No doubt many Sunshine Coast ratepayers will be asking themselves what the benefit of amalgamation is if our rates are going to keep going up by $100 each year.

The Coast’s new super council is factoring in a 5.5 per cent rate rise, arguing that the cost of staff wage increases will be more than two per cent given inflation is running at more than four per cent.

For most of us, who see little more than the weekly garbage service as the evidence of the ‘bang for buck’ in our rates, the increases are getting a little hard to comprehend.

The reality, of course, is that the new council has been put in a difficult position by the state government’s political decision to guarantee all council workers a job over the next three years.

That means that any efficiency gains which the council can expect to achieve from the merger will have to wait until after then.

The end result is all of us will continue to pay for a big, somewhat top heavy bureaucracy which too often fails to deliver where it really matters – on the ground with roads, footpaths, park maintenance and the like.

Take cycle paths, for example.

The new council will not have to look very hard to find examples of where our pathways are woefully inadequate.

In recent times myself and my trusty bike have become re-acquainted and the reality of our pathetic pathways can hit you harder than a four-wheel-drive.

Only yesterday, I found myself getting off the road as part of my personal effort to reduce the rage of motorists (I hate cyclists riding four abreast as much as anyone).

With my young son on the back, I ventured onto a footpath which had finally been cleared of overgrown grass.

I thought – you beauty – I am getting something back from my rates.

My enthusiasm quickly evaporated when I came to the end of the pathway to see that it just stopped.

At the end of it was an orange barrier, overgrown grass and a steep hill.

My only option was to turn around and go back – not an easy task with a young boy on the back.

I often wonder how many of our councillors have tried to get around on a bike lately.

It’s little wonder cyclists are being forced onto the road when we don’t provide for them with continuous pathways.

The situation is improving – and no doubt will continue to do so if lobby groups like the Sunshine Coast Cycling Alliance have their way.

The alliance created quite a stir before the last election when they produced a guide to who the most cycle friendly candidates were.

My only hope is that our new council will get on with providing better footpaths and bikeways so the conflicts between all legitimate road users are reduced.

It started out okay...
It started out as a good idea.

With my wife, her mother and my daughter enjoying a nice girls afternoon together on Mother’s Day (after our lunch together of course), us blokes decided to climb Mt Coolum.

My son Caleb, who is 14, and I reckoned young Samuel, who is almost four, would be able to make it halfway up the mountain to see the view and then we could retreat back down.

But to our surprise, young Samuel powered through the climb, easily making it to the top – albeit with a bit of help from dad.

As we enjoyed a nice break on the top of the mountain, young Samuel was amazed at the view around him, the fact that the houses and cars below were so small.

He felt even taller as he watched a plane begin its descent to the Coast from above.

He could have stayed up there all afternoon – especially after he discovered that the rocks around the top of the mountain could be used to write numbers and the letters of his name.

But with the afternoon wearing on and it becoming a little cooler, it was time to bite the bullet and begin our trek down.

Having climbed Mt Coolum numerous times, I knew the climb down was a lot harder than the one up.

To give Samuel a bit of a rest on the first part of the journey, I foolishly put him on my shoulders, forgetting how a bad left ankle had given way on the rocks the last time I was going down.

I can’t describe the sickening feeling as my leg gave way and Samuel toppled from my shoulders onto the ground.

He flipped right over and looked like he landed on his head.

But someone or something must have softened his fall because there was barely a graze on his head.

And despite his initial shock of falling off dad’s shoulders for the first time, he appeared remarkably okay.

The next 30 minutes, as we carefully made our way down the mountain, were the longest in my life. I kept asking how he was, and watching for any signs that he was not okay.

Thankfully, Samuel is fine – and even talking about climbing the mountain again – but only halfway this time. Couldn’t agree more.