New ukulele group set to strum
Last NBN tower gets approval The last impediment to an integrated NBN wireless broadband network across the Maleny plateau has been cleared. In mid-2018 an application for an NBN tower at Burgess Avenue in Maleny was refused by Sunshine Coast Council, citing multiple conflicts with the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme and that “the proposal has not demonstrated any other relevant matter (planning need) to justify or override the identified conflicts”. NBN in its planning submission stated: “Each fixed wireless facility is connected to another to form a chain of facilities that link back to the NBN fibre network. Although fixed wireless facilities are submitted to council as standalone developments from a planning perspective, they are highly interdependent.” The refusal threw the fate of the wireless broadband network across the range into doubt as NBN had repeatedly said that the interconnectivity relied on all towers being approved. Consequently, NBN appealed the refusal in the Planning and Environment Court. Local resident, Scott Thompson, from Thynne Court in Maleny, elected to join the council in fighting the appeal. After almost a year of legal wrangling, the court recently upheld the appeal against council’s refusal to allow the construction of the tower. The judge ordered that the tower be approved with a range of conditions, mainly focusing on aesthetics and landscaping. The judge also ordered each party to pay their own legal costs. Commenting on the outcome of the appeal, Ryan Williams, head of NBN local for Queensland, said that they had engaged in meaningful and genuine consultation with both the council and the community during the development process. “We now look forward to getting on with the job of delivering the NBN broadband access network to this part of the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Williams said. Sunshine Coast Council declined to comment.
By Sonia Clark Glass House Mountains’ musician Hans Dauncey is planning a local community ukulele group, with players of all ages and abilities welcome. Hans has been in discussions with the Glass House Mountains Neighbourhood Centre and hopes to kick off a weekly group on Monday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm starting on June 24. Hans believes that there are enough interested people in the local area to make a viable group that he hopes will be primarily for the enjoyment of playing and singing together as a community. “It doesn't matter if anyone has played before or not as we will explore songs with easy parts for beginners and more challenging parts for others,” Hans said. The group will be called the Glasshouse Ukulele Mountain Musical Initiative or GUMMI, and a gold coin donation will be requested to help cover the hire of the hall. Hans said he planned to project the songs (words and the chords) on a screen so people did not have to bring their own music books. Ideally participants will bring their own ukulele but, if required, Hans will have a couple of loan ukes available. Each week the group will be playing and singing songs from a repertoire that initially will be easy two and three chord songs (traditional and more contemporary) so beginners can gain confidence. They will aim to introduce some more interesting arrangements down the track using different strums, finger picking or other instruments. If you would like to find out more, please contact Hans at glassuke@gmail.com.
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