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 for accountability, credibility and transparency.
- Read the story: Holiday park regulars ‘lose’ annual bookings
I was thrilled to read this story and to see new management and new conditions. It has been impossible to get a site in the park during any school holiday period for a long time.
I know a family that have had three sites during September school holidays for quite a few years and they get first preference every year. They will even pay for sites and not use them just to make sure they don’t lose the sites.
Long-term vacationers get the sites closest to the water and when a group drop their long-term booking then the next regulars in line get the option to move closer to the water until they are right on prime site. I hope this is what is going to be stopped.
Lynette Day, Elimbah
- Read the story: Developer appeals after plans for 182 campsites scaled back
Can someone explain to me why we even bother to have a local council?
It seems that every time council makes a decision not to approve a development, the developer then goes to the Planning and Environment Court and that court inevitably approves it. Am I right in assuming the court is based in Brisbane, run by people who don’t live in the area? And are they even familiar with the area? Do they ever try and drive these roads during peak time?
Perhaps they could just mind their own business. The developers (who hardly ever live in the area they’re prepared to stuff up) can leave us alone. I’m sick of it. How much does it cost Sunshine Coast Council in legal fees defending their decisions in court?
I’m sure that money could be better used.
D. Jacks, Forest Glen
This seems to be a confusing application and thus more than meets the eye is going on. Multi-faceted developments are complex and need more explaining.
The Living Gems owner needs to respond to this confusion to get proper public support.
Geoff Edwards, Noosa Heads
- Read the story: Complaints lodged about election campaign signs
The article about election campaign signs says a lot about those candidates, either hoping to be elected for the first time or re-elected again.
Haven’t they already breached the code of conduct that is expected of councillors in Queensland, before they even get past the first step? If they cannot uphold the system of local government and relevant laws applicable in regard to the seemingly simple act of placement of signs, how are they going to cope with the challenges that lie ahead? You have to wonder.
Denise Maclean, Buderim
I don’t really have an issue with legally placed signage, even when some candidates swamp us with them. I do however have an issue with illegally placed ones.
One mayoral candidate has a sign on the motorway between Pacific Paradise and Coolum. This sign is less than 3.5m from the edge of the road. My real concern is that whoever placed this sign there illegally stopped on the motorway to do it – not only illegal but potentially dangerous.
While I’m not suggesting they did this themselves, it’s not a good look for a mayoral candidate.
Des Deighton, Coolum Beach
Interesting article about the election signs, and the various requirements for placement.
I am curious if real estate open home signs have to adhere to the same regulations? If so almost all signs in my area are in breach.
Andrew Gooch, Brightwater
Sitting councillors and previous councillors are ignoring the election signage requirements that are in place for the safety of the public of which they should be familiar.
Signs are required to be 3.5m from the road where the speed limit is below 80kmh and not be on or within 20m of roundabouts.
Many signs do not meet these placement requirements.
Candidates obeying the rules are disadvantaged by this disregard for the rules.
Mark Gilbert, Candidate for Division 4
- Read the story: Courts set to decide on ongoing supermarket dispute
Eumundi is a walkable town. Shops, markets, school, pubs, restaurants (at least five), railway station and even the aquatic centre are all within walking distance of the centre.
The proposed supermarket beyond the southern end of town is not easily walkable, especially with loaded shopping bags.
The proposed Formosa village is in town, just metres from the centre. And it’s much more than a supermarket.
The decision is obvious if one is a resident.
Trevor Sculthorpe-Pike, Eumundi
- Read the story: Housing strategy delivers quick boost for Coast
At present, Queenslanders are facing many challenges with the devastation of recent cyclones and flooding, and with the cost of living and federal tax reforms on everyone’s minds. Therefore Premier Steven Miles’ announcement of his government’s long-term plan Homes for Queenslanders to tackle housing and homelessness is indeed good news.
Among the initiatives is a 20 per cent increase in funding to all homelessness services as mentioned in the Sunshine Coast News and welcomed by local homeless support organisations to enable them to carry out their vital work.
Also, in the Homes for Queenslanders plan is help for renters such as a ban on rent bidding and increased rental support; a rebate to support affordable housing; and doubling the First Home Owners Grant. There is increased funding to build and buy more social housing as the government tackles the problems of homelessness.
Housing and homelessness problems will not be solved overnight, there are many challenges ahead to deliver the plan, however if you don’t have a plan and targets, little will be achieved. It is great to see our Queensland Government’s initiatives to help those most in need.
Everyone has a right to live somewhere safe with a roof over their head.
Robyn Deane, Bli Bli
- Read the story: Busier than ever at emergency department
I am a healthcare worker. When you triage those patients and you realise they are minor problems, do not treat them. They will just return in the future and tell people that they were treated for free. Give them a list of GPs to go to instead.
You should be turning these minor problems away otherwise you will never stop this behaviour. Give them a list of bulk billing medical practices too.
Philippa Grayburn, Melbourne
- Read the story: Interchange project hits dead end after $423m cost blow-out
Does anyone else not see what this will become in the future? An absolute mess.
If you consider the planned road structure as it is designed, the lead-up roads will have traffic lined up double what it is today.
Traffic does not move well because of previous short-term vision and planning, regardless of what the political pitch was back then.
At this point, it is another farcical waste of time, money and patience for motorists.
State and federal governments need to be on board to ensure this planning will be worthy for safer traffic flow and eliminate the congestion issues.
Why not something that may encourage less road use: a hard rail system above the traffic? A monorail even? The budget may need to be far greater, but this would be more worthy of supporting population growth in years to come.
Australia is so far behind when it comes to traffic management – embarrassing really. Other international governments should be consulted. Online resources are there. Seek and you may stay within your budget.
Craig L. Moody, Mooloolaba
- Read the story: Three planned Olympic venues on Coast face scrutiny
Alexandra Headland is being considered as the location for four Olympic sports.
If these proposals go ahead, serious consideration will be needed regarding somewhere to park within walking distance. Mooloolaba and Maroochydore already have high-rise car parks, but nothing is mentioned about the dismal lack of parking near Alex. To make matters worse during the Olympics, two of the sports are the marathon and road walking events, which means most of the roads within cooee of Alex will be closed to traffic so these road races can be held.
Many locals will choose to take a bus from the high-rise car parks to the sports venues, but strangers from out of town may prefer to drive, so a high-rise car park in the vacant land behind the shops opposite the surf club would be ideal.
Hopefully, someone on the new council to be elected in March will take action to fix this perennial parking problem long before the Olympic Games arrives. The need is immediate, not in eight years’ time. Anyone who has tried to park near the surf club at lunchtime during the holidays will applaud the construction of a high-rise car park.
Alan Ward, Buderim
- Read the story: ‘Congestion buster’: $70m connection to highway opens
There is most definitely already a divide between the coast and the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.
The Bells Creek Arterial Road and Roys Road from Caloundra to Beerwah are very good examples. Both are recent upgrades. The eastern coast side is new and a very good road, the western side to Beerwah is also relatively new and not that pleasant to drive on.
Then, I get so jealous when yet another pedestrian path project is announce for the coastal part of the Coast, yet there is no pedestrian access on the bridge over Steve Irwin Way over Coochin Creek at Beerwah, plus a footpath by the side of Steve Irwin Way that is partly paved and the unpaved portion overgrown and extremely hard for pedestrians to navigate (I have complained for over a decade now).
Also, a couple of ideas for the hinterland: paths and cycleways (divided, not a shared path) that are easy to walk and connected to all the Glass House Mountains and well signposted (I could get my pedestrian bridge); and a dedicated road cycling training facility imitating roads, which could include rides up and down the areas around Maleny and Mapleton. Safer for riders, less annoyance for impatient drivers and it could be a world-class facility attracting riders all over the world to train here. This may also bring accommodation and foodie investments around the facility.
So which of the (far too many) candidates for mayor will deliver a pedestrian bridge over Coochin Creek?
G. Hill, Glass House Mountains
- Protect our cultural heritage
What would happen if Juukan Gorge was in your backyard?
Juukan Gorge was blasted in May 2020 by Rio Tinto, on the land of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people. They had continuous occupation of country in a remote area of the Pilbara and, sadly, were well aware after the destruction.
Here on the Sunshine Coast the Gubbi Gubbi were taken off country and forced to ‘assimilate’. Their stories for thousands of generations were deliberately interrupted.
What happens if sacred caves on the Sunshine Coast are destroyed? Would any one be able to stop that from happening? That is why local government has a special role to employ people with First Nations knowledge to review all development applications in greenfield sites.
Urban development has a huge impact on the cultural heritage of the Sunshine Coast. Most people do not recognise the ancient sites and artefacts that are here. They blindly walk past the precolonial history every day.
The Sunshine Coast Council area is facing unprecedented development. I am standing with the Greens to ensure that we do not lose the past history. I’m working to take the past into the future as a celebrated part of this unique and beautiful country.
The Greens have the foundations of democratic process, environmental protection and community engagement.
I call on all council candidates to commit to strengthen the protection of, and celebration of, cultural heritage so that every sacred place is safe and sacred for us all into the future.
For all of our grandchildren.
Deborah Moseley, Division 7 Candidate
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 for accountability, credibility and transparency.
