Rotary Club of Cooroy provided a sausage sizzle and Landcare and Sunshine Coast Regional Council Environment Services supplied the plants and provided guidance on the best planting methods to give the plants the best start in life.

“The community support shown at the tree planting was overwhelming and demonstrates how important this site is to Cooroy,” explained Lower Mill Board Chairperson, Seb Vecchio.  “This importance has also been formally recognised as the boiler and kiln at the Mill Site were recently listed in the Queensland Heritage Register.  Once a place is entered in the Register, the Queensland Heritage Council must assess any changes to be made to the place. Overall, the Register protects significant cultural heritage places, so that they are conserved for future generations.”

Lower Mill Site Transformation (December 2008)

If you’ve been down to the Cooroy Lower Mill Site lately, you would have noticed the transformation that is occurring.  Changes are happening daily and the entire site is really starting to take shape.    What was once an unused vacant lot with weeds and derelict buildings is being made into a valuable community asset that reflects our history and looks to our future. 

The kilns have been renovated and are in use by the Cooroora Woodworkers who have also had their Meeting Cottage and Carvers Hut relocated adjacent to the kilns.  Chairman of the relocation committee for the Cooroora Woodworkers, Raoul Leach said “We think the new facilities are absolutely fantastic and are extremely appreciative of the co-operation and financial assistance that Council has provided to make this happen.”

The boiler house has been renovated by Ricon Contractors Pty Ltd as a heritage display and is set to be officially opened in the New Year.  The new Marara Street has been opened complete with traffic calming, landscaping and 38 new car parking spaces.   The camphor laurels have been removed and revegetation of the creek is due to commence shortly.   The site for new Library has been excavated and construction is set to begin in the New Year with a November finalisation date. 

The Lower Mill Board and Sunshine Coast Regional Council have approved a beautiful landscape design by Shaun Walsh which includes a frog gully, open areas, planting of special native trees and a courtyard of pavers from the former Noosa Council engraved with resident’s names.  The Mill Board, Council, Noosa District State High School and QUT will also be developing an onsite heritage trail so the history of the site can come alive for all who visit. 

Councillor Lew Brennan and Lower Mill Site Board Chairperson, Seb Vecchio recently did a tour of the site to review the progress.  “The quality from a design perspective and the finished product is so impressive.  Full credit needs to go to both the Design and Works Teams at Council as they have a done a magnificent job which has gone above and beyond expectations,” enthused Cr Lew Brennan.

“The site is really starting to come alive and it is a testament to what can be achieved when Council, Government and the community work together.  The Mill Site is going to be a real asset for Cooroy and it has been great to be part of a team that is so connected to the community,” said Seb Vecchio.