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: Ocean threatens to split island again
In 1982, I had the pleasure of visiting Bribie Island. I was in good company and visited the northern part of Bribie Island after purchasing food and drinks (non-alcoholic) from a local shop. We found a lovely carpark and sat down for a meal picnic style in the shade. A beautiful sea breeze helped set the atmosphere. Later we enjoyed a splash in the water.
Forty-three years have passed. In this day and age with all the advances in equipment, dredges and so on, I cannot understand the neglect by relevant authorities in allowing not one or two but a highly-potential third loss to the island. Bribie Island provides a shielding effect to the mainland on the other side of Pumicestone Passage, where it affords some protection not only to beaches but also to the environment.
It is fine for the relevant councils and government officials to strut around reaping the rewards from rates, increased land valuations and sales but they don’t have the fortitude to protect the big picture.
There is no hesitation to promote the Coast. Reap the monetary rewards and provide nothing in return to save the island from quickly diminishing in size. Environmental authorities should be doing something constructive to rectify the situation.
I sincerely hope that Bribie Island repairs happen quickly to not only save the island but also the seaway and aquatic environment and provide greater protection to the respective housing settlements.
Hilton Patton, Roma
The breakthroughs are Mother Nature at work and we, as humans, should not interfere.
Let nature take its course. The privileged few people “inconvenienced” by the changes do not deserve any support at all.
They should acknowledge they were always at risk and took a gamble in choosing to live in this location and should accept the consequences.
Mark Knight, Palmview
For every breakthrough of Bribie there is a knock-on effect, in that sand and debris pushes further into the Pumicestone Passage.
This still provides a buffer from the ocean, albeit a less defined one, and may eventually (over decades) provide a wider sand beach area at Golden Beach. Bribie has been narrowing for many decades now and, apart from pumping sand from offshore, there is, in my opinion, no other satisfactory solution.
Strengthening the island with heavy materials will only lead to breakthroughs in other spots as the sea seeks the weakest link. It’s easy for me to hypothesise as I don’t live there but I believe that we must allow nature to take its own course.
Invoking a basic law of physics, in that matter cannot be created or destroyed, means that the sand is still there, it has been redistributed between the island and the beachfront.
John Edds, Maroochydore
It is widely acknowledged that the Bribie Island erosion is caused by extensive dredging. Please stop referring to some imaginary causes of that instead.
Dmitri Sharov, Battery Hill
- Read the story: Public has say on immense plan for shipping channel
The question needs to be asked: why does the Port of Brisbane envisage the need to accommodate 200,000-tonne ships in the first place?
What will these ships be bringing to and taking from Brisbane: cars, prefab houses, clothes, food, iPhones, oil, gas, coal, iron ore, wool, cotton, live sheep, cattle, kangaroos?
Port of Brisbane, please justify your billions of dollars of expenditure here, not to mention the environmental devastation within an internationally, nationally and state protected marine park. This needs to be justified to bewildered future generations who will inherit this costly aberration and loss of natural assets.
There is no rail infrastructure at the Port of Brisbane to service this phantom cargo. This whole grandiose proposal appears to be the pipe dream of someone wanting to leave a legacy. But of what? And it seems political decision makers continue to be seduced by these grandiose and costly ideas.
Obviously, from the beginning of the Port of Brisbane, there have never been any baseline studies to determine the environmental, social, economic and cultural impacts of the dredging. And it seems this proposal does not include any baseline studies for future generations to understand the logic of past generations.
Mother Nature has certainly taken advantage of the historic excavation of millions of tonnes of sand and happily wreaks havoc on the barrier (Bribie Island) that once protected Caloundra’s waterfront developments. Then, of course, there is the environmental impact with the loss of internationally protected habitat essential to the survival of endangered resident and migratory species including shorebirds and marine turtles.
Diane Oxenford, Woorim
The last time the Brisbane River flooded there was no access to the river by shipping for several days, due to the amount of debris floating down the river.
The ships were left anchored off Mooloolaba: even a cruise liner was left wallowing in heavy seas not being able to access its berth at the mouth of the river. This flooding is becoming a more common occurrence. By increasing the size of the ships, won’t this exacerbate the situation?
I understand that one of the issues with the breakthrough at the northern end of Bribie Island was due to existing dredging. If this continues at a greater rate, would it make it worse? Would it be practical to direct the dredged material toward the island, to not only repair the damage but reduce the chance of it happening again.
On a more long-term solution: many years ago, when the inland rail was being discussed, it was suggested that the major port for South-East Queensland be relocated to Gladstone. The rail would be connected via Toowoomba overland to Gladstone, which is a deep-water port. There would need to be a major upgrade of both road and rail links to Brisbane. The Port of Brisbane could then become a major cruise terminal. I realise that this would mean cooperation between state and federal governments and billions of dollars.
However, I don’t believe that we have the people of vision to achieve this and there are too many vested interests to keep the status quo.
Derek Browning, Glass House Mountains
We own a house at Golden Beach. Our house is now threatened to be swamped with ocean water very soon, due to the most recent southern breakthrough in Bribie Island.
The shipping channel runs extremely close to Bribie Island on the north end and the Port of Brisbane, dredging and taking away the sand, has had a major impact on the destruction and deterioration of North Bribie Island. Swells are now coming directly at our houses.
You must rebuild Bribie Island now. We do not have any issues with you building a double-width shipping channel, we realise this is essential. However, a sea barrier wall along the east side of Bribie is also essential. The longer it is left, the bigger the repair job will be.
It is also essential to bring in the large sand dredges and pump the sand which has been sucked off the island, back on to the island to rebuild our barrier island. This is of urgent need of repair. Our houses will be destroyed and all the public recreational areas along the esplanade at Golden Beach and Diamond Head are already getting destroyed.
Bring sand back on to Bribie Island and build the sea wall on the east side of the island. Where the first breakthrough was two years ago is directly where your ships do the sharp turn out of the channel.
Of course, it is not rocket science to see, the under ocean-wash from these huge ships is what started the erosion to North Bribie Island
Dianne Kleidon, Golden Beach
The deepening and widening of the shipping channel adjacent to the already eroded northern end of Bribie Island will lead almost certainly to the complete destruction of the remaining parts of that end of Bribie.
While acknowledging this work must be done for the enhanced movement of shipping into and out of the Port of Brisbane, the authorities must accept their responsibility to protect the homes and business in Golden Beach and nearby areas.
I propose that included in the cost of dredging the channel should be the cost of a significant seawall, together with a large volume of pumped sand along the seaward side of this wall, to give security to those property owners in the Golden Beach area.
Tom Swann, Currimundi
- Read the story: Second luxury resort approved following four-year battle
I would like to congratulate Noosa councillors for finally approving the application by GH Properties to build a luxury hotel at Noosa Springs.
There has been a lot of pressure by a vocal minority to have the proposal blocked so it is refreshing to see that, in the end, common sense has prevailed.
Not only will the hotel provide jobs but it will also see the golf clubhouse upgraded to include a restaurant that will service not only the hotel but the local communities.
I feel confident that, once built, the concerns of those who opposed the plan will be laid to rest.
Brian Cairns, Noosa Springs
The train through to Maroochydore needs to happen. The other solution, The Wave, is a Band-Aid solution.
While they are at it, how about better transport for the hinterland towns? This is always forgotten. There is a train line between Nambour to Gympie: why can’t there be a daily shuttle?
If you can get to Nambour you can then get to Maroochydore.
The bus trip from, say, Cooroy to Nambour is a minimum of two hours, and with no car or no licence it’s virtually impossible.
Carol McCormick, Cooroy
- Read the story: Surge in e-transport injuries prompts govt inquiry
I would guess on behalf of 90 per cent of Sunshine Coast residents we want to see much more action in slowing down e-scooter riders who have a total disregard for respect, public safety and the law.
Something must be done to stop their dangerous riding antics.
Walking along Mooloolaba Esplanade should be pleasurable. Recently a near miss with a very high speed e-scooter left me stunned and scared, and if I or others were hit, it would have resulted in hospitalisation or worse.
Please, authorities at all levels, work together to control/ban these idiots with the priority of making our streets safe again, particularly major pedestrian footpaths.
To the responsible riders out there, thank you.
Steven Murphy, Mooloolaba
- Read the story: New Jetstar deal delivers record flights for the region
It is a false economy to suggest that Sunshine Coast flights are highest between Sydney and Melbourne.
This is so because there are no other options at affordable price for regional communities. People in regional NSW and Victoria do not have an option of direct flights to the Sunshine Coast. They did when Bonza flew, and the Albury to Sunshine Coast was always at capacity. This service is desperately needed again. Hence regional people have to travel to or via a metro port to get to and from Sunshine Coast.
I live in Albury-Wodonga and suffer incredibly high flight costs for a flight to visit my family if I want to travel from my regional airport. I suffer huge travel costs when flying from Melbourne, the closest major airport. I have to add travel to Melbourne and possible accommodation for myself and the car, when travel modes and times do not align. The train takes up to four hours to get to and from Melbourne.
It was very evident that regional direct connection with Sunshine Coast is vital to link people and destinations. Bonza offered this freedom at reasonable prices and flights were full.
Regional ports travelling to Sunshine Coast are vital for people in regional centers. Jetstar could offer this connection if they really wanted to cater for regional not just the metro population. I am sure the statistics would speak for themselves if this direct service was offered.
Offering more seats at high prices is not an answer for the travelling community, it is a money spinner for the airline.
Urszula Stratton, Albury-Wodonga
- Read the story: Group vows to ramp up fight against quarry plans
One can certainly understand the community concerns surrounding the quarry expansion with the residents and Save Our Glass House Mountains group rightfully protesting this destruction of land and wildlife.
What sticks in my craw is the utter contemptuous hypocrisy displayed by Greens Senator Larissa Waters. While bleating about this quarry expansion, nary a word about the destruction of hundreds of hectares to place industrial wind farms into our energy grid to ‘save the planet’.
Is Senator Waters only interested in projects close to local populations to garner support or is she truly concerned with the overall environment that her party is hellbent on destroying in the name of renewables?
Phil Broad, Nambour
- Read the story: Albanese re-elected PM as Coast results emerge
It is sometimes said of election results that “the people always get it right” and so it is with our recent election.
Australians re-elected a united, hard-working team who are focused on leading us into a better future in an increasingly uncertain world.
The voters clearly rejected the Opposition and the Greens who blocked or delayed many of the Albanese government’s progressive proposals.
Hopefully, now that their toxic politics of division and mindless negativity have been rejected and clearly not wanted, will they change their policies to reflect what the Australian people clearly want and Australia can become a nation working together towards a better cleaner, safer future for all of us, not just a few?
Robyn Deane, Nambour
- More parking and wider streets needed
We need more car parking facilities at shopping centre areas and developers of housing estates should be widening their suburban streets to deliver better thoroughfares and on-street car parking.
Modern families have more than one or two cars.
S. Lott, Beerwah
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.
