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. Preference will be give to letters of 100 words or less.
- Read the story: Proposal for 160-room hotel tower lodged
A 12-storey hotel in the middle of Bulcock Street probably sounds like a good idea to council and businesses along the street, but as a neighbor of this behemoth I fear it will be an eyesore, a traffic nightmare and a bruise upon the charm and character of one of the last Aussie villages on our coast. I hope people feel as I do and try to avert this tragedy.
Jeff Tuttle, Caloundra
Thank goodness. Just love it. We need it moving forward.
Julie Whiting, Caloundra
- Read the story: Airline launches year-round flights between Coast and NZ
Year-round flights will be welcomed, but just to Auckland? Why are Christchurch and/or Queenstown not included?
The tourist attractions of the South Island are magnificent – think ski fields, Milford Track and scenic trains across the alps loop just to name a few. Add an airfare from Auckland and the cost of that holiday or family visit not only becomes very expensive but can take another day.
Some years ago, I suggested a triangulated run could still be feasible.
Personally, I’m disappointed being limited by destinations and I guess I’m not alone.
Helen Turner, Buderim
Great news. This will greatly benefit the local tourism industry and encourage more New Zealanders to visit and experience our beautiful region.
The Sunshine Coast Airport, however, needs to step up and modify its international check-in facility and eliminate the double screening procedure, provide more lounge space for the waiting passengers and a more seamless boarding process separate from the domestic airside boarding shambles.
A duty-free shop would be an added attraction, as would an air bridge facility for those wet-day arrivals.
Anthony Robinson, Alexandra Headland
- Read the story: Mayor pursues state help after airline’s collapse
My partner and I moved to the Sunshine Coast from Townsville a few years ago.
The launch of Bonza was such a blessing. It gave us, and others, a means to be able to fly on regional routes at affordable prices. Unfortunately, bigger airlines have had the monopoly for years and can charge excessive prices to travel regional. Some flights would cost more than an international flight. Bonza gave Queenslanders the opportunity to travel to see family and friends at affordable prices.
We have been able to travel back to Townsville multiple times each, when normally this wouldn’t happen. You would have to factor in the costs of travelling to Brisbane and half the time you would have to go there the day before as flight times don’t align, which puts more strain on finances and time.
We need Bonza back. So does the economy.
Skye, Yaroomba
- Read the story: Jane Stephens: barbaric nets no longer relevant
Dr Jane Stephens expressed her opinion that “there is no evidence that swimmers are less safe on beaches that do not have nets” and that they “are no longer relevant” and advocated their removal from Queensland waters.
I contend that her opinion is wrong.
Queensland was proclaimed a state in 1859, with a population of 23,520. By 1965, there were 1.5 million people living here. During that time, there were 83 fatal shark attacks. That’s one death every 15 months or, at a very rough average of the population over those years, one fatality for every 9000 people.
Queensland’s shark management plan, with nets and drumlines, commenced in 1962. Since its completion, there have only been two fatalities on netted beaches. That represents one fatal attack every 29 years. Considering today’s population is over 5.5 million, it also roughly equates to less than one fatality for every million Queenslanders.
This may not be absolute proof that shark nets save human lives but I rather like the implied better odds.
W. Wells, Alexandra Headland
- Read the story: Cost concerns force cancellation of music festival
I’ve attended the Caloundra Music festival twice and loved it.
I think it made Caloundra a destination and more than just a tourist spot. It’s a shame and somewhat indicative of local government stifling culture and good clean fun. I hope future leaders rethink it.
Jeff Tuttle, Caloundra
- Read the story: Hundreds booked in police highway operation
Yes, I have recently been awarded a speeding fine for driving safely to conditions with a 60-year accident-free record.
The recent blitz on our highway may be an attempt to get people to their holiday destinations safely but those of us with a more suspicious mind might think that the police force, as a government instrument that our taxes are supposed to pay for, was not paying for itself and needed to make profit, like the Royal Australian Mint with all the rubbish that is being produced to gouge collectors’ pockets.
The best driving advisory notice that I have seen was in the Northern Territory, which said ‘drive to conditions’. Speed does not kill. It is idiots that do not drive to conditions that cause accidents. What is necessary for safe driving is to be aware of the road condition and surrounding traffic and drive to suit, not take your attention away from the surrounding traffic and look at signs alongside the road and over the driving lanes and watching for police cars on and off the road.
I think that the biggest problems are slow drivers causing irritability in others, lane changing without adequate indicator notice (often the result of slow drivers) and not driving at a safe distance because some idiot will pull into the safe gap without adequate notice. On highways, drivers proceeding at 5-7km/h below the speed limit should be fined at the same level as those speeding above the limit.
Philip Benjamin, Dicky Beach
- Read the story: Dutton announces seven sites for nuclear plants
Totally agree with John Malloy who wrote in his letter: “There are so many reasons for Australia not to go down the nuclear path it beggars belief that politicians are putting this proposal forward.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton obviously doesn’t understand the details of his proposal since he has made two errors discussing it. Firstly, he suggested that small module reactors only produce a Coke-can-size amount of waste, which was soundly discredited by Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe, of Griffith University’s School of Environment and Science who has been reported elsewhere as saying an SMR would generate many tonnes of waste per year, and it was likely that waste would be more radioactive than the waste from a large-scale reactor. Not that there are any SMRs available at present.
Secondly, in parliament he said nuclear plants burn uranium, however they do not burn anything. They split uranium atoms in a process called fission. If Mr Dutton doesn’t know the details of his nuclear pipedream, how are we supposed to have a debate about the merits of his proposal? Hopefully, the Dutton Coalition will abandon their proposal and perhaps even come up with some realistic energy policies which will help address climate change now, not in 15 or 20 years.
John Malloy is on the money with “if you don’t know, say no”. Mr Dutton should take his own advice.
Robyn Deane, Bli Bli
If we debate nuclear fission energy, we’re falling into Peter Dutton’s trap.
Nuclear fission energy is an expensive fantasy, easily dismissed. Peter Dutton and Ted O’Brien have failed in their rhetoric to distinguish between the two nuclear technologies. They have allowed the conflation of the two technologies – the perceived benefits of nuclear fusion, the future, with nuclear fission, the past.
Nuclear fission is a 20th Century technology, a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy and highly radioactive fission products. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. This is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of energy – several times greater than fission. It also doesn’t produce highly radioactive fission products.
Wind, solar and pumped hydro energy storage can provide all the electrical energy we need, on demand, cheaply, quickly, with minimal carbon emissions. It will provide the necessary bridge between coal-fired power stations, many of which are on life support already, and the eventual development of nuclear fusion as a replacement energy technology for solar and wind. As Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe pointed out: “There is no rational case for nuclear energy in Australia.”
There is a complete lack of understanding in the community about the legislative, political, economic, social and health risks that highlight the nature of nuclear fission energy. However, people in the community cannot be blamed for that, as they have been invited to choose between two solutions, both heavily politicised, without the benefit of knowledge, history, nor what lies in the future.
Ken Dyer, Landsborough
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. Preference will be give to letters of 100 words or less.
