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: Holidaymakers slugged 35 per cent more at caravan park
The management of Cotton Tree Caravan Park has the rights to all six of the Sunshine Coast Council-owned parks: all are on beachfront sites.
I am not aware of any private park operators with such prime sites and monopoly conditions. Private parks also have resort-style amenities, far superior to any of the council-owned parks. This is not what long-term patrons of Cotton Tree want. They want a traditional, no frills, caravan/camping experience at a reasonable price. But for $714 a week for a very small tent site with no electricity, no water tap and a 150m walk to the nearest toilet, it is no longer affordable or enjoyable.
A 35 per cent increase in fees is scandalous: more scandalous given that the basic maintenance of the park has deteriorated significantly since this new management took control. Proof of this is all the clogged drains last Christmas, when numerous campers were inundated with water in one downpour. And, to add insult to injury, an essential and structurally sound toilet/shower block was demolished in 2024, which significantly reduced the cleaning costs.
How disingenuous of them to say the new fees reflect other caravan parks in the area. They manage every waterfront park on the Coast.
Council needs to take responsibility for allowing this disgraceful money grab by greedy contractors to occur.
Jenny Ellem, Brisbane
I do not agree that council parks can let the same people book a permanent spot for 38 years.
How do the other tourists and locals have the opportunity to stay when people are allowed to rebook every Christmas? I think the rules need to change to allow fair and equitable access to everyone. I have lived on the Coast for 40-plus years and don’t know anyone who has been able to book over the Christmas holidays because of all these people who believe it’s their right.
Name withheld, Mooloolaba
- Read the story: ‘Thousands’ of fish wash on to region’s beaches
This has also just happened on the south coast of NSW, around Broulee.
Thousands of juvenile leatherjackets have washed up on many beaches here: a long way from the cyclone-affected areas.
Susan, Broulee, NSW
- Read the story: Brain bleeds, skull fractures: stats reveal e-transport dangers
In the last couple of weeks while I’ve been on my morning walk from Kings Beach to Golden Beach along the Coastal Pathway, I’ve encountered a young boy who appears to be no more than 10 years old riding an e-scooter at speeds in excess of 20km/h along the pathway.
On one occasion, he left the pathway on Maloja Avenue and went on to the wrong side of the road in Tay Avenue, between an oncoming motorbike and a pushbike.
I’m sure this child didn’t buy the scooter out of his pocket money. What are his parents thinking?
Clive Bell, Kings Beach
I believe rules and guidelines need to be created and somehow policed around scooters and e-bikes on pavements.
Pedestrians no longer have right of way on the pavement, so where can people be on what used to be space for just that? On pavements now are bikes, scooters and e-transport devices at speeds more fitting for a road and often with no warning of approach.
This transport exists, it’s not going away, and yet somehow safety on footpaths, originally for people, to be away from traffic is no longer there.
When did public safety stop being a possibility or even a priority?
Amanda, Maroochydore
Inherently dangerous activities cost a community grief, financial costs and losses.
The individuals involved in creating the problems pay a huge price: physical and psychological health, financial ruin and harm to family, neighbours and friends. The other usually innocent victims who are often run over are caught up in crashes and are also burdened with costs: loss of life, physical harm, lowered quality of life for their future and more. These costs accrue and the community suffers. How much is the community able to afford for how long before someone recognises that curbs on such activities might be justified?
Research in Western Australia indicates financial costs are steep. Preliminary financial data has indicated the costs associated with e-scooter presentations to the healthcare system in Australia, with ED presentations costing between $500 and $800 on average, while the average cost for inpatient admissions have been calculated to be over $12,000.
Sorting out who is liable and pays is complex, difficult and a field day for legal battles.
Authorities have a challenge and opportunities. The question is how many for how long? That is, how many must die, or suffer a brain or other injury, and cost their community enormous amounts of money?
Bob Gregory, Buderim
- Read the story: Flooded footbridge adds weight to call for new crossing
Bouquets to YADCA for persisting through several terms of government with their campaign for a fit-for-purpose pedestrian bridge between the Yandina caravan park and the supermarket, but brickbats to LNP retread Marty Hunt.
He was the local member from 2017 to 2020 and failed to take up the cause then.
If he does take it up now and actually gets a result, that’s when his signature churlish deflection into criticism of his predecessors might have some traction.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story: Motorway duplication could benefit 30,000 vehicles a day
The duplication of the section of Coolum-Yandina Road is long overdue but the only solution is a flyover for through traffic, similar to the David Low Way interchange.
Each interim fix is costing much more and prolonging the safety of users.
How long will it take to do a proper job?
Richard Mellor, Palmwoods
- Read the story: RBA cuts interest rates for first time since 2022
Yes, it was a welcome reduction for the long-suffering mortgage holders after 11 rises under the current Labor government.
What Robyn Deane fails to mention is that the 0.25 per cent was immediately eaten up by private health cover rising by 3.73 per cent and Queensland power costs rising between 3 per cent and 5 per cent due to Labor policies.
The true (home hit) inflation rate is felt by consumers. With cost of living increasing between 6 per cent and 11 per cent for food and the ever-increasing insurance premiums, we have been in a per capita recession for seven continual quarters.
As for the trillion-dollar debt that the Coalition left, during Covid Labor wanted to dramatically extend jobkeeper and to purchase Virgin Airlines.
The reason employment figures are as they are is due to the public sector increasing by 36,000 and no mention of the private sector.
With Labor we have weakness in Defence and security, weakness in releasing hundreds of criminals into our society, weakness in social cohesion.
Phil Broad, Nambour
- Read the story: Your say: Americanisation of politics
With the second Trump presidency, democracy in the United States and around the world is on notice.
Indeed, as Garry Reynolds points out, those now in power in the US “are trying all the possibilities they can get away with by brutal underhand deal-making, even with the democracies’ traditional enemies, while they penalise traditional allies”.
I am reminded of this quote from former President Harry S. Truman: “Show me a man that gets rich by being a politician, and I’ll show you a crook. An honest public servant can’t become rich in politics. He can only attain greatness and satisfaction by service.”
Politicians are elected to represent us and to govern for the good of the whole nation. Be very wary of our politicians who think highly of Trump and would emulate him, such as Peter Dutton, who praises him as shrewd, a big thinker and a deal maker.
Our politicians must not give into bullying and do the right thing for all Australians, not just the few.
Robyn Deane, Nambour
- Read the story: Independent candidate announced for federal election
Observing billboards posted for the incumbent federal member for Fairfax, declaring proudly that he ‘delivers’ for the Sunshine Coast, I’m intrigued to know: within his time in elected office, exactly what he has actually ‘delivered’ to the people of Fairfax.
A close look at his website doesn’t real any major infrastructure achievements within the electorate, though funding provided to numerous business and community groups is suggested without any detail that allows an interested constituent to verify any claims.
I’m also intrigued by his co-opting of the term ‘Fairfax Matters’ – perhaps ironically the name of the community group supporting a new independent candidate for Fairfax. A clever move from his marketers, or an own goal that could well elevate the profile of someone who could be his biggest rival for the seat?
Iain Dunbar, Marcoola
- Joint commitment needed for better economy
At least we know where we stand on tariffs with our American fair-weather friends while avoiding increasing our cost of living by imposing retaliatory tariffs.
In an increasingly ambiguous world, we need to replace many imports with our own Australian complex manufactures to lift our competitiveness.
Rather than whingeing and finger-pointing we must get on with the job of creating highly skilled jobs.
Harvard University’s Economic Complexity Index reveals Australia’s appalling 1995 ranking declined from 55rd to an abysmal 102nd by 2022, sandwiched between Senegal and Yemen.
We need bipartisan support to create more competitive Australian-made products rather than short-term political nitpicking.
During World War II, when many manufactured imports had to be replaced, Australia rose to the challenge because we were unified.
We need the same joint commitment from our leaders so we can buy excellent Australian products not just out of a sense of patriotism but because coordinated government, private and community support makes them superior to foreign offerings.
Garry Reynolds, Peregian Springs
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.
