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: Third stage of housing estate recommended for refusal
This highlights why there is a critical housing shortage on the Coast.
Existing homeowners objecting to these developments have a conflict of interest and their opinions should be ignored. Their aim is to restrict development and worsen the housing supply situation so they can force up the price of their properties.
They complain about developments on the floodplain. Flooding occurs infrequently over a large portion of the Maroochy River floodplain, for example, once in 10 years to a minimal depth, and this flooding issue can be easily addressed with good design, e.g. Twin Waters.
The other issue here is that councils have too much discretionary power to reject developments that make good sense. These powers need to be curtailed if we are ever to fix the housing issue.
The young people wanting a home should be telling the state government and councils to stop knocking back good developments proposals.
William Myers, BuderimÂ
Having for some years considered the impact of the third stage of the Parklakes development on the residents in the lower areas of the Riverview Estate at Bli Bli, I heartily encourage the Sunshine Coast Council to reject the application.
The huge build-up of land needed to flood-proof the estate adjoining Hudson Place, Bli Bli, on top of the soil build-up there would be the buildings, plus fencing, would be a severe hindrance to the airflow in summer for those residents.
And then there is, for some, a total loss of their view across the valley, which currently extends to the hills that lead from Eumundi to Noosa. A drop in home value to the affected homeowners surely must be considered, let alone their ability to enjoy the properties as they are now.
Finally, the road infrastructure through Bli Bli would not be significantly upgraded as a result of this proposal. With thousands more vehicles garaged in Bli Bli’s northern fringe, the current morning and evening gridlock would become horrendous.
Ronald Curnow
It is obvious that those on the Sunshine Coast Council are not in need of new housing.
Housing on the Sunshine Coast needs to be fast-tracked and these developments need to happen. There are many people trying to find suitable housing, not in the million-dollar range either. There are a number of us who want to move away from the rapidly filling areas of the Sunshine Coast, where traffic is a nightmare and noise levels are extremely high. However, too many new developments are being knocked back for whatever reason. Some really beautiful areas around the Coast have had native tree areas demolished. Why is the council so against the Bli Bli project?
There are too many proposals being knocked back here. Councillors need to think like the person on medium to low incomes. They desperately need to be able to purchase housing in their wage brackets, not in the millions. So please do give due consideration to all proposals.
Diane Garvey, Pelican Waters
I am gravely concerned as the developer has no idea the impact this will have on land that is closer to the river and beach.
These flood lands slow down the rate of the water and allow the water to penetrate into the land. These flood runoffs will be extremely dangerous and damaging to the rest of the community. Money and greed are the motivation for the development. We, in the past, have had over 820mm of rain in three days and the most of the Coast was flooded. This development will only impact the flooding more.
The house owners will not be able to get insurance, so who will fit the bill – the developer? Use common sense and look at the big picture otherwise we will lose everything that we love about the Coast: it’s very valuable but volatile.
We must take caution, and planning should be of upmost importance.
Deborah Kozuszek, Mudjimba
When the proposal for the change to the town planning originally came out there was a record number of residents that voted for it not to be changed.
I personally thought that was the end to it. So it was a surprise not only to myself but many others when this development was submitted and appeared to be going ahead.
Some of the concerns regarding the change to town planning were about flooding with many photos sent in of the flooding of the cane fields. Some of the questions were: where is this water going to go and will it cause flooding further down or up the river or to surrounding homes?
Infrastructure, the roads and bridge are barely coping now. There was no real solution set out for this.
Yes, we do need another shopping centre to take the pressure off the traffic especially near the bridge and between the roundabouts.
When traffic has to be diverted due to an accident or for the triathlon it’s near impossible to get anywhere.
Name and address withheld
- Read the story: Digital meter prevents toilet-flushing fiasco
I am all for using technology to solve a problem, such as having the ability to detect water leaks where the water usage at a property seems excessively high compared to previous periods. However, I suspect that it is also a cost-saving exercise by Unitywater, in that they will no longer require staff to walk the streets reading the water meters.
Ross Fleming
- Read the story: Resort concedes responsibility for ageing infrastructure
The Novotel boardwalk is an important community asset.
Local residents and tourists have access to this important piece of infrastructure that sits within the Maroochy River Conservation Park. It provides a pathway to view the local ecological environment as well as access to the river, all of which are key priorities of the Maroochy River Conservation Park Management Plan.
There is a group of residents willing to help in repairing and maintaining it, but we need support from those responsible for its upkeep. Councillor Bunnag, there is an opportunity here. The end of the boardwalk is the perfect location for a platform to view the shorebirds. something the council has determined as a priority in its recently published draft Shorebird Conservation Plan 2025-2030.
Maintenance and upgrading the Novotel boardwalk is a win-win for the community and environment. We encourage the Novotel/Shakespeare Property Group and the council to work with local residents in providing support to maintain and upgrade the boardwalk.
Jarrod Martin, Twin WatersÂ
- Read the story:Â Drone technology used to track e-scooter and e-bike offenders
The chronically ineffectual LNP Member for Ninderry witnesses some incautious after school e-bike behaviour at the Coolum pre-poll, gets re-elected, gets appointed Police Minister and there is immediately a targeted Coolum crackdown. Be careful what you wish for.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story:Â Blue tide: Coast voters show their colours
The new Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed that the three-strike drug rule which diverts minor illicit drug offences away from the courts laws would be repealed.
Despite expert opinion and evidence that the approach works, and reduces pressure and costs on our legal system and community and delivers better personal outcomes. It’s a case where LNP policy and belief ignores inconvenient reality and puts politics before people. And shows its claims it will reduce red tape and save taxpayer dollars are a myth.
A new direction in government? It’s not, at least not in 2024.
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill
- Read the story: Increased height proposal describes plan scheme limit as ‘error’
With regard to a change in the building height of an application to council that states: “The report does not provide a reason for wanting to add another storey but does explain that increasing the ceiling height of the units would ‘increase the amenity of the apartments’.”
Surely nobody needs a report to explain the reason the developer wants to add more units.
Clearly another example of a developer displaying a blatent disregard for the town plan, wishes of local residents and ratepayers, and doing whatever the heck they like in order to line their pockets even further! It’s disgusting! The community feel of the Sunshine Coast is lost forever. So sad.
Name and address withheld
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.
