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: Fresh push for new laws to curb caravan parking
Robyn Jackson, Marcoola: These vehicles are registered so they are permitted to park on roads. The problem is, for decades, the council has allowed the construction of narrow roadways. What’s the difference of a caravan parking legally to a second household vehicle to be parked roadside? These vehicles carry their owners over the countryside on holidays, spending their money in regional areas which are crying out for income. So if it’s registered it’s legal – lay the fault at council’s feet, not the owners. I mean, if they try to ban people parking their vans etc are they going to ban trailers, boats and second or third vehicles? People need to lighten up.
Kelly Maxted, Currimundi: I Live in Lakeside Crescent. There are currently 16 stored vehicles in the street. Yes, 16! We have to look out our windows and seen this amazing sight every day. It really is getting us all down.
Valmai Baden, Woombye: Caravan owners pay rego on their vehicles and therefore have every right to park on the road. The fact that councils continue to approve narrow streets, not allowing more room for vehicles, is based on poor planning. The next thing will be not allowing vehicles to be parked outside their property. Poor parking habits could be addressed differently than by saying “no parking”.
Diane Price, Alexandra Headland: Put central white lines down problem streets, then charge owners of problem vans etc for illegal parking too close to the centre line.
David Green, Belrose, NSW: I don’t live in your area but this is a problem Australia-wide. There is a very simple solution: if a vehicle is not self powered it can’t be left on a road more than 24 hours.
Aaron Copson, Hervey Bay: If council and developers weren’t so greedy and actually gave decent-size blocks of land, people could park vans or trailers off the street. It’s a massive problem all over the country.
R. Gray, Salisbury: The main problem with houses is that there isn’t any backyard access. These days, if the 4WD is too high then it needs to go on the street as well. New housing estates also have streets that are far too narrow and some no through roads don’t even have a turnaround at the end. Should be illegal.
Sharon Mendes, Redbank Plains: What good are permits to park in streets for caravans or motorhomes when they block views of oncoming traffic? We need them out of the way. If you can afford a caravan then you can afford the storage payments. Welcome to swollen streets and free parking.
Bob Lorenz, Little Mountain: I can see that some residents can be disgruntled with these vehicles being parked on the streets but if it is out front of the owner’s residence, then it should be allowed so long as the street is of a reasonable size to allow for normal and safe flow of traffic. I can remember when a friend, who lived in the Gabba precinct, was allowed to park in front of their residence on game day (as parking was restricted) and a permit was issued to identify their vehicle.
Charmaine McKenzie, Stafford: My opinion is if you own a mobile home or caravan or boat or extra cars, they should kept on the property you live at. The road belongs to everyone, not just for you to park your extra things. There is also a risk factor for us, with poor visibility and having to go over the other side the road in a lot cases: it’s dangerous. Keep your excessive things on your property. That’s what I and a lot of other people think.
- Read the story: Brewery fights to stay open amid legal challenges
Richard Locke, Eumundi: It appears for many years this business has operated without the required planning permission and when found out they apply to council to approve. Seems naive today to think you can just start a function centre and brewery on Rural land and expect everyone to contribute to your legal fees. Just imagine what the property will be worth with the improvements and approvals in place to sell on in the future. We don’t want this to create a precedent for other farmland, and there are several local breweries to choose from.
Ross: It appears there is more to this problem than meets the eye. This development , being built around families enjoying the facilities being provided, not to mention real job opportunities for so many staff, should be given every possible assistance from local council. There is more to developing a shire than some straight-laced print.
Christine Durston, Kings Beach: I oppose the Teralla Brewery being given the go-ahead to operate in such a quiet, rural setting as North Arm. I also object to the manner in which the brewery has pushed ahead its operations without local community consultation or council permits. I understand they are advertising a market to take place in October on the site, in spite of the ongoing legal situation in regards to inappropriate land use.
- Read the story: The Aussie housing mismatch
N. Coulter, Mooloolaba: Ms Owen has an absolute gall to even think us older ratepaying residents should downsize for other people. Why, when we have worked our guts out to own our own home, raise a family and contribute to our community, should we be expected to make way for other people who find it hard to get a place of their own? It’s always been a struggle to own your own home and will always be so, but not at the expense of taxing people because they live in a big house. Try stopping immigration for a while and try telling people that they all can’t start at the top. Start at the bottom like we did.
- Read the story: Wind farm axed after community, approval concerns
Pauline H. Clayton, Parrearra: Wind turbine farms have proven to be not only costly, they can be environmentally disastrous, particularly when they are near the ocean and subject to rust. How do you dispose of hundreds of 200m-plus metal wind turbines? Trading forests and agricultural land for wind farms is hardly a positive for any community.
- Read the story: Fast approvals only add to housing supply logjam
Robyn Deane, Nambour: Do we really have a lack of housing supply? Our population has increased by 16 per cent in the past 10 years, however, there has been a 19 per cent increase of dwellings built: that is more houses than the rate of population growth. Supply is not the problem. House prices have been driven up by the big increase in demand by investors who outbid owner-occupiers. Investment properties are lucrative tax incentives for housing speculators largely because of negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts.
Many social service groups and the unions who want to see housing made more affordable are calling for reform of the negative gearing and capital tax gains regulations. Suggestions of ‘grandfathering’ CGT and limiting negative gearing to one house have been mentioned: these options must be considered. Red tape and shortages of workers and materials are not the only problems: the net must be cast wider to find solutions to the shortage of houses in our country. Boosting supply may lower housing costs, but it’s not the only or simplest solution to fix the housing crisis.
- Read the story: 1000 speeding fines in Coast school zones in a year
Barry Chin, Currimundi: The government could save money by not installing these school lights – no one takes notice of them. I see cars racing through these lights every day along Saffron Drive, Currimundi. The police won’t put a radar there in the morning or afternoon, and the poor lollipop people have to risk their lives trying to stop these idiots. I have seen many a close call and dread the day when a schoolchild gets hit by a speeding car that won’t stop.
- Read the story: Households urged to charge ahead with solar batteries
Grant Mitchell, Woonona, NSW: People need to beware that battery life is based on charge and discharge cycles. This also plays a part of the warranty. Depending upon the installer, design, quality and storage capacity, you may need a replacement on average every seven years. The savings are cancelled out owing to the replacement cost. Along with solar and battery, your home insurance cost will rise overall, increasing the running costs of a household.
Given we must move to more sustainable energy, most developed countries around the world have nuclear power. Politically, Australia is in denial. Many may not know that in the Sydney metro area we have a nuclear plant for medical purposes. If it was to fail everyone will die within the first 50km after the incident and, in two years, everyone in a 200km radius. This plant has been operating for decades.
- Read the story: Crackdown on feral pests and invasive weeds
Keith B. Holdway, Maleny: The fastest, cheapest and most environmentally effective way to eradicate bindi is to purchase a two-litre bottle of white vinegar. Just spray bindi and in a couple of days they are dead. You need to be careful where you spray as it is potent brew. Once sprayed it will leave brown spots, and the under grass will dry off but will regrow fairly quickly.
- Read the story: Ashley Robinson: Toothless and toppled after dentist visit
Jane Pike, Eulo, Qld: Thanks so much for sharing this lovable rogue, he’s as Aussie as they come and funny as the mad hatter. His common sense sometimes deserts him but he’s 100 per cent one of us and hits the nail on the wall so very well. And thank you editor for choosing a laugh before the dribble we are fed today.
- Read the story: Group intensifies opposition to planned quarry expansion
Burnice Starkey, Glass House Mountains: How can Heidelberg Materials claim that they are working with the council when matters raised with them from June remain unanswered? How can the quarry manager say that they are working respectfully with community when they allow not two but often three double quarry trucks follow each other during pick hour? As mentioned in the article, a mass declaration signing event is being held at the Community Hall, 8 Coonowrin Road, on Sunday, August 31, from 1-4pm and again Wednesday, September 3, from 6.30-8.30pm. This will also be presented to the Sunshine Coast Council and possibly other government bodies.
- Read the story: More fines issued in blitz on illegal camping
Narelle Crack: If caravan parks were to charge a reasonable fee, more people would use their facilities. We have completed a few years managing caravan parks in Queensland and NSW and found the charges to be the problem. We are completely in favour of free camping ourselves due to the costs in private parks. We are saving a minimum of $40 and upwards per night for two people. It’s more for families. Also, if government fees, charges and red tape for parks were reduced, the costs of camping should be reduced. Vanners and campers bring in a huge amount of tourist dollars to the areas they stop in: this should be acknowledged. National Parks are also getting greedy with their charges. Where is it all going to stop?
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.
