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6:47AM Saturday 09 August, 2008 Sunshine Coast weather Mostly sunny min 6° - max 21°

Development is our key concern: survey

12:00a.m. 26th February 2008

Over-population is the biggest perceived challenge for the Sunshine Coast in years to come.

Almost 80% respondents who took part in last month’s Your Coast Your Say survey viewed an influx of new residents as a threat to our peaceful way of life.

Only 8% were not concerned and 13% were neutral.

That was despite nearly 51% not being aware of the prediction that the Coast’s population will increase from about 293,000 residents in 2006 to 490,500 by 2026.

The four-page survey, run by the Daily, thedaily.com.au and Seven Local News, attracted 1582 responses.

Montville’s Richard O’Neill was one of the respondents very worried about over-population.

“We’ve seen what’s happened on the Gold Coast. If we over-populate this place, it won’t sustain itself,” 58-year-old Mr O’Neill said.

“It’s insane the traffic problems we already have.”

He said the population issue was one of the main reasons for his decision to vote for Bob Abbot as mayor of the Coast’s new super-council.

“You need someone with real vision and enough guts to stand up,” he said.

Golden Beach resident Pam Hitchens said she was concerned about two 12-storey high-rises being built near her house.

“We are fast losing what used to be a quiet neighbourhood,” she said.

“Golden Beach is certainly changing and it’s becoming a place that’s not quite pleasant to live.”

See tomorrow’s Daily and thedaily.com.au to find out what survey participants thought were the priority issues for the Coast.

> Abbot is favourite for top job: survey

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Posted by rod_parkinson from Nambour
on 26 February, 2008 at 4:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Overpopulation, Development, Highrise, population caps, jobs, Traffic and so on and on it goes, just who has the answers.

In my opinion no matter how much we dislike what is happening to our coast we can not stop now.

Why are we here, why did you come here, even though it has changed a great deal since I moved here in 1974 those that are arriving now see it as it is, they still come and I suspect that in 30 years or so they will be saying enough is enough to.

It is a free world, I can move if I want to but I do not. There are 13 in my own family living here, there were 2 when we arrived, what do I do, tell my kids or grandkids to buzz off somewhere else, put up big fences, stop the kids having kids?.

I fell that development will not stop even though we would like it to, planning is the key I feel, residential for residents, Business for Business etc, hopefully the Town Plans are made and we stick to them so we all have our own selected havens. I hope the new council and whoever leads Bob or Joe gets it right.
Posted by atapro from Noosaville
on 26 February, 2008 at 6:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Well, I don't quite know what to say. Perhaps we should just let it speak for itself.

Perhaps we will be able to brag about being the most sustainable, livable region in Australia instead of just being the fastest growing. Honestly, the Gold Coast can have that title as long as they want it.
Posted by Jas73 from Caloundra
on 26 February, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The fact is we will follow in the footsteps of the Gold Coast to some degree. The difference is we have councils that are happy for the area to grow & develop; however they are also trying to put a level of control on it.

We have to realise that growth & development are unstoppable and healthy for a region as a whole. The key is having a local government putting measures in place to control the growth at a sustainable level.

Think back to what the Sunshine coast was like 20yrs ago - very different to todays picture, yet the underlying culture of why people love it remains.

There will always be comparisons between the 2 coasts because of proximity to Brisbane & the sensational coastline & hinterland.

The difference has always been (in my 33 yrs as a visitor & 2 as a resident) that the Sunny coast is laid back, more family oriented; & the Gold Coast has a faster pace with more emphasis on night life & activity than us.

We are no longer a sleepy seaside town, & will not ever be again. What we can maintain is the laid back friendly attitude that everyone loves about us no matter how big we grow. Yes we will see an increase in big town problems, however as a society it is how we respond to them that will dictate the level those problems rise to.

I think we should embrace the differences between the 2 coasts, knowing we don't have to compete with them (why would we want to!?) & continue to grow & develop our part of paradise yet remain faithful to the culture that we all love. To qoute Darryl Kerrigan 'It's the vibe of the thing..."

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