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 given to letters of 100 words or less.
- Read the story: $182m plan for 206 townhouses and key road link lodged
I am aware of the need for additional housing on the Sunshine Coast but a hold should be put on these large developments until our infrastructure is improved.
Our road and transport systems are currently totally inadequate and additional residents means additional vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
All these developments have inadequate parking, which is an urgent matter the council needs to address. There is no such thing as a one-car family anymore. It appears that the current conditions for a development do not keep up with the times.
What is the point of council having a plan when developers keep pushing the limits of that plan? In this instance, the report acknowledges that the proposal exceeds the maximum site coverage allowance (41.75 per cent compared with the permitted 40 per cent), and that the proposed residential density of 64.75 equivalent dwellings per hectare is more than the 30 to 50 allowed.
The developers are all aware of the regulations so why can they not observe them?
Pam Vagg, Pacific Paradise
- Read the story: State may take over controversial tourist park decision
The state government needs to butt out of planning matters that the local council has ruled on.
Likewise, the Planning and Environment Court needs to give maximum weight to residents’ wishes. At present, the court heavily favours the developers.
Residents know what’s best for their area: developers only know what’s best for profits.
John N Mason, Yandina
- Read the story: New Jetstar deal delivers record flights for the region
A service from Newcastle to Maroochydore to replace the former Bonza route may be worthy of consideration.
Jim Slattery, East Maitland NSW
- Read the story: Olympic transport costs prompt funding request
The other states seem to get funding for transport with Queensland way behind while experiencing more growth than the other states.
Wendy Greaves, Nirimba
- Read the story: Contractor appointed, design revised for foreshore works
Mooloolaba upgrade, Bribie breakthrough, Golden Beach foreshore washed away, exposed asbestos, Golden Beach streets inundated with seawater.
The response to Golden Beach will be that we have no more money left over from the Mooloolaba upgrade.
Michael Drennan, Caloundra
- Read the story: Surge in e-transport injuries prompts govt inquiry
I’m sure, and I don’t know when it no longer became a requirement, you required two things to take a vehicle – electric, petrol or people-powered on the road: a warning device like a bell or horn and a rear-view mirror.
I am sure this has a deep dark history, like front number plates on motorcycles causing mysterious injury? But, along the way, a lot of these ‘vehicles’, it seems, are no longer required to have, or perhaps more correctly enforced, to have the same safety devices I am compelled (in fact I can be fined for not having) to have on my car. Why the double standard?
Is it because all these other ‘vehicles’ are not registered? So it’s too hard to enforce? Is it time to apply a registration to any vehicles on the road? Not an exorbitant tax but a token fee maybe with ‘rego plate’? So, offenders can be tracked and any breach, as with cars etc, tracked back to the owner, then addressed to the operator and fines for breaches of road rules duly applied. Too onerous, only if you’re breaking the rules.
I am over bike, scooter etc riders on footpaths who don’t show care and consideration to others, who travel at ridiculous speed in shared zones and drive through red lights: the list is long and seemingly untouchable and without retribution.
Greg Paddick
Having retired to the Sunshine Coast four years ago, one of the surprising things that I have observed is the high use of e-bikes and scooters, particularly by relatively young people.
The speeds that they travel passing cars, in and around Caloundra, is very concerning. Two on a scooter, no helmets? My understanding is that helmets must be worn, yet this is not being policed.
Compare this to the 15-month process to attain a motorcycle licence that costs in excess of $1000? Doesn’t make sense.
Gary Meyer, Pelican Waters
- Read the story: Chicken farm plans more sheds to satisfy RSPCA rules
I’ve lived in Beerburrum for years and I’ve watched industry evolve in our region.
But what I see happening with Woodlands’ proposed chicken farm expansion at Beerburrum it isn’t evolution, it’s exploitation.
According to the Woodlands, they need to build eight more sheds to comply with RSPCA stocking density standards. Sounds noble, right? Animal welfare. Better conditions for chickens. Who could argue with that?
But when you dig just a little deeper, the narrative unravels.
Here’s what they’re not saying: the original farm was approved for nine sheds with 52,800 birds per shed – that’s 475,000 birds; the current proposal would house 785,400 birds – a 65 per cent increase; it’s not about better space for the same chickens, it’s about keeping output high by building more infrastructure.
On top of that, the site is only 46 hectares, yet our current planning scheme requires 50 hectares for new intensive poultry operations. And the odour? Already well above acceptable limits.
This is not a minor change. It’s not a compliance tweak. It’s a backdoor expansion that, if successful, sets a dangerous precedent for rural communities across the Sunshine Coast.
I’m not against poultry farming. But I am against rewriting the rules mid-game to benefit a corporate operation at the expense of those who live nearby.
Council has a choice: follow the letter and spirit of the law, or allow large-scale industrial creep through the side gate.
Let’s hope they make the right one, because rural communities like ours are watching.
Wayne Green, Beerburrum
- Teacher burnout
A report by the Black Dog Institute says that half of Australian teachers are considering leaving the profession within the next 12 months due to burnout.
Teachers are working longer hours with fewer resources to meet increasing community and parental expectations.
More are taking time off for mental health reasons.
Over 50 per cent of teachers report moderate to extremely severe symptoms of depression compared to 12 per cent in the general population.
I was a NSW state high school teacher for 18 years in the 1970s-90s. I found it an enjoyable and highly rewarding profession, especially serving the community of my rural hometown.
Teaching conditions in the 1800s put current community expectations into context.
The rules for NSW State school teachers said that a teacher had to fill lamps, clean chimneys, bring a bucket of water, and a scuttle of coal each day.
Male teachers could take one evening a week for courting purposes, or two evenings if they attended church regularly.
Any teacher who smoked, consumed liquor, frequented pool or public halls, and had a shave in a barber shop, “Would give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity, and honesty.”
After spending ten hours in school, teachers were told, “You may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or other good books.”
Female teachers were warned, “If you marry or engage in unseemly conduct, you will be dismissed.”
This was fertile ground for town busybodies.
When I retired in 1992, I could see the pressures on teachers building, and standards under challenge.
The best pathways to lift our nation’s educational outcomes are contentious, but theories are like toothbrushes – everybody has their own and nobody wants to use anybody else’s.
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 given to letters of 100 words or less.
