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 story: Retirement bonus: developer’s plans for 250-unit village
The last thing Yandina needs is several hundred more people sharing its already overstretched infrastructure.
There is nothing in the council’s budget for any more in the foreseeable future and nothing in the proposal except the mandatory footpath along its frontage.
Some long-term locals have been looking forward to a comfortable retirement here with all mod cons, and some may even be able to afford this offering, but it does not come with any of the aged care facilities many have hoped for.
Most residents of this upmarket trailer park would be newcomers, as would those who acquire the homes locals would sell to buy into it.
More people is more feet through the doors of local businesses, but for their existing customers it’s just more erosion of Yandina’s rural village character and more competition for a parking space.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story: Mega interchange upgrade’s ‘astonishing’ omission
This is just another faux pas from the designers of this major piece of infrastructure because of the total incompetence of Queensland governments, both past and present, to employ competent consultants. It is no wonder that the roads of the Sunshine Coast are so congested.
Whoever designed the project, and whoever signed off on the project, need to be held 100 per cent accountable for their avoidable omission. The primary goal of the whole massive project is to reduce congestion and what we read here is huge additional traffic moments on Kawartha Drive and Wises Road, which are already operating at over capacity.
It’s the typical attitude of Queensland governments, when they have screwed up a particular design, to place both the cost and delay for corrections squarely on the shoulders of the taxpayers.
Ashley Sedon, Maroochydore
- Read the story: Jane Stephens: the reality of cold hard cash
How is it in Australia we are so willing to give up our privacy and our rights?
For example, we were so willing to give up our freedom during COVID-19. Not saying we didn’t need to be cautious and thoughtful to people in not spreading the virus, but we were so willing to hand over our rights.
How convenient is it now? “We don’t accept cash, we only accept payments.”
The banks and our government are leading us into using a method of payment that can be tracked. They will know everything about you and your family’s spending habits.
But that doesn’t matter. I don’t need to carry dirty cash: I have a card on my phone.
Cash doesn’t need a whole lot of tech to use, but that also means I still have privacy. Cash is easy to use and doesn’t track you.
So one day when all we ‘smart progressive Australians’ rise up in anger against our government and voice our rights, remember the best way to stop an Aussie is to switch off their cards.
It has happened once already with a similar government. Remember Trudeau in progressive Canada? Check it out.
I would put money on that if I can find someone to accept a cash bet.
Patrick Felixtsowe, South Australia
They should not get rid of ready cash at all. What is going to happen if we are struck by a bad situation where we might need to evacuate our city or if we are hit by another coronavirus and we need to get back to the border (if you are in another state), and you need some fuel money to pay someone to get you over the border?
You’ll need something to pay for travels but you can’t withdraw money out of your account because there won’t be any cash. Are we supposed to walk around with EFTPOS machines in our pockets?
Those who are eager to get rid of ready cash will be the first to panic when we are all pulling our hair out trying to figure out what to do. So please don’t be so quick to get rid of ready cash.
Stephanie Scheveling, Margate
I believe if we become a cashless society the banks will increase transaction fees as much as they want. And we will have no option but to cop it.
Joe Carbery, Beechboro, WA
- Read the story: Ruffled feathers: complaints lodged over emu
Aren’t horses an introduced species to Australia?
Emus are a native bird to this area and should have the right to live at Parklands along with the other native animals. After all, it is a conservation park.
Why not remove the horse riders to another area and leave poor Fluffy to his home at Parklands.
Gill Thomas, Buderim
I live at the end of a road halfway between Gympie and Tin Can Bay. Last year an emu arrived at a neighbour’s property. It is a dog-breeding business and there are a lot of puppies.
The emu would regularly visit the puppies. After that the emu would visit all the neighbours at the end of our road. It was very curious and friendly. It loved the low throb of engines and would hang around roadworks machinery, especially the roller, which it followed up and down. When I would walk my dog in the morning the emu walked along with us. One day I was kneeling down weeding when I saw two feet, one each side of me, and a head popping round to look at me.
The emu stayed around for several months then it disappeared and we have no idea where it went or what happened to it. But we missed it. Having a free native animal interact with us is one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had.
I say to the people who have a problem with this emu on the Sunshine Coast to embrace these encounters and cherish them. It would be very sad for such a wonderful native animal to shipped off to a farm because it’s an inconvenience.
Janelle Vaughan, Goomboorian
Leave Fluffy alone. He is a loveable emu. Anyone who wants him gone does not appreciate animals. People should be enjoying Fuffy, not criticising him.
Those who want him gone should take their head out of the sand and appreciate this wonderful Australian animal.
Lorraine Amede, Newport
I am writing on behalf of the lovely emu that runs with the runners during bush run. I personally don’t run but my friend’s dad runs with this emu. Everyone loves him and he loves the runners.
I do not agree with moving the emu. I feel the only reason the emu could have been aggressive would have been because of the horses. The emu was here first, we are encroaching on his land. If anyone needs to be moved it should be the people, not the animal.
Amanda Hansen, Nundah
- Read the story: Aura South proposal going to public consultation
I wish to voice my concern over the developer’s desire to build on the area south of Caloundra.
I believe this has been vacant for many years, having previously been forestry area. My concerns include: too many large houses on small blocks on narrow roads (Aura); access necessitating extensive roadworks from the M1; too close to Pumicestone Passage; and without planning for selective development we will end up with housing from the border to Noosa.
Could not this land be made a national park, replanted with appropriate trees and with walking trails provided for all to enjoy?
Terry Kluck, Buderim
- Read the story: Supermarket undergoes ‘conversion’ to Metro store
My elderly aunt lives in a Buderim retirement village and has always done her grocery shopping at Woolworths Buderim, as do most of the residents in her village, a large number of people.
Now she is being forced to go off the mountain to shop at Coles, as the Buderim Woolworths no longer stocks the simple products she requires, and prices of items such as meat have risen. Fortunately she has a helper to take her shopping fortnightly, otherwise I don’t know how she would manage.
Buderim has a large number of elderly retirees, and also families on a budget. Woolworths Metro does not cater for those people, it seems to be aimed at working hipsters. It’s most unfair.
Claire Audrey, West End
- Read the story: Green light for Point Cartwright plan
Diane Garvey, in her letter in last week’s edition, is quite right when she complains about the consequences of dog fouling at Point Cartwright.
She is not alone; a large number of local people of my acquaintance, many of whom are elderly, who once visited Point Cartwright for exercise and recreation have had this pleasure destroyed and no longer do so because of both dog faeces and fear of injury from uncontrolled dogs.
Consequently, when Cr Christian Dickson claimed in the council meeting on August 24 that he had visited Point Cartwright during off-leash hours that morning and had heard not a single complaint about dogs, he may have been quite truthful.
The silent majority who are appalled by the dog filth and uncontrolled dogs, if they still visit at all, simply avoid a visit at that time of the day, and would not be inclined to approach someone already talking to a group of dog owners.
This is biased sampling – political ammunition but statistically rubbish.
Other letters in your edition express concern about rapid population growth.
Human population growth is mirrored by that of dogs. The area of Sunshine Coast beaches is finite and does not grow to match the population; more people, more dogs, but no more beach – and it’s only going to get a lot worse.
However, Ms Garvey potentially misleads readers when she says she agrees with the “dog bans”.
The Master Plan still allows dog access to almost all of the reserve, it is simply on-leash not off-leash access. The only areas where dogs will be banned are off-path in the endangered remnant littoral rainforest (where humans are already banned) and on the north-facing beach and rocky headland, where endangered migratory shore birds feed and nest.
Cr Joe Natoli is to be congratulated for having the guts to try to do the right thing with a plan that represents a reasonable compromise.
Peter Hawkins, Buddina
I joined the Point Cartwright Care Group after myself, my husband and dog (on lead) were attacked by two large dogs (bull mastiff cross and German shepherd) in La Balsa Park.
The attack was reported to council and the police. After a dog attack that frightening, you never fully recover and trust dogs, especially roaming, uncontrolled dogs off leads.
My friend lost her dog just one month ago after a vicious dog attack on Currimundi Beach. These incidents are frequent and totally unacceptable.
I have personally been writing to Cr Joe Natoli since the attack. I am a huge advocate for dogs to be on leads in public at all times.
I am a dog lover and have owned them all my life. Groups like the La Balsa Bow Wows Facebook group do not speak for me or a lot of other dog owners.
I congratulate Cr Natoli for representing both sides of the argument.
At the end of the day, the public have a right to be protected from dogs. Any comprehensive risk assessment (using the safety hierarchy of controls) regarding dogs off lead will reveal safety hazards for the public. Control measures need to be put in place. Elimination (of dogs’ presence) is always the best control measure. Using leads can ensure that everyone is able to use the space with a level of safety.
Nicky McMillan, Buddina
• Tell me why any normal, right-thinking person should take the slightest notice of any so-called celebrity’s views on the Voice.
We are bombarded by these self-important people, who contribute nothing to a better life for the majority of Australians, through all aspects of the media.
Reverend Neville Geddes, Mooloolaba
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.
