View is set for a trim Council plan focuses on transport

SECURING investment for a reliable public transport network is a key pillar of the Sunshine Coast Council’s latest corporate plan.

wildfire that tore through Beerburrum and surrounds and razed 5000 hectares of forestry, trees planted in the wake of that catastrophic event are ready to be harvested.

The forestry, now owned by HQPlantations is set for a staged harvesting from this week with the view, especially from Wild Horse Mountain set to change completely for a generation used to seeing a green ‘mosaic’ of pine trees soaring from ground level with the majestic Glasshouse Mountains in the background.

HQPlantations’ Stephanie Hunt explained that the way plantations were planned had been forever changed following the 1994 fire in order to avoid into structural timber used to build Queensland homes and businesses for generations to come. HQPlantations raises 10 million seedlings a year to maintain its annual planting program, with the species Southern Pine taking 25-30 years to mature.

The area from Moffatt Rd and Johnston Rd to the north, Red Rd to the south, Steve Irwin Way to the west and the Bruce Highway to the east will be closed for public access from February 27 to December 22, 2023, with HQPlantations periods where traffic control will be in place. The closure is 24 hours a day, seven days a week and applies to all public access including motor vehicle drivers and riders, cyclists, horse riders and walker, including people exercising dogs; only authorised forest workers can enter the closure area. HQ Plantations advised that access to the Bora Ring during this period will also be affected and they are working with First Nations people to accommodate access when needed. Visit www.hqplantations.com.au for more.

Councillors endorsed the Corporate Plan 2023-2027 at last week’s council meeting. The plan, which outlines the direction and priorities for the region over the next five years, focuses on boosting local businesses, enhancing the region’s liveability and preserving its natural assets. It also aims to strengthen the community’s agility in responding to change. Mayor Mark Jamieson said the plan would advance the council’s vision for the Sunshine Coast as Australia’s most sustainable region. He also highlighted the importance of securing investment for a reliable and sustainable public transport network and expanding the region’s conservation estate.

Mr Jamieson emphasised the significance of managing the region’s growth with the development of the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme. The current scheme has been in place since 2014, and the council is drafting a new planning scheme in consultation with the community to shape land use and development across the region for the next decade and beyond. The council’s involvement as a key delivery partner for Brisbane 2032 also provides opportunities for the region’s prosperity, liveability, and reputation, it stated. www.sunshinecoast. qld.gov.au/Experience-Sunshine-Coast