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: Land beside highway sells for $318 million
Tom Swann, Currimundi: Well, what a surprise, the Queensland Government is releasing stacks of unused government land to private enterprise developers for housing. Well overdue, especially as we have a housing crisis, but as this is happening right after the government changed the law to now permit developers to make donations to political parties, it has a little smell about it, or am I just being cynical? Probably put it out of your mind folks, the Fitzgerald Inquiry is long gone and Joh is no longer with us.
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill: The Sunshine Coast is growing rapidly, with population increases outpacing infrastructure and placing pressure on the region’s environmental and community assets. We need development that meets our public interest. Development that protects what makes the region liveable, ensures benefits are real and shared, and strengthens long-term community wellbeing without shifting costs or risks onto residents, nature, or future generations. And can be seen to work for the entire community, not sectional interests.
Development that:
- Protects the region’s natural assets and resilience – avoids harm and reduces risk;
- Delivers measurable, verifiable community benefits – real jobs and growth not speculative;
- Aligns with long-term plans and capacity – without depending on money that’s not there;
- Strengthens community, amenity and liveability;
- Is transparent, accountable and enforceable – promises are real, delivery is tracked and enforced;
- Is fair and avoids shifting risk to the community – current and future.
Recent state planning decisions comprehensively fail these public interest tests. Some deliver 0 out of 6. We need far better.
- Read the story: Landmark property reno application exceeds suburb height limit
- Read the story: Site investigations to start for metro transit corridor
Andrew Moran, Battery Hill: We all want a Sunshine Coast where people can get around easily, safely and affordably – where better public transport is an important part of that future. We want a system that’s future proof and one that works for locals every day, not just for an event in 2032. While some progress on The Wave is reported, there are significant risks and unknowns. Key decisions – alignment, station locations, property impacts, fleet type, service frequency and connectivity, and cost/funding arrangements have still to be determined. Community voices need to be heard now, as part of the planning process, to ensure the service reflects our 24x7x365 needs. Let’s be heard.
- Read the story: Dozens of flying foxes killed in golf club netting
Christine Bennett, Nambour: It is very concerning that little red flying foxes have been trapped in netting at a Noosa Golf Club. Flying foxes are a key species that are vital for forest regeneration as they pollinate hardwoods that only flower at night. Flying foxes travel long distances of up to 100km on seasonal migration, dispersing seed for the genetic diversity of forest species that other wildlife, like koalas, depend upon for survival. Something needs to be done about these nets, very soon, to prevent more bats from dying. A big “thank you” to wildlife volunteers, who are working hard to save these animals.
- Read the story: Dual 55m towers proposed next to major shopping hub
M Grayson: I am absolutely sick to death of this over development, to shove in as many people as possible, for the economy, all for the Olympics. We even have real estate selling off internationally. More congestion to our roads. Maroochydore area, especially around Aerodrome Road, coming up to Plaza Parade, that stupid gate that leaves the plaza onto Aerodrome Road, causes congestion and should be no exit at all. The Coast is fast turning into a mini city, which is not what we want, definitely not another Gold Coast.
- Read the story: Work to start on upgrade of major road
Burnice Starkey, Glass House Mountains: With work expected to start within weeks on the First Avenue Upgrade in the heart of Maroochydore: “The public tender process for the construction contract has now concluded and the successful contractor will be announced soon”.
Will Sunshine Coast Council accept the tender from Heidelberg Materials, a cement and gravel company?
The ongoing Hanson/Glasshouse Quarry dispute sees council and advocacy group Save Our Glass House Mountains opposing Heidelberg Materials in the case of the expansion development application of the quarry under Mt Coonowrin.
With community voices set to bear witness in the Planning and Environment Court as lay witnesses, any further granting of tenders by Heidelberg Materials in any works around our Sunshine Coast would be highly duplicitous.
- Read the story: Push to save historic local store from rail project
Deborah Pienaar, Buderim: As a local writer, mother and member of the community, I would like to raise deep concerns over the government’s plans to level the Beerwah Co-Op (the heart of Beerwah for 90 years) in favour of a carpark next to the new train station. I hereby express my support for the Beerwah community in its ongoing discussions.
As often emphasised by our mayor Rosanna Natoli, our communities are our gold. I believe strong communities are safe communities. Moreover, I’m convinced here on the Sunshine Coast and hinterland, we know better than a one-dimensional “progress-is-king” progress, where the wisdom of multi-generational communities were left out.
In cases where progress was steamrolled top-down, it is often the very community, which was left out of the initial decision-making, to pick up the pieces afterwards. Because, inevitably, despite the good things (trains enhancing connectivity to jobs/education), the effects of the seriously bad things (potentially more drugs and gangs) will be felt if the community’s concerns remain unaddressed.
It is my understanding that trains bring progress, but can also bring drugs and gangs. I heard this from the horse’s mouth. A local police officer told me my suburb was so safe because there was no train station. He contrasted his experience in south Brisbane’s Logan with north Brisbane’s The Gap (we lived there as a family from 2018 to 2022). The Gap is a beautiful, safe, integrated and environment-loving community (with the best community garden) and a big reason for this: no train station means outside influences are minimised.
In my mind, saying progress is going ahead regardless of how the community feels, is your typical one-dimensional leadership. Haven’t we moved on? Haven’t we arrived (in fact, returned to) circle leadership, where all the voices around the table are being heard and a long-term solution is co-designed by all stakeholders?
I believe it is possible to find a truly sustainable solution that will keep on giving economically, but also include other important elements. I am for the train lines, for the benefit of our youth, but also seriously concerned about the potential expense to our youth in terms of drugs and criminal elements. When gangs/drugs get in close proximity to youth, their lives can quickly spiral and leave communities shattered by tragic events. More than the issue of the community suffering due to safety/crime, the youth suffer in terms of life opportunities thrown away, ie diversion from opportunities into seriously bad habits like drugs and crime.
Apart from a youth safety concern, I also have a deep concern for our environment. Often times our beautiful, shared nature, wherein we all exercise/reset/meet up/and find joy, often has no voice at the table. And sadly, we’ve lost connection with the land. We don’t even know how to prepare Bunya nuts, or weave a basket anymore, or sit around a fire singing/yarning the night away.
Many times in the past, we’ve seen how after “progress” crime goes up, then crime punishments go up (reactive), then eventually the government throws money toward finding the cause (proactive), and then the researchers finally arrive at a multi-faceted solution, and one the community knew years before, that sustainable progress for all is a product of:
- Strong communities;
- Ample education and employment opportunities;
- Ample opportunities for community integration and multi-generational integration – clubs and mentorships;
- Respect for nature – access to physical areas for holistic health and wellbeing – bike paths, nature walks and skate parks;
- Involved elders – communities where elders have their eye on problem youth and co-design programs/solutions;
- Good cooperation between the police and community;
- Thriving organisations, which promote health, teamwork – youth-oriented churches hosting activity-based events, community gyms, hiking groups and scouts;
- A collective caring for our environment – clean-up days and education during turtle hatching season.
Bored, isolated, disengaged or unmotivated youth, who don’t know where they fit in society, can easily become at risk youth. Integration into safe, healthy and strong communities is a sure antidote and everyone reaps the benefit.
What happens in my community deeply concerns me because it comes very close to my children and their peers. Terrible things can happen right on our doorstep, or in the next suburb over. My heart goes out to this young man and his family, in intensive care after an Ocean Street fight. I am thankful for our local journalism, community magazines and community newspapers.
Also, there have been numerous informative articles on what parents can do about online safety. But, I am increasingly concerned about the availability/commonplace of drugs to young people. I haven’t seen any articles on that yet. And in my mind, trains can open the door to more drugs/dealing in a big way. Perhaps the police already have proactive plans in place? I am wondering. My husband says he often sees suspicious activity on the Landsborough to Brisbane train. Perhaps some articles about how the community can help the police can be helpful. But I digress.
The two main points of this letter is to: express my support for the Beerwah community, and call on the mayor and Sunshine Coast leaders to brainstorm together how we can ensure that only sustainable progress is allowed here.
As parents, elders and leaders, we can all play our part in protecting what makes the Sunshine Coast so special and keep on providing safe places, spaces and communities wherein our young people can grow and thrive.
- Democracy to the letter
Garry Reynolds, Peregian Springs: Recently, a story about General Motors boss Mary Barra stopped me in my tracks. She runs a $75‑billion global corporation, yet replies by hand to every letter she receives, whether positive or negative. No spin doctors. No automated replies. No “your feedback is important to us” nonsense. Just a leader taking personal responsibility for genuinely listening and responding.
It made me wonder why something so simple feels extraordinary, especially when many of our own representatives seem to be drifting further away from the people they’re meant to serve.
Across all levels of government, the gap is widening. When ordinary Australians raise real concerns, what do we get? Invariably, a form letter, a media line, or a carefully staged photo‑op. Anything, it seems, except genuine engagement.
We’re not asking for miracles. We’re asking for honesty. We’re asking for leaders who remember that their job is to represent people, not play politics like it’s a spectator sport.
If the CEO of a mammoth multinational can pick up a pen and respond to a stranger, surely our elected representatives can manage more than a pre‑approved paragraph drafted by a highly-paid lackey in an office remote from our daily reality.
The truth is that too many of our leaders have become insulated. They are surrounded by advisers, pollsters and party strategists who treat ordinary Australians as just another line in their polling spreadsheet rather than worthy citizens.
The more distant these self-entitled politicians become, the more trust evaporates.
Democracy doesn’t break overnight. It erodes slowly, every time a politician dodges a straight answer, every time a community is fobbed off, every time accountability is replaced with a theatrical performance or the sickening spectacle of tribal bloodletting.
A handwritten letter won’t fix everything. But it symbolises something we’re sorely missing: a willingness to listen without filters, without spin and without treating the public as an inconvenience.
We deserve better. If a global CEO can manage it, our representatives have no excuse.
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.
