Friends of Buddina are introducing email updates for our local and neighbouring community members and supporters across the Sunshine Coast.  We are sharing this email with those who have generously donated to fund our activities, or who have contacted us via our website, or purchased our merchandise and raffle tickets, or attended our recent April community meeting and other events.  Should you no longer wish to receive our email updates, you can “unsubscribe” at the base of this email. 

21 April 2021 Friends of Buddina Community Meeting

THANK YOU to our volunteers, presenters and community supporters for participating at our Community meeting. We had approximately 100 people attend.  Member for Fischer, MP Andrew Wallace and Cr Joe Natoli also attended, presented and were available to answer questions.  Our raffle was well patronised and drawn on the night. 👏  The 3 key topics presented and discussed were (see details below):

• Update on our P&E Court challenge to the Buddina Beachfront approval

• Mtag and Mass Transit

• SCRC’s New Planning Scheme

Friends of Buddina plan to run another community meeting for those who were unable to attend this one - venue and date TBA.

1.  Our Planning & Environment Court challenge:  The Beachfront

If you have questions about the legal challenge, our website has more information where you can also access copies of the key documents lodged with the Court:

https://www.friendsofbuddina.com/legalcase

In the meantime, while we wait for Judge Long’s decision, the developers are trying to move forward. In anticipation of a Court decision in their favour, the developers have lodged an Operational Works (OPW) Application with Council and Council have started processing that Application.  If approved by Council, construction work may commence without delay, depending on the Court decision.

This includes "dewatering" the site which means the underground water table is drawn down and maintained below the bottom of the excavation.  This may impact the local vegetation and local water bores (potential saltwater intrusion, or no water at all); it may impact adjacent properties (potential structural damage) and may potentially result in environmental contamination issues.

The OPW documents are on Council’s development.i website and can be located using this quick link:

OPW21/0110 Application Documents

What can you do now?

Write to Council about your concerns – you may wish to use this pre-filled form:

2.  Mass Transit Action Group (Mtag)

The Mass Transit Action Group (Mtag) is a Sunshine Coast community group dedicated to ensuring that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Mass Transit Business Case reflects the needs and aspirations of the community. 

Consultation on this is due to commence April 28th and run until June 22nd. It is essential everyone participates in this consultation. All Council documents, since 2012, indicate a preference for light rail along the beach corridor from Maroochydore to Kawana. Accompanying this is the plan for massive population increases and housing rezoning along the light rail corridor. Council have now agreed to undertake consultation on this plan and expanded the transport options for this corridor, but light rail remains in the mix.

What can you do now?

Everybody’s participation is critical to the selection process of the transport choice/s for the Sunshine Coast. Go to the Council website and complete the online survey.  Be sure to add your comments into the comments sections.  Additionally, write a submission to Council.  The online survey will address only selected transport options.  It is important factors such as alternative routes, rezoning and cost be addressed.  A submission must be in your own words and include your name and address or email address.  For a submission form go to https://www.masstransitsc.com/consultation

Help spread the word. There are still many people who simply don’t know about the mass transit project and the different impacts of each choice on communities.  Share this email (or an extract) and ask your friends and contacts to register at the Mtag website for timely updates:

https://www.masstransitsc.com

https://www.facebook.com/SCMassTransit

3. SCRC’s New Planning Scheme, proposed to be finalised by 2024

Historical documents released by Council indicate an expected population increase of approximately 180,000 people by 2041.  They further indicate this new scheme will focus on locating the majority of this growth into our beach corridor from Maroochydore to Caloundra.  There are still many people who simply don’t know about the New Planning Scheme and the likely rezoning of medium and high-density development along the coastal strip.  In particular, changes to building height limits and housing density will "significantly change" some Coast suburbs.

What can you do now?

Become involved in the consultation processes:

• Preliminary public consultation in due mid-2021

• Formal public consultation on proposed planning scheme is likely in mid-to-late 2022

Council have committed to consulting on the draft Planning Scheme and you can subscribe for updates using this link:

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Development/Planning-Documents/New-Sunshine-Coast-Planning-Scheme  and "Register your interest to receive updates about the New Planning Scheme project”

Share our emails with your friends and contacts – help spread the word and encourage engagement from your community.  We also post additional information to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BuddinaCommunity

Thank you

Friends of Buddina                Together we can make a difference!