Time to get on board Sunshine Coast Rail

Brisbane and Gold Coast infrastructure projects.

Youth Week events and activities

Celebrate the skaters, scooters, movers and groovers, as well as the movie lovers, foodies and market wanderers during Youth Week 11-17 April. Enjoy free events, including the Beerwah Youth Week Jam Skate Comp, the Kings Beach Youth Fest and the Beerwah Movie Night. Visit Council’s website for more details.

Innovative student awards ready for entries

Sunshine Coast students who have a great invention, business idea or new technology have the chance to bring their idea to life and share in more than $10,000 worth of prizes. Entries for the Mayor’s Telstra Innovation Awards close 27 April. Find out more at studysunshinecoast.com.au.

Support Domestic and Family Violence Protection Month

The Sunshine Coast community stands with victims of domestic and family violence. Show your support by joining the Empower Her Voice march at 5pm on Wednesday 3 May at the corner of Cornmeal and Horton Parade in Maroochydore. The march will go to Cotton Tree Park where the candlelight vigil will commence at 5.30pm. Visit Council’s website for more information.

Dynamic visual arts award now open

The winner of the 2023 Sunshine Coast Art Prize will take home $25,000 and join the ‘greats’ in the Sunshine Coast Art Collection. Plus all finalists will be exhibited in the Sunshine Coast Art Prize exhibition at Caloundra Regional Gallery. Submissions close midnight 14 May. Visit gallery.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au for all the details.

Get the latest Council news delivered directly to your inbox each week. Sign up for the OurSC enewsletter here

THE Sunshine Coast community doesn’t care for political games, they just want their overdue Sunshine Coast Rail built.

Twelve months ago, Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien and I stood near the site of the future Maroochydore railway station to announce the historic $1.6 billion federal funding for Sunshine Coast Rail.

It marked six years of Ted and I dragging Ministers and Prime Ministers up to the Sunshine Coast to show them just how gridlocked the Sunshine Coast has become and how transformational this project will be.

Two decades after State Labor set aside the CAMCOS corridor and with overwhelming support from the Sunshine Coast community, we secured a $1.6B commitment from the then Coalition Government.

Despite a change in Government last year, Federal Labor have retained the $1.6B commitment, albeit with $900 million cut from the first five years of the project (2024-25 to 2028-29) with funding back ended and completion delayed.

And from State Labor? Crickets.

Since $1.6B was put on the table by the Federal Government, Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey has done nothing except politicise this generational project, the largest infrastructure project ever announced for the Sunshine Coast. Neither he nor the Premier have put one cent on the table. Zilch. Nada. Nothing.

Instead, Mark Bailey is complaining that the Federal Government didn’t come to him earlier with a pot of gold offering him 50% of the costs to build the rail which is the State Government’s infrastructure. A project that is 100% the responsibility of the State Government.

Comments from a non-committal Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are also concerning. When the Premier says they are “looking at the priorities that are needed for the Games,” it doesn’t sound good. The Sunshine Coast community know that this State Labor Government have prioritised and are committed to

Meanwhile, the two Labor State Members on the Coast need to step up and go into bat for their constituents. They need to decide whether they represent the needs of their communities on the Sunshine Coast or are they just the Premier’s mouthpieces in Caloundra and Nicklin.

Delivery of this project in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is now at risk under Federal Labor’s budget cuts and State Labor’s inaction, as the current timelines are vulnerable to any further delays to delivery of this project.

Time is ticking on an estimated eightyear project with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games now just nine years away.

Regardless of the importance of getting this project done for Olympic and Paralympic Games events on the Coast, this crucial project was long overdue with our significant increase in population. But the catalyst for starting this project now is the Games.

The $3.2 billion project, to be split 50:50 between Australian and Queensland governments, will see 37km of passenger rail built from Beerwah to Caloundra, Kawana, and Maroochydore.

It will connect our coastal community with our hinterland community and on to Brisbane City – a win for the entire Southeast Queensland region.

For every person in Southeast Queensland who has had to sit on the Bruce Highway car park upwards from two to three hours on a Sunday afternoon and every weekday, Sunshine Coast Rail is for them just as much as it is for Coast residents and businesses. Every day that Labor delays the announcement of their support will mean higher construction costs. The State LNP team are on board, it’s time for Queensland Labor to do likewise. The clock is ticking. We have no time to waste.

Ted O’Brien, myself, and the State LNP Team are committed to fighting for Sunshine Coast Rail until the final sleeper is laid at Maroochydore station, and we will continue to hold both Labor Governments to account.

Creating a better future

My thoughts concur with those of Bryan Fraser (21.03.2023). I, too, think a truthful audit of how funds have been spent/ are currently spent for the advancement of Aboriginal people, would be very interesting; especially to those who work in low-paid, unattractive jobs where the tax burden is greatest. Do we have a date for when the taxpayers stop paying for the parliaments, customs, culture of the past?

Nobody in the media is saying much about the Commonwealth 1967 Referendum that received a 90.77% “Yes” vote. My interpretation of this outcome is that Aboriginal people achieved the same rights and responsibilities as every other Australian citizen. Therefore , as a minority group, the Aboriginal people gained the right of self determination. There are now many well-educated, articulate Aboriginal people who could offer constructive leadership so their communities have better quality of life.

They need to organise themselves. New Australians from refugee camps around the world can do it, so why can’t the Aboriginal people? They have more, or as much, Federal funding.

To have ‘special’ reference in the Constitution is unnecessary in a multicultural society. Nobody seems to read it anyway. Aboriginal people will always have the honour of being the first indigenous Australians. History is manipulated by whoever tells it. It’s in the past and whatever the reality was, it can’t be changed.

Essentially, get on with creating a better future. As any refugee will candidly tell you, it takes hard work and considered risk-taking by everyone. Politicians and political influencers can’t do it for us.

Lee Meyers Landsborough

A disaster in waiting

After speaking with a share of business owners regarding the effects of the Health Hub, I once again am faced with the disrespectful attitude offered ourselves by Councillor and representatives.

The councillor has stated clearly he will not be involved in confrontational issues and once again here is a perfect example. The lack of consultation with the local business owners is a sign of incompetence and dereliction of duty, a disregard for the population of our Hinterland and the only ones to be rewarded for this misplanning will be the towies, panel shops, insurance companies and sadly the medical arms involved.

There will be a huge ongoing debt for the rate/taxpayer as a result of this incompetence.

The Poddy Dodger Peachester

It’s Maggot Monday again

It’s council bin collection day again today. “Maggot Monday” I call it. I walk every day and every week and I’m stunned and disgusted by the number of bins crawling with maggots. The number of dirty bins far exceeds the number of clean ones.

How hard is it to wrap scraps in newspaper to keep flies out of the bin?

There’s certainly no shortage of free newspapers in town (eds note - after you’ve read them). And as for some of the bins, some are so black and filthy it’s a wonder the rubbish collector can tell the red tops from the green tops. Shame on you Lindeman and Carnarvon roads.

Name withheld Beerwah

Harvest always planned

People have been expressing their concerns about the proposed harvesting of plantation pine forest in the hinterland. For example, Steven Runge is worried about the impact of logging trucks on the roads in the area.

These plantations have been grown in our area for a good number of years now, and the block to be harvested is coming to the end of its current rotation after a fire destroyed a previous stand some 30 years ago. So, at a minimum those particular compartments have been growing pine for 40 or 50 years. I’d say that a bit of thinking would have led people to realise that harvesting the current crop would occur some day. I’m therefore a little surprised at the uproar.

This stuff is not indigenous forest that should be preserved. It’s production forest. It was always meant to be harvested, rather as pineapples, strawberries and macadamia nuts are.

The prices of building construction materials have been skyrocketing of late and we have a severe housing shortage. I’d say a good proportion of these trees will end up as lumber, reconstituted board, etc., which may go into houses.

Those who work in forestry are everyday people who need to put food on the table and pay the rent.

HQ plantations have expressed a willingness to talk about their operations. This is reasonable.

Please think about these things before getting too hot under the collar.

Peter Slade Beerwah

Notification was given

I write this is regards to the article about the forestry harvest (March 28). Firstly their was ample notification given to everyone using Johnson’s road with signage posted along the forestry edges stating its intentions and dates of closure, secondly all residents effected along the road were giving notification letters but if you were not a resident on the road you would not have got a letter, thirdly I believe not so long ago your paper had a very informative piece about the pine plantation clearing intended for this area, fourthly it is not the forestry’s responsibility to grow trees to reduce the dust and noise from the quarry they grow trees for a resource product and lastly anyone who know how pine trees grow or decides to reside near a pine plantation and plays ignorant to the cycle of these trees is by far ignorant

And this is how industries producing resources used in daily lives of people get ruined and. Loved down, chook farms, sawmills, slaughterhouse, pineapple

farms, macadamia farms etc Name and address supplied

Deadly serious

I totally agree with Chris M regarding the appalling condition of both roadside parking areas adjacent to the restaurant and row of shops on Steve Irwin Way at Glass House. It’s only a matter of time before there is a fatality if the problem is not addressed.

Obviously this stretch of road carries a lot of tourist traffic en route to Australia Zoo and other local attractions. Visitors to the area often spontaneously pull over to visit these shops, only to hit a very rough edge and gravel pitted with large pot holes. I have witnessed many bingles and near misses in recent years at this site. Also, many quarry trucks pull in at the roadsides here on a daily basis to grab a quick coffee and a pie, their heavy vehicles causing massive wear and tear to the rough surface.

This whole busy stretch of road seems to escape the eyes of the powersthat-be in terms of repairs and necessary maintenance, with many pot holes and rough stretches between Glass House and Beerwah still not repaired after the flooding over 12 months ago. It’s a poor effort when compared to the brand new stretch of perfect road recently completed on both the north and south approaches to the zoo.

Why are we left to feel like the ‘poor relations’ out here in the hinterland? It may sound cynical but if this busy retail spot was located at the coast I’m sure it would not be ignored and wait years to get properly constructed hard shoulders built for drivers to safely use.

Public safety must be a matter of high priority, and this situation is nothing short of dangerous. Perhaps the local quarry could be asked to donate the raw materials to help address this problem?

an awareness of these things. Mr Dyer’s letters only seem to recycle the arti-cles and research of others, and I believe this is an attempt to make himself appear supe-rior to the rest of us.

While I have heard of Tony Seba and James Abib, I do not have to agree with their theo-ries and predictions. We all have choices in this world, and I choose to disagree with Mr Dyer’s views.

Furthermore, I am not convinced that non-animal precision fermented food produced in a laboratory is better for my health than fresh meat and produce. Mr Dyer can drive his EV and eat what he likes, but I do not share his opinions on these matters.

Regarding Mr Dyer’s comment about my claim of being an ex-serviceman, I would like to clarify that I am not claiming to be one. I am, in fact, an ex-serviceman, and I am deeply saddened by the suicides that have occurred among our military men and women. As an active member of the RSL, I am proud to be part of an organisation that provides support and fellowship to our servicemen and women.

While Mr Dyer may question my expertise, I do not have to prove my abilities and achievements to him. My family and close friends know what I have accomplished throughout my life, and I have volunteered with various organisations to benefit the community. Although I do not claim to be an authority on the subjects that Mr Dyer and others claim to be, I reserve the right to challenge their views and express my own. Finally, I would like to ask Mr Dyer what he has personally done to benefit the community.

Peter Bowles Glasshouse Mountains

We

Are Not That Deranged

JW

Glass House Mountains Show some self-awareness

It is amazing how defensive and attacking self-proclaimed experts like Ken Dyer (March 7 issue of GC&M News) can be when anyone disagrees with them.

Mr Dyer has accused me of exhibiting “absolute ignorance of the world”, “preposterous unfounded claims of expertise”, and even questioned my claim of being an ex-serviceman.

However, I disagree with Mr Dyer’s assessment of my knowledge of the world. I am fully aware of what is going on around us, and I wouldn’t bother responding to his letters if I didn’t have

Correspondent Shane Daly tells us that a poll in America found that 60% of voters think that climate change has become a religion.

My first thought was how glad I was to live Australia and not in the American madhouse.

Remember that many Americans are at least mildly deranged and detached from the real world.

At least one percent think that the earth is flat, 35 per cent believe Trump’s lies about the 2020 election, a similar proportion think that aliens have visited earth (despite a lack of evidence), 40 per cent think that evolution is not true (despite overwhelming evidence that it is true), and a similar proportion think the earth is about 6000 years old instead of the 4,500,000,000 years required by physics and geology.

I do not intend to use polling in the USA to guide my life in Australia.

But why did Shane bring this Rasmussen poll to our attention? Is he trying to deride climate change by calling it a religion? If so he will irritate the 52 per cent of Australians who ticked a ‘religious’ box in the last census and presumably take it seriously.

I think this meme of “climate change is a religion” is another desperate attempt by denialists to block action on climate change. They have been through ‘the physics is all wrong’, ‘it is not happening’, well if it is it is nothing to do with us’, ‘it is a communist plot’, ‘it is a Chinese plot’, ‘it is too expensive to do anything’, and they now have got to ‘it is a religion’.

I wonder what they will think of next? Probably ‘it is too late to do anything’.

David Lowry Witta