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 give to letters of 100 words or less.
- Read the story: $20m emergency works fast-tracked for Bribie repairs
Craig Lomas, Moreton Bay: Save $20 million on moving sand that nature will prevail over time and time again. Spend it on wiser projects and we, the people.
Mark Knight, Palmview: Mother Nature never relents and the $20 million spend will not stop her from doing what is inevitable, washing it all away. My view is it would be better spent on accommodation for the many homeless people rather than trying to protect the assets of a few privileged people. It seems the council has the ear for the ‘rich’ and are deaf to the ‘poor’. They need to get their priorities right.
Kevin, Golden Beach: The increased wave action being created by the widening of the shipping channel will continue to batter Bribie. Are they going to continue to dredge and remove the sand, which has been happening for the last 20 years? I’m afraid that while the shipping channel remains only 1.5km from Bribie, it will continue to have big surf erode the island and all the work being done now of closing the gaps will be a complete waste of time and money.
- Read the story: Supermarket standoff: locals push back on plan
Andrew Aves, Cooroy: The development site is zoned for community facilities and environmental management and conservation, but with the shortage of affordable housing there are much more urgent and suitable uses for this land. There are already aged care facilities in Cooroy and more provision has already been proposed on Elm Street. The applicant recognises in their submission that there is no current shortage of aged care in Noosa Shire.
A comparison is made to a Woolworth development in Mullumbimby, where it is alleged there was little adverse effect on existing businesses. Looking at Google Maps reveals the Mullumbimby Woolworths is in the town centre and it takes eight minutes to walk from the far end of the CBD. The Woolworths planned for Cooroy is 18 minutes walk from the CBD, which would result in very little if any linked trade between a Woolworths with speciality shops and existing businesses in Cooroy CBD.
In its planning application Woolworths states there will be a reduction of 11.5 per cent in the turnover of existing Cooroy businesses, so any alleged gain in employment generated by the development must be offset by the reduction in town centre jobs. Many towns in Australia, and in other countries, have seen their CBD destroyed due to the diversion of trade to out of town retail centres normally owned and operated by multinational corporations with little or no connection to the local community. Cooroy is currently thriving town full of local businesses and its character and charm this is the reason I have chosen to live here.
Read the story: Fed-up resident calls for action on parked caravans and Your say: parked caravans issue sparks debate
Wendy Wakeling, Pelican Waters: As a caravan owner who, yes, parks their caravan in our street, I think people need to maybe slow down a bit. I see people whiz up our street in such a great hurry they are going to run over a child soon, not because they can’t see but because they can’t read speed limits.
Councils need to consider the width of streets being approved by developers. Years ago you could easily park two cars and still have reasonable thoroughfare. We all pay high rates, registration fees and not to mention the beloved stamp duty: maybe the state government could refund us our stamp duty on registration if we pay for storage. Those of us who enjoy our RVs and boats have a legal right to park our registered vehicles legally on the street until such time as things change.
Doug Fry, Maroochydore: I’ve been involved for three or more years trying to fight a development in Sunshine Cove to no avail. It went to a council vote and despite about 100 submitted objections, they were disregarded by a unanimous decision in favour of the developers. I have read the comments on parking problems but unfortunately the council applies a unit parking formula of: 1 unit, 1 car space; 2 units, 1.25 car spaces; 3-4 units, 1.75 car spaces.
Roger Burke, Coorparoo: I am against having recreational vehicles (boats, caravans, jet skis etc) parked on streets for more than one day and definitely not overnight – just enough time to set up for a trip and clean up after a trip. It is bad enough with the number of cars being parked long term in the street that legislation must be enacted so that their vehicles need storage sites. I have seen double garages on properties used for everything but parking cars: all cars are on the street. Apartments are even worse for car parking, let alone RVs.
Jon Canham, Thornlands: l see a growing number of RV users parking their vans etc in front of their own houses or rented properties. As long as they don’t exceed legal lengths and are registered what’s the problem? I asked all my neighbours if they were okay with my van being parked out front of my property and they all said they didn’t mind at all. A month later a council inspector paid me a visit after one complaint and he measured the van then said it’s within legal lengths and l could leave it out the front. The reason most of us do this is because the storage charges are very expensive and often too far away. I do have a suggestion for opening up the roadway: put in parking bays where nature strips are.
Noela Harker, Warana: Parked caravans and boats are left in Melody Court for months on end. I know they pay registration but they park there and sometimes there are no spots for visitors to The Palms, which have over 350 units between the five body corps. It also is a eyesore.
Peta Sleeman, Coochin Creek: I don’t think developers should be able to make dwellings without a car space and as the properties go up in height there should be parking underneath. If you cannot park your caravan on your property you should pay to get it stored. I can hardly get through to my daughter’s place for caravans parked on the roads.
Bruce Reid, Alexandra Headland: I live on Tantula Road West. There are so many caravans, boats, trailers and campervans parked on our street that it’s getting hard to get a park when needed.
Victor C. Blizzard, Goomeri: You have a problem if these vehicles are currently registered as they have a legal right to park in unrestricted parking areas such as residential streets. While I can understand other residents’ concerns, the owners of the registered offending vehicles have the legal right to park on any unrestricted street or parking area. It seems both the developers and council have been remiss by not providing adequate onsite parking for their owners/tenants.
Now, your only hope is to convince council to erect parking time limits on your affected streets, but be careful what you wish for as it is likely to apply to all vehicles, unless they introduce a resident parking permit system. Being councils, you are all likely to suffer some financial cost.
Merrily Willis, Burpengary East: There is already a law that stops trucks and commercial vehicles being parked on a residential street for extended periods for the same reasons that people are inconvenienced by caravans and motorhomes now. Given the huge increase in ownership of these latter vehicles, the law needs to be revised. Also, don’t buy any of these types of vehicles without budgeting for where you will keep them when not in use.
Graeme Evans, Bribie Island: I feel the biggest problem in all cases is councils and developers. Remember back to days when a house block was of a usable size: you could park your caravan on your own land. This is the way it should be today, problem solved, but, no, people buy in these developer estates and build a house as big as the tiny block of dirt and then complain because everyone parks on the street. This is the world we live in.
Also, don’t forget, these vehicles have a registered right to be there. Telling owners of these vehicles they should pay for storage is okay if their registration is reduced for the time they are not on the road. Option two is if you are not happy move further out of suburbia.
David Johnson, Bokarina: Simple. Council can fix this easily with a seven-days-a-week time limit between 7am and 7pm. It should be that all free roadside parking is a maximum of four hours, meaning you must move your vehicle to another location after that parked time. If you’re at the beach, shopping or dining, four hours is sufficient in one block and allows the sharing of spaces for others to enjoy our beachside environment. This would easily generate council funding from overstayed parking fines and/or wheel clamping, inconveniencing only those who abuse the space.
Mark Stanley, Maroochydore: I reside in the Sunshine Cove higher-density living development in Maroochydore and we have a massive problem with people storing their caravans, boat trailers and box trailers on the local streets rather than residents placing these on their own properties or in storage somewhere else.
It’s unfair for people to move into this type of living environment and then bring all their ‘play toys’ with them and burden other residents with these ugly and potentially dangerous vehicles (which are hazards at night as they protrude onto the road ways in many cases). Parking is already a big issue here as residents seem to have their garages filled with junk and hence more cars on the street. The trailers then compound the problem.
In Sydney, my old council outlawed trailers parked on streets so it’s possible. We need our well-paid officials to make decisions for the majority of residents.
David McNamara, Pelican Waters: I live in Millennium Circuit, Pelican Waters. I have complained to the council many times about the traffic problems with vehicles parked on both sides of the road. I received a reply from the council last week saying that restricted access on minor streets has a traffic-calming effect because, if there is not enough space, cars tend to slow down and not speed. My reaction to the council was “I can’t believe that is your answer”. Surely, a yellow ‘no parking’ strip on one side of the road would help.
I also pointed out that the council has a vicarious liability on this issue, that is to say that if council has been made aware of a serious safety situation and chooses to do nothing to correct it, it could be liable for any resultant damage. There has been enough buck passing and hiding your head in the sand, either the council or the police need to take ownership of this issue and fix it, instead of blaming each other.
Gary, Sunrise Beach: I pay registration for my van and, providing it is not a safety issue, I should be able to park on the street. There is more of a safety issue with cars parking on both sides of narrow streets making it very difficult to pass.
Heather Byrne, Tanawha: Council has to take full responsibility. The profiteering in housing developments is the cause. In older streets, you see parking bays and grassy verges. In new developments, there is barely room to pass along the road and narrow front grass strips.
Mark Knight, Palmview: If you can afford a caravan you should be in a position to pay for storage in a designated and secure storage facility, relieving much-needed car parking for cars. The caravans are not only an eyesore on the roadside but are also open to an increased risk of break-ins and or vandalism. Do the right thing and store them off street.
Liane Anderson, Victoria Point: I used to have a caravan for about three years. At the time, I lived in a townhouse with no off-street parking for a van available. I paid to park it in a secure parking lot – fully fenced, electronic gates and cameras. I considered this part of the cost of having a caravan. There needs to be more of these options available at a reasonable cost.
This is partly a council issue as you need planning permission to have this type of use, and it needs to be in a suitable area like light commercial or semi-rural. The reality is a lot more people own vans and lot sizes are smaller and smaller. Practical solutions need to found for all concerned.
Bryan Lowe, Talai: The parking of vans on public roads should be okay only if the registered vehicle is not in front of someone else’s house leaving a mess, obstructing other road users or causing a safety issue. Maybe make it only for a week or two, then it has to move.
Jennifer Gardner, Pelican Waters: Pelican Waters Boulevard is always full of the caravans and so on, as their owners have purchased them believing it is okay to park them on the streets for as long as they like. Yes, they may registered, however I think it’s wrong they can be left in the one spot for months, even years, outside someone else’s property. Don’t buy something your own property can’t accommodate.
- Read the story: Marathon makes strides with scenic new route and Major roads to close for marathon festival
Peter Watkins, Mudjimba: Here we are, having had the newly re-routed Sunshine Coast Marathon, which now has been extended through Twin Waters and Mudjimba. Aren’t we lucky? Access was restricted, with traffic confusion and delays massive, and even though Mudjimba is having a ‘street party’ to celebrate, for me, the disruption is frustrating.
I read the pamphlet outlining the road closures, some of the times etc, and came across the following: “This event will deliver significant health, community and economic benefits for the Sunshine Coast and surrounds and put the city on the international stage.”
Pardon me, I seem to be missing out on my benefits: Health – at 76 I’m not doing any marathons or even bits of one, however I do surf most days and keep active; Community – we are part of a fairly large group of local residents with various activities and interests, I think that we may know one or two people who may take part; Economic – I realised today that I have been missing out on my share of the economic benefits. Where do I go to collect them? Of course, this newly extended event is only one of many that close many roads and disrupt the local residents.
- Read the story: Police crack down on e-riders, parents face fines
Robyn Deane, Nambour: Like many, we have had a few hair-raising moments as we have almost collided with young riders on e-bikes and e-scooters. At least twice, thanks to quick reflexes, we were a split second away from seriously harming a young person, or worse.
No one wants to live with the trauma of being involved with causing life-changing injuries or fatalities. Therefore, it is good to see the police addressing this dangerous road and footpath behaviour with their Operation Raptor Wheelie. The police operation will educate parents so they know they can and will be fined or charged for permitting their child’s dangerous or illegal use of an e-scooter or e-bike. Hopefully they will then ensure their children understand the road rules, consider others on footpaths and keep themselves safe too.
- Read the story: Council proposes to increase parking fines and Parking trial ban expanded to tackle illegal camping
Mark Abrahams: We want backpackers to come here to do the jobs that Aussies don’t want to do, but we don’t give them free campsites, or we expect them to stay in free campsites full of homeless Australians. Would you like to stay in a homeless camp on your next overseas holiday?
Councils should offer free camp spots for travellers with public barbecues, coin-operated hot showers and toilets. Backpacker hostels are mostly shared dorm rooms, only a very few allow van campers.
Colin Marshall, Central Coast: I am a bit sympathetic with people who can’t pay their rent and/or electricity. I know it is not acceptable from society. Unfortunately, the situation, if not addressed, is only going to get worse. Where can we go?
Greg Whybrow, Burpengary: It’s about time councils open showgrounds and other spots for people that want to stay just for one night. It’s impossible to get one night camping in any caravan park as these are run by the council, and they are only catering for people that stay for four weeks in peak season. That’s the council rules. I’ve tried to book for a couple of nights and was told not interested.
- Read the story: Backlash over minister’s call-in of festival site proposal
Peter Baulch, North Arm: Shades of pre-Fitzgerald Inquiry times – a contemporary generation of good ol’ boys reprising the good ol’ days of rule by decree.
- Read the story: Ashley Robinson told to leave the lollies at home
Wendy Greaves, Nirimba: Once, banks were there to serve the people but today we are there at their beck and call. No service at all like there used to be. This is just not good enough.
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 give to letters of 100 words or less.
