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: State intervenes on controversial festival site plan
Jeff Tuttle, Caloundra: As a resident of Caloundra, I have to voice my alarm at this plan. The overdevelopment of our community, beginning with Aura and continuing with hotels and more housing, is already an infrastructure problem but adding a huge ‘happening’ just down the highway will tie up the road to permanent gridlock.
I have written this before and may need to do so again but any development like needs to take place after the roads have been widened, the flyovers set in place, the rail system finished and the infrastructure is ready.
- Read the story: More fines issued in blitz on illegal camping and Crackdown on illegal camping resumes and Locals fume as van dwellers overrun town’s beach car parks
Bart Stoelen, Mount Coolum: What attracted me to migrate to Australia was the friendly people and the ‘no-worries attitude’.
It should stay that way. Staying overnight in a van or camper is not a crime. Rooftop tents and campervans are only going to get more popular. Instead of these ridiculously expensive fines, councils should provide alternative free or low-cost sites in the vicinity, not way inland. Caravan parks are not the same. They are for longer term and planned stays.
There is a real need for no-booking low-cost sites, similar to showgrounds. Most councils have the equipment and staff to maintain parks and playgrounds. They also own land. All that’s needed is a few bins and some portable toilets.
Sue Clapham, Tewantin: In addition to the crackdown, please don’t forget the car park next to the marina. I believe it’s council-owned but the number of illegal campers is growing there too. They come and go, leaving rubbish in the bushes and they take over the free showers next to the water park.
Madelaine Marko, Bald Hills: We were the land of mateship, we are not any longer. Poor planning has led to there not being enough homes for people to live in – well, except for the 120,000 that were empty on Census night.
Possibly greed has been the undoing of our mateship. It seems capitalism will be the death of us. At the end of the day the current problem is twofold: not enough houses and some people don’t earn enough money to have one.
The whole point of a council is to provide things we need: infrastructure, toilets, water and food if people need it. The basic necessities of life or access to someone who will be able to provide those things. You should not have to go to McDonald’s or a shopping centre to use a toilet and, if in need, having to use a bush would indicate a basic need not being fulfilled.
We, as people of Australia, can do better.
Christine Bennett, Nambour: Policies of councils and government, declaring camping ‘illegal’, are actually criminalising survival. Homelessness is a critical state of emergency that is an outright government disgrace. There are many reasons that people find themselves in social and financial hardship. Included in this sector of people doing it tough are those struggling to retain jobs or obtain employment with rising costs of living, unaffordable rent hikes, unexpected financial losses, injuries, chronic health conditions, mental health issues, no family or support networks … the list goes on.
A government that abandons the most vulnerable in society is to blame. When toilets are locked or non-existent in some areas and when showering facilities are unavailable, what are homeless people to do? Life is made impossibly hard for homeless campers, especially when the weather is beyond endurance. Who can blame those who go to the beach to camp, swim and try to stay healthy and clean?
Shame on the actions of heartless government officials who strip people of all dignity and then heap blame upon them.
Joey, Noosa: I am a Noosa local of 43 years. Here is my solution to the illegal camping in and around Hastings Street and every car park on the Sunshine Coast: tow their vehicles out to the highway with a caution that if they return to the Sunny Coast their vehicles will be taken away from them and either impounded or crushed.
This method would only need to be done a handful of times before word spreads on social media.
Rachel, Eumundi: We would frequent Noosa Woods to take the children fishing but now can’t enjoy going there, let alone find a park. The whole area is filled with free campers staying there for days on end leaving rubbish, food scraps and emptying grey water.
Noosa Council has no problem handing out parking fines and exorbitant rates and parking restrictions but these people seem exempt. The same situation is going on at Stumers Creek in Coolum.
Viv Braund, Currimundi: It is high time both governments provided land for the homeless to camp on. They are Australian citizens whose lives have been ruined by incompetent governments. Scott Morrison’s government voted down a bill to put a cap on rents. It’s a disgrace.
I am ashamed to be an Australian.
Pauline Clayton, Parrearra: Council needs to establish camping for those homeless due to circumstances beyond their control.
It is obvious we are not going to get enough affordable housing.
Al Pacifico, Sunshine Beach: So happy to see the freeloaders moved on instead of hogging the good beach areas and leaving rubbish behind.
The beach is for everyone to share, not stay for days on end and to prohibit other people: that’s what has been happening.
Rachel, Caloundra: Is it camping or is it trying to live? In an area where homeless people aren’t welcome to stay long term at campgrounds and at $50 to $70 a night for a concrete slab, it’s not financially viable for many anyway. That includes many tourists and backpackers too.
So many empty car parks that could be utilised overnight, including at the beaches. If it’s about money, why not allow the homeless pay a small fee to utilise a car park spot? It would also help by employing people to ‘police’ the areas.
Yes, some people are messy but I have seen people pull up, pull out takeaway packaging and dump it and leave. They are not homeless but guess who gets the blame?
Maybe worry less about how the Sunshine Coast appears to tourists and look after the ones struggling to survive. And don’t assume it’s just ‘dole-bludgers’ who are doing it rough. There are plenty of people who are working or are aged pensioners trying to live without the possibility of having a place to live.
Jill, Currimundi: We live at Caloundra. Free camping/overnight stays in our area is also getting out of hand. Areas such as Currimundi Lake, Moffat Beach, Shelly Beach and Happy Valley on any afternoon or night have backpackers, motorhomes and cars with people parking up to camp overnight. Putting up signage is not going to stop these freeloaders, they just ignore them.
We are grey nomads and travel in a caravan and see and hear people saying and giving out directions to free camping spots to all travellers.
I really think councils need to patrol these areas and actually give on-the-spot fines and move these people on. This is a huge issue Queensland-wide, not just locally.
Elaine: I’m currently living the van life. I’ve rarely stayed in a spot more than two nights. I’ve never left rubbish. In fact, I’ve cleaned up any I found, which, at one place I stayed, some locals appreciated – but the spot is now blocked because of others overstaying and littering.
All the suggestions for fines and wheel clamps are not going to solve the problem. It’s only causing divide and discrimination in society and among those that are homeless.
- Read the story: Supermarket plans open to public feedback
Jennifer Trafford, Pelican Waters: Great idea for the community. Cooroy is getting a busy little town.
Pepe, Cooroy: As a long-term local of the area, I do not wish to see another Woolworths built in Cooroy. We already have others only half an hour away. The local IGA at least supports the community with donations to sports clubs and so on.
The aged care facility, if needed, is okay but does every 5km have to have a service station or a Woolworths? What about a barn selling local produce?
- Read the story: Garden show grows into major tourism drawcard
P. Clayton, Parrearra: The Nambour Garden Show was brilliant, but parking nigh on impossible.
- Read the story: Tough calls and tighter belts in council budget shake-up and Council announced leadership shake-up
P. Hurrey, Palmwoods: I find it extremely ironic that council is claiming a ‘win’ on budget restraint by a pause on recruitment only a week after announcing the hiring of a new executive team.
The salaries involved in council also warrant attention. Add these all up and a conservative estimate of the yearly cost for just the council and their executive team is $4 million a year. Years ago, councillors didn’t get a salary: it was a volunteer position.
- Read the story: High-tech trolleys to be rolled out at major supermarket
Lani McDowall, Noosaville: I have been using the Scan and Go app on my phone for sometime at Noosa Village Woolworths and love it. I even attach a simple phone holder to the handle of the trolley for ease of use.
Woolworths have decided to discontinue this facility without any valid reasons. Several customers and staff are upset about this. I spoke with the manager of Noosa Village Woolworths who said she hasn’t been given a reason for its withdrawal at that store.
Especially in the holiday season, the queues are long – even at the self-checkout. In the past when I needed a few items it was easy and quick to use Scan and Go rather than wait in queues. I am sure holidaymakers would appreciate any speedier experience at that store.
Why remove it? Simply add it at Noosa Civic and keep it at Noosa Village, which is a busy shopping centre.
- Read the story: ‘Tough spot’: why cup of coffee could soar to $10
Carolyn Wheeler: Coffee prices are going up, alongside the cost of living, wages, power and rent. Coffee shops seem to start by getting a cheaper brand of coffee. As soon as that happens people know and, with the rise in cost, stop coming.
The rising the price of a cup of coffee isn’t working. Coffee shops go broke with no customers.
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.
