Road safety was a hot topic with Sunshine Coast News readers this week, after a high school student was struck by a car on a busy road.
Several readers have written in to express their ideas for how to make our roads safer, with suggestions including road upgrades, new laws around buses and reduced speed limits.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via: news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
The issue of building a jetty at Mooloolaba continues to pop up, with the practicalities of such a project being questioned.
There are also letters on turtle protection and the running of the Caloundra Music Festival, which has been been locked in for another three years.
Here are some of the latest letters:
Upgrades needed
Read the article here
It was sad to read the story about a young person being struck by a vehicle at Bli Bli.
Most long-term Coast residents know that our roads are in major need of upgrading. The population increase is now a major issue and the infrastructure is not coping.
The other problem is most people seem to be in a rush (not implying the person in this article was speeding), the morning and afternoon peak hours being the worst.
Steve Simpson, Landsborough (March 2)
Safety solution
I am wondering why there is not a rule that when school buses have stopped to set down passengers, all vehicles behind them must stop until the bus moves off.
In some of the states of America, it is the law. When school buses are stopped to disembark passengers, they have flashing red stop lights and all vehicles travelling behind them, must stop until the bus moves off.
Simple!
I hope this creates more discussion, and possibly governments will make this the law.
Marienne Urban, Maroochydore (March 2)
Frightened by roads
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is looking at ways to improve road safety in the area. Well, they need not look too far. Simply put in proper pedestrian crossings, controlled lights for pedestrians, lower the urban speed limits and force drivers to slow down.
The Sunshine Coast roads are very dangerous and frightening for those of us not driving.
Rick Wutzke, Caloundra (March 2)
Change the date
Read the article here
A long weekend in spring on the Sunshine Coast will deliver ‘Full house’ signs across all accommodation without any other activity required, such as the Caloundra Music Festival. There are plenty of attractions and plenty of wonderful nature parks, lakes, beaches and so on.
Yes, everyone loves a music festival and of course any budding young musician will love being involved because it could be their gateway to stardom. Of course everyone wants to see these sorts of events but council is note an event company and that is evident by the fact that it cannot make money, and never has made a profit.
It needs to stand alone on a normal weekend in off-peak or shoulder season.
Bob Carroll, director, Australian Events (March 1)
Mooring issues
Read the article here
Reading the comments from Andrew Wright of Maroochydore. I think he’s answered his own question. The cruise ships can’t anchor and transfer passengers by boat for a lot of the time due to the swell. What chance do you think that they will have being moored alongside a jetty in the same swell? No cruise ship owner is going to bring a vessel into the bay where it is likely to get damaged by being moored alongside in an even a moderate swell.
Just stick to busing the passengers up to the coast, it will be a more reliable option.
Mark Taxis, Kureelpa (February 25)
Call for car restrictions
Read the article here
We have tried to get Noosa Council to limit cars on Teewah Beach over nesting and hatching times, but have had no luck so far.
Teewah Beach is a very large coastline with best results for hatching turtles as there are no lights to interfere with them. Restrict cars driving over these times please.
Debbie McLean, Teewah (February 26)
Never too old
Read the article here
Jane Stephens rightly says that “age should not be a barrier if you’re willing and able”. I was born in January 1938, which means I was 66 when I received my MA(Hons) degree from the University of New England in Armidale, NSW, in March 2004.
Now aged 85, I’m still searching for the right research topic for my PhD.
Don Doherty, Mooloolaba (March 3)
Planning foresight
Read the article here
It was heartening to see the story in the Sunshine Coast News about Queensland Rail building a sorely needed 50-car carpark next to the railway station in Nambour.
However, with the the Sunshine Coast population growing so rapidly,
this proposal would be a great opportunity to show foresight and build a multi-storey carpark, of three or more levels, to encourage more rail commuting.
Alan Ward, Buderim (March 3)
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our FREE daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
