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: ‘On notice’: crackdown on illegal camping resumes
How come the owners of these vans and campervans choose to park in prime position car parks? I’d like to live there for free as well, with spectacular views and all the facilities. But where I live I have to pay rates and look at my next door neighbour’s wall.
Why don’t these people choose to live out in the country, where I’m sure there are heaps of parking spaces available, where they could park and not worry about blocking anyone’s views?
I know why they don’t: it’s out in the country, not the ritzy Noosa lifestyle that everyone likes.
Rudy Formigoni, Brisbane
This is a growing issue around the Sunshine Coast and I am sure many other areas around the state.
My biggest concern is the number of campervans, caravans and the like that are utilising the boat trailer parking areas at the local boat ramps. Every trailer parking area seems to suffer, but the Fishermans Road boat ramp at Maroochydore is by far the worst.
Bob Hall
The solution to homelessness is for the state government and local councils to work with developers, who would be asked to donate land in a section of new developments near public transport for the use of a caravan park. Build concrete pads, purchase second-hand caravans on which they would be located, build amenity blocks with toilets, showers, laundries and kitchens. Get the support of a not-for-profit organisation to manage the parks.
I have already asked the Sunshine Coast Council to use some money from those residents who already pay levies, but to no avail.
Illegal camping would also be reduced because, as we all know, caravan parks are being replaced by high-rise buildings.
Laurence Jones, Parrearra
- Read the story: Locals call for removal of sewage outfall pipe
If this overflow point was constructed in the 1960s, how come nobody whinged about it then?
What about all the other areas along the coast where this is happening right now? I don’t hear of any whinging or complaints from them. They probably don’t know.
Just let Unitywater run their business. I’m sure they know what they are doing and if it was a danger to the community, they wouldn’t have to be told so.
Rudy Formigoni, Brisbane
- Read the story: Road to relief: gridlock fix gets green light
The east-west link connecting Burke Street in Golden Beach to Aura Boulevard in Baringa would benefit Golden Beach by providing an alternate route to Caloundra Road.
Another possibility would be a link from Pelican Waters Boulevard near Tweddle Drive connecting to Bells Creek Arterial Road near Central Avenue in Nirimba. The distance is very similar to the first option and would benefit not only Golden Beach but Pelican Waters as well. As a bonus, there are existing roundabouts at both ends already in place.
Seems to be a better solution.
Stan Pollock, Pelican Waters
Before the last election the LNP promised work would begin on the Caloundra Road problem within six months.
The current LNP MP promised that and said she had the money. The recent media release the news reports shows there’s been little real progress. We’re told, nine months later, it’s on a list.
There are no details that might provide some assurance that any of the work is underway. Just the opposite. Details such as what, when, at what cost and with what impact are nowhere to be found. The money isn’t there, there are no costings, there is no funding.
The premier says “we’re delivering”. Really? We know bull when we hear it and have heard enough. If it’s too hard, perhaps a by-election might focus the LNP’s attention.
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill
- Read the story: ‘Dangerous and inadequate’: main road rattles locals
I’ve been a regular user of this road since the early 1970s. It was certainly a “roller-coaster” ride in those decades, especially in a Kombi campervan.
However, its more recent upgrades seem perfectly fine to me, as recently as yesterday. I notice they have even fixed the joining approach section to the Maroochy River after all these decades – well done.
There is an appropriate speed limit of 80km/h over the majority, which works well. The only difficulty seems to be for those wanting to exceed the appropriate speed limit.
I think the Coolum Residents Association has embarrassed itself on this occasion. It would be more appreciated focusing its attention on the roundabouts on the motorway and the disastrous roundabout at Coolum Primary School, with bumper-to-bumper stop-start traffic from the industrial estate to the motorway roundabout in the afternoon.
Steve Rogers
- Read the story: Industrial park powers ahead amid calls for road upgrades
When he was in Opposition, the LNP’s state MP for Ninderry Dan Purdie bemoaned Labor’s deferral of funding for the project to duplicate lanes between Pacific Paradise and Coolum Beach, and to build a new grade-separated Sunshine Coast Motorway/Yandina-Coolum Road interchange, as “disheartening”.
Mr Purdie said then that the state government “has the wrong priorities when it comes to the Sunshine Coast”.
Now he is a cabinet minister in the governing party the project timelines for motorway duplication, the interchange at Yandina-Coolum Road and the active transport pathway still depend on funding availability and the prioritisation of competing infrastructure projects across Queensland – and he is unable to get any.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story: Plans revised for development on high-profile site
This developer has assured us that there is adequate parking. However, there is a good number of one-bedroom units and I note that some areas with one-bedroom units do not allow enough parking for two people living in a one-bedroom unit, each having their own vehicle.
We then have a contentious parking problem adjacent to the units and with a body corporate enforcing one vehicle per unit, there are a number of unhappy tenants.
Christine Radcliffe, Noosaville
- Read the story: Three-storey complex planned to tackle worker housing shortage
Sixteen rooms proposed with six car parks? Seriously?
Joe Humphries, Newstead
- Read the story: Crash puts spotlight on e-scooter safety
It is generally said that e-scooters are a dangerous business and should be banned.
However, they do gets kids out and about and provide them with independence. What will replace the banned e-scooter? Bicycles? Logically, yes, but first the council needs to provide a safe interconnected cycle network as found in other cities around the world, whereby kids can arrive at their destinations safely.
Sunshine Coast roads are congested with too many large cars, with some owners battling to drive them safely.
Rob Skimmer, Image Flat
- Read the stories: Business group applauds transport plan ahead of Games and Budget blasted for lack of transport investment
It is a toss-up which is more cringeworthy: the LNP’s mendacity about the $5.5 billion that was already committed by the previous Labor government to get the heavy rail spur as far as Caloundra, or the enthusiasm with which it is applauded.
Peter Baulch, North Arm
- Read the story: MP highlights doctored letter for in-limbo intersection
Local MP Fiona Simpson was concerned at some missing words in a discussion about interchange development.
Ms Simpson’s concerns didn’t seem to extend to ensuring the funding it needed was included in the State Budget. Amazing how perceptions of what’s important can quickly change.
It’s happened in Caloundra too on Caloundra Road.
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill
- Bite into tax reform
Many agree that the current tax system requires an overhaul to make it more equitable.
All Australians are affected by the tax breaks and the benefits given to individuals and companies. The proposed modifications to superannuation tax are one example of the reforms that need to happen.
For example, the cost of adding dental care to Medicare would cost an estimated $13.63 billion in the first year, according to the Parliamentary Budget Office. Meanwhile the tax breaks given to the richest 10 per cent on their superannuation balances (much of that will be the inheritance they leave) will cost the budget $22 billion in 2025-26, according to Treasury estimates.
Superannuation should not be about leaving an inheritance. Superannuation is designed to ensure that people can live comfortably in retirement. Inheritances are not a reason for tax concessions.
We need a debate on whether to include dental coverage in Medicare or offer tax breaks that allow some individuals to leave tax-free money to their children and other selective tax concessions.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers is convening an Economic Reform Roundtable in August to begin a national debate and tax reform will undoubtedly be on the agenda.
The Labor government has turned the economy around, slowly but surely in a measured and sensible manner. Governing is about managing the economy responsibly in the national interest while building economic resilience in the face of global uncertainty.
Robyn Deane, Nambour
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.
