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: Eight-storey affordable housing proposal in fast-track process
I am a business owner and property investor. In December I purchased a property in Birtinya for my family. I was happy to pay the inflated price due to the nature of the area: no extreme high-rises, great scenery and aesthetics, great services, very low crime and low traffic.
I have recently been made aware that an application has been lodged through the state government’s Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process for 16 Bright Place, Birtinya, which is bypassing normal procedure of local council and community consultation, taking away some of the right of opinion and refusal.
I strongly believe this property location would be best suited for short-term accommodation for the family and friends of patients plus staff for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. This is a facility that has been in growing demand since the construction of the hospital and is in dire need now.
As a minimum, any structure built on this land should not be any higher than the five-storey adjoining buildings and should have an aesthetic street appeal as per the current buildings in this location. Additionally, due to current parking shortages, this property should provide for onsite parking and potentially some specialty shops on the ground level, matching adjacent buildings.
Name and address supplied
- Read the story: Four council staffers to attend Paris Games
I am not surprised this is has been planned. What I don’t understand is why can’t council ask Sydney parliament or whoever the Olympic committee was for assistance about organising, logistics and so on.
This is part of a national problem. Complete ignorance of spending part of the budget, and preferring to go overseas to learn. Technology is right here in our backyard, and I am sure our Sydney counterparts would only be too happy to assist and support our council.
Craig L. Moody, Mooloolaba
Another increase in council rates to help fund a wasted overseas trip for multiple council employees.
I could save you the time. Is Paris prepared for the Olympic Games in 2024? No. I have recently returned from my own self-funded trip to Paris and venues were still being constructed in June. The Parisians don’t believe that they are prepared either.
As for public transport, the Sunshine Coast has no train system, so we are not ready for the 2032 Olympic Games then are we? In Paris there are plenty of trains but they are always packed: so many Parisians use the train system. Don’t even compare the Paris arts and culture to the Sunshine Coast. Such an awe-inspiring history in Paris. Sustainability probably is better on the Sunshine Coast and there are way less smokers on the Sunshine Coast compared to Paris.
There, I have saved them the trip, so can we get back to real council work now? How about a train system on the Sunshine Coast? No time to waste, get constructing now.
Jo, Buderim
I am appalled at council staff travelling and staying in Paris for two weeks on ratepayer funds.
Who are these council staff? They should be paying for themselves. What is this Olympic Family Program farce?
Our Olympics are eight years away and in that time technology and many other things will be defunct or change dramatically. Look back to 2016 and just see what changes have taken place since then. Council will change, councillors will change.
I don’t see that this trip to Paris is relevant, or fair for ratepayers to fund it.
Sue Faux, Landsborough
- Read the story: Locals set to shine at Olympics
Congratulations to all from the Sunshine Coast who were selected for the Paris Olympics. Good luck to you all.
Carrol White, Palmwoods
- Read the story: Council calls for statewide limits on e-scooter speeds
While it’s nice to know that the council is pressing through a long-overdue speed limit for personal mobility devices on footpaths, I’m skeptical of how well enforced this policy will be.
At present, at least on Coolum Beach footpaths, users – usually younger – ride with impunity, with locals and tourists alike in danger of being hit. I have never seen any police presence trying to dissuade or curtail such dangerous behavior. Sadly, I guess it will take a serious accident to occur before any real action is taken.
Ed Trost, Coolum Beach
A photo of two people riding e-scooters appeared in SCN not wearing helmets, which is a fine of $161 – not a very clever way to promote sensible use of e-scooters.
It’s an environmentally good way to get about. The big problem is who is enforcing the relevant laws? Nobody. Every day we all see blatant disregard of e-scooter laws. Until someone gets seriously injured, nothing will happen.
John Sandow, Minyama
- Read the story: ‘Coming into its own’: hinterland area on the rise
The hinterland was doing well until our inept council decided it was a good idea to fly jets at low levels over it. This was one of the most atrocious acts of environmental vandalism inflicted upon a community in Australia.
The airport, which belongs to ratepayers, was then leased at a bargain price to private equity to gorge on. Ratepayers were fed rubbish about the economic boost that would follow. How much did Bonza cost the community? What are taxpayer subsidies to airlines costing a year?
The airlines and private equity are the only beneficiaries of this atrocity and the pay minimal or no tax. Go back to sleep sheep.
Gerard Joyce, Verrierdale
- Read the story: Four-storey $23 million social housing development opens
Council are not renowned as property developers and using ratepayers’ money to fund projects is probably best left to their consultants.
However, I believe a land audit should be conducted to have an informed discussion about what outcomes could be achieved for short-term and temporary housing for those in need.
Also, there are many people that would open their homes if it was safe to share with others and provide shelter until they get permanent housing.
Richard Locke, Eumundi
I believe no more development. The Sunshine Coast was once a delightful paradise. It is now a monstrosity with dangerous roads, such as the Sunshine Motorway.
Also, shops are squeezed in wherever there is a bit of spare land. I regret moving to the Sunshine Coast.
Kay Gaffney
- Read the story: Council to review foreshore and river plans
If I walk, and I have a hearing disability, I feel vulnerable.
My hearing loss is infection-induced but it’s known that older people’s hearing declines. Our fragility increases. I just don’t hear bikes and scooters coming. It’s also been reported that quite a few accidents have occurred with people and riders on paths in Brisbane. I would be pleased to see the walking pavement have designated rider signage and also the paths to be wider.
I walk several parks in Noosa and the problem is the same, I’m jumping out of the way for a teen to shoot past or a family with hired bikes. If cars give way to pedestrians then so should all wheels. Please have council consider signage warning ‘give way to pedestrian at all times’.
Lee White, Noosa Heads
- Read the story: Ashley Robinson: system fails to come up trumps
Just shows the bias: your news media put out stories from left-wing US sources and give a platform to Ashley Robinson.
What knowledge does he have to comment on President Trump and make inflammatory accusations concerning a dictatorship? He did serve four years: who is trying to stop him now? For the record, Hillary Clinton still denies losing in 2016 and pushed the Russia collusion fable.
Our voting system is reliable and honest, unlike the USA. Yes, the local elections were poorly conducted.
Richard Locke, Eumundi
- Read the story: Residents air concerns over proposed aeromodel runway
I have been a model aircraft modeller for over 70 years. It’s a wonderful hobby. We need facilities of this sort and they do not cause any problems with animals at all.
Our club (near Forest Glen) has roos and plenty of wildlife and there is no problems. It’s next to cow paddocks and they don’t take any notice.
As for crashes, they are extremely rare to cause any fires, so that’s no real problem.
John Borrill, Little Mountain
Active model aircraft clubs provide multiple levels of positive returns to the community. Young participants develop an understanding of the complexities of aviation in a embryonic stage. This inspires experimental developments to expand personal and overall aviation knowledge. A great source of future aviators at all levels.
The past aviation participants and exponents have a great hobby to keep them mentally engaged. Passage of knowledge down the generations via elders mentoring the newer generations is also most positive.
Current model aircraft engines have significant muffling of engine noise and no longer pose significant noise pollution. The fire risk from a crash/forced landing is negligible. The rare crashes hardly ever become a fire.
The community will be overall better off for having a well managed model aircraft facility. There are many levels of competition that have large numbers of competitors turning up with significant financial benefits to the local economy. Support, encourage and assist this progressive development.
Warren Duff
- Read the story: Mayor spruiks new-look council’s ‘community first’ budget
When I read with interest the new Sunshine Coast Council was raising the rates by an acceptable 5.5 per cent, I thought that was very fair in today’s cost-of-living crunch.
I had been very concerned when I read the Valuer-General had reviewed and increased land values, so it was also comforting to read that the council reassured the majority of owner-occupied ratepayers they would see little or no change.
I’ve just received my new rates notice on my owner-occupied house and it’s gone up 79 per cent – seriously? Does the council honestly believe their statements of ‘little or no change’ and, as a 69-year-old pensioner, I thought we might come under the category of the average homeowner?
It seems not. We have risen from a Category 7 to an 8 after the Valuer-General revised the land values. Does the council honestly think it’s fair and reasonable to increase owner-occupier home rates by this much, yet are happy to put out statements saying the majority of owners will see little or no change? No wonder we have a cost-of-living crunch.
To add salt to the wounds, our home and contents insurance has risen from $1250 to $4000 – and that also meant cancelling our flood cover, otherwise it would have been $8000.
Chris Fletcher, Maroochydore
- Read the story: ‘We want to be good neighbours’: hydro project CEO
I remember when they wanted to raise the dam wall but were knocked back due to lungfish.
Now, all conservation is out the window. Now, they want to bulldoze all the virgin scrub country and build two dams. Not happy with that. Now, they will bulldoze more virgin scrub to run pole and wires. Why the mad need to rush into all of these projects?
Maybe they need to look into some nuclear options, which would alleviate some of the poles and wires that need to be run.
David, Golden Beach
- Read the story: Court approval means town can have its first supermarket
So for ever more the visitors to the ‘historic market town of Eumundi’ will be greeted by a supermarket and car park. Well done. This is brought to you by the same developers that destroyed the landscape of Lake Weyba with a multi-storey box for the wealthy. Meanwhile, we’re tortured by jet noise and pollution courtesy of the Sunshine Coast Council.
The council has turned the hinterland into a toilet. Leave now: it’s only going to get worse.
Gerard Joyce, Verrierdale
- Read the story: Jane Stephens: new dogged determination
I always enjoy reading Jane Stephens’ articles, including this one, and thank you for taking the time to write them.
What you mentioned about sitting on a plane and not watching movies, not listening to music or not playing on a phone isn’t new to me – it’s the rare and special ‘do nothing’ time I usually don’t have. I can enjoy therapeutic relaxation and not think about anything, close my eyes and tune out from the busyness of my world and those around me.
For longer flights, it’s nice to do this intermittently between watching movies, listening to music and playing on my phone.
Barbara-Anne Wright
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.
