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: Draft report on plan for 12,000 homes goes public
Greg Clutton, Pelican Waters: The inter-urban break is ridiculous and Stockland is exhibiting the height of arrogance after our council deemed that land to be for restoration and revegetation before Stockland acquired it. Not surprising, however, given the ease with which it has had its way with state governments once these projects are ‘called in’.
Yes, it was pine forest before it became grazing land, but what about before the pine forest? No doubt natural native vegetation, which we need to protect our environment. These companies aren’t developers (oxymoron) they are destroyers and vandals. As was reported in this column recently, Caloundra is so named for the indigenous name for native Beech tree. These can no longer be found in this area. Let’s plant these trees and not another sea of white roofs. This on top of the Coochin Creek development is too much. When will this madness stop?
Erika Amado, Bribie Island: I have been reading the reports for the proposed development and I couldn’t find anything related to the traffic impact assessment. It states that as part of the summary (on the website) that: “The analysis shows that Aura South can be developed in a way that protects the Sunshine Coast’s environmental and lifestyle values”.
How will the lifestyle values and environment not be affected if the traffic isn’t getting better as roads haven’t been developed for the current and future population, hence the current traffic congestion on the roads?
I live in the area and the traffic is getting worse every day and bringing more people to the area would definitely impact time spent on our roads. Could you please explain what solutions have been approved and will be implemented to mitigate traffic impact caused by new developments to state that lifestyle won’t be affected?
Jonny, Bells Creek: I would never stop growth opportunity and I understand the needs. But to say this will address housing affordability is nonsense, it’s rich. Will Stockland guarantee this development will bring pricing down? Nah. It’s just developed as much and as quickly as possible to keep the cash flowing in. I’m all for planning ahead, but maybe finish Aura first. Central and Gagalba have barely broken ground. Plus, where are the tradies coming from to build all this?
- Read the story: More than 100 lots planned under subdivision proposal
Robyn Deane, Nambour: Gee, looks like we made the right choice not buying over Burnside way last year. We have friends there and visiting them can be very slow going, especially when school traffic fills the roads. Certainly hope council gives very careful consideration to the latest subdivision proposal for 103 lots on Burnside Road as well as the one for 66 lots on in the same area proposed recently and weighs up the traffic situation. There are very limited options for getting in and out of the area.
Does council have plans for more access into the area? Trying to put a positive spin on their proposal, the latest applicant mentions a bus stop near the TAFE, really!
- Read the story: Wild dingoes to be euthanised after teen’s death
Sandra Fietz, Beerwah: My condolences to all those who have been impacted by tragedy on K’gari.
The ‘powers that be’ have culled – killed – six dingoes which were doing what wild animals do: scavenge to survive. I believe this to be a knee-jerk decision. The bigger problem is tourists. For too long Australians have put money and fun first.
Money – barge fees and camping fees – comes from tourists who are mainly locals and tourists who rightfully think this is paradise. But how long will this World Heritage island with its unique flora and fauna continue to be paradise?
It’s fun to drive on the beach camp overnight, swim in once pristine lakes and creeks regardless of the impact to this World Heritage listed island. People believe they are entitled to have fun in our own back yard, no matter the cost. If something goes wrong, loud voices complain and expect the ‘powers that be’ to fix it … until next time.
Police now monitor traffic on the beaches for speeding, drink-driving on this World Heritage-listed island. Thanks to the officers who are trying to maintain paradise. It’s a strange paradise that needs police to maintain order. Tourists do not obey signs and rules. As one overseas backpacker said to me: “Yeah! We play hard in paradise. No rules like at home”.
For those who travel the world, we understand there are laws and common sense rules in each country, which must be obeyed. For instance, in Africa walking in the bush can be deadly due to wild cats, lions, dogs and hyenas; swimming in water due to sharks, hippopotamus, snakes and alligators; in parts of Australia people are cautious of sharks, crocodiles, snakes and scorpions.
So why do people treat K’gari any different? Hopefully the ‘powers that be’ take the example of other countries and reclaim paradise by allowing only tour groups on to K’gari, our World Heritage-listed island. Tour guides inform tourists about many aspects of the heritage and how to respect and preserve the fragile ecosystem of K’gari, which is unique.
Fun can be experienced on many other stretches of beach, that are not a fragile World Heritage-listed area and where there are no wild animals. Money would still be made from accommodation and tour operators. It works all over the world, why not here?
- Read the story: Coalition calls for federal review after tourist park approval
Ray Brown: The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. How can the deputy premier override Sunshine Coast Council’s decision on the Coochin Creek caravan resort, yet says he cannot intervene on behalf of the tenants at the Dicky Beach Holiday Park where council wants to make their homes worthless?
- ADHD potential waiting to be unlocked
Garry Reynolds, Peregian Springs: As a former teacher, back-to-school ads bring to mind the challenges facing students, their parents and teachers. These challenges are real, but far from insurmountable. Being diagnosed with ADHD once meant being written off as a second‑class student. But Michael Thow’s story shows how wrong that thinking is. The boy who couldn’t sit still is now heading to university to study medicine.
Michael’s early behaviour was challenging, but once his parents and teachers understood how his brain worked and supported him with targeted strategies and school‑only medication, everything changed. His mother says his intentions were always good – he just needed people who could see past the surface.
With teachers who focused on his strengths, ADHD became a point of difference rather than a barrier. Michael went from struggling, to becoming an A‑grade student throughout his schooling.
His dream of becoming a doctor began at age seven after visiting his grandmother in hospital and he’s worked hard ever since. His advice to others with ADHD is simple: don’t fight your brain, work with it. Michael’s journey should remind us that ADHD is not a life sentence but a pathway to potential.
What makes the difference is understanding, early support and educators who are trained to recognise strengths rather than punishing symptoms. As the school year begins, every child deserves that same chance to thrive and that starts with schools and communities recognising that neurodiverse students aren’t problems to be managed, but potential waiting to be unlocked.
- Don’t feed birds bread and crackers
Denise Maclean, Buderim: This letter is addressed to those who feed bread and crackers to wild birds in the Buderim area. I know that you are probably well meaning in your actions and you think the birds need the food. However, while bread is often the first food people reach for to feed the birds around them, it’s often highly-processed and high in salt. Bread contains no nutritional value for birds and quickly fills a bird’s stomach with empty calories and none of the energy or nutrients they need to stay healthy. Larger pieces can easily get stuck in their crops (the specialised pouch in their oesophagus used for storing food). Bread also gets mouldy quickly, which is especially toxic for birds – mould spores can cause Aspergillosis, a potentially fatal respiratory infection.
I have witnessed crows dropping bread and biscuits into my water bowls at my home and also at a local care home in Buderim. If you believe that you really need to feed our birds then please consult Birdlife Australia. They recommend what you can and can’t feed our local birds. The best thing you can do for our local, native birds is to provide them with daily fresh water and plant a selection of flowering native shrubs in your garden. That’s the only help they need from us.
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.
