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: Appeal against $900m development dismissed
Why would any company want to invest in a significant project on the Sunshine Coast? Five years in the court system is ridiculous, how is anyone supposed to plan for that?
This Yaroomba development is exactly what the Sunshine Coast urgently needs. Luxury hotel and residential dwellings on a beachfront site, 10 minutes from the airport. Wow!
Council and state government should have done more to lock in this approval sooner, to give investment certainty when they approved it five years ago. They need to grow a backbone and show some true leadership and stop pandering to noisy activist groups and NIMBYs.
The Sunshine Coast has no five-star hotels and the council is actively out in the market saying we need 1800 more hotel rooms now, let alone in the lead-up to the Olympics. And did anyone mention a housing crisis?
Kyle Rogers, Twin Waters
• Read the article: Pubs without pokies: ‘I’ve seen it destroy some lives’
My wife and I had a delicious lunch recently at the Mapleton Pub and didn’t even notice the pokies were missing, unless it was the more peaceful meal without the incessant bells and coin drop noise.
I admire those pubs that are giving up their gaming licences for more family oriented joints … and I don’t have kids, I just like the relative serenity.
Jeff Tuttle, Caloundra
• Read the article: What the state budget means for the Coast
It seems obvious that the Sunshine Coast is too “Liberal” to be considered for investment from this Labor government.
Brian Coyle
• Read the article: Teenagers’ heartfelt plea to save family home
The proposed Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade (CTCU) will do little or nothing to alleviate congestion at the Nicklin Way roundabout. To the best of my knowledge, the most recent analysis of traffic flows at this roundabout was conducted on June 9, 2016, seven years ago. There is no doubt that traffic has increased substantially since then.
Even if we accept that the distribution of flows is similar now, only a minor fraction of the traffic could potentially benefit from the CTCU. These are vehicles turning left from Nicklin Way onto Bowman Road or the reverse. These constitute 22 per cent of the total traffic, an amount that is too small to make any major difference to congestion. This is the best-case scenario.
How many of these 22 per cent will choose to bypass the roundabout? If the CTCU plan that I have seen is correct, then they will have to negotiate six sets of traffic lights. I am quite sure that many of the drivers will avoid the inevitable delay of six sets of traffic lights and continue to use the roundabout.
What is the alternative? In the interim, the addition of dedicated left-turn filter lanes at each of the corners would be an improvement. Left-turn vehicles account for 26 per cent of the traffic. What is better: all of 26 per cent or an unknown fraction of 22 per cent? You don’t need to be a Department of Transport and Main Roads traffic engineer with a computer model to answer this question. And this solution avoids disruption to homeowners on Third and Oval avenues, the RSL Memorial Garden and Ben Bennett Botanic Park. It would probably be cheaper too. What is not to like about this proposal?
The Nicklin Way roundabout is just part of a wider problem in the area. Caloundra Road is a case in point. All traffic to and from Golden Beach, Pelican Waters, Bellvista and Aura/Baringa is funnelled into the artery with no alternative. It is no wonder that the road, particularly the section from Kawana Link Road to the Bruce highway interchange, is a carpark.
Well here is a suggestion. A new road starting on the Bruce Highway near Nirimba, passing the airport, with branches collecting traffic from Pelican Waters, Aura/Baringa and Caloundra West, and a connection to Caloundra Road near Rotary Park. This would have a massive effect on relieving Caloundra Road traffic.
Ron Duggleby, Little Mountain
• Read the article: MPs unite and start petition for direct rail line
I’ve been reading with interest information and comments about the rail line into the Sunshine Coast. My opinion? The state Labor government is never going to build the rail line. The reasons? The state government has already committed to building the M2 (Coomera Connector), the Gold Coast rail duplication and the Gold Coast tram track extension. After all the money spent on the Gold Coast there’ll be nothing left for the Sunny Coast.
And then there’s the issue of Mark Bailey, our illustrious Minster for Transport and Main Roads, not knowing where the Sunshine Coast is or what it looks like. Just recently he spruiked how duplication of the rail line to Beerwah would be a “massive” rail improvement for the Sunshine Coast. Er, Mr Bailey, there’s no park and ride facility at Beerwah, and there’s no room to build one. There is, however – and you should know this as it’s your department building it – a park and ride being built at Landsborough. Pity the rail line duplication doesn’t stretch that far hey?
Oh yes, there’s the concept of duplicating the line to Nambour. Not funded. Not scheduled. Construction without funding or a timeframe is a concept. Not a plan. And please, if I hear “shovel ready” one more time, I’ll know you’re treating me like a fool.
The Labor government is never going to build a rail line into the Sunshine Coast.
Grant Hutson, Currimundi
• Read the article: ‘Too hard’: why property investors are leaving market
We totally agree with the the article published concerning property investors leaving the market, and we are going to sell all of our rental houses shortly and will be glad to be rid of them. The benefits no longer exist, too many regulations, and all we do is pay out constantly, hoping to get a reasonable return on sale.
I used to say to my sons to buy an investment property when you can, now I say don’t do it, enjoy a good life balance, and don’t accumulate too much wealth because you will lose it all in retirement when the government will means test everything.
G. Byrne, Highfields
I extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the people of the Sunshine Coast for their participation in the Sunshine Coast Memory Walk and Jog on Sunday, June 4.
The event was a wonderful show of community spirit as 360 people walked, jogged and ran in support of people living with dementia, their families and carers.
My thanks to everyone who helped make this event such a success – to the people who walked, ran, jogged, donated and volunteered, thank you! It would not have been possible without your support.
An impressive $35,000 was raised and these funds will now be put to good use as we provide invaluable support services, education and resources for those impacted by dementia Australia-wide.
There are more than 400,000 people of all ages living with some form of dementia in Australia. Without a medical breakthrough, the number of people living with dementia is expected to almost double in 30 years. Dementia is the second leading cause of death in Australia and the leading cause of death of women.
We encourage Sunshine Coast locals who were unable to participate this time to consider organising their own group or individual walk or jog, with a My Way event. More details can be found at memorywalk.com.au.
Maree McCabe AM, Dementia Australia CEO
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.
