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: Owner appeals council order to decommission tiny homes
I’m thinking, and I’m not alone in this, that the Sunshine Coast Council has lost the plot.
Building blocks are getting smaller, high-rise residential units crammed into a town centre that no one can visit because of lack of parking, and developers being pandered to (and who seem to have no problems having regulations amended re height restrictions).
Yet this same council is demanding that two small homes must be decommissioned because it’s against the rules. Two homes, I might add, that are set in acreage, not bothering anyone else and are providing accommodation where it is most needed.
It is all wrong. You should be encouraging more tiny homes. Start looking after the locals before developers, tourists and the Olympic Games.
Helen Turner, Buderim
It seems the council would prefer homeless people to live out on the street, rather than on a large, private, supportive and well-serviced property.
Red tape knows no bounds, nor any logic, or compassion.
Paul Prociv, Mount Mellum
I am too angry to say what I think of this council right now, so will simply ask the question: what harm were these people doing, on this very large property, that was worse than council driving people, including a single-parent family, into homelessness?
J. Gregory, Mountain Creek
- Read the story: Rows of campervans by waterfront draw ire rom locals
The subject of mobile cruisers and vans driving through Hastings Street to the Woods and Spit is increasing.
They should not be allowed to enter Hastings Street in the first place. Instead, park their vans and mobile homes outside the parking area. As an example, the Noosa Junction parking station or the AFL grounds, and catch the free bus and return.
I am a local early swimmer and with the amount of people from other countries in vans cooking and staying overnight, where are these people going to the toilet? The area is supposed to be a pristine marine park but I have seen some awful sights there early in the morning.
It needs to be addressed. Everybody has to pay mortgages, rent or hotel accommodation but these people want to not pay anything and leave a dreadful eco footprint.
Michelle Nicolson, Noosa
I take the dog at least a couple of times a week and the area started to get overrun with rubbish everywhere.
There is a brazen disregard for a beautiful area. There are bad campers who spoil it for the good campers. Campers need to realise it’s a car park and not a campground to set up their vans and cars etc.
AJ, Tewantin
I live locally and agree council should step up a bit and have more local laws officers patrolling, not only the Spit.
There are other areas in the Noosa Shire where illegal camping occurs, such as the vacant area outside the rugby ground, Bicentennial Drive, Tingira Crescent car park, Sunrise Beach, Castaways Beach car park on David Low Way, Noosa National Park and so on.
A lot of these campers are interstate and overseas travellers who have no regard for authority. And to the people who think we are elitist because we live in the Noosa Shire, you’re wrong: you can live here too. We should all be able to come and enjoy not only Noosa but the whole of the Coast and surrounding areas and have a bit of respect for our local laws.
Mick Langley, Sunrise Beach
I am fed up with complaints by locals of too many campers taking up beachside car parks.
We all struggle for car parks close to beaches so we can enjoy the water and buy refreshments close by. I believe fault is with council for not keeping up with, and providing for, the campers’ vehicles as well as locals’ vehicles. We can’t all afford to live here but why should we be penalised for coming here?
I live in a town that has no yoga, no meditation groups etc and I come to enjoy the whole experience here but I feel bullied.
Janelle McPaul, Tannum Sands
For God’s sake, get a life. I get the feeling that those complaining have forgotten what it’s like to feel young and have some fun. It’s not the campers’ fault that there are no facilities locally to accommodate them.
Who do you think it is that waits on your table, does food prep for local cafes, turns down your bed sheets? I mean we can create a dog beach that could comfortably accommodate 1000 people, but only provides parking for 100? Seems like we have the budget but not the willpower to accommodate campers/backpackers.
At least someone’s having some fun.
Patrick, Noosa
I am a local resident, having always dreamed of living here.
I worked hard all of my life and finally I can afford to retire here. I am sad that I cannot use the local facilities that Noosa has to offer, every day and night. The Spit and other car park spaces are full of campers. They have this free of charge, while the residents pay tax.
I have nothing against the tourists and locals enjoying the area but when they wash their dirty dishes in the showers and toilets, when the smoke everywhere, when they stay there day and night playing loud music and using the footpaths for their cooking and when they defecate in the bushes, that is when I get upset. I have a surf ski that I would love to paddle there but I have given up as there is never a parking spot.
The council could have restricted hours of parking, say two to four hours or even parking meters: that way they could afford a person to monitor the area. The fines alone would pay for keeping the area clean and accessible to all.
Why can’t we all share this beautiful spot we call home? Why can’t the visitors respect the area and the locals? As usual, free things attract people that abuse them.
Amorica Rojas, Noosaville
I note with interest the disdain of Noosa ‘residents’ towards mobile campers in the area.
Perhaps Noosa Council should reconsider its long-ago decision to remove the camping grounds and caravan park, and reinstate it and allow all to enjoy the area.
Doug, Buderim
Put yourself in a homeless situation and see how you could cope. If you’re still not happy immigrate to Gaza.
Barbara O’Brien, Currimundi
I am in Busselton shire in Western Australia. We have lots of beach campers, mainly in our surfing zones: in summer in the south-west along Margaret River and in winter they head north between Red Bluff and Exmouth. These are our main surfing destinations, which attract overseas backpackers and interstate people. Backpackers do work but lots of young interstaters don’t: part of Albo’s surf team on surf-keeper dole.
Governments have plenty of land to create overflow camping and there’s thousands of self-contained dongas sitting that could be utilised for housing. The surfing coastline is where people gather and where most expensive houses are, especially wealthy city people.
Andy Jones, Yallingup, Western Australia
What about the selfish owners who park their 2.3m campervans in parking spaces (effectively taking up two spaces) for weeks on end, denying regular casual parking for those of us with cars and utes?
Most responsible motorhome owners pay for long-term parking in storage facilities available around the Coast at a reasonable cost.
Anthony Robinson, Alexandra Headland
- Read the story: Region’s first five-star resort in decades approved
As a resident of Serenity Close, along with many others, there was a lot of support for the development approval. However, what the council has not addressed is the traffic increase as during holiday time and weekend one can wait 20 minutes to get through the Noosa Junction roundabout to get out of Grant Street, and up to one hour to get back through the roundabout to access Grant Street.
There was an easy solution to this issue, which was clearly pointed out to the council, and that was to reopen Banksia Avenue to local traffic.
The other issue residents raised with the council is that Grant Street has no footpath from Noosa Junction to the roundabout at the end of Grant Street. This is the only flat access to the area and as it stands today there is no wheelchair, pedestrian or pram access to the area without going on to a busy and narrow road.
While the development will be a welcome one to the Noosa area for all the reasons in your article, the council has failed the primary concerns that the resident made with the them in ensuring there was infrastructure to support the development and all the residents of the area.
Stephen Hardy, Noosa Heads
- Read the story: Property prices on Coast among highest in nation
This is not surprising at all and is not something that happened overnight.
It is the direct result of the locals that voted and campaigned against higher density and any new development. It is a famous paradox, whereby people understand supply and demand intuitively but seem to forget that when it comes to building new, more dense housing does not do the same thing.
They write in complaining every week responding to some new development approval or consultation and lead to many being rejected. Don’t let locals and your children be priced out of this place – vote and advocate for more housing in whatever form.
Lachlan Begley, Currimundi
- Read the story: Major parties on collision course over rail project
The LNP rolls into town making big promises. And we’re expected to be impressed? Particularly as they don’t have the money to pay for them, with a plan that doesn’t explain the what, how and when of what they intend, apart from getting them elected.
We need better assurances from MPs who have delivered little here ever. Just excuses. When most locals are battling with cost-of-living issues, they offer nothing.
Our federal LNP MPs who have opposed all the assistance the federal government has provided, have discovered the Sunshine Coast has missed out, while demanding our votes.
We need better.
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill
As a long-time resident of the Coast, improved rail access has been an issue that Sunshine Coast residents have been vocal and disappointed about for many years.
Considering the history, it’s clear that such big projects move very slowly. For example, the North Coast railway line reached the Sunshine Coast in 1890 and, in 1988, the section of the line was electrified. In 2001, the Queensland Government started a study into opening a new 14km double-track alignment from Caboolture to Beerburrum that opened in 2009.
Today, the Nambour-Brisbane rail corridor is still single track, resulting in delays and continued frustration over the years.
While it seems that the Nambour end will continue to have to wait, I agree with the call to fast-track (no pun intended) the proposed branch extension – a 37.8km dual track – from Beerwah via Caloundra to Maroochydore. It will be the longest spur line delivered in South-East Queensland, and as difficult financially as it will be, it really is a necessity, especially in light of our exploding population, its impact on the Bruce Highway and the Olympics in 2032.
Jan Jarman, Buderim
- Read the story: Concerns raised over ‘unsafe’ bus stop on ‘mini highway’
McKinnon Drive needs to be 80kmh max all the way to Louis Bazzo Drive.
The people on McKinnon Drive are risking death or serious injury every day. Why are all the other roads around Noosa 80kmh yet McKinnon is 100kmh. Do something about the speed limits first.
Craig, Cooroibah
- Read the story: $220m development proposal for city centre
It is reassuring that the developer expects their project to come under the scrutiny of a Labor minister, but disappointing that they can’t resist trying to tweak the already benign building codes.
Why does it have to be boring stacks of rectangular modules? Its prestige site rates better than a neutral colour palette and a garnish of greenery. If the developer or anyone considering the application would like a refresher on how beautiful (or not) a modern apartment or office building can be, I recommend a 50c cruise on a Brisbane CityCat.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story: Supermarkets tight-lipped on Tim Tam price discrepancy
Seems to me, as a lifelong shopper born in the retail world of America, and now living in Australia as a full-time citizen for 12 years, these two giants have completely lost perspective on who and what runs their companies that they so self-centeredly work at. Yes, that is, believe it or not, the people.
Ever since the lockdown phase of the pandemic ended (we can all remember images of the war the employees thrust upon the public during that awful time) and after, because, well, doesn’t everyone realise grocery store people simply developed the attitude during and after, that the public owed them a living. Unfortunately, that general attitude has never changed. I doubt seriously that either of the big two ever have regular staff meetings to deal with morale, nor have I ever seen any evidence of retraining, which one would logically conclude would be desperately needed after such a major calamity, yes, a worldwide pandemic.
Furthermore, what has been done since to help the employees adjust or to readjust to a more customer-friendly attitude? Service is a thing of the past let alone a customer-friendly smile. But not to worry. When Amazon gets here it will all be automated and the new customer slogan will be ‘no worries’.
Paul K Zamp, Surfers Paradise
- Read the story: Teen charged after allegedly performing e-bike stunts
Parents, school principals, enough. What does it take? Who does it take? The constant law-breaking by e-bikes has reached a breaking point. It’s time to start lawfully confiscating them. No helmet, no ride; travel on the wrong side of road, no ride; wrong way around roundabout, no ride.
As for the petty persons who hurl abuse at Coolum lovers at the library, shame on you. If your parents and family knew what a slur you put on this fabulous community you would walk for years, no ride.
Grow up and show respect please. The dumb few who continue to risk their lives bring shame to one of the most excellent places on the Coast.
Mark J, Coolum Beach
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.
