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: Terminal transformation plans revealed in flythrough
Dee Moorhead, Marcoola: I have a suggestion for the new airport. In either the arrivals or the departure lounges, a small wall could be allocated for art. There would be a rail for hanging the art and reasonable lighting. Artists would be invited to submit their artwork to an airport staff member as curator who is free to reject or accept unsuitable or low-standard work. No special insurance. Names, price and details of the article on a display card such as ‘buyers contact artist direct’. Finally, on my travels I have always noticed art and frequently bought world art for my home. It is something that you can do when waiting at an airport and is a pleasant experience.
- Read the story: Developer seeks 70m hotel, offers to pay for foreshore
Martin Neep, Mooloolaba: It’s appropriate to cast back in history for some context around this development. I offer the following: Under the Planning Scheme of 2014, which is still in place, the maximum height allowed on this site under the scheme was and still is 37.5m. In October 2015, a submission for a height increase to 45.5m and site coverage to 80 per cent was refused by council. Site coverage is an important parameter in terms of visual considerations of bulk and setback.
In September 2016, it was reported that the Breeze development by Aria in Mooloolaba had not complied with their Development Approval and a “retrospective approval” was sought. This perhaps demonstrates Aria’s approach to compliance and respect for Planning Schemes. In November 2016, Aria then sought an exemption to the Planning Scheme to raise the height restriction for the proposed hotel development to 50m, together with amendments for bulk and scale. Local community groups fought this proposal hard, but in April 2017 Council approved the submission. At the time, almost 1500 objections were raised, compared to only 500 submissions in support – a ratio of 3 to 1 against. If this had been an election, it would have been a landslide. However, Council pushed through the request in the face of these objections and approved the request for a 50m height and 90 per cent site coverage. Council conceded at the time that this would cast a shadow on the beach, as is common on the Gold Coast. The State government approved this decision in August 2017.
Then in November 2017, there was a further request for a relaxation in height restrictions. A further 2.5m was sought. Despite this being impact assessable, public consultation was excluded and the case reviewed in “closed door” sessions. The request was subsequently approved.
So we now have an open consultation in progress regarding a widespread amendment to the Planning Scheme. Under this proposal, the height restriction at the proposed hotel’s location, currently 37.5m, is an increase to 41m or 12 stories. The maximum height allowed in Mooloolaba under the new proposal would be 47m. The maximum anywhere on the coastal strip is 60m, in the Duporth area of Maroochydore. There is nowhere in the Mooloolaba/Maroochydore are near the coastal strip that has an allowable height of 70m under the new proposal.
In this context, the submission to increase the height of the hotel to 70m – almost double the existing Planning Scheme – is disgraceful. The “offer” to fund development of the beach frontage, which could be seen as little short of a bribe, is equally riven with uncertainty. Would acceptance of this give Aria rights to determine the appearance of this development and how it is conducted? And even if a deal is struck, what confidence is there that any restrictions will be complied with?
I do not dispute that Mooloolaba has the capacity for growth in accommodation options, but this should comply with the conditions set out and negotiated with residents and ratepayers as embodied in the Planning Scheme.
- Read the story: Dog owner urges tolerance after pet reportedly kicked at beach
Name withheld: I am astounded by the attitude of the dog owner quoted in this news item. In May, I was walking on Coolum Beach when two dogs ran down an access path and knocked me over, causing a fractured pelvis. Am I being “unrealistic” to expect dogs not to come into contact with me when I am on an off-leash beach? I have been walking on this beach for over 30 years and now I am supposed to find somewhere else because some selfish dog owners do not know how to control their dogs? Dog owners should realise that not all people like dogs, and not all people like strange dogs approaching them. Dog owners seem to assume non-dog owners do not have any rights on off-leash beaches.
I am writing anonymously because of the abusive comments I received when I made these points on social media.
- Read the story: Safe nights return: Sunny Coast Sleeper set to launch
Laureen Tkacik: Congratulations to the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre for the return of the Sunny Coast Sleeper. It’s a much-needed service lending dignity to a particularly difficult situation.
- Read the story: E-bike laws set to be reformed after 8yo’s death
Diane Derby, Marcoola: Now the government decides after an enquiry there’ll be new regulations on e-bikes. Surely this should have been done long before terrible deaths of young people happened. They could have asked any driver who encountered these e-bikes on the roads and footpaths or the police.
Juliet Gallagher, Noosaville: The use of e-bikes legal, and illegal, should be immediately stopped by all children under 17. All bikes need to be registered and insured. Delaying decisions until March 26 is ridiculous. Many more lives will be lost and people injured, pedestrians included. Why can’t the state and federal governments work together and stop imports of illegal bikes?
Carrol White, Palmwoods: Now is someone going to look into this as now a little boy has died? All these e-scooters and e-bikes should have to be licensed and tested to ride both of these, or are we going to not do anything after this little boy has now lost his life? Just look how children are riding them. Today I was driving home from Maroochydore and saw two young boys on one e-scooter. One had a helmet on and the other no helmet. I think they came out of The Industry School (Maroochydore), which is always heavy with traffic and dangerous. Please, please get some legislation for these things.
James Fowler, Buderim: I suggest e–bikes be registered and therefore carry third-party insurance. The very word ‘motor-bike’, in England when I grew up there many years ago, originally meant a motorised bike. Abbreviated to motor bike. By definition, therefore, e-bikes are motor bikes, the same way as those powered by internal combustion engines. And, in the UK we also had things called mopeds (motorised pedal cycles) powered by little 50cc two-stroke motors. These also had to be registered and therefore carry third party insurance.
Whichever way you look at it, an e-bike is a motorbike or a moped. And it one of those hits you, there is currently no claim to any insurance for injuries suffered. All this still doesn’t address the ludicrous matter of minors aged 10 or younger, with no road-rules education or experience, mixing it with cars trucks and buses on the open road.
Neville Siede, Maroochydore: I have an e-trike and peddle with the assistance of a battery going up inclines. After two-knee replacements for exercise, I now ride 10-15km a day on the pedestrian and cycle paths between Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, and have seen hundreds of dangerous incidents involving e-bikes that disgust me!
They are being ridden by children, some very young, who don’t have any perception of the speed, judgement, concentration, anticipation, danger and care about what is going on around them. They’re kids in too much of a hurry.
They are not the only problem, as teenagers and even some adults have no respect for other people by riding too fast and too close to children and adults especially older people walking on the paths. They often come through two, three and more at a time, even racing each other and rarely accompanied by a parent.
What are some parents thinking? I’ve seen dads and mums riding along with one, and often two, very small children in seats on the bar or back of their machine. Are they that confident there won’t be an accident? I see the danger but not the benefit, as most people are out there to exercise.
I’ve also seen e-bikes being ridden up on one wheel around the streets and one tailgating a bus along Aerodrome Road at almost 50kph. The problem is happening everywhere in Australia because: e-bikes should be registered; all riders of e-bikes should be registered; and penalties should be imposed to avoid more deaths.
Jim Field-Mitchell, Eudlo: Firstly, you need to make it clear about e-bike types. If the e-bike does not have pedals, it is an e-motorbike, not an e-bike (footpegs are not pedals!). It must be registered and the rider must be licensed. If it has pedals, it is an e-moped. There needs to be age limits for their use on roads. For example: children under 16/17 should not be allowed to use either of these types of transport on the road/pavements to go to and from school, or anywhere else.
My kids rode motorbikes from a very early age… off road … in controlled conditions under supervision. They need to be identifiable (I believe this should also be considered for push bikes as well). I have been a cyclist for many years now, so I am not anti-cyclist at all. A registration plate linked to the owner/rider would effectively give some riders pause for thought if they realised they could easily identified.
I ride an e-bike. I would be happy to pay for a registration number plate linked to me that I could use on whatever bike (that has pedals) I currently own.
Elizabeth Symonds, Rockhampton: We can all see how out of control it’s getting on pathways and walking areas when e-bikes come zooming past at high speeds with no warning or regard for others. Kids will be kids, riding faster and more fearless than they should. It’s only a matter of time before others on the footpaths get injured too! Please put in stricter laws to save young lives and their regard for those who can’t hear them coming as well.
Barb Bradbury: As a longtime Sunshine Coast resident, all I can see is apathy towards the incredible increase of e-bikes and e-scooters that are now seen on walking pathways, which toddlers, dogs on leads, the elderly and younger walkers use. They have been out of control for a long time. Brent Mickelberg, you have failed to address this! Now, and only now, you come out with a statement that you are rocked because you have an eight-year-old! Seriously, get out from behind your comfortable desk and go where the residents are trying to just have a walk in peace. Respectfully, maybe you are not the bloke for the job.
This is an example of what is going on on your streets: a friend was clipped on the shoulder by one of three e-scooter riders near SCUH at 3.30pm on a weekday. No apology. No ‘are you okay?’ Once she reacted to them, that they need to take more care, the three of them came back and continued to circle around her and heckle her to the point that she needed to take refuge in a stranger’s yard even though she was not far from home. She did not feel safe to go to her own home. They were no older than 12 years.
The walking pathways in the park area behind the Coffee Club on the corner of Gloucester Road at Buderim – why are e-scooters constantly going way too fast for toddlers, dogs on leads, the elderly? Where is the police presence?
Cotton Tree walkway, Bradman Avenue through to the caravan park – out of control. So many near misses. Young teenage girls, doubling on e-scooters, no helmets, out crossing through traffic lights even though they’re red. Nearly collected by an oncoming car. Car toots, drink cans thrown into windscreen. Should I continue? If you are unable to clean up your own backyard, how to in the Dickens are you up to the task in of Queensland?
Gary Holznagel, Ipswich: Just maybe e-bikes should be operated by licensed riders.
David McNamara: The laws are already there. What we need is for them to be policed.
- Cancer care
Thomas L. Turner, Bli Bli: In these times it is rare to find a public institution that provides a service of such excellence as the Adem Crosby Centre at Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH). Having recently undergone radiation therapy for throat cancer, I experienced first-hand the outstanding professionalism and compassion shown by Dr Min, his colleagues and every member of the team. Their care and dedication are truly exceptional. We on the Sunshine Coast are privileged to have access to such a world-class medical facility within our public health system. My sincere thanks to everyone at the Adem Crosby Centre for their remarkable service.
- Kindness personified
Denise Williams: On Saturday night I mislaid my wallet. It was missing when I reached for it as I pulled up to my destination. Thinking I must have left it at home, I spent the next two days searching for it everywhere. Today I reported it missing to the local police. They took my details and registered it as missing. I also blocked my credit/debit cards. Imagine my delight when a stranger came to my door to give me my wallet, discovered at the side of the road nearby. I must have placed it on the roof of my car and driven off. His name is Mark, a mental health worker from Gympie. I want it recorded that this kind, honest man made my day when he returned my wallet. There are many good people in our world and Mark is one of them.
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.
