Ronan Lee to receive petitions and launch Steve Haines as Noosa candidate

Greens MP, Ronan Lee, is visiting the Sunshine Coast today to receive copies of a petition supporting renewable energy signed by many Sunshine Coast residents.

He will also be launching the candidacy of Steve Haines who will be the Greens candidate for Noosa.

The petition calls on the state government to introduce a gross feed-in tariff to maximize the return on renewable energy for those who install such systems.

Steve Haines is a 52 year old health manager who moved to Noosa with his wife Merryn and their three young children eight years ago Ronan Lee and Steve Haines will be discussing the outlines of the Greens campaign and the key issues they will raise in Noosa.

"The Noosa campaign will be one of the fascinating contests of the 2009 election campaign," Mr Lee predicted.

"Steve Haines is a great candidate and will receive a record vote for the Greens here, throwing the outcome into the melting pot."

Mr Haines will be campaigning on key issues for the Noosa electorate.  The first of these is the future of the controversial Traveston Dam which the Greens have opposed since it was first proposed.

The Greens will also be working to ensure the Noosa Hospital develops in line with the needs of the community and to overturn the decision to amalgamate the Sunshine coast councils.

"I am passionately committed to and will actively support the proposal for a greater Noosa Shire, as outlined by the Friends of Noosa and the Noosa Biosphere Association," Mr Haines said.

"The return of true local democracy will ensure that future development decisions are sustainable and consistent with our vision for Noosa."

Mr Haines will also be campaigning on the health of the Noosa River, full compensation for Stolen Wages and stopping the Powerlink proposal.