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: Coffee vendors launch petition after market ‘eviction’
As a small business owner I understand the pain of the coffee vendors: it’s hard to stay afloat, especially these days.
But to be honest this is on the market organisers. They should never have allowed mobile coffee vendors in a market that is held in a street that has established cafes serving coffee – who are also trying to stay in business.
There seems to have been a lack of communication all-round.
Lyn Prowse-Bishop, Buderim
Favouritism has clearly been shown to Caloundra CBD coffee shops over two street vendors, and correctly so.
The CBD coffee businesses are most likely members of the Chamber of Commerce, pay rent for their leased premises, pay council rates, employ additional staff and pay high insurance costs, as opposed to a mobile coffee operation that simply shows up on Sunday for a few hours after paying a pittance for a site expecting to steal the coffee shops’ excellent Sunday business.
The coffee shops generally operate seven days a week through quiet days as well as better days, with Sunday business assisting in offsetting those quiet days.
We would complain if these retailers vanished from the CBD because the Sunday pop-ups would not be sited for the remainder of the week to fill the void.
A very sensible decision by the market organisers.
Jeff Taylor, Currimundi
I agree with fixed shops selling coffee but maybe they should have first option to set coffee stalls at the markets.
If they decline then others should be allowed.
Stewart Hyder, Clontarf
I believe their licence to operate states that they aren’t allowed to operate if another person is selling the same within 500 metres. This is a council decision, not the vendors’ or market stall operators’ decision.
They need to take it up with council.
Christine Hart, Cooloola
- Read the story: State’s plan for 42-unit complex goes out to public
As a resident of Poinciana Avenue, I can’t believe this is even considered. It is already an absolute nightmare to get in and out of the street now so building 42 units is absolutely unrealistic and can only come from someone who has never actually checked out the traffic. You’d think it wouldn’t be a problem at 10am or 11am but believe me, often it’s a challenge. Then, the other side is complete gridlock during school hours.
But what’s very clear on social media is the belief of many people thinking that ‘housing’ refers to social housing, which is absolutely not the case. Many also think it’s 42 units for housing commission. Again, not the case.
And then there is the height limit. If this project does go ahead, it’ll destroy Noosa/Tewantin forever. Noosa Shire has been fighting hard to remain unique in regards to multiple storeys and has put up with enough interstate people destroying what it once was. Enough is enough.
Name and address supplied
- Read the story: Twin 19-storey tower development approved for CBD
Isn’t 19 storeys too high? I thought the limit was less.
Peter Birt, Maroochydore
All very well to approve this but what’s being done about the extra traffic?
Paul Osborne, Maroochydore
- Read the story: More parks but less beach proposed for dogs
I have visited Mooloolaba and surrounding areas for many years and have always appreciated the off-leash dog beaches.
I do not own a dog but my sister and friends do, so I have grown to appreciate the fun that dogs enjoy when they are free to run and play on beaches. I frequently walk at Point Cartwright by myself, with my sister or with friends and their dogs.
Please don’t remove off-leash areas from existing places: they are necessary for the enjoyment of dog owners and dog lovers.
Alleyne Salter, Mooloolaba
I concur with the council’s plan. Our beaches were once a refuge for thousands of migratory birds and these days there are about a handful in comparison. Dog owners have the attitude that birds can just fly away, however, this is not the case.
Birds will no longer come to our beaches as they are scared off by dogs running wild. I live in Caloundra and dogs are regularly over on Bribie Island where kangaroos and other native wildlife live. It’s just not good enough. Humans are now the invasive species with their dogs.
Most dog owners are responsible but it is a few that spoil it for the rest. Banning dogs from our beaches again is a good move.
Alison Greenhalgh, Golden Beach
The decision by the Sunshine Coast Council to consider changing the laws for dogs being off-leash at Stumers Creek does not really surprise me. When I saw the number of people, some with little children, swimming in the creek and the ocean over the holidays, I thought there would be a complaint about the number of dogs enjoying the area.
If it was a complaint it most probably did not come from a local, as they all know that it is an off-leash area that has been enjoyed by locals and holidaymakers for years. I’m over 80 with a border collie cross and we both love the beach and the creek. As the law stands at the moment, once we are off the car park we can let our dogs run free. Looking at the small map it appears that the proposal has the off-leash beach banned to the south of the creek and beginning on the north side of the creek. This would mean our dogs would not be able to swim in the creek, and if it is flowing like it has been lately we are sometimes not able to cross to the north side as it is too deep or swift at high tide.
I would like to ask the council why they have decided to change the law, when so many people young and old get so much pleasure from the area as it is? Not all of us can walk down long, dry sand paths to the beach.
I take this suggested change personally. Once more I have become an invisible old person. Ageism is alive and well.
Lexie Cook, Valdora
- Read the story: Ashley Robinson: the who, what and when show
Ashley Robinson’s ‘Old Mate’ is not on her ‘Pat Malone’ in confusing the two Effies. I did a Google search ages ago to clarify the confusion in my mind.
Lesley Evans, Kings Beach
I have always questioned the viability of a heavy rail spur to Maroochydore.
The high cost both for development and ongoing maintenance is excessive for the perceived benefit. The support is centred around those living in Maroochydore and Caloundra: a catchment population of around 15 per cent of total Sunshine Coast. My thoughts to better service the whole Sunshine Coast are to upgrade the existing line to Nambour, add another track, add a fast train and add a dedicated busway link/loop from Landsborough to Nambour.
We need to fix the useless local bus network. Try getting a bus from Nambour to Coolum, it takes two hours.
L. McManus, Bli Bli
- Read the story: Mayors set for overseas fact-finding mission
No doubt the mayors will enjoy a convivial visit networking overseas: good luck to them.
But what tangible beneficial actions will they be able to, quickly and transparently, report on their return? As for researching post-Olympic benefits, perhaps a dialogue with former host cities such as Rio, Athens, Tokyo and Montreal might give them some genuine and objective depth of insight into the actual economic post-Games benefits.
Almost without exception in modern times, the truth has been very much an opposite to the breathless optimism and endless pre-Games hype and spin, fuelled by the IOC. In many very well documented cases there have been few tangible benefits, just an enormous long-term increase in crippling public debt.
The briefest of research will confirm this.
Robert Armstrong, Coolum Beach
- Read the story: Men’s health beach gathering shut down over permit
I am so disappointed that this sort of council reaction continues to occur. Really, what a joke.
It is so good that gatherings like this are happening. Demanding permits is likely to stifle these initiatives.
David Garwood, Sunrise Beach
I am gobsmacked that a wholesome healthy gathering that certainly has no detrimental effect on the public beach or beachgoers would fall victim to the bureaucratic naysayers.
We live in a society gradually becoming more distant, impersonal and certainly unhealthy, so why would local government want to inhibit a friendly, healthy gathering in any way?
Jeff Tuttle, Caloundra
I believe the Sunshine Coast Council should be subsidising or offering payment to the professionals who care enough for their community to hold these meditation events, which raise people’s awareness of themselves and encourage social connections and friendships.
If council wish to interfere with beach activities of family outings, adventures, friends playing beach cricket or volleyball, building creative sand structures, group meditation or fitness, are they in alignment with their position on council?
If we need a permit to gather in groups will they be asking for a permit to swim at the beach?
Barb Breede
How disappointing to read of the Mudjimba men’s beach meetings being opposed due to not having a council permit.
With men’s mental health being an issue in these times, I believe a weekly morning ritual for well being is a great idea.
Hopefully, this can be recitified asap.
Ange Pritchard, Mackay
Reading about the men’s group needing a permit is typical of today’s stuff and nonsense.
With the daily suicides of good men, anything that can get them into a group of similar people and give them some friends and something to look forward too is good.
Too much BS is a major problem Australia wide.
Jill French, Hervey Bay
- Read the story: Claims of cost blowout for athletes’ villages
While it would be fabulous to hold the Olympic Games in Queensland or anywhere in Australia, I sincerely hope Premier Cristafulli and Prime Minister Albanese, along with Opposition leaders Dutton and Miles, will give serious consideration to cancelling the Olympics in Queensland and putting those dollars into infrastructure in Far North Queensland’s once-in-a-hundred-year flood devastation and aid those who are affected.
We need to get our priorities right.
Barb Jones, Sippy Downs
- Read the story: What council wants from federal election
There is a trap for voters with politicians around the world manufacturing strongman image contests rather than explaining policies rationally. A case of all tip, but no iceberg.
I find it a challenging time leading up to our federal election as a loophole in the Electoral Act allows political parties and their supporters to mislead us with impunity. Looking for authentic leadership in this situation is like waiting for a lotus to bloom in a muddy pond.
As Vernon Howard says: “A truly strong person does not need the approval of others any more than a lion needs the approval of sheep.”
Perhaps that’s how we’re being treated until policy speeches are made and substantiated. hopefully by cogent argument rather than hairy-chested hubris.
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.
