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.
• Read the article: Teenagers’ heartfelt plea to save family home
I have read with interest the various schemes that have been proposed for Caloundra over some 40 to 50 years in various town plans and so on. The interesting common factor has been the council continuing to approve shopping, retail and other commercial activities extending away from the former shopping village and west along Caloundra Road.
This is despite that it was and is the main road into Caloundra from which local traffic can then disperse east towards Kings Beach or north-east along Bowman Road, with the alternative routes being Sugar Bag Road, Queen Street or Beerburrum Street to get to Shelly, Moffat and Dicky precincts. Other than at the roundabout at Caloundra Road and Nicklin Way, there is no serious congestion even in peak hour in the Caloundra CBD.
Unless permanent residences replaces holiday residences, future development is unlikely to generate substantial increases in peak-hour traffic, unless a much bigger capacity road access is provided – such as the CTCU (Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade).
Of course it can be argued that more roads are needed to avoid future congestion, but aside from that idea being discredited by major professional engineering groups, the traffic volumes are only growing because of the roads previously built, and that will occur again. Who recalls 60 miles per hour the entire length of Nicklin Way? Why not 100km/h now?
So why the need for a four-lane highway as proposed by the CTCU? The need has never been demonstrated other than when it was initially proposed as a bus route.
As I and others have submitted formally or by comments, only two lanes are needed for a bus bypass. Vehicular access can be controlled by remotely controlled rising bollards, including by emergency vehicles – in particular the fire brigade getting much-improved access to the whole area east of the Nicklin Way, a problem created by the state government moving the fire brigade from its previous site.
In effect, the CTCU is a deliberately created rat run, but to where and for who?
At one stage we regularly used Sugar Bag Road and Queen Street to get to our house at the Point at times we knew there would be more than normal traffic on Caloundra Road. Why didn’t the on- and off-ramps to Sugar Bag Road and Queen Street from Nicklin Way proceed? Surely not because of the school zones? Or was it the golf course? Far easier to promote CTCU as for buses? That means even fewer bus services on Caloundra Road, but why then make the CTCU more desirable by promoting it for motorists?
We don’t even know the detailed design for the new Nicklin Way traffic lights. Will there be access to and from the northeast corner of the industrial estate to and from the CTCU and Nicklin Way? Will traffic also be able to cross Nicklin Way? Will there be a left turn slip lane at the roundabout, such that eastbound traffic can use Nicklin Way then turn right onto the CTCU four lanes to get to east Caloundra?
It seems the fact there is some bush there to use was too enticing, even if part of a valuable and shrinking nature reserve, and even if it is beside a retirement precinct.
Is a four-lane highway really needed? If so, what speed limit given the proximity of the retirement precinct, the nature reserve and access to nearby schools, with people walking or riding or on disability assistance devices?
Michael Yeates, Brisbane and Golden Beach
We support the new road into Caloundra. Also, when is the old Stockland Shopping Centre getting an upgrade? It is very tired and needs new shops.
Julie Whiting, Caloundra
• Read the article: MPs unite and start petition for direct rail line
A letter writer last week said: “I just can’t understand the mentality of these people that we put in charge of our local affairs when elected.” Well I can. The people of the Sunshine Coast continue to elect LNP members and wonder why the Labor government continues to ignore this area in relation to the rail connection to Maroochydore.
Voters need to get real and elect someone from Labor who has influence in the government, and things might happen. There is no point harping on about what the local LNP members would do if in government, when the chance of that happening at the next election is next to zero because of their lack of policies and alternatives. Our local pollies whinge and whine but will never say how they would handle any contentious issues.
Alan Ward, Buderim
How on earth are we going to be ready for 2032? Even if we started next week we’d be lucky to have a half-decent and efficient finished rail and bus system in place on the Sunshine Coast.
Has anyone wondered how on earth we will manage the transport chaos without it? Are there any “forward planners” anywhere on the council, or do we only have dinosaurs?
The frustration of the general public is palpable – especially for those of us who keep themselves informed and are brutally aware of countries around the globe that are rational and intelligent and actually get things done efficiently and don’t squander the public’s money in doing so.
Brenda West-Newman
I am a recent resident to the Sunshine Coast after 20-plus years of holidaying here. When we started coming, we were told and read about the rail line. In everything I have heard and read, I have not come across the reasons why a heavy rail line is the line of choice. To my limited knowledge and use of light rail in various cities around the world, I am having trouble understanding the heavy rail decision.
I would appreciate any directions to where I could access this information.
Dysy Blue
• Read the article: Safety first: e-scooter company prepares for competition
The speed they go at should mean they only are allowed on designated bikeways or roads. Far too dangerous on footpaths. Also need police to enforce speed and helmet use.
D. Forrester
I believe all e-scooter riders should hold some form of licence. Scooters should also have some form of identification, whether privately owned or hired, so you have a chance of identifying the law-breakers.
Marilyn Schwarz
• Read the article: Frustration builds over trailers in holiday street
Let common sense stick its head out of the water and park the trailers at a fair cost at the Scouts parking area. Or if they persist to park in the streets, tow and fine them. It can’t be that hard. And I don’t even live there. So easily solved.
Garry Godden
• Read the article: Changes to dog access amid draft plan for popular point
Who designed the Point Cartwright dog on-leash areas? And I mean specifically area 197. How is anyone going to be able to police the no-dogs-allowed area? Are they going to put up signs letting people know where dogs can and cannot go? Is there going to be a fence restricting access? If they don’t there’s going to be a lot of heated discussion between users about exactly where the boundaries are. What the council is suggesting is obviously not going to work.
Grant Hutson, Currimundi
• Read the article: ‘Stunning’ beach town’s unique new brand
I thank God every day that I reside in Caloundra. The beach is beautiful, the town is filled with friendly locals and visitors, the many walks around the parks are always kept beautifully with mowed lawns. The many coffee shops and restaurants are easily accessible. Walking through to the library is so tranquil under the shade trees. Thank you Caloundra.
Laurette Wagner, Caloundra
• Read the article: New summit to reveal Coast’s major infrastructure future
The Sunshine Coast Infrastructure Summit, held at the Innovation Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast last Friday, attracted about 180 attendees from government, industry groups, businesses, schools and the community.
The event, hosted collaboratively by Sunshine Coast Council, Sunshine Coast Business Council and Infrastructure Association of Queensland, provided a platform for diverse voices to contribute to the region’s infrastructure planning looking out to 2050 and beyond.
Highlights included an online address by Jerry Dobrovolny, chief administrative officer and commissioner of Metro Vancouver, who shared insights on Vancouver’s preparation for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including infrastructure delivery and legacy planning.
Key points emphasised the importance of planning not only for the Games, but also considering other challenges and opportunities, including the impacts of climate change; transport considerations such as heavy rail, mass transit and active transport solutions; fostering strong partnerships among stakeholders and remembering that hosting the Games will fundamentally change a region.
Keynote speaker Kate Meyrick, an Urbis director internationally recognised as a thought leader in shaping thinking about the global competitiveness of Australian cities, their future identity and the quality of life they offer, delivered a presentation on ‘What makes a region great?’.
Ms Meyrick also facilitated a discussion on the Sunshine Coast’s future, encouraging attendees to think big and explore sustainable infrastructure solutions and opportunities. The workshops generated ideas on maximising sustainability, maintaining the liveability attributes of the Sunshine Coast and how future technologies can be key to addressing the impacts associated with global issues, but from a local perspective.
Themes included how the Sunshine Coast could be self-sustaining in areas such as recycling and advanced manufacturing ideas to manage waste, value-add to production and create new products and services; investing in more sustainable infrastructure solutions; optimising water resources by better use of existing water sources and identifying new water source alternatives; and utilising advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and smart buildings.
Another notable highlight was the participation of secondary school students from a number of Sunshine Coast schools, who expressed their aspirations for the Sunshine Coast’s future. Their focus centred on maintaining the region’s liveability, preserving the natural environment, and prioritising safety and security, as well as a special mention regarding a full medical degree program being introduced at the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
The next step is for participants in the initial roundtable discussion held in March, to reconvene to identify the themes and infrastructure ideas to contribute to the forthcoming infrastructure plan for the Sunshine Coast. This collaborative effort will help drive a comprehensive and inclusive vision of the infrastructure solutions that advance the future interests of the Sunshine Coast.
Sandy Zubrinich, Sunshine Coast Business Council chair
• Another year, another budget. What the Sunshine Coast really needs is commitment from the State Government to deliver on important projects for the region in the budget to be handed down next Tuesday.
My budget wishlist is: police resources; Maroochydore High School – fund the right the solution that provides safety for students and remove unacceptable risk for teachers supervising student and traffic movements outside of the school at pick-up and drop-off times; rail to Maroochydore; hospital funding; build-to-rent projects; a Sunshine Coast Entertainment Convention and Exhibition Centre; the Mooloolaba to Maroochydore Cycleway; and the Mooloolah River Interchange and duplication of the Sunshine Motorway.
I want to see the budget next week hold great news for the future of the Sunshine Coast and not be overlooked.
Fiona Simpson, State Member for Maroochydore
• Why on earth do the council employees insist on placing footpath stickers opposite pedestrian crossings? I spoke to an employee doing the latest footpath stickers. He told me it was council instruction to place the stickers there. Pedestrians stop to read the details and have the motorists not sure if they are going to step out on the crossing.
Rob Mogensen, Caloundra
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.
